Discussion Jumpstarter

Study leader reference - not a definitive answer

Question 3

Using Islam as a comparison, the speaker points out that an English Qur’an may be treated as “commentary” rather than “the Qur’an”; what would have to change in Christian practice for us to treat English Bibles similarly, and what do you think that would do to evangelism, discipleship, and authority?

Another way to ask: If Christians treated English Bibles like many Muslims treat an English Qur’an (as less than the real thing), what would have to change in church life? How would that affect evangelism, discipleship, and who has authority?

Discussion Jumpstarter

Direct Answer
To treat English Bibles like an English Qur’an in the story, Christians would have to treat only the original-language text as “the Bible” and view translations as secondary—something the speaker implies would cripple gospel sharing and shift authority toward language experts.

Support from Transcript:

He notes in Islam an English Qur’an won’t claim to be the Qur’an: “It will call it a commentary… therefore it’s not the original.”
The Muslim man tells him: “That’s no problem… That’s not the Quran. That’s just an English… translation.”
The speaker applies it to Christianity: “If we had Paul’s original in Greek, well, this isn’t the Bible. This is just a translation.”
He says that would demand Greek knowledge for mission: “everybody to share the gospel… they’ve got to learn Koine Greek.”
He contrasts Christianity’s pattern: “from the earliest, it got translated… into Aramaic… Coptic… Armenian.”

Discussion Follow-ups How would church life change if only Greek/Hebrew were treated as fully authoritative? Who would gain influence, and who would be left out?

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