Shaykh Sadique Muncey, Contributor

THE Bible, in its different translations and editions, is revered by the entire christendom as the word of God. As such, Christians claim that it is consistent in its message and its meaning. In a critical analysis, however, such a claim is found to be baseless, due to the many inconsistencies found within.

Of such are those verses found in the Old Testament which establishes the monotheistic concept of the almighty. The first of the ten commandments states, "The Lord Your God is one God", (Deuteronomy 6 vs 4). However, how consistent are these verses with those found in the New Testament which affirms a Trinitarian concept of God.

The First Epistle of John 5 vs 7-8, says, "And these three shall be One." This verse taken from the King James version, authorised in 1611, is the strongest evidence for the doctrine of the trinity.

However, the words, "and these three shall be One", have now been expunged in the revised standard version of 1952 and 1971, and in many other Bibles, as it was a gloss that encroached on the Greek text.

The Trinitarian concept still remains a puzzle to many due to the several inconsistent verses which surround it. The question arises who or what is the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 1 vs 18 says, "When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost," and Luke 1 vs 26-27 says in part, "...the angel Gabriel was sent from God ...to a virgin espoused to a man named Joseph". It therefore can be deduced that the Holy Ghost is the Angel Gabriel, and should not be in any way considered Divine, nor a part of the Godhead.

It is maintained that Jesus was filled with the Holy Ghost as a criterion to being a part of the Godhead. Should we deduce then that John the Baptist will be considered a part of the Godhead because the Almighty said to Him, "he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother's womb" (Luke 1 vs 13-15).

Will David be considered God's son based on the verse? The Lord said unto me (David), "Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee," and what about Jesus refuting the title 'Son of God' and declaring himself the 'Son of Man'? (Luke 4vs 41)

Now let's examine other inconsistencies such as the numbering of Israel, was it the Lord who ordered its numbering as stated in 2 Samuels 24, or was it the Satan as found in 1 Chronicles 21. Look again! 2 Chronicles 36 vs 5-9 tells us that Jehoiachim was eight years old when he began to reign while 2 Kings 24 vs 8 states that he was eighteen when he began to reign.

Again! How many chariot riders did David slay? Did he slay 40,000 horsemen or 40,000 footmen. This implication is found in conflicting records between 2 Samuel 10 vs 18 and 1 Chronicles 19 vs 18. It should be noted that the Jews did not use zero in the Old Testament.

From the foregoing it is evident that there are inconsistencies to be found in the Bible, inconsistencies which cannot be attributed to the almighty as He is not the author of confusion.

Sadique Muncey is assistant co-ordinator of the Education Committee at The Islamic Council of Jamaica.

Rev. Michael Friday, Contributor

THAT the Bible is a book which contradicts itself is a charge which is as old as it is uninformed. It is the charge of desperate people who are unwilling to accept that the Bible fully exposes what is fundamentally wrong with their religion.

Such persons are eternally uncomfortable with the 2,100-year authenticating precedence which the Bible enjoys over the Qur'an. They seem also piqued by the judgement of Hebrews 1:2 that God has spoken in these last days by His son, Jesus, whom He has appointed heir of all things, and who bears the 'dead stamp' of the nature of God.

This declaration, made 650 years before anybody declared Muhammad to be the seal of the prophets, stands in direct contradiction of the Islamic claim.

The Bible is not one book that it should contradict itself. The Bible is 66 books, taking over 1,500 years to be written. The writers wrote under the inspiration of God, hence, 'all scriptures are inspired by God' (II Tim 3:16). They knew God, saw God's intervention in their lives, and experienced God in a personal, particular way. Some wrote because they heard God saying, 'write this' (as in the book of Revelations).

Some received word from God, whether in visions, or by actually hearing God speak (as the Prophets), and some recounted the acts of God and people, as witnessed by entire communities (the books of Law and History). Some wrote songs, canticles of praise and other poetry. Others wrote after stories had circulated, for years, by word of mouth. (The Gospels were written after Jesus's ascension. However, the accounts of His life were preserved by the oral tradition, originating with those who actually lived with him, and who saw him after his resurrection).

Though these books were written in particular historical contexts, though they make sense, historically, when compared to extra-biblical literature of, or about, the corresponding periods, and though archaeological finds have consistently proved the authenticity of the Bible, it is to do violence to the Bible to treat it as a historical treatise, because it was not written for that purpose. The Bible was written from a perspective of faith, for the purpose of instilling faith in the readers.

Despite the fact that the Bible is 66 books by authors of different ages, it is amazing how these writers concur on the central facts. This is because the God who inspired the Scriptures is the same word who was, in the beginning, with God, and was God (John 1:1). The integrity of the scriptures prevail, and the writers, over different ages, corroborate, because they write, ultimately, about 'Jesus Christ...the same yesterday and today and forever' (Hebrews 13:8).

Many prophecies, concerning Jesus Christ, or Israel as a nation, or promises of God to people, or events of this present age, have been fulfilled, and are yet being fulfilled! Millions find the Bible to be a living truth - no mere philosophy - experienced daily in their lives. Through it, they come to know God and to experience God as a living, personal God.

Indeed, 'the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.' (1 Cor. 1:18) Indeed. What great power for those who believe!