Contradictory Statements in the Gospels

Concerning Jesus' Divinity

According to the verses quoted above, Muslims believe that Jesus not only will disavow any claim to divinity, but he will also assert that he never preached such a doctrine to his disciples when he was with them. Fortunately, the narrative of Jesus as reported in the "Four Gospels," thought considered unauthentic for the greater part by Muslims, still contains sufficient evidence to support this belief. The following few selected verses from the New Testament clearly show that Jesus does not claim divinity or identity with God: (Jesus says):

"I do nothing of myself." (John 14:28)

"My Father is greater than I." (John 14:2)

"The Lord our God is one Lord." (Mark 12:29)

"My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46)

"Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." (Luke 23:46)

"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." (Mark 13:32)

It is also written of Jesus:

"Behold my servant, whom I have chosen," (Matt. 12:18)

"God... glorified His servant, Jesus." (Acts 3:13)

"Thy holy servant Jesus whom Thou didst anoint as Messiah." (Acts 4:27)

(It might be noted that the N.T. Greek word here for "servant" is pais or paida, which corresponds to the Arabic ghulam:

"boy, son, servant, attendant." Further, the term "Father" as used by Jesus corresponds more closely to the Arabic term Rabb, i.e., one who nourishes and sustains, so that in Jesus" doctrine God is "Father" (Nourisher and Sustainer) of all men.)

These expressions, among others, confirm to a great extent the Islamic notion of Jesus, namely that he was a true servant and a messenger of God, and one of His humble creatures.

Christians and the Divinity of Jesus

Since the 4th century, Christian doctrine has been that Jesus is God, the second member of a "Trinity," and Catholics also believe in the divinity of Mary. However, from time to time there have arisen "heretics" in the Christian Church who refuted the doctrine of Jesus' divinity. For instance, Sale mentions that long before Prophet Muhammad was born, certain sects of Christians - the Corinthians, the Basilidians and the Carpocrations - believed that Jesus was not crucified, but that one of his followers, looking very much like him, was put on the cross. The Corinthians and Basilidians in addition asserted that Jesus was a mere man. The early Christians who did not accept Jesus as God were harshly suppressed by the Church hierarchy. Chadwick cities several instances of individuals who were burned alive for not accepting this doctrine. The last incident of this kind took place as recently as 1612 in England. At the present time Christian sects such as the Unitarians, Christadelphians and Jehovah's Witnesses reject the doctrines of the divinity of Jesus and Trinity.

Conclusion

To reiterate, the Qur'an asserts in the clearest terms that Jesus was a true servant and messenger (apostle) of God.

Muslims hold Jesus in the highest reverence. He was miraculously born of a virgin; he was endowed with the power to perform many miracles, and he was sent to preach the true worship of God and to announce the coming of Prophet Muhammad after him.