Muslim

Is Muhammad foretold in the Bible?

Catholic scholarship holds that the biblical passages traditionally cited, such as the 'Paraclete' promised by Jesus, refer to the Holy Spirit given at Pentecost, not to a future prophet, and are read in their New Testament context as fulfilled within the apostolic generation.

Catholic teaching

The Church teaches that with Christ, God's revelation is complete: 'In many and various ways God spoke of old... but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son' (Heb 1:1-2), so no further prophet is expected to bring new public revelation beyond the apostolic deposit closed with the death of the last apostle.

Biblical foundation

Jesus explicitly identifies the Paraclete he promises as 'the Holy Spirit' (John 14:26), sent 'in my name,' and this is fulfilled at Pentecost when the Spirit descends on the apostles (Acts 2:1-4), so the immediate biblical and historical context identifies the Paraclete, not a future human prophet.

Scripture references

John 14:26
John 16:7-13
Acts 2:1-4
Hebrews 1:1-2

Historical evidence

The earliest Christian communities, writing and worshiping centuries before the seventh century, universally understood the Paraclete passages as referring to the Holy Spirit received at Pentecost, with no trace of any expectation of a later human prophet in the surviving patristic commentary tradition.

The Church Fathers

The Comforter... is the Holy Ghost, who spoke in the Law and the Prophets, and in the New Testament.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem · Catechetical Lecture 17 (c. AD 350)

Catechism

CCC 65
CCC 66

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