Muslims routinely claim that the Bible has been corrupted. They try and provide contradictions in God’s word to weaken its truth so that they can justify their support of the Quran. These ‘contradictions’ are usually differences in the numbers of populations, or ages, with occasional citations of differences in the biblical narrative when referring to an event. They ignore my responses when I answer the alleged contradictions and move to another challenge. Yet, they won’t face the Quran’s problems. For example, Surah 4:82 says there can be no discrepancies in the Quran. Otherwise, it is not from Allah. Then when I show them that the Quran says a man’s seed forms in his chest (Surah 86:5-7), they argue it away and then turn to attack the Bible.

Dear Muslims, which sayings of Jesus are true and false?

Of course, providing a list of the sayings of Jesus that are true and false would be a monumental undertaking, and I believe no Muslim would ever try. So, to make it easier, I’ve asked them to supply a list of things that Jesus said in the four Gospels that are authentic or not. I’ve had no takers. In fact, no Muslim has, as far as I know, ever tried to do it – yet they say the Bible is corrupted. Okay, then show us which verses are corrupted and which are not.

For any Muslim to present such a list would be problematic. I could compare their list to different historical manuscripts to see if there are any variances related to particular verses that they might cite. If there aren’t any variants, what justifies their proclamation that any specific thing Jesus said in the Bible is authentic? Are all the thousands of different manuscripts corrupted in all the same places? It would make no sense. Second, Muslims will submit the Bible to the Quran. They will proclaim that whatever Bible verses contradict the Quran, then that is proof of corruption. But that’s a problem. Here’s why.

Internal and external critiques

“An internal critique examines the merits of an idea based on the internal consistency of the idea. Essentially it assumes the position being discussed and examines it for contradiction. By contrast, an external critique seeks to falsify an idea using criteria outside the idea being examined. So, for example, an internal critique of Christianity’s theology would require an examination of it to see if it is consistent within itself. An external critique of Christianity’s theology would be to examine it based on something like Islam or atheism. This is problematic because the reverse can be applied. Islam and atheism would be false based on Christian theology. So, external critiques are weak.”  https://carm.org/apologetics/what-is-the-difference-between-an-internal-and-external-critique

As the quote above shows, an external critique means that just as Muslims consider the Bible is false because the Quran says so, the Christians could also say that the Quran is wrong because the Bible says so. It gets us nowhere – for the most part. But, the Quran does not say the Bible is corrupted. If anything, it supports the Bible.

1. Surah 3:3, “It is He Who has sent down the Book (the Qur’an) to you (Muhammad) with truth, confirming what came before it. And he sent down the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel).”
2. Surah 10:94, “So if you (O Muhammad) are in doubt concerning that which We have revealed unto you, [i.e. that your name is written in the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] then ask those who are reading the Book [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] before you. Verily, the truth has come to you from your Lord. So be not of those who doubt (it).”
3. Surah 6:34, “Verily, (many) Messengers were denied before you (O Muhammad), but with patience, they bore the denial, and they were hurt, till Our Help reached them, and none can alter the Words (Decisions) of Allah. Surely there has reached you the information (news) about the Messengers (before you).”
4. Surah 18:27, “And recite what has been revealed to you (O Muhammad) of the Book (the Qur’an) of your Lord (i.e. recite it, understand and follow its teachings and act on its orders and preach it to men). None can change His Words, and none will you find as a refuge other than Him.”

A partial list of Jesus’ sayings that are true and false

So again, I ask the Muslims to provide a list, even a partial list, of five statements of Jesus, as recorded in the gospels, that are true and five that are false. Will it happen? I doubt it. They don’t wish their accusations, compilations, and dissertations about Jesus’ words cross-examined. Nevertheless, I hope that at least some Muslims might try and provide a list of true and false verses regarding Jesus’ teachings. But I won’t be holding my breath.