What's the difference between the - Jesus of the Bible and the Jesus in the Qu'an?
Recently I heard a friend came across a professing Christian. The individual was celebrating the idea that the Qur’an mentions Jesus Christ. They went on to suggest that Christians and Muslims can have a measure of theological and spiritual unity because both sacred books—the Qur’an and the Bible—feature Jesus.
But, this common suggestion errs big in its presupposition. It assumes that the Jesus mentioned in the two sacred books is the same person. As long as it refers to a first century Hebrew individual named “Jesus” who did some remarkable things, then it’s pretty much the correct Jesus and all is well.
However, this is a serious error. It’s the same error that individuals often commit when it comes to understanding other religions in comparison to biblical Christianity. For example, the Jesus of Mormonism or the Jehovah Witnesses is both entirely different individuals; radically different. The same is true when it comes to the Qur’an.
We will notice several differences between the Jesus of the Qur’an and the Jesus of the Bible.
In Quranic teaching Jesus is identified as “Isa ibn Mariam,” or, “Jesus son of Mary.” He appears about twenty-five times in the Qur’an. Generally speaking, in Quranic teaching, Jesus is a man, born of the Virgin Mary, able to do miracles, sent by Allah, a prophet, who was around during the first century. However, if you tell a Qur’anic Muslim, “Trust in Jesus for salvation,” here is the Jesus they will have in mind.
- The Jesus of the Qur’an spoke as an infant.
Surah 19:27-34 says:
Then she came to her people, carrying him. They said, “O Mary, you have done something terrible. 28. O sister of Aaron, your father was not an evil man, and your mother was not a whore.” 29. So she pointed to him. They said, “How can we speak to an infant in the crib?” 30. He said, “I am the servant of God. He has given me the Scripture, and made me a prophet. 31. And has made me blessed wherever I may be; and has enjoined on me prayer and charity, so long as I live. 32. And kind to my mother, and He did not make me a disobedient rebel. 33. So Peace is upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the Day I get resurrected alive.” 34. That is Jesus son of Mary—the Word of truth about which they doubt.
First, it is noteworthy that Mary is addressed as the sister of Aaron. One wonders if Mary is confused with Miriam, the sister of Aaron. But more importantly, Jesus is talking with the vocabulary of a polished linguistics major before he can roll over.
What is going on here? The story almost certainly originated outside of the Qur’an, then was altered to its form in Surah 19. This is a huge problem because it conflicts with the gospel accounts which are written within a few decades of Jesus’ earthly ministry (the Qur’an given in the seventh century). There is another huge problem with Surah 19. Muhammad’s account of Jesus speaking as an infant parallels the Arabic infancy gospel which appears to have originated sometime around the fifth or sixth century. Why is that a problem? At no time has the church recognized the Arabic infancy gospel as canonical? Instead, it is one of the heretical gnostic gospels that came centuries after the inspired gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
- The Jesus of the Qur’an is not the Son of God the Father.
The Qur’an teaches:
“It is not befitting to the majesty of Allah that he should beget a son” (Surah 19:35).
“…the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah’s curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth!” (Surah 9:30)
Besides the fact that the Qur’an says so, Muslims reject that Christ is the Son of God because they suppose that Jesus would have to be the biological offspring of Allah and a woman.
This is not true of the biblical Jesus. No Christian has ever believed such a thing about him. Jesus is the eternally existing, uncreated second Person of the Trinity, who took on human nature at his miraculous conception.
The conception of Jesus was not the beginning of his existence, but his incarnation. In the incarnation (God becoming a man) Christ surrendered only the prerogatives of deity but nothing of the divine essence, either in degree or kind. While fully God and fully man, he willingly laid aside his pre-incarnate glory in order to become incarnate. In his incarnation, the eternally existing second Person of the Trinity accepted all the necessary attributes of humanity and so became the God-Man (Phil. 2:5-8, Col. 2:9).
A Jesus who came into existence through an intimate relationship between Allah and a woman is radically different from the true Jesus recorded in Scripture. Repeatedly, Jesus claims that the God of the universe is his Father (e.g. Luke 2:29; John 2:16, 5:17, 6:32, 40; 8:19, 38, 42, 49, 54; 10:18, 25, 29; 14:7, 20, 21, 23; 15:10, 20:17; Rev. 2:27, 3:5, 3:21). God the Father also referred to Jesus as his divine Son (Matt. 3:17, Luke 9:35). The angel Gabriel, who was said to have given Muhammad Quranic revelation, also affirmed that the Jesus of the Bible is the Son of God (Luke 1:35).
And, it cannot be said that Jesus merely referred to his Father in a salvific way as Christians do. God is his Father in a way that differs from how God is a Christian’s Father. Jesus is the only begotten of the Father (John 1:18, 3:16), who has eternally existed with God the Father (John 1:1-2, Col. 1:17), was creating the universe with the Father (John 1:3, Col. 1:16), and possessed inherent glory with the Father prior to creation (John 17:5, 24). That cannot be said about any individual in history. Thus, Jesus alone is the eternal and divine Son of the Father.
Also in the Qur’an, Allah is said to be the Lord of Jesus (Surah 43:63-64). Scripture teaches, however, that Jesus alone is Lord; the Lord of lords, who has the name above every name (Phil. 2:9-11, 1 Tim. 6:14).
Also, it is interesting that the phrase “the son of Mary” follows Jesus’ name in the Qur’an. One wonders if that was intentionally inserted in an attempt to refute the idea that he is the Son of God. I saw a Muslim evangelistic outreach recently where the evangelist was leading another to become a Muslim by reciting the shahada. In addition, they had to recite the phrase, “Jesus is not the son of God.”
- The Jesus of the Qur’an was merely a prophet like Moses, David, Zechariah, and John the Baptist.
Surah 6:84 reads:
We gave him Isaac and Jacob: all (three) guided: and before him, We guided Noah, and among his progeny, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron: thus do We reward those who do good: 85. And Zakariya and John, and Jesus and Elias: all in the ranks of the righteous: 86. And Isma’il and Elisha, and Jonas, and Lot: and to all We gave favour above the nations: 87. (To them) and to their fathers, and progeny and brethren: We chose them, and we guided them to a straight way.
However, the Bible teaches something far different. Though Jesus did function in the role of a prophet, he was vastly superior to all others. “For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house” (Heb. 3:3). Not only is Jesus superior to every other prophet, he is superior to the angels (Heb. 1:4).
- The Jesus of the Qur’an returns to Earth in a way which differs from the Bible.
The Qur’an and hadith teach a detailed eschatology. Among other things, Muslim theology teaches that Jesus will return to Earth. However, in his second coming, Jesus returns as a Muslim and fights for Islam.
He will descend (to the earth). When you see him, recognize him: a man of medium height, reddish fair, wearing two light yellow garments, looking as if drops were falling down from his head though it will not be wet. He will fight the people for the cause of Islam. He will break the cross, kill swine, and abolish jizya. Allah will perish all religions except Islam. He will destroy the Antichrist and will live on the earth for forty years and then he will die. The Muslims will pray over him (Sunan Abu Dawud 37:4310).
This could not differ more from the return of Christ taught in Scripture. When Jesus returns, he will fight, but not for the cause of Islam. Instead, he will fight against all who have rejected him—the eternal Son of God who died on the cross for our sin and rose from the grave (Rev. 19:11-21). Included amongst those who will perish will be all who hold to the Quranic teaching of God and Christ. Further, Jesus will return and both the resurrected church and Old Testament believers will reign with him (Rev. 19:14, 20:4).
- The Jesus of the Qur’an is not the intercessor for man.
In Sahih Al-Bukhari 6:236, a story is told of individuals suffering in hell. They approach Adam, Noah, Abraham, others, and Jesus, making a request for intercession. Each of the points those seeking help away from themselves, including Jesus. Muhammad is said to be the only one who can intercede effectively before God.
This is a serious deviation from the true Jesus of Scripture. One of the most important facts about Christ is that he is the one and only intercessor for sinful man. “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25). Since he is fully God and fully man who extinguished the righteous wrath of God for us; since he rose victorious from the grave; since he ascended to the right hand of the Father, therefore, he serves as intercessor. He alone is qualified for the role. And, if Jesus is not the intercessor, then all humanity is utterly doomed because no other individual in history is even remotely qualified.
- The Jesus of the Qur’an was created like any man.
Surah 3:59-60 reads, “The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: “Be”. And he was. 60. The Truth (comes) from Allah alone; so be not of those who doubt.”
The hadith teach similarly: “So they will go to Jesus and say, ‘O Jesus! You are Allah’s Apostle and His Word which He sent to Mary, and a superior soul created by Him, and you talked to the people while still young in the cradle” (Sahih Al-Bukhari 6:236).
In this matter, the Jesus of the Qur’an is far more like the fictitious Jesus of Mormonism and the Jehovah Witnesses. Sadly, this is an extraordinary Christological error. The most important thing about Jesus is that he is eternal. He was not created. Jesus is God (John 1:1-3, 8:58; Col. 2:9).
- The Jesus of the Qur’an is not the head of the church.
The Qur’an is completely silent on the teaching of the church. Jesus is not said to be the Head of the Body nor the Husband of the Bride. There is no corporate body of united people for whom Christ is said to have given his life in the Qur’an.
This is a major contrast to the Jesus of the Bible. The very reason he came to the world was out of obedience to God the Father for the redemption of his people (John 10:14-18). Since his Father had chosen a people, he came to redeem them (Eph. 1:3-8). Christ shed his blood for the church (Acts 20:28). Consequently, he is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22-23). The church is so united to him, and to each other, that she is rightly called his body (1 Cor. 12:27). Christ keeps a pure, fierce, and loving commitment to his people, the church, just as a perfect husband would his bride (Eph. 5:25-30).
- The Jesus of the Qur’an is prophetically surpassed by Muhammad, the ultimate prophet.
The Qur’an teaches that Muhammad was the culmination of the prophets. He is the ultimate and final prophet. “Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of God, and the seal of the prophets. God is Cognizant of everything” (Surah 33:40). The hadith teach the same, recording that Muhammad claimed that there would be no prophets after him, though there would be caliphs (Sahih al-Bukhari, 4:56, 661).
This differs from Scripture in that Jesus is said to be the culmination of God’s revelation. “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world” (Heb. 1:1-2). There are a zenith and finality to the prophetic ministry coinciding with the Person and work of Christ which is also evident in the conclusion of revelation. With the close of the canon and the end of the foundation age of the church also comes the end of the prophetic office. Thus, the prophetic office close with the apostolic age five centuries prior to Muhammad.
- The Jesus of the Qur’an is not the ultimate moral example for humanity.
To be sure, Qur’anic teaching would hold Jesus up as a moral example. However, Muhammad is said to be the ultimate moral example for humanity (Surah 33:21). Thus, one must conclude that Muhammad is morally and ethically superior to Jesus.
This, too, is a significant difference from the Jesus of the Bible. Though Muhammad is not discussed in Scripture so as to be compared with Jesus, it is clear that Jesus is unmatched morally (John 8:29, Heb. 4:15). Being fully God and fully man, he is as holy, moral, and righteous as God (Luke 1:35). He is perfect in nature, thought, word, and deed. His nature matches God’s in every way (Heb. 1:3). His desires, thoughts, motivations, words, and deeds match God’s in every way. To see Jesus is to see God. Morally speaking, Jesus mirrors God exactly. Therefore, it must be said that Jesus is the ultimate moral example for humanity. None surpass him in virtue.
Conclusion
There exists a massive difference between the Jesus of the Qur’an and the Jesus of the Bible. Tragically, it appears that Muhammad spoke of a Jesus who is not the true Jesus of Scripture. Instead, he depicts a fictitious Jesus corresponding more to the speculations and paganism of sixth and seventh century Arabia. The Qur’an contradicts the Bible on the most essential teachings concerning the Person and work of Jesus Christ. Thus, the Jesus of the Quran is a Jesus who cannot save and no Jesus at all. Author: Cripplegate
