Page 134 - World Religions I - Islam

Appendix A

The Test of Prophethood
Muhammad claimed to be a prophet of God. Christians cannot reject his claim outright as impossible because God has
sent prophets in the past. But that doesn't mean that Christians must blindly accept that Muhammad is a prophet without
testing his claims. To do so would be foolish and disobedient to Biblical teaching. Instead we are commanded to test
prophets to determine whether they are from God

A Biblical Basis for Testing Prophethood
• While the Bible tells us not to test God (Deuteronomy 6:16), it does command us to test prophets.
o "For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if
possible, even the elect. See, I (Jesus) have told you ahead of time." - Matthew 24:24-25
o "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is
good, reject every kind of evil." - 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
o "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because
many false prophets have gone out into the world." - 1 John 4:1
o "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." - 2 Corinthians 11:14
• The Bible also warns about prophets, messengers, or angels who may come and present a different Gospel than
the one that was revealed by Christ.
o "I appeal to you, brethren, to take note of those who create dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to
the doctrine which you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but
their own appetites, and by fair and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded."
o "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who - Romans 16:17-18 (emphasis added) called
you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel -- not that there is another gospel, but there
are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from
heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed. As
we have said before, so now I say again, If any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you
received, let him be accursed." - Galatians 1:6-9 (emphasis added)
o "And this is love, that we follow his commandments; this is the commandment, as you have heard from
the beginning, that you follow love. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, men who will not
acknowledge the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh; such a one is the deceiver and the

o antichrist. Look to yourselves, that you may not lose what you have worked for, but may win a full reward.
Any one who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; he who abides in
the doctrine has both the Father and the Son. If any one comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do
not receive him into the house or give him any greeting; for he who greets him shares his wicked work." - 2
John 1:6-11 (emphasis added)

Testing a Prophet
• A prophet is tested by examining his prophecy to see whether it is true. Since the prophecy of Muhammad is
recorded in the Qur'an, testing what it says is the basis for determining whether Muhammad is a true prophet.
o The Qur'an makes three claims in determining Muhammad's prophethood:
 The Qur'an confirms the teaching of the Jewish and Christian scriptures. The Qur'an also
acknowledges that those who receive the prophetic office must present a message that confirms
the current scriptures ("what is with you" or "the truth already in your possession"; see Surah 3:79-

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