I am a strong believer in the Bible being God's word. And I want to share these words of wisdom and love with the world. I know that in order to share my understanding with another I must be ready to at least to hear their understanding about scripture. Alternatively, if it is another book they believe to be the Word of God, I must be able to listen to their understanding. However when a person who seems to be more of a special club member, which could be Christians as well as any other religion. By special club I mean they are always ready to tell someone what is written in their book or even the book of someone else, without ever have read either one. Then they are "special club members" (having a form of Godliness but denying the power there of). I have many different translations of the Bible for the sole purpose of understanding, (with the guidance of the Holy Spirit of course.)
I tried reading the Qu-ran in English, with a commentary. I read up to, or down to the 33 Surat. I must admit that I have a mass of questions. I have a quote from my Qurans introductory page and it reads;
QUOTE; A number of individuals have in the past ventured to translate the Qur-an, but their works have generally been private attempts, greatly influenced by their own prejudices. In order to produce a reliable translation free from personal bias, a Royal decree (No. 19888, dated 16/8/1400 AH) was issued by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd ibn Abdul Aziz, at that time the deputy prime minister, authorizing the General Presidency of the Departments of Islamic Researches, Ifta, Call and Guidance to undertake the responsibility of revising and correcting a particular translation which would be selected for this purpose and made publicly available later.
UNQUOTE: The Presidency of Islamic Researches, IFTA, Call and Guidance
Only one Quran?
There are different translations of the Bible under different titles, and of that, no one has ever tried to deny. People tend to strengthen the points that support their theological beliefs and weaken or remove the points that speak against their theological beliefs.
However there is enough physical proof to be found in the world today, on display, to support the truth of God's Word. Kingdoms rose and fell when and how they were prophesied to, people were born and died as prophesied, and today through the European Union we see Prophesy being fulfilled again.
Prophesy that only God almighty Himself could foretell, I know that many people proclaim the power of the devil, but he does not know the future any better then we do. He had to read Isaiah and Revelation to find out how the Lord would return just like us, he had to read about God's plan of redemption just like us. He is a powerful adversary if we try to battle him in our wisdom and might, but, BUT, when we proclaim THUS SAYETH THE LORD… he, well how does Jesus say it, GET THEE BEHIND ME SATAN. Moreover, the Word of God says, resist the devil and he will flee.
The devils power comes through deception, if he can steal away your faith, cause you to doubt, then and only then is he more powerful then any child of God.
Well anyway, back to my questions.
When I first started reading the Quran I read that any where in the Quran that I found the word we it meant we the believers.
Then more then 38 times within the first few Surats I found; we created the heavens and earth, we forgive sins, we provide, needles to say I am puzzled.
Please do not be offended I am only puzzled, I have heard it said by Muslims that God is not essentially good but is only called good because He does good. He is named for His actions. If God is called good because He does good, should we call Him evil because He does evil?
I have heard that the Quran is a perfect copy of the perfect eternal word of God in heaven. That it was sent from God, a completely finished book of instructions for mankind.
And yet corrections or changes are made in the Quran after its delivery. Or why is there validation for these changes that seem to contradict themselves, i.e.
Sura 2:106 None of Our revelations Do We abrogate Or cause to be forgotten, But We substitute Something better or similar: Knowest thou not that Allah Hath power over all things?
Sura 10:64 For them are Glad Tidings, In the life of the Present And in the Hereafter: No change can there be In the Words of Allah. This is indeed The supreme Triumph.
Please can some of my Muslim brothers explain these puzzling statements?
I am getting long again so I'll end for now and start again with more questions that burn my brain for understanding.
Your Brother through the Sacrifice and redeeming blood of Christ, my Lord and Savior.
Jerry, the Berlin Bear