Is the bible today the true word of God?

[M.Khaled]

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It seems you are only able to concentrate on what we don't have... Even maybe what never existed. You fail to see the value in what we do have. The link I thought was just some facts and figures.. I wasn't thinking to provide you with evidence as the evidence is out there if you wished to see it, you could I'm sure find it for yourself, but you are more interested in "other" evidence I feel. :)

I see that what you have don't have a great value because when I compare your evidence to the evidence of preservation of the Quran and the Sunna, I find that you really have no evidence compared the evidence of the Quran and the Sunna. In the Quran and Sunna, there are no gaps at all, and if it was actually proven that a narrator transmitted a hadith from a predecessor who haven't seen him even if they were at the same age, the hadith is rejected. When I see the science of Quran and hadith and see at the same time incomplete manuscripts whom we don't know who wrote them and there are hundreds of years of gaps, then you must excuse me.

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if it were a complete set, exact in every detail to the Bible we have today.. Would you accept that the Bible was indeed what it claims to be ..the inspired work of God? Would you allow yourself to accept that?

If it were a complete set with no gap and Jesus confirms every part of it and the same conditions of the references to Jesus.

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Yes, for sure it does. My question was... Did you have any particular early Christian sects in mind? And what Gospels did they prefer? The only Gospel I accept is the Gospel according to Jesus Christ. Along with the Word of God.. That's to be found in the Bible.

Well, that's according to your opinion, what I meant is that there was no consensus on which gospels really refer to Jesus, not necessary I am talking on a particular sect.

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If you really feel that simply being repentant and relying on the balance of your good deeds over bad will serve you well, then that is fine for you. No one who is not made righteous by God can hope to stand at judgement before a Holy God.. We can never achieve that level of righteousness by our own efforts, to believe we can is supreme arrogance.. Not to say dangerous. I know I can never do enough by my own efforts to justify myself before a Holy God.. So I accept Gods gift of Jesus my redeemer.

In Islam, it is neither work alone nor faith alone get man to Paradise. It’s both actually, Allah says in the Quran:
But as for those who believe and do good works, for them are the Gardens of Retreat – a welcome (in reward) for what they used to do.(Sura 32:19)
See, belief is mentioned before good works, because actually good works alone do nothing if they were without belief, and belief without good works is not a serious belief. So actually good works are an indication of belief and that’s why in Islam we are accounted on our good and bad deeds, where bad deeds negate good deeds and the rank of every man in Paradise is dependent on his score of good and bad deeds, so actually good and bad deeds distinguish between believers in Paradise rather than meaning that man shall enter Paradise because of his deeds:
47. And We shall set up balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And Sufficient are We as Reckoners.(Sura 21:47)
Associate this verse with this hadith:
Jabir reported that the Prophet of Islam said: “No good works of yours can ever secure heaven for you, nor can they save you from hell – not even me, without the grace of God.”
God promised us that if we believed and obeyed Him, we shall go to Paradise:
9. Allah has promised those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism) and do deeds of righteousness, that for them there is forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise). (Sura 5)

[pandora]

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I see that what you have don't have a great value because when I compare your evidence to the evidence of preservation of the Quran and the Sunna, I find that you really have no evidence compared the evidence of the Quran and the Sunna. In the Quran and Sunna, there are no gaps at all, and if it was actually proven that a narrator transmitted a hadith from a predecessor who haven't seen him even if they were at the same age, the hadith is rejected. When I see the science of Quran and hadith and see at the same time incomplete manuscripts whom we don't know who wrote them and there are hundreds of years of gaps, then you must excuse me.

I feel on this point you will never understand why this need for "evidence" will not hold the same importance for Christians as it does for yourselves. Whatever gaps you see in regards to the Bible "evidence" does not detract at all or change it's core message.. And that is the important factor for Christians. We never make claim that the Bible is the word of God verbatim as you do for the Quran, and accept that errors will be made as no man that ever walked this earth is perfect ... Except for Jesus.. he was perfect...obviously. :) however... These errors we consider to be in the main textual and minor which in no way affect the core message.. Sorry for the repetition here.. But I feel the need to make this point understood. The reason the core message stands steadfast and unchanging is because it is divine and as God is unchanging in His nature this also applies to His message. This cannot be changed as it is fact which both the Bible and the Quran both attest to. None can change Gods words. For a Christian it a gap of blah blah number of years is not seen as an issue because we have faith in God and His supreme ability to protect His message.
Now, you may well persuade the "Christian"who is weak in faith and sow seeds of doubt in their minds on this biblical corruption issue.. But for those of strong faith it's a small thing and their trust in God will always come first.

In regards to the claims of evidence you have for the Quran... And there being no gaps at all..this is all well and good.. But is not in itself proof of the Quran actually being what it claims to be.. That is the word of God verbatim. This can only be taken on faith and belief in Prophet Mohammed. If the Quran is an "updated" version of the previous message, then on at least the core issues it has to agree. It does not. I don't see that it's possible to prove Biblical corruption on such a massive scale that would be necessary to allow for the Quran to be the final message. The basic errors claiming what Christians and Jews believed at the time as coming from God, I don't see as possible.. God is Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent how is it possible that God would be in error? As for scientific proof.. That is no proof at all, I don't think I've ever been shown scientific proof from the Quran that was in the first place ambiguous or already known to man.
It seems to me that your need for proof... Even for the Quran.. Is greater than your faith and acceptance of Gods abilities. For me personally I have found this detrimental to accepting Islam over Christianity.. I cannot see how I can achieve the same level of spirituality, faith and trust in God than I enjoy now..if everything has to conform to mans need for logic and evidence. I want God to be bigger and greater than that.. And I believe God is just that. :)

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If it were a complete set with no gap and Jesus confirms every part of it and the same conditions of the references to Jesus.

So you will open your mind to any logical evidence that conforms to your human mind.. But close your heart to the greater possibilities. ;)

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Well, that's according to your opinion, what I meant is that there was no consensus on which gospels really refer to Jesus, not necessary I am talking on a particular sect.

I believe there is.. :) I guess we are going to have to agree to disagree on this point. Mind you, I will say I admire your reasoning. In reading through your article you at least use reasoning to come to your conclusions. Ok.. For me I see where that reasoning is faulty when it comes to Bible interpretation, but I can see where you are coming from and I think what you are aiming at. I'm just not sure about your target audience. I find dialogue with you interesting.. You could do with thinking outside the box once in awhile though ;)

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In Islam, it is neither work alone nor faith alone get man to Paradise. It’s both actually, Allah says in the Quran:

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But as for those who believe and do good works, for them are the Gardens of Retreat – a welcome (in reward) for what they used to do.(Sura 32:19)
See, belief is mentioned before good works, because actually good works alone do nothing if they were without belief, and belief without good works is not a serious belief. So actually good works are an indication of belief and that’s why in Islam we are accounted on our good and bad deeds, where bad deeds negate good deeds and the rank of every man in Paradise is dependent on his score of good and bad deeds, so actually good and bad deeds distinguish between believers in Paradise rather than meaning that man shall enter Paradise because of his deeds:
47. And We shall set up balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And Sufficient are We as Reckoners.(Sura 21:47)
Associate this verse with this hadith:
Jabir reported that the Prophet of Islam said: “No good works of yours can ever secure heaven for you, nor can they save you from hell – not even me, without the grace of God.”
God promised us that if we believed and obeyed Him, we shall go to Paradise:
9. Allah has promised those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism) and do deeds of righteousness, that for them there is forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise). (Sura 5)

I find this interesting, and am pleased to see that salvation is not simply works based. Although I still find the balance of good deeds over bad deeds and the kind of score card approach unsatisfactory.. Personally speaking. It implies that we are able to save ourselves by our own efforts to some degree. Gods grace being bestowed in a rather arbitrary manner... It does not address how one goes about achieving righteousness before God. The message of the Bible prophets pointed to the Messiah, We see Jesus as that promised Messiah.. Jesus alone.. Out of all the prophets said the words.. He was the way, He was the Truth and He was the Light. That Jesus was the way to God the Father..I don't see why Jesus would have made a claim of this magnitude if He did not mean it and did not have the authority to say it.

Peace and blessings to you.