A two-part question, the first of which revolves around the Christian religion and th

[سواها قلبي]

In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful

And yet... can a scientific researcher be certain that there is now a gospel attributed to Christ?

These contradictions exist in the gospels, despite their small size... because the gospels are very small in size... This is the size of the entire gospels.

If it is proven that these Gospels contain some contradictions, even if it is just one contradiction...not a hundred contradictions...then that invalidates their being a revelation from God Almighty...because God Almighty said in the Qur’an that was revealed to an illiterate Messenger and to an illiterate nation that could neither read nor write, He said:

"أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَۚ وَلَوۡ كَانَ مِنۡ عِندِ غَيۡرِ ٱللَّهِ لَوَجَدُواْ فِيهِ ٱخۡتِلَٰفٗا كَثِيرٗا (82) "

“Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction.(82).” (surah An-Nisa')

That is, if the Quran was not from Allah, they would have found many discrepancies within it. Therefore, every Muslim openly declares: “Bring us a single contradiction from the Holy Quran, with its 6236 verses.” No one would dare say that there is a single contradiction in the Quran. We, in your hands, can face any accusation, doubt, or suspicion that has been proven that there is a single contradiction in the Quran. As for the Gospels, you have seen that despite their small size, they are contradictory. In fact, there is a contradiction on a single page. I will give you an example of some of this contradiction on a single page.

In the Gospel of Matthew, for example, we find dozens of these contradictions, and we can point out some of them without bias. Jesus Christ says to Peter:

“18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16)

So - Peter, Christ said to him: You are a rock, you are strong, and the demons cannot enter through you, nor can the gates of hell, and upon you I will build my church. Then He gave him an amazing promise or covenant that:

“Whatever you make lawful on earth, I will make lawful in heaven.. And whatever you bind on earth, I will bind in heaven.. Whatever you do, I do, and whatever you want, I want.”

That is, God's will is subordinate to Peter's will. This is what is stated in the Holy Quran, where God Almighty says:

"وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ عُزَيْرٌ ابْنُ اللَّهِ وَقَالَتِ النَّصَارَى الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ اللَّهِ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ قَوْلُهُمْ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ ۖ يُضَاهِئُونَ قَوْلَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ ۚ قَاتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ ۚ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ (30)
"اتَّخَذُوا أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَالْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا إِلَٰهًا وَاحِدًا ۖ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ سُبْحَانَهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ"

“The Jews say, "Ezra is the son of Allah "; and the Christians say, "The Messiah is the son of Allah." That is their statement from their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved [before them]. May Allah destroy them; how are they deluded?(30). They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah, and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him.( surah At-Taubah)

Adi bin Hatim Al-Ta’i, who was a Christian and later converted to Islam, said: “O Messenger of God, we did not worship them.” He understood that worship meant bowing at his feet or praying to him. The Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him: “Did they not make things lawful for you and unlawful, so you took their word for it?” He said: “Yes.” He said: “That is their worship instead of God.”

* So, for anyone other than God alone to have the right to permit and prohibit is polytheism. Therefore, we find that Islam denies that the authority to permit and prohibit belongs to anyone other than God. It does not even belong to the Messenger Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. The Messenger does not possess the right to permit and prohibit except by revelation from God. God rebuked him when he forbade himself something, saying to him:

"يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ لِمَ تُحَرِّمُ مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ لَكَ ۖ تَبْتَغِي مَرْضَاتَ أَزْوَاجِكَ ۚ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ(1).

“O Prophet, why do you prohibit [yourself from] what Allah has made lawful for you, seeking the approval of your wives? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (surah At-Tahrim)

In this Gospel text above, we find Peter's high status, but look at what he says at the end of the page?

At the beginning of the page we find Peter - as the Gospel says on the tongue of Christ - is the rock on which Christ will build the edifice of his call.. and will bind it to him.. and he is a firm rock that the gates of hell cannot reach.. and in his hand are the keys of the kingdom of heaven.. Then the eye can hardly take in this great image of Peter until it encounters another completely opposite image that distorts this apostle and transforms him from a divine human into a scheming devil.. so suddenly.. and where is that? .. In the Gospel of Matthew itself, in the same chapter number 16, and after two verses - that is, only about two lines from the words of the Lord Christ announcing to him..

“21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." (Matthew 16)

** Look at how at the beginning of the page Christ tells Peter: What you have done on earth, you will do in heaven... Then at the end of the page he tells him: You are a devil... There are many contradictions in the Gospels...

Professor Ibrahim Khalil Ahmed... was a priest and professor of doctrine and theology at the Faculty of Theology... the head of all the churches of Upper Egypt in Egypt... says...

The truth is that our work as missionaries was based on a document that came in the Second Epistle of Peter to confirm that the Torah and the Gospel are books inspired by God. So we used to say:

“ 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”( 2 Peter 1)

Of course, this text, which was spoken by Peter as it appeared in his second letter, will give the impression that the current Bible is a book inspired by God. The priest also addresses, in his work among Muslims, a verse from the Holy Quran in Surat Al Imran that says:

" نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنْزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنْجِيلَ (3)

“He has sent down upon you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel.(3)” surah Al-'Imran.

The Quran is very precise. It did not mention the New Testament or the Old Testament, but it mentioned the Torah and the Bible. When the Quran came to mention the Old Testament and the New Testament in the book, what did it say? It said in Surat Al Imran:

"قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ"

“64- Say, "O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you “

So when the entire book was mentioned, the Qur’an began to give the correct and sound guidance.. and likewise in Surat An-Nisa.. God Almighty says:

"يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَا تَغْلُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ وَلَا تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْحَقَّ ۚ إِنَّمَا الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُ أَلْقَاهَا إِلَىٰ مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِنْهُ ۖ فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ۖ وَلَا تَقُولُوا ثَلَاثَةٌ ۚ انْتَهُوا خَيْرًا لَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا اللَّهُ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ سُبْحَانَهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ ۘ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ وَكِيلًا"

“O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, "Three"; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs.(171).” (surah An-Nisa”

And in Surat Al-Ma’idah, God Almighty also says about the People of the Book:

"يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمْ كَثِيرًا مِمَّا كُنْتُمْ تُخْفُونَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَيَعْفُو عَنْ كَثِيرٍ ۚ قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ نُورٌ وَكِتَابٌ مُبِينٌ"

“15- O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture and overlooking much. There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book.” (surah Al-Ma'idah).

** So, when the reference was made to the Book, the reference was made to point out the correction. But when the reference was made to the Torah and the Gospel, the reference was made to confirm it, without mentioning either the Old Testament or the New Testament.

Let us move from this to the Gospels themselves... and let us contemplate the Gospel of Luke itself... Was it inspired by God? Or was it under the influence of God Almighty's revelation? Luke says (1:1-4):

“1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.”

*** He said: As those who were from the beginning handed it down to us.. and he did not say inspired by the Holy Spirit..

* Luke was not one of the twelve disciples who were with Christ. This is a point that has weight in assessing the situation.

Then when we come to Saul, who later became known as Paul, we find in (Chapter 7:8) of the First Epistle to the Corinthians) he says in paragraph 8:

“8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; “

These words are from Paul himself... and he wants people to remain unmarried like him... then he says:

“10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband.”

This is separation without divorce.. and when you move forward a little we find him saying:

"12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: "

Sometimes he says, "Our Lord said," and other times he says, "I say." So it is as if he is on the same level as God - Glory be to Him - in the Book.

Moreover, he makes it permissible for a believing woman to marry a polytheist. This is a great danger to the marital life between a believing woman and a polytheist man, as he says:

“13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.”

These are Paul's words...

Was this man awake when he came to correct the situation? But when he came to, we find him saying:

“14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you* are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." 28916 18 "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty."*”

This statement came in the second letter to the Corinthians, and it came in (Chapter 6: 14-18).

* So in the first epistle he says... and the woman who has an unbelieving husband and is willing for him to live with her, she should not leave him... but in the second epistle he says...

"Separate yourselves."

This is undoubtedly a fluctuation in the words of the holy books that are supposed to be believed absolutely?

We come to Paul and the virgins and we find him also saying in the First Epistle to the Corinthians:

"25 Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress--that it is good for a man to remain as he is"

I believe that speculation in the Holy Books is something very terrible that a person cannot rely on.. Moreover, marriage in Christianity does not dissolve except by death.. If it happens that a woman marries a man and she hates him and wants to get rid of him in any honorable way, she says: When he dies, she can get married. So the woman remains waiting for the hour of death so that she can get rid of the ominous man who was a nightmare in her life.. So what does Paul say:

" 39 A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment--and I think I also have the Spirit of God."

He does not believe himself whether he has the Spirit of God or not. When a man like Paul says such things, it gives us terrible doubt about what is stated in the New Testament.


There's more to come... Your brother, Al-Athram

[سواها قلبي]

In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful

When we come to the Old Testament and see the tricks that took place in the New Testament, we find that the Torah, which is the first five books that Moses gave to the Levites, we find the following:

When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book to the end, Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying, “Take this book of the law and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord to you, that it may be a witness against you there. For I know your rebellion and your stiff necks. Behold, while I am still alive with you this day, you have rebelled against the Lord; how much more after my death?” (Deuteronomy 31:24-27)

This is how our master Moses confirms to the generations that the Jews are a rebellious people not only against Moses, but also against God, the Creator of the people of Israel.

In the Book of Deuteronomy, before the conclusion, we find strange words that say in (Chapter 34: 5-7):

“So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab”,

* Can a dead person write?

** If Moses died, how could he write these books and say, "I died and such-and-such happened?"

*** So, there is no doubt that this statement has been exaggerated, and that the Torah was written during a time other than Moses', and what happened to it happened.

In addition, by studying the Torah and the Bible historically, we will be completely reassured that the Torah in general was destroyed. In the history of Israel, we find that Nebuchadnezzar entered the temple with his army, destroyed it, and took all the possessions, including the holy books and vessels, and went with them to Babylon. Therefore, it is historically proven that the Torah written by Moses was completely lost. When Cyrus, the king of Persia, ordered the return of the Israelites to Palestine, Ezra and Nehemiah began to rewrite the Torah from memory.

** We cannot believe the whole Torah and the Bible.. nor can we disbelieve them all.. because the human factor is present in these books.

But as a human being (Ibrahim Khalil Ahmed), God guided me to Islam. I was a priest and I was not guided to Islam easily. I must have a strong argument. The books from Moses to Jesus prophesied about our master, the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace.

We find in Surat An-Nisa, verse (82), God Almighty says:

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ ۚ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِنْدِ غَيْرِ اللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا”

Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction.

Not all people are supposed to be scholars and devote their time to study and comparison. However, I believe that what I have written to you from Paul's letters to the Corinthians demonstrates the presence of the human element in the New Testament.

We find the Messenger, may God bless him and grant him peace, saying, “I am only a human being,” and he did not say, “I am a god.” The Qur’an says:

"قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ فَمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا(110)"

Say, "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone.(110)" (surah Al-Kahf)

The Qur’an challenges all creatures, saying:

"قُلْ لَئِنِ اجْتَمَعَتِ الْإِنْسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلَىٰ أَنْ يَأْتُوا بِمِثْلِ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ لَا يَأْتُونَ بِمِثْلِهِ وَلَوْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ ظَهِيرًا"

"Say, "If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other assistants.(88)" surah Al-Isra

*** So we can conclude that the Gospel of Christ does not exist? This is certain.

Here we ask: How does the Holy Qur'an say:

"وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَهْلُ الْإِنْجِيلِ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ ۚ "

"And let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein(47). surah Al-Ma'idah

“إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ ۚ يَحْكُمُ بِهَا النَّبِيُّونَ الَّذِينَ أَسْلَمُوا لِلَّذِينَ هَادُوا”

“Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allah] judged by it for the Jews,(44). surah Al-Ma'idah

And God Almighty says:

" قُلْ فَأْتُوا بِالتَّوْرَاةِ فَاتْلُوهَا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ"

"So bring the Torah and recite it, if you should be truthful(93)." surah Al-'Imran

Which Torah does he mean...and which Gospel?

The existing Torah is filled with words attributed to Moses, but not everything in it is the words of Moses. Likewise, the Bible is filled with words attributed to Christ, but not everything in it is the words of Christ.

We can sum up the answer in that when God Almighty said:

“Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light (93).” surah Al-'Imran

"And let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein(47). surah Al-Ma'idah

Our Lord Almighty said to His Messenger, may God bless him and grant him peace...

"وَأَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ"

“And We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it.(48)” surah Al-Ma'idah.

So the only reference for what is authentic in the Bible, what is authentic in the Torah, and what God is pleased with, is the Holy Quran. Whatever the Quran confirms and approves is true, whatever the Quran abrogates has been abrogated, and whatever the Holy Quran rejects is false.


There's more to come... Your brother, Al-Athram

[سواها قلبي]

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

We begin by completing the elements of the crucifixion. We had already finished discussing the charge of betrayal (4- The Last Supper and the Traitorous Disciple). We saw that Satan entered Judas before the Last Supper, according to Luke's account. However, according to John's account, he entered Judas after Christ gave him the food during the Last Supper, and then left to plot against him.

And now we begin with a well-known element under the title .. The suffering in the garden or the pains and troubles of Christ in the garden .. We will read the text .. I always begin with the Gospel of Mark as it is the oldest of the Gospels .. But I hope that we focus as we read the text that describes this important and decisive period of the life of Christ .. on whether the image that the Gospel writers painted of Christ here shows that he came to shed his blood as a ransom for many .. And thus the crucifixion and the shedding of his blood was a main goal of his message .. as they say .. Or was Christ surprised by the power of injustice almost closing in on him .. And that his life was threatened with danger in a way he did not expect .. And therefore he was seized with a state of deadly terror in which he wished at every moment to escape from the danger and save himself from death ..


5-
The Passion of Christ
:

“32 Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here while I pray." 33 And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. 34 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch." 35 He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. 36 And He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will." 37 Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 39 Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. 40 And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. 41 Then He came the third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand." (Mark 14)

The simplest comment on this statement is that it is quite clear that Christ did not expect this amazing surprise, which is that his enemies would seize him. Of course, he knew that when they seized him, they would kill him. Therefore, he was praying at all times for this hour, this trial, or this cup to pass from him, so that he would be saved.

** So we can decide - in principle - that any statement that says that he came to sacrifice his life as a ransom for many... or that the shedding of his blood was necessary to atone for Adam's sin or the sins of humanity... all of that cannot be accepted.

*** If Adam's disobedience... his atonement would be by killing the Son of God against the will of the Son of God himself... then this is a greater catastrophe... because the sin is completely multiplied in this way...

Next we go to know the opinions of scholars and interpreters of the Gospels. Dennis Nineham says:

Opinions have been violently divided over the historical value of this section, and it has been questioned whether it is in fact part of the source from which St. Mark narrated.

Others assert that no one could have witnessed most of the events mentioned here, nor could anyone have known what prayer Jesus prayed alone. Therefore, they consider the typical prayer (in verse 36) and its repetition three times to be something artificial, like saying that Peter denied it three times.

A reliable decision (about the truth of what happened in the garden) is impossible.. (Interpretation of the Gospel of Mark, pp. 389-390)

As for Luke’s account of the sufferings of Christ, we find in it what makes us present it... as it says:

“39 Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. 40 When He came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." 41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." 43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. 46 Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation." (Luke 22)

George Caird says in his interpretation of these passages: According to Mark's account (which was a source for Luke), Jesus was now seized with fear and astonishment, and he spoke to his disciples about the grief that accompanied the exhaustion and disappearance of his life. Unable to be in the company of his dearest friends (his disciples), he spent the night in successive spasms of the Anguished Prayer. But Luke's shortened account (relative to Mark's) gives us as much as possible a stronger impression of the state of confusion that befell Jesus. He tells us that it was Jesus who tore himself away from his friends, that he was in excruciating pain, and that his sweat became like drops of blood. When we remember the courage and steadfastness with which other brave men faced death in all its barbaric forms, and the excessive torture that accompanied it, we cannot help but wonder what cup Jesus was praying to God to spare him.

Jesus' prayer shows us that the torment of doubt was one element of his complex ordeal.

How many times has he predicted his sufferings, but now, on the eve of their occurrence, we find him retreating on his heels... This... and since some ancient references omit the two verses (43, 44)... which say:

“43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

Despite their presence in most versions and the knowledge of Christian scholars in the second century of them, “the reason for this deletion can be traced back (as George Caird says) to the understanding of one of the scribes that the image of Jesus here... was surrounded by human weakness... was in conflict with his belief in the divine Son who shared his Father’s all-powerful power...” (Interpretation of the Gospel of Luke, p. 243).

If we accept that this is what really happened to Christ in the garden, then this clearly means that he did not expect to be killed at all. As for the torment of doubt that afflicted him, it can be attributed to the fact that he must have been reassured in advance that his enemies would not be able to catch him - which we will return to talk about in some detail under the title: (Christ’s predictions of his escape from being killed) - but when he saw his enemies about to catch him, then there afflicted him the torment of doubt as to whether he would really escape or whether they would kill him.


There's more to come... Your brother, Al-Athram

[سواها قلبي]

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

E - The Time of the Crucifixion:

Mark says 15: “25 Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. “

But John says (19) : This happened after the sixth hour.” 14- .. and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" 15 But they cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?"
The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar!" 16 Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified.”

Nineham says:

From the moment Saint Mark recounts the people's denial of Jesus, we find that the timing has been carefully planned so that the period is divided into three events or times, such as: (Peter's three denials 14:68, 72), the time of the crucifixion at the third hour (15:25), and the time of darkness from the sixth to the ninth hour (15:33, 34).

In this example at least, the calculation seems artificial, since it is difficult to believe that everything narrated in Numbers (15:1-24) (from the beginning of the morning session until the time of the crucifixion) could have happened in the three-hour period.

The Gospel of John (19:14) clearly shows that this did not happen... (Commentary on the Gospel of Mark, p. 424)

And – the prayer of the crucified one

Luke says (23) : “33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."

Luke alone mentioned this prayer, which was omitted by the other Gospels, and even by some important versions attributed to Luke.

George Caird says: It has been said that this prayer may have been erased from one of the early copies of the Gospel of Luke by a scribe of the second century, who thought it was unbelievable that God would forgive the Jews. Observing the double destruction of Jerusalem in 70 and 135, it became clear that God would not forgive them. (Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, p. 250)


There's more to come... Your brother, Al-Athram