Who Really Follows Jesus? Muslims and the Issue of Swine

 This is a follow up to my previous post on Muslims and the issue of circumcision (https://answeringislamblog.wordpress.com/2019/05/04/open-challenge-to-muslims-show-us-where-the-quran-mentions-circumcision/).

Another typical argument that Muslims employ to show that they follow Christ more so than Christians is that they refrain from eating the flesh of swine much like Jesus did since both the Law and the Quran forbid its consumption.

This again illustrates the dishonesty and duplicity of Muslim polemics since the Quran allows Muhammadans to consume certain foods, which are expressly forbidden by the true God in his true revelation.

For example, Yahweh forbids the meat of camels and rabbits:

“The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Say to the Israelites: “Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat: You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud. There are some that only chew the cud or only have a split hoof, but you must not eat them. The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is ceremonially unclean for you. The hyrax, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you. The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you. “’” Leviticus 11:1-6

“Do not eat any detestable thing. These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep. You may eat any animal that has a split hoof divided in two and that chews the cud. However, of those that chew the cud or that have a split hoof completely divided you may not eat the camel, the rabbit or the coney. Although they chew the cud, they do not have a split hoof; they are ceremonially unclean for you.” Deuteronomy 14:3-7

The Torah also forbids certain types of water creatures, specifically those that do not have fins and scales (Leviticus 11:9-12; Deuteronomy 14:9-10).

Muhammad, on the other hand, allowed his followers to eat and sacrifice camels, and permitted the consumption of rabbits, all of which the Law of Moses specifically prohibits:

“Of the cattle are some for burden and some for meat: eat what Allah hath provided for you, and follow not the footsteps of Satan: for he is to you and avowed enemy. (Take) eight (head of cattle) in (four) pairs: of sheep a pair, and of goats a pair; say, hath He forbidden the two males, or the two females, or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose? Tell me with knowledge if ye are truthful: Of camels a pair, and of oxen a pair; say, hath He forbidden the two males, or the two females, or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose? – Were ye present when Allah ordered you such a thing? But who doth more wrong than one who invents a lie against Allah, to lead astray men without knowledge? For Allah guideth not people who do wrong. Say: ‘I find not in the Message received by me by inspiration any (meat) forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be dead meat, or blood poured forth, or the flesh of swine,- for it is an abomination – or, what is impious, (meat) on which a name has been invoked, other than Allah’s’. But (even so), if a person is forced by necessity, without willful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- thy Lord is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. For those who followed the Jewish Law, We forbade every (animal) with undivided hoof, and We forbade them that fat of the ox and the sheep, except what adheres to their backs or their entrails, or is mixed up with a bone: this in recompense for their willful disobedience: for We are True (in Our ordinances). If they accuse thee of falsehood, say: “Your Lord is full of mercy all-embracing; but from people in guilt never will His wrath be turned back.” S. 6:142-147

“The sacrificial camels we have made for you as among the signs from Allah: in them is (much) good for you: then pronounce the name of Allah over them as they line up (for sacrifice): when they are down on their sides (after slaughter), eat ye thereof, and feed such as (beg not but) live in contentment, and such as beg with due humility: thus have We made animals subject to you, that ye may be grateful.” S. 22:36

The ahadith state:

Narrated Anas bin Malik:
Allah’s Apostle offered four Rakat of Zuhr prayer at Medina and we were in his company, and two Rakat of the Asr prayer at Dhul-Hulaifa and then passed the night there till it was dawn; then he rode, and when he reached Al-Baida’, he praised and glorified Allah and said Takbir (i.e. Alhamdu-lillah and Subhanallah(1) and Allahu-Akbar). Then he and the people along with him recited Talbiya with the intention of performing Hajj and Umra. When we reached (Mecca) he ordered us to finish the lhram (after performing the Umra) (only those who had no Hadi (animal for sacrifice) with them were asked to do so) till the day of Tarwiya that is 8th Dhul-Hijja when they assumed Ihram for Hajj. The Prophet sacrificed many camels (slaughtering them) with his own hands while standing. While Allah’s Apostle was in Medina he sacrificed two horned rams black and white in color in the Name of Allah.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 26, Number 623 https://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=26&translator=1&start=0&number=623)

Narrated ‘Ali:
The Prophet sent me to supervise the (slaughtering of) Budn (Hadi camels) and ordered me to distribute their meat, and then he ordered me to distribute their covering sheets and skins. ‘Ali added, “The Prophet ordered me to supervise the slaughtering (of the Budn) and not to give anything (of their bodies) to the butcher as wages for slaughtering.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 26, Number 774 https://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=26&translator=1&start=0&number=774)

It was narrated that Musa bin Talhah said:

“A rabbit that a man had grilled was brought to the Prophet and when he offered it to him he said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I saw some blood on it.” The Messenger of Allah did not eat it, but he said to those who were with him: “Eat; if I felt like it, I would have eaten it.’ There was a man sitting, and the Messenger of Allah said: ‘Come and eat with the people.’ He said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I am fasting.’ He said: ‘Why don’t you fast Al-Bid?’ He said: ‘What are they?’ He said: “The thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth?”‘

Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)

Reference: Sunan an-Nasa’i 2429

In-book reference: Book 22, Hadith 340

English translation : Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2431 (sunnah.com; https://sunnah.com/nasai/22/340)

Sunan Ibn Majah

Chapters on Hunting

it was narrated from Muhammad bin Safwan that he passed by the Prophet with two rabbits hanging down. He said:

“O Messenger of Allah, I caught these two rabbits but I cannot find any iron with which to slaughter them with Marwah and eat them?” He said: “Eat.”

Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)

English reference: Vol. 4, Book 28, Hadith 3244

Arabic reference : Book 28, Hadith 3367 (sunnah.com; https://sunnah.com/urn/1273500)

Muhammad even went as far as to allow the consumption of all marine life:

Lawful to you is all water-game, and what the sea brings forth, as a provision for you [who are settled] as well as for travellers, although you are forbidden to hunt on land while you are in the state of pilgrimage. And be conscious of God, unto whom you shall be gathered. S. 5:96 Muhammad Asad

It is He Who has made the sea subject, that ye may eat thereof flesh that is fresh and tender, and that ye may extract therefrom ornaments to wear; and thou seest the ships therein that plough the waves, that ye may seek (thus) of the bounty of Allah and that ye may be grateful. S. 16:14

Imam Malik records:

Yahya related to me from Malik from Safwan ibn Sulaym from Said ibn Salama of the Bani Azraq from al-Mughira ibn Abi Burda of the tribe of Bani Abd ad-Dar that he had heard Abu Hurayra speak about a man who came to the Messenger of Allah and said, “Messenger of Allah! We travel by sea and we do not carry much fresh water with us so if we do wudu with it we go thirsty. Can we do wudu with seawater?” The Messenger of Allah replied, “Its water is pure, and its dead creatures are halal.” (Malik’s Muwatta, Book 2, Number 2.3.12 https://sunnah.com/urn/400420)

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abi Hurayra asked Abdullah ibn Umar about eating what was cast up by the sea and he forbade him to eat it. Then Abdullah turned and asked for a Qur’an, and read, “The game of the sea and its flesh are halal for you.” Nafi added, “Abdullah ibn Umar sent me to Abdar-Rahman Ibn Abi Hurayra to say that there was no harm in eating it.” (Malik’s Muwatta, Book 25, Number 25.3.9 https://sunnah.com/urn/410840)

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu’z-Zinad from Abu Salama ibn Abd ar-Rahman that some people from al-Jar came to Marwan ibn al-Hakam and asked him about eating what was cast up by the sea. He said, “There is no harm in eating it.” Marwan said, “Go to Zayd ibn Thabit and Abu Hurayra and ask them about it, then come to me and tell me what they say.” They went to them and asked them, and they both said, “There is no harm in eating it.” They returned to Marwan and told him. Marwan said, “I told you.”

Malik said that there was no harm in eating fish caught by magians, because the Messenger of Allah said, “In the sea’s water is purity, and that which is dead in it is halal.”

Malik said, “If it is eaten when it is dead, there is no harm in who catches it.” (Malik’s Muwatta, Book 25, Number 25.3.12 https://sunnah.com/urn/410870)

Interestingly, certain traditions claim that the Jews during Muhammad’s time objected to his eating meats such as camels, stating that such foods were prohibited even before the coming of Moses. Note, for example, the following Tafsir of Ibn Abbas (Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs) on Q. 3:93:

(All food was lawful unto the Children of Israel) all food that is lawful for Muhammad and his community today was lawful for the Children of Israel, the sons of Jacob, (save that which Israel) Jacob (forbade himself) by the way of vows, ((in days) before the Torah was revealed) before the revelation of the Torah to Moses, Jacob forbade himself the meat and milk of camels. When this verse was revealed, the Prophet asked the Jews: “What did Jacob forbid himself of food?” They said: “he did not forbid himself any type of food, and whatever is forbidden for us today, such as the meat of camels and other things, was already forbidden on all prophets, from Adam to Moses (pbut). It is only you who make such things lawful.” And they claimed those things were also forbidden in the Torah. Hence Allah said to Muhammad: (Say) to them: (Produce the Torah and read it (unto us)) where they are made forbidden (if ye are truthful) in your claim. But they failed to produce the Torah and knew they were liars since there was nothing in the Torah to substantiate their claim. (SOURCE: https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=73&tSoraNo=3&tAyahNo=93&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0; bold and underline emphasis ours)

And here is what al-Jalalayn noted in respect to this same verse:

When the Jews said to the Prophet, ‘You claim that you follow the creed of Abraham, but Abraham did not eat camel’s meat nor drink its milk’, the following was revealed: All food was lawful to the Children of Israel save what Israel, Jacob, forbade for himself, namely, camels: when he was afflicted with sciatica (‘irq al-nasā), he made a vow that if he were cured he would not eat of it again, and so it was forbidden him; before the Torah was revealed, which was after the time of Abraham, as it was not unlawful in his time, as they claimed. Say, to them, ‘Bring the Torah now, and recite it, so that the truth of what you say may become clear, if you are truthful’, in what you say; they were stupified and did not bring it [the Torah]. God, exalted be He, then said: (Tafsir al-Jalalayn https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=3&tAyahNo=93&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0; bold and underline emphasis ours)

Muhammad permits an abomination

It gets even worse for these Muhammadans. There is at least one behavior that the Holy God of the Bible has forbidden explicitly, which he even called detestable, but which Allah has made an explicit command for the Muslims. This is what the Holy Bible says:

“If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, or if he dies, then her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. That would be detestable in the eyes of the LORD. Do not bring sin upon the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.” Deuteronomy 24:1-4

“God says, ‘If a husband divorces his wife and she goes from him and belongs to another man, will he still return to her? Will not that land be completely polluted? But you are a harlot with many lovers; Yet you turn to Me,’ declares the LORD. Lift up your eyes to the bare heights and see; Where have you not been violated? By the roads you have sat for them Like an Arab in the desert, And you have polluted a land with your harlotry and with your wickedness.” Jeremiah 3:1-2

Here, the God of the Holy Bible prohibits a man from remarrying a divorcee who has remarried and either been divorced again or widowed. Contrast this to the following Quranic command:

Divorce is twice; then honourable retention or setting free kindly. It is not lawful for you to take of what you have given them unless the couple fear they may not maintain God’s bounds; if you fear they may not maintain God’s bounds, it is no fault in them for her to redeem herself. Those are God’s bounds; do not transgress them. Whosoever transgresses the bounds of God — those are the evildoers. If he divorces her finally, she shall not be lawful to him after that, until she marries another husband. If he divorces her, then it is no fault in them to return to each other, if they suppose that they will maintain God’s bounds. Those are God’s bounds; He makes them clear unto a people that have knowledge. S. 2:229-230

To make matters worse, Muslim tradition explicitly insists that the woman must engage in sexual intercourse with the man before she can return to her former husband:

Narrated ‘Aisha:Rifa’a Al-Qurazi divorced his wife irrevocably (i.e. that divorce was the final). Later on ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Az-Zubair married her after him. She came to the Prophet and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! I was Rifa’a’s wife and he divorced me thrice, and then I was married to ‘Abdur-Rahman bin AzZubair, who, by Allah has nothing with him except something like this fringe, O Allah’s Apostle,” showing a fringe she had taken from her covering sheet. Abu Bakr was sitting with the Prophet while Khalid Ibn Said bin Al-As was sitting at the gate of the room waiting for admission. Khalid started calling Abu Bakr, “O Abu Bakr! Why don’t you reprove this lady from what she is openly saying before Allah’s Apostle?” Allah’s Apostle did nothing except smiling, and then said (to the lady), “Perhaps you want to go back to Rifa’a? No, (it is not possible), unless and until you enjoy the sexual relation with him (‘Abdur Rahman), and he enjoys the sexual relation with you.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 107 https://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=73&translator=1&start=0&number=107)

Yahya related to me from Malik from al-Miswar ibn Rifaa al-Quradhi from az-Zubayr ibn Abd ar-Rahman ibn az-Zubayr that Rifaa ibn Simwal divorced his wife, Tamima bint Wahb, in the time of the Messenger of Allah three times. Then she married Abd ar-Rahman ibn az-Zubayr and he turned from her and could not consummate the marriage and so he parted from her. Rifaa wanted to marry her again and it was mentioned to the Messenger of Allah and he forbade him to marry her. He said, “She is not halal for you until she has tasted the sweetness of intercourse.” (Malik’s Muwatta, Book 28, Number 28.7.17 https://sunnah.com/urn/411420)

Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn Said from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad that A’isha, the wife of the Prophet said when asked whether it was permissible for a man to marry again a wife he had divorced irrevocably if she had married another man who divorced her before consummating the marriage, “Not until she has tasted the sweetness of intercourse.” (Malik’s Muwatta, Book 28, Number 28.7.18 https://sunnah.com/urn/411430)

The man who makes the woman lawful for her former husband is called Muhallil:

Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that when asked whether it was permissible for a man to return to his wife if he had divorced her irrevocably and then another man had married her after him and died before consummating the marriage, al-Qasim ibn Muhammad said, “It is not halal for the first husband to return to her.”

Malik said, about the muhallil, that he could not remain in the marriage until he undertook a new marriage. If he had intercourse with her in that marriage, she had her dowry. (Malik’s Muwatta, Book 28, Number 28.7.19 https://sunnah.com/urn/411440)

We therefore have Muhammad calling permissible what the true God Yahweh calls shameful and detestable!

These examples illustrate the fact that Muslims do not follow the Holy Bible or the example of the Lord Jesus, nor do they care for what God’s only inspired revelation actually teaches. These Muhammadan polemicists are only concerned with perverting what God’s inspired Word says in order to force it to agree with the message of their prophet, which is an impossible task. As it stands, the Holy Bible condemns Muhammad as a false prophet and antichrist, which is why Muslims are forced to distort the God-breathed Scriptures and handle them in an inconsistent, deceitful, and irreverent manner.

So much for the claim that Muslims follow Jesus more faithfully than do Christians!

Source: https://answeringislamblog.wordpress.com/2019/05/04/who-really-follows-jesus-muslims-and-the-issue-of-swine/

IHS

Open Challenge to Muslims: Show us Where the Quran Mentions Circumcision

One will find many a Muhammadan polemicist claiming that Muslims are more faithful to Jesus, and by extension to the Mosaic Law, than Christians since the former observe circumcision, which God commanded Abraham and all his physical offspring to observe. Christians, on the other hand, do not get circumcised due to the teachings of the Apostle Paul, whom Muslims often attack and vilify as corrupting the original message of Jesus and his followers.

Here is what God’s Word explicitly states concerning circumcision:

“For the generations to come every male among you WHO IS EIGHT DAYS OLD MUST BE CIRCUMCISED, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner – those who are not your offspring.” Genesis 17:12

Pay careful attention to the fact that the male physical descendants of Abraham were required to be circumcised on the eighth day.

In light of this stipulation it is rather amusing to note that the Muslims are the ones who are in violation of this command, which therefore disqualify them from being God’s covenant people. The reason is that the Quran doesn’t even mention circumcision, let alone having a command where Muslims are ordered to observe it on the eighth day!

This is why Muslims circumcise males anywhere from a few days old to a few years old, in fact even older, in direct violation of the Abrahamic covenant!

Now these Muhammadan polemicists may be foolish enough to appeal to the hadith literature to show that Muslims are required to get circumcised. However, the ahadith pose a major problem for them since the hadith literature is quite clear that women must be circumcised as well!

Note what the following sources say in regards to female circumcision:

Narrated Umm Atiyyah al-Ansariyyah:
A woman used to perform circumcision in Medina. The Prophet said to her: Do not cut severely as that is better for a woman and more desirable for a husband. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 41, Number 5251 https://sunnah.com/abudawud/43/499)

Al-Adab Al-Mufrad

Circumcision

An old woman from Kufa, the grandmother of ‘Ali ibn Ghurab, reported that Umm al-Muhajir said, “I was captured with some girls from Byzantium. ‘Uthman offered us Islam, but only myself and one other girl accepted Islam. ‘Uthman said, ‘Go and circumcise them and purify them.'”

Grade: Da’if (Al-Albani)

English reference: Book 53, Hadith 1245

Arabic reference: Book 1, Hadith 1245 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/urn/2212010; underline emphasis ours)

Al-Adab Al-Mufrad

Circumcision

Umm ‘Alqama related that when the DAUGHTERS of ‘A’isha’s brother WERE CIRCUMCISED, ‘A’isha was asked, “Shall we call someone to amuse them?” “Yes,” she replied. ‘Adi was sent for and he came to them. ‘A’isha passed by the room and saw him singing and shaking his head in rapture – and he had a large head of hair. ‘Uff!’ she exclaimed, ‘A shaytan! Get him out! Get him out!'”

Grade: Hasan (Al-Albani)

English reference: Book 53, Hadith 1247

Arabic reference: Book 1, Hadith 1247 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/urn/2212030; capital and underline emphasis ours)

Various hadiths state that ghusl, or ritual bathing after sexual intercourse, takes place when the circumcised parts cross or touch each other, which presupposes the circumcision of both men and women.

Abu Musa reported: There cropped up a difference of opinion between a group of Muhajirs (Emigrants and a group of Ansar (Helpers) (and the point of dispute was) that the Ansar said: The bath (because of sexual intercourse) becomes obligatory only-when the semen spurts out or ejaculates. But the Muhajirs said: When a man has sexual intercourse (with the woman), a bath becomes obligatory (no matter whether or not there is seminal emission or ejaculation). Abu Musa said: Well, I satisfy you on this (issue). He (Abu Musa, the narrator) said: I got up (and went) to ‘A’isha and sought her permission and it was granted, and I said to her: O Mother, or Mother of the Faithful, I want to ask you about a matter on which I feel shy. She said: Don’t feel shy of asking me about a thing which you can ask your mother, who gave you birth, for I am too your mother. Upon this I said: What makes a bath obligatory for a person? She replied: You have come across one well informed! The Messenger of Allah said: When anyone sits amidst four parts (of the woman) and the circumcised parts touch each other a bath becomes obligatory. (Sahih Muslim, Book 003, Number 0684 https://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=003&translator=2&start=0&number=0684)

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Said ibn al-Musayyab that Umar ibn al-Khattab and Uthman ibn Affan and A’isha, the wife of the Prophet, used to say, “When the circumcised part touches the circumcised part, ghusl is obligatory.” (Book 2, Number 2.19.73: https://sunnah.com/urn/401030; see also No. 74 and 75)

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar used to say, “When the circumcised part passes the circumcised part, ghusl is obligatory.” (Malik’s Muwatta, Book 2, Number 2.19.77 https://sunnah.com/urn/401070)

Aishah narrated:

“When the circumcised meets the circumcised, then indeed Ghusl is required. Myself and Allah’s Messenger did that, so we performed Ghusl.”

Grade: SAHIH (Darussalam)

Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 108

In-book reference: Book 1, Hadith 108

English translation: Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 108 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/1/108; capital and underline emphasis ours)

{Sidenote: This narration shows that even Muhammad’s child bride had been circumcised!}

What these narrations establish is that, if the Muslims want to prove their case from the hadith literature, then they must be consistent and accept the fact that the ahadith emphatically command female genital mutilation.

In other words, the very narrations that these polemicists cite to prove that Islam commands men to get circumcised are the very same ones that also insist upon Muslim women getting circumcised as well, since it is the Sunna!

Question

Is female circumcision sunnah or a bad practice? I read in a magazine that female circumcision in any form is a bad practice that is harmful from a medical point of view, and that it may sometimes lead to sterility. Is this correct?

Answer

Praise be to Allaah.

Circumcising females IS SUNNAH; it is neither a bad practice or harmful, if it is done within moderation. When extreme forms of female circumcision are carried out, harm may result. (Islamqa.com, Question #1188: Ruling on female circumcisionhttps://islamqa.info/index.php/en/answers/1188/ruling-on-female-circumcision; capital and underline emphasis ours)

e4.3 Circumcision is obligatory (O: for both men and women. For men it consists of removing the prepuce from the penis, and for women, removing the prepuce (Ar. bazr) of the clitoris (n: not the clitoris itself, as some mistakenly assert). (A: Hanbalis hold that circumcision of women is not obligatory but sunna, while Hanafis consider it a mere courtesy to the husband.)

A: … comment by Sheikh ‘Abd al-Wakil Durubi
Ar. Arabic n: … remark by the translator
O: … excerpt from the commentary of Sheikh ‘Umar Barakat (Ahmad ibn Naqib al-Misri, Reliance of the Traveller: A Classic Manual of Islamic Sacred Law In Arabic with facing English text, commentary and appendices, edited and translated by Nuh Ha Mim Keller, Amana publications, Revised Edition, 1994)

The above English version of this Sharia manual is actually a misrepresentation of the facts since here is what the Arabic actually says:

Circumcision is obligatory (for every male and female) by cutting off the piece of skin on the glans of the penis of the male, but circumcision of the female is by cutting out the clitoris (this is called HufaaD). (Bold emphasis ours)

The word bazr does not mean “prepuce of the clitoris”, but actually means the clitoris itself. The deceptive translation by Nuh Hah Mim Keller, made for Western consumption, obscures the Shafi’i law, given by ‘Umdat al-Salik, that circumcision of girls by excision of the clitoris is mandatory. This particular form of female circumcision is widely practiced in Egypt, where the Shafi’i school of Sunni law is followed.

In light of the foregoing, these polemicists shouldn’t be citing from the ahadith unless they also want to defend their prophet’s commanding female genital mutilation, a rather barbaric and harmful practice that does irreparable harm to young girls.

So the real villain and pervert who corrupted the teaching of the Lord Jesus and all of God’s true prophets and apostles was none other than Muhammad himself!

With that said here is our challenge to these Muslim polemicists:

PLEASE PRODUCE A VERSE FROM THE QURAN COMMANDING MUSLIMS TO CIRCUMCISE BOYS ON THE EIGHTH DAY IN FULFILLMENT OF THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT. ALSO PRODUCE A STATEMENT FROM THE SAHIHAYN WHICH COMMANDS BOYS TO BE CIRCUMCISED ON THE EIGHTH DAY.

Source: https://answeringislamblog.wordpress.com/2019/05/04/open-challenge-to-muslims-show-us-where-the-quran-mentions-circumcision/

IHS

An Inspired Cross-Dresser? Further Proof for Muhammad Being a Fraud

OR: How Muhammad’s Deity Helped His Prophet to Become a Moral Failure as a Husband by Permitting Him To Mistreat His Wives

The Islamic sources candidly testify that Muhammad mistreated his wives, preferring some to others, such as his child bride Aisha, and even neglected those women whom he was least attracted to.

What makes this shameful mistreatment all the more reprehensible is that Muhammad justified his willful neglect of specific wives and his preferential treatment of Aisha by claiming that “revelations” would only “come down” to him when he would wear Aisha’s dress!

2442. It is related from ‘A’isha that the wives of the messenger of Allah fell into two parties. One party contained ‘A’isha, Hafsa, Safiyya and Sawda, and the other party contained Umm Salama and the rest of the wives of the messenger of Allah. The Muslims knew of the love of the messenger of Allah for ‘A’isha, so when any of them had a gift which he wanted to give to the messenger of Allah he would delay it until the messenger of Allah was in ‘A’isha’s house. Then the person with the gift would send it to the messenger of Allah while he was in ‘A’isha’s house. The party of Umm Salama spoke about it and said to her, “Tell the messenger of Allah to speak to the people and say, ‘Whoever wants to give a gift to the messenger of Allah should give it to him in the house of whichever wife he is.'” Umm Salama spoke to him about what they had said, but he did not say anything. They asked her and she said, “He did not say anything to me.” They said to her, “Speak to him.” She said she spoke to him when he went around to her as well, but he did not say anything to her. They asked her and she said, “He did not say anything to me.” They said to her, “Speak to him until he speaks to you.” He went around to her and she spoke to him. He said to her, “Do not injure me regarding ‘A’isha. The revelation does not come to me when I am in the GARMENT of any woman except ‘A’isha.” She said, “I repent to Allah from injuring you, Messenger of Allah.” Then they called Fatima, the daughter of the messenger of Allah, and sent her to the messenger of Allah to say, “Your wives ask you by Allah for fairness regarding the daughter of Abu Bakr.” She spoke to him and he said, “O my daughter, do you not love what I love?” She said, “Yes indeed.” She returned to them and informed them. They said, “Go back to him,” but she refused to go back. They sent Zaynab bint Jahsh and she went to him and spoke harshly, saying. “Your wives ask you by Allah for fairness regarding the daughter of ibn Abi Quhafa.” She raised her voice until she turned to ‘A’isha, who was sitting down, and abused her until the messenger of Allah looked at ‘A’isha to see if she would speak. ‘A’isha spoke to answer back Zaynab until she had silenced her. She said, “The prophet looked at ‘A’isha and said, ‘She is indeed the daughter of Abu Bakr.’”

Al-Bukhari said that the last words is the story of Fatima which is mentioned from Hisham ibn ‘Urwa from a man from az-Zuhri from Muhammad ibn ‘Abdu’r-Rahman.

Abu Marwan said from Hisham from ‘Urwa, “The people used to aim to send their gifts on the day of ‘A’isha.”

By another isnad, ‘A’isha said, “I was with the Prophet when Fatima asked for permission to enter.” (Aisha Bewley, The Sahih Collection of al-Bukhari, Chapter 54. The Book of Gifts and their Excellence, VII: The one who gave a gift to his friend aiming for a time when he was with one of his wives rather than another http://bewley.virtualave.net/bukhari20.html#gifts; bold and underline emphasis ours)

Here’s is another version of this same hadith:

Narrated ‘Urwa from ‘Aisha:
The wives of Allah’s Apostle were in two groups. One group consisted of ‘Aisha, Hafsa, Safiyya and Sauda; and the other group consisted of Um Salama and the other wives of Allah’s Apostle. The Muslims knew that Allah’s Apostle loved ‘Aisha, so if any of them had a gift and wished to give to Allah’s Apostle, he would delay it, till Allah’s Apostle had come to ‘Aisha’s home and then he would send his gift to Allah’s Apostle in her home. The group of Um Salama discussed the matter together and decided that Um Salama should request Allah’s Apostle to tell the people to send their gifts to him in whatever wife’s house he was. Um Salama told Allah’s Apostle of what they had said, but he did not reply. Then they (those wives) asked Um Salama about it. She said, “He did not say anything to me.” They asked her to talk to him again. She talked to him again when she met him on her day, but he gave no reply. When they asked her, she replied that he had given no reply. They said to her, “Talk to him till he gives you a reply.” When it was her turn, she talked to him again. He then said to her, “Do not hurt me regarding Aisha, AS THE DIVINE INSPIRATIONS DO NOT COME TO ME ON ANY OF THE BEDS EXCEPT THAT OF AISHA.” On that Um Salama said, “I repent to Allah for hurting you.” Then the group of Um Salama called Fatima, the daughter of Allah’s Apostle and sent her to Allah’s Apostle to say to him, “Your wives request to treat them and the daughter of Abu Bakr ON EQUAL TERMS.” Then Fatima conveyed the message to him. The Prophet said, “O my daughter! Don’t you love whom I love?” She replied in the affirmative and returned and told them of the situation. They requested her to go to him again but she refused. They then sent Zainab bint Jahsh who went to him AND USED HARSH WORDS SAYING, “Your wives request you TO TREAT THEM and the daughter of Ibn Abu Quhafa ON EQUAL TERMS.” On that she raised her voice AND ABUSED ‘Aisha TO HER FACE so much so that Allah’s Apostle looked at ‘Aisha to see whether she would retort. ‘Aisha started replying to Zainab till she silenced her. The Prophet then looked at ‘Aisha and said, “She is really the daughter of Abu Bakr.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 47, Number 755 https://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=47&translator=1&start=0&number=755)

{Sidenote: The Salafi translator of Sahih Bukhari, Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, has deceitfully translated the Arabic as “beds” which disagrees with Bewley’s rendering. Sadly, this kind of dishonesty and deceit are all too typical of Muslims who will do anything they can to cover over their prophet’s gross immorality and wickedness.}

Here’s another hadith:

She told that the people used to choose: ‘A’isha’s day to bring their gifts, seeking thereby to please God’s messenger. She said that God’s messenger’s wives were in tow parties, one including ‘A’isha, Hafsa, Safiya, and Sauda, and the other including Umm Salama and the rest of God’s messenger’s wives. Umm Salama’s party spoke to her telling her to ask God’s messenger to say to the people, “If anyone wishes to make a present to God’s messenger, let him present it to him wherever he happens to be.” She did so and he replied, “Do not annoy me regarding ‘A’isha, for inspiration has not come to me when I was in any WOMAN’S GARMENT but ‘A’isha’s.” They then called Fatima, sent her to God’s messenger, and she spoke to him, but he replied, Do you not like what I like, girlie?” She said, “Certainly,” so he said, “Then love this woman.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) (Mishkat Al Masabih, English translation with explanatory notes by Dr. James Robson [Sh. Muhammad Ahsraf Publishers, Booksellers & Exporters, Lahore-Pakistan, Reprint 1990], Book XXVI- Fitan., Chapter XXXVIII, “The Fine Qualities of the Prophet’s Wives”, Volume II, p. 1361; bold and capital emphasis ours)

Pay close attention to the fact that Muhammad’s wives demanded equal time and attention, which they most certainly deserved. Their complaints highlight the point of Muhammad being a failure as a husband since he didn’t give the same amount of time or love to all his women.

And how does Muhammad respond? Does he make an effort to correct his blatant mistreatment of his wives? No! Instead of doing the right thing, he claims that his deity only gives him divine revelations when he is in bed with Aisha!

Imagine that! Muhammad blames his idol for discriminating against his wives!

Even Aisha noticed how Muhammad’s god would come running to gratify his messenger’s desires and justify his gross immoral behavior and misconduct:

Narrated Aisha:
I used to look down upon those ladies who had given themselves to Allah’s Apostle and I used to say, “Can a lady give herself (to a man)?” But when Allah revealed: “You (O Muhammad) can postpone (the turn of) whom you will of them (your wives), and you may receive any of them whom you will; and there is no blame on you if you invite one whose turn you have set aside (temporarily).” (33.51) I said (to the Prophet), “I feel that your Lord hastens in fulfilling your wishes and desires.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 311 https://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=60&translator=1&start=0&number=311)

‘A’isha reported: I felt jealous of the women who offered themselves to Allah’s Messenger and said: Then when Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, revealed this:” You may defer any one of them you wish, and take to yourself any you wish; and if you desire any you have set aside (no sin is chargeable to you)” (xxxiii. 51), I (‘A’isha.) said: It seems to me that your Lord hastens to satisfy your desire. (Sahih Muslim, Book 008, Number 3453 https://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=008&translator=2&start=0&number=3453)

Doesn’t this show that Muhammad had no shame and did not hesitate to blame everything on his deity? And yet this is the same man that Muslims want to foist upon the world as a mercy and a prophet!

What kind of prophet would justify his abusing and mistreating women by claiming that God only sends down revelations to him in the home of a specific wife, and in the dress of a particular woman who he so happened to favor over and above the rest? Is this a man that people should look to for moral guidance, a role model for others to emulate?

On the contrary, instead of honoring such a charlatan, this man needs to exposed for what he truly was, namely, a wicked, vile immoral antichrist who has now been subjected beneath the glorious feet of the Lord Jesus, Muhammad’s God and Judge, whom Muhammad will have to confess as his sovereign Lord before being sent into the everlasting destruction that he deserves for what he has done to mankind:

“The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)… And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.” Acts 10:36, 42

“For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:9-12

“Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.” 1 Corinthians 15:24-28

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11

Source: https://answeringislamblog.wordpress.com/2019/06/13/an-inspired-cross-dresser-further-proof-for-muhammad-being-a-fraud/

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The Only True God and the Deity of Christ: Why Translations Matter

In this post I am going to show how the particular translation one employs will have a direct impact on how one goes about defending and/or refuting specific objections leveled against the core, essential doctrines of the Christian faith. I will be using the English Standard Version as a case study, specifically in relation to defending the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

According to John’s Gospel, the Father of the Lord Jesus is depicted as the only God,

“I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God (tou monou theou)?” John 5:43-44

And the only true God,

“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God (ton monon alethinon theon), and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3

Who is the God of both Jesus and his disciples:

“Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”’” John 20:17

A surface reading of these texts may give the misleading impression that Jesus is not truly God, but a creature who was brought into being by the Father. After all, since the Father is the only true God, and since Jesus isn’t the Father, but the Father’s beloved Son, then Jesus cannot be the only true God, and therefore must be a creature.

The problem with this logic, however, is that this same Gospel goes out of its way to identify Christ as the unique, divine Son of God who is coequal with the Father, and therefore essentially one with the only true God.

And depending on the translation of the Holy Bible one reads, Jesus himself is said to be the only God there is:

“No one has ever seen God; the only God (monogenes theos), who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” John 1:18

Obviously, this does not mean that Jesus is the only God to the exclusion of the Father or the Holy Spirit, but rather in union with both of them.

Christ is further described as the one and only Master and Lord of all believers:

“For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ (ton monon despoten kai kyrion hemon Iesoun Christon). Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe… It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.’… keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” Jude 1:14-5, 4-15, 21

Astonishingly, Jude identifies Christ as the very One who both delivered the nation of Israel at the time of Moses, and who then subsequently punished them in the wilderness for their rebellion. He further describes Christ as the very Lord who comes with his thousands of holy ones to judge the wicked, a function which the Hebrew Bible ascribes to the Lord God Jehovah!

“Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.” Isaiah 40:10

““I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” Jeremiah 17:10

“Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. On that day HIS FEET shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.” Zechariah 14:3-5

James also identifies Jesus as the Lord Jehovah, since he not only calls Christ the Lord who is the Glory,

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.” James 1:1

“My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” James 2:1

But he also claims that Jesus is the one and only Lawgiver and Judge, who can save or destroy,

“There is ONLY ONE lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?” James 4:12

Being the very Lord of hosts who comes to judge mankind:

“Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you. Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.” James 5:4-9

In fact, the unanimous teaching of the inspired Christian Scriptures is that Jesus is the Judge of the whole earth whom all the nations must face on the day he comes to judge all creation:

“For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of HIS Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.” Matthew 16:27

“‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by MY Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” Then the righteous will answer him, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they also will answer, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?” Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’ When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, ‘You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.’” Matthew 25:31-46, 26:1-2

“For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.” Luke 17:24-25

“And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory… But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”” Luke 21:27, 36

“For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son… And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.” John 5:22, 27

“And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.” Acts 10:42

“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:30-31

“on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.” Romans 2:16

“For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.” Romans 14:8-12

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 2 Corinthians 5:10

“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom… Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing… At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:1, 8, 16-18

What makes Paul’s comments all the more remarkable is that he break out in praise of the Lord Jesus.

Even more remarkable is what this blessed servant of the risen Christ wrote in his first epistle to Timothy, since there he praises Jesus for being the only sovereign King of all creation, and describes him as the only One possessing the immortality who dwells in light that cannot be seen!

“I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which HE will display at the proper time—HE who is the blessed and ONLY Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who ALONE has immortality, WHO dwells in unapproachable light, WHOM no one has ever seen or can see. To HIM be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:13-16

The reason why the foregoing depiction is quite remarkable is that the Hebrew Scriptures identify Jehovah as the God who is clothed in light and reigns as the Lord of lords:

“For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.” Deuteronomy 10:17

“Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.” Psalm 104:1-2

“Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;” Psalm 136:3

This blessed Apostle wasn’t the only inspired writer to identify Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords:

“They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” Revelation 17:14

“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that NO ONE knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” Revelation 19:11-16

Pay attention to what John says in respect to Christ possessing a name that only he knows. Now if we were to employ the anti-Trinitarian hermeneutic that Jesus can’t be God when the Father is said to be the only true God, then this means that the risen Lord knows more than both the Father and the Holy Spirit since Jesus is the only One who knows what his name is!

Christ is further said to be the Son of God who is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, and the Beginning and the End that comes with his reward to recompense every person for what s/he has done:

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze… and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I AM HE who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.” Revelation 2:18, 23

“‘Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end… I, JESUS, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.’… He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. COME, LORD JESUS! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” Revelation 22:12-13, 16, 20-21

To sum up our examination of the teaching of the ESV concerning Christ, we learned that:

1.       Christ is the only God (John 1:18).

2.       Christ is the only Master and Lord (Jude 1:4).

3.       Christ is the only Lawgiver and Judge (James 4:12).

4.       Christ is the only Sovereign King of kings and Lord of Lords (1 Timothy 6:15 – cf. Revelation 17:14; 19:16).

5.       Christ alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16).

6.       Christ alone knows what his name is (Revelation 19:12).

7.       Christ is the Lord who is the Glory (James 2:1).

8.       Christ is the Lord of hosts (James 5:4).

9.       Christ is the Lord who comes with his tens of thousands to judge the wicked and repay all men for what they have earned (Jude 1:14-15; James 5:7-9; Matthew 16:27; 25:31-46; Luke 17:24-25; 21:27, 36; John 5:22, 27; Acts 10:42; Romans 2:16; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Timothy 4:1, 8, 18; Revelation 22:12-13, 16, 20 – cf. Isaiah 40:10; Jeremiah 17:10; Zechariah 14:1-5).

10.   The ESV, therefore, depicts the risen Lord of glory as Jehovah God Almighty in the flesh.

In light of the foregoing, we are either left with Jesus being the only true God Jehovah to the very exclusion of the Father and the Holy Spirit. Or we have to assume that the use of restrictive language in reference to Christ, where he is said to be the only one of something, isn’t intended to exclude the Father and the blessed Spirit. Such language is meant to exclude everything else that is not also God by nature.

In a similar fashion, the Father being depicted as the one and only true God isn’t aimed at excluding the Son or the Spirit, but rather excludes anything and everything else that is not God in essence. And since the God-breathed Scriptures clearly depict both the Son and the Spirit as being truly divine, this means that the Father is the only true God IN UNION WITH his beloved Son and eternal Spirit.

This is the inescapable conclusion and explicit teaching of the English Standard Version of the Holy Bible and clearly highlights why Bible translations do matter.

I have more to say in the next part of the discussion (https://answeringislamblog.wordpress.com/2019/06/21/the-only-true-god-and-the-deity-of-christ-why-translations-matter-pt-2a/).

Source: https://answeringislamblog.wordpress.com/2019/06/05/the-only-true-god-and-the-deity-of-christ-why-translations-matter/

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