Who is Jesus? – Stories for your Muslim friend

CONTENTS

Some people claim that Jesus was “only a man” or “only a prophet.” Neither the Bible nor the Qur’an say this.

Just as we have examined the two opposite errors in underestimating or overestimating Muhammad (ص) in chapter 9, we must avoid the same two errors with regard to Jesus: underestimating him and overestimating him. Muslims tend toward the first error and Christians toward the second.

Let us look at his titles, starting with his titles in the Qur’an, which are all confirmed in the Bible. There are quite a number of titles that are given to no one else in the Qur’an, and these will marked in this section by #.

Slave / servant

إِنْ هُوَ إِلاَّ عَبْدٌ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَيْهِ وَجَعَلْنَاهُ مَثَلاً لِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ

“He is only a servant we gave blessings. We made him a proverb for the people of Israel.” (Al-Zukhruf 43:59)

قَالَ إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ آَتَانِيَ الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا

He said, “I am Allah’s servant. He has given me the book and made me a prophet. (Mariam 19:30)

لَنْ يَسْتَنْكِفَ الْمَسِيحُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَبْدًا لِلَّهِ وَلاَ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ وَمَنْ يَسْتَنْكِفْ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَيَسْتَكْبِرْ فَسَيَحْشُرُهُمْ إِلَيْهِ جَمِيعً

The Messiah will not disdain to be a servant of Allah, nor will the angels who have been brought near. Allah will gather everyone who proudly disdains his service. (Al-Nisa 4:172)

Jesus is here called “Allah’s slave/servant” or “only a slave/servant.” As we will see, the word “only” must be taken in light of the dozens of other titles the Qur’an assigns to him, including “proverb” in the first verse above and “prophet” in the second one.. And the Bible agrees that Jesus is a slave/servant of God:

ἀλλὰ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν µορφὴν δούλου λαβών, ἐν ὁµοιώµατι ἀνθρώπων γενόµενος· καὶ σχήµατι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος

“but emptied himself by taking on the true nature of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human appearance.” (Philippians 2:7, author’s translation)

The Bible and the Qur’an agree that Jesus was truly a slave/servant.

As for the word “only” in the first verse above, this word must be taken in the larger context of the Qur’an, which assigns Jesus dozens of titles, including “proverb” in the first verse and “prophet” in the second one.

Prophet

قَالَ إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ آَتَانِيَ الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا

He said, “I am Allah’s servant. He has given me the book and made me a prophet. (Mariam 19:30)

καὶ ἐσκανδαλίζοντο ἐν αὐτῷ. ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Οὐκ ἔστιν προφήτης ἄτιµος εἰ µὴ ἐν τῇ πατρίδι καὶ ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ αὐτοῦ.

And so they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own house.” (Matthew 13:57)

Both the Qur’an and the Bible clearly call Jesus a prophet.

Messenger / apostle

مَا الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِلاَّ رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ وَأُمُّهُ صِدِّيقَةٌ كَانَا يَأْكُلاَنِ الطَّعَامَ انْظُرْ كَيْفَ نُبَيِّنُ لَهُمُ الآيَاتِ ثُمَّ انْظُرْ أَنَّى يُؤْفَكُونَ

“The Messiah, son of Mariam is only a messenger. The messengers before him died. His mother was righteous. They both ate food. See how we make signs plain to them? Then see how they lie!” (Maida 5:75)

The word “only” in the verse above must be taken the larger context of the whole Qur’an, as we have seen above. Jesus is also called many other things, including in this verse “Messiah,” and “son of Mary.”

Οθεν, ἀδελφοὶ ἅγιοι, κλήσεως ἐπουρανίου μέτοχοι, κατανοήσατε τὸν ἀπόστολον καὶ ἀρχιερέα τῆς ὁμολογίας ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν,

“Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partners in a heavenly calling, take note of Jesus, the messenger and high priest whom we confess,” (Hebrews 3:1)

So we see that the Bible and the Qur’an both affirm that Jesus was a messenger.

Preferred messenger

تِلْكَ الرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ كَلَّمَ اللَّهُ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ دَرَجَاتٍ وَآَتَيْنَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَيَّدْنَاهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مَا اقْتَتَلَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ وَلَكِنِ اخْتَلَفُوا فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ آَمَنَ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ كَفَرَ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مَا اقْتَتَلُوا وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيدُ

We preferred some of those messengers over others. Allah spoke to some, and he raised

some in degree: We gave Isa son of Mariam miracles, and aided him with the Holy Spirit. If Allah had willed, those after him would not have fought after miracles had come to them, but they differed. Some of them believed, and others disbelieved. If Allah had willed, they would not have fought. But Allah does whatever he wants. (Al-Baqara 2:253)

The Qur’an presents Jesus as a preferred messenger.

καὶ παρήγγειλεν ἡµῖν κηρύξαι τῷ λαῷ καὶ διαµαρτύρασθαι ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ ὡρισµένος ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ κριτὴς ζώντων καὶ νεκρῶν.

He commanded us to preach to the people and to warn them that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. (Acts 10:42)

Being the judge of the living and the dead is definitely a sign that Jesus is preferred above other messengers. So the Bible and the Qur’an again agree on this.

The messenger

رَبَّنَا آَمَنَّا بِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ وَاتَّبَعْنَا الرَّسُولَ فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

Our Lord, we believe in your^MS revelation and follow the messenger so record^MS us as witnesses (Aal Imran 3:53)

Here in the Qur’an, the disciples of Jesus call him “the messenger.” In the Bible, Jesus is also called “the messenger.”

Ὅθεν, ἀδελφοὶ ἅγιοι, κλήσεως ἐπουρανίου µέτοχοι, κατανοήσατε τὸν ἀπόστολον καὶ ἀρχιερέα τῆς ὁµολογίας ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦν,

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partners in a heavenly calling, take note of Jesus, the messenger and high priest whom we confess, (Hebrews 3:1)

So the Qur’an and the Bible agree that Jesus is “the messenger.”

The messenger of God

يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لاَ تَغْلُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ وَلاَ تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلاَّ الْحَقَّ إِنَّمَا الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُ أَلْقَاهَا إِلَى مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِنْهُ فَآَمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَلاَ تَقُولُوا ثَلاَثَةٌ انْتَهُوا خَيْرًا لَكُمْ إِنَّمَا اللَّهُ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ سُبْحَانَهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ وَكِيلاً

“People of the book, do not exaggerate in your religion, and only say the truth about Allah. Truly the Messiah, Isa son of Mariam is the messenger of Allah and his word which he sent down on Mariam, and a spirit from him. So believe in Allah and his messengers and do not say, “Three.” Stop it. It is better for you. Allah is one god. May he be glorified above having a boy. Everything in the heavens and the earth is his. Allah is a sufficient trustee.” (Al-Nisa 4:171)

Here and in Al-Nisa 4:157, Jesus is called the messenger of God. This corresponds to what the Bible says about him.

ὃν γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὰ ῥήµατα τοῦ θεοῦ λαλεῖ, οὐ γὰρ ἐκ µέτρου δίδωσιν τὸ πνεῦµα.

For the messenger of God speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. (John 3:34)

So the Bible and the Qur’an agree that Jesus is the messenger of God.

# Christ or Messiah

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

The Messiah will not disdain to be a servant of Allah, nor will the angels who have been brought near. Allah will gather everyone who proudly disdains his service. (Al-Nisa 4:172)

This title is used in the Qur’an 11 times (Aal Imran 3:45, Al-Nisa 4:157,171,172, Al-Maida 5:17,17,72,72,75, Al-Tawba 9:30,31).

In the New Testament, it is also used only of Jesus, and this title is mentioned 529 times. One example is the first verse of the New Testament.

Βίβλος γενέσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ υἱοῦ Δαυὶδ υἱοῦ Ἀβραάμ.

“The record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” (Matthew 1:1)

So the Bible and the Qur’an agree that Jesus is the Christ or Messiah. See also Chapter 11.

# Born of a Virgin

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

قَالَتْ أَنَّى يَكُونُ لِي غُلاَمٌ وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِي بَشَرٌ وَلَمْ أَكُ بَغِيًّا

She said, “How can I have a boy when no man has ever touched me, and I have never been a prostitute?” (Mariam 19:20)

قَالَتْ رَبِّ أَنَّى يَكُونُ لِي وَلَدٌ وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِي بَشَرٌ قَالَ كَذَلِكِ اللَّهُ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ إِذَا قَضَى أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ

“she said, “Lord, how can I have a boy when no man has ever touched me?” He said, “Allah can create what he wills. When he decrees a matter, he only says to it: “Be,” and then it is.” (Aal Imran 3:47)

This agrees with what the Bible says about Jesus. In both books, Jesus is the only one born of a virgin.

Ἐν δὲ τῷ μηνὶ τῷ ἕκτῳ ἀπεστάλη ὁ ἄγγελος Γαβριὴλ ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς πόλιν τῆς Γαλιλαίας ᾗ ὄνομα Ναζαρὲθ πρὸς παρθένον ἐμνηστευμένην ἀνδρὶ ᾧ ὄνομα Ἰωσὴφ ἐξ οἴκου Δαυίδ, καὶ τὸ ὄνομα τῆς παρθένου Μαριάμ. καὶ εἰσελθὼν πρὸς αὐτὴν εἶπεν, Χαῖρε, κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ κύριος μετὰ σοῦ. ἡ δὲ ἐπὶ τῷ λόγῳ διεταράχθη καὶ διελογίζετο ποταπὸς εἴη ὁ ἀσπασμὸς οὗτος. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἄγγελος αὐτῇ, Μὴ φοβοῦ, Μαριάμ, εὗρες γὰρ χάριν παρὰ τῷ θεῷ· καὶ ἰδοὺ συλλήμψῃ ἐν γαστρὶ καὶ τέξῃ υἱόν, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν. οὗτος ἔσται μέγας καὶ υἱὸς ὑψίστου κληθήσεται, καὶ δώσει αὐτῷ κύριος ὁ θεὸς τὸν θρόνον Δαυὶδ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ βασιλεύσει ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον Ἰακὼβ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, καὶ τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔσται τέλος. εἶπεν δὲ Μαριὰμ πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον, Πῶς ἔσται τοῦτο, ἐπεὶ ἄνδρα οὐ γινώσκω; καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἄγγελος εἶπεν αὐτῇ, Πνεῦμα ἅγιον ἐπελεύσεται ἐπὶ σέ, καὶ δύναμις ὑψίστου ἐπισκιάσει σοι· διὸ καὶ τὸ γεννώμενον ἅγιον κληθήσεται, υἱὸς θεοῦ.

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting. So the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God! Listen: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.” Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:26-35)

The Qur’an and the Bible agree that Jesus’ mother Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to him.

# Conceived by the Spirit of God

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

وَالَّتِي أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهَا مِنْ رُوحِنَا وَجَعَلْنَاهَا وَابْنَهَا آَيَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ

“We breathed into her who guarded her private parts of our Spirit, and made her and her son a sign for all the universe.” (Al-Anbiya 21:91)

وَمَرْيَمَ ابْنَتَ عِمْرَانَ الَّتِي أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهِ مِنْ رُوحِنَا وَصَدَّقَتْ بِكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّهَا وَكُتُبِهِ وَكَانَتْ مِنَ الْقَانِتِينَ

“and Mariam, daughter of Imran, who guarded her private parts, so we breathed into her womb some of our spirit. She believed in the words of her Lord and of his books, and she was devout.” (Al-Tahrim 66:12)

The Qur’an is clear that Jesus was conceived miraculously by the Spirit of God. So also the Bible presents the same truth.

ταῦτα δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐνθυμηθέντος ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου κατ’ ὄναρ ἐφάνηαὐτῷ λέγων, Ἰωσὴφ υἱὸς Δαυίδ, μὴ φοβηθῇς παραλαβεῖν Μαρίαν τὴν γυναῖκά σου, τὸ γὰρ ἐν αὐτῇ γεννηθὲν ἐκ πνεύματός ἐστιν ἁγίου:

“When he had contemplated this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:20)

καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἄγγελος εἶπεν αὐτῇ, Πνεῦμα ἅγιον ἐπελεύσεται ἐπὶ σέ, καὶ δύναμις ὑψίστου ἐπισκιάσει σοι: διὸ καὶ τὸ γεννώμενον ἅγιον κληθήσεται,υἱὸς θεοῦ.

“The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35)

In all of these verses, it is clear that Jesus was conceived by the Spirit of God coming to Mary. We will see in chapter 11 that the phrase Son of God has nothing to do with any physical relationship between God and Mary, and in the last verse above, the reason he is called Son of God is that it was the Spirit of God that caused the conception.

So the Bible and the Qur’an agree that Jesus was conceived by the Spirit of God.

# Son of his mother

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِنَ السَّمَاءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لأَوَّلِنَا وَآَخِرِنَا وَآَيَةً مِنْكَ وَارْزُقْنَا وَأَنْتَ خَيرُ الرَّازِقِينَ

“Isa son of Mariam said, “Allah, our Lord, send down a table from heaven, to be a feast for us, from the first of us to the last, and a sign from you and provide for us. You are the best provider.” (Al-Maida 5:114)

In Arab countries, no one is ever called the son of his mother, but only the son of his father. The reason Jesus is called son of Mary is that he had no human father. Furthermore, Mary is the only woman whose name is given in the Qur’an. This quality is closely related to the previous one, born of a virgin.

οὐχ οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ τέκτων, ὁ υἱὸς τῆς Μαρίας καὶ ἀδελφὸς Ἰακώβου καὶ Ἰωσῆτος καὶ Ἰούδα καὶ Σίμωνος; καὶ οὐκ εἰσὶν αἱ ἀδελφαὶ αὐτοῦ ὧδε πρὸς ἡμᾶς;καὶ ἐσκανδαλίζοντο ἐν αὐτῷ.

“Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” And so they took offense at him.” (Mark 6:3)

So again, both the Bible and the Qur’an agree that Jesus was the son of Mary.

# Someone who spoke from the cradle

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

قَالَ إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ آَتَانِيَ الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا وَجَعَلَنِي مُبَارَكًا أَيْنَ مَا كُنْتُ ‎وَأَوْصَانِي بِالصَّلاَةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ مَا دُمْتُ حَيًّا وَبَرًّا بِوَالِدَتِي وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْنِي جَبَّارًا شَقِيًّا وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَيَّ يَوْمَ وُلِدْتُ وَيَوْمَ أَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ أُبْعَثُ حَيًّا

He said, “I am Allah’s servant. He has given me the book and made me a prophet. He made me blessed wherever I am, and commanded me to pray and pay the poor-tax as long as I remain alive, and to honor my mother. He did not make me arrogant and naughty. Peace be upon me the day I was born, the day I will die, and the day I will be resurrected alive!” (Mariam 19:30-33)

إِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ اذْكُرْ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكَ وَعَلى وَالِدَتِكَ إِذْ أَيَّدْتُكَ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ تُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِي الْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلاً وَإِذْ عَلَّمْتُكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَالتَّوْرَاةَ وَالإِنْجِيلَ وَإِذْ تَخْلُقُ مِنَ الطِّينِ كَهَيْئَةِ الطَّيْرِ بِإِذْنِي فَتَنْفُخُ فِيهَا فَتَكُونُ طَيْرًا بِإِذْنِي وَتُبْرِئُ الأَكْمَهَ وَالأَبْرَصَ بِإِذْنِي وَإِذْ تُخْرِجُ الْمَوْتَى بِإِذْنِي وَإِذْ كَفَفْتُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَنْكَ

The miracle of speaking from the cradle is mentioned in Christian traditions, but is not mentioned in the Bible. However, it is not denied either, so this does not lead to a contradiction between the Bible and the Qur’an.

# Blessed مبارك /Mubarak/

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

وَجَعَلَنِي مُبَارَكًا أَيْنَ مَا كُنْتُ ‎وَأَوْصَانِي بِالصَّلاَةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ مَا دُمْتُ حَيًّا

He made me blessed wherever I am, and commanded me to pray and pay the poor-tax as long as I remain alive, (Mariam 19:31)

This word is only used once in the Qur’an.

λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν, οὐ μή με ἴδητε ἀπ’ ἄρτι ἕως ἂν εἴπητε, Εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου.

“For I tell you, you will not see me from now until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!'” (Matthew 23:39)

So the Qur’an and the Bible agree that Christ was blessed.

# Pronounces peace on himself

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَيَّ يَوْمَ وُلِدْتُ وَيَوْمَ أَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ أُبْعَثُ حَيًّا

Peace be upon me the day I was born, the day I will die, and the day I will be resurrected alive!” (Mariam 19:33)

One cannot pronounce peace upon oneself without the authority to grant peace.

Εἰρήνην ἀφίημι ὑμῖν, εἰρήνην τὴν ἐμὴν δίδωμι ὑμῖν: οὐ καθὼς ὁ κόσμος δίδωσιν ἐγὼ δίδωμι ὑμῖν. μὴ ταρασσέσθωὑμῶν ἡ καρδία μηδὲ δειλιάτω.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage.” (John 14:27)

The Bible uses a different phrase, but both the Bible and the Qur’an agree that Jesus had authority over peace.

# Someone who creates

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

وَرَسُولاً إِلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنِّي قَدْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِآَيَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ أَنِّي أَخْلُقُ لَكُمْ مِنَ الطِّينِ كَهَيْئَةِ الطَّيْرِ فَأَنْفُخُ فِيهِ فَيَكُونُ طَيْرًا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَأُبْرِئُ الأَكْمَهَ وَالأَبْرَصَ وَأُحْيِي الْمَوْتَى بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَأُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا تَأْكُلُونَ وَمَا تَدَّخِرُونَ فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآيَةً لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ

[and Isa was] a messenger to the people of Israel, “I have brought you a sign from your Lord: I create a bird for you from clay and breathe into it and it will be a [living] bird by Allah’s permission. I heal the man born blind and the leper and give life to the dead by Allah’s permission. I tell you what you eat and what you store in your houses. That is truly a sign for you, if you believe. (Aal Imran 3:49)

This ability to create, with or without God’s permission, is amazing. In fact, the Qur’an says,

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ ضُرِبَ مَثَلٌ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ لَنْ يَخْلُقُوا ذُبَابًا وَلَوِ اجْتَمَعُوا لَهُ وَإِنْ يَسْلُبْهُمُ الذُّبَابُ شَيْئًا لاَ يَسْتَنْقِذُوهُ مِنْهُ ضَعُفَ الطَّالِبُ وَالْمَطْلُوبُ

People, here is a proverb. Listen to it. Those you pray to besides Allah will never create a fly, even if they all work together. And if a fly robs them of anything, they will not rescue it from him. Both those who ask and those who are asked are weak. (Al-Hajj 22:73)

As the Qur’an attributes to Jesus the ability to create with God’s permission, the New Testament similarly says that creation was done in, through and to Jesus.

ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐκτίσθη τὰ πάντα ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, τὰ ὁρατὰ καὶ τὰ ἀόρατα, εἴτε θρόνοι εἴτε κυριότητες εἴτε ἀρχαὶ εἴτε ἐξουσίαι: τὰ πάντα δι’αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν ἔκτισται,

“For in him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities, all things were created through him and to him.” (Colossians 1:16)

So in both the Bible and the Qur’an, Jesus was the agent of creation; things were created through him.

# Healer

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

[and Isa was] a messenger to the people of Israel, “I have brought you a sign from your Lord: I create a bird for you from clay and breathe into it and it will be a [living] bird by Allah’s permission. I heal the man born blind and the leper and give life to the dead by Allah’s permission. I tell you what you eat and what you store in your houses. That is truly a sign for you, if you believe. (Aal Imran 3:49)

The word here translated “heal” has the meaning “freeing” or “purifying” someone from their illnesses. Healing of a man born blind and a Jewish leper were miracles that the Jews believed that only the Messiah could do. The Bible also presents Jesus as doing these miracles.

Καὶ παράγων εἶδεν ἄνθρωπον τυφλὸν ἐκ γενετῆς. καὶ ἠρώτησαν αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ λέγοντες, Ῥαββί, τίς ἥμαρτεν, οὗτος ἢ οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ, ἵνα τυφλὸς γεννηθῇ; ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς, Οὔτε οὗτος ἥμαρτεν οὔτε οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ, ἀλλ’ ἵνα φανερωθῇ τὰ ἔργα τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ. ἡμᾶς δεῖ ἐργάζεσθαι τὰ ἔργα τοῦ πέμψαντός με ἕως ἡμέρα ἐστίν· ἔρχεται νὺξ ὅτε οὐδεὶς δύναται ἐργάζεσθαι. ὅταν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ὦ, φῶς εἰμι τοῦ κόσμου. ταῦτα εἰπὼν ἔπτυσεν χαμαὶ καὶ ἐποίησεν πηλὸν ἐκ τοῦ πτύσματος, καὶ ἐπέχρισεν αὐτοῦ τὸν πηλὸν ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς

Now as Jesus was passing by, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who committed the sin that caused him to be born blind, this man or his parents?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but he was born blind so that the acts of God may be revealed through what happens to him. We must perform the deeds of the one who sent me as long as it is daytime. Night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said this, he spat on the ground and made some mud with the saliva. He smeared the mud on the blind man’s eyes and said to him, “Go wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated “sent”). So the blind man went away and washed, and came back seeing. (John 9:1-7)

Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ πορεύεσθαι εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ καὶ αὐτὸς διήρχετο διὰ μέσον Σαμαρείας καὶ Γαλιλαίας. καὶ εἰσερχομένου αὐτοῦ εἴς τινα κώμην ἀπήντησαν [αὐτῷ] δέκα λεπροὶ ἄνδρες, οἳ ἔστησαν πόρρωθεν, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἦραν φωνὴν λέγοντες, Ἰησοῦ ἐπιστάτα, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς. καὶ ἰδὼν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Πορευθέντες ἐπιδείξατε ἑαυτοὺς τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν. καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ὑπάγειν αὐτοὺς ἐκαθαρίσθησαν.

Now on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten men with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance, raised their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went along, they were cleansed. (Luke 17:11-14)

So the Qur’an and the Bible agree that Jesus did these healings.

# Giver of life to the dead

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

[and Isa was] a messenger to the people of Israel, “I have brought you a sign from your Lord: I create a bird for you from clay and breathe into it and it will be a [living] bird by Allah’s permission. I heal the man born blind and the leper and give life to the dead by Allah’s permission. I tell you what you eat and what you store in your houses. That is truly a sign for you, if you believe. (Aal Imran 3:49)

This is very similar to what the Bible says:

ὥσπερ γὰρ ὁ πατὴρ ἐγείρει τοὺς νεκροὺς καὶ ζῳοποιεῖ, οὕτως καὶ ὁ υἱὸς οὓς θέλει ζῳοποιεῖ.

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes. (John 5:21)

Again, both the Bible and the Qur’an agree that Jesus gives life to the dead.

# One who brings forth the dead

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

When Allah said, “Isa son of Mariam, remember my blessings to you and your mother: I aided you with the Holy Spirit so you spoke to the people in the cradle and as an adult; I taught you the book, wisdom, the Tawrat and the Injil; you create a clay bird by my permission, then you breathe into it and it becomes a bird by my permission; you heal the one born blind and the leper by my permission; you bring forth the dead by my permission; I kept the people of Israel from you when you brought them miracles and the disbelievers among them said: This is just magic; (Al-Maida 5:110)
JThere are several instances of Jesus bringing forth the dead. Bringing forth a person who had been dead for more than three days was believed by the Jews to be a miracle that only the Messiah could do. This is what the Bible describes about Jesus bringing forth Lazarus, who had been dead for four days:

καὶ ταῦτα εἰπὼν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ἐκραύγασεν, Λάζαρε, δεῦρο ἔξω. ἐξῆλθεν ὁ τεθνηκὼς δεδεμένος τοὺς πόδας καὶ τὰς χεῖρας κειρίαις, καὶ ἡ ὄψις αὐτοῦ σουδαρίῳ περιεδέδετο. λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Λύσατε αὐτὸν καὶ ἄφετε αὐτὸν ὑπάγειν.

When he had said this, he shouted in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The one who had died came out, his feet and hands tied up with strips of cloth, and a cloth wrapped around his face. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.” (John 11:43-44)

So the Qur’an and the Bible agree that Jesus brought forth dead people.

# Revealer of secrets

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

[and Isa was] a messenger to the people of Israel, “I have brought you a sign from your Lord: I create a bird for you from clay and breathe into it and it will be a [living] bird by Allah’s permission. I heal the man born blind and the leper and give life to the dead by Allah’s permission. I tell you what you eat and what you store in your houses. That is truly a sign for you, if you believe. (Aal Imran 3:49)

This agrees with the Bible:

καὶ εἰδὼς ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὰς ἐνθυμήσεις αὐτῶν εἶπεν, Ἱνατί ἐνθυμεῖσθε πονηρὰ ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν;

And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?” (Matthew 9:4, author’s translation)

So both the Qur’an and the Bible agree that Jesus has knowledge of and reveals secret and hidden things.

# One who permits things previously forbidden

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

وَمُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَلأُحِلَّ لَكُمْ بَعْضَ الَّذِي حُرِّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَجِئْتُكُمْ بِآَيَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ

And [I am] a confirmer of the Tawrat that is in my possession, and [I came] to permit for you some of what was forbidden to you, and I have brought you a sign from your Lord, so fear^MP Allah and obey me. (Aal-Imran 3:50)

ὅτι οὐκ εἰσπορεύεται αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν καρδίαν ἀλλ’ εἰς τὴν κοιλίαν, καὶ εἰς τὸν ἀφεδρῶνα ἐκπορεύεται;καθαρίζων πάντα τὰ βρώματα.

“For it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and then goes out into the sewer.” (This means all foods are clean.)” (Mark 7:19)

So both the Bible and the Qur’an agree that Jesus allowed formerly forbidden things.

# Confirmer of the Old Testament

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

And [I am] a confirmer of the Tawrat that is in my possession, and [I came] to permit for you some of what was forbidden to you, and I have brought you a sign from your Lord, so fear Allah and obey me. (Aal-Imran 3:50)

In the New Testament, Jesus also confirms the Old Testament.

Μὴ νομίσητε ὅτι ἦλθον καταλῦσαι τὸν νόμον ἢ τοὺς προφήτας: οὐκ ἦλθον καταλῦσαι ἀλλὰπληρῶσαι. ¹⁸ἀμὴν γὰρ λέγω ὑμῖν, ἕως ἂν παρέλθῃ ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ, ἰῶτα ἓν ἢ μία κεραία οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου ἕως ἂν πάντα γένηται. ¹⁹ὃςἐὰν οὖν λύσῃ μίαν τῶν ἐντολῶν τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων καὶ διδάξῃ οὕτως τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, ἐλάχιστος κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν: ὃς δ’ ἂνποιήσῃ καὶ διδάξῃ, οὗτος μέγας κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place. So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19)

So the Qur’an and the Bible agree that Jesus confirms the Old Testament.

# One who knows / is a sign of the last day

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

وَإِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ لِلسَّاعَةِ فَلاَ تَمْتَرُنَّ بِهَا وَاتَّبِعُونِ هَذَا صِرَاطٌ مُسْتَقِيمٌ

He is knowledge of the hour, so do not doubt it, and follow me. This is a straight path. (Al-Zukhruf 43:61)

The meaning of the Qur’anic verse above is ambiguous, and can mean “He is the sign of the hour (of Judgment)” or “He knows the hour.” Both are true. The New Testament says something very similar.

καὶ τότε φανήσεται τὸ σημεῖον τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐν οὐρανῷ, καὶ τότε κόψονται πᾶσαι αἱ φυλαὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ὄψονται τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπουἐρχόμενον ἐπὶ τῶν νεφελῶν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ μετὰ δυνάμεως καὶ δόξης πολλῆς:

“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man arriving on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30)

So the Qur’an and the Bible agree that Jesus is the sign of the hour.

# One who is aided by the Holy Spirit

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

وَلَقَدْ آَتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَقَفَّيْنَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِ بِالرُّسُلِ وَآَتَيْنَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَيَّدْنَاهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ أَفَكُلَّمَا جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ بِمَا لاَ تَهْوَى أَنْفُسُكُمُ اسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ فَفَرِيقًا كَذَّبْتُمْ وَفَرِيقًا تَقْتُلُونَ

“We gave Musa the book and made messengers follow him. We brought Isa son of Mariam miracles, and aided him with the Holy Spirit. Whenever a messenger comes to you with a message you do not like, are you proud, calling some of them liars, and murdering some of them?” (Al-Baqara 2:87)

Jesus being aided by the Holy Spirit is said of him three times (Al-Baqara 2:87,253, Al-Maida 5:110). A very similar thing is said of Jesus in the New Testament:

Τότε ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἀνήχθη εἰς τὴν ἔρημον ὑπὸ τοῦ πνεύματος, πειρασθῆναι ὑπὸ τοῦ διαβόλου

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” (Matthew 4:1)

Ἰησοῦν τὸν ἀπὸ Ναζαρέθ, ὡς ἔχρισεν αὐτὸν ὁ θεὸς πνεύµατι ἁγίῳ καὶ δυνάµει, ὃς διῆλθεν εὐεργετῶν καὶ ἰώµενος πάντας τοὺς καταδυναστευοµένους ὑπὸ τοῦ διαβόλου, ὅτι ὁ θεὸς ἦν µετ’ αὐτοῦ.

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

So both the Bible and the Qur’an agree that Jesus was helped by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 10:38)

So the Bible and the Qur’an agree that Jesus was aided by the Holy Spirit.

# A prophet or messenger who is a sign

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

قَالَ كَذَلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنٌ وَلِنَجْعَلَهُ آَيَةً لِلنَّاسِ وَرَحْمَةً مِنَّا وَكَانَ أَمْرًا مَقْضِيًّا

“He said, “This is your Lord’s saying: It is easy for me, so we will make him a sign for people, and a mercy from us. This was a predestined matter.” (Mariam 19:21)

“We breathed into her who guarded her private parts of our Spirit, and made her and her son a sign for all the universe.” (Al-Anbiya 21:91)

Many prophets or messengers have signs or miracles in both the Bible and the Qur’an, including Jesus. But Jesus also is a sign / miracle. Jesus is also a sign in the Bible.

καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτοὺς Συμεὼν καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς Μαριὰμ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ, Ἰδοὺ οὗτος κεῖται εἰς πτῶσιν καὶ ἀνάστασιν πολλῶν ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ καὶ εἰς σημεῖον ἀντιλεγόμενον

Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “Listen carefully: This child is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected. (Luke 2:34)

The Bible and the Qur’an agree that Jesus was a sign.

# Sinless

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

قَالَ إِنَّمَا أَنَا رَسُولُ رَبِّكِ لأَهَبَ لَكِ غُلاَمًا زَكِيًّا

He said, “I am truly a messenger of your Lord to give you a sinless boy.” (Mariam 19:19)

Jesus here is called sinless (holy and pure). The Arabic word for sinless /zakiyy/ is only used once in the Qur’an, right here about Jesus. In addition, Jesus is the only major prophet or messenger whose sins or asking forgiveness are not mentioned. See Chapter 17 for verses about other prophets.

οὐ γὰρ ἔχομενἀρχιερέα μὴ δυνάμενον συμπαθῆσαι ταῖς ἀσθενείαις ἡμῶν, πεπειρασμένον δὲ κατὰ πάντα καθ’ ὁμοιότητα χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας

“For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.”(Hebrews 4:15)

So both the Bible and the Qur’an agree that Christ was sinless.

# One whose birth, death, and resurrection were blessed

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَيَّ يَوْمَ وُلِدْتُ وَيَوْمَ أَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ أُبْعَثُ حَيًّا

Peace be upon me the day I was born, the day I will die, and the day I will be resurrected alive!” (Mariam 19:33)

In the Qur’an, Jesus pronounces peace upon the days of his birth, death and resurrection. We have already discussed the day of his birth in the Bible, so let us look at his death and resurrection:

τὸν δὲ ἀρχηγὸν τῆς ζωῆς ἀπεκτείνατε, ὃν ὁ θεὸς ἤγειρεν ἐκ – 120 – νεκρῶν, οὗ ἡµεῖς µάρτυρές ἐσµεν.

but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. (Acts 3:15)

So again, the Qur’an and the Bible are in agreement.

# A prophet or messenger who is currently alive

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

مَا قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِلاَّ مَا أَمَرْتَنِي بِهِ أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمْ وَكُنْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا مَا دُمْتُ فِيهِمْ فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّيْتَنِي كُنْتَ أَنْتَ الرَّقِيبَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ

“I told them only what you commanded me: Worship Allah, my Lord and your^MP Lord. I was a witness over them while I remained among them, and when you made me die, you yourself watched over them. You are witness over everything.” (Al-Maida 5:117)

Obviously, dead people do not speak. So this verse describes the death of Jesus, and Jesus refers to his death in the past tense, which shows he was alive after his death. The Bible shows the same thing.

τίς ὁ κατακρινῶν; Χριστὸς ὁ ἀποθανών, μᾶλλον δὲ ἐγερθείς, ὃς καί ἐστιν ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ θεοῦ, ὃς καὶ ἐντυγχάνει ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν.

“Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died, and more than that, he was raised, who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us.” (Romans 8:34)

So the Bible and the Qur’an agree that Christ is alive.

# Raised by God to Himself

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

إِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَى إِنِّي مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَيَّ وَمُطَهِّرُكَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَجَاعِلُ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوكَ فَوْقَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ثُمَّ إِلَيَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْ فِيمَا كُنْتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ

“Allah said, “Isa, I will make you die and raise you up to me, and purify you from the disbelievers, and make your^MS followers higher than the disbelievers until the day of resurrection. Then you will return to me and I will judge between you in matters about which you differ.” (Aal Imran 3:55)

بَلْ رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا

“But Allah raised him up to himself.” (Al-Nisa 4:158)

Being raised by God up to Himself is confirmed also by the Qur’an in the following description. The Bible confirms this in quite a number of verses, including the following:

ὁ θεὸς τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶνἤγειρεν Ἰησοῦν, ὃν ὑμεῖς διεχειρίσασθε κρεμάσαντες ἐπὶ ξύλου: τοῦτον ὁ θεὸς ἀρχηγὸν καὶ σωτῆρα ὕψωσεν τῇ δεξιᾷ αὐτοῦ, [τοῦ] δοῦναι μετάνοιαν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ καὶ ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν.

“The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus, whom you seized and killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:30-31)

Again, we see that the Qur’an and the Bible agree that God raised Jesus to Himself.

# Close to God

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

إِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ يَا مَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِنْهُ اسْمُهُ الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَجِيهًا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآَخِرَةِ وَمِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ

When the angels said, “Mariam, Allah gives you good news of a word from him, whose name will be the Messiah, Isa son of Mariam, highly exalted in this world and the hereafter, and brought near [to Allah]. (Aal Imran 3:45)

Jesus is named in the Qur’an as being close to God. In the Bible, a very similar phrase is used.

ὅς ἐστιν ἐν δεξιᾷ [τοῦ] θεοῦ, πορευθεὶς εἰς οὐρανόν, ὑποταγέντων αὐτῷ ἀγγέλων καὶ ἐξουσιῶν καὶ δυνάμεων.

“who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers subject to him.” (1 Peter 3:22)

ἀφορῶντες εἰς τὸν τῆς πίστεως ἀρχηγὸν καὶ τελειωτὴν Ἰησοῦν, ὃς ἀντὶ τῆς προκειμένης αὐτῷ χαρᾶς ὑπέμεινεν σταυρὸν αἰσχύνης καταφρονήσας, ἐνδεξιᾷ τε τοῦ θρόνου τοῦ θεοῦ κεκάθικεν.

“keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

So the Bible and the Qur’an agree that Jesus is now close to God.

# Predestined mercy from God

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

He said, “This is your Lord’s saying: It is easy for me, so we will make him a sign for people, and a mercy from us. This was a predestined matter.” (Mariam 19:21)

The word predestined مَقْضِيًّا is only used in the Qur’an twice: in the verse above and in Mariam 19:71.

فَوَرَبِّكَ لَنَحْشُرَنَّهُمْ وَالشَّيَاطِينَ ثُمَّ لَنُحْضِرَنَّهُمْ حَوْلَ جَهَنَّمَ جِثِيًّا ثُمَّ لَنَنْزِعَنَّ مِنْ كُلِّ شِيعَةٍ أَيُّهُمْ أَشَدُّ عَلَى الرَّحْمَنِ عِتِيًّا ثُمَّ لَنَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِالَّذِينَ هُمْ أَوْلَى بِهَا صِلِيًّا وَإِنْ مِنْكُمْ إِلاَّ وَارِدُهَا كَانَ عَلَى رَبِّكَ حَتْمًا مَقْضِيًّا

[I swear] by your Lord, we will certainly gather them and the devils, and bring them kneeling around hell. Then we will take away the most rebellious against the most gracious from each sect. Then we know best who among them most deserves to be roasted in it. Every one of you shall enter it. This is a predestined certainty for your Lord. (Mariam 19:71)

A number of things in the Qur’an are called mercy from God, but Jesus is a mercy that was predestined. The Bible also calls Jesus the way God shows his mercy and predestined.

ὁ δὲ θεὸς πλούσιοςὢν ἐν ἐλέει, διὰ τὴν πολλὴν ἀγάπην αὐτοῦ ἣν ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς, ⁵καὶ ὄντας ἡμᾶς νεκροὺς τοῖς παραπτώμασιν συνεζωοποίησεν τῷ Χριστῷ χάριτί ἐστεσεσῳσμένο

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ– by grace you are saved!” (Ephesians 2:4-5)

προεγνωσμένου μὲν πρὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου, φανερωθέντος δὲ ἐπ’ ἐσχάτου τῶν χρόνων δι’ ὑμᾶς

“He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake.” (1 Peter 1:20)

Both the Bible and the Qur’an agree that Christ was predestined, and that God showed his mercy through him.

# Saying of truth

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

ذَلِكَ عيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ قَوْلَ الْحَقِّ الَّذِي فِيهِ يَمْتَرُونَ

This is Isa the son of Mariam, the saying of truth, about whom they are doubting. (Mariam 19:34)

The Bible gives the same message.

λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ὁδὸς καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια καὶ ἡ ζωή·

“Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

In both cases, Jesus not only says truth, but is truth.

# A word from God

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

When the angels said, “Mariam, Allah gives you good news of a word from him, whose name will be the Messiah, Isa son of Mariam, highly exalted in this world and the hereafter, and brought near [to Allah]. (Aal Imran 3:45)

Jesus is also called the Word in the Bible.

Καὶ ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἐθεασάμεθα τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, δόξαν ὡς μονογενοῦς παρὰ πατρός, πλήρης χάριτος καὶ ἀληθείας.

Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory– the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father. (John 1:14)

So the Qur’an and the Bible agree that Jesus is the Word/ a word from God.

# Word of God

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

People of the book, do not exaggerate in your religion, and only say the truth about Allah. Truly the Messiah, Isa son of Mariam is Allah’s messenger and his word which he sent down on Mariam, and a spirit from him. So believe in Allah and his messengers and do not say, “Three.” Stop it. It is better for you. Allah is one god. May he be glorified above having a boy. Everything in the heavens and the earth is his. Allah is a sufficient trustee. (Al-Nisa 4:171)

This verse goes further and says that not only is Jesus a word from God, but that he is also the word of God, as he is called His (God’s) Word. This also corresponds to what the Bible says:

καὶ περιβεβλημένος ἱμάτιον βεβαμμένον αἵματι, καὶ κέκληται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ.

He wears a robe dipped in blood, and the name he is called is the Word of God. (Revelation 19:13, author’s translation).

So the Qur’an and the Bible again agree that Jesus is the Word of God. This is probably the highest title either book gives him.

# A spirit from God

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

People of the book, do not exaggerate in your religion, and only say the truth about Allah. Truly the Messiah, Isa son of Mariam is Allah’s messenger and his word which he sent down on Mariam, and a spirit from him. So believe in Allah and his messengers and do not say, “Three.” Stop it. It is better for you. Allah is one god. May he be glorified above having a boy. Everything in the heavens and the earth is his. Allah is a sufficient trustee. (Al-Nisa 4:171)

This verse says that Jesus a spirit from God, and it agrees with the Bible:

οὕτως καὶ γέγραπται, Ἐγένετο ὁ πρῶτος ἄνθρωπος Ἀδὰμ εἰς ψυχὴν ζῶσαν· ὁ ἔσχατος Ἀδὰμ εἰς πνεῦμα ζῳοποιοῦν

So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living person”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (1 Corinthians 15:45)

So the Qur’an and the Bible agree that Jesus (here called the last Adam) was a spirit (from God).

# Witness on the Day of Resurrection

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

وَإِنْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ إِلاَّ لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ بِهِ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا

“Every one of the people of the book will certainly believe in him before his death, and he will be a witness over them on the day of resurrection.” (Al-Nisa 4:159)

The Qur’an clearly says that Jesus will be a witness on the day of resurrection. The Bible agrees:

καὶ ἀπὸ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ μάρτυς ὁ πιστός, ὁ πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν καὶ ὁ ἄρχων τῶν βασιλέων τῆς γῆς. Τῷ ἀγαπῶντι ἡμᾶς καὶ λύσαντι ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῶνἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν ἐν τῷ αἵματι αὐτοῦ

“and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood,” (Revelation 1:5)

τοῦτο δέ ἐστιν τὸ θέλημα τοῦ πέμψαντός με, ἵνα πᾶν ὃ δέδωκέν μοι μὴ ἀπολέσω ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἀλλὰ ἀναστήσω αὐτὸ [ἐν] τῇ ἐσχάτῃ ἡμέρᾳ.

“Now this is the will of the one who sent me– that I should not lose one person of every one he has given me, but raise them all up at the last day.” (John 6:39)

πολλοὶ ἐροῦσίν μοι ἐνἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, Κύριε κύριε, οὐ τῷ σῷ ὀνόματι ἐπροφητεύσαμεν, καὶ τῷ σῷ ὀνόματι δαιμόνια ἐξεβάλομεν, καὶ τῷ σῷ ὀνόματι δυνάμεις πολλὰςἐποιήσαμενκαὶ τότε ὁμολογήσω αὐτοῖς ὅτι Οὐδέποτε ἔγνων ὑμᾶς: ἀποχωρεῖτε ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν ἀνομίαν.

“On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful deeds?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’” (Matthew 7:22-23)

The Bible and the Qur’an agree that Jesus is witness on the Day of Resurrection.

# Highly exalted in this world and the hereafter

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

When the angels said, “Mariam, Allah gives you good news of a word from him, whose name will be the Messiah, Isa son of Mariam, highly exalted in this world and the hereafter, and brought near [to Allah]. (Aal Imran 3:45)

Jesus is highly exalted in this world and the next. His high exaltation in this world can be seen from his unique titles, and his exaltation in the world to come can be seen in his ability to intercede and his being a witness on the day of resurrection. The word وَجِيهًا (here translated highly exalted) means the an intermediary between two parties, usually between a king and a tribe or other group of his subjects. The king would communicate what he wants to the intermediary, and the intermediary would go and tell the tribe. Similarly, when a tribe wants to communicate to the king, they send the intermediary, who speaks to the king. See Chapter 14 for further details. The Bible also affirms that Jesus is highly exalted and the mediator between God and men.

τοῦτον ὁ θεὸς ἀρχηγὸν καὶ σωτῆρα ὕψωσεν τῇ δεξιᾷ αὐτοῦ, [τοῦ] δοῦναι μετάνοιαν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ καὶ ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν.

“God exalted him to his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” Acts 5:31

“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

So the Bible and the Qur’an agree that Jesus is exalted in this world and in the hereafter.

# One who must be obeyed in connection with the straight path

(In the Holy Quran, this title is only given to Jesus.)

وَإِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ لِلسَّاعَةِ فَلاَ تَمْتَرُنَّ بِهَا وَاتَّبِعُونِ هَذَا صِرَاطٌ مُسْتَقِيمٌ وَلاَ يَصُدَّنَّكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُبِينٌ وَلَمَّا جَاءَ عِيسَى بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالَ قَدْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَلأُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ بَعْضَ الَّذِي تَخْتَلِفُونَ فِيهِ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ رَبِّي وَرَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ هَذَا صِرَاطٌ مُسْتَقِيمٌ

He is knowledge of the hour, so do not doubt^MP it, and follow^MP me. This is a straight path. Do not let Satan block you. He is a clear enemy to you. When Isa brought miracles, he said, “I have come to you with wisdom, and to clarify to you your^MP differences, so fear^MP Allah and obey^MP me. Allah is my Lord and your^MP Lord, so worship^MP him. This is a straight path (Al-Zukhruf 43:61-64)

َمُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَلأُحِلَّ لَكُمْ بَعْضَ الَّذِي حُرِّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَجِئْتُكُمْ بِآَيَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ هَذَا صِرَاطٌ مُسْتَقِيمٌ

And [I am] a confirmer of the Tawrat that is in my possession, and [I came] to permit for you some of what was forbidden to you, and I have brought you a sign from your Lord, so fear Allah and obey me.Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship him. This is the straight path. (Aal Imran 3:50-51)

The Qur’an gives several necessary things to do in order to be on the straight path in these verses: follow God, fear God, obey Jesus, and worship God. Other prophets in the Qur’an tell people to obey them, but Jesus says for people to obey him in the context of the straight path.

The Bible has similar words to say about obeying Jesus and being on the right path.

λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Ἐγώ εἰµι ἡ ὁδὸς καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια καὶ ἡ ζωή· οὐδεὶς ἔρχεται πρὸς τὸν πατέρα εἰ µὴ δι’ ἐµοῦ.

Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

καὶ τελειωθεὶς ἐγένετο πᾶσιν τοῖς ὑπακούουσιν αὐτῷ αἴτιος σωτηρίας αἰωνίου,

and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him (Hebrews 5:9)

So obeying Jesus is connected with being on the right path.

Summary

We have seen that Jesus is extremely highly honored in the Qur’an and the Bible, and has many uniquenesses (those marked by #). The question still remains: Who exactly is Jesus? Let us examine this in the following chapters.