Muslims tell Christians not to believe the gospels of Jesus’ disciples, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, because Jesus did not actually write anything in the Bible. He spoke to his disciples who recorded it. They also claim that the Quran was written by divine intervention from God, when in reality, the same process occurred with the Quran.
Muhammed, who could not read or write, claimed to have heard revelations from God, which he spoke to his disciples (companions). These companions proceeded to write down what Muhammed said and created manuscripts on various materials such as leaves, flat bone and rock. At a later time, Uthman, a follower of Muhammed had these manuscripts compiled into what we know today as the Quran. The Quran was physically written by Muhammed’s disciples through the recording of his oral statements. It was not written by Muhammed himself since he was illiterate.
It is the same with Jesus and his disciples in that the disciples recorded Jesus’ life and teachings. They were his witnesses, writing what they saw and heard. There is no merit in the Islamic argument that we should not believe in the New Testament just because it was written by Jesus’ disciples and not physically written by Jesus himself.
We must remember that the Bible calls for any fact to be confirmed by two or three witnesses before it can be believed to be true. This was the reason that the gospels were written by Jesus’ disciples, and not Jesus himself.
John 8:17 – In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true.
Matthew 18:20 – For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Acts 5:32 – We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Acts 1:8 – But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Even chargeable offences in the Bible require two or three witnesses in order to establish any fact.
Deuteronomy 19:15 – One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Deuteronomy 17:6 – On the testimony of two or three witnesses a person is to be put to death, but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
Numbers 35:30 – If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness.
The same concept carries over to the New Testament.
Matthew 18:16 – But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
2 Corinthians 13:1 – This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
1 Timothy 5:19 – Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.
Hebrews 10:28 – Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
It is clear to see that there is absolutely no merit in this argument, whatsoever. The gospels are the testimony of the disciples, who were witnesses to Jesus’ earthly ministry.
2 Peter 1:16 – For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
Luke 1:1-4 – Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
John 15:27 – And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
Acts 1:21 – Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us,
1 John 1:1-2 – That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.
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