Abu vs Christian 1 and 2 Part 1 Continued

Christian 1 – So, I had to ask our Pastor about our last discussions and he said you are being controlled by the demons!

Abu – Do I look like someone who is demonic to you? (Laughing)

Christian 2 – So which Bible translation depicts what was by written by the disciples of Jesus?

Abu – None!

Christian 1 – Why none? There must be one. I read many manuscripts had been discovered recently!

Abu - Yes, many manuscripts was truly discovered but they all still remain copy of copies. The Original manuscript of the New Testament is Lost. And these manuscripts cannot represent the originals! If a new earlier manuscript is discovered tomorrow this your Bible will be changed further!

Christian 2 – So why is the KJV filled with defects? What defects and why the defects?

Abu – Ah! This is too much o! But you can check the Preface to the RSV and read it in its entirety!
The assertion of the KJV having defects was made by Bible scholars not Muslims!

This is some of what the Preface to RSV mentions:
The King James Version of the New Testament was based upon a Greek text that was marred by mistakes, containing the accumulated errors of fourteen centuries of manuscript copying. It was essentially the Greek text of the New Testament as edited by Beza, 1589, who closely followed that published by Erasmus, 1516-1535, which was based upon a few medieval manuscripts. The earliest and best of the eight manuscripts which Erasmus consulted was from the tenth century, and he made the least use of it because it differed most from the commonly received text; Beza had access to two manuscripts of great value, dating from the fifth and sixth centuries, but he made very little use of them because they differed from the text published by Erasmus.

Christian 1 – I am perplexed as to why the Bible translations can be marred by errors.
Christian 2 - I am too. It goes against all what I believe about the scriptures! The scriptures should be flawless!

Abu – As you can see it is not from the Qur’an. Your Bible scholars made the claims.
So, Let’s move to another topic! Shall we?

Christian 2 - I still can’t believe this one….
Christian 1 – What do you still wish to discuss?

Abu - Trinity!

Christian 1 – What about it?

Abu – Is it Biblical?

Christian 2 – Of course it is. I have known this since I was small.

Abu – Can you explain trinity as coherently and logically possible as you can?

Christian 1 – Where are you going with this?

Abu – It is simple. There’s no evidence that logically supports trinity in the Bible! All you have are dubious verses and reading trinity into some verses!

Christian 1: Dubious verses like the one you mentioned from John the other time from 1 John 5:7-8
KJV: For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Abu – Yeah, the Look for that same verse in the RSV and you'll see that it is missing in modern translations as it is not found in early Greek manuscripts.

Christian 2 – That’s true. We got that before. But what about the Old Testament where God said Let us create man in our image and likeness? The “US” is Plural.

Abu - Yes, the “US” is plural I agree. But how can the number in your “Us theory’’ be three and not one thousand or seventy?

Christian 1 and 2 - Hmmm! You are right! Without reading meaning into that "Us" we can't get 3 indeed!

Christian 1 What about Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Abu – Some Bible scholars and theologians have raised concerns about the authenticity of Matthew 28:19 for the following reasons:

- Manuscript Variants: Some early manuscripts of the Gospel of Matthew do not include the Trinitarian formula found in Matthew 28:19. This raises questions about the originality of the verse and whether it was added later by scribes.

- Historical Context: Critics argue that the concept of the Trinity as expressed in Matthew 28:19 may have developed later in Christian theology, and therefore, the verse could be a later addition to the text to support this doctrine.

- Linguistic Analysis: Some scholars suggest that the language and style of Matthew 28:19 differ from the rest of the Gospel of Matthew, leading to doubts about its originality.

Christian 2 Okay can you tell us briefly about the concept of salvation in Islam?

Abu It is simple. Believe in Allah and follow His Messenger with regards to the Qur’an and Sunnah!
Muslim may sin but Allah accepts the repentance of the sinner when s/he repents!

This is similar to Ezekiel 18:19-23
Yet you may ask, ‘Why shouldn’t the son bear the iniquity of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right, carefully observing all My statutes, he will surely live. The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him.
But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. Because of the righteousness he has practiced, he will live. Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?

I think we should continue some other time!
Do you agree we still can’t find one concrete evidence for Trinity in the Bible?

Christian 2 – Let’s continue next time with trinity! We’ll be prepared then!

Abu Alright. Also include the nature of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, are they also Coequal, Coeternal God(s) with the Father?

Christian 1 and 2 – Aaahh!

Abu (Smiles) Bye!