Defending the Deity of Christ: A Polemical Response to Islamic Arguments Using Robert M. Bowman Jr.'s "Putting Jesus in His Place"

By Dr. Tim Orr

Introduction

The debate over the deity of Jesus Christ is a central point of contention between Christianity and Islam. Christians believe that Jesus is God incarnate, a foundational doctrine of their faith. In contrast, Islam views Jesus as a prophet, denying his divine nature. Robert M. Bowman Jr.'s book, "Putting Jesus in His Place: The Case for the Deity of Christ," provides a comprehensive defense of the Christian position. This essay will polemically address the Islamic arguments against the deity of Christ, using Bowman’s work as a primary resource and incorporating scholarly arguments from top scholars in the field.

Overview of Islamic Argument Against the Deity of Christ

Islam reveres Jesus as one of the greatest prophets but firmly denies his divinity. According to Islamic teachings, Jesus (Isa in Arabic) was a human being created by God, who performed miracles by God's permission. The Qur'an explicitly denies the crucifixion and resurrection, key events in Christian theology that affirm Jesus' divine nature. Key Islamic arguments against Jesus' deity include:

1. Monotheism (Tawhid): The oneness of God is a core tenet of Islam. The concept of the Trinity is seen as a violation of this principle (Esposito, 2002).
2. Scriptural Integrity: Muslims believe that the Bible has been corrupted over time, and thus the portrayal of Jesus in the New Testament is not reliable (Saeed, 2006).
3. Prophetic Tradition: Islamic tradition holds that all prophets, including Jesus, were human and not divine (Nasr, 2015).

The Case for the Deity of Christ

Bowman employs the HANDS acronym to systematically present the case for Jesus' deity:

• H: Honors - Jesus receives worship and honors due only to God. Examples include worship by the disciples (Matthew 28:17) and the application of Old Testament passages about Yahweh to Jesus (Philippians 2:10-11) (Bowman & Komoszewski, 2007).
• A: Attributes - Jesus possesses attributes unique to God, such as omnipresence (Matthew 28:20), omniscience (John 16:30), and omnipotence (Matthew 28:18) (Bowman & Komoszewski, 2007).
• N: Names - Jesus is given names and titles that identify him as God, including "God" (John 1:1, 20:28) and "Lord" (Romans 10:9-13) (Bowman & Komoszewski, 2007).
• D: Deeds - Jesus performs deeds that only God can do, such as forgiving sins (Mark 2:5-7), raising the dead (John 11:43-44), and creating (John 1:3) (Bowman & Komoszewski, 2007).
• S: Seat - Jesus is seated on God's throne, sharing in God's rule over all creation (Hebrews 1:3, Revelation 22:1) (Bowman & Komoszewski, 2007).

Addressing Islamic Arguments with HANDS

Using the HANDS framework, we can address the Islamic arguments against the deity of Christ:

• Honors: While Islam acknowledges Jesus as a revered prophet, it does not ascribe to him the divine honors seen in Christian scripture. Jesus' acceptance of worship and honor as God challenges the Islamic view of a purely human prophet. This point is further supported by N.T. Wright, who argues that the early Christian practice of worshiping Jesus was a direct recognition of his divine status (Wright, 2003).
• Attributes: The attributes of omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence are clearly ascribed to Jesus in the New Testament. These attributes are incompatible with the Islamic portrayal of Jesus as merely a human prophet. Richard Bauckham emphasizes that the divine attributes ascribed to Jesus align with Jewish monotheistic beliefs about God, thus affirming Jesus’ divinity (Bauckham, 2008).
• Names: The divine names and titles given to Jesus in Christian texts (e.g., "God" and "Lord") directly counter the Islamic argument that Jesus never claimed divinity. The significance of these names is underscored by their usage in contexts that affirm Jesus' divine status. Larry Hurtado highlights how early Christians used these titles to express their belief in Jesus' divine identity (Hurtado, 2003).
• Deeds: Jesus' miracles, such as raising the dead and forgiving sins, are acknowledged in Islam but attributed to God's power working through him. However, the New Testament presents these deeds as intrinsic to Jesus' divine nature, a point reinforced by his authority to forgive sins. Craig Blomberg notes that Jesus’ miracles were seen as signs of his divine authority, distinguishing him from other prophets (Blomberg, 2009).
• Seat: The depiction of Jesus seated at the right hand of God, sharing in divine rule, emphasizes his co-equality with God. This theological position is in direct opposition to the Islamic view that Jesus is a servant of God without any share in divinity. Richard Bauckham discusses how Jesus’ enthronement is a clear indication of his divine status within early Christian belief (Bauckham, 2008).

Scholarly and Historical Evidence Supporting the Deity of Christ

Historical evidence and scholarly research provide substantial support for the deity of Christ:

• Early Christian Writings: The writings of the early Church Fathers, such as Ignatius of Antioch and Justin Martyr, consistently affirm Jesus' divinity. These writings predate the formation of the New Testament canon and reflect the early Christian belief in Jesus as God. Ignatius, in his letters, refers to Jesus as “our God” (Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Ephesians, 7:2), indicating a high Christology from an early period (Stevenson, 2012).
• New Testament Texts: Critical scholarship on the New Testament demonstrates that the belief in Jesus' divinity is rooted in the earliest Christian communities. Passages such as John 1:1-14 and Philippians 2:5-11 articulate a high Christology that identifies Jesus with God. James D.G. Dunn argues that the early Christian confession of Jesus as Lord reflects an early and high Christological understanding (Dunn, 1980).
• Counter-arguments to Islamic Claims: Islamic scholars argue that the New Testament has been corrupted, yet textual criticism shows remarkable consistency in the transmission of these texts. Manuscript evidence supports the reliability of the New Testament’s portrayal of Jesus. Bruce Metzger’s work on the textual reliability of the New Testament highlights the robust preservation and minimal doctrinal alterations in the manuscripts (Metzger, 2005).

Theological Implications and Conclusion

The theological implications of the deity of Christ are profound for both Christianity and Islam:

• Christianity: The divinity of Jesus is central to Christian theology. It underpins doctrines such as the Trinity, the Incarnation, and Atonement. Without the deity of Christ, these core beliefs collapse. Alister McGrath notes that the deity of Christ is essential for understanding the Christian doctrine of salvation, as it requires a divine savior (McGrath, 2007).
• Islam: Accepting the deity of Christ would fundamentally alter Islamic theology, which is built on the absolute oneness of God (Tawhid). It would challenge the prophethood of Muhammad and the authenticity of the Qur'an. Seyyed Hossein Nasr acknowledges that the Islamic understanding of Jesus is deeply intertwined with the rejection of his divinity to maintain the concept of Tawhid (Nasr, 2015).

Conclusion

The debate over the deity of Christ is more than an academic exercise; it touches the heart of both Christian and Islamic faiths. "Putting Jesus in His Place" by Robert M. Bowman Jr. provides a robust defense of Jesus' divinity, effectively countering Islamic arguments. By examining the honors, attributes, names, deeds, and seat of Jesus, we can see a compelling case for his deity. This discussion not only reinforces Christian beliefs but also invites deeper interfaith dialogue on one of the most significant theological questions of all time.

References

• Bauckham, R. (2008). Jesus and the God of Israel: God Crucified and Other Studies on the New Testament’s Christology of Divine Identity. Eerdmans.
• Blomberg, C. (2009). The Historical Reliability of the Gospels. IVP Academic.
• Bowman, R. M., & Komoszewski, J. E. (2007). Putting Jesus in His Place: The Case for the Deity of Christ. Kregel Publications.
• Dunn, J. D. G. (1980). Christology in the Making: A New Testament Inquiry into the Origins of the Doctrine of the Incarnation. SCM Press.
• Esposito, J. L. (2002). What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam. Oxford University Press.
• Hurtado, L. (2003). Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christianity. Eerdmans.
• McGrath, A. E. (2007). Christian Theology: An Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell.
• Metzger, B. M. (2005). The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration. Oxford University Press.
• Nasr, S. H. (2015). The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary.

The ideas in this blog are mine, but AI was used to help create the content.