Is the Injeel Corrupted? An Academic and Theological Investigation
Part 3 of 7 – What Do the Other Holy Books Say About God’s Word?
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
Introduction
The question of the textual integrity of the Injeel (Gospel) has long been debated between Muslim and Christian theologians. While some Islamic perspectives hold that the Injeel has been tampered with or altered over time, a closer examination of both the Qur’anic and Biblical records reveals a far more complex theological narrative. In this part of our academic investigation, we explore the internal testimony of the Holy Scriptures—namely, the Injeel (New Testament), the Tawrat (Torah), the Zabur (Psalms), and the words of the Prophets such as Isaiah—to ascertain what they themselves say concerning the nature, preservation, and authority of the Word of God.
I. The Divine Inspiration and Authority of Scripture
A foundational theological claim within the Christian tradition is that all Scripture is theopneustos—“God-breathed.” The apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, makes this unequivocally clear:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV): “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
The Greek term θεόπνευστος (theopneustos) denotes divine origin and affirms the ontological relationship between God and His written revelation. Likewise, Peter underscores the spiritual mechanics behind prophecy:
2 Peter 1:20-21 (NIV): “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
This emphasis on divine origination and spiritual guidance implies that the words of Scripture are not merely historical or literary artifacts, but the living and authoritative revelation of God.
II. The Endurance and Fulfillment of God’s Word
The Injeel, according to Jesus Himself, affirms not only the authenticity but also the enduring permanence of the divine message transmitted through earlier revelations. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, made the following statement:
Matthew 5:17-18 (NIV):
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
Here, “Law and Prophets” refer explicitly to the Tawrat and the canonical prophetic writings—documents which also include the Zabur. Jesus confirms both their continuity and divine preservation.
Moreover, in Matthew 24:35, Jesus declared:
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
This is a significant theological claim. It implies the immutability and permanence of Jesus’ teachings. If the words of Jesus (who is referred to in both Christian and Islamic traditions as the Word of God—see John 1:1, Revelation 19:13; Surah 3:45 and Surah 4:171) are eternal, then the corruption of such words is not only improbable but theologically untenable.
III. God’s Protection Over His Word
The final book of the New Testament—the Revelation of John—provides a solemn warning concerning the manipulation of God’s Word:
Revelation 22:18-19 (NIV):
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City...”
This warning reflects a divine protection mechanism over Scripture, reinforcing the notion that the preservation of God’s Word is not left to human discretion alone, but is under divine oversight.
IV. The Eternal Nature of God’s Word in the Zabur and Prophetic Books
The Psalms (Zabur), traditionally attributed to Prophet Dawud (David), offer some of the clearest declarations about the eternal and unchanging nature of God's Word:
Psalm 119:89 (NIV): “Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”
Psalm 119:152 (NIV): “Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.”
Psalm 119:160 (NIV): “All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.”
Similarly, the prophet Isaiah confirms:
Isaiah 40:8 (NIV): “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”
Isaiah 59:21 (NIV): “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips...from this time on and forever.”
These affirmations stand as theological pillars regarding the immutability and divine preservation of revelation.
V. The Theological Dilemma of Alleged Corruption
Given the above scriptural testimony, we are faced with a critical theological dilemma: Can the Word of God truly be corrupted when these very Scriptures repeatedly affirm its divine origin, its preservation, and its enduring nature?
If the Injeel, Tawrat, and Zabur are kalimatullah—the Word of God—then to claim they are corrupted poses a challenge to both God's sovereignty and His promise to protect His Word. The Qur'an itself echoes these affirmations in places like:
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Surah 3:3: “He has revealed the Book to you with truth, confirming what was before it, and He revealed the Torah and the Gospel.”
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Surah 5:46-47: “And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel...”
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Surah 6:34: “There is none that can change the words of Allah...”
Thus, for the Muslim reader, any claim of the corruption of the Injeel must be reconciled with these Qur’anic affirmations. If Allah revealed the Gospel and declared His words unchangeable, then the claim that His Word has been altered introduces a contradiction.
Conclusion
The internal testimony of the Holy Books—across the Tawrat, Zabur, and Injeel—provides a unified voice: God's Word is inspired, divinely protected, and eternally enduring. The evidence presented reveals that the claim of corruption cannot be sustained without undermining the very Scriptures and divine attributes affirmed in both the Bible and the Qur'an.
To suggest that God failed to protect His Word is to suggest that human agency is more powerful than divine sovereignty—an idea antithetical to both Islamic and Christian theologies.
Coming Next:
Part 4 – A Theological Investigation: What Does the Qur’an Say about the Bible’s Integrity?
Dr. Maxwell Shimba
President, Shimba Theological Institute
Biblical Theologian | Interfaith Apologist | Scholar of Comparative Religion
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