Jesus as the Son of God

Christian and Mustafa discuss the ways that the Bible and the Quran understand what it means Jesus is the Son of God.

Christian: Hey Mustafa, how was your weekend, you were going away for a Quran camp weren’t you? How did it go?
Mustafa: Hi Christian, it was really good. We learned about the life of the prophet Muhammed, what he said and did.
Christian: That’s interesting, at church this weekend, we had a really good sermon all about Jesus, all about him being the Son of God.
Mustafa: I’ve never really understood why Christians call Jesus the Son of God. In the Quran it says that Allah has no associates (Quran 4.48, Quran 4.116, Quran 23.91), and that Jesus is no more than a messenger (Quran 3.5, Quran 5.75, Quran 4.171). Although he is a really important prophet to us. He must be really special as he was born from the virgin Mary (Quran 19.16-21, Quran 19.34-35).
Quran 4:48

Lo! Allah forgiveth not that a partner should be ascribed unto Him. He forgiveth (all) save that to whom He will. Whoso ascribeth partners to Allah, he hath indeed invented a tremendous sin.

Quran 4:116

Lo! Allah pardoneth not that partners should be ascribed unto Him. He pardoneth all save that to whom He will. Whoso ascribeth partners unto Allah hath wandered far astray.

Quran 23:91

Allah hath not chosen any son, nor is there any god along with Him; else would each god have assuredly championed that which he created, and some of them would assuredly have overcome others. Glorified be Allah above all that they allege.

Quran 3:5

Lo! nothing in the earth or in the heavens is hidden from Allah.

Quran 5:75

The Messiah, son of Mary, was no other than a messenger, messengers (the like of whom) had passed away before him. And his mother was a saintly woman. And they both used to eat (earthly) food. See how We make the revelations clear for them, and see how they are turned away!

Quran 4:171

O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and say not "Three" - Cease! (it is) better for you! - Allah is only One Allah. Far is it removed from His Transcendent Majesty that He should have… read full verse

Quran 19:16-21

And make mention of Mary in the Scripture, when she had withdrawn from her people to a chamber looking East, And had chosen seclusion from them. Then We sent unto her Our Spirit and it assumed for her the likeness of a perfect man. She said: Lo! I seek refuge in the Beneficent One from thee, if thou art Allah-fearing. He said: I am only a messenger of thy Lord, that I may bestow on thee a faultless son. She… read full verse

Quran 19:34-35

Such was Jesus, son of Mary: (this is) a statement of the truth concerning which they doubt. It befitteth not (the Majesty of) Allah that He should take unto Himself a son. Glory be to Him! When He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! and it is.

Christian: What do you think it means that Jesus is the Son of God?
Mustafa: Well, if Jesus is a Son, and God is his father, who is his wife? (Quran 6.101) The Bible says that it is Mary, right?
Quran 6:101

The Originator of the heavens and the earth! How can He have a child, when there is for Him no consort, when He created all things and is Aware of all things?

Christian: Actually, that’s not what Son of God means. In fact, I was looking at some verses from the Quran the other day and noticed that the Quran says Christians believe that the trinity is Father, Son and Mary (Quran 5.116). No true Christian has ever believed that. The term Son of God tells us about Jesus’ spiritual identity. The Bible says that although Jesus is fully human (Matthew 1:21), he is also fully God as well (John 1:1-2, Colossians 2:9). As God, he has the same honour and authority as his Father in heaven (John 5:23, Matthew 28:18).
Quran 5:116

And when Allah saith: O Jesus, son of Mary! Didst thou say unto mankind: Take me and my mother for two gods beside Allah? he saith: Be glorified! It was not mine to utter that to which I had no right. If I used to say it, then Thou knewest it. Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I know not what is in Thy Mind. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Knower of Things Hidden?

Matthew 1:21

She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”

John 1:1-2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.

Colossians 2:9

For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily,

John 5:23

that all may honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He who doesn’t honour the Son doesn’t honour the Father who sent him.

Matthew 28:18

Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

Mustafa: But, one of our imam teachers, said that nowhere in the Bible does Jesus say, “I am God, worship me.” How would you answer that?
Christian: Actually, the Incil clearly teaches that Jesus is God. Like in John 1:1, or in Philippians 2 where it says that Jesus was “in fully nature God”.
John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Philippians 2

If therefore there is any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion, make my joy full by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. Have… read full verse

Mustafa: Yes, but that is someone else talking about Jesus. Where did Jesus himself say it?
Christian: Actually, Jesus could have said it, but I think he wanted to be absolutely clear that the Jewish people of the day knew for sure what he was claiming. When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, he told Moses his special name (Exodus 3:14). He said he was called “I AM”. In other words he is who he is and no one is compared with him. When Jesus was talking with the Jewish leaders of the day, he said, before Abraham existed, “I AM”. He was claiming to be God (John 5:58).
Exodus 3:14

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

Mustafa: But did they worship him?
Christian: No, actually they tried to stone him to death because they thought he was speaking blasphemy! They knew exactly what he was claiming!!
Mustafa: I didn’t know that!
Christian: God has many titles in the Bible, in fact I was reading recently that in the Bible God has over 950 names and titles!!
Mustafa: Really? We only know 99 names of God. For example, he is Merciful, compassionate and powerful. He is even called the “First and the Last” to show he is eternal (Quran 57.3).
Quran 57:3

He is the First and the Last, and the Outward and the Inward; and He is Knower of all things.

Christian: Wait, did you just say “First and Last”?
Mustafa: Yes, they are 2 of the 99 names of Allah in the Quran.
Christian: That is amazing. Let me read you a verse from the book of Revelation: “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:12-13 – Can you see now why we say Jesus is the Son of God?
Revelation 22:12-13

“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Mustafa: That is really interesting… Could you get me an Injeel to read? Don’t tell anyone though as my family would get angry….