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A Moslem will claim that its founder Muhammed was illiterate and therefore the source of his book the Koran could not have been his own thinking. This may be correct. The Moslems claim that Muhammed received the pieces making up the Koran from the angel Gabriel. He may well have received them from an angel, but they are not the Gospel of Christ. Paul warns the Galatians against accepting any other Gospel than the one he preached: "But if even we or an angel out of heaven announce as glad tidings to you [anything] besides what we have announced as glad tidings to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, now also again I say, If any one announce to you as glad tidings [anything] besides what ye have received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8/9). Paul also warns the Corinthians that Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), so that merely because a teacher's doctrine contains elements of truth it does not mean that it is of God. It may be noted here that it is also claimed that the book of Mormon was given by angels. Probably some would dismiss the book of Mormon as something spun out of the head of Joseph Smith. However, as with the Koran, its source could well have been fallen angels. Certainly both the Koran and the book of Mormon cannot have been given from one shepherd (Ecclesiastes 12:11) for they are contradictory; one if not both must be false ! Would Paul have warned against accepting a Gospel propagated by angels if there was no likelihood that such a Gospel would ever be propagated ? Moslems claim that there are scientific facts in the Koran that were not known at the time when the Koran was produced. A popular book on Islam (A brief illustrated guide to understanding Islam) claims that there are eight such facts. However, some of these proofs look very forced and the translations of the Koran questionable. There is also the possibility that the similarities in what the Koran says and the scientific facts may just be coincidences. In one case which looks plausible the scientific fact is also found in the Christian Bible so it really cuts the ground |
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from under the feet of the Moslems because the book of Job in which the statement is found was written beyond doubt long before the Koran, and could therefore have been the ultimate source of the statement in the latter book (see note below) ! |
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Finally, it must be said that Christ himself said in a parable that last of all He (God) sent his Son (Matthew 21:37). Would God have gone back to using angels to teach mankind after Christ his Son had been here ? No wonder that Moslems deny that Jesus is the Son of God. Consider Hebrews 1:2. Further, Paul maintained that it was given to him to complete the word of God (Colossians 1:25). Paul obtained his teaching from Christ and not through angels. He was Christ's apostle (Colossians 1:1). By contrast the law had been given through angels (Acts 7:53; Galatians 3:19). Paul mentions more than once that certain things he taught were what the Lord had said (1 Corinthians 7:10; 9:14; 11:23; 14:37; 15:3). He nowhere states that he obtained his doctrine from angels. John also warns us that we should walk in the commandment that we have heard from the beginning and beware of deceivers that have gone out into the world. The latter would add to what Christ had instituted in the beginning. It is necessary to maintain what was set on by Christ otherwise we shall lose the Father and the Son. Moslems deny the Son and |
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consequently have not the Father either (2 John 5-11, 1 John 2:23). |