Response to Ahmed Deedat – Proof of the Authenticity of the Holy Bible – The Divinity of Christ
The lecture focuses on criticizing the debate with Ahmed Deedat, explaining that the Christian priest was neither strong nor well-organized in his presentation, whether in defending the authenticity of the Holy Bible or in explaining the doctrine of the Trinity and the divinity of Christ. His Holiness Pope Shenouda III affirms that weakness in presentation does not mean weakness in faith or doctrine, but rather poor explanation.
First: Proving the Authenticity of the Holy Bible
His Holiness explains that claiming the Bible was altered requires clear historical evidence, which does not exist in any civil, Christian, or Islamic historical sources. The Bible spread widely from the earliest centuries in many languages, making the idea of collective distortion practically impossible. The existence of ancient manuscripts and multiple consistent translations confirms the integrity of the text through the ages.
Second: The Church’s Position on Doctrinal Disputes
He explains that the Church experienced severe theological disputes from its early centuries, especially in the fourth century, yet it did not hide verses that might be misunderstood. Instead, it placed them within daily liturgical prayers, proving its honesty toward the text and the absence of any desire or ability to distort it.
Third: Criticism of Incorrect Explanations of the Trinity
His Holiness criticizes the use of physical examples such as states of water or divisions of time to prove the Trinity, because they do not express true Christian faith. The Trinity is not merely “three things,” but three divine hypostases sharing one essence, with constant emphasis on divine unity.
Fourth: The Divinity of Christ
He affirms that Christ did not verbally say “I am God,” but He acted as God: forgiving sins, accepting worship, creating matter from nothing, and being present in heaven and on earth at the same time. These actions can only belong to God Himself. The declaration of His divinity came with wisdom and gradual revelation, not with a direct statement that would have led to immediate rejection or stoning.
Spiritual Conclusion
The core message of the lecture is that the strength of faith is not measured by debate performance, but by doctrinal integrity and depth of understanding. The Holy Bible is authentic and unaltered, and the doctrines of the Trinity and the divinity of Christ rest on a complete divine revelation that requires accurate and faithful explanation, not superficial analogies or weak defense.
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