Posts by: Staff Writer

Is the Bible really written in different styles? Yes. Does this help us to understand why it is different from the Qur’an? Yes!

In learning about the Bible, especially if coming from a Muslim background, it is helpful to know that the Bible is written in several styles. At times the styles reflect the character of the author, their background, culture, or first language. It also includes what we would call different genres of literature, meaning different classes of writing. Some of the book is poetry, some proverbs – words of wisdom, some parables, some analogies, some history, theology, and advice for living. These examples show us how the Bible is written in several styles.

The inspiration of the Bible: How does the inspiration of the Bible differ from the way other holy books claim to have been inspired?

1 Peter 1:20,21,  tells us that Bible Scripture was inspired as a prophet was led along by the Holy Spirit. This differs from the dictation form of “inspiration” recounted by Mohammed. He claimed to have a series of revelations from “Angel Gabriel,” at least one for each book (surah) of the Qur’an.  (In fact, the hadiths, traditions, report that Mohammed was afraid after his first “revelation,” and not even certain if the angel that appeared to him was from God, or a demon.)  Joseph Smith also received revelation from an angel. For the translation of the cryptic tablets of Mormonism, English words reportedly appeared to him in a box-like device.

Most of the books of the Koran begin with an affirmative statement, “Bismallah ar-rahman ar-raheem” (in the name of Allah, the merciful, the compassionate), for example at the beginning of book 2, The Cow. To those used to reading the Qur’an, such words are a key that what follows is to be considered as coming directly from God.

The Bible does have verses which say this about God (Exodus 34:6, Jonah 4:2), but no books of the Bible start out with a similar queue. So, for a Muslim who begins to read the Bible, it can be difficult to accept that it is the inspired Word of God. Also, the Bible includes many details about patriarchs and prophets that Muslims have heard about. Not everything it says about them is flattering. The Bible is a book based in reality, so it records the truth about God’s people, their mistakes and sins, as the saying goes, “warts and all!”

In order for Muslims to understand the difference in Biblical inspiration from what they expect, Dr. Cynthia points out that although there are places where the Bible directly reports what God says, “This is what the Lord says” (Jeremiah 21), and very rarely a voice is heard from heaven, as with Moses and the heavenly voice at Jesus baptism. God as Jesus spoke directly to the people in his sermons, like the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and in instructions to his disciples.

God also speaks indirectly in the Bible. “Then the Word of the Lord came to me,” Zechariah says in 4:8, reporting to us who hear indirectly what he was told.

God’s word is often implied, as in wisdom presented in Proverbs, advice in letters of the New Testament, and in the lessons we absorb from considering the lives of Bible characters (1 Corinthians 10:11, James 5:10, Hebrews 11-12:3).

In this clip Huda asks if there is more than one translation of the Bible into Arabic. Dr. C tells her yes, and demonstrates several examples, explaining that some translations are easier for Arabs of Christian background, and others for Arabs of Muslim background.

Apologist Rev. Bob Siegel, of Jewish background now a Christian pastor, shares with us one of his favorite Bible passages, Psalm 23. During the challenges he has faced during his journey from Judaism to Christianity the words of this psalm (zabur) have comforted him, especially knowing that surely goodness and mercy will follow him all the days of his life and he will live with the Lord forever.

Huda asks Dr. C about how to approach the Bible, so Dr. C gives an introduction to how the Bible is composed for those who know little about it. The Bible consists of the Old Testament, which are the collected holy writings from before Jesus came, and the New Testament, which are the books composed after Jesus came.

The Old Testament reveals to us who God is, and gives us guidance on living a good life. It contains the Torah (known as Taurat to Muslims), which is also called the Law, or the Books of Moses, since he is most closely associated with him. These five books in the Torah include Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

The Old Testament also gives many prophecies of things we see come to pass in the New Testament. The word “testament” means “agreement.” The New Testament does not cancel or “abrogate” the Old Testament, rather it fulfills it. Jesus told his followers that having his new teachings alongside the Old Testament was like adding new treasures to old.

What is the Bible and how is it put together? These are questions answered in the video segments on Introduction to the Bible and What’s in the Old Testament and What’s in the New Testament. Huda knows that The Bible is the Word of God. Dr. C tells us that is true! It is also called God’s message to us, the story of God and us, God’s love letter to us, and the book which explains the way of salvation.

Like a news article, the Bible answers the big Ws of life: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. Who? God and us. What happened? What does God expect of us? When did salvation come? Where did we come from and Where are we going? Why are we on earth? And How should we live and get to know God?