🏵️🏵️🏵️ Dear Nils, thank you for your thoughtful and respectful response. I appreciate your engagement with our conversation and the opportunity to share my perspective as a Muslim.
I agree that having our views challenged is an essential part of personal growth, and I'm grateful for the chance to explore our differences and commonalities. As Muslims, we believe that God has sent prophets to guide humanity throughout history, and Jesus, peace be upon him, is one of those prophets who conveyed a message from God to his people.
However, as you shared the biblical accounts of Jesus' life and teachings, I would like to respectfully point out that the Quran presents a different perspective on Jesus' nature and mission. According to the Quran, Jesus was a human prophet, a messenger of God, and not the son of God or God himself. The Quran states in Surah Maryam (19:30-34) that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary through a divine miracle, but he was not divine himself.
🏵️Regarding the biblical quotes you mentioned:
1. Colossians 1:15-20: This passage describes Jesus as the "image of the invisible God" and says that all things were created through him. However, this language is metaphorical and does not imply that Jesus is God himself. In Islam, we believe that Jesus was a human being chosen by God to convey a message, but he was not divine.
Shreds of evidence:
* The phrase "image of the invisible God" is often used in Jewish literature to describe a human representative or messenger of God (e.g., Psalm 17:31).
* The Greek word "ikon" (eikon) used in this passage can also mean "likeness" or "representation," rather than "divine nature."
* The passage also states that Christ is "the firstborn of all creation," which is a metaphorical expression emphasizing Jesus' role as the first human being created by God.
2. Philippians 2:5-7: This passage describes Jesus as "God's form" (morphe tou theou) and says that he did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited. However, this language is not a declaration of divinity but rather an emphasis on Jesus' humility and willingness to obey God's will.
Shreds of evidence:
* The phrase "God's form" is likely referring to Jesus' role as a human being created by God, rather than his divine nature.
* The Greek word "morphe" can also mean "form" or "appearance," which would suggest that Jesus took on a human form or appearance.
* The passage highlights Jesus' humility and willingness to obey God's will, which is a common theme in Islamic teachings about prophets.
3. John 8:48-59: This passage records Jesus saying "Before Abraham was, I am." However, this statement is often mistranslated or misinterpreted as claiming divinity. In context, Jesus is actually stating his role as a witness to the truth, just as Abraham was a witness to God's power.
Shreds of evidence:
* The Greek phrase "en me genoito" (I am) can also be translated as "I exist" or "I have been," rather than "I am eternal."
* The Jewish scholars who recorded this conversation would have been familiar with Exodus 3:14, where God says "I AM WHO I AM," and would have understood Jesus' statement in a similar context.
* The passage emphasizes Jesus' role as a witness to the truth, which is a common theme in Islamic teachings about prophets.
4. Matthew 5:17: This passage says that Jesus has come to fulfill the Hebrew Scriptures. However, this does not imply that Jesus is divine but rather that he has fulfilled the prophecies and laws contained within them.
Shreds of evidence:
* The Greek word "plērōnai" (to fulfill) can also mean "to complete" or "to accomplish," suggesting that Jesus has completed the work begun by previous prophets.
* The passage emphasizes Jesus' role as a teacher and guide who brings new understanding and fulfillment to the laws and prophecies of old.
* Islamic teachings emphasize the continuity between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as part of one narrative of guidance from God.
🏵️🏵️🏵️ Regarding your statement, "I respectfully disagree that the concept of Jesus being God developed over time," I would like to respectfully point out that the Quran presents a different perspective on Jesus' nature and mission. In Islam, we believe that Jesus was a human prophet, a messenger of God, and not the son of God or God himself.
The Quran states in Surah Al-Maryam (19:30-34) that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary through a divine miracle, but he was not divine himself. The Quran emphasizes Jesus' humanity and prophethood, rather than any divine nature or identity.
👇👇👇🏵️
Historically, early Christian theologians and scholars did indeed develop their understanding of Jesus' nature over time. The Council of Nicaea in 325 CE, for example, established the doctrine of Jesus' divinity as part of the Nicene Creed. Later Christian theologians such as Athanasius and Cyril of Alexandria further refined this doctrine.
In contrast, Islamic teachings have consistently emphasized Jesus' humanity and prophethood throughout its 1,400-year history. The Quranic account of Jesus is clear and consistent in portraying him as a human prophet, sent by God to convey a message to humanity.
I'd like to invite you to consider the Islamic perspective on Jesus and his role in human history. As we explore these differences and similarities, I hope we can gain a deeper understanding of our respective beliefs and traditions.
May Allah guide us both towards righteousness and peace.
Mohamed, Ph.D