The Only Truth

How misused: Misrepresents the Greek text to deny Jesus' divinity, claiming that capitalization of 'God' in English translations is a deliberate mistranslation and that the original Greek distinguishes between 'the God' (the Father) and 'a God' (Jesus, implying a lesser status).

Scripture's answer: The Greek phrase 'kai theos ēn ho logos' (and God was the Word) indicates that the Word (Jesus) possessed the very nature and essence of God, without being the person of the Father. The lack of the definite article before 'theos' in the predicate is a common grammatical construction in Greek indicating qualitative identity, not indefinite quantity or a lesser god. The Word was fully divine, sharing the divine nature with the Father. John 1:18, 'No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known,' further affirms Jesus' unique divine identity.

How misused: Falsely asserts that the 'Comforter' (Paraclete) refers to Muhammad, based on a linguistic fallacy that Jesus spoke Hebrew and the original word was 'Ahmad' or 'Muhammad.' Misinterprets the Holy Spirit's role and timing of His indwelling.

Scripture's answer: The Greek word 'Paraclete' (παράκλητος) means 'Advocate,' 'Counselor,' or 'Helper.' The context of John's Gospel explicitly identifies the Paraclete as the Holy Spirit, who will 'teach you all things' (John 14:26), 'testify about me' (John 15:26), 'convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment' (John 16:8), and 'guide you into all truth' (John 16:13). These are divine functions, not attributes of a human prophet. The Holy Spirit is consistently presented as a divine person distinct from Jesus, sent by the Father and the Son, who indwells believers and empowers them, a role not fulfilled by Muhammad.

How misused: Claims the Hebrew word 'machamaddim' (מַחֲמַדִּים) is a proper name 'Muhammad' and a 'plural of respect' for him, implying a prophecy of Muhammad in the Bible.

Scripture's answer: The word 'machamaddim' (מַחֲמַדִּים) is a common noun in Hebrew meaning 'desirable things,' 'lovely one,' or 'precious things.' The '-im' suffix is the standard masculine plural ending in Hebrew, not a 'plural of respect' that transforms a common noun into a proper name. In context, it describes the beloved's overall desirability ('altogether lovely'). This is a clear misinterpretation of Hebrew grammar and lexicography to force an anachronistic prophecy. The Septuagint translates it as 'ὅλος ἐπιθυμίες' (wholly desirable), and all reputable Hebrew lexicons confirm its meaning as a common noun.

How misused: Claims this prophecy of 'a prophet like Moses' refers to Muhammad, ignoring the clear New Testament fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

Scripture's answer: Deuteronomy 18:18 prophesies a prophet 'from among their own people' (Israelites) who will be like Moses. The New Testament explicitly identifies Jesus as the fulfillment of this prophecy (Acts 3:22-23, Acts 7:37). Jesus was an Israelite, performed signs and wonders like Moses, delivered God's people, and was a lawgiver (in the sense of interpreting and fulfilling the Torah). Muhammad was not an Israelite and lived centuries later, thus not fitting the context of this prophecy to Israel.

How misused: Misinterprets 'as Jonah was' as a direct equivalence of physical aliveness, arguing Jesus was continuously alive in the tomb like Jonah in the fish, thereby denying Jesus' physical death and bodily resurrection.

Scripture's answer: The 'sign of Jonah' refers to the duration of Jonah's miraculous preservation and deliverance from the great fish (three days and three nights) as a parallel to Jesus' death, burial, and subsequent resurrection 'on the third day' (Matthew 12:40). It signifies miraculous divine intervention and deliverance from an apparent end, not that Jesus remained physically alive in the tomb. The New Testament overwhelmingly affirms Jesus' physical death, burial, and bodily resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 6:9-10).

How misused: Claims the entire doctrine of the Trinity is based on this verse (the Comma Johanneum), and its textual unreliability proves the Trinity is a fabrication, while ignoring overwhelming biblical evidence for the Trinity elsewhere.

Scripture's answer: While 1 John 5:7 is recognized by textual critics as a late interpolation and not part of the original Greek New Testament, the doctrine of the Trinity does not depend on it. The Trinity is a systematic theological construct derived from numerous scriptural passages that reveal the Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit as distinct persons, each fully God, yet constituting one God (e.g., Matthew 28:19, John 1:1, 18, 20:28, Romans 9:5, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 1:8, Acts 5:3-4, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Ephesians 4:4-6).

How misused: Misinterprets Jesus' statement 'A spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have' to imply a 'spiritual physical body' that could walk through doors, rather than emphasizing the tangible, physical reality of his resurrected body as distinct from a disembodied spirit.

Scripture's answer: In Luke 24:39, Jesus explicitly states that His resurrected body has 'flesh and bones' to assure His disciples that He is not a ghost or mere spirit, but has a real, physical, tangible body. This emphasizes the physicality of the resurrection, not a disembodied or 'spiritual-physical' one that lacks normal physical properties while still appearing to have them. The ability to appear and disappear or pass through closed doors (John 20:19, 26) indicates a transformed, glorified body, not a non-physical one.

How misused: Suggests Jesus rejects Christians for performing miracles, incorrectly applying 'depart from me, you workers of iniquity' to all Christians rather than to those who perform religious deeds without genuine faith and obedience to Christ.

Scripture's answer: Matthew 7:22-23 is a warning against religious hypocrisy and external religiosity without internal transformation and genuine relationship with Christ. Jesus rejects those who claim to do works in His name but are not truly known by Him ('I never knew you') because they practice lawlessness (ἀνομία - disobedience to God's will). This passage is a call to true discipleship, not a rejection of all who perform good works, nor is it exclusive to any one religious group but targets those who merely claim faith without true obedience.