The Contemporary Muslim Jesus

By Dr. Tim Orr

I glean from Richard Schumack's book, Jesus Through Muslim Eyes in this post.

In an era where religious dialogue and understanding are more critical than ever, examining how faiths perceive shared figures can bridge gaps and foster mutual respect. Richard Shumack's insightful book, "Jesus Through Muslim Eyes," delves into the multifaceted portrayals of Jesus within Islamic thought, bringing forth intriguing perspectives that challenge conventional understandings. This blog explores the dynamic views of Jesus in Islam, mainly focusing on Mustafa Akyol's argument in his book "The Islamic Jesus: How the Prophet of Islam Became the King of the Jews" about the early split within Christianity between Jewish and Gentile traditions.

This blog explores Richard Shumack's discussion of the different representations of Jesus in Islamic thought, focusing on Mustafa Akyol's argument about the early split within Christianity between Jewish and Gentile traditions. Akyol suggests that the true Jesus aligns with Jewish Christianity, a monotheistic tradition led by James, which viewed Jesus as a non-divine prophet. This perspective parallels Islamic views of Jesus and offers the potential to explain Muslim devotion. However, historical and theological scrutiny is necessary to validate Akyol's claims and understand their implications for interfaith dialogue.

Introduction

In the premodern period of Islam, Muslims introduced three distinct representations of Jesus. First, we have the Qur'anic Jesus, who appears in Islam's most authoritative texts as a revered prophet born of the Virgin Mary. Second, there is the traditional Jesus, the son of Mary, who came to earth and will return for judgment. Third, the Sufi Jesus emerges from an eclectic sea of predominantly Christian oral traditions, modeling an ideal ascetic religious life. Different Muslim groups have embraced one or another of these representations to suit their purposes—apologists favoring the traditional Jesus for polemics. At the same time, mystics and interfaith advocates prefer the Sufi Jesus for his piety and commonalities with Christian devotion.

Over the years, these three depictions diverged significantly, with few attempts at reconciliation until recently. In 2017, Mustafa Akyol presented "The Islamic Jesus: How the King of the Jews Became a Prophet of the Muslims," introducing another perspective: the Jesus of Jewish Christianity. Akyol's claim, supported by controversial scholarship, suggests that Christianity, not Islam, has two Jesuses.

The Argument: A Split Between Jewish and Gentile Traditions

Akyol's argument hinges on the notion that very early in Christianity, a split emerged between Jewish and Gentile traditions. According to this theory, Jewish Christianity, led by James (the brother of Jesus) and based in Judea, was the original form of Christianity. This tradition was strictly monotheistic and viewed Jesus as a non-divine Messiah. In contrast, Gentile Christianity, centered in Rome and led by Paul, developed doctrines of the Trinity and a divine Jesus, which Akyol considers heretical innovations.

Core to Akyol’s theory is the idea that the true Jesus is the one portrayed in Jewish Christianity, as this version aligns more closely with previous Jewish scriptures. James and his followers saw Jesus not as the founder of a new religion but as the last great Jewish prophet, fulfilling and updating Judaism rather than creating a distinct Christian faith.

Jewish Christianity and Its Influence

Akyol argues that both Jewish and Gentile communities developed their gospels. Over time, the Gentile church's dominance led to the suppression or loss of Jewish Christian texts, with remnants surviving in the Bible, notably in the letter of James. This letter, Akyol claims, remains staunchly anti-Trinitarian, with later additions softening its stance on Jesus's divinity.

Despite the dominance of Gentile Christianity, Jewish Christian communities, such as the Ebionites, persisted in Judea and into Arabia. These communities rejected Paul's teachings, denied Jesus's divinity, and based their teachings on the now-lost "Gospel of the Hebrews."

Parallels Between Jewish Christianity and Islam

Akyol finds significant parallels between the Jesus of Jewish Christianity and the Muslim Jesus. He suggests that these similarities are so striking that they imply a shared religious figure. Supporting this view, scholars like Robert Eisenman note the congruence between James's emphasis on faith and works and Islamic teachings in the Qur'an and similarities in dietary laws (Eisenman, 1997).

Akyol believes that recognizing Yeshua, the Jewish Christian Jesus, as the Islamic Jesus can solve many Christological conundrums. For instance, the title of Messiah in Islam can be understood through a Jewish Christian lens, seeing Jesus as the last great Jewish prophet rather than God incarnate. This view aligns theologically with the Ebionite interpretation of the Last Supper, suggesting that the Qur'anic account of the ma’ida (table) is compatible with Jewish Christian traditions.

The Modern Jesus

Akyol's final argument is that accepting Yeshua as the Muslim Messiah removes theological obstacles for Muslims adopting Jesus’s ethical teachings for devotional purposes. This view could unify Christian and Muslim devotion, providing a historically and theologically robust figure for both faiths.

However, before fully embracing this theory, several important questions need to be addressed. First, we must verify the historical accuracy of Akyol's claims. Did Jewish Christianity exist as described? Did Gentile Christianity indeed abandon the historical Jesus? And did the Jewish Christian gospel bear any real relation to Islam?

Historical and Theological Scrutiny

Historical scrutiny casts doubt on Akyol's claims. While there were indeed diverse expressions of early Christianity, the idea of a stark split between Jewish and Gentile Christianity is overly simplistic. Early Christian communities were complex and interwoven, with significant theological diversity and shared core beliefs. The New Testament documents, including Paul's letters, reflect a consistent message about Jesus's divinity and resurrection (Ehrman, 2018).

Moreover, the available evidence does not support the notion that Gentile Christianity abandoned the historical Jesus. Paul's writings, often cited as foundational to Gentile Christianity, emphasize Jesus's Jewish identity and fulfillment of Jewish prophecy. The development of Christian doctrine, including the Trinity, was a gradual process rooted in the experiences and teachings of Jesus's earliest followers (Hurtado, 2017).

Furthermore, the claim that the Jewish Christian gospel bears a direct relation to Islam is speculative. The Ebionites, a Jewish Christian sect, are known primarily through the writings of their opponents, and their actual beliefs and practices remain somewhat obscure. The suggestion that their views closely align with Islamic teachings lacks substantial evidence and rests on tenuous historical connections (Tabor, 2006).

Christian Polemic

From a Christian perspective, Akyol's argument raises several theological and historical concerns that warrant critical examination. Central to Christian doctrine is the belief in Jesus Christ's divinity and God's Trinitarian nature, as affirmed in the Nicene Creed. Akyol's portrayal of Jewish Christianity as the original and more authentic version of Christianity that rejects these doctrines contradicts the core tenets of the mainstream Christian faith (Bauckham, 2018).

Christian scholars argue that the New Testament, including Paul's writings, provides a coherent and unified witness to Jesus's divinity. The early church councils, guided by the Holy Spirit, affirmed these truths in response to various heresies, including those that denied Jesus's divinity. The historical reliability of the New Testament documents and the consistent witness of early church fathers reinforce the orthodox Christian understanding of Jesus as both fully divine and fully human (Wright, 2012).

The claim that Gentile Christianity, led by Paul, diverged from the true teachings of Jesus oversimplifies the complex and multifaceted development of early Christian theology and practice. Paul's teachings were in harmony with the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, and they upheld the belief in Jesus's divinity and resurrection. The supposed split between Jewish and Gentile Christianity fails to recognize the theological continuity and development within early Christianity (Dunn, 2009).

Furthermore, Akyol's parallels between Jewish Christianity and Islam do not hold up under closer scrutiny. While ethical teachings may overlap, the foundational differences in Christology and the nature of God are profound. Jesus's role as the incarnate Son of God who offers salvation through his death and resurrection is a cornerstone of the Christian faith that cannot be reconciled with Islamic teachings (McGrath, 2011).

Akyol’s arguments rely heavily on speculative and controversial scholarship that often lacks support from mainstream historical and theological research. The suggestion that the Bible was corrupted to suppress Jewish Christian texts and teachings is a common claim among critics but lacks substantial evidence. Numerous scholars have defended and affirmed the integrity and historical reliability of the New Testament documents over the centuries (Metzger, 2005).

Conclusion

While Akyol's argument invites reconsideration of the connections between Jewish Christianity and Islam, it overlooks crucial historical and theological facts. Christianity's foundational beliefs in the divinity of Jesus and the Trinitarian nature of God remain integral and non-negotiable. The Christian faith, grounded in the historical Jesus and the apostles' teachings, provides a coherent and unified witness to the person and work of Jesus Christ, distinct from the portrayals found in other religious traditions.

References

Akyol, M. (2018). The Islamic Jesus: How the Prophet of Islam Became the King of the Jews.

Bauckham, R. (2018). Jesus: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press.

Dunn, J. D. G. (2009). Beginning from Jerusalem: Christianity in the Making. Eerdmans.

Ehrman, B. D. (2018). The Triumph of Christianity: How a Forbidden Religion Swept the World. Simon & Schuster.

Eisenman, R. (1997). James the Brother of Jesus: The Key to Unlocking the Secrets of Early Christianity and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Viking Penguin.

Hurtado, L. W. (2017). Destroyer of the Gods: Early Christian Distinctiveness in the Roman World. Baylor University Press.

McGrath, A. E. (2011). Christian Theology: An Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell.

Metzger, B. M. (2005). The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration. Oxford University Press.

Shumack, R. (2019). Jesus Through Muslim Eyes. InterVarsity Press.

Tabor, J. D. (2006). The Jesus Dynasty: The Hidden History of Jesus, His Royal Family, and the Birth of Christianity. Simon & Schuster.

Wright, N. T. (2012). How God Became King: The Forgotten Story of the Gospels. HarperOne.