Bible Preserved (Thological Approach)
Christian and Fatma discuss the implications on the character and nature of God, if one holds to the view that the Bible has been corrupted.
Christian: Hi Fatma. You know we had that discussion the other day after RE about the differences between Christianity and Islam? Well, I thought that I’d bring you a copy of the New Testament for you to read for yourself.
Fatma: Thanks Christian. The only thing is that our imam told us the other day that the Bible has been changed and corrupted and that the Quran has been sent down by God as the final revelation.
Christian: That’s really interesting. Did he by any chance give any historical proof or maybe he showed you a verse from the Quran that tells Muslims that the Bible has been changed?
Fatma: No, he didn’t say anything like that. He just told us that we shouldn’t read it. And that it would be good for us not to ask questions about it.
Christian: I’ve actually been looking into this recently and I was surprised to read a couple of verses in the Quran that, rather than suggest the Bible has been changed it is actually trustworthy and should be read, at least in Muhammed’s day.
Fatma: Really?!? I didn’t know that! Which verses?
Christian: Well, in Quran 6.115 it says that nobody can change the words of God and in Quran 5.47 Christians are called to live out what God has revealed in the gospel. So that means that, at least in Muhammed’s day, the Bible, especially the New Testament, could not have been corrupted. All the Bibles we use are translations from manuscripts a lot earlier than 650 AD, when the Quran was written. How do you explain that?
Fatma: Well, I don’t know really. I just have to accept what the teachers at the mosque tell me.
Christian: There’s one other thing that puzzles me. If the Bible has been changed, then that must mean one of two things: either God was not powerful enough to protect His Word, or He didn’t really care about His Word. Do you believe that God is either weak or unloving?
Fatma: I’ve not really thought about it that way before. Of course, I don’t believe that. But I can see what you’re saying.
Christian: In fact, Jesus says, in the New Testament, that the heavens and earth will pass away but His words will never pass away. But also, that he loves us so much that He gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sins to be forgiven. If that is true, surely he would want the record of that to be persevered forever?
Fatma: I do hear what you’re saying, but I’m worried about my family. I wouldn’t want to bring shame on them by turning away from Islam. I think we’ll just have to agree to differ on this one.