IS the BIBLE CORRUPTED?

 

When witnessing to Muslims, you will come across common Muslim sayings like, “The Bible is corrupted and changed, but the Quran has been preserved.” Really? Is that true? Are you Muslims saying that your god Allah wasn’t able to preserve his word since you believe in Tora and the Gospel? Your god doesn’t seem to be an omnipotent god!

Is there any evidence that the Bible is corrupted?

1. Internal Evidence
2. External Evidence
3. Impact of the Bible

We will looks at the internal evidence first to see if both the Quran and the Bible give us a clue that the Bible will be corrupted or not.

1. Internal Evidence

Let’s examine the Quran to see if it has a promise of the corruption of the Bible.

a. Promises

Promises in the Quran:

• TORAH – “We gave Moses the Book and followed him up with a succession of messengers,”(Q 2:87).
• PSALMS – “We have sent thee inspiration, as We sent it to Noah and the Messengers after him: we sent inspiration to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the Psalms,”(Q 4:163).
• GOSPEL – “It is He Who sent down to thee (step by step), in truth, the Book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the criterion (of judgment between right and wrong),”(Q 3:3). Also, “And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah,”(5:46).

 

“If you have any doubt regarding what is revealed to you from your Lord, then ask those who read the previous scripture”Q 10:94

In the verse above, Allah tells Muhammad that if the revealed word of Allah was not clear for him, he had to go to the Jews and Christians who read the Scripture (the Bible), and they can explain to him what was revealed to him. Here we see that Allah and Muhammad give credit to the Bible as the preserved Word of God in about 630 A.D.

When you ask Muslims when they think the Bible was corrupted, they usually say in the first three centuries. Well, according to Quran, until 630 A.D, we had the preserved Bible without any corruption. In that case you can tell Muslims, “Do you know more than Allah and Muhammad? Ask them, “Who corrupted the Bible? What book, chapter or verse was corrupted? Who corrupted it? What year was it corrupted? What is your source?” They won’t be able to answer any of these mentioned questions.

 

Promises in the Bible:

• The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.Psalm 12:6-7

• Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.1 Peter 1:23-25
• Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.Matthew 4:17-18
• Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.Mark 13:31
• And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.Matthew 24:14

Many Kings, nations, and individuals in history have been trying to destroy the Bible, but God has kept His promise to faithfully preserve His Word.

God’s Word survived despite intense efforts to destroy it. For instance, in 175 BC the king of Syria, Antiochus Epiphanes, ordered the Jews, on pain of death, to destroy their Scriptures and worship the Greek gods. Judas Maccabaeus, however, saved the books and led a revolt that won independence for the Jewish nation. (Today, Jews celebrate this event at Hanukkah.)

Diocletian ordered to outlaw Christianity and burn the Bibles in 303 A.D.

Constantine: The next emperor, Constantine, legalized Christianity and paid for fifty, new hand-written copies of the Bible in 313 A.D.

The Bible has not only been preserved but translated into over two thousand languages (both ancient and modern). Many of the earliest surviving manuscripts include translations, such as Syriac versions, showing that God’s Word was spreading from the very beginning, and the words of its message have been preserved in many languages.

 

b. Prophecies.

The fulfilled prophecies in the Bible prove the truthfulness and preservation of it.

• Born of a virgin:

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Prophecy of Jesus being born of a virgin was fulfilled in the New Testament.Isaiah 7:14

The prophesy of Isaiah was fulfilled in the New Testament after about 700 years. “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (vs 24) “Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: (25) And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”  Matthew 1:23-25

 

• Appearance and Crucifixion of Messiah:

“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandmentto restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiahthe Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:”Daniel 9:25-26 

The appearance of the Messiah was fulfilled in the New Testament on Palm Sunday, when Jesus rode a donkey from the Mount of Olives to the Temple, as the King and Messiah of Israel.

“And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side”, Luke 19: 41-43

“Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.” Matthew 27:50

 

 c. Proofs

Science proves the Bible and the Bible proves science. When the Bible makes a scientific statement, it is always proven correct after man has discovered all of the relevant facts. The Bible has no scientific errors. It contains scientific information that was unknown to man at the time of writing but was only discovered recently.

Question: How did the Bible possess knowledge not then known to man?

God authored the Bible, revealing new information, so that we can be sure it is God’s word.

Question: Why do other religious books not reveal new scientific information, but contain many errors?Because those books are man-made, are limited by man’s current state of knowledge, and have not come from the true God. We reject them as counterfeits seeking to control us and bring us into error.

Question: What examples of scientific facts in the Bible were unknown to man at the time of writing?

Scientific accuracy of the Bible:

• Global Earth

“It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.”Isaiah 40: 21

• Earth hanging on nothing

“He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.”Job 26:7 

• Telephone – Communications

“Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and sayunto thee, Here we are?”Job 38:35

• Invention of Airplanes

“Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the dovesto their windows? (9) Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.”Isaiah 60:8-9

 

2. External evidence

    a. Archeological evidence.

The Bible is the only ancient, well-organized, and authentic framework in which to fit all the facts of history. Archeological evidence proves the Bible and its accuracy. Below are the top findings from the important excavations taking place in the lands of the Bible or that have a Biblical connection.

 

1. A mosaic depicting two Biblical spies

 

 

An ancient mosaic depicting two Biblical spies sent to scout the Promised Land has been unearthed at a nearly 1,600-year-old synagogue in northern Israel

 

2. Inscription of Pontus Pilate

 

3. THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS

 

The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 confirmed that we still have the same Old Testament as they did in Jesus’ day. The survival of thousands of New Testament manuscripts confirms that the New Testament writings were also providentially preserved.

 

b. First Century WritersQuote Every NT Book (except III John).

1. Ignatius. (30-107AD) a disciple of John.

Ignatius quotes every New Testament book except III John and Jude, giving the same readings as the King James Bible (Vol.1, p.45-131).

Ignatius quotes all these NT references (from 25 out of 27 NT books on 245 occasions), showing that the canon of Scripture was immediately recognized as authoritative Scripture.

Matthew 1:1,23; 3:9,15; 4:6,9,10,23; 5:4,19,45,48; 6:14; 7:15; 8:17; 9:35; 10:16,41; 12:33,40; 15:13; 16:26; 18:19; 19:12; 22:40; 23:35; 24:25; 27:52; 28:19. Mark 12:29.Luke 1:6,47; 4:6; 6:46; 10:18,27; 14:11; 16:15; 17:10; 22:31,32; 23:34; 24:39. John 1:3,9,10,11,14,18 (p.116); 2:19; 3:8,14,36; 4:14; 5:25,28,30,46; 6:38; 7:38; 8:29,44,46,56,58 (p108); 10:9,11; 11:25,26,42; 12:7,32; 13:34; 14:6,16,24; 15:19; 16:13,14; 17:3,4,5,6,31; 20:17,27,28. Acts 1:11; 3:22; 7:37; 9:15; 11:26; 13:48; 20:24; 26:14,23; 28:13,14. Romans 1:3; 2:4,6; 4:17; 6:10; 8:17,18,32; 10:10; 13:14; 15:19. I Corinthians 1:10,18,20,31; 2:8; 3:16; 4:4,13,16,20; 5:7,11; 6:9,10,19; 7:19,22; 8:4,6; 10:4,13,31; 11:1,11; 12:11,13; 13:2; 15:8,9,13,14, 17,18,19,28,32,53. II Corinthians 2:17; 4:18; 5:17; 6:14-16,16; 8:18; 10:17; 13:12. Galatians 1:1,4; 2:5,20; 3:11,20,28; 4:9; 6:2,14,17; Ephesians 1:1; 2:2,4; 4:1,3,4,5,6; 5:3,22,25; 6:1,3,4,12,16. Philippians 2:2,3,25; 3:10,16,18,19.Colossians 1:15,16,17,23,25; 4:15,18. I Thessalonians 4:5; 5:17. II Thessalonians 3:10. I Timothy 1:1,3,4,5,14; 2:4,5,6; 4:10,12,13; 5:3,6,11; 6:1,3. Titus 1:10; 2:5,14; 3:13. Philemon 8,9. Hebrews 10:12,13,29; 13:17. James 1:6,8,16; 2:23; 4:6. I Peter 2:5,9,23; 3:6; 4:7; 5:2,5,14. II Peter 3:9. I John 2:22; 4:3. II John 7. Revelation 1:7.

This proves that:

a) The King James Bibleis unchanged since the original autographs.

b) The following Muslim claim is false: the Bible has been corrupted by adding references to show Jesus’ Sonship, deity, death, & resurrection. Islam denies these. Ignatius calls Jesus the Prophet of Deut 18:15.

c) The following Roman Catholic claim is false:the NT books were not immediately recognized as Scripture until the Catholic Council of Carthage determined it in 397 AD.

 

2. Clement of Rome. (30-100 AD) companion of Paul and Luke

“And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clementalso, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.”(Philippians 4:3).

Clement wrote to the Corinthians in 96 AD, quoting the New and Old Testament Scriptures as being equally authoritative. He was at Philippi with Paul in 57 AD. He quotes Psalm 118:18 and Hebrews 12:6 as the Holy Word (First Epistle of Clement 56:3,4.ie: Vol.1, p.20) “For thus saith the holy Word: ‘The Lord hath severely chastened me, yet hath he not given me over to death’ (Psalm 118:18). `For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.’ (Hebrews 12:6). He says that Paul wrote I Corinthians with `true inspiration to you’ (47:1-3).

Clement quotes from 15 out of 27 NT books as Scripture (Vol.1, p.1-21) in 96 AD. These are:

Matthew 6:12-15; 7:2; 15:8; 24:35. Mark 7:6; 9:42. Luke 6:36-38; 8:5; 17:2. Acts 20:35.Romans 1:32; 4:3; 9:5. I Corinthians 1:31; 2:9; 3:13; 10:26,28; 12:12; 13:4; 15:20; 16:1,2. II Cor. 10:17. Ephesians 4:4-6; 5:21. Colossians 1:18. I Thess.5:21. Titus 1:2; 2:14; 3:1. Hebrews 1:3,4,7,13; 3:5; 6:18; 11:13,17,37; 12:6. James 2:23; 4:6; 5:20. I Peter 2:17; 3:20; 4:8; 5:5. II Peter 2:5.

 

3. Poly Carp (65-155 AD) disciple of apostle John.

In writing to the Philippians church in 115 AD, he quotes 19 out of the 27 New Testament books as Scripture on 70 occasions. This shows that the NT canon was well established by 115 AD. He testified to be a disciple of John the Apostle. (Vol.1, p.31- 44).

In 115 AD Poly Carp quotes Matthew 5:3,10,44; 6:12,13,14; 7:1,2; 20:28; 26:41; Mark 14:38; Luke 6:20,36,37,38; Acts 2:24; 5:41; 17:31; 21:14. Romans 8:11; 12:17; 14:10-12; I Cor. 6:2,9,10,14;

II Cor. 4:14; 5:10; 8:31; Ga1.1:1; 2:2; 4:26; 6:7; Eph.2:8,9; 4:26; 6:11,14; Phil.1:5,27; 2:10,16;

I Thess.5:17,22; II Thess.3:15; I Tim.2:2; 3:8; 6:7,10; II Tim.2:12; Titus 3:1; I Peter 1:8,13,21; 2:11,12,17,21,22,24; 3:9,22; 4:7,16; 5:5; II Peter 3:15; I John 4:3,9; Jude 3.

 

4. Impact of the Bible

The Bible is the only book which impacts people’s lives and transforms them when reading it. It heals the brokenhearted and delivers people from drug addictions. No religious book can deliver and heal a person.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

When witnessing to Muslims you can share the examples of people whose lives have been transformed:

1. Share the testimony of apostle Paul and the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, how they left all things to follow Jesus, and how many of them were martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ.
2. Share the testimony of those whom you know were delivered from addiction.
3. Share your own testimony of how the Bible changed your life.