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God warns that those who add anything to His word will be cursed (with plagues) and those who substract His word will lose his eternal life as his name will be struck off from the Book of Life. A true Scribe will never compromise his task since he knows that it is the Word of GOD and not of men. Apostle John in Book of Revelation 22:18-19 testifies:
3) Gospel of Barnabas is a fake gospel: it contains the contradictory statement that Jesus is not the Messiah while Quran says “whose name shall be called Messiah Jesus, son of Mary”? (Sura 3:45) It also says that Judas Iscariot was changed to look like Jesus and was crucified instead. If the Gospel of Barnabas is truthful then Quran is wrong because of that claim saying Jesus is not a Messiah. Secondly, the body of Judas was found and not disappeared in thin air. “Saying, I (Judas) have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. “ (Matthew 25:4-5) 4) Eye-witnessess of the 4 Apostles: John saw Jesus crucified, testified (in John 19:17-20 & 26-27) as follows:
Simon Peter testified in 1 Peter 1-3 & 2 Peter 1:16 as follows:-
Apostle Matthew testified (in Matthew 27:33-38 & 28:16-17) as follows:
Apostle Paul heard the voice of the resurrected Jesus and testified (Acts 9:3-6 & 20 and Galations 1:12) as follows:-
Circumstantial evidence shows that Paul (formerly known as Saul) saw the light from heaven and then heard the voice that spoke testifying that He is Jesus whom he persecuted. The fruit of Paul is evidence from his preaching that he received the revelation from Jesus, Son of God.
5) Historical evidence. Flavius Josephus (Yusefus), A.D. 37, a first century Jewish historian writes in the most significant historical records ever made, concerning Jesus, Josephus said the following: "Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again in the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of the Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day" (Book 18, 3:3). Josephus also describes in detail the death of James and John the Baptist. Tacitus (A.D. 112), a Roman historian, accessing the Roman government archives, of Jesus he said; "Christus, the founder of the name, was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius; but the pernicious superstition, repressed for a time, broke out again, not only through Judea, where the mischief originated, but through the city of Rome also." Tacitus was an enemy of Christianity, yet he carefully recorded the story of Jesus. A death penalty was prescribed for anyone who would tamper with government archives. These historians were accurate to the letter concerning historic events. Tertullian, the early Christian writings show fascinating evidence. They mention Tiberius who lived at the time of Jesus, and knew about his life. Tertullian who was a judge and theologian at the end of the second century wrote several books in the defense of the Christian faith. He writes; "Tiberius accordingly, in those days the Christian name made its entry into the world, having himself received intelligence from the truth of Christ's divinity, brought the matter before the Senate, with his own decision in favor of Christ. The Senate, because it had not given the approval, rejected his proposal. Caesar held his opinion, threatening wrath against all the accusers of the Christians." (Apology 5:2). Since Tertullian allowed people to have access to official government records and could prove he was lying (which meant death), unless what he wrote here was true. Justin Martyr (A.D. 148), a great Christian writer confirms Tertullian. In his Apology (1:35), writing to the emperor, Antoninus Pius, in an attempt to persuade him of the Christian faith. He urged the emperor to search and examine the existing evidence in the imperial governmental archives in Rome that contain all the reports from procurators and governors of provinces. According to the Roman Law, every governor must submit a yearly report of all exceptional events in their jurisdiction. This report had to have detailed explanation of their actions in keeping the peace and government. Justin Martyr referred to the emperor to the "Acts of Pontius Pilate" specifically to a report for the year of Christ's death. Justin Martyr writes; "They pierced my hands and my feet' are a description of the nails that were fixed in His hands and His feet on the cross; and after He was crucified, those who crucified Him cast lots for his garments, and divided them among themselves; and that these things were so, you may learn from the "Acts" which were recorded under Pontius Pilate." In other passages from his letter he writes; "He performed these miracles so you may easily be satisfied from the "Acts" of Pontius Pilate". Again, for him to send a letter to the emperor of Rome with fabrications, would mean the death penalty for Justin Martyr.
Rebuttal to Muslim Apologists' misconception of Jeremiah 8:8 Jeremiah 8:8 is taken out of context because it was written to the people of Jerusalem - tribe of Judah by prophet Jeremiah around 627- 586 BC with the objective to urge God's people to turn from their sins and to turn back to God. The "lying pen of the Scribes" means the Scribes interpret the religious laws falsely by twisting the laws to mean which never meant to be. Muslim apologists are doing exactly what Jeremiah 8:8 said. Even if the Scribes has falsely interpreted the laws, it is in no preposition to mean that the New Testament (Holy Scripture) which was written between 40 AD and 95 AD is corrupted. Let the Holy Bible defends itself and let it interprets what Jeremiah 8:8 actually means. We cannot simply take a single verse and twist them up to mean a thing God never meant. We have to read verses before verse 8 and after it, in order to understand the context. Let us refer to Jeremiah 8:4-10 from King James Version.
Did
Jesus say that the Holy Scriptures written by Scribes are corrupted? If not, who
have the authority to say so? “Then
was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
And when He had
fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungred. And when the
tempter came to Him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that
these stones be made bread. But He answered and said, It is written, Man
shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the
mouth of God. Then the devil taketh
him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple…”
(Matthew: 4:1-5) Did the Devil (that old serpent called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world -- Revelation 12:9) reply saying “ It is also written, Lo, certainly in vain he wrote it; the pen of the scribes is in vain”? (Jeremiah 8:8 KJV). No, the deceiver did not say simply the Bible is corrupted!!! Then is there any truth for those who is not as old as that old serpent who knew no better than Scriptures saying that the Bible is corrupted? Then who are the wise and
has the wisdom of God? Worldly wisdom is foolishness in God’s sight. For
the preaching of the Cross (Gospel) is to them that perish, foolishness;
but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God. The power and wisdom of God is vested in the crucified Jesus Christ (Al-Messiah) and not in the “one who appeared to them as dead”. False prophet reveals to men the doctrine of angel and a different gospel of Christ to lead men astray from the path of truth. Look at the New Testament, there were Pharisees and Sadducees -- two major parties of the Jewish Supreme Council and the Scribes -- professional interpreters of the Jewish religious laws, whom the Quran termed as "the Jews". They do not recognize that Jesus is the Messiah and thus do not believe in the trinity God. Why they bother to corrupt the Scripture? It makes no sense to us. The Scribes do not believe Jesus is the Son of God but rather born-again Christians who believe in the trinity God. The New Testaments were written by the Apostle Matthew (Levi) a Jewish Tax Collector, Apostle John (son of Zebedee, James' brother), Apostle Simon Peter who are eye-witnesses of the account on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Apostle Paul and other disciples. The account of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ by 3 Apostles are sufficient to establish the truth. The eyewitnesses should carry more weight than the fake gospel of Barnabas; the original Barnabas was a missionary and strongly contributed to the growth of Christianity in the early church at Antioch (Acts 4:32-37 & Acts 11:19-24). More on the truth about the identity of Barnabas (Click on this link).
The Crucifixion, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus
This picture is for illustration of the crucified Jesus the Son of God (original Messiah Jesus was not left on the Cross for more than 9 hours). He was crucified on the Cross at the place outside the city of Jerusalem called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull for at least 6 hours from 9 am (3rd hour -- Mark 15:25 KJV) till his death at about 3 pm (9th hour --Matthew 27:46) on Good Friday and whose body was taken down from the Cross for burial before 6 pm (12th hour) on the same day based on Jewish law and reckoning. Deutronomy 21:22-23, it says "And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance." And it was the third hour (9 am), and they crucified him. And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city {of Jerusalem}: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. Now from the sixth hour (12 noon) there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour (3 pm). And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. As the Jewish new day starts at 6 o'clock in the evening, Jesus' body have to be taken down from the Cross before the Sabbath Day. The Jews therefore, because it was the Preparation {day about to be over}, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken {to hasten the death as the victim could no longer use his legs to push upward in order to draw a breath}, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And now when the even{ing} was come, because it was the Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid. Now the next day, that followed the day of the Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. (References: Matthew 27:32-61, Mark 15:21-47, Luke 23:26-56 & John 19:17-42)
In Jewish time, the day begins with the onset of night (the appearance of the stars) followed by the morning (which technically begins with the appearance of the North Star). According to some Jewish teachers, night and morning begin with sunset and sunrise respectively. For that is how the Torah describes it: "And there was evening and there was morning, the first day." For this reason, the Sabbath begins on Friday night and ends with the appearance of the stars on Saturday night." There are 12 hours in a day begins at 6 am and 12 hours in a night begins at 6 pm. Sixth hour of the day means 12 noon (Matthew 27:45 KJV) and third hour of the night means 9 pm (Acts 23:23 KJV). Each new day begins at 6 pm and not 12 midnight, in Jewish reckoning. The Jews knew when was the third day. Friday before 6 pm is counted as one day, Saturday (Sabbath day) begins on Friday at 6 pm and ends on Saturday at 6 pm. Jewish Sunday begins on Saturday at 6 pm. So early in the morning on Sunday, it is already 3 days according to Jewish reckoning. On further details of Jewish Time, visit this website http://onestick.netfirms.com/jewish_time.html And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. {This linen clothes wrapped together gives evidence that Jesus did not resuscitate but resurrect instead.} And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. (References: Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-11, Luke 24:1-12, & John 20:1-18) There is power in the precious shed Blood of Jesus. It is an atonment for the sins of the whole world. Without shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. Satan trembles at the precious Blood of Jesus. "And they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." (Revelation 12:11). "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. (Leviticus 17:11)" The precious blood of Jesus is life, devil cannot stand at the power and holiness of the Blood of Jesus.
The Ascension of Jesus So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19) After Jesus resurrection from the death, he remains on earth for 40 days and appearing to his Apostles from time to time to teach them about the Kingdom of God. "Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me." (Acts 1:2-4) The historian Luke testifies that after Jesus Christ resurrection, he speaks of the Gospel of repentance and the remission of sins as follows:
Quran supports the Bible on the Ascension of Jesus Christ and we accept only the verses that are in conformity with the scriptures. Sura 4:158 Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.
Conclusion: Let the audience be the Judge. Is the Quran in error as regards to the contention of Sura 4:157. Please take note that I do not mean that the whole Quran is a fiction . The account of the crucifixion in Quran is not from eye-witnesses and should not carry greater weight than historical records. Quran contains doctrines that is claimed to be revealed through angel Gabriel. Apostle Paul says "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8)" For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment (2 Peter 2:4) Choose you this day whom you will listen to? Muhammad or Jesus Christ? It is your choice!
Other Articles of Interest:
b) Muslims Views - FAQ
c) Christianity & Islam Views
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