The Qur'an in Context by Anderson Mark Robert;

Author:Anderson, Mark Robert; [Anderson, Mark Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Published: 2016-02-26T16:00:00+00:00

Conclusion

The Qur’an is silent on the biblical topic of God’s self-revelation in Christ. However, its consistent aversion to divine self-revelation tells us it would have patently opposed it. But again, it rejects biblical Christology through a combination of serious and satirical arguments. To discern in the Qur’an’s polemical arguments concerning Jesus the beliefs of such marginal Christian sects as the Nazoreans, Collyridians or Patripassians entirely misses the point: rather, the Qur’an attacks only mainstream Christian belief. However, it often does so through parody, by which it reduces Christianity to an imported version of the domestic paganism the Hijaz already had in excess, but this version masquerading as monotheism (!). This explains the Qur’an’s apparent inclusion of Mary in the Trinity (Q 5:116). Some Christians in Arabia venerated Mary as the “Mother of God,” which resembled the pagan concept of the family of the gods sufficiently—albeit superficially—so that the qur’anic author could not resist recasting the Trinity in such terms.34 Tragically, though, the one thing the qur’anic author never once does is seriously engage with the biblical idea—an idea he seems unwilling even to consider—that God came to earth in the person of his Son for the set purpose of taking his rightful place as king over his creation.

Hence, when we compare Jesus’ origins and person in the Qur’an and Bible, we see some important similarities but radical differences also. The Qur’an clearly means to honor Jesus as a prophet and messenger. Accordingly, it emphasizes his virgin birth, moral character and miracles. However, it means to reform not just paganism but clearly Judaism and Christianity also. Its purpose in presenting Jesus as it does is therefore radically different from that of the New Testament. The Qur’an’s purpose is ultimately to establish Jesus’ unqualified endorsement of Muhammad’s prophethood. And that explains its exclusion of anything from the biblical presentation of Jesus that would in any way undermine Muhammad’s supremacy. Anything threatening that must be either avoided, altered or emptied of meaning.

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