The Bible Was Corrupted

The Islamic concept of tahrif (corruption) suggests that the original Torah (Tawrat) and Gospel (Injil) given to Moses and Jesus were altered by Jews and Christians over time. 

Manuscript Evidence for the Bible: The Bible’s textual integrity is supported by extensive manuscript evidence. For the Old Testament, the Dead Sea Scrolls (dated 150 BC–70 AD) contain nearly all books of the Hebrew Bible, showing remarkable consistency with modern texts (e.g., the Great Isaiah Scroll, 1QIsa^a, aligns closely with today’s Isaiah 53, ESV). For the New Testament, over 5,800 Greek manuscripts exist, some dating to within decades of the originals (e.g., Papyrus 52, circa 125 AD, contains John 18:31-33, ESV). These manuscripts, along with early translations like the Septuagint (3rd century BC) and the Latin Vulgate (4th century AD), demonstrate that the Bible has been faithfully preserved.

Early Church Testimony: Early church fathers like Ignatius (circa 110 AD) and Polycarp (circa 120 AD) quote extensively from the New Testament, confirming its content within a generation of the apostles. For example, Clement of Rome (circa 96 AD) cites 1 Corinthians in his letter to the Corinthians, showing the text’s early circulation and acceptance.

Historical Consistency: The Bible’s accounts, such as the crucifixion of Jesus (Mark 15:37, ESV: “And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last”), are corroborated by non-Christian sources like Tacitus (Annals 15.44, circa 116 AD) and Josephus (Antiquities 18.3.3, circa 93 AD), suggesting historical reliability. If the Bible were significantly corrupted, we would expect discrepancies in these early records, but they align with the modern text.

Quranic Confirmation of the Injil and Torah

The Quran affirms the Torah and the Gospel (Injil) as revelations from Allah, suggesting they were authoritative and uncorrupted at the time of Muhammad (7th century CE). Let’s explore these affirmations:

Affirmation of Previous Scriptures: In Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:46-47, the Quran states, “And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous. And let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein.” This suggests that the Gospel (Injil) was a valid source of guidance for Christians during Muhammad’s time, implying it was not corrupted then.

Torah’s Authority: Surah Al-Baqarah 2:87 says, “And We gave Moses the Scripture and followed up after him with messengers. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Pure Spirit.” The Quran frequently calls Jews and Christians “People of the Book” (Surah Aal-E-Imran 3:64) and urges them to follow their scriptures, as in Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:68: “Say, ‘O People of the Scripture, you are [standing] on nothing until you uphold [the law of] the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord.’”

No Explicit Corruption Claim: While the Quran accuses Jews and Christians of misinterpreting or concealing parts of their scriptures (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:75-79), it does not explicitly say the texts themselves were altered. For example, Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:15 says, “O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture and overlooking much.” This suggests distortion in understanding or teaching, not textual corruption. Some Islamic scholars interpret tahrif as textual alteration, but this view developed later, in works like those of Ibn Hazm (d. 1064 CE), rather than being directly stated in the Quran.

Hadith Context: The Hadith also lacks clear evidence of textual corruption. In Sahih Muslim, Book 43, Hadith 7172, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) engages with the Torah, saying, “I believe in thee and in Him Who revealed thee,” when a Jew read from it. This implies the Torah’s validity at the time.

The Quran’s affirmation of the Torah and Gospel as guidance during Muhammad’s era (610-632 CE) poses a challenge to the claim of corruption. If the Bible were corrupted before Muhammad’s time, why would the Quran direct Christians and Jews to follow it? This suggests the scriptures were intact at least until the 7th century.

Biblical Condemnation of the Quran and Islam

While the Quran affirms the Bible, the Bible does not affirm the Quran or Islam, as they emerged centuries after the Bible’s completion (circa 50-70 AD with Revelation). However, the Bible contains warnings that can be applied to later teachings like those of Islam:

Warnings Against False Teachings: The Bible warns against teachings that deviate from the gospel of Christ. In Galatians 1:8 (ESV), Paul writes, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” The Quran, revealed through the angel Gabriel to Muhammad, presents a different message about Jesus—denying His divinity (Surah Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4) and crucifixion (Surah An-Nisa 4:157)—which contradicts the New Testament (John 1:1, ESV: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”; Mark 15:37, ESV).

Jesus as the Final Revelation: The Bible presents Jesus as the ultimate revelation of God, superseding all prophets. Hebrews 1:1-2 (ESV) states, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” Islam’s claim that Muhammad is the final prophet contradicts this, as the Bible does not anticipate further revelation after Christ.

Exclusive Claims of Christ: Jesus claims to be the only way to God in John 14:6 (ESV): “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Islam, while honoring Jesus as a prophet, denies His divinity and role as the sole path to salvation, instead emphasizing submission to Allah through the Five Pillars and the Quran. This conflicts with the Bible’s soteriology.

Deity of Christ: The Bible affirms Jesus’ divinity (Colossians 2:9, ESV: “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily”), while the Quran rejects it (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:116-117). This fundamental disagreement means the Bible implicitly condemns the Quran’s teachings as incompatible with the gospel.

Apologetic Response

I understand the Islamic perspective of tahrif, but the Quran’s own affirmation of the Torah and Gospel as guidance in Muhammad’s time suggests they were not corrupted then. Here’s why the Bible’s reliability and its rejection of later teachings like the Quran are significant:

Quranic Affirmation Undermines Corruption Claim: If the Bible were corrupted before the 7th century, the Quran’s directives for Christians and Jews to follow their scriptures (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:47, 5:68) would be illogical. The Quran assumes the Injil and Torah were available and authoritative, implying their textual integrity at the time. The New Testament manuscripts (e.g., Codex Sinaiticus, 4th century) predate the Quran and match modern texts, showing no significant corruption occurred.

Biblical Warnings Apply to the Quran: The Bible’s warnings against false gospels (Galatians 1:8, ESV) and its presentation of Jesus as the final revelation (Hebrews 1:1-2, ESV) challenge the Quran’s claims. The Quran’s denial of Jesus’ divinity and crucifixion contradicts core biblical teachings, making Islam incompatible with the Bible’s message. From a biblical perspective, any teaching that denies Christ’s deity or redemptive work is considered a departure from the truth.

Historical Continuity: The Bible’s transmission history, supported by thousands of manuscripts and early citations, shows no evidence of widespread corruption. The Quran’s claim to correct earlier scriptures assumes a corruption that lacks historical evidence in the manuscript record.

Theological Differences: The Quran honors the Bible as a previous revelation but reinterprets its teachings. For example, while the Quran affirms Jesus’ virgin birth (Surah Maryam 19:19-21), it denies His divinity, which the Bible upholds (John 20:28, ESV: “My Lord and my God!”). The Bible, however, does not affirm the Quran and warns against teachings that alter the gospel, positioning Islam as a departure from biblical truth.