Jesus could do miracles. He fed five thousand people with only five loaves and two fishes. But these kinds of miracles were also performed by others:
The same was done by Elisha and Elijah. Elisha fed a hundred people with twenty barley loaves and a few ears of corn: "So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the Lord."(II Kings 4:44)
Elisha secured the increase of a widow's oil and he said to herII : "Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest."(Kings 4:7) See also : "And the barrel of meal wasted not neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he speak by Elijah."(I Kings 17:16) Also : "And the ravens brought him [Elijah] bread and flesh in the morning, bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook." (I Kings 17:6).
Healing th leper:
So could Elisha, who told Naaman the leper to wash in the Jordan river: "Then went he [Naaman] down and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God [Elisha]: and his flesh came again like unto a flesh of a little child, and he was clean."(II Kings 5:14).
Healing the blind:
So could Elisha: : "And Elisha prayed, and said: 'Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.' And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man: and he saw ..." (II Kings 6:17) "And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said: 'Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.' And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria."(II Kings 6:20)
Raising the dead:
Compare that with Elijah: : "And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah: and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived." (I Kings 17:22) Such a miracle was also attributed to Elisha: "And he [Elisha] went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands, and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm." (II Kings 4:34).
And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.(II Kings 13:21).
Ressurection?
Only Paul who never met Jesus says he was ressurected:
II Timothy 2:8: "Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel."
more on this later...
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Son of....?
Read in Matthew 3:17, when Jesus was baptized by John: "And lo a voice from heaven, saying" 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."'
One should not accept the word "son" literally, because the Bible also refers to many prophets and other people as sons and children of God.;
"And thou [Moses] shalt say unto Pharaoh: 'Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn." (Exodus 4:22).
"He [Solomon] shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father and he shall be My son." (II Samuel 7:13-14 ).
"I am a father to Israel and Ephraim is my firstborn." (Jeremiah 31:9).
"Ye are the children of the Lord your God." (Deuteronomy 14:1).
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.(Romans 8:29).
However, many Christians may argue that Jesus is the only 'Begotten Son', but:
Long before Jesus was born, God said to David (Psalms 2:7): "I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me [David]: 'Thou art my son; this day have I begotten thee."
The meaning of "Son of God" is not literal but metaphorical. It can be anyone who is beloved by God. Jesus also said that God is not only his Father but also your Father.
"That ye may be the children of your Father" and "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.(Matthew 5:45, 48).
But Jesus had no father, however, Adam had neither father nor mother, , it is said "... Seth, who was the son of Adam, who was the son of God." (Luke 3:38).
Also in the following verse we can see:
(Hebrews 1-5)
1For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham.
One should not accept the word "son" literally, because the Bible also refers to many prophets and other people as sons and children of God.;
"And thou [Moses] shalt say unto Pharaoh: 'Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn." (Exodus 4:22).
"He [Solomon] shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father and he shall be My son." (II Samuel 7:13-14 ).
"I am a father to Israel and Ephraim is my firstborn." (Jeremiah 31:9).
"Ye are the children of the Lord your God." (Deuteronomy 14:1).
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.(Romans 8:29).
However, many Christians may argue that Jesus is the only 'Begotten Son', but:
Long before Jesus was born, God said to David (Psalms 2:7): "I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me [David]: 'Thou art my son; this day have I begotten thee."
The meaning of "Son of God" is not literal but metaphorical. It can be anyone who is beloved by God. Jesus also said that God is not only his Father but also your Father.
"That ye may be the children of your Father" and "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.(Matthew 5:45, 48).
But Jesus had no father, however, Adam had neither father nor mother, , it is said "... Seth, who was the son of Adam, who was the son of God." (Luke 3:38).
Also in the following verse we can see:
(Hebrews 1-5)
1For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham.
Trinity
It is said in the First Epistle of John 5:7-8: "For there are three that bear record in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth: the spirit, and the water, and the blood, and these three agree in one."
However this is in The King James Version, authorized in 1611, and formed the strongest evidence for the doctrine of the Trinity. But now this part, "the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one," has been expunged in The Revised Standard Version of 1952 and 1971 and in many other Bibles, as it was a gloss that had encroached on the Greek text.
I John 5:7-8 in The New American Standard Bible says: "And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness, the Spirit and the water, and the blood, and the three are in agreement."
The formulation of the Trinity by Athanasius, an Egyptian deacon from Alexandria, was accepted by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD‹more than three centuries after Jesus had left. No doubt Roman paganism had an influence on this doctrine of a triune god. The Sabbath was shifted to Sunday and December 25, the birthday of their sun god Mithra, was introduced as Jesus' birthday, although the Bible clearly predicted and forbade the decoration of Christmas trees in Jeremiah 10:2-5: "Thus saith the Lord: 'Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold, they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good."
As Christianity deviated far from the original teachings of Jesus, Allah sent His last prophet, Muhammad, as a revivalist to undo changes made by man: the Roman Julian calendar was introduced as the Christian era; Pork was allowed; circumcision was abolished by Paul (Galatians 5:2: "Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing."
The Qur'an warns in Surah 5:73: Surely they are disbelievers, those who said: 'Allah is one of the three in a Trinity.' But there is none who has the right to be worshipped but one God (Allah). And if they cease not from what they say, verily a painful torment will befall the disbelievers among them. Trinity was never taught by Jesus.
The common quote in (John 14: 11): "Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me." should also be read with (John 17:21-22):that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.
Holy Spirit/Ghost?
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was in this way: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 1:18).
"And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary." Luke 1:26-27).
However this is in The King James Version, authorized in 1611, and formed the strongest evidence for the doctrine of the Trinity. But now this part, "the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one," has been expunged in The Revised Standard Version of 1952 and 1971 and in many other Bibles, as it was a gloss that had encroached on the Greek text.
I John 5:7-8 in The New American Standard Bible says: "And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness, the Spirit and the water, and the blood, and the three are in agreement."
The formulation of the Trinity by Athanasius, an Egyptian deacon from Alexandria, was accepted by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD‹more than three centuries after Jesus had left. No doubt Roman paganism had an influence on this doctrine of a triune god. The Sabbath was shifted to Sunday and December 25, the birthday of their sun god Mithra, was introduced as Jesus' birthday, although the Bible clearly predicted and forbade the decoration of Christmas trees in Jeremiah 10:2-5: "Thus saith the Lord: 'Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold, they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good."
As Christianity deviated far from the original teachings of Jesus, Allah sent His last prophet, Muhammad, as a revivalist to undo changes made by man: the Roman Julian calendar was introduced as the Christian era; Pork was allowed; circumcision was abolished by Paul (Galatians 5:2: "Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing."
The Qur'an warns in Surah 5:73: Surely they are disbelievers, those who said: 'Allah is one of the three in a Trinity.' But there is none who has the right to be worshipped but one God (Allah). And if they cease not from what they say, verily a painful torment will befall the disbelievers among them. Trinity was never taught by Jesus.
The common quote in (John 14: 11): "Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me." should also be read with (John 17:21-22):that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.
Holy Spirit/Ghost?
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was in this way: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 1:18).
"And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary." Luke 1:26-27).
Monday, 15 September 2008
Islam and Christianity
Qura'an 3:64 Say: "O People of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah; that we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah." If then they turn back, say ye: "Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah's Will).
Islam and Christianity have mnany similarities in that several Revelations were sent by Allah and one was through the Prophet Isa (Jesus-PBUH)):
Qur'an 13:38 We did send apostles before thee, and appointed for them wives and children: and it was never the part of an apostle to bring a sign except as Allah permitted (or commanded). For each period is a Book (revealed).
Oneness of God(Tawheed)
Qur'an 112:1 Say: He is Allah, the One and Only;Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one (Deuteronomy 6:4).
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'(Mark 12:28-30)
Qur'an 4:48 Allah forgiveth not that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgiveth anything else, to whom He pleaseth; to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin Most heinous indeed.
"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
"You shall have no other gods before me.
"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,(Exodus 20:2-5).
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord", (Deuteronomy 6:4).
"... that the Lord He is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else"; (Deuteronomy 4:39)
"... that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no saviour"; (Isaiah 43:10-11).
"Thus saith the Lord ... I am the first, and I am the last, and beside Me there is no God";
(Isaiah 44:6).
"For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else." (Isaiah 45:18).
Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.(Deuteronomy 4:35).
Then he said, "Tomorrow." So he said, "May it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God.(Exodus 8:10).
Therefore you are great, O LORD God.(AI) For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.(II Samuel 7:22)
"But I am the LORD your God,who brought you out of Egypt.You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me.(Hosea 13:14).
The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.(Zechariah 14:9).
"... we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one"I (Corinthians 8:4).
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." Look at the expression "the man Christ Jesus." (I Timothy 2:5).
Jesus did not claim divinity:
Qur'an 5:72 They do blaspheme who say: "(Allah) is Christ the son of Mary." But said Christ: "O Children of Israel! worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins other gods with Allah,- Allah will forbid him the garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help.
"You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.(John 14:28).
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.(John 10:29)
But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.(Luke 11:20).
By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.(John 5:30).
Islam and Christianity have mnany similarities in that several Revelations were sent by Allah and one was through the Prophet Isa (Jesus-PBUH)):
Qur'an 13:38 We did send apostles before thee, and appointed for them wives and children: and it was never the part of an apostle to bring a sign except as Allah permitted (or commanded). For each period is a Book (revealed).
Oneness of God(Tawheed)
Qur'an 112:1 Say: He is Allah, the One and Only;Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one (Deuteronomy 6:4).
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'(Mark 12:28-30)
Qur'an 4:48 Allah forgiveth not that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgiveth anything else, to whom He pleaseth; to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin Most heinous indeed.
"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
"You shall have no other gods before me.
"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,(Exodus 20:2-5).
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord", (Deuteronomy 6:4).
"... that the Lord He is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else"; (Deuteronomy 4:39)
"... that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no saviour"; (Isaiah 43:10-11).
"Thus saith the Lord ... I am the first, and I am the last, and beside Me there is no God";
(Isaiah 44:6).
"For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else." (Isaiah 45:18).
Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.(Deuteronomy 4:35).
Then he said, "Tomorrow." So he said, "May it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God.(Exodus 8:10).
Therefore you are great, O LORD God.(AI) For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.(II Samuel 7:22)
"But I am the LORD your God,who brought you out of Egypt.You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me.(Hosea 13:14).
The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.(Zechariah 14:9).
"... we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one"I (Corinthians 8:4).
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." Look at the expression "the man Christ Jesus." (I Timothy 2:5).
Jesus did not claim divinity:
Qur'an 5:72 They do blaspheme who say: "(Allah) is Christ the son of Mary." But said Christ: "O Children of Israel! worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins other gods with Allah,- Allah will forbid him the garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help.
"You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.(John 14:28).
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.(John 10:29)
But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.(Luke 11:20).
By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.(John 5:30).
Introduction
This Blog is designed to pool together sources of information in order to compare other faiths with the religion of Islam drawing on similarites and links.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)