Unity in Monotheism: Jesus as a Messenger in Christian and Islamic Scriptures

According to John 17, verse 3, and Surah 5, verse 116, of the Quran, Jesus testifies in this world and in the next that he was only a messenger for God and not a god himself. How is this argument articulated?

In John 17, verse 3, of the Bible, Jesus is quoted as saying, "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." This verse emphasizes that Jesus sees himself as a messenger sent by God rather than being God himself.

Similarly, in Surah 5, verse 116, of the Quran, it is mentioned that on the Day of Judgment, Allah will ask Jesus if he ever told people to worship him and his mother Mary as gods besides Allah. In response, Jesus denies ever making such a claim and testifies that he only instructed people to worship Allah alone.

This argument articulates the belief held by both Christians and Muslims that Jesus was a prophet or messenger of God rather than being divine himself. Both scriptures emphasize monotheism and reject the idea of associating partners with God. The verses highlight the importance of recognizing and worshipping only one true God.

The Jewish Perspective on the Belief in God Having a Son

In Judaism, how grave a sin is it to believe that the God of Abraham has a son?

Judaism is a monotheistic religion that believes in one God who is the creator and ruler of the universe. Judaism rejects the idea that God has a son or any other partner or equal. Judaism considers the belief that God has a son to be a form of idolatry, which is a grave sin and a violation of the first commandment.

According to Judaism, God does not have a physical body or human attributes. God is transcendent and incomparable. God does not need a son or any other intermediary to communicate with humanity. God speaks directly to the prophets and reveals His will through the Torah, the sacred scriptures of Judaism.

The term "son of God" is sometimes used in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) to refer to different groups or individuals who have a special relationship with God, such as Israel, the king, the angels, or the righteous. However, this term is not meant to imply any biological or metaphysical connection between God and His creatures. It is a metaphorical expression of love, favor, or covenant.

Judaism does not accept the Christian claim that Jesus is the son of God.

Therefore, to believe that God has a son is contrary to the core principles of Judaism and an offense to God's uniqueness and sovereignty. It is a serious sin that goes against the most fundamental belief of Judaism: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one" (Deuteronomy 6, verse 4).

Some believe the Hebrew Bible, as the word of God that upholds the oneness of God, cannot withstand the onslaught of the Trinitarian hermeneutics. After all, the Hebrew Bible becomes part of the Christian scriptures known as the Old Testament. The Quran, as the safeguard to protect the unity of God, comes into existence to challenge the doctrine of the Trinity that creeps into the Hebrew scriptures. How is this argument explained?

This is a complex and controversial topic that has been debated for centuries by scholars and theologians of different faiths.

The argument that the Quran challenges the doctrine of the Trinity that creeps into the Hebrew scriptures is based on the following premises:

The Hebrew Bible, as the word of God, upholds the oneness of God and does not contain any explicit or implicit indication of a triune Godhead. The concept of Trinity is a later development that emerged from the interaction of Jewish and Hellenistic thought in the early centuries of Christianity.

The Quran, as the final and complete revelation of God, confirms the oneness of God and rejects any form of association or partnership with Him. The Quran explicitly criticizes the Christian belief in the Trinity as a form of polytheism and deviation from the true monotheism of Abraham. The Quran also corrects some of the misconceptions that Christians have about Jesus and the Holy Spirit, such as their divine status or their role in the Trinity.

The Quran is the safeguard to protect the unity of God from any distortion or corruption that may have occurred in the previous scriptures, such as the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament. The Quran claims to be a confirmation and clarification of what was revealed before it, and a criterion to judge between truth and falsehood. The Quran also challenges the people of the Book (Jews and Christians) to produce evidence for their claims and to follow the original message of God that was revealed to their prophets.

Therefore, according to this argument, the Quran is superior to the Hebrew Bible in terms of preserving and presenting the pure monotheism of God, and it exposes and refutes the doctrine of the Trinity that creeps into the Hebrew scriptures through human interpretation and influence.

How does God depict His unity in the Book of Isaiah?

In the Book of Isaiah, God repeatedly emphasizes His oneness and uniqueness as the only true God. Here are some passages that highlight God's oneness:

1. Isaiah 44:6: "Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: 'I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.'"

2. Isaiah 45:5: "I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides me there is no god."

3. Isaiah 45:18: "For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): 'I am the Lord, there is and no other.'"

These verses, among others in the Book of Isaiah, affirm the absolute oneness of God and His exclusive divine authority. They reject the concept of multiple gods and assert that there is no deity besides Him. God's oneness is a central theme in Isaiah's teachings, emphasizing monotheism and the worship of the one true God.