The Science of Textual Criticism, Is It Important?

In a sense it works both ways.
There is a whole movement of Western Islamologists who are certain that something like 90% of those Hadith (the traditional sayings/actions of Mohammed that have in a practical sense a greater influence on Islam than the Quran) that are considered very reliable by Moslim scholars were invented after the death of Mohammed. Sometimes a couple of centuries afterwards.

 

And ... ?

 

I find that statement hard to believe.

I do not agree that Islamists studying the the Bible can be compared to Christians (that happen to be at Baptist institutions) studying the Bible as the Word of God.

 

Craigbythesea said:

I must admit that I was amazed by the thoroughness of their refutation of the Bible, especially that portion of it that deals with the science of textual criticism and it application to the text of the New Testament and its sources.

James White has been blogging frequently about this very subject since December. Look for the posts about "Islamic Apologetics and New Testament Transmission," in order, here, here, here, then here. Don't forget that since it's a blog, to read from the bottom up.

 

RSR
"Have you run across the book by "Christoph Luxenberg" (pseudonym for a German professor) asserting that a good part of the Qur’a¯n has been improperly interpreted because of its Syriac, not Arabic, roots?"
"
I only heard about as much about this fellow and his work as you posted.

 

Have you ever read their textual criticsm "skills," it's rather sad. . .rather pathetic.

Go here for an example, it's one of the "blogs" here where Dr. White refutes some Islamic "scholarship."

www.aomin.org

 

Craig,

We have your statement that Islam is refuting:

Are you Muslim? I am a Christian. The Muslims have not refuted the Word of God.

 

Some of it is trash; some of it is excellent. I was not speaking of that which is trash, but of that which is excellent. And I certainly was not speaking of these silly “blogs.”

</font>[/QUOTE]Why "silly" blogs, White's points are valid.

I suppose you have an alternative motive to posting your original post?

 

Apologetics 101: If Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, crucified, buried and resurrected, all these other folks who are trying to climb some other way, climb in vain--their ladder does not go up. Jesus is either who He says He is, or He is the greatest imposter to beguile mankind.

Be careful doing battle with satanic forces--Satan knows more scripture than we. Only Jesus has succeeded in overcoming Satan by overcoming the world.

The Stoics and Epicureans could not refute the Word from the Apostle Paul on Mars Hill. The Truth cannot be refuted--by definition. There is no such thing as a "little truth" scattered amongst all the religions of the world. You have "the elect, the pillar and ground of The Truth-- the rest are "thieves and robbers". There is only One Way, One Truth and One Life. How does one debate that? That is either true or false. If false, Jesus is a phony. All of world history pivots on Jesus (Immanuel), not Allah or Mohammed.

Selah,

Bro. James

 

Some of it is trash; some of it is excellent. I was not speaking of that which is trash, but of that which is excellent. And I certainly was not speaking of these silly “blogs.”

</font>[/QUOTE]Well, well, well! What have we here? This is the same "Craig" that has been trying to refute my indepth grammatical study of 1 John 5:7, without ever answering any of my questions. And, here he is playing devils advocate about Isalimic "scholarship"!

Lets get one thing very claer from the very start. ON ONE, and I really mean NNE, will EVER be able to "prove" any portion of Scripture in the original to be in error. As the apostle Paul says in the first chapter of Galatians, that even an angel from heaven were to come down and tell me that the original Bible contained errors, I would say: "Satan be gone"!!! I have 100% assurance, that the original of both the Old and New Testaments, are completely without any error, that is, infallible, and inerrant, and can be trusted as being 100% the Word of Almighty God! For anyone to even suggest that there are errors in Scripture, as do the likes of Clark Pinnock, Daniel Fuller, etc, they have been deceived by the father of lies himself! I have 100% confidence in the Holy Bible, not because some scholar tells me so, or that some new "evidence" has come to light on the Bible, but, because it is the Word of Almighty God, and is Unique in every sense. No other "book" from any other "faith" can ever be compared to the Holy Bible, as it ALONE is the Word of God! All other works have to be considered as the word of the devil!

No "evidence" as produced by these so-called Musilim "scholars" will ever show in any way that there is any error in the Holy Bible, as they lack the most important element in sound scholarship, the Holy Spirit. It is He, and He alone Who is able to lead us into the "Truth", and He can never contradict what He has ensured is written in the Holy Bible! As Christian scholars can only have the Holy Spirit teaching them, therefore their scholrship is unmatched by any others, even they may be the very best in the world!

Christians should never concern themselves with the attacks of the Word of God by the world, as these are attemts by the enemy to try to undermine the authority of the Holy Bible, as Unique. Just as Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to heaven, whereby all others who claim to be "a way" are nothing but deceivers and from the devil; likewise, the Holy Bible alone is to be accepted as being the only, final authority, as being the direct Word of God to mankind! All so-called "problems" with various readings are what I would call, paradoxes, and never contradictions!

Let me assure you brothers and sisters, put you trust 100% in the Holy Bible, as you know that it is the only Word from Almighty God to us humans, and because God is the author of the originals, we have the assurance that we can trust the Holy Bible!