Today's reading from 1 John 2:22-28 asks a rhetorical question and ends with a promise:
"Beloved: Who is the liar?
Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ.
Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.
Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.
Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you,
then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life.
I write you these things about those who would deceive you.
As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you,
so that you do not need anyone to teach you. But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false; just as it taught you, remain in him.
And now, children, remain in him,
so that when he appears we may have confidence
and not be put to shame by him at his coming."
Occam's razor
is a problem-solving principle and heuristic that suggests that when presented with competing hypotheses that explain a phenomenon equally well, the one with the fewest assumptions should be preferred. It is attributed to William of Occam, a 14th-century English Franciscan friar, philosopher and theologian, though the concept dates back to earlier thinkers like Aristotle, who noted that nature operates in the shortest way possible
Occam's Razor is often paraphrased as "the simplest explanation is usually the best," the principle more accurately advises against "multiplying entities beyond necessity" (Pluralitas non est ponenda sine necessitate).
The Razor refers to "shaving away" unnecessary assumptions to reach the most likely conclusion.
Occam's Razor is not a law of nature but a heuristic or rule of thumb used to guide scientists and researchers toward the most probable starting point for investigation.
Quran's Creativity
Most of the major figures on the Quran are also found in the Bible, and the major figures unique to the Quran are not that consequential.The Quran mentions over 50 figures also found in the Bible, primarily within the lineage of prophets. Many of these individuals are revered in Islam as messengers of God (Rusul) or prophets (Anbiya).
Noah (Nūḥ): A messenger who survived the Great Flood.
Abraham (Ibrāhīm): A central figure considered the father of monotheism; he is mentioned 69 times.
Moses (Mūsā): The most frequently mentioned individual in the Quran (136 times).
Jesus (ʿĪsā): Revered as a prophet and the Messiah, born miraculously to Mary.
Mary (Maryam): The only woman mentioned by name in the Quran; she has an entire chapter (Surah Maryam) named after her.
John the Baptist (Yaḥyā): Born to Zechariah in his old age.
Joseph (Yūsuf): His story is recounted in great detail in a single chapter (Surah Yusuf).
David (Dāwūd) and Solomon (Sulaymān): Noted as both prophets and kings.
Lot (Lūṭ): Abraham’s nephew, sent to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Other Notable FiguresAaron (Hārūn): Moses' brother and fellow prophet.
Elijah (Ilyās) and Elisha (al-Yasaʿ): Successive prophets in the Israelite tradition.
Job (Ayyūb): A model of patience during affliction.
Jonah (Yūnus): Famous for being swallowed by a giant fish.
Goliath (Jālūṭ) and Saul (Ṭālūt): Figures from the stories of David and the early Israelite kingship.
Zechariah (Zakariyyā): Father of John the Baptist.
Isaac (Isḥāq) and Ishmael (Ismāʿīl): Sons of Abraham; Ishmael is traditionally viewed as the ancestor of the Arabs.
Jacob (Yaʿqūb): Son of Isaac and father of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Comparison Table of Names
| Biblical Name (English) | Quranic Name (Arabic) |
|---|---|
| Adam | Ādam |
| Noah | Nūḥ |
| Abraham | Ibrāhīm |
| Isaac | Isḥāq |
| Ishmael | Ismāʿīl |
| Jacob | Yaʿqūb |
| Joseph | Yūsuf |
| Moses | Mūsā |
| Aaron | Hārūn |
| David | Dāwūd |
| Solomon | Sulaymān |
| Job | Ayyūb |
| Jonah | Yūnus |
| Zechariah | Zakariyyā |
| John the Baptist | Yaḥyā |
| Mary | Maryam |
| Jesus | ʿĪsā |
| Gabriel (Archangel) | Jibrīl |
Major Figures Unique to the Quran
• Hud (هود): A prophet sent to the ancient tribe of 'Ad in the region of Al-Ahqaf (southern Arabia). He called his people to monotheism before they were destroyed by a violent wind.
• Saleh (صالح): Sent to the tribe of Thamud in Al-Hijr. His miracle was a miraculous she-camel that emerged from a rock; the tribe was destroyed by an earthquake after they killed the camel.
• Shu'ayb (شعيب): Often identified as the biblical Jethro, but his narrative in the Quran as a prophet to the people of Madyan (Midian) and the People of the Wood is distinct. He emphasized fair weights and measures in trade.
• Dhul-Qarnayn (ذو القرنين): A powerful king and traveler (literally "The Two-Horned One") who traveled to the ends of the earth and built a massive barrier to restrain Gog and Magog.
• Al-Khidr (الخضر): Though not named directly in the Quran, he is the "servant of God" whom Moses meets in Surah Al-Kahf. He possesses "hidden knowledge" and performs seemingly illogical acts that reveal divine wisdom.
• Luqman (لقمان): A wise sage (not always considered a prophet) who has an entire chapter named after him (Surah Luqman). He is famous for the moral and spiritual advice he gave to his son.
• Hud (هود): A prophet sent to the ancient tribe of 'Ad in the region of Al-Ahqaf (southern Arabia). He called his people to monotheism before they were destroyed by a violent wind.
• Saleh (صالح): Sent to the tribe of Thamud in Al-Hijr. His miracle was a miraculous she-camel that emerged from a rock; the tribe was destroyed by an earthquake after they killed the camel.
• Shu'ayb (شعيب): Often identified as the biblical Jethro, but his narrative in the Quran as a prophet to the people of Madyan (Midian) and the People of the Wood is distinct. He emphasized fair weights and measures in trade.
• Dhul-Qarnayn (ذو القرنين): A powerful king and traveler (literally "The Two-Horned One") who traveled to the ends of the earth and built a massive barrier to restrain Gog and Magog.
• Al-Khidr (الخضر): Though not named directly in the Quran, he is the "servant of God" whom Moses meets in Surah Al-Kahf. He possesses "hidden knowledge" and performs seemingly illogical acts that reveal divine wisdom.
• Luqman (لقمان): A wise sage (not always considered a prophet) who has an entire chapter named after him (Surah Luqman). He is famous for the moral and spiritual advice he gave to his son.
Quran's Originality
If the Quran was submitted as an academic paper, it would be flagged for plagiarism. However, the Evidence Industrial Complex says that academic and theological consensus identifies the
Quran as a highly intertextual document that frequently employs paraphrase rather than direct quotation to engage with previous traditions.
Scope of Intertextuality
• Narrative Proportion: Approximately one-third (33%) of the Quran consists of stories, many of which share a common discourse with Jewish and Christian traditions. About 25-26% of its verses specifically feature prophets or figures found in biblical and extra-biblical literature, such as Noah, Abraham, and Moses.
• Theological Breadth: Intertextuality extends beyond stories to encompass creation accounts, eschatology (end times), parables, and legal matters, all of which are "intimately connected" to broader Near Eastern religious cultures.
• Rare Direct Quotations: Word-for-word quotations are rare; the Quran primarily uses loose paraphrase or "corrective retelling".
• Functional Paraphrase: It often summarizes earlier narratives to focus on their moral or spiritual significance rather than exhaustive detail.
• Engagement with Extra-Biblical Sources: The Quran’s intertextuality includes not only the Bible but also rabbinic midrash, apocryphal gospels (like infancy gospels of Jesus), and Syriac Christian literature contemporary to its revelation.
Scholarl
Scholarly Interpretations as presented by the Evidence Industrial Complex
• Scholars see this as evidence that the Quran emerged from a rich, shared religious environment where these traditions were orally and textually transmitted.
• Traditional Muslim View: This engagement is seen as "confirmation" (musaddiq) of original divine truths that were previously revealed but might have been altered or obscured by humans over time. The Quran is viewed as "correcting" earlier accounts to restore their true monotheistic message.
The relationship between the texts is characterized by shared narratives rather than direct copying:
• Functional Paraphrase: It often summarizes earlier narratives to focus on their moral or spiritual significance rather than exhaustive detail.
• Engagement with Extra-Biblical Sources: The Quran’s intertextuality includes not only the Bible but also rabbinic midrash, apocryphal gospels (like infancy gospels of Jesus), and Syriac Christian literature contemporary to its revelation.
Scholarl
Scholarly Interpretations as presented by the Evidence Industrial Complex
• Scholars see this as evidence that the Quran emerged from a rich, shared religious environment where these traditions were orally and textually transmitted.
• Traditional Muslim View: This engagement is seen as "confirmation" (musaddiq) of original divine truths that were previously revealed but might have been altered or obscured by humans over time. The Quran is viewed as "correcting" earlier accounts to restore their true monotheistic message.
The relationship between the texts is characterized by shared narratives rather than direct copying:
The Game of Telephone
The game of Telephone is a popular children's activity designed to demonstrate how easily verbal information can be distorted through indirect communication. A group sits in a circle or stands in a straight line. The first person thinks of a short phrase and whispers it as quietly as possible to the person next to them. Each subsequent player whispers what they think they heard to the next person. The final person in the line announces the message they heard out loud. The first person then reveals the original phrase, usually resulting in a humorous and completely different final output.
Beyond being a party game, educators use Telephone to teach critical life skills:
• Active Listening: Students learn the importance of paying close attention to detail and clear pronunciation.
• Understanding Rumors: The game serves as a metaphor for how gossip and rumors spread and become inaccurate over time.
• Communication Barriers: It highlights how "transmission chaining"—the sequential modification of information—leads to cumulative errors.
While known as Telephone in North America, the game has many international names: Chinese Whispers: The most common term in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia.
Broken Telephone: Common in Canada and parts of the United States.
Stille Post (Quiet Mail): Used in Germany.
Téléphone Arabe (Arabic Telephone): Used in France.
Whisper Down the Lane: A common variation in the U.S
Consider The Old Testament was written and compiled over approximately a thousand-year period, whereas the Quran was revealed and recorded within a single lifetime.
The Old Testament was written between roughly 1400 BC and 400 BC. Some scholars place the earliest written parts around 1200 BC and the final canonization of the Hebrew Bible by 100 CE. Composed by at least 40 different authors, including prophets, kings, and scribes. Written primarily in ancient Hebrew, with small sections in Aramaic.
In Ephesians 3.2, Saint Paul explains the reasons why the Scriptures took so long to write: "Brothers and sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.
It was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.
It was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
The canonization was a lengthy process as well:
The process of canonizing the Bible
Moving from a collection of individual texts to an officially recognized list of scriptures took several centuries for both the Old and New Testaments.The Old Testament (Hebrew Bible)
The canonization of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) occurred over several hundred years, with different sections becoming fixed at different times.
The canonization of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) occurred over several hundred years, with different sections becoming fixed at different times.
The Torah (First 5 Books): Generally recognized as authoritative by roughly 400 BCE.
The Prophets (Nevi'im): Accepted as a fixed group by approximately 200 BCE.
The Writings (Ketuvim): This final section remained fluid for longer, reaching a general consensus by the 2nd century CE.
The New Testament took approximately 350 to 400 years to reach its final form after the books were first written.
Writing Phase (c. 50–100 CE): All 27 books were written by the end of the 1st century.
Early Groupings (c. 100–200 CE): By the late 2nd century, the four Gospels and many of Paul's letters were already being read together as authoritative scripture.
Official Recognition (4th Century):
367 CE: St. Athanasius of Alexandria provided the first known list matching the current 27-book New Testament canon in his Easter Letter.
382–419 CE: Several regional church councils, including the Council of Rome (382), the Synod of Hippo (393), and the Council of Carthage (397), formally ratified this list for the Western church.
Final Fixation of the Canon
While the core of the Bible was settled by the late 4th century, final "infallible" definitions were not made until centuries later during major theological shifts
Initial Revelation (610–632 CE): The Quran was revealed incrementally to Muhammad over a period of approximately 23 years.
While the core of the Bible was settled by the late 4th century, final "infallible" definitions were not made until centuries later during major theological shifts
The process of canonizing the Quran
The collection and standardization into a final, authoritative text took roughly 18 to 24 years following the death of Muhammad in 632 CE.Initial Revelation (610–632 CE): The Quran was revealed incrementally to Muhammad over a period of approximately 23 years.
First Collection (c. 633–634 CE): Shortly after Muhammad's death, the first caliph, Abu Bakr, ordered the initial compilation of various written fragments and memorized verses into a single manuscript (suhuf). This was prompted by the death of many Quran memorizers in the Battle of Yamama.
Final Canonization (c. 650–656 CE): The third caliph, Uthman ibn Affan, established the standard version known as the Uthmanic codex approximately 20 years after the Prophet's death. He appointed a commission to produce several official copies in the Meccan dialect to resolve disputes over different regional recitations.
Closing the Canon: Once these copies were distributed to major Islamic centers (such as Kufa and Basra), Uthman ordered all other variant manuscripts to be destroyed to ensure a unified, authoritative text.
While the text's "closure" is generally attributed to the mid-7th century, some academic perspectives note that later centuries saw the standardization of hadith collections (9th–10th centuries) and the formalization of modern printed editions, such as the influential 1924 Cairo edution.
The Quran was Revealed to Muhammad over approximately 23 years, from 610 CE to 632 CE..While revealed orally, it was compiled into a standardized book (the Uthmanic codex) around 650 CE, within 20 years of Muhammad's death, written entirely in Classical Arabic.
The Quran was completed roughly 1,000 years after the final books of the Old Testament were written. Considering the entire Christian Bible (including the New Testament), the Quran appeared about 500 to 600 years after the last New Testament books were completed.
John the Baptist or Yahya
John the Baptist in the Bibke
Saint John testimony about John the Baptist (1 John 2:22-28)
"When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him
to ask him, “Who are you?”
he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.”
So they asked him,
“What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him,
“Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?
What do you have to say for yourself?”
He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’
as Isaiah the prophet said.”
Some Pharisees were also sent.
They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?”
John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me,
whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan,where John was baptizing."
"When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him
to ask him, “Who are you?”
he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.”
So they asked him,
“What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him,
“Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?
What do you have to say for yourself?”
He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’
as Isaiah the prophet said.”
Some Pharisees were also sent.
They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?”
John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me,
whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan,where John was baptizing."
In John 1:29-34 John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said, 'A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.' I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel."
John testified further, saying, "I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky
and remain upon him. I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God."
"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said, 'A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.' I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel."
John testified further, saying, "I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky
and remain upon him. I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God."
Yahya in the Quran
In the Quran, John the Baptist is known as Yahya (يحيى). He is revered as amajor prophet of God and a witness to the message of Jesus. His story is primarily detailed in Chapters 3 (Al-Imran) and 19 (Maryam). The Quran highlights several key aspects of his life and character: Miraculous Birth: Yahya was born to the Prophet Zechariah (Zakariya) and his wife when they were both of advanced age and his wife was barren. Zechariah prayed for an heir to carry on his legacy, and angels announced the birth of Yahya as an answer to those prayers. Unique Name: The Quran states that the name "Yahya" was given by God and was a name not given to anyone before him (Surah 19:7). Unlike many other prophets who received their call in adulthood, Yahya was granted wisdom and "sound judgment" (hukm) while still a child.
He is described as chaste, kind to his parents, God-fearing, and compassionate. The Quran explicitly notes that he was neither arrogant nor disobedient. He was sent to "attest a Word from Allah," which is interpreted by scholars as his mission to herald the coming of Jesus (Isa). God bestowed peace upon him on the day he was born, the day he died, and the day he will be raised back to life. While the Quran honors him highly, it does not explicitly use the title "the Baptist" or detail his practice of baptizing followers, which is the primary focus of his ministry in Christian tradition.
He is described as chaste, kind to his parents, God-fearing, and compassionate. The Quran explicitly notes that he was neither arrogant nor disobedient. He was sent to "attest a Word from Allah," which is interpreted by scholars as his mission to herald the coming of Jesus (Isa). God bestowed peace upon him on the day he was born, the day he died, and the day he will be raised back to life. While the Quran honors him highly, it does not explicitly use the title "the Baptist" or detail his practice of baptizing followers, which is the primary focus of his ministry in Christian tradition.
Summary
The Bible was written piece by piece as authors recorded history, prophecies, and letters over centuries. Significant periods of time often passed between writings, such as the "400 years of silence" between the end of the Old Testament (Malachi) and the beginning of the New Testament (Matthew).On ancient times, especially during the 1st century, information was primarily passed down through oral tradition.
Imminent Expectations: Many early Christians believed Jesus would return in their lifetime, so they saw no urgent need to create a permanent written record for future generations.
Loss of Eyewitnesses: As original eyewitnesses and apostles began to pass away or face martyrdom, the need for written accounts to preserve the "official" version of events became critical.
Literacy in the Roman Empire was likely between 10-15%, and even lower (around 3%) in ancient Judea.
High Cost: Producing manuscripts was extremely expensive and labor-intensive, involving materials like papyrus or parchment and professional scribes.
Imminent Expectations: Many early Christians believed Jesus would return in their lifetime, so they saw no urgent need to create a permanent written record for future generations.
Loss of Eyewitnesses: As original eyewitnesses and apostles began to pass away or face martyrdom, the need for written accounts to preserve the "official" version of events became critical.
Literacy in the Roman Empire was likely between 10-15%, and even lower (around 3%) in ancient Judea.
High Cost: Producing manuscripts was extremely expensive and labor-intensive, involving materials like papyrus or parchment and professional scribes.
Early Christians were often an underground group facing active persecution. Carrying large manuscripts could be a dangerous liability.
The Quran shares many narratives, figures, and historical accounts with the Bible, Torah, and other older sources, which it presents as a final revelation confirming and correcting previous ones. Modern plagiarism software is not equipped to make theological or historical judgments about the originality of divine revelation versus human authorship in an ancient contex
Most of the Old Testament was written in Biblical (Classical) Hebrew.
Aramaic: Small portions of the Old Testament, specifically in the books of Daniel (2:4b–7:28) and Ezra (4:8–6:18; 7:12–26), were written in Aramaic.Koine Greek: The entire New Testament was written in Koine (common) Greek, which was the international language of the Mediterranean world at the time.
The Quran was written and revealed in one language: Classical Arabic.
Many literary sequels written by authors other than the original creator (often called "continuation novels") are widely available. These works are typically either authorized by the original author’s estate or written after a work enters the public domain.
Occam's Razor suggests the Quran is a continuation novel.
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