The Doctrine of the Divinity of Jesus Christ

Submitted by Fadi (Australia), Nov 16, 2006 at 06:42

Dear brother:

Thank you for your prompt reply. We shall proceed as follows:

Let's start on that then! The divinity of Jesus. You may begin your stance any time you wish. I want to see your perspective first if that's alright.

In my mid teens, I decided to become an agnostic. It took me twenty eight years to believe and have faith in God.

Before I decided to become a Muslim, I read and re-read many different versions of the Christian Bible as well as the Jewish scriptures.

I read the mainstream bibles as well as some of the offshoots, such as the Jehovah's Witness's version.

Coming to the topic at hand, I will not be using the Qur'an or any non mainstream Bibles for that matter. My case will not depend on these books since you do not believe in them.

The Qur'an says in Surah 2, verse 111 the following: [And they say, "None shall enter Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian." These are their own desires. Say (O Muhammad (pbuh), "Produce your proof if you are truthful."]

You have produced your proof, the Christian Bible. Based on my careful analysis of the same and not on the Qur'an or the Jehovah's Witness's (more on that soon **) book, I do not believe that Jesus Christ is God.

What do I believe then?

I believe, that Jesus was one of the mightiest messengers of God, that he was born miraculously-without any male intervention, that he gave life to the dead by God's permission, and that he healed those born blind and the lepers by God's permission. I affirm that no Muslim is a Muslim if he does not believe in Jesus (pbuh). Of course, I also believe in his return before the Day of Judgment.

In Surah 5, verse 82 of the Qur'an, we read: [Verily, you will find the strongest among men in enmity to the believers (Muslims) the Jews and those who are Al-Mushrikoon (idolaters, polytheists, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, pagans), and you will find nearest in love to the believers (Muslims) those who say: "We are Christians." That is because amongst them are priests and monks, and they are not proud (arrogant)].

** To serve their purpose I'm told by mainstream Christianity, the Jehovah's Witness's New World Translation of the bible change and omits few words in John1:1. Since they believe Jesus (pbuh) to be the Son of God rather than God Himself, they change the capital W in the "Word" to a small w and replace the last word of the verse "God" with "a god" instead.

However, to me as a Muslim who believes in the absolute Oneness of God, John 1:1 (left as is in the mainstream Bible) provides a major hurdle to the Oneness of God. You see if I was to understand it from a Christian point of view, than we have at least two Gods in the beginning. I will leave John 1:1 for you to explain and clarify and we'll make that our starting point if you would not mind.

If on the other hand you wish to put forward another verse or verses, I have no objection.

May God guide us all closer to the truth. Amen.

May God bless you and your family brother.

Fadi.

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