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Into the Latin language in early times a large number of translations of parts of the
New Testament were made. Mention of these is found in the writings of Augustine and
Jerome. The latter tells us that in some cases these versions were not very correct, owing
to the ignorance of the people who made them for their own use. The best of these
translations was the Itala or Old Latin Version, which belongs to the second
century. Owing, however, to the need of having a more correct translation in Latin, Jerome
translated the New Testament into that language between 383 and 385 A.D. We possess at
least 8,000 MSS. of this translation. It is called the Vulgate
(التّرجمة
العاميّة) Latin Version. Some
of these MSS. date from the fourth, fifth, and sixth centuries. Hence not only was the
Bible translated into Latin long before the Hijrah, but even several of the MSS. which we
have of that translation were quite old in Muhammad's time.
We have already said, in speaking of the Old Testament, that in very early times
versions of it were made into three different dialects of the Coptic language. The same is
true with regard to the New Testament. The Buhairic
(البُحَيْرِي) version was made between the
third and the fourth century, the Sa'idic
(الصَعِيدي) probably about the same time. The third or
Bushmuric
(البُشْمُورِي) dialect was subdivided into three sub-dialects, the Fayumic
(الفيومي), the
Lower Sa'idic, and the Akhmimic
(الاخميمي). Into each of these a version of part or the whole
of the New Testament was made. The Sa'idic version is probably the oldest of all. The
oldest MSS. of the Coptic New Testament belong to the fourth and fifth centuries.
The Gothic version was made about 360 A.D. The MS. in which it is preserved was written
in the fifth or sixth century.
Besides the MSS. of the Bible in various languages, we have also other evidence of a
valuable kind to show that our present Old Testament and New Testament
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are those which existed in Muhammad's time and long before. This evidence is afforded by quotations
from the Bible found in the writings of different Christian authors in early days. Their
books are some in Greek, some in Latin, some in Syriac, others in Coptic, others in
Armenian. A large number of verses from the Bible are found in their works, just as many
verses of the Qur'an are found in the writings of Muslim authors who have written in
Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Turkish, and other languages. If every copy of the Qur'an were
lost, most or all of it could be recovered by collecting these quotations. In the same
way, if every copy of the Greek New Testament had perished long before Muhammad's time, it
might all be collected from the numerous quotations from it found in the Christian writers
of the first few centuries. A few verses are quoted also by heathens, such as Celsus,
Porphyry, and Julian the Apostate. Besides actual quotations, all the Christian writers
show an accurate knowledge of the events in Christ's life, His Crucifixion, Resurrection,
and Ascension, that are detailed in our four Gospels. This is quite a different line of
evidence from what we have previously mentioned, and it supports what has been proved by
the testimony of those witnesses whom we previously called upon to testify.
Again, in the catacombs beneath the city of Rome, tombs of many Christians of the
second, third, and fourth centuries have been found. The inscriptions and the pictures on
these tombs show that in those days Christians believed the doctrines taught in our
present Bible.
It has now become clear and beyond dispute that long before Muhammad's time the Jews
and the Christians had definite canons or lists of books which they held to be Divinely
inspired, and that these books were the very same that are found to-day in the Old
Testament and the New Testament which are now in circulation, and which have been
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