Page 318 - History of The Quranic Text | Kalamullah.Com

298 THE HISTORY OF THE QUR'ANIC TEXT

situation of having to provide both an extended and an abbreviated
ending," The end result is that not a single verse explicitly citing the
Ascension has survived textual scrutiny in the four gospels."

9. Conclusion

There are other examples besides, but the point is clear enough: some of
the very foundations of Christian doctrine, supposedly derived from Biblical
accounts of Christ's life, have either wayward or almost no support in the
textually revised modern editions of the four gospels. Given the multitude
of essential and highly favoured passages thrown out from the Kjv, what
then is the basis of this new, theologically weakened Christianity? And what
are the basic doctrines and principles to which the Church can still adhere
to today with tenacity?
Previously we observed that the history of theJewish political situation
was wholly unfavourable for the preservation of the OT, with most of the
Jewish rulers encouraging polytheism on a wide scale. The text repeatedly
disappeared, and after its fmal discovery (from whatever sources) in the
5th century B.C. it was continuously subjected to alterations.
Now we see that history has been no more kind towards the NT. The
very fount of Christianity, Jesus, is a figure whose historical existence is
impossible to prove through primary sources. Some of his original teachings
found their way into Q, only for Q to suffer interpolations within a few
decades and eventually disappear, under the weight of all sorts of Jesus
mythologies which soon took hold of Christian circles. Towards the end
of the first century a few biographical works appeared; the authors were
anonymous, none had any first-hand knowledge ofJesus' life, and none
disclosed their sources of information. Rival sects emerged, each bearing
no scruples in altering the necessary verses to strengthen its unique vision
of Christ. Text types developed, diverged, gave birth to new ones, became
popularised. Recensions commenced, interpolations continued, textual
analysis began casting out many significant passages. And to this day each
Bible can carefully choose itsvariants, its wording, and so arrive at a slightly
differentJesus.

77 In RSV Mark 16:9-20 have been moved to footnote with a cautionary note.
While in CEVit is placed between the following two notes (respectively) "ONE OLD
ENDING TO MARK'S GOSPEL" and '~OTHER OLD ENDING TO MARK'S
GOSPEL".
78 The Qur'an however isexplicit concerning the ascension (4:158),and so Muslims
believe that]esus-though never crucified-did indeed ascend.