My response to Sam Shamoun's rebuttal to my article "Paul, Peter and John are in clear contradiction with each others regarding the disbelieving husbands to believing wives!":
This article is a response to Mr. Sam Shamoun's article, which is located at: http://www.answering-islam.org/Responses/Osama/salvation.htm
He wrote:
My response:
Paul, Peter and John did not "perfectly" agree with one another regarding salvation, because as I will prove below, Paul was a confused liar.
He wrote:
It has become clear to us that Osama’s alleged rebuttals to our thorough replies are nothing more than attempts of trying to save face in the eyes of his readers.
My response:
Cheap comment that is not worth responding to.
He wrote:
Osama seemingly hopes to convince his readers that he is able to actually respond to our material which demonstrate his gross errors.
My response:
Arrogance is what you and your team mates suffer from. Frankly, I don't think anything of myself except that I am an honest Truth seeker. If that bothers you, then that's your problem. The Truth will ultimately crush you and expose you.
He wrote:
In his latest supposed response to our reply regarding the issue of women in the Bible and Islam, Osama has produced more irrelevant arguments and logical fallacies, as well as managing to continue with his mantra syndrome.
My response:
My article is located at: www.answering-christianity.com/view_of_women_rebuttal.htm. In this article I raised some serious questions about the Bible's views toward women. For your convenience, I even increased their fonts, changed their colors to blue and centered them. Care to respond to them? Until now, 9/10/2003, you have not produced a response to this article. Why is that Mr. Shamoun?
He wrote:
Suffice it to say, we will produce a final refutation of his arguments against our response in order to show our readers that Osama is not qualified to write criticisms of the Bible and is quite incapable of defending Islam.
My response:
We're all waiting. But until then, please spare us from your ridiculous arrogant comments.
He wrote:
In trying to address our rebuttal, Osama managed to "discover" some verses regarding women and their husbands which he thinks are contradictory. Here, we seek to address Osama’s attempt of pitting the Apostle Paul against the Apostles Peter and John. We aim to show once again that Osama’s criticisms are based on a deliberate twisting of the Holy Scriptures, gross logical fallacies and a misunderstanding of the passages in question.
My response:
Below, we'll see who's really running away from the Truth Mr. Shamoun.
He wrote:
Osama starts off by analyzing a passage from the Apostle Peter, one originally quoted in our rebuttal:
Let us first look at what Peter said:
1 Peter 3
1. Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so
that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words
by the behavior of their wives,
2. when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
3. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the
wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.
4. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle
and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
5. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to
make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands,
6. like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters
if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
This passage of Peter directly contradicts Paul's. While Peter is asking women to be positive with their disbelieving husbands so that their husbands MIGHT be persuaded to embrace Christianity through their wives positive actions "they may be won over without words.....when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.", Paul said something totally different:
1 Corinthians 7:10-15:
10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the
Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband.
And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a
believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with
her, she must not divorce him.
14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the
unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your
children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not
bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.
Quick Note: Notice how the NIV Bible translators put (I, not the Lord) in parenthesis. They are suggesting that Paul in verses 12 through 15 was speaking only his own personal words and wasn't inspired by GOD Almighty, even thought HE NEVER DECLARED IT IN THESE VERSES. This is only their interpretation and addition. In any how, even if they were right, and Paul wasn't speaking GOD Almighty's Words, then this still would contradict Paul's own words in 2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness," Obviously, not all the Bible is God-breathed because Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:12-15 would've contradicted that, as he also clearly contradicted it in 1 Corinthians 7:25-35 when he said that he is not always inspired by GOD Almighty, because both sets of verses are now PERMANENTLY PRESERVED in the Bible, which obviously doesn't make all of the Bible "God-breathed". Maybe 1 Corinthians 7:25-35 is what gave the NIV Bible translators the liberty to consider 1 Corinthians 7:12-15 as Paul's own words (even though he never said so) and not GOD's. This obviously proves that the Bible is so cheap to them that they would give themselves the liberty to add and take off from it as they please without fearing anything.
RESPONSE:
Since we have already addressed what Paul actually meant in 1 Corinthians 7:12 and 25, we won’t repeat ourselves here. We simply forward our readers to our discussion of this passage which can be found near the end of these articles:
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/badawi_lies1.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Responses/Meherally/bible_r1.htm
This issue was also addressed in our response to MENJ, which can be accessed here:
My response:
Mr. Shamoun here deliberately avoided responding to my comments regarding the NIV Bible translators who tried to disown verses 1 Corinthians 7:10-15 by deliberately inserting (not I, but the Lord) in parenthesis to avoid the problem of contradiction and utter nonsense that obvious. So instead, they want it to be considered as "Divinely" inspired to protect Paul and make it sound much stronger and Divinely authentic.
Mr. Shamoun, were these verses from GOD Almighty, or Paul's own innovations?
Even this simple question was not answered. Amazing!
He wrote:
Osama asserts:
Anyway, is Paul suggesting here that a disbelieving man or woman would still be purified/cleansed and win Paradise just because they are married to a believer? I don't quite understand his logic here! How can a believing woman raise her children, especially in a male-dominated society (where a woman follows everything her husband says and does) back then, to be polytheist trinitarian pagans who believe in 3 gods, while the disbelieving husband might interfere heavily with that? Would the disbelieving husband and the disbelieving children still be saved even if they don't embrace the polytheist trinity paganism just because the wife/mother is a believer? Is this what Paul meant by "sanctified"?
As we clearly see above, while Peter recommended for the wives to be very positive with their disbelieving husbands so that these husbands might be "won over" (meaning embrace the religion) through their wives' actions, Paul said that the disbelieving husbands would be "sanctified" through their believing wives. Not only the disbelieving husbands, but also their children even if these children became disbelievers.
RESPONSE:
It is quite astonishing to see Osama’s audacious mockery of the true Triune God BASED ON HIS BLATANT MISQUOTATION AND MISINTERPRETATION OF THE TEXT. Osama deliberately omits the one verse which exposes his gross exegetical blunder. I say deliberately since I cannot see how a person reading 1 Corinthians 7:12-15 could have missed what follows right after. Here is 1 Corinthians 7:12-15, yet this time adding verse 16:
"To the rest I say - I, not the Lord - if a brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is happy to live with him, he should not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is happy to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified because of the wife, and the unbelieving wife because of her husband. Otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. But if the unbeliever wants a divorce, let it take place. In these circumstances the brother or sister is not bound. God has called you in peace. For how do you know, wife, WHETHER YOU WILL BRING YOUR HUSBAND TO SALVATION? Or how do you know, husband, WHETHER YOU WILL BRING YOUR WIFE TO SALVATION? NET Bible
My response:
Mr. Shamoun, I did not deliberately twist the Truth here! I did read 1 Corinthians 7:16 and I addressed in my updated initial article which until now you have not responded to. For the reader's convenience, I will post what I added to my initial article. I hope that you directly answer my questions below:
From www.answering-christianity.com/paul_peter_contra.htm
Anyway, is Paul suggesting here that a disbelieving man or woman would still be
purified/cleansed and win Paradise just because they are married to a believer? I
don't quite understand his logic here! How can a believing woman raise her children,
especially in a male-dominated society (where a woman follows everything her husband says
and does) back then, to be polytheist trinitarian pagans who believe in 3 gods, while the
disbelieving husband might interfere heavily with that? Would the disbelieving
husband and the disbelieving children still be saved even if they don't embrace the
polytheist trinity paganism just because the wife/mother is a believer? Is this what
Paul meant by "sanctified"?
Please visit: Paul nullified and contradicted the point of Baptism.
Also, notice "but as it is, they are holy" in 1 Corinthians 7:14 above. It really doesn't just mean that the
disbelieving children would be considered "holy", but also the disbelieving
spouse (male or female).
What does Paul here mean by "holy"??!! If the disbelieving spouse would still not be saved in the End, then what is the point from considering them "holy"??!!
How does all of this fit with Paul's very next verse in 1 Corinthians 7:16:
"How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? (From the NIV Bible, 1 Corinthians 7:16)"
So if the wife/husband can never save their spouse unless GOD Almighty Wills, then again, what is the point from calling the disbelieving spouses and the disbelieving children as "holy"?!
It is clear that Paul's "holy" title to disbelieving spouses and children proved to be irrelevant and absolutely pointless! Hence, this makes the Bible imperfect in it's contents and literature, since it contains utter nonsense and foolish opinions in it. Hence, this makes the Bible not the 100% True Holy Words of GOD Almighty.
Why should GOD Almighty, if He truly inspired Paul's nonsense, call disbelievers as
"holy" and still roast them in Hell? Wouldn't that make the Perfect GOD
Almighty inconsistent and a hypocrite?
Where is the Divine Perfection in this?!
Again, please visit: Paul nullified and contradicted the point of Baptism.
He wrote:
Let us now compare this with what Peter wrote:
"In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands. Then even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word BY THE WAY YOU LIVE, when they see your pure and reverent conduct." 1 Peter 3:1-2
Both Peter and Paul state that the unbelieving husband may be won over to the faith, and hence salvation, through the wife’s faithfulness and devotion. Therefore, PAUL IS PERFECTLY CONSISTENT WITH PETER. It is only Osama’s willful wrenching of the context that leads to an alleged contradiction.
My response:
Paul is a confused liar who exposed himself by himself. Again, answer my questions above.
He wrote:
Osama erroneously thinks that being sanctified means being saved. It is true of course, that the word sanctified in Greek, hegiastai which comes from the verb hagiazo, can refer to those who are saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but not in every instance. For a discussion on the broad range of meanings of hagiazo, please read the following article: http://answering-islam.org/Responses/Menj/sanctified.htm.
My response:
Oh yeah? Then why did Paul also call the disbelieving spouses "holy"?! If those disbelievers are "sanctified" and are "holy", then wouldn't that mean that they will be saved??!!
If not, then Paul is obviously a confused moron who talks utter nonsense! Again, answer my questions above please.
He wrote:
Paul in verse 16 makes it explicit that the unbelieving spouse is NOT saved by the faith of the other partner, demonstrating clearly that Osama has twisted the text to suit his agenda.
My response:
"Osama has twisted the text to suit his agenda"? I'll let the reader do the laughing for me on this one.
He wrote:
The word Paul uses for salvation in 16 is not hegiastai but sooseis, which comes from soozo. Soozo can mean:
1) to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction
a) one (from injury or peril)
1) to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to
make well, heal, restore to health
2) to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue
b) to save in the technical biblical sense
1) negatively
a) to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment
b) to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance
(Source: Blue Letter Bible)
If Paul wanted to imply that the unbeliever was saved as a result of the other spouse’s faith then he could have used soozo instead of hagiazo. In fact, there would have been no need for Paul to explain to the believing spouse that staying with the unbelieving partner may lead to the latter’s salvation since this would have already been made clear from the Apostle’s statement that the believer’s family are (not may be) sanctified.
My response:
Mr. Shamoun, Paul still called those disbelievers "holy" and they are "sanctified". Again, answer these questions please:
What does Paul here mean by "holy"??!! If the disbelieving spouse would still not be saved in the End, then what is the point from considering them "holy"??!!
How does all of this fit with Paul's very next verse in 1 Corinthians 7:16:
"How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? (From the NIV Bible, 1 Corinthians 7:16)"
So if the wife/husband can never save their spouse unless GOD Almighty Wills, then again, what is the point from calling the disbelieving spouses and the disbelieving children as "holy"?!
It is clear that Paul's "holy" title to disbelieving spouses and children proved to be irrelevant and absolutely pointless! Hence, this makes the Bible imperfect in it's contents and literature, since it contains utter nonsense and foolish opinions in it. Hence, this makes the Bible not the 100% True Holy Words of GOD Almighty.
Why should GOD Almighty, if He truly inspired Paul's nonsense, call disbelievers as
"holy" and still roast them in Hell? Wouldn't that make the Perfect GOD
Almighty inconsistent and a hypocrite?
Where is the Divine Perfection in this?!
He wrote:
We still need to explain what Paul meant that the unbelieving spouse and the children are sanctified by the believing partner’s faith. Sanctified here has a twofold meaning. First, the unbelieving partner and children are sanctified or set apart in that they come under a godly influence, which other unbelieving families do not experience. In other words, the believing spouse exposes the family to a moral and spiritual lifestyle which impacts the way they live. Instead of living as heathens and in ungodliness, both the spouse and the children maybe influenced to live morally upright lives because of the example set by the believing member.
In the words of renowned Evangelical Scholar Craig L. Blomberg:
... Verse 14 supplies the rationale for Paul’s insistence on preserving the marriage: there are spin-off blessings for the non-Christian spouse and children that come from having even one member of the family follow the Lord. ‘Sanctified’ and ‘holy’ cannot here mean ‘saved,’ AS VERSE 16 PROVES. Rather they refer to ‘the moral and spiritual impact of the life of the believer’ on the rest of the family, making those family members ‘set apart in a very special place… as God’s object of devotion.’ (Blomberg, The NIV Application Commentary - 1 Corinthians [Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids MI], p. 135; bold and capital emphasis ours)
The prophet Joseph is an example of how a believer can bring the unbelieving members of a household under the sphere of God’s blessings and influence:
"Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt. An Egyptian named Potiphar, an official of Pharaoh and the captain of the guard, purchased him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him there. The Lord was with Joseph. He was successful and lived in the household of his Egyptian master. His master observed that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made everything he was doing successful. So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. Potiphar appointed Joseph overseer of his household and put him in charge of everything he owned. From the time Potiphar appointed him over his household and over all that he owned, the Lord blessed the Egyptian's household for Joseph's sake. The blessing of the Lord was on everything that he had, both in his house and in his fields. So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph's care; he gave no thought to anything except the food he ate." Genesis 39:1-6
My response:
Mr. Shamoun, how about the word "holy"? You can't explain one word and leave the other since they're both connected in the verses! You're explanation above easily collapses when one tries to justify the two words "sanctified" and "holy" together.
It's quite obvious that Paul spoke utter nonsense when he called the disbelieving spouses as "holy" and are "sanctified".
Also Mr. Shamoun, as a believer in the polytheist trinity paganism, wouldn't you be concerned about the "holy" disbelieving children being raised as nonbelievers?! How can those "holy" and "sanctified" children be saved if they're raised to be disbelievers?
Why wasn't Paul concerned about them? And what does calling them "holy" and "sanctified" have ANYTHING TO DO with them being saved?!
It's like me saying to you "I love you with all my heart Sam Shamoun", and yet, I chop your head with my sword! What kind of love do I really have toward you here Mr. Shamoun, who is holy and sanctified??
He wrote:
Secondly, the OT scriptures viewed marriage between believers and heathens as defiling and children of such a union were considered unclean as well. Cf. Ezra 9-10; Nehemiah 9:1-2; 10:30; 13:1-3, 23-31.
My response:
Thank you for showing us this contradiction between Paul and the Old Testament. More proofs that Paul is a confused liar.
He wrote:
Paul, however, states that under the New Covenant the believing spouse makes the marital union acceptable in the eyes of God.
My response:
Paul's "holy" and "sanctified" titles that he gave to the disbelieving spouses and the disbelieving children have proven themselves to be utter nonsense Mr. Shamoun, and you know it well.
Again, why should GOD Almighty, if He truly inspired Paul's nonsense, call disbelievers as "holy" and still roast them in Hell? Wouldn't that make the Perfect GOD Almighty inconsistent and a hypocrite?
Where is the Divine Perfection in this?!
He wrote:
The late A.T. Robertson, considered to be one of the leading Greek Grammarians of all time, noted:
Is sanctified in the wife (???asta? e? t? ???a???). Perfect passive indicative of a??a??, to set apart, to hallow, to sanctify. Paul does not, of course, mean that the unbelieving husband is saved by the faith of the believing wife, though Hodge actually so interprets him. Clearly he only means that the marriage relation is sanctified so that there is no need of a divorce. If either husband or wife is a believer and the other agrees to remain, the marriage is holy and need not be set aside. This is so simple that one wonders at the ability of men to get confused over Paul's language. Else were your children unclean (epe? a?a ta te??a a?a?a?ta). The common ellipse of the condition with epe?: "since, accordingly, if it is otherwise, your children are illegitimate (a?a?a?ta)." If the relations of the parents be holy, the child's birth must be holy also (not illegitimate). "He is not assuming that the child of a Christian parent would be baptized; that would spoil rather than help his argument, for it would imply that the child was not a???? till it was baptized. The verse throws no light on the question of infant baptism" (Robertson and Plummer). (Source)
In agreement the Geneva Study Bible says:
(9) He answers an objection: but the faithful is defiled by the company of the unfaithful. The apostle denies that, and proves that the faithful man with good conscience may use the vessel of his unfaithful wife, by this, that their children which are born of them are considered holy or legitimate (that is, contained within the promise): for it is said to all the faithful, "I will be your God, and the God of your seed."
(h) The godliness of the wife is of more force to cause their marriage to be considered holy, than the infidelity of the husband is to profane the marriage.
(i) The infidel is not sanctified or made holy in his own person, but in respect of his wife, he is sanctified to her.
(k) To the faithful husband.
(l) The children are holy in the same sense that their parents are; that is they are sanctified, or lawfully espoused together, so the children born of them were in a civil and legal sense holy, that is, legitimate. (Ed.) (Source)
In both Islam and Christianity there is the general principle that believers should marry believers. The passage 1 Corinthians 7:12-16, however, points to one area in which there is a fundamental difference: If there is a married couple of unbelievers, and one of the spouses becomes a believer, what consequence does this have for their marriage?
My response:
Mr. Shamoun, it's the "holy" and "sanctified" titles that proved to be utter nonsense! The Bible may not force the marriage to be broken between disbelieving spouses, but it also talked utter nonsense when it called the disbelievers "holy" and "sanctified" when they will eventually roast in Hell (according to the pornful bible, the book of vaginas and breasts taste like "wine").
Did Paul even know what the word "holy" really mean? I highly doubt it.
He wrote:
The New Testament teaches that the marriage covenant is to be honored and the family preserved. If the unbeliever wants to continue, the believer should not divorce him or her. Islam on the other hand demands the divorce at least in the case that the wife becomes a Muslim. In Islamic law, a Muslimah can never be married to a non-Muslim. Islam destroys such families.
My response:
Islam is concerned about saving the believers and the children! Islam is not a hypocritical and nonsensical religion as your polytheist trinity is. GOD Almighty in Islam doesn't tell disbelievers that they're "holy" and then surprises them with an eternal punishment in Hell.
Your Bible had proven itself over and over again to be full of utter nonsense and man-made lies and alterations/innovations.
He wrote:
Osama turns his attention to John’s theology:
Now let us look at what John said:
John 3
15. that everyone who believes in him may have eternal
life.
16. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Again, Paul clearly contradicted John 3:16 "that whoever believes in him shall not perish". How can a disbelieving husband not perish even if his wife was a believer?
No matter how you interpret 1 Peter 3:1-6, whether it meant to say that the disbelieving husbands are automatically purified through their believing wives, or it meant to say that the disbelieving husbands might be persuaded to embrace the pagan polytheist religion, 1 Peter 3:16 still would be in clear contradiction with Paul or John in either case!
RESPONSE:
Did Paul contradict John? Let us see:
"For since in the wisdom of God, the world by its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save THOSE WHO BELIEVE by the foolishness of preaching." 1 Corinthians 1:21
"Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you - unless you BELIEVED in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:1-2
Note here that Paul implies that it is belief in the Gospel which results in perseverance that saves a person.
My response:
Yet, Paul calls the disbelievers as "holy" and "sanctified". Again Mr. Shamoun, I will ask the same questions:
What does Paul here mean by "holy"??!! If the disbelieving spouse would still not be saved in the End, then what is the point from considering them "holy"??!!
How does all of this fit with Paul's very next verse in 1 Corinthians 7:16:
"How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? (From the NIV Bible, 1 Corinthians 7:16)"
So if the wife/husband can never save their spouse unless GOD Almighty Wills, then again, what is the point from calling the disbelieving spouses and the disbelieving children as "holy"?!
It is clear that Paul's "holy" title to disbelieving spouses and children proved to be irrelevant and absolutely pointless! Hence, this makes the Bible imperfect in it's contents and literature, since it contains utter nonsense and foolish opinions in it. Hence, this makes the Bible not the 100% True Holy Words of GOD Almighty.
Why should GOD Almighty, if He truly inspired Paul's nonsense, call disbelievers as
"holy" and still roast them in Hell? Wouldn't that make the Perfect GOD
Almighty inconsistent and a hypocrite?
Where is the Divine Perfection in this?!
He wrote:
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16
"because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation." Romans 10:9-10, 13
Paul also speaks of being justified freely through FAITH:
"But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed - namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all WHO BELIEVE. For there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God publicly displayed him as the mercy seat by his blood through faith. This was to demonstrate his righteousness, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed. This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time, so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus' faithfulness. Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded! By what principle? Of works? No, but by the principle OF FAITH! For we consider that a person is declared righteous BY FAITH apart from the works of the law. Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles too? Yes, of the Gentiles too! Since God is one, he will justify the circumcised BY FAITH and the uncircumcised THROUGH FAITH. Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! Instead we uphold the law." Romans 3:21-31
"What then shall we say that Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh, has discovered regarding this matter? For if Abraham was declared righteous by the works of the law, he has something to boast about (but not before God). For what does the scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’ Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited due to grace but due to obligation. But to the one who does not work, but BELIEVES in the one who declares the ungodly righteous, his faith is credited as righteousness. So even David himself speaks regarding the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the one against whom the Lord will never count sin.’ Is this blessedness then for the circumcision or also for the uncircumcision? For we say, ‘faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.’ How then was it credited to him? Was he circumcised at the time, or not? No, he was not circumcised but uncircumcised! And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had BY FAITH while he was still uncircumcised, so that he would become the father of all those WHO BELIEVE but have never been circumcised, that they too could have righteousness credited to them. And he is also the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the FAITH that our father Abraham possessed when he was still uncircumcised. For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that COMES BY FAITH. For if they become heirs by the law, faith is empty and the promise is nullified. For the law brings wrath, because where there is no law there is no transgression either. For this reason it is BY FAITH so that it may be by grace, with the result that the promise may be certain to all the descendants - not only to those who are under the law, but also to those who have THE FAITH of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’). He is our father in the presence of God whom he believed - the God who makes the dead alive and summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do. Against hope Abraham believed in hope with the result that he became the father of many nations according to the pronouncement, ‘so will your descendants be.’ Without being weak in faith, he considered his own body as dead (because he was about one hundred years old) and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. He was fully convinced that what God promised he was also able to do. So indeed it was credited to Abraham as righteousness. But the statement it was credited to him was not written only for Abraham's sake, but also for our sake, to whom it will be credited, those who BELIEVE in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was given over because of our transgressions and was raised for the sake of our justification." Romans 4:1-25
It is quite evident that Paul was perfectly in line with John’s theology.
At any rate, in light of the foregoing one thing is crystal clear. There is no contradiction between the theology of Paul and the other Apostles. A careful analysis and correct exegesis of the passages in question demonstrate this beyond any reasonable doubt.
We conclude with Osama’s own words, with some modifications:
The Bible HAS NO REAL CONTRADICTIONS! The autographs were certainly perfect, and the extant MSS accurately preserve the original inerrant autographs: See these links for the evidence:
http://answering-islam.org/Bible/index.html
http://answering-islam.org/Quran/Bible/index.html
It is clear that God has preserved his Word in spite of variant readings and man’s attempt of altering its pristine message by innovations. It truly is the very inspired Word of the eternal, almighty Triune God.
My response:
By Paul calling disbelievers "holy" and "sanctified", one must conclude that those disbelieving husbands and children are saved if Paul's quotes were indeed from GOD Almighty. Otherwise, we're left with a ridiculous contradiction and utter nonsense! This is what seems to be the case here with Paul.
You have yet to respond to my questions above which I updated in my initial article, emailed you to inform you about the updates a long time ago, and received no rebuttal yet until now.
He wrote:
This is unlike the Quran with all its gross errors and textual corruption:
http://answering-islam.org/Quran/Text/index.html
http://answering-islam.org/Quran/Contra/index.html
http://answering-islam.org/Quran/Science/index.htm
My response:
Your so-called "Errors in the Quran" were all DEBUNKED at: www.answering-christianity.com/quran.htm
As to the Scientific Miracles of the Noble Quran, they are located at: www.answering-christianity.com/sci_quran.htm. Here is a listing of the links in this section:
From www.answering-christianity.com/sci_quran.htm:
Very Important Discovery:
A new star forming out of a cloud of gas and dust (nebula), which is one of the remnants
of the "smoke" that was the origin of the
whole universe. (The Space Atlas, Heather and Henbest, page 50)
Allah Almighty said: "Then He turned to the heaven when it was smoke...(The Noble Quran, 41:11)"
The Noble Quran on
the Origin of the Universe
Only Islam claims that the universe was originated from Dust
and Hot Gas, or Smoke.
Science in Islam:
The sub sections here are:
1- Life originated from water in the Noble Quran.
2- The Earth's rotation, formation, and Oceanology.
3- The Universe, Astronomy, UFOs and Space Shuttles.
4- Embryology, Human Anatomy, Formation, and Creation from the time of sexual
intercourse to
the time of birth.
5- The number 19 code in the Noble Quran.
6- Medicine, Insects and Animals.
7- Psychology.
8- Great Web Sites.
9- Rebuttals.
10- Prophecies.
Life originated from water in the Noble Quran:
Life originated from water in the Noble Quran.
The Earth's rotation, formation and Oceanology:
The Noble Quran confirms that the earth is rotating around its axle.
Allah Almighty said that the earth is "egg-shaped".
The Earth is round according to Islam.
The amazing creation of earth and iron in the Noble Quran. Iron came from space, and the Noble Quran mentioned it.
The amazing creation of earth and mountains in the Noble Quran. Science confirms that mountains prevent the earth from shaking while it is revolving around itself. The Noble Quran made a similar claim.
Geology in the Noble Quran - See the Scientific confirmation.
Oceanology in the Noble Quran - See the Scientific confirmation. The barriers between waters in both science and the Noble Quran.
The Universe, Astronomy, UFOs and Space Shuttles:
The Noble Quran and Astronomers both claim that the Universe is 18 billion years old.
The Big Bang Theory and the Cosmic Crunch in the Noble Quran. Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him predicted around the time when the Cosmic Crunch occurs, the Sun would rise from the West.
The Noble Quran on the Origin of the Universe. This article has pictures and quotes from Western scientific books that accurately confirm the astronomical claims of the Noble Quran. The Noble Quran was the only book that claimed that the universe originated from Hot Gas or Smoke. Science proved that this claim is true.
Comparison between Allah Almighty's claims about His Creation, and the scientific discoveries that 100% agree with Him. Claims such as: The universe is expanding, the existence of the sun's orbit, the protective atmosphere to the earth, Embryology and many more.
Allah Almighty said in the Noble Quran that He is "Expanding" the Universe. Scientists already proved this claim to be true.The "Clot" and the Creation of the Universe in the Noble Quran.
Is there mention of U.F.Os or other Human Planets in the Noble Quran?
Einstein's time relativity in the Noble Quran.
UFOs and Space Shuttles were explicitly mentioned in the Noble Quran! Even the communication with UFOs was prophesied in the Noble Quran.
Aliens and UFOs in the Noble Quran.
Embryology, Human Anatomy, Formation and Creation from the time of sexual intercourse to the time of birth:
The Noble Quran on Human Embryonic Development.
Embryology in the Noble Quran. The three stages of the foetus formation in the Noble Quran and Science.
Abortion in Islam is a crime! The foetus is a human child in Islam.
The Noble Quran on the Cerebrum: Lying is generated from the person's forehead.
The region in the brain that controls our movements - In Noble Quran and confirmed by Science.
Sex determination and human creation in Islam. Allah Almighty and Prophet Muhammad both claimed that the human gender is determined by the male's ejaculated semen.
Were human cloning and gender alteration prophesied in Islam?
Why does the Noble Quran, while speaking about determination of the identity of the individual, speak specifically about finger tips? The Noble Quran recognized that finger tips (finger prints) are unique!
The blood circulation and the production of milk in the Breast: In the Noble Quran and Science.
Thinking with the heart besides the brain in the Noble Quran was proven by Science.
The number 19 code in the Noble Quran:
The Miracle of the number 19 in the Noble Quran. Yes, the number 19 is miraculous in the Noble Quran and was proven to be essential in many of the Scientific Theories and Discoveries. But it doesn't at all support Rashad Khalifa's removal of two Noble Verses from the Noble Quran, and his claim to be GOD Almighty's Messenger.
Medicine, Insects and Animals:
Animals' urine and it's relationship to medicine in Islam.
Camels could help cure humans.
Honey was proven to be healing for humans as was mentioned in the Noble Quran.
The fly insect and its cure: Mentioned in Islam and confirmed by Science (Bacteriophages).
Psychology:
The psychological Wisdom of Prayers in Islam was proven in Science and Psychology.
The Wisdom of the age of 40 in the Noble Quran, which had been Scientifically and Psychologically proven to be True. See why Allah Almighty is more forgiving to those who are under the age of 40, and how Science and Psychology proved that people under 40 are less mature and tend to make more irresponsible decisions (i.e., mistakes and sins).
Great Web Sites:
http://www.it-is-truth.org/ This is an awesome web site that has Western scientific information that accurately confirms the Noble Quran's claims about astronomy, biology, geology and other sciences.
The Bible, the Quran and Science. Written by Dr Maurice Bucaille. In his work, Dr. Baucille proves that the Quran correctly stated scientific facts unknown at the time of the Prophet - showing its divine origin!
Miracles of the Noble Quran. Video files.
A web site for the number 19 miracle in the Noble Quran.
Evaluating Islam as a Religion based on Divine Revelation.
Rebuttals:
Does the Noble Quran support "The Earth moves around the Sun" theory? Rebuttal to Mr. Avijit Roy's challenge.
My rebuttal to Avijit Roy's "Does the Quran support the Earth moves around the Sun theory" response.
My rebuttal to Avijit Roy's "Does Quran have any Scientific miracles?" article.
A Muslim response to criticism of Embryology in the Noble Quran. By Nadeem Arif Najmi.
Allah Almighty said that the earth is "egg-shaped". Rebuttal to the Christian "Answering Islam" team about "dahaha" in the Noble Quran.
Prophecies:
Please visit The Noble Quran section, and read the "Prophecies" sub section to see the great Prophecies that were fulfilled only in the Noble Quran. The Noble Quran also made mention and promised the discovery of lost ancient cities and people's bodies, and these promises were all fulfilled today.
Back to My Rebuttals, and exposing the lies of the Answering Islam team section.
Paul, Peter and John are in clear contradiction with each others regarding the disbelieving husbands to believing wives!Paul nullified and contradicted the point of Baptism.
How can Jesus be GOD Almighty when he asked for GOD's Forgiveness?
Contradictions and History of Corruption in the Bible.
Questions about Jesus that trinitarian Christians don't have logical answers for.
What parts of the Bible do Muslims believe are closest to the Truth? and Why?
"Allah" was GOD Almighty's original Name in the Bible according to the Hebrew and Aramaic sources.
Scientific Miracles in Islam and the Noble Quran.
Most of the Bible's books and gospels were written by mysterious people!
Jesus mentioned Muhammad by the name in the Bible.
Did Isaiah 53 really prophesies about the crucifixion of Jesus? It supports Islam's claims about Jesus peace be upon him never died on the cross. I also addressed John 19:36-37 from the Bible and proved that Jesus never got crucified, since GOD Almighty promised that he will protect Jesus' body and not let even a single bone be broken. My question to all Christians is: How in the world is it possible for the feet to get nailed on the cross without any penetration to the bones by the nails, hence breaking part of the feet's bones?! I also added refutations to Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12, Zechariah 12:10 and Psalm 34:20, which supposedly prove the Christians' belief about Jesus crucifixion. I proved that this dogma has no truth what so ever and exposed the wrong Trinitarian English translation of Zechariah 12:10.