Okay, so if the Bible/Kor'an can be incorrectly translated, could it not have been incorrectly compiled?

Question

Keep in mind that the Bible in its original form was compiled at the Council of Nicea under command of the Emperor Constantine, and many texts were left out for political reasons or because the different Christian factions disagreed on points of doctrine. Likewise, the Koran, though (supposedly) authored by one man, Mohammed, was transmitted orally for almost two centuries before finally being written down.

Let's assume that the individual books that make up the Torah, Koran, Bible, Apocrypha, Pseudo-Epigrapha and Gnostic texts all have some claim to divine inspiration. If human error can account for translation errors, surely it could apply to what got left in or not, or for that matter for errors, accidental or purposeful, in oral transmission. Is the holy book you base your life on what God intended you to?

Answer 1

It is obvious that you did not read the history of the two books but probably was able to read anti-islamic and christian polemics.

While it is true that the major bible compilation happened during the time of Constantine, you are wrong with the leaving out of texts. They left out NOT JUST TEXTS BUT ENTIRE BOOKS!!! They choose the books as closed as to their OWN perspective of what should the Christian teachings and bible should be. And any book that did not coincide with their OWN perspective (even though the book may be "gospel wise" authentic) were burned and destroyed and anyone caught reading them are labelled as heretics thus massacred, burned on stakes, killed and ostracized by the whole "Christian" community. Even today you will find that many Christian Churches do not agree on the number of books to be included in their Canons. The Catholics have 83 books while the Protestants have 77 and even the Ethiopian Church and the Syriac Church (followers are in Middleeast and Kerala,India) have their own number of books in their respective Canons.

But the Qur'an was written down during the time of Prophet Muhammad. Each time a revelation comes down, his disciples put them down into writing. The revelation came down in the period of 23 years, if the revelation was not put into writing surely there would have been confusion among the memorizers because the Qur'an was not only revealed in Arabic but also to the different 7 Arabic accents or readings. For example the word or name Jibril. Some Arabs pronounce it as Jibreel or Jibrael or Jibrel or Jabrel or Jabreel or Jib-reel yet they all mean the same. The pronounciation (accent or reading) is different but the text is the same. So if there was no written text, the memorizers would have no way of knowing the text and its different readings (how can you read without the texts?). It is totally false to say that the Qur'an was put into writing 2 centuries after the Prophet. The Qur'an was written at the time of the Prophet!!! What then is the purpose of the scribes like Zaid bin Thabit if they did not write anything down?

What you are probably alluding to is the Hadith which is mainly written down after the time of the Prophet. Yet hadith are scientifically collected and analyzed. This method of checking the accuracy of the hadith is called the science of "isnad". Anyway if you want to learn more about these things you can visit www.islamic-awareness.org!

Regarding the translation, it is really true that it is prone to mistakes. That is why no Muslim will ever call a translated Qur'an as the Qur'an. The Holy Qur'an is in Arabic and no matter how good a translation can be it can never be called the Qur'an. Every Muslim is obliged to learn Arabic to be able to read and understand the Qur'an in its original form and language.Compare this to the bible, any bible in whatever language is immediately called the bible. And Christians are not obliged to learn Hebrew or Greek to be able to learn how to read the bible in its oldest version. So while Muslims can compare the translation of the Qur'an to the original Arabic Qur'an, the Christians have no other choice but to stick to the translated version and not knowing whether the translation is correct or not.

IM if you have some questions. I will be willing to accommodate you...

Peace to you...

Answer 2

Yes, it most certainly is what God intended me, because of the fact that it is God's intention, lol.
I understand your question and can give u examples of inaccuracies. Such as Moses writing in Genesis, that the stars, moons, planets and suns revolve around earth and were put there just to be pretty lights in the sky.
I believe this was written as well as an extremely educated man, for his time, could write it.
It does not change the Divine equation of God being in control. Praying, asking for your eyes to be opened and reading your bible, gives the answers to whatever questions you have. I've read scriptures countless times, until suddenly, some need in my life or by God's own timing, that scripture made total sense in a different manner than I had ever thought, previously.
Man is full of error. God is perfect. In the absence of Godliness, He uses what ever is available, to accomplish His goal.

Answer 3

There are several scriptures in the Bible that address this. 2 Peter 1:20-21 says

20. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

So, if we believe in God and His Word, this passage of several is our assurance. However, what it boils down to is Faith. Either you have it or you don't. God has given us what we need (His Word) and the ability to learn and to reason and to determine truth from lies. What we accept as Truth is our own decision and we alone will reap the consequences--good or bad. Where our Faith lies, whether it be in science, God, or ourselves, determines the outcome of our existence.

So, if one doesn't believe in God or the Bible, then they really shouldn't concern themselves with the authenticity of the text. They don't apply the contents to their lives, therefore whether or not it's been tampered with is surely of little consequence to them. Those that do believe, are confident that they have the Truth and hold the Words dear. They trust in the Love and Power of their Creator.

I can't speak for anything other than the Bible, because I don't believe in the divinity of any of the other works you mentioned, but I imagine that their faith is the base of their beliefs in the authenticity of their religion.

Answer 4

St Jerome compiled the bible by order of the pope, not Constantine. Constantine was a pagan for a very long time.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08341a.htm

I believe the book and its compilation to be inspired. It is a miracle we have it at all. It is not to be read with human eyes, but with the eyes of the soul. If your soul needs no bread from it, then you are by far stronger than the average human.

Answer 5

I didn't see a difference. As for the accuracy of the KJV translation: Here are some comparsions, you decide if the KJV is a accurate translation ~~Num23:22~~ NRSV: wild ox NASB: wild ox TLB: wild ox NIV: wild ox NWT: wild bull KJV: unicorn~~~~ a unicorn? ~~Job 40:15~~ NRSV: Behemoth NASB: Behemoth TLB: hippopotamus NIV: behemoth NWT: behemoth KJV: behemoth ~~Job 41:1~~ NRSV: Levithan NASB: Levithan TLB: crocodile NIV: levithan NWT: Levithan KJV: levithan ~~Ps 91:13~~ NRSV: serpent NASB: serpent TLB: poisonous snake NIV: serpent NWT: big snake KJV: dragon~~ a dragon (and no, it doesn't mean the devil.) ~~Lamenations 4:3~~ NRSV: jackal NASB: jackal TLB: jackal NIV: jackal NWT: jackals KJV: sea monster~~ a sea monster? New Revised Standard Version; New American Standard Bible; The Living Bible; New International Version; New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures; King James Version. Did you notice? A unicorn? A dragon? And a sea monster? No wonder ppl think the Bible is "made up" the KJV is wide-spread in use, and not accurate.

Answer 6

As far back as scholars can research shows no change in the text of the Qu'ran. So if something has been left out, it hasn't been publicly discovered yet...

As far as your question about it being incorrectly compiled, seeing as how it's not in narrative formula, (i'm not sure if you're read the Qu'ran), i could read it backwards and it would still make since to me... i'm not sure if u get what i'm trying to explain...

But humans do err, it's in our nature. And if there's something left out of the text that we follow and have been following, those of us that believe in God just have to believe that we'll find out soon enough, the truth from Him...

Answer 7

If one assumes an all powerful god that wants to communicate to us through a book, it follows that he/it would ensure that the book would be accurate and what is included is there because it is ordained by him/her/it. If we determine that the book is inaccurate, then either the god lied, is not all powerful, is non existent, or really didn't choose to use a book.

The question then is, which of those is correct and what does that imply?

Answer 8

there will be no error in writing the Quran since that the prophet muhammad have many loyal friends like Abu Bakr who is the person who be the leader after prophet Muhammad died..
he who personally always be with him, and others Muhammad friends always reminding each other with Quran verses until the time Abu Bakr decide to book it,....

go ask any muslim around this world about Quran, not one of the Holy Quran are translated to their language without writing in arabic words first..

over 1400 years past until now, arabic words are remain the same...

see this,
http://quranexplorer.com/quran/

Answer 9

Okay,so there are an agreed upon by zealots and scholars alike 26 books missing from the original christian bible.If you really want to learn things like this go to library and do some research.

Answer 10

Fairy tales all around.

Remember, "god" is nothing more than a nonsense word created by man to explain away all of the things we can't yet understand.

Religion is a disease of the mind, born of fear, which has done nothing but bring untold misery down upon the human race. Get out of that cult!