Jesus in the Koran is very different from the Jesus of the Gospels.
First of all, the Jesus of the Koran was not the son of God. The Koran says that God breathed into Mary, through the agency of Gabriel, and Jesus was conceived (21.90). Every Muslim believes firmly in Isa’s (Jesus’s) virgin birth. They believe that Jesus’s birth is miraculous. But they are taught that this does not constitute a father-son relationship. In Psalm 2.7 suggests that God says to His Messiah (Jesus) “I shall proclaim the decree, thou hast said unto me: Thou are my son, this day have I begotten thee.” Well, Christians interpret this to mean that Jesus is God’s begotten son. Muslim’s suggest that such a thing would be blashphemous, suggesting intercourse with a human, Mary.
Muslims also believe that Jesus was a mortal human and not God (4.171). This means that he was not divine, but it also means that Jesus was not pre-existent with God. The Gospel of John begins with these words: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John goes on to say that “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt with us.” To the Christian, this means that Jesus was pre-existent with God, but also that Jesus was God.
The Koran teaches that there is no trinity, and that Jesus is not God (4.171). There may be some denominations that do not accept the trinity, but Christianity is based on the divinity of Jesus.
The Koran tells many tales of Jesus that are not mentioned in the Gospels, but, conveniently enough, are mentioned in some of the gnostic gospels, which were written AFTER the Koran. One such tale is that the young Jesus made a bird out of clay and brought it to life.
The Koran teaches that Jesus did not die on the cross (4.157). Now, this is a keystone of all four Gospels and all the epistles, and those Old Testament prophesies which Christians relate to Jesus, especially from Isaiah. The Koran suggests that another was crucified in his place and made to appear like Jesus.
The Koran teaches that in many ways, Jesus is superior to Muhammad, but that Muhammad was the final prophet, and his message succeeds that of Jesus’ message. Jesus was born miraculously. Muhammad was not. Jesus was proclaimed as a prophet by events and others independent of him (for instance, John the Baptist and Zechariah). Muhammad had followers who believed him, as any successful teacher would, but no one proclaimed his advent, no event signaled his arrival, no one noted anything special about him until he received his first message in a cave. Jesus was strengthened by the Holy Spirit (2.253). Muhammad was not so strengthened. In fact, no one in the Koran ever receives such a blessing. Jesus was sinless and holy (2.19), whereas Muhammad required forgiveness for his sins in the past AND IN THE FUTURE (48.2). Jesus performed many miracles, including raising the dead to life. Muhammad performed no miracles during his life, except, by some traditions, he was allowed to fly through the air to Jerusalem. The Koran tells us that Jesus died and was raised to life (19.3). Muhammad died and was buried and was not raised.The Koran also teaches that Jesus was raised into heaven alive and resides with God there, again ALIVE (4.158). Again, Muhammad is dead and buried, and even he was unsure of his place after the judgment. The Koran teaches that Jesus is alive with God in paradise right now (3.55), but also that he is alive with his followers on earth, right now (4.158-159).
the Jesus of the Koran was remarkable and miraculous, special beyond anyone before or since. But he is not the Jesus of the Gospels.
First of all, the Jesus of the Koran was not the son of God. The Koran says that God breathed into Mary, through the agency of Gabriel, and Jesus was conceived (21.90). Every Muslim believes firmly in Isa’s (Jesus’s) virgin birth. They believe that Jesus’s birth is miraculous. But they are taught that this does not constitute a father-son relationship. In Psalm 2.7 suggests that God says to His Messiah (Jesus) “I shall proclaim the decree, thou hast said unto me: Thou are my son, this day have I begotten thee.” Well, Christians interpret this to mean that Jesus is God’s begotten son. Muslim’s suggest that such a thing would be blashphemous, suggesting intercourse with a human, Mary.
Muslims also believe that Jesus was a mortal human and not God (4.171). This means that he was not divine, but it also means that Jesus was not pre-existent with God. The Gospel of John begins with these words: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John goes on to say that “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt with us.” To the Christian, this means that Jesus was pre-existent with God, but also that Jesus was God.
The Koran teaches that there is no trinity, and that Jesus is not God (4.171). There may be some denominations that do not accept the trinity, but Christianity is based on the divinity of Jesus.
The Koran tells many tales of Jesus that are not mentioned in the Gospels, but, conveniently enough, are mentioned in some of the gnostic gospels, which were written AFTER the Koran. One such tale is that the young Jesus made a bird out of clay and brought it to life.
The Koran teaches that Jesus did not die on the cross (4.157). Now, this is a keystone of all four Gospels and all the epistles, and those Old Testament prophesies which Christians relate to Jesus, especially from Isaiah. The Koran suggests that another was crucified in his place and made to appear like Jesus.
The Koran teaches that in many ways, Jesus is superior to Muhammad, but that Muhammad was the final prophet, and his message succeeds that of Jesus’ message. Jesus was born miraculously. Muhammad was not. Jesus was proclaimed as a prophet by events and others independent of him (for instance, John the Baptist and Zechariah). Muhammad had followers who believed him, as any successful teacher would, but no one proclaimed his advent, no event signaled his arrival, no one noted anything special about him until he received his first message in a cave. Jesus was strengthened by the Holy Spirit (2.253). Muhammad was not so strengthened. In fact, no one in the Koran ever receives such a blessing. Jesus was sinless and holy (2.19), whereas Muhammad required forgiveness for his sins in the past AND IN THE FUTURE (48.2). Jesus performed many miracles, including raising the dead to life. Muhammad performed no miracles during his life, except, by some traditions, he was allowed to fly through the air to Jerusalem. The Koran tells us that Jesus died and was raised to life (19.3). Muhammad died and was buried and was not raised.The Koran also teaches that Jesus was raised into heaven alive and resides with God there, again ALIVE (4.158). Again, Muhammad is dead and buried, and even he was unsure of his place after the judgment. The Koran teaches that Jesus is alive with God in paradise right now (3.55), but also that he is alive with his followers on earth, right now (4.158-159).
the Jesus of the Koran was remarkable and miraculous, special beyond anyone before or since. But he is not the Jesus of the Gospels.
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