Is Jesus the son of God? Biblical, Quranic and logical analysis

By Shais

1. Introduction

2. Biblical analysis

3. Quranic analysis

4. Logical Analysis

5. Conclusion

1. Introduction

In this article, we shall be examining one of the claims made by our Christian brethren about Jesus Christ (pbuh). As many of you might know that we Muslims believe in Jesus Christ (pbuh).

We believe that he was one of the mightiest messengers of Almighty God. We believe that he was born miraculously without any male intervention which many modern day Christians do not believe. We believe that he was the “messiah” Translated “Christ”. We believe that he gave life to the dead with God’s permission and we believe that he healed those born blind and lepers by God’s permission. He and his Mother Mary (Pbuh) hold honorable position in the house of Islam. Read this article to know his and his mother’s honorable position in Islam.

http://lastprophetofgod.blogspot.com/2007/12/honorable-position-of-jesus-christ-and.html

This claim of the Christians that Jesus is the son of God is also a dividing point between the Muslims and the Christians. So let us discuss this very important issue in the light of the Quran & The Bible and using our human logic.

2. Biblical Analysis

According to the bible, God has got sons by tons. It’s mentioned in the bible:

“That the sons of God saw the daughters of men……” (Genesis 6:2)

“……when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men….”(Genesis 6:4)

“……Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:” (Exodus 4:22)

“…....for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.” (Jeremiah 31:9)

“……..which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.” (Luke 3:38)

“ I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day

have I begotten thee.” (Psalms 2:7)

God also says to David

“²⁶ He will call out to me, 'You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.' ²⁷ I will also appoint him my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. (Psalms 89:26-27)

So we can see that from the above quoted verses that in the idiom of the Jews. Every Righteous person is the son of God.

But the Christians say “Jesus is the begotten son of God”. In the catechism of the church it says

“Jesus is the only begotten son, begotten not made”

The common verse quoted to show the difference between Jesus and other “sons” of God is

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (KJV, John 3:16)

King James Version goes to the ancient manuscripts. But if we read the RSV (Revised Standard Version), revised by thirty-two scholars of the highest eminence backed by fifty cooperating denominations. They say:

“Yet the King James Version has grave defects. By the middle of the nineteenth century, the development of Biblical studies and the discovery of many manuscripts more ancient than those upon which the King James Version was based, made it manifest that these defects are so many and so serious as to call for revision of the English translation” (Preface RSV)

And in the RSV this blasphemous word “begotten” has been expunged as a fabrication, as an interpolation. This is how the verse reads in RSV.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (RSV, John 3:16)

This word “begotten” is not there in the most ancient manuscripts. Its not there even in some other versions like NIV and Good News Bible.

“Son of God” only means a righteous servant of God, a peacemaker, the one who obeys God, the one who is led by the spirit of God. Who says so? Jesus says so

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” (Mathew 5:9)

^“9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. (Mathew 5:9, NIV)

Paul testifies the same thing.

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14)

See what John (the supposed author of the fourth gospel writes)

¹²Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12-13)

“Son of God” does not prove anything. It only means a righteous servant of God as Jesus (pbuh) and Paul both testify.

It is the term, which was frequently used in Semitic languages like Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic etc, but Alhumdulillah we have dropped this term in Arabic because of the misunderstanding that was created.

3. Quranic Analysis

As we saw above, the Bible doesn’t agree that Jesus is the begotten son of God as the Christians claim. Every righteous Person is the son of God according to the Bible.

The Holy Qur’an condemns the idea of God begetting a son because begetting is an animal act which belongs to the lower animal functions of sex and we are not to attribute such a quality to God, who is our creator.

“He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;” (Quran 112:3)

Furthermore the Holy Quran condemns this idea of God begetting a son in very strong terms.

“They say: "((Allah)) Most Gracious has begotten a son!”

“Indeed ye have put forth a thing most monstrous!”

“At it the skies are ready to burst, the earth to split asunder, and the mountains to fall down in utter ruin,”

“That they should invoke a son for (Allah) Most Gracious.”

“For it is not consonant with the majesty of (Allah) Most Gracious that He should beget a son.” (Quran 19:88-92)

God is all powerful and supreme. He alone is sufficient and its not consonant with the majesty of Almighty God to have any son.

4. Logical Analysis

Now lets logically analyze this claim of God begetting a son.

We Muslims and Christians both believe that God is the Greatest. He is the maker of this universe so it is understood that he is greater than that. As Muslims we believe that this entire universe compared to the throne of Almighty God is just like a ring which is thrown in a desert.

"If the seven heavens and the seven earths were flattened and laid side by side, they would add up to the size of a ring in a desert, compared to the Kursi"
Ibn Abi Hatim 3:981

(Read tafsir of Ibn-e-Kathir of this verse)

In other words, this whole universe is just a speck in God’s Kingdom. The world we live in is like a speck in this entire universe which has billions of galaxies etc. A human being is too like a speck compared to this world.

Now imagine, God’s son is a speck in a speck in a speck. Now just imagine, how tiny is a human being compared to the throne and kingdom of God. Now imagine, God’s son is a speck in a speck in a speck. How absurd can it get?

How can the maker of this universe who is self-sufficient beget any son?

5. Conclusion

As we saw above that Biblically, Quranically and logically speaking Jesus is not the son of God as Christians claim to be. Its absolutely blasphemous to say that God begot a son. Jesus Christ (pbuh) was indeed the Messiah and a True Prophet of Almighty God. The Quran says

“And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said: "O Children of Israel! I am the apostle of Allah (sent) to you, confirming the Law (which came) before me, and giving Glad Tidings of an Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad." But when he came to them with Clear Signs, they said, "this is evident sorcery!" (Quran 61:6)