Some Muslim brothers argue that the Bible cannot be trusted because it contains differing details across the four Gospels, suggesting that a divinely inspired text should be uniform in every detail. This claim, however, overlooks the nature of the Bible’s composition and applies a standard that, when examined, reveals similar challenges within the Quran itself. By exploring the Catholic perspective on the Gospels’ differences and juxtaposing them with apparent inconsistencies in the Quran, we can address this critique thoughtfully and demonstrate that such variations do not undermine the truth of sacred texts.

The Catholic Perspective on Gospel Differences

The Catholic Church teaches that the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—are divinely inspired accounts of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, written by different authors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. These authors, each with their own perspective, audience, and theological emphasis, present the same core truths about Jesus while varying in minor details. This diversity strengthens, rather than weakens, the reliability of the Gospels, as it reflects authentic human testimony rather than a contrived, uniform narrative.

For example, consider the accounts of the women at Jesus’ tomb on Resurrection morning:

• Matthew 28:1 mentions “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary.”
• Mark 16:1 lists “Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome.”
• Luke 24:10 includes “Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women.”
• John 20:1 focuses solely on “Mary Magdalene.”

Critics might point to these differences as contradictions, but the Catholic perspective explains them as complementary. Each evangelist highlights different details based on their sources, audience, or theological focus, yet all agree on the central truth: the tomb was empty, and Jesus had risen. The variations in the number or names of the women are minor and irrelevant to the core message of the Resurrection. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 126) notes, the Scriptures teach “solidly, faithfully, and without error that truth which God wanted put into sacred writings for the sake of salvation.” The Gospels’ differences reflect the richness of human testimony, not a flaw in divine inspiration.

Applying the Same Logic to the Quran

If the argument is that a divinely inspired text must be perfectly uniform in every detail, let us examine the Quran, which Muslims believe to be the direct word of Allah, revealed through the Prophet Muhammad. Unlike the Bible, which was written by multiple human authors, the Quran is considered to have a single divine author, making the expectation of uniformity even more pronounced. Yet, the Quran contains passages that appear to differ in details, raising questions about consistency when judged by the same standard applied to the Bible. Below is a comprehensive list of examples, with references verified for accuracy based on standard Quranic translations (e.g., Sahih International):

1. From what substance were humans made?
a) Water (Quran 21:30)
b) Dry clay (Quran 15:26)
c) Nothing (Quran 19:67)
d) Clot of blood (Quran 96:2)

2. How long is one day according to Allah?
a) 1 day is equivalent to 1,000 years (Quran 22:47)
b) 1 day is equivalent to 50,000 years (Quran 70:4)

3. Who said, “He is a skilled magician!”?
a) The elders of Pharaoh’s people (Quran 7:109)
b) Pharaoh (Quran 26:34)

4. How long did it take to destroy the Aad tribe?
a) One day (Quran 54:19)
b) Several days (Quran 41:16)

5. Did Noah’s son drown?
a) All of Noah’s family survived (Quran 21:76)
b) Noah’s son drowned (Quran 11:43)

6. How many mothers does one have?
a) One (Quran 58:2)
b) A plurality (Quran 33:6)

7. Was Jonah cast on the shore?
a) Yes (Quran 37:145)
b) No (Quran 68:49)

8. Does Allah lead people astray?
a) No (Quran 9:115)
b) Yes (Quran 14:4)

9. How many surahs does Allah require to prove that the Quran is not forged?
a) One (Quran 10:38)
b) Ten (Quran 11:13)

10. Will disbelievers receive their judgment book on Qiyamah?
a) On their back (Quran 84:10)
b) In their left hand (Quran 69:25)

11. How many angels helped Muhammad at Badr?
a) 3,000 angels (Quran 3:124)
b) 1,000 angels (Quran 8:9)

12. How many of Thamud killed the divine she-camel?
a) One (Quran 54:29)
b) Several (Quran 7:77)

13. How long does it take to wean?
a) 30 months (Quran 46:15)
b) 24 months (Quran 31:14)

14. Does Allah change or abrogate his words?
a) No (Quran 10:64)
b) Yes (Quran 2:106, 16:101)

15. How many creators are there?
a) Allah is the only creator (Quran 40:62)
b) Allah is the best among creators (Quran 23:14)

16. What happens to mountains on Qiyamah?
a) Become like wool (Quran 70:9)
b) Disappear (Quran 78:20)

17. How many trumpets will be blown on Qiyamah?
a) Two (Quran 79:7, implying a sequence with 79:6)
b) One (Quran 69:13)

18. When did Pharaoh command the killing of the babies?
a) When Moses was a prophet (Quran 40:25)
b) When Moses was a baby (Quran 20:39)

These examples demonstrate variations in details that parallel the differences found in the Gospels. If Muslims argue that differing details in the Gospels discredit the Bible, then, by their own logic, similar variations in the Quran should raise questions about its trustworthiness. However, this conclusion misunderstands the nature of sacred texts. Just as Catholics understand the Gospels’ differences as reflections of human authorship and perspective, Muslims often explain Quranic variations through the concept of abrogation (Quran 2:106, 16:101) or contextual interpretation, where verses address different contexts or emphasize different aspects of Allah’s will. Both traditions recognize that divine truth can be conveyed through texts that reflect human language, culture, and context.

A Call for Fairness and Understanding

The Catholic response to claims of Biblical inconsistency is rooted in the understanding that the Gospels were written by different authors, each emphasizing aspects of Jesus’ life that resonated with their audience while preserving the essential truths of salvation. The minor differences in details, such as the names of the women at the tomb, do not detract from the central message of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Similarly, Muslims may argue that the Quran’s variations serve a divine purpose, such as addressing different contexts or emphasizing different aspects of Allah’s will.

However, if the standard of absolute uniformity is applied to discredit the Bible, it must also be applied to the Quran. By this logic, the Quran’s apparent inconsistencies—such as the differing accounts of human creation, the length of a divine day, or the events surrounding Noah’s son—could be used to question its reliability. Yet, both Christians and Muslims would agree that such a rigid standard misunderstands the nature of divine revelation, which accommodates human language and perspective to convey eternal truths.

Conclusion

To our Muslim brothers, we invite a fair and open dialogue. The Catholic Church respects the Quran as a sacred text for Muslims and seeks mutual understanding. The differences in the Gospels reflect the beauty of God’s truth expressed through diverse human voices, just as Muslims may see the Quran’s variations as part of its divine wisdom. Rather than using differences to discredit one another’s scriptures, let us focus on the shared pursuit of truth and the core messages of our faiths. If minor details were the measure of divine inspiration, both the Bible and the Quran would face scrutiny. Instead, let us recognize that God’s revelation transcends human precision, guiding us toward salvation through the richness of sacred texts.