When asked by a passenger aboard the ship to America whether the Bahá'í Faith accepts the Bible, ‘Abdu’l-Baha replied:

This Cause acknowledges the truth of all the Books and all the Manifestations of God. The heavenly teachings are composed of two kinds of commandments. One kind is concerned with spiritual verities, with the perfections and virtues of the world of humanity. These commandments never change or alter. Each of the Books and the Prophets was the promulgator of these principles upon which all the religions are based, hence the foundation of all the divine religions is one. The second category of commandments is concerned with material principles and social issues. These are altered according to the exigencies of the age. For example, at the time of Christ the social laws of the Torah were changed. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, quoted in ‘Mahmud’s Diary, The Diary of Mírzá Mahmúd-i-Zarqání Chronicling `Abdu'l-Bahá's Journey to America’, p. 19)

Moses foretold the coming of Jesus

To better understand the Teachings of Jesus we cannot forget that Jesus was born into the Jewish religion. The Jews believed in Moses, the prophet who appeared one thousand five hundred years before Jesus. The Jews were waiting for the Promised One or the Messiah because Moses had promised in Deuteronomy 18:15: "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken"

With these words Moses promised that God would send another Prophet, another Moses. He prophesied that this New Messenger would be a Jew and He asked all Jews to follow this Promised One. This new Messenger was called the Messiah. In Deuteronomy 18: 18 God's promise to Moses about the Messiah was: "I will put my words in his mouth."

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit"

Christ announced, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit," meaning that man must be born again. As the babe is born into the light of this physical world, so must the physical and intellectual man be born into the light of the world of Divinity. In the matrix of the mother the unborn child was deprived and unconscious of the world of material existence, but after its birth it beheld the wonders and beauties of a new realm of life and being. In the world of the matrix it was utterly ignorant and unable to conceive of these new conditions, but after its transformation it discovers the radiant sun, trees, flowers and an infinite range of blessings and bounties awaiting it. In the human plane and kingdom man is a captive of nature and ignorant of the divine world until born of the breaths of the Holy Spirit out of physical conditions of limitation and deprivation. Then he beholds the reality of the spiritual realm and Kingdom, realizes the narrow restrictions of the mere human world of existence and becomes conscious of the unlimited and infinite glories of the world of God. Therefore, no matter how man may advance upon the physical and intellectual plane, he is ever in need of the boundless virtues of Divinity, the protection of the Holy Spirit and the face of God. ('Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 288)

The Meaning of Baptism

John the Baptist baptized the people with water, but he said that the one who was to come after him would baptize with fire. What is the meaning of this, for in the material world, these two elements are contrary the one to the other, and then, if Christians take the water literally, they ought also to take the fire literally. The meaning is this: as everything in the material world has its beginning of life in water, so water is a type of the beginning of the spiritual life -- the new birth, which also John preached when he exhorted people to repent, and so their hearts were changed from material desires to a living faith in God. When the soul has begun this new life, then the fire of the love of God will purify them into a higher condition. (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, as recorded by the second party of American Baha'is to visit Akka, Palestine: Edward and Lua Getsinger, Arthur and Elizabeth Dodge and William and Anna Hoar; ‘Prayers, Tablets, Instructions and Miscellany’, Chicago: Adair Press, 1900. p. 52 )

The spread of the divine “light” -- comparison between Christ and Baha'u'llah

See how the light of Christ's shining star took three hundred years to shed its rays on the world, whereas the light of Baha’u’llah has permeated all regions in less than half a century. His cause has been spread in every country and the mention of Baha’u’llah made in every tongue. In nearly every country there is an assembly of friends from Teheran to Paris, to San Francisco, to Japan. This is a different age and light is spreading with great rapidity. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from a talk given in Paris in 1913, ‘Abdu’l-Baha on Divine Philosophy’ compiled by Isabel Fraser Chamberlain, 1918, The Tudor Press, Boston, Mass., approved by Baha'i committee on publications)

Mary Magdalene

O maid-servant of God! Verily, Mary, the Magdalene, was a villager, but she kept firm in the Cause of Christ and confirmed the apostles at the time she declared to them (thus): "Verily, Christ is alive and eternal and death did not overtake Him; and verily, the foundation of His religion is not shaken by His crucifixion at the hand of the oppressors!" By this her face is eternally shining from the horizon of guidance. (‘Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v2, p. 268)

How the initial “persecution and scorn” of the disciples of Christ “were [later] changed to glory, honor and reverence."

Consider the past, so that thou mayest become informed of the mysteries which shall be disclosed in the future. When the disciples were calling in the name of Christ, the Jews scoffed, scorned and laughed at them. They were saying, "They are taken with madness, and madness is made an art." They even beat them with whips, threw stones at them, prevented the people from approaching them, and were saying, "This man is naught but a sorcerer, blasphemeth God and is possessed of a devil."

To follow in the footsteps of the disciples of Christ

The disciples of Christ forgot themselves and all earthly things, forsook all their cares and belongings, purged themselves of self and passion and with absolute detachment scattered far and wide and engaged in calling the peoples of the world to the Divine Guidance, till at last they made the world another world, illumined the surface of the earth and even to their last hour proved self-sacrificing in the pathway of that Beloved One of God. Finally in various lands they suffered glorious martyrdom. Let them that are men of action follow in their footsteps! ('Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith, p. 442)

Mary Magdalene confirmed the faith of the disciples after the crucifixion of Christ

After the Lord Christ suffered, the disciples wept, and gave way to their grief. They thought that their hopes were shattered, and that the Cause was utterly lost, till Mary Magdalene came to them and strengthened them saying: 'Do you mourn the body of Our Lord or His Spirit? If you mourn His Spirit, you are mistaken, for Jesus lives! His Spirit will never leave us!' Thus through her wisdom and encouragement the Cause of Christ was upheld for all the days to come. Her intuition enabled her to grasp the spiritual fact." (Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 104)

“What is meant by 'Heaven' in the Bible?”

Question: “What is meant by 'Heaven' in the Bible?”

'Abdu'l-Baha: “Christ said that nothing could ascend into Heaven except that which came down from Heaven. He also said, 'I came from Heaven and will return to Heaven,' and 'The Son of Man is in Heaven.' He said this while still upon the earth and notwithstanding the fact that He had been born of Mary. There is no doubt Christ came from Heaven and always was in Heaven, but when He spoke He did not mean the literal sky. What then is meant by 'Heaven'? Science proves that there is no heaven or sky, but all is limitless space and one universe. In this limitless space the heavenly spheres revolve and have their orbits. But the 'Heaven' of Christ is that invisible world which is beyond the sight and comprehension of mere man. It is the spiritual condition. Therefore, the 'Heaven' of Christ is the Will of God. The Sun of that Heaven will never set. In it the Moon and Stars are always shining. It is the limitless Kingdom of God. It is sanctified from all place. Christ is always there. There Elijah and the Holy Prophets live eternally. It is sanctified from all comprehension. The Jews were deprived because they could not understand this spiritual condition.”

“Christ was a divine mercy which shone upon all mankind, the medium for the descent of the bounty of God, and the bounty of God is transcendent, unrestricted, universal.”

The foundations of the divine religions are one. If we investigate these foundations, we discover much ground for agreement, but if we consider the imitations of forms and ancestral beliefs, we find points of disagreement and division; for these imitations differ, while the sources and foundations are one and the same. That is to say, the fundamentals are conducive to unity, but imitations are the cause of disunion and dismemberment. Whosoever is lacking in love for humanity or manifests hatred and bigotry toward any part of it violates the foundation and source of his own belief and is holding to forms and imitations. Jesus Christ declares that the sun rises upon the evil and the good, and the rain descends upon the just and the unjust -- upon all humanity alike. Christ was a divine mercy which shone upon all mankind, the medium for the descent of the bounty of God, and the bounty of God is transcendent, unrestricted, universal. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from a talk given on 21 April 1912 in Washington D.C.; Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 41-42) (To read the entire talk please visits Talks of ‘Abdu’l-Baha)

Ramification of this passage in the Bible: "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth."

The revered minister read from the words of the Gospel, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth." The century has dawned when the Spirit of Truth can reveal these verities to mankind, proclaim that very Word, establish the real foundations of Christianity and deliver the nations and peoples from the bondage of forms and imitations. The cause of discord, prejudice and animosity will be removed, the basis of love and amity be established. Therefore, all of you must strive with heart and soul in order that enmity may disappear entirely and that strife and hatred pass away absolutely from the midst of the human world. You must listen to the admonition of this Spirit of Truth. You must follow the example and footprints of Jesus Christ. Read the Gospels. Jesus Christ was mercy itself, was love itself. He even prayed in behalf of His executioners -- for those who crucified Him -- saying, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." If they knew what they were doing, they would not have done it. Consider how kind Jesus Christ was, that even upon the cross He prayed for His oppressors. We must follow His example. We must emulate the Prophets of God. We must follow Jesus Christ. We must free ourselves from all these imitations which are the source of darkness in the world. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from a talk given on 21 April 1912 in Washington D.C.; Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 42) (To read the entire talk please visits Talks of ‘Abdu’l-Baha)

Prophecies about Baha’u’llah from the Old Testament: Deuteronomy: chapter 33, verse 2 & Genesis: chapter 15, verse 16

As to the prophecies of the Bible: In the 33rd chapter of Deuteronomy in the 2nd v. God declares: "The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from Mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from His right hand went a fiery law for them!”
This refers to four great Manifestations, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad and Baha'u'llah. This is a sufficient prophecy, with its fulfillment, to convince any student of the Bible.

Abraham has also prophesied that the eventful Return will occur in the fourth cycle. Genesis 15th chapter 16th v. [‘But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.’] contains references to the four cycles (i.e., four generations or ages after Abraham), first to that of Moses; second, Jesus ; third, Muhammad ; and fourth to the cycle of Baha'u'llah, which fulfills the prophecies of all nations. (Excerpt from a letter by the Israelitish Assembly of the Baha’is of Tihran to the House of Spirituality of the Baha’is of Chicago, dated May 9, 1904; Baha’i World 1926-1928, p. 276)

Jesus brought hostile and warring nations together and established fellowship among them

Consider how many different nations and divergent religious beliefs existed when Christ appeared. Enmity and strife prevailed among them -- Romans, Greeks, Assyrians, Egyptians -- all warring and hostile toward each other. Christ, through the breaths of the Holy Spirit, united them, established fellowship among them so that no trace of strife remained. Under His standard they became united and lived in peace through His teachings. Which is preferable and more commendable -- to follow the example of Jesus Christ or to manifest the satanic instinct? Let us strive with all our powers to unite the East and West so that the nations of the world may be advanced and that all may live according to the one foundation of the religions of God. The essentials of the divine religion are one reality, indivisible and not multiple. It is one. And when through investigation we find it to be single, we have a basis for the oneness of the world of humanity. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from a talk given on 21 April 1912 in Washington D.C.; Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 42-43) (To read the entire talk please visits Talks of ‘Abdu’l-Baha)

The meaning of “second birth” spoken of by Jesus

The Prophets come into the world to guide and educate humanity so that the animal nature of man may disappear and the divinity of his powers become awakened. The divine aspect or spiritual nature consists of the breaths of the Holy Spirit. The second birth of which Jesus has spoken refers to the appearance of this heavenly nature in man. It is expressed in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and he who is baptized by the Holy Spirit is a veritable manifestation of divine mercy to mankind. Then he becomes just and kind to all humanity; he entertains prejudice and ill will toward none; he shuns no nation or people. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from a talk given on 21 April 1912 in Washington D.C.; Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 41) (To read the entire talk please visits Talks of ‘Abdu’l-Baha)

Divine versus Satanic attributes

The attributes of God are love and mercy; the attribute of Satan is hate. Therefore, he who is merciful and kind to his fellowmen is manifesting the divine attribute, and he who is hating and hostile toward a fellow creature is satanic. God is absolute love, even as Jesus Christ has declared, and Satan is utter hatred. Wherever love is witnessed, know that there is a manifestation of God's mercy; whenever you meet hatred and enmity, know that these are the evidences and attributes of Satan. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from a talk given on 21 April 1912 in Washington D.C.; Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 39) (To read the entire talk please visits Talks of ‘Abdu’l-Baha)

“The Prophets [of God] have not come to cause discord and enmity.”

All the Prophets of God, including Jesus Christ, appeared in the world for the education of humanity, to develop immature souls into maturity, to transform the ignorant of mankind into the knowing, thereby establishing love and unity through divine education and training. The Prophets have not come to cause discord and enmity. For God has wished all good for His servants, and he who wishes the servants of God evil is against God; he has not obeyed the will and emulated the example of God; he has followed Satanic leadings and footprints. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from a talk given on 21 April 1912 in Washington D.C.; Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 38) (To read the entire talk please visits Talks of ‘Abdu’l-Baha)

Reference in Gospel of St. John to Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (St. John 14:26)

"The passage in the Gospel of St. John 14:26, is a reference to the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, through Whose coming this prophecy was fulfilled." (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, April 21, 1939; Lights of Guidance, p. 478)

Question: How do you prove the year of Baha’u’llah’s coming from the Bible and the places associated?

Answer: by George Townshend, Hand of the Cause and former Canon of Anglican St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland.

As for the year of His Return, Christ said He did not know (Mark 13:32), but He foretold that the Gospel must first be preached in the whole world and then the end would come. Daniel, however, in an abstruse manner gave the very year of the Return when he said, "...Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." (Dan. 8:13-14), and added, “... at the time of the end shall be the vision." Dan. 8:17) We now live in "the time of the end" and the vision has been made clear by 'Abdu'l-Baha. In the text of the Holy Book, a day stands for a year. The number given by Daniel therefore represents two thousand three hundred years. These refer to the period of the restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem by the Jews in the fifth century before Christ and particularly to the Decree of Artaxerxes issued in 457 B.C., following which edict the Temple was rebuilt and its Holy of Holies desecrated by alien hands, causing the abomination of desolation to which Daniel and Christ allude. From the date of this decree to that of the birth of Christ is 456 years and from the birth of Christ to the manifestation of the Bab is 1844 years which, added together, make 2300 years.

Among the places associated with the second coming are:

Question: What is the meaning of the disciples having spoken in all tongues?

Answer [by ‘Abdu’l-Baha]: The disciples taught in the language of the Kingdom. That language (or tongue) is the equivalent of all languages, for the Word of the Kingdom is an expression of heavenly significances and heavenly mysteries. Whosoever attains it, to him the realities and mysteries of creation are clear. The heavenly significances are the comprehensive reality of all tongues. Therefore, the Holy Spirit having delivered to the disciples the tongue of the Kingdom, they become conversant with the tongues of all nations. With whomsoever among the nations and peoples of the world they conversed, they proved to be co-linguists. Moreover, the known and taught languages of the present exceed a thousand tongues in number. Had the disciples known the literal languages, they should have, at least, transcribed the Gospel in the tongue of some one of the nations, while as a matter of fact it was written only in the Hebraic and the Greek. The Gospel was not even written in the Roman tongue which was at that time an official language, since the government was in the hands of the Romans. As the disciples were not proficient in the Roman tongues they did not write the Gospel therein. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpts from a table talk in Akka in 1907, notes taken by Corine True; ‘Notes Taken at Acca’, booklet published by Baha’i Publishing Society, Chicago 1907)

“The Lord Christ arose as a bright Star in the Eastern sky”

The West has always received spiritual enlightenment from the East. The Song of the Kingdom is first heard in the East, but in the West the greater volume of sound bursts upon the listening ears.

The Lord Christ arose as a bright Star in the Eastern sky, but the light of His Teaching shone more perfectly in the West, where His influence has taken root more firmly and His Cause has spread to a greater degree than in the land of His birth.

The sound of the Song of Christ has echoed over all the lands of the Western World and entered the hearts of its people. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from a talk given in Paris in 1912; Paris Talks, p. 33) (To see the entire talk please visit Talks of ‘Abdu’l-Baha)

Prophecies from the Bible concernig Baha’u’llah: Deuteronomy chapter 33, verse 2 & Genesis chapter 15, verse 16

• As to the prophecies of the Bible: In the 33rd chapter of Deuteronomy in the 2nd v. God declares: "The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from Mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from His right hand went a fiery law for them!” This refers to four great Manifestations, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad and Baha'u'llah. This is a sufficient prophecy, with its fulfillment, to convince any student of the Bible.

• Abraham has also prophesied that the eventful Return will occur in the fourth cycle. Genesis 15th chapter 16th v. [‘But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.’] contains references to the four cycles (i.e., four generations or ages after Abraham), first to that of Moses; second, Jesus ; third, Muhammad ; and fourth to the cycle of Baha'u'llah, which fulfills the prophecies of all nations.
(Excerpts from a letter by the Israelitish Assembly of the Baha’is of Tihran to the House of Spirituality of  Baha’is of Chicago, dated May 9, 1904; Baha’i World 1926-1928, p. 276)

The Cause of Bahá'u'lláh is the same as the Cause of Christ

The Cause of Bahá'u'lláh is the same as the Cause of Christ. It is the same Temple and the same Foundation. Both of these are spiritual springtimes and seasons of the soul-refreshing awakening and the cause of the renovation of the life of mankind. The spring of this year is the same as the spring of last year. The origins and ends are the same. The sun of today is the sun of yesterday. In the coming of Christ, the divine teachings were given in accordance with the infancy of the human race. The teachings of Bahá'u'lláh have the same basic principles, but are according to the stage of the maturity of the world and the requirements of this illumined age. ('Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith, p. 400)

Jesus was a poor man

Jesus was a poor man. One night when He was out in the fields, the rain began to fall. He had no place to go for shelter so He lifted His eyes toward heaven, saying, “O Father! For the birds of the air Thou hast created nests, for the sheep a fold, for the animals dens, for the fish places of refuge, but for Me Thou hast provided no shelter. There is no place where I may lay My head. My bed consists of the cold ground; My lamps at night are the stars, and My food is the grass of the field. Yet who upon earth is richer than I? For the greatest blessing Thou hast not given to the rich and mighty but unto Me, for Thou hast given Me the poor. To me Thou hast granted this blessing. They are Mine. Therefore am I the richest man on earth.” (‘Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of the Universal Peace, pp. 33-34)

Some References from the Bible indicating that Jesus was God but not God incarnated

“For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col 2:9)

I. Jesus was God:

• “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9
• “I and My Father are one.” (John 10:30)
• “I am He (the Father)” (John 8:24)
• “I am in the Father and the Father in Me” (John 14:11)
• “And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me” (John 12:45)