HAS THE BIBLE BEEN CORRUPTED?

Christians often hear the claim by Muslims that the Bible has been corrupted.  This sort of teaching comes from people who want to build walls between Christians and Muslims.  These people do not want to look at what the Qur’an actually says, but would rather teach hatred and avoidance of Christians by Muslims.  To see the many verses from the Qur’an that talk about the Bible click on (The Bible in the Qur’an) article.

Qur’anic verses used to claim corruption of the Bible:

“Among them is a group of those who distort the Book with their tongues, so that you would think that it is from the Book, when it is not from the Book.  They say, it is from God, when it is not from God, and they knowingly tell lies about God.    Al Imran 3:78

  1. This verse tells us that some people twisted their tongues around the Book, (or said that which is not suitable about it.) 
  2. This does not mean that they changed the actual text of the Book, but that they were sly to deceive people regarding the true contents of the Book.
  3. This was oral twisting (distort… with their tongues, say it is from God… knowingly tell lies about God).
  4. This does NOT affect the text of the Book itself.

 

Do you hope that they will be true to you when some of them heard the word of God and then knowingly altered it after they understood it?    Baqara 2:75

  1. What the Jews corrupted in this verse is what they heard and understood and not the Book itself.
  2. They heard the word of God and then knowingly altered it after they understood it.

 

“Some Jews distort the words out of their context and say: We heard and disobeyed; hear without hearing and listen to us. They distort with their tongues and slander religion. If they had said: We heard and obeyed; hear  and look at us, it would have been better and more upright for them.  God has cursed them for their unbelief, for they only believe a little.”    Nisa 4:46

  1. The Jews in this verse take the words out of their context and say another meaning with their tongues.
  2. Jews distort the words out of their context and say… they distort with their tongues… they slander.

 

“Because they broke their covenant, we cursed them  and hardened their hearts. They twist the words from their context, and have forgotten part of what they were reminded of.  You will constantly discover new treacheries from most of them. Pardon them and forgive them, for God loves those who do good.”    Maida 5:13

  1. Here also we see that the kind of corruption which the Jews did was oral corruption of the meaning, and not corrupting the Book itself.
  2. Here God said that the Jews take the words without regard for their context and forget part of what God reminded them of.

 

“O messenger, don’t be sad about those among the Jews who have said with their mouths, “We have believed,” and who have not believed in their hearts, but hasten to disbelief, listening to a lie, and listening to another people.  They have come to you twisting words out of their contexts, saying, “You have been given this, so take it.” You have not been given it, so beware.  Whoever Allah wants to tempt, you will not be able to get anything from Allah for him.  Those whose hearts Allah  does not want to purify will have shame in this world and in the hereafter great torture.”     Maida 5:41

  1. Here also we see that the Jews said something with their mouths, and they listened to lies and then changed the meaning of the Book, by taking it out of its context and changing its meaning.

 

Is it possible to change God’s words, even if we wanted to?
“Messengers before you were rejected, and they were patient with the rejection and were harmed, until our salvation came.  There is no altering of God’s words, and news of the messengers has come to you.”    Anaam 6:34

“And the word of your lord was fulfilled, a just promise.  There is no altering his words, and he is all-hearing and all-knowing.”     Anaam 6:115

“And chant the part of the Book that you were inspired with. There is no altering of his words, and you will not find any refuge besides him”   . Kahaf 18:27

“They have good news in this world and in the hereafter, and there is no altering the words of God.  That is the great victory.”    Yunis 10:64

 

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