Why is there no historical criticism of the Qur’an as there is of the Bible? Here we have a simple misunderstanding. The Bible is made up of many different books, compiled over many centuries. It is possible to cast doubt upon one part without impugning the rest. But the Qur’an is a single revelation received by just one man. Either you accept it for what it claims to be, in which case you are a Muslim, or you reject this claim and so place yourself outside the fold of Islam. I discuss this in more detail in the video.
Categories: Bible, Biblical scholarship, God, Islam, Quran
Blogging Theology 
That Panini looks good. So I agree with you that the Quran and Bible are different though us Christians still see the Scriptures as inspired by God.
However, I don’t understand how this difference exempts the Quran from Scriptural Criticism(comparing manuscript variants, etc.), or historical criticism aka testing the Qurans historical claims against established history.
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Scholars (Muslims and non Muslims) have done this already. In the past and currently.
The Muslims themselves began the historical study to the Qur’an.
The issue is what are you bringing with you in your analysis? (Not you personally.) That is, if there is no objective standard, then historical criticism will use the subjectivity of ‘nowadays’ as the standard – which is flakey. Therein is the problem. Especially as the Qur’an regards itself as ‘al-Furqan’ (the Criterion) to judge all other religious dispensations (and non religious worldviews). “Highly blessed is He, Who has sent down Al-Furqan to His servant so that it may be a warner to all mankind.” (Qur’an 25:1) And “Surely We have sent down to you The Book in truth that you may judge between mankind with that which Allah has shown you.” (Qur’an 4:105)
By what Criterion would you judge God’s Criterion?
I think Paul was referring to the idea of a Muslim ‘critiquing’ (which implies deriding it) God’s Words (as a believer) because that implies us (as finite beings) judging Allah (The Infinite) which is a flawed project (and blasphemous). But to analyse (a neutral term) His Words is different, (which has already been done, indicated above).
All this is different to critiquing St Paul’s words.
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Another great video from the “Paul Williams show” and a good comment above by ModWestMuse as well.
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Shalom Paul. Excellent Show! Can not wait for more from you! I hope, I really hope you get to interview James Dunn about the Trinity, Jesus being YHWH or not etc for your show! That would really be something! You could also get Larry Hurtado! Would that not be amazing?
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1 Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),
2 and all the brethren who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;
7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!
9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:1-12
verse 9 – “So I say to you now” = so I am writing to you now” = putting the writing on same par as the preaching of the revelation of the message from Jesus Christ
“See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.”
Galatians 6:11
1 Timothy 5:18
For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” [quoting Deut. 25:4 = law, Torah]
and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” [ quoting Luke 10:7, Matthew 10:7, and 1 Corinthians 9:9, 14 – thus equating Gospel and NT letters with Torah]
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is “God-breathed” . . .
All of Paul’s NT letters were written in between these, therefore, along with the 4 gospels, Acts, Peter’s letters, John Letters, Hebrews, Jude, James, book of Revelation, therefore, all NT books are “God-breathed”.
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The Quran identifies Muhammad as a sinner:
Surah 40:55,
Surah 48:2, and
Surah 47:19
So he was a fallible sinner and also many Hadith show the problems with just accepting the claims of one man.
Whereas the Bible actually has better credibility because it’s some 40 authors confirm one another and harmonize one another as from one mind (God), whereas the Qur’an is one man’s claim with no one else on the same level to verify.
The OT and NT confirm each other, like witnesses in a court case, – “every fact must be corroborated by 2 or 3 witnesses”. The 4 gospels confirm one another like 4 witnesses of a car accident, one on each corner – each direction of space (North, South, east, west) – confirms real history.
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You should have compared the authors of the gospels with the hundreds of the prophet’s companions not with the prophet pbuh.
You need to read about our belief about the prophets of God.
Paul is another issue, and till now christians have not provided any good reason why they believe in that man, especially that companions of Jesus had not the same attitude toward that man as christians have today.
Your real problem is this, and I’m telling you from now that you can do nothing about it.
“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true” Jesus.
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No, because the companions of your prophet did not write any inspired scripture to be on equal terms, whereas all the NT books are equally “God-breathed” and confirm one another. All you have is one fallible, sinful man’s claim.
In context, John 5:31 means “if I testify about Myself only . . . because in the context, Jesus immediately brings 5 other witnesses in inspired Scripture to confirm who He is:
1. The Father in heaven (John 5:32; 37-38)
2. John the Baptist ( Yahya یحیی )
John 5:33-35
3. The works that Jesus does – John 5:36
4. The witness of the OT Scripture – John 5:39-44 (all of the OT)
5. The witness of Moses – john 5:45-47 (first 5 books)
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So you admit that your god’s testimony is worthless?
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How do you get that conclusion?
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Rather what do you understand when your god said that his testimony by himself is NOT true ?
Regarding, Yahya pbuh, who is less than the least in the kingdom of God according to your belief, you may watch this video.
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7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;
8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;
9 but just as it is written,
“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,
13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.
16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:7-16
I Corinthians 14:37
If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment.
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