I guess I'm still not sure how that invalidate the Quran. Since the Quran was based upon the same writing, it too would have the exact same characteristics. The only difference is interpretation and content, both of which were determined centuries after the death of Christ for both the Bible and the Quran.
Allow me to try to answer your confusion.
First it?s important to remember that the Bible was written over the span of 1500 years, and is made up of 66 Books penned by 40 or so men of God who came from all walks of life (Fishermen to Kings). Secondly, even though many if not most of the men that penned the Bible never actually met each other, their witness is in complete agreement with each other. Thirdly, the Bible is the only religious text that could reasonably be considered as the Word of God because of it?s historical, scientific, and prophetic accuracy (100% accurate in all matters), as well as it being the oldest religious text (as it was started in 1500BC, and as one would expect if a loving God did exist who wanted us to know Him personally, he would be the first to provide mankind with knowledge and proof of Him as Creator).
Now the honest truth of the matter on the third statement is that it is far easier for anyone who wants to reject the notion that the God of the Bible is real to find support for that rejection. I?ve learned over the years to keep searching diligently, and to not simply accept the first answers I find that addresses a historical, scientific, or prophetic statement made in the Bible. After all, if one is to go on the assumption that the Bible is real, than one also has to acknowledge that Satan is real, and if you do that, then you have to acknowledge the depth of deception that exists in this world, and that only through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth can you recognize the Truth.
You suggest that because the Koran is based off the Bible it would have the same characteristics. A phony $100 bill has the same characteristics as the real thing, but it?s NOT. It?s obvious that the Koran can?t be the word of God because while it initially copies from the Bible (which had been completed about 600 years prior), it also contradicts the Bible on the most basic and important point. The Bible clearly states the Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, as Christ Himself states, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Trusting in Jesus Christ is the ONLY way man can be Saved. The Koran on the other hand states that Allah has no son. The city of Jerusalem is mentioned over 600 times in the Bible, and not once in the Koran, and yet both religions claim it as a Holy City. One has to be willfully blind not to recognize the obvious deception.
The second part of your statement is simply your opinion, and I disagree with it. The Old Testament was completed in 400BC and it was from the Old Testament that Jesus, the apostles, and disciples preached. Showing by way of the prophecies (and all that the prophets penned) about the Messiah, the King of the Jews, that Christ was indeed that Messiah. Many Jews rejected Christ because they didn?t recognize the two fold character of the prophecy of His coming, believing His first coming was to reign as King over them, not to die for their sins and the sins of the whole world, much in the same way most people today fail to see the two fold nature of His return (the Rapture and His second coming being clearly defined as two separate events). Jews are converted to Christianity not from the New Testament which they reject, but from the Old Testament which was completed (and interpreted accurately) in 400BC, if you are to open a Jews eyes to the fact that Jesus Christ is their Messiah, then that must be done through the Light of the Old Testament.
The content was according to Scripture established at the time it was written, as soon as epistles were penned, they were acknowledged as the Word of God ("But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:11,12). Consider the words of Paul to the church at Thessalonia:
"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when YE RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD WHICH YE HEARD OF US, YE RECEIVED IT NOT AS THE WORD OF MEN, BUT AS IT IS IN TRUTH, THE WORD OF GOD, which effectually worketh also in you that believe" (1 Thessalonians 2:13).)
The interpretation was also established at the time it was written, not in all, but in part, because of the simple fact that we are not God and we are therefore not able to fully understand how some prophecies will be fulfilled. The realization of how the mark of the beast would work if it was placed in the hand or in the forehead, and how it would be used to buy and sell food (and monitor everyone who has it), wasn?t fully realized until recently with the invention of id chips the size of a grain of rice, which were the result of the invention of computers which again were only invented in this century (well last actually, now that were in 2006).
Hope that helps
Dave
As a Christian who has repented of his sins, and accepted Christ as my Saviour, there is no doubt in my mind as to His existence. As such, I don?t question the Word of God. If the Bible states something, I am bound by my own willful admission of His existence and love for me, to trust completely what He said. I might not fully understand it, I don?t always like hearing it (part of being human, we are naturally driven to think more highly of ourselves than we ought, and to rebel against His supreme authority), but I have to accept it because He is all knowing (and therefore knows what?s best for me), and I am just an man, infinitely more ignorant than He.
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