Jesus Christ is one of the most significant and debated figures in religious history. While both Christianity and Islam recognize Him as an important figure, their perspectives on His identity and purpose are vastly different.
By Dr. Tim Orr
Jesus Christ is one of the most significant and debated figures in religious history. While both Christianity and Islam recognize Him as an important figure, their perspectives on His identity and purpose are vastly different. The book of Hebrews, particularly Hebrews 3:1-7, paints a picture of Jesus as superior to Moses and as the Son of God, whereas Islamic theology sees Jesus—known as Isa—as just another prophet in a long line of messengers leading up to Muhammad. These perspectives do not merely diverge; they directly contradict each other. To understand this contrast, we must delve into how Hebrews presents Jesus, how Islam perceives Him, and why Christianity ultimately rejects the Islamic perspective.
In Hebrews 3:1-7, the writer encourages believers to consider Jesus as both the Apostle and High Priest of their faith. The passage states:
"Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory." (Hebrews 3:1-6, NIV)
This passage highlights some key differences between Jesus and Moses. First, Jesus is identified as both an Apostle and a High Priest, indicating that His mission was divinely appointed and that He mediates between God and humanity. Second, the text explicitly states that Jesus is greater than Moses, likening Jesus to the builder of a house while Moses is merely a servant within that house. Finally, Jesus is referred to as the Son over God’s house, whereas Moses is only a faithful servant. This distinction is crucial because it emphasizes Jesus’ divine status, setting Him apart from all previous prophets.
To put it in perspective, imagine a family business. Moses is like a loyal employee who has served diligently for years, while Jesus is the owner’s son, not just another worker but the heir. That makes all the difference in how we understand Jesus’ authority and role in God’s plan.
In contrast, Islam teaches a very different narrative about Jesus. According to the Quran, Jesus is one of the greatest prophets, but He is not divine, nor is He the Son of God. The Quran states:
"The Messiah, son of Mary, was not but a messenger; [other] messengers have passed on before him." (Quran 5:75)
This verse establishes Jesus as merely a messenger in a line of prophets. Islam considers Moses and Jesus as part of a prophetic tradition that ultimately leads to Muhammad, who is seen as the final prophet (Quran 33:40). Unlike Christianity, which asserts Jesus' superiority over Moses, Islam views them as equal in status, both being faithful messengers who conveyed God's message to their respective people. They are both revered but ultimately subordinate to God's final messenger, Muhammad.
Additionally, the Quran explicitly denies the divinity of Jesus. It states:
"It is not for Allah to take a son; exalted is He! When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is." (Quran 19:35)
For Muslims, the idea of God having a Son is blasphemous. They believe that Jesus, while born of the Virgin Mary and capable of performing miracles, was purely human. Some Islamic traditions even suggest that Jesus foretold the coming of Muhammad, as stated in the Quran:
"And [mention] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, 'O children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad.'" (Quran 61:6)
This claim directly contradicts Christian teaching, which holds that Jesus came to fulfill God’s plan of salvation rather than to point to another prophet.
Christianity fundamentally disagrees with Islam’s view of Jesus. The New Testament repeatedly affirms that Jesus is the divine Son of God and the final revelation of God’s plan. Hebrews 1:1-2 makes this clear:
"In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe."
This passage contradicts the Islamic belief that Muhammad is the final messenger. Christianity holds that Jesus, not Muhammad, is the ultimate revelation of God. Additionally, Christian doctrine centers on Jesus' death and resurrection as the means of salvation (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), whereas Islam denies that Jesus was crucified at all (Quran 4:157). This denial further separates the two faiths, as the resurrection is the cornerstone of Christian belief.
To illustrate this, consider a relay race. Islam sees Jesus as simply one runner passing the baton to Muhammad, who finishes the race. Christianity, however, sees Jesus as the one who crosses the finish line Himself, declaring that the work of salvation is complete (John 19:30). There is no one after Him because He has already accomplished the mission.
Hebrews 3:1-7 presents Jesus as far superior to Moses, emphasizing His divine status and His role as the Son over God’s house. In stark contrast, Islam views Jesus and Moses as equal in status, ultimately pointing to Muhammad as the final and greatest prophet. These two perspectives are not just different—they are completely irreconcilable. Christianity upholds Jesus as God’s final revelation and the means of salvation, while Islam positions Him as a forerunner to Muhammad. In the end, the Christian view of Jesus is rooted in His divinity, His role in salvation, and His ultimate authority, all of which contradict Islamic teachings.
Holy Bible, New International Version. (2011). Zondervan.
The Quran. (n.d.). Translated by Saheeh International.
Tim Orr is a scholar of Islam, Evangelical minister, conference speaker, and interfaith consultant with over 30 years of experience in cross-cultural ministry. He holds six degrees, including a master’s in Islamic studies from the Islamic College in London. Tim taught Religious Studies for 15 years at Indiana University Columbus and is now a Congregations and Polarization Project research associate at the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture at Indiana University Indianapolis. He has spoken at universities, including Oxford University, Imperial College London, the University of Tehran, Islamic College London, and mosques throughout the U.K. His research focuses on American Evangelicalism, Islamic antisemitism, and Islamic feminism, and he has published widely, including articles in Islamic peer-reviewed journals and three books.