In this post I will be citing particular chapters and verses from Isaiah and contrasting them with the Aramaic paraphrase known as Targum Pseudo-Jonathan. The Targum was produced by Jews for the benefit of their countrymen who could only understand Aramaic.

This paraphrase of Isaiah gives us an insight into how the Jews understood specific texts, especially as they relate to the Trinity and the Messiah. The readers will see that the Targum often replaces the words YHWH and God with the term Word (Aramaic Memra), thereby indicating that the translators believed that it was actually the Word of YHWH who appeared as God and/or performed and/or will perform the very functions which the Hebrew text of Isaiah assigns YHWH Elohim (“The LORD God”). I will also cite specific cases where the Targum expressly identifies YHWH’s Servant as the Messiah and even equates with the Word himself.  

All emphasis will be mine.

ISAIAH 45

“I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron… I have made the earth, And created man on it. I—My hands—stretched out the heavens, And all their host I have commanded… But Israel shall be saved by the Lord With an everlasting salvation; You shall not be ashamed or disgraced Forever and ever… Tell and bring forth your case; Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me. Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath. He shall say, ‘Surely in the Lord I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come, And all shall be ashamed Who are incensed against Him. In the Lord all the descendants of Israel Shall be justified, and shall glory.’”Isaiah 45:1, 12, 17, 21-25

TARGUM

מֵימְרִי קֳדָמָךְ יְהָךְ וְשׁוּרַיָא אֲכַבֵּשׁ דָשִׁין דִנְחָשׁ אֱתַּבֵר וְעַבְרִין דְבַרְזֶל אֲקַצֵץ:

My WORD shall go before thee, I will have a way in the plains; I will break in pieces the doors of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron…

אֲנָא בְּמֵימְרִי עֲבַדֵת אַרְעָא וֶאֱנָשָׁא עֲלָהּ בְּרִיתִי אֲנָא בִּגְבוּרְתִּי תְּלֵית שְׁמַיָא וְכָל חֵילֵיהוֹן שֵׁכְלֵילִית:

It is I who have made the earth by my WORD, and I have created man upon it; it is I who have suspended the heavens by my power, and I have laid the foundation of all the hosts of them…

יִשְׂרָאֵל יִתְפְּרִיק בְּמֵימְרָא דַייָ פּוּרְקָן עָלְמַיָא לָא תִבְהֲתוּן וְלָא תִתְכַּנְעוּן לַעֲלַם וּלְעַלְמֵי עָלְמַיָא:

Israel shall be saved by the WORD of the Lord with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded for ever, yea, for ages after ages…

חַווֹ וְאִתְקְרָבוּ אַף אִתְמְלִיכוּ כַּחֲדָא מִן בְּסַר דָא מִלְקַדְמִין מִבְּכֵן חַוְיָהּ הֲלָא אֲנָא יְיָ וְלֵית עוֹד אֱלָהּ בַּר מִנִי אֱלָהּ דְזַכֵּי וּפָרִיק לֵית אֶלָא אֲנָא:

Tell ye, and draw ye near; yea, take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God whatever besides me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none but I.

אִתְפְּנוּ לְמֵימְרִי וְאִתְפְּרִיקוּ כָּל דְבִסְיָפֵי אַרְעָא אֲרֵי אֲנָא אֱלָהָא וְלֵית עוֹד:

Turn unto my WORD, and be ye saved, all that are at the ends of the earth: for I am the Lord, and there is none else.

בְּמֵימְרִי קַיְמֵת נְפַק מִן קֳדָמַי בִּזְכוּ פִּתְגָם וְלָא יְבַטֵל אֲרֵי קֳדָמַי תִּכְרַע כָּל בֶּרֶךְ תְּקַיֵם כָּל לִישָׁן:

I have sworn by my WORD, the word is gone forth in righteousness from my presence, and shall not fail, That before me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

בְּרַם בְּמֵימְרָא דַייָ עֲלֵי אֲמַר לְאַיְתָאָה זַכְוָן וּתְקוֹף בְּמֵימְרֵהּ יוֹדוּן וְיִבְהַתוּן בְּטַעֲוָתְהוֹן כָּל עַמְמַיָא דַהֲווֹ מִתְגָרִין בְּעַמֵהּ:

Surely, He has promised to bring me righteousness and strength by the WORD of the Lord. In His WORD they shall offer praise, and all the nations that are incensed against His people shall be ashamed.

בְּמֵימְרָא דַייָ יִזְכּוּן וְיִשְׁתַּבְּחוּן כָּל זַרְעָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל:

In the WORD of the Lord all the seed of Israel shall be justified and glorified. (https://www.sefaria.org/Targum_Jonathan_on_Isaiah.45.2?lang=bi)

It is remarkable to see how the Targum identifies the Word as that very God that goes ahead of Israel to save and justify them, and who made creation!

ISAIAH 48

“For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; For how should My name be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another. Listen to Me, O Jacob, And Israel, My called: I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last. Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, And My right hand has stretched out the heavens; When I call to them, They stand up together. All of you, assemble yourselves, and hear! Who among them has declared these things? The Lord loves him; He shall do His pleasure on Babylon, And His arm shall be against the Chaldeans. I, even I, have spoken; Yes, I have called him, I have brought him, and his way will prosper. Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord Godand His SpiritHave sent Me.” Isaiah 48:11-16 New King James Version (NKJV)

TARGUM

בְּדִיל שְׁמִי בְּדִיל מֵימְרִי אַעְבֵּיד דְלָא יִתָּחָל וִיקָרִי דְאִתְגְלֵתִי עֲלֵיכוֹן לְעַם אוֹחֲרָן לָא אֶתֵּן:

For my name’s sake, for the sake of my WORD, that it may not be profaned, I will do it, and my glory in which I have revealed myself unto you, I will not give to another people.

קַבִּילוּ לְמֵימְרִי דְבֵית יַעֲקֹב וְיִשְׂרָאֵל מְזַמְנָא אֲנָא הוּא אֲנָא הוּא דְמִלְקָדְמִין אַף עַלְמֵי עַלְמַיָא דִילִי אִינוּן וּבַר מִנִי לֵית אֱלָהָא:

Hearken unto my WORD, ye who are of the house of Jacob and Israel, my called, I am He, who was of old, yea, ages after ages are mine, and besides me there is no God.

אַף בְּמֵימְרִי שַׁכְלֵילִית אַרְעָא וּבִגְבוּרְתִּי תָּלֵית שְׁמַיָא קְרֵית אֲנָא לְהוֹן קָמוּ כַּחֲדָא:

Yea, by my WORD I have laid the foundation of the earth, and by my might I have suspended the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.

אִתְכְּנָשׁוּ כוּלְהוֹן וּשְׁמָעוּ מַן בְּהוֹן חַוִי יַת אִלֵין יְיָ דְרַחֵם לֵיהּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל יַעְבֵּיד רְעוּתֵהּ בְּבָבֶל וּתְקוֹף דְרַע גְבוּרְתֵּהּ יַגְלֵי בְכַסְדָאֵי:

All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear: who among them hath declared these things ever since the Lord loved Israel? He will do His pleasure on Babylon, and He will reveal the strength of His arm on the Chaldeans.

אֲנָא בְּמֵימְרִי גְזָרִית קְיָם עִם אַבְרָהָם אֲבוּכוֹן אַף רַבִּיתֵהּ אָעִילְתֵּהּ לְאַרַע בֵּית שְׁכִינְתִּי וְאַצְלַח יַת אוֹרְחֵהּ:

I by my WORD have made a covenant with Abraham your father; yea, I have called him, I have brought him into the land of the place of my Shekinah, and I prospered his way.

אִתְקְרָבוּ לְמֵימְרִי שְׁמָעוּ דָא לָא מִן אַוְלָא בְּסִתְרָא מַלְלֵית מֵעִדַן דְאִתְפְּרִישׁוּ עַמְמַיָא מִדְחַלְתִּי תַּמָן אַבְרָהָם אֲבוּכוֹן קָרִיבְתֵּהּ לְפוּלְחָנִי אֲמַר נְבִיָא וּכְעַן יְיָ אֱלֹהִים שַׁלְחַנִי וּמֵימְרֵהּ:

Come ye near to my WORD; hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; at the time when the nations separated themselves from fearing me, at that time I brought Abraham your father to my service. THE PROPHET SAITH: And now the Lord God, and His WORD, hath sent me. (https://www.sefaria.org/Targum_Jonathan_on_Isaiah.48.11-17?lang=bi)

Remarkably, not only is the Word again described as the God who made the earth, he is further identified as the One having sent the prophet and who even saves Israel for his own sake!

The following chart helps to bring out the Word’s association with YHWH God more clearly.

I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron.   I have made the earth, And created man on it. I—My hands—stretched out the heavens, And all their host I have commanded.   But Israel shall be saved by the Lord With an everlasting salvation; You shall not be ashamed or disgraced Forever and ever.   Tell and bring forth your case; Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me.   Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.   I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath.   He shall say, “Surely in the Lord I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come, And all shall be ashamed Who are incensed against Him.   In the Lord all the descendants of Israel Shall be justified, and shall glory.” Isaiah 45   “For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.   Hearken to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am He, I am the first, and I am the last.   My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together.   Assemble, all of you, and hear! who among them has declared these things? The Lord loves him; he shall perform his purpose on Babylon, and his arm shall be against the Chalde′ans.   I, even I, have spoken and called him, I have brought him, and he will prosper in his way.   Draw near to me, hear this: from the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there.” And now the Lord God has sent me and his Spirit. Isaiah 48

My WORD shall go before thee, I will have a way in the plains ;I will break in pieces the doors of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron.   It is I who have made the earth by my WORD, and I have created man upon it; it is I who have suspended the heavens by my power, and I have laid the foundation of all the hosts of them.   Israel shall be saved by the WORD of the Lord with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded for ever, yea, for ages after ages.   Tell ye, and draw ye near; yea, take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God whatever besides me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none but I.   Turn unto my WORD, and be ye saved, all that are at the ends of the earth: for I am the Lord, and there is none else.   I have sworn by my WORD, the word is gone forth in righteousness from my presence, and shall not fail, That before me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.   Surely, He has promised to bring me righteousness and strength by the WORD of the Lord. In His WORD they shall offer praise, and all the nations that are incensed against His people shall be ashamed.   In the WORD of the Lord all the seed of Israel shall be justified and glorified.   For my name’s sake, for the sake of my WORD, that it may not be profaned, I will do it, and my glory in which I have revealed myself unto you, I will not give to another people.   Hearken unto my WORD, ye who are of the house of Jacob and Israel, my called, I am He, who was of old, yea, ages after ages are mine, and besides me there is no God.   Yea, by my WORD I have laid the foundation of the earth, and by my might I have suspended the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.   All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear: who among them hath declared these things ever since the Lord loved Israel? He will do His pleasure on Babylon, and He will reveal the strength of His arm on the Chaldeans.   I by my WORD have made a covenant with Abraham your father; yea, I have called him, I have brought him into the land of the place of my Shekinah, and I prospered his way.   Come ye near to my WORD; hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; at the time when the nations separated themselves from fearing me, at that time I brought Abraham your father to my service. THE PROPHET SAITH: And now the Lord God, and His WORD, hath sent me.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

I present several more cases where the Targum associates the Word with the God spoken by Isaiah.

ISAIAH 40

“The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken… Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or as His counselor has taught Him?… Scarcely shall they be planted, Scarcely shall they be sown, Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, When He will also blow on them, And they will wither, And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble.” Isaiah 40:5, 13, 24

וְיִתְגְלֵי יְקָרָא דַייָ וְיֶחֱזוּן כָּל בְּנֵי בִשְׂרָא כַּחֲדָא אֲרֵי בְמֵימְרָא דַייָ גְזַר כֵּן:

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all the sons of flesh shall see together, that by the WORD of the Lord it has been decreed thus…

מַן תַּקִין יַת רוּחַ קוּדְשָׁא בְּפוּם כָּל נְבִיַיָא הֲלָא יְיָ וְצַדִיקַיָא עָבְדֵי מֵימְרֵהּ פִּתְגָמֵי רְעוּתֵהּ הוֹדְעִינוּן:

Who hath directed the Holy Spirit in the mouth of all the prophets? Is it not the Lord? He maketh known the words of His will to the righteous, the servants of His WORD…

אֲפִילוּ יִפְשׁוּן אֲפִילוּ יִסְגוּן אֲפִילוּ יִתְרַבּוּן בְּאַרְעָא בְנֵיהוֹן וְאַף רוּגְזֵהּ יְשַׁלַח בְּהוֹן וְיִבְהֲתוּן וּמֵימְרֵהּ כְּעַלְעֵילָא לְקַשָׁא יְדַבֵּר יַתְהוֹן:

Although they multiply, although they increase, although their children become great in the earth, yet, nevertheless, He will send His wrath among them, and they shall be confounded: and His WORD shall scatter them, as the whirlwind the chaff. (https://www.sefaria.org/Targum_Jonathan_on_Isaiah.40.5?lang=bi)

ISAIAH 41

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand… For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, “Fear not, I will help you. Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you,” says the Lord And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel… You shall winnow them, the wind shall carry them away, And the whirlwind shall scatter them; You shall rejoice in the Lord, And glory in the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 41:10, 13-14, 16

לָא תִדְחַל אֲרֵי בְסַעֲדָךְ מֵימְרִי לָא תִתְּבַר אֲרֵי אֲנָא אֱלָהָךְ אִתְקְפִינָךְ אַף אֶסְעַדִינָךְ אַף אַחֲדִינָךְ בִּימִין קוּשְׁטִי:

Fear not, for my WORD shall be thy support; be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my truth…

אֲרֵי אֲנָא יְיָ אֱלָהָךְ מַתְקֵיף יְמִינָךְ דַאֲמָרִית לָךְ לָא תִדְחַל מֵימְרִי בְסַעֲדָךְ:

For I am the Lord thy God, that will hold thee fast by thy right hand; who saith unto thee, Fear not, my WORD shall be thy help.

לָא תִדַחְלוּן שִׁבְטַיָא דְבֵית יַעֲקֹב זַרְעִיתָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל מֵימְרִי בְסַעֲדְכוֹן אֲמַר יְיָ וּפָרִיקְכוֹן קַדִישָׁא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל:

Fear ye not, ye tribes of the house of Jacob, ye seed of Israel, my WORD shall be your help, saith the Lord, and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel…

תְּדִרִינוּן וְרוּחָא תִטְלוּנוּן וּמֵימְרֵהּ כְּעַלְעוֹלָא לְקַשָׁא יְבַדֵר יַתְהוֹן וְאַתְּ תְּבוּעַ בְּמֵימְרָא דַייָ בְּקַדִישָׁא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל תִּשְׁתַּבַּח:

Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and my WORD shall scatter them as the whirlwind scattereth the chaff; but as for thee, thou shalt rejoice in the Word of the Lord, thou shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel. (https://www.sefaria.org/Targum_Jonathan_on_Isaiah.41.10-17?lang=bi)

ISAIAH 42

“Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.” Isaiah 42:1

הָא עַבְדִי מְשִׁיחָא אֶקְרְבִינֵהּ בְּחִירִי דְאִתְרְעֵי בֵּיהּ מֵימְרִי אֶתֵּן רוּחָא דְקוּדְשִׁי עֲלוֹהִי דִינִין לְעַמְמִין יְגַלֵי:

Behold, my servant, the Messiah, whom I bring, my chosen in whom one delights: as for my Word, I will put my Holy Spirit upon him; he shall reveal my judgment unto the nations. (https://www.sefaria.org/Targum_Jonathan_on_Isaiah.42.1?lang=bi)

This is one is truly remarkable since the Targum comes right out and states that the Servant is the Messiah and even identifies him with the Word upon whom God’s Holy Spirit dwells!

ISAIAH 43

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you… Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west;… ‘You are My witnesses,’ says the Lord, ‘And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.’” Isaiah 43:2, 5, 10

אֲרֵי בְקַדְמֵיתָא כַּד עֲבַרְתּוּן בְיַמָא דְסוּף מֵימְרִי הֲוָה בְּסַעְדְכוֹן פַּרְעֹה וּמִצְרָאֵי דְסַגִיאִין כְּמֵי נַהֲרָא לָא יְכִילוּ לְכוֹן וְאַף בְּתִנְיָנֵיתָא כַּד תַּהֲכוּן לְבֵינֵי עַמְמַיָא דְתַקִיפוּן כְּאֶשְׁתָּא לָא יִכְלוּן לְכוֹן וּמַלְכְּוָן דַחֲסִינָן כְּשַׁלְהוֹבִיתָא לָא יְשֵׁיצוּן יַתְכוֹן:

For at first when ye did pass the Red Sea my Word was your support. Pharaoh and the Egyptians, who were as many as the waters of the river, did not prevail against you. And again, when ye came amongst nations, who were as mighty as fire, they did not prevail against you; and kingdoms, which were strong as a flame, did not destroy you;…

לָא תִדְחַל אֲרֵי בְסַעְדָךְ מֵימְרִי מִמַדִינְחָא אַיְתִי בְנָךְ וּמִמַעֲרְבָא אֱקָרֵיב גַלְוָתָךְ:

Fear not, for my WORD shall be thy support; I will bring thy children from the east, I will bring together thy captivity from the west.

אַתּוּן סַהֲדִין קֳדָמַי אֲמַר יְיָ וְעַבְדִי מְשִׁיחָא דְאִתְרְעֵתִי בֵיהּ בְּדִיל דְתִידְעוּן וּתְהֵימְנוּן קֳדָמָי וְתִסְתַּכְּלוּן אֲרֵי אֲנָא הוּא דְמִלְקַדְמִין אַף עַלְמֵי עַלְמַיָא דִילִי אִינוּן וּבַר מִנִי לֵית אֱלָהּ:

Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant, the Messiah, in whom is my delight, in order that ye may know, and that ye may believe in me, and understand that I am He who was from the beginning; yea, ages after ages are mine, and beside me there is no god. (https://www.sefaria.org/Targum_Jonathan_on_Isaiah.43.2?lang=bi)

ISAIAH 44

“Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: ‘I am the Lord, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;’” Isaiah 44:24

כִּדְנַן אֲמַר יְיָ דְפַרְקָךְ וּדְאַתְקְנָךְ מִמְעַיִין אֲנָא יְיָ עָבֵיד כּוֹלָא תְּלֵית שְׁמַיָא בְּמֵימְרִי שַׁכְלְלֵית אַרְעָא בִּגְבוּרְתִּי:

Thus saith the Lord, who hath redeemed thee, and who hath prepared thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things, I have suspended the heavens by my WORD, I have laid the foundations of the earth by my strength; (https://www.sefaria.org/Targum_Jonathan_on_Isaiah.44.24?lang=bi)

ISAIAH 46

“Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you.” Isaiah 46:4

וְעַל עַלְמָא אֲנָא הוּא וְעַד עֲלָם עַלְמַיָא מֵימְרִי קַיָם אֲנָא בָרֵית כָּל אֱנָשָׁא וַאֲנָא בַדְרֵית יַתְהוֹן לְבֵינֵי עַמְמַיָא אַף אֲנָא אֶשְׁבּוֹק לְחוֹבֵיהוֹן וְאֶסְלַח:

Even unto eternity I am He, and my WORD shall endure for ages after ages. It is I who have created all men, and I have scattered them among the nations, yea, I will forgive their sins, and I will pardon. (https://www.sefaria.org/Targum_Jonathan_on_Isaiah.46.4?lang=bi)

ISAIAH 49

“And now the Lord says, who formed me from the womb to be his servant,  to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength—” Isaiah 49:5

וּכְעַן אֲמַר יְיָ דְאַתְקְנַנִי מִמְעַיִן לְמֶהֱוֵי עָבֵיד פַלָח קָדָמוֹהִי לַאֲתָבָא דְבֵית יַעֲקֹב לְפוּלְחָנֵהּ וְיִשְׂרָאֵל לִדְחַלְתֵּהּ יִתְקְרַב וְיַקִירְנָא קֳדָם יְיָ וּמֵימַר אֱלָהִי הֲוָה בְסַעֲדִי:

And now, saith the Lord, that formed me from the womb to be a perfect servant before Him, to make the house of Jacob to return to His service, and Israel shall be brought to fear Him and we shall be glorious before the Lord; and the WORD of my God shall be my support. (https://www.sefaria.org/Targum_Jonathan_on_Isaiah.49.5?lang=bi)

Unless indicated otherwise, biblical citations taken from the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE).

FURTHER READING

THE TRINITY IN THE ARAMAIC TARGUMS

THE TRINITY IN TARGUM NEOFITI

GOD’S SON IN TARGUM NEOFITI REVISITED

JEWISH SOURCES ON THE WORD AS A DIVINE PERSON

JUDAISMS’ VIEWS ON THE MESSIAH’S PREHUMAN EXISTENCE

These are my notes for my session on Mary being the Woman of Revelation 12.

REVELATION 12:1-17

Here’s the vision of that glorious Woman which the Spirit enabled John to see:

“And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery. And another portent appeared in heaven; behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems upon his heads. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, that he might devour her child when she brought it forth; she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which to be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

“Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Rejoice then, O heaven and you that dwell therein! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!’

“And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had borne the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with the flood. But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river which the dragon had poured from his mouth. Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.”

I will now show how the Woman is a multifaceted symbol that points to and/or is personified in/by Eve, Israel, and the blessed Mother of our risen Lord.

HOW BIBLICAL TYPOLOGY WORKS

The Scriptures indicate that individuals often stand in place of nations and that nations are often typified in specific individuals. Here are some examples:

JACOB & ESAU

Jacob and Esau are twin brothers that stand in place of two respective nations which sprung from their loins:

“Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian. Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. But the children struggled together within her; and she said, ‘If all is well, why am I like this?’ So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her: ‘Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.’ So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau.Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.” Genesis 25:20-26

“The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi. ‘I have loved you,’ says the Lord. ‘Yet you say, “In what way have You loved us?” Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?’ Says the Lord. ‘Yet Jacob I have loved; But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness.’ Even though Edom has said, ‘We have been impoverished, But we will return and build the desolate places,’ Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘They may build, but I will throw down; They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness, And the people against whom the Lord will have indignation forever. Your eyes shall see, And you shall say, “The Lord is magnified beyond the border of Israel.”’” Malachi 1:1-5

SARAH & HAGAR

Paul states that Sarah represents heavenly Jerusalem and her children, who are believers in Christ. He contrasts this with Hagar who represents Mount Sinai where the Law was given, and therefore to the disbelieving Jews whom he likens to Ishmael the son of the bondwoman.

“Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.For it is written: ‘Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband.’ Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.’ So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.” Galatians 4:21-31

Israel typifies and/or is personified in Christ

In light of the foregoing, it should come as no surprise that the nation of Israel becomes a picture of Christ, who stands in the place and on behalf of the collective seed of Abraham:

“Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise… For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:15-18, 26-29

This explains why a text which speaks of national Israel,

“When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son. As they called them, So they went from them; They sacrificed to the Baals, And burned incense to carved images. I taught Ephraim to walk, Taking them by their arms; But they did not know that I healed them. I drew them with gentle cords, With bands of love, And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them.” Hosea 11:1-4

Can be directly applied to Jesus:

“Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.’ When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, ‘Out of Egypt I called My Son.’” Matthew 2:13-15

Christ typifies and/or is personified in his Church

This helps us to further appreciate the connection between Christ and his Church, since prophecies that are applied to him are also ascribed to believers who are one with him in the Spirit. I cite two examples.

PSALM 2

“I will tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to me, ‘You are my son, today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’” Psalm 2:7-9

“And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, ‘Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee.’” Acts 13:32-33

“For to what angel did God ever say, ‘Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee’? Or again, ‘I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son’?” Hebrews 1:5

“So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, ‘Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee’;” Hebrews 5:5

“she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne,” Revelation 12:5

“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed which no one knows but himself. He is clad in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, followed him on white horses. From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to smite the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, King of kings and Lord of lords.” Revelation 19:11-16

Now contrast this with what the risen Christ says in regards to believers who endure till the end:

“He who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, I will give him power over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received power from my Father; and I will give him the morning star.” Revelation 2:26-28

ISAIAH 49

“Listen to me, O coastlands, and hearken, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, ‘You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.’ But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God.’ And now the LORD says, who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength—he says: ‘It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.’ Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the servant of rulers: ‘Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.’ Thus says the LORD: ‘In a time of favor I have answered you, in a day of salvation I have helped you; I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages; saying to the prisoners, “Come forth,” to those who are in darkness, “Appear.” They shall feed along the ways, on all bare heights shall be their pasture; they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall smite them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them.’” Isaiah 49:1-10

Pay close attention to how the NT ascribes this prophecy to Christ:

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, ‘Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel.’ And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him;and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:25-35

“And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And likewise the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.’” Luke 22:19-20

“For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17

“in his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth issued a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.” Revelation 1:16

“And to the angel of the church in Per′gamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword… Repent then. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.’” Revelation 2:12, 16

“And the rest were slain by the sword of him who sits upon the horse, the sword that issues from his mouth; and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.” Revelation 19:21

And now read how this next passage applies Isaiah 49:6 to the Church as they go forth to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles:

“And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, ‘It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded US, saying, “I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.”’” Acts 13:46-47

The foregoing will now help us see how the Woman of Revelation is a multifaceted symbol pointing to more than a single entity or individual, with one of these individuals being Mary the blessed Mother.

WOMAN AS EVE AND HER SEED

It is clear that Revelation is echoing the judgment that befell the serpent and Eve due to their rebellion:

“The LORD God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, cursed are you above all cattle, and above all wild animals; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.’ To the woman he said, ‘I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.’” Genesis 3:14-16  

As such, the Woman clearly refers to Eve without being limited to her.

EVE/WOMAN AS A TYPE OF ISRAEL

The vision of the Woman having a crown of 12 stars with the sun and moon under her feet is a direct allusion to Joseph’s dream:

“Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they only hated him the more. He said to them, ‘Hear this dream which I have dreamed: behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf arose and stood upright; and behold, your sheaves gathered round it, and bowed down to my sheaf.’ His brothers said to him, ‘Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to have dominion over us?’ So they hated him yet more for his dreams and for his words. Then he dreamed another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, ‘Behold, I have dreamed another dream; and behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.’ But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him, and said to him, ‘What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?’ And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.” Genesis 37:5-11

God even likens the nation to a woman giving birth in labor pains:

“For I heard a cry as of a woman in travail, anguish as of one bringing forth her first child, the cry of the daughter of Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands, ‘Woe is me! I am fainting before murderers.’” Jeremiah 4:31

This clearly connects Israel with the Woman seen by John, and with Eve.

EVE AS A TYPE OF THE CHURCH

Note what is stated in reference to Eve:

“Then the man said, ‘This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’ Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.” Genesis 2:23-24

Now compare this with what is said in regards to the Church:

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:25-33

And here’s what Paul wrote in respect to the serpent deceiving the Church like he did Eve:

“I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to Christ to present you as a pure bride to her one husband. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if some one comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough.” 2 Corinthians 11:1-4

This clearly affirms that Eve is a type, a foreshadowing, of Christ’s Church since he is the Last Adam (Cf. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 45-49; Romans 5:12-21). And as the Last Adam, this would make his spiritual bride the Church the new and spiritual Eve.  

ISRAEL PERSONIFIED IN MARY

The prophets refer to national Israel/Judah as the virgin Daughter of Zion/Jerusalem/ Judah, and speak of the Lord being with her:

“this is the word that the LORD has spoken concerning him: ‘She despises you, she scorns you— the virgin daughter of Zion; she wags her head behind you— the daughter of Jerusalem.’” Isaiah 37:22

“The LORD flouted all my mighty men in the midst of me; he summoned an assembly against me to crush my young men; the LORD has trodden as in a wine press the virgin daughter of Judah.” Lamentations 1:15

“What can I say for you, to what compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem? What can I liken to you, that I may comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For vast as the sea is your ruin; who can restore you?” Lamentations 2:13

“Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, he has cast out your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall fear evil no more. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: ‘Do not fear, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The LORD your God is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:14-17  

“Ho! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon. For thus said the LORD of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye: ‘Behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for lo, I come and I will dwell in the midst of you, says the LORD. And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And the LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.” Zechariah 2:7-12  

Compare this with the blessed Mother:

“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!’ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ And Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I have no husband?’ And the angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.’ And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her. In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechari′ah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.’” Luke 1:26-45

In the case of the blessed Mother, she was literally the virgin Daughter of Zion/Jerusalem/Judah who not only had the Lord with her, but literally had the Lord Almighty tabernacling in her womb since she gave to him his very own human nature and physical body!

This confirms that Mary personifies the nation, being the true virgin Daughter who had the Lord dwelling with/in her.

THE WOMAN AS MARY

Notice, once again, what John wrote in regards to the Woman:

“Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.” Revelation 12:1-2

Now compare this to the following prophecy:

“Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol OR AS HIGH AS HEAVEN.’But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.’And he said, ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also?Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, A YOUNG WOMAN shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Imman′u-el.” Isaiah 7:10-14

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emman′u-el’ (which means, God with us).” Matthew 1:18-23

The foregoing demonstrates that the Woman does indeed symbolize the blessed and holy Mother since she literally conceived and gave birth to the male Child who reigns as on God’s throne as the Messianic King.

THE CHURCH AS THE SEED OF THE WOMAN

Here again is the prophecy given to the serpent:

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15

And here’s the identity of the seed whom God would enable to crush Satan under their feet:   

“The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!’ And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’” Luke 10:17-20  

“then the God of peace will soon crush Satan UNDER YOUR FEET. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” Romans 16:20

The foregoing data shows the multi-layered and deep meaning which the Woman typifies and points to.

The Woman symbolizes Eve, Israel, and Mary whereas the seed of the Woman points to the Church of Christ, who are the followers of the risen Lord that remain faithful to the very end. Eve herself becomes a symbol, a foreshadowing of Israel, Mary and the Church.

FURTHER READING

EARLY CHURCH ON MARY AS THE NEW AND GREATER EVE

MARY: ISRAEL PERSONIFIED

PROTESTANT SCHOLARSHIP ON LUKE 1:26-56 AND MARY AS GOD’S ARK

ON MARY BEING FULL OF GRACE

MARY AS QUEEN MOTHER

NOTES FOR THE DISCUSSION ON THE MARIAN DOCTRINES

REFORMERS ON REVELATION 12

REFORMERS ON THE ASSUMPTION

In this post I will be using the argument employed by the pseudo-intellect and unitarian heretic Dale Tuggy to deny the Trinity against him, showing how his (il)logical syllogism ends up proving too much.

I will demonstrate how Tuggy’s claims prove that the Father cannot be God. I will then use Tuggy’s (ir)rational points to also show that Eve cannot be an adam, even though the inspired Scriptures affirm that she is.

TUGGY’S “LOGICAL” SYLLOGISM

Here’s Tuggy’s 9 points which he employs to contradict and oppose the explicit and unambiguous teaching of the Holy Bible that both the Father and the Son are identified as God, even though they are not the same Person:

1. God and Jesus differ.
2. Things which differ are two (i.e. are not numerically identical)
3. Therefore, God and Jesus are two (not numerically identical). (1, 2)
4. For any x and y, x and y are the same god only if x and y are not two (i.e. are numerically identical).
5. Therefore, God and Jesus are not the same god. (3,4)
6. There is only one god.
7. Therefore, either God is not a god, or Jesus is not a god. (5, 6)
8. God is a god.
9. Therefore, Jesus is not a god. (7,8)

I will now show how Tuggy’s 9 steps end up establishing that the Son alone is Yahweh God, and that the Father therefore cannot be God in essence.

JESUS DESCRIBED AS THE ONE YAHWEH

The Scriptures emphatically teach that there is only one Yahweh:

“You alone are Yahweh. You have made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host, The earth and all that is on it, The seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them And the heavenly host bows down to You.” Nehemiah 9:6 Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

The Greek versions of the Hebrew Bible (typically referred to as the Septuagint [LXX]) render the name Yahweh as Kyrios, as we see from the following:

“And Esdras said, Thou art the only true Lord (Kyrios monos); thou madest the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, and all their array, the earth, and all things that are in it, the seas, and all things in them; and thou quickenest all things, and the hosts of heaven worship thee.” LXX

Hence, a Greek-speaking Jew would understand that the words Kyrios monos or even monos Kyrios are simply the Greek way of affirming that there’s only one Yahweh.

This is where it gets interesting. The New Testament describes Jesus as the one and only sovereign Lord!

“For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our ONLY Master and LORD, Jesus Christ (ton MONON Despoten kai KYRION hemon, ‘Iesoun Christon).” Jude 1:4 LSB

A Jew that understood Greek would have clearly interpreted this to mean that the Christians were confessing that Jesus is the one and only Yahweh!

In fact, the words Despotes and Kyrios are both used in the Hebrew Bible in relation to Yahweh God:

“And he said, “O Lord (Adonay) Yahweh, how may I know that I will possess it?”” Genesis 15:8 LSB

“And he said, sovereign Lord (Despota Kyrie), how shall I know that I shall inherit it? LXX

“But as for me, I would seek God (El), And I would set my cause before God (Elohim), Who does great and unsearchable things, Wonders without number.” Job 5:8-9 LSB

“Nevertheless I will beseech the Lord (Kyriou), and will call upon the Lord (Kyrion), the sovereign (Despoten) of all; who does great things and untraceable, glorious things also, and marvellous, of which there is no number:” LXX

“Therefore the Lord (ha Adon), Yahweh of hosts, The Mighty One of Israel, declares, ‘Ah, I will be comforted concerning My adversaries, And I will avenge Myself on My enemies.’” Isaiah 1:24 LSB

“Therefore thus saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts (ho Despotes Kyrios Sabaoth), Woe to the mighty men of Israel; for my wrath shall not cease against mine adversaries, and I will execute judgment on mine enemies.” LXX – Cf. 3:1; 10:33

“Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord (Adonay) Yahweh! Surely You have utterly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, ‘You will have peace’; whereas a sword touches the throat.’” Jeremiah 4:10 LSB

“And I said, O sovereign Lord (ho Despota Kyrie), verily thou hast deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, There shall be peace; whereas behold, the sword has reached even to their soul.” LXX – cf. 1:6

In a specific text in Jeremiah Despotes is actually used in the place of Yahweh!

“Yahweh said, ‘Surely I will set you free for purposes of good; Surely I will cause the enemy to intercede with you In a time of disaster and a time of distress.’” Jeremiah 15:11 LSB

“Be it so, Lord (Despota), in their prosperity; surely I stood before thee in the time of their calamities, and in the time of their affliction, for their good against the enemy.” LXX

The aforementioned texts conclusively prove that Jude verse 4 is unambiguously declaring Jesus to be the human incarnation of Yahweh God Almighty.

The proceeding verses provide further corroboration for this fact:

“Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one (YHWH echad)!” Deuteronomy 6:4 LSB

“Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord (kyrios) our God is one Lord (Kyrios Heis Estin);’” Mark 12:29 LSB

“And Yahweh will be king over all the earth; in that day Yahweh will be the only one (YHWH echad), and His name one.” Zechariah 14:9

“And the Lord (Kyrios) shall be king over all the earth: in that day there shall be one Lord (Kyrios heis), and his name one (hen),” LXX

Note how the Hebrew words YHWH echad (“Yahweh is one”) are translated as Kyrios heis in Greek. What this shows is that a Greek-speaking Jew would have no difficulty interpreting the phrase Kyrios heis or heis Kyrios as being the Greek way of saying Yahweh is one.

And yet the NT writings describe Jesus as that very one Lord (heis Kyrios) who had become human!

“yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him, and one Lord, Jesus Christ (kai heis Kyrios, ‘Iesous Christos), by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.” 1 Corinthians 8:6 LSB

Lest there be any confusion as to what it means for Christ to be identified as the one Lord, pay close attention to this next example:

“one Lord (heis Kyrios), one faith, one baptism…But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.Therefore it says, ‘When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men.’ (Now this expression, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean except that He also descended into the lower parts of the earth?He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)” Ephesians 4:5, 7-10 LSB

Here, the blessed Apostle has ascribed to the risen Lord the following Psalm, which refers to Yahweh ascending on high after having first descended,

“You have ascended on high, You have led captive Your captives; You have received gifts among men, Even among the rebellious also, that Yah—God—may dwell there” Psalm 68:18 LSB

And has also attributed to Christ what the prophet Jeremiah wrote in regards to Yahweh filling heaven and earth:

“‘Am I a God who is near,’ declares Yahweh, ‘And not a God far off? Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?’ declares Yahweh. ‘Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?’ declares Yahweh.” Jeremiah 23:23-24 LSB

In so doing, Paul has removed any doubt as to what Jesus’ disciples meant when they professed Christ as the one Lord.

Jesus is further described as the Yahweh God whom the prophet Isaiah foretold would come after first sending his envoy to prepare the way before him:

“A voice is calling, ‘Prepare the way for Yahweh in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; Then the glory of Yahweh will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.’” Isaiah 40:3-5 LSB

All the Gospels record that John the Baptist was the voice who would be sent to announce to Israel that Yahweh their God is coming to reveal his glory:

“Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins;as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness, “Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight. Every ravine will be filled, And every mountain and hill will be brought low; The crooked will be straight, And the rough roads smooth. And all flesh will see the salvation of God.”’” Luke 3:1-6 LSB

And the Gospels also affirm that the Yahweh God whom John came to prepare for was none other than Jesus Christ!

“Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were reasoning in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ,John answered, saying to them all, ‘As for me, I baptize you with water, but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the strap of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.’” Luke 3:15-17 LSB

“Then Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.’” Acts 19:4

Christ’s followers even went as far as to proclaim that Jesus is the Yahweh whose name the prophet Joel said all individuals must call upon and confess for salvation:

“And it will be that everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh Will be delivered; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem There will be those who escape, As Yahweh has said, Even among the survivors whom Yahweh calls.” Joel 2:32 LSB

“And it will be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord (Kyriou) will be saved.’” Acts 2:21 LSB

“Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men, brothers, what should we do?’ And Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.’” Acts 2:37-39 LSB

“that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, leading to righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, leading to salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes upon Him will not be put to shame.’For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him, for ‘Whoever calls on the name of the Lord (Kyriou) will be saved.’” Romans 10:9-13 LSB

This helps us appreciate why Peter filled with the Holy Spirit could proclaim that it is Jesus and his name alone that are able to grant salvation,

“Now it happened that on the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. And when they had placed them in their midst, they began to inquire, ‘By what power, or in what name, have you done this?’ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers and elders of the people, if we are being examined today for a good deed done to a sick man, as to how this man has been saved from his sickness, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. And there is salvation IN NO ONE ELSE, for there is NO OTHER NAME under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.’ Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and comprehended that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.” Acts 4:5-14 LSB

Even though as a monotheistic Jew who knew the Hebrew Bible, this blessed and inspired Apostle would have known that it is Yahweh and his name alone which saves:

“For Your name’s sake, O Yahweh, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.” Psalm 25:11 LSB

“For the choir director. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. When the Ziphites came and said to Saul, ‘Is not David hiding himself among us?’ O God, save me by Your name, And render justice to me by Your might.” Psalm 54:1 LSB

“Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; And deliver us and atone for our sins for Your name’s sake.” Psalm 79:9 LSB

“I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.” Isaiah 43:25 LSB

I.e., Peter believed and professed that Jesus is that very Yahweh God of Israel who had chosen to become a flesh and blood human being!

The preceding biblical evidence proves beyond any reasonable doubt that the very first disciples of Christ were all worshiping Jesus as Yahweh God Almighty Incarnate.

YAHWEH AS THE ONLY TRUE GOD

Now seeing that the holy Scriptures identify Yahweh as the only true God that exists,  

“To you it was shown that you might know that Yahweh, He is God; there is no other besides Him… Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that Yahweh, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.” Deuteronomy 4:35, 39 LSB

“Know that Yahweh, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” Psalm 100:3 LSB

“Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of Yahweh and spread it out before Yahweh. And Hezekiah prayed to Yahweh saying, ‘O Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear, O Yahweh, and hear; open Your eyes, O Yahweh, and see; and listen to all the words of Sennacherib, who sent them to reproach the living God. Truly, O Yahweh, the kings of Assyria have laid waste to all the countries and their lands and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them. But now, O Yahweh our God, save us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are Yahweh, You alone.’” Isaiah 37:14-20 LSB

“‘You are My witnesses,’ declares Yahweh, ‘And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no god formed, And there will be none after Me. I, even I, am Yahweh, And there is no savior besides Me.’” Isaiah 43:10-11 LSB  

“Thus says Yahweh, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, Yahweh of hosts: ‘I am the first, and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me. Who is like Me? Let him call out and declare it; And let him tell it to Me in order, From the time that I established the ancient people. And let them declare to them the things that are to come And the events that are going to take place. Do not be in dread and do not be afraid; Have I not long since caused it to be heard to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none.’” Isaiah 44:6-8 LSB

“I am Yahweh, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, That they may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am Yahweh, and there is no other… Declare and draw near with your case; Indeed, let them consult together. Who has made this heard from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, Yahweh? And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me. Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:5-6, 21-22 LSB

“But Yahweh is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth quakes, And the nations cannot endure His indignation. Thus you shall say to them, ‘The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.’ It is He who made the earth by His power, Who established the world by His wisdom; And by His understanding He has stretched out the heavens.” Jeremiah 10:10-12 LSB

This means that Jesus is the only God that exists.

Note the logic behind this argument:

1. There is only one Yahweh.
2. Jesus is identified as Yahweh Incarnate.
3. Jesus is, therefore, the one and only Yahweh.
4. Yahweh is also described as the only true God.
5. Jesus is, therefore, the one and only true God that became Man.

THE FATHER CANNOT BE YAHWEH

Herein lies Tuggy’s dilemma.

1. Yahweh Jesus and the Father differ.
2. Things which differ are two (i.e. are not numerically identical)
3. Therefore, Yahweh Jesus and the Father are two (not numerically identical). (1, 2)
4. For any x and y, x and y are the same god only if x and y are not two (i.e. are numerically identical).
5. Therefore, Yahweh Jesus and the Father are not the same god. (3,4)
6. There is only one god.
7. Therefore, either Yahweh Jesus is not a god, or the Father is not a god. (5, 6)
8. Yahweh Jesus is a god.
9. Therefore, the Father is not a god. (7,8)

Would anyone take this form of argumentation seriously seeing that the God-breathed writings affirm that the Father is also Yahweh, and therefore also a god (using Tuggy’s words)?

Tuggy’s woes are from over.

THE CASE OF EVE

The Holy Scriptures attest that God made the human race from one person, from one man:

“From ONE PERSON (henos) God created every human nation to live on the whole earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.” Acts 17:26 Common English Bible (CEB)

Here’s another rendering of the aforementioned text:

“From one man⁹¹ he made every nation of the human race⁹² to inhabit the entire earth,⁹³ determining their set times⁹⁴ and the fixed limits of the places where they would live,⁹⁵”

⁹¹ sn The one man refers to Adam (the word “man” is understood). New English Bible (NET https://netbible.org/bible/Acts+17)

This single individual person is identified as Adam, who serves as a contrast to Christ the last Adam:

“Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through ONE MAN’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the effect of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Then as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Law came in, to increase the trespass; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:14-21 Revised Standard Version (RSV)

“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by A MAN came death, by A MAN has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ… Thus it is written, ‘The first man Adam became a living being’; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual which is first but the physical, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.” 1 Corinthians 15: 20-23, 45-49 RSV

The man Adam had a wife named Eve who bore him children:

“The man Adam knew HIS wife Eve intimately. She became pregnant and gave birth to Cain, and said, ‘I have given life to a man with the LORD’s help.’… Adam knew HIS wife intimately again, and she gave birth to a son. She named him Seth ‘because God has given me another child in place of Abel, whom Cain killed.’” Genesis 4:1, 25 CEB

Now if we were to apply Tuggy’s (il)logical syllogism we would end up concluding that Eve cannot be Adam or an adam:

1. Adam and Eve differ.
2. Things which differ are two (i.e. are not numerically identical)
3. Therefore, Adam and Eve are two (not numerically identical). (1, 2)
4. For any x and y, x and y are the same Adam only if x and y are not two (i.e. are numerically identical).
5. Therefore, Adam and Eve are not the same adam. (3,4)
6. There is only one adam.
7. Therefore, either Adam is not an adam, or Eve is not an adam. (5, 6)
8. Adam is an adam.
9. Therefore, Eve is not an adam. (7,8)

However, we know that this cannot be the case since the same inspired writings clearly attest that God named both the male and the female (Eve) Adam!

“This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created Adam, in the likeness of God made he HIM, Male and female created he them, and blessed them, and called THEIR NAME Adam in the day that they were created. Now Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a child in HIS own likeness after HIS image, and called his name Seth.” Genesis 5:1-3 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

Hence, Eve is just as much an adam as Adam her husband, being bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh, who together with him form a perfect, inseparable unity:

“So Yahweh God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. And Yahweh God fashioned the rib, which He had taken from the man, into a woman, and He brought her to the man. Then the man said, ‘This one finally is bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called Woman, Because this one was taken out of Man.’ Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother, and cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” Genesis 2:21-24 LSB

“And He answered and said, ‘Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh”? So they are NO LONGER TWO, BUT ONE flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.’” LSB

In fact, the case of Eve serves as a befitting analogy to Christ’s relationship to the Father. Note the similarity:

1. When God had finished creation, there was Eve, and Eve was with Adam, and Eve was Adam.
2. Before the start of creation, the Son/Word was already existing, and the Son/Word was existing with God, and the Son/Word was existing as God (Cf. John 1:1-5, 9-10, 14; 18; 6:38-42, 62; 8:23-24, 42, 56-59; 17:5, 8; Romans 8:3; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Galatians 4:4-6; Philippians 2:6-8; Colossians 1:13-20; Hebrews 1:1-3, 10-12).  

The foregoing clearly shows that there’s something wrong with Tuggy’s arguments and (man)handling of the Scriptures.

Instead of allowing the inspired revelation to determine the form of argumentation he will employ to understand God’s nature, Tuggy imposes his skewed, finite imperfect reasoning upon the Scriptures, determining beforehand what they can and cannot mean, and what God can and cannot be.  

As such, Tuggy is a heretic and a bible butcherer who does not know the true God but is an enemy of the God that exists and the Gospel. This is why he needs to be exposed and silenced by the grace of Yahweh Jesus, his God and Judge:

“I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with HIS OWN BLOOD. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Acts 20:21-32 New International Version (NIV)

“He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: ‘Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.^‘ This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.” Titus 1:9-16 NIV

FURTHER READING

Does the fact that the Bible distinguishes Jesus from God disprove his Deity?

How Unitarian Logic Ends Up Proving That The Father Can’t Be God

How Unitarian Logic Proves the Father Can’t be God Pt. 2

This post is a continuation of the following one: THE CORRUPT QURAN’S MISSING VERSES PT. 1.

The proceeding snippet is taken from another Shia site: Some Ahadith of Omission | The Quran.

Some Ahadith of Omission

It is not possible to give detail of all the verses, sentences and phrases which allegedly were lost at the time the Qur’an was collected. A few glaring examples are as follows: 

1. The thirty-third chapter of the Qur’an, al-Ahzab, is alleged to have contained 200 or nearly 300 verses, all of which except 73 are said to have been lost. The claim of 200 verses is attributed to Ummu ‘l-mu’minin, ‘A’ishah. “It has been narrated by Abu ‘Ubayd in al-Fada’il and by Ibn al-Anbari and Ibn Mardawayh from Aishah that she said, ‘The surah al-Ahzab was recited in the days of the Prophet two hundred verses, but when ‘Uthman wrote the Qur’an, he was unable to find more than what is there at present.”¹ Now there are only 73 verses in this surah. 

Hudhayfah is said to claim that 70 verses of this chapter were lost.²  But Ubayy ibn Ka’b is made to say that this surah was equal to, or even bigger than the second chapter al-Baqarah.³ Also, ‘Ikrimah (a tabi’i, disciple of the companions) has reportedly said the same.⁴ Now the chapter al-Baqarah contains 286 verses. It means accordingly that 213 or even more verses were lost, including the verse of stoning. 

2. The ninth chapter, at-Tawbah: It is alleged that two-thirds or three-fourths of this surah has been lost. This report is attributed to Hudhayfah al-Yamani.⁵ Imam Malik ibn Anas was asked as to why there is no “Bismillah” in this surah. He said, “It was lost with its earlier parts, because it is confirmed that it was equal to surah al-Baqarah in length.”⁶

But there are only 129 verses in this surah of the Qur’an. 

3. Then come the putetic surahs of al-Hafd and al-Khal’ which were recorded by such famous companions as Ubayy ibn Ka’b and Abu Musa al-Ash’ari7 and which the caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab used to recite in his qunut.⁸ The surahs were as follows: 

This English booklet is not the place to show the absurdity of the sentences in these alleged surahs. Some grammatical mistakes in them clearly show that the people who fabricated them did not know Arabic well. And these incorrect sentences have been attributed to such Arab companions as Hazrat Umar, Ubayy ibn Ka’b and Abu Musa al-Ash’ari! 

Anyone interested to see the mistakes and absurdities of these supposed surahs, is advised to see my Arabic booklet Nazaratun Musta’jilah fi mas’alati Tahrifi ‘l-Qur’an or better still, Shaykh Muhammad Jawad al-Balaghi’s Ala’u ‘r-Rahman fi Tafsiri ‘l-Qur’an (vol. 1 [Beirut], pp. 23-24). 

4. A surah equal to the ninth chapter al-Bara’ah: Abu Musa al-Ash’ari, a companion of the Prophet, is reported to say, ‘We used to recite a surah which we likened to al-Bara’ah in length and severity; but I forgot it, and now remember only this verse: 

(If a son of Adam had two valleys full of wealth he would still covet a third; and nothing can fill the stomach of a man except dust.)⁹

5. Yet another Surah: The same companion is reported to say, “We used to recite a surah which we likened to one of the musabbihat;¹⁰ but I forgot it; yet I remember this ‘verse’ from it: 

(O you who believe! Why do you say what you do not do? As it would be recorded as an evidence against you and then you shall be asked about it on the day of resurrection.)¹¹

6. Loss of the major part of the Qur’an: There are a lot of traditions in Sunni books which show that the Qur’an was much much more than what the Muslims have in their hands. “At-Tabarani has narrated with trustworthy chain of narrators from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab that he said, ‘The Qur’an is one million and twenty seven thousand letters…”¹² But the total of the letters in the whole Qur’an is not more than 267,053 as is recorded at the end of many editions of the Qur’an. In other words, three-fourth of the Qur’an was lost! 

And the companion ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar is reported as saying, “None of you should ever say, ‘I have got the whole Qur’an.’ And what would make you know what the whole Qur’an was. Certainly a lot of Qur’an has gone. One should rather say, ‘I have got what has appeared from it.” ¹³

Unfortunately the ‘ahadith‘ of major or minor deletions are attributed to many famous personalities of Islam, like Ummu ‘l-mu’minin ‘A’ishah, Ummu ‘l-mu’minin Hafsah, Ummu ‘l-mu’minin Umm Salimah, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas, ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, Abdu’r-Rahman ibn ‘Awf, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar, Zayd ibn Arqam, Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah, Buraydah, Maslamah ibn Makhlad, Abu Waqid al-Laythi, and the aunt of Abu Amamah ibn Sahl, in addition to the tabi’in (disciples of the companions) ‘Ikrimah and Imam Malik ibn Anas.

These traditions are found in all well-known Sunni books of traditions, including as-Sihahas-Sittah (the six correct books of traditions): Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abi Dawud, Sahih at-Tirmidhi, Sunan an-Nasa’i, Sunan al-Bayhaqi, Musnad of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Muwatta’ of Imam Malik, Ta’rikh of al-Bukhari, Fathu ‘l-Ba’ri (Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari) of Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani, Kanzu ‘l-‘Ummal of Mulla ‘Ali al-Muttaqi, Tafsir ad-Durru’l-Manthur and al-Itqan of As-Suyuti, Jami’u ‘l-Usul, al-Muhadarat of Imam ar-Raghib al-Isfihani, Jami ‘u ‘l-Jawami, Hilyatu ‘l-awliya‘ of Hafiz Abu Nu’aym and al-Mustadrak ‘alas-Sahihayn of Imam al-Hakim an-Nishapuri.¹⁴

Also ‘ahadith‘ were attributed to the Imams of Ahlul Bayt too, and they found their way into Shi’a books of traditions. In short the Sunni and Shi’a books of ahadith contain a lot of such traditions. But there is a basic difference between the two sects’ respective attitude towards such traditions. 

• 1.As-Suyuti, ad-Durru ‘l-Manthur, vol. 5, pp. 179-180; As-Suyuti, al-Itqan, vol. 2. p. 25.
• 2.Al-Bukhari, at-Ta’rikh, as quoted by as-Suyuti in the above books.
• 3.Az-Zamakhshari, Tafsir al-Kashshaf, vol. 2 (Calcutta: Lees. 1856) p. 1117: Mulla Ali al-Muttaqi, Kanzu ‘l-Ummal. 
• 4.As-Suyuti, ad-Durru ‘l-Manthur, vol. 5. p. 179. 
• 5.As-Suyuti, ad-Durru ‘l-Manthur, vol. 3. p. 208: al-Itqan, vol. 2. p. 26: al-Hakim an-Nishapuri, al-Mustadrak alas-Sahihan, vol. 2 (Hyderabad: Dairatul-Ma’arif. 1340 AH) p. 331. 
• 6.As-Suyuti, al-Itqan, vol. 1, p. 65.
• 7.As-Suyuti, al-Itqan, vol. 1, p. 65.
• 8.Ibid, pp. 25-26.
• 9.As-Suyuti, ad-Durru ‘l-Manthur, vol 1 p 105: Ibn al-Athir. Jami ‘u ‘l-Usul, vol 3 (Egypt: 1370 AH) p. 8 hadith no. 904.
• 10.Musabbihat: those surahs which begin with the words. yusabbihu or sabbih.
• 11.Jami ‘u ‘l-usul, vol. 3. p. 8.
• 12.As-Suyuti, al-Itqan, vol. 2. p 70. 
• 13.As-Suyuti, al-Itqan, vol 2. p. 25: As-Suyuti, ad-Durru ‘l-Manthur, vol 1. p. 106.
• 14.For details, see Mir Hamid Husayn al-Musawi al-Hindi, Istiqsa’u ‘l-Ifham, vol. 2 (Lucknow) the section on tahrif of the Qur’an.

I want to personally thank all the Shia for doing the work of finding statements from some of Sunni Islam’s most reliable and authentic sources, proving that the Quran is a corrupted book that has been imperfectly preserved.

Lord willing, I will be sharing more posts in this series in the near future.