Sample Content from a Cross and Crescent Seminar
JESUS IN THE BIBLE AND THE QUR’AN
One might ask, when sharing with a Muslim friend, why not begin with the idea of Jesus as Son of God and go on to explain the reasonableness of the Trinity? One good reason is that it was not thus that the early apostles sought to reach and teach monotheistic Jews. It was, “Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God” (Acts 2:22); “His Servant Jesus;” and “The Prophet, whom the Lord would raise up amongst them” (Acts 3:22) whom Peter held up before the Jewish people. Islam, though post-Christian in time is pre-Christian in theological thought; it is Old Testament in thought based solely on the belief in one God and obedience to the Islamic Law taken from the Law of Moses.
The way not to secure a hearing with Jews or Muslims is to begin by insisting upon the divinity of Christ. That subject will come up later – who would wish to avoid it? – but to begin with it is to begin at the wrong end, and to effectually bar the way to further discussion. Let us rather begin with truths admitted in the Bible and in the Qur’an about Jesus. The miraculous birth (Qur’an, Surah: 19:19-25) and sinless nature of Jesus (Surah 19:20); His Prophethood and Messiahship (Surah 3:44,45); Jesus' wonderful miracles of healing the sick and raising the dead (Surah 5:109,110); and no less His sublime teachings; are all acknowledged in Islam, and are known, more or less, to every Muslim. Let us begin with these, and perhaps, slowly and almost imperceptibly, our hearers will be led to see as did the Centurion of old, that truly this was the Son of God.
VERSES IN THE BIBLE ABOUT JESUS WHICH ARE SUPPORTED BY THE QUR’AN
AND THE ISLAMIC COMMENTARIES:
1.1 Jesus described as being in the blessed lineage of Jacob (Gen. 26:4 Cf. Surah 2:46)
1.2 Jesus was born of a virgin (Luke 1:26-35; Cf. Surah 19:19-22)
1.3 Jesus described as Messiah or Masih (Isa. 7:14 & Mt. 26:63 Cf. Surah 3:44,45)
1.4 Jesus described as God’s Word or Kalimat Allah (Jn. 1:14 Cf. Surah 4:169)
1.5 Jesus described as Spirit of God or Ruh Allah (I Cor. 15:45 Cf. Surah 4:169)
1.6 Jesus described as “The Honorable One” (Heb. 3:3; Cf. Surah 3:46)
1.7 Jesus described as “The Sinless One” (I Jn. 3:5 & II Pet. 2:22 Cf. Surah 19:20)
1.8 Jesus’ work affirmed of God by Miracles (Luke 7, 8, 9, Cf. Surah 5:110)
1.9 The Controversy regarding Jesus’ crucifixion in Surah 5:117 of the Qur'an can be brought into harmony by referring to the Bible. Surah 5:117 records: "Jesus stated according to the Qur'an: 'The day You (God) made me to die and raised me again' ") (Matt. 26, 27 Cf. Surah: 5:117)
1.10 Jesus as the “Honourable Intercessor” at the Last Day (Rom. 8:34 Cf. Surah 3:46)
For a free 7-page comparative study of Qur'anic and Biblical verses about Jesus with Islamic and Biblical commentary, email Dr. David Coffey at: coffeycan@hotmail.com
Salam O'Alekum
David