Understanding Christianity and Islam - Part 1 (Is Jesus Just a Prophet?)

Is Jesus Just a Prophet?

 Introduction

“Who do you say that I am?” - Jesus (Matthew 16:15)

This question, first posed to the disciples of Jesus, remains one of the most important in all of human history,  and one of the most contested. Among Muslims, Jesus (Isa) is revered as a mighty prophet. Among Christians, He is worshipped as the Son of God, fully divine and fully human. How can the same figure be understood so differently? 

This post explores the Islamic and Christian views of Jesus respectfully, accurately, and truthfully, and why the answer to this question shapes the destiny of every person.

The Islamic View of Jesus

In Islamic belief, Jesus (‘Isa ibn Maryam) is deeply revered. Here’s how the Qur’an presents Him:

  • A Great Prophet: One of the five greatest prophets, along with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Muhammad.

  • Virgin Birth: Born miraculously of the Virgin Mary (Maryam) without a human father.

    • Surah 3:45-47; Surah 19:16-34

  • Messiah (Al-Masih): Given the title al-Masih, though not in the Christian sense of a divine Saviour.

    • Surah 4:171

  • A Word from God: Described as a "Word from Allah" (Kalimatullah), indicating a special status.

    • Surah 3:45

  • Performer of Miracles: Empowered by God to perform signs like healing the blind and the leper, and raising the dead.

    • Surah 3:49

  • Messenger to Israel: Sent specifically as a prophet to the Children of Israel.

    • Surah 3:49

  • Not Divine: Islam firmly denies any divine nature in Jesus. He is considered a human prophet and servant of God.

  • Not Crucified: According to the Qur’an, Jesus was not crucified but was raised to God, and someone else was made to appear in his place.

    • Surah 4:157–158

  • Future Return: Expected to return before the Day of Judgment to restore justice and defeat the false messiah (Dajjal).

In Islamic theology, the highest role Jesus can have is prophethood, not divine Sonship.

Jesus in Christianity: More Than a Prophet

Christianity, on the other hand, acknowledges Jesus as a prophet, but not only a prophet. He is also:

  • The eternal Son of God (John 1:1–14)

  • God in the flesh (Colossians 2:9)

  • The crucified and risen Savior (1 Corinthians 15:3–4)

  • The only mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5)

While Christianity and Islam agree that Jesus is significant, their foundational disagreement is on who Jesus truly is. For Christians, the identity of Jesus is not a theological side note, it is central to salvation itself (John 17:3; Acts 4:12).

Key Differences at a Glance

Belief

Christianity

Islam

Jesus’ identity

      Son of God, Divine

                   Prophet, Not Divine

Virgin Birth

      Yes

                    Yes

Crucifixion

     Yes, for the sins of the world

              No, only a likeness was crucified

Resurrection

      Yes, bodily and historical

                    No

Return of Jesus

       Yes, as King and Judge

                  Yes, as a prophet who defeats the Dajjal

Role in salvation

      The only way to God (John 14:6)

                    Not the Savior

Why This Matters

This is not merely a doctrinal debate; it impacts how we view:

  • God’s nature: Is God Triune or strictly one in person?

  • Salvation: Is it earned through works, or received by grace through faith in Jesus?

  • Scripture: Is the New Testament reliable, or superseded by later revelation?

The Christian conviction is that Jesus is God incarnate, and that his death and resurrection are the heart of the gospel, the good news for all people.

Did Jesus Claim to Be More Than a Prophet?

Yes. While he functioned as a prophet, Jesus also:

  • Forgave sins (Mark 2:5-7)

  • Claimed pre-existence (John 8:58)

  • Received worship (Matthew 14:33)

  • Uniquely called God his Father (John 5:17-18)

These claims about Jesus reflect more than the role of a messenger or prophet; they capture what His earliest followers understood and professed, that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9; Philippians 2:5-11).

Indeed, the Islamic and Christian perspectives on Jesus differ significantly. The Christian claim that Jesus is both fully God and fully man contrasts with the Islamic view of Him solely as a prophet. This difference invites thoughtful reflection and sincere inquiry: Which testimony about Jesus aligns most closely with historical and theological evidence, the New Testament accounts, rooted in eyewitness testimony, or the Qur’an, which was compiled several centuries later?

This is a profound and important question. For Christians, if Jesus is only a prophet, then the worship offered to Him would be misplaced. Conversely, if He truly is Lord, then recognizing and honoring Him is to embrace God’s ultimate revelation.

Scholarly Reflections

  • Historical Evidence: A broad consensus among scholars, including Bart Ehrman, John Dominic Crossan, and N.T. Wright, supports the historicity of Jesus’ crucifixion. The Qur’an’s denial of the crucifixion (Surah 4:157) presents a point of theological divergence.

  • Manuscript Reliability: The New Testament exists in thousands of ancient manuscripts with remarkable consistency. In contrast, Islamic tradition acknowledges that the Qur’an was standardized decades after Muhammad’s death, with some variant texts being destroyed (Sahih Bukhari).

  • Early Christology: The letters of Paul, written within a few decades of Jesus’ life, affirm His divine nature (Philippians 2:6-11), providing early evidence of the belief in Jesus’ deity.

Why This Matters

If Jesus were merely a prophet, we could admire His teachings and move on. But if He is the Son of God, then worship and submission to Him are fitting responses.

It is noteworthy that the earliest Christians, who were devout monotheists themselves, worshipped Jesus. This was not a casual or cultural development, but a conviction that He was more than a prophet; He was the promised Messiah, the Lord of Glory.

Jesus stands at the center of faith and life: He is either who He claimed to be the Lord or He is not a figure to follow with wholehearted devotion.

A prophet can point the way to God,
 But only the Son of God can say,
 “I AM the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

Want to go deeper on these truths?

Join my online community where I share more biblical insights, teaching notes, and resources to strengthen your faith. Let’s grow together in Christ!

Comments

Post a Comment

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Keep comments respectful and Christ-centred.

Popular posts from this blog

If Jesus Did Miracles, Why Don’t We See Them Everywhere Today?

Listen to this Article When we read the Gospels, we are struck by page after page of Jesus healing the sick, opening blind eyes, calming storms, and even raising the dead. For many, these are just fascinating stories of the past. But the question remains: do Jesus’ miracles still matter to us today? The answer is a resounding yes. They are not just records of ancient power; they are living signs of who Jesus is and what He continues to do in His Church and in our world. 1. Miracles Point to Jesus’ Identity The miracles were never mere spectacles. John calls them “signs” (John 20:30-31), meaning they pointed beyond themselves to Jesus’ true identity. As Creator: When Jesus multiplies bread, He is revealing Himself as the same God who fed Israel with manna. As Lord over creation: When He calms the sea, He is showing that the winds and waves recognize His voice. As God Incarnate: When He forgives sins and heals the paralytic (Mark 2:1-12), He demonstrates authority that...
Read more

Did Paul Really Mean Wives Must Submit?

Listen to this Article Few verses have been as hotly debated as Paul’s words in Ephesians 5:22-24 : “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” For some, these verses have been wielded like a club to enforce domination. For others, they have been softened into irrelevance. But what did Paul actually mean? These verses only make sense if we read them in the context of verse 21: “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Submission Flows From Mutuality The Greek text does not even repeat the verb “submit” in verse 22. Literally, it reads: “Wives, to your own husbands as to the Lord.” The verb is carried over from verse 21. That means the passage begins not with wives bowing to husbands, but with a mutual call to submission for a...
Read more

What Made Jesus’ View of Women So Radical?

Listen to this Article In first-century Middle Eastern society, women were often excluded from theological dialogue, religious instruction, and public leadership. Yet, Jesus consistently broke cultural barriers: The Samaritan Woman (John 4): Jesus engages her in the longest recorded theological conversation in the Gospels, revealing His messiahship first to her, not to His male disciples. Mary of Bethany (Luke 10:38-42): She takes the posture of a disciple at His feet, and Jesus affirms her right to learn, saying she has “chosen the good portion.” The Witnesses of the Resurrection (John 20:11-18): In a culture where a woman’s testimony was not considered legally valid, Jesus entrusts the news of His resurrection to women first. These are not accidental moments. They are deliberate signs that in the kingdom of God, the new creation, women are trusted bearers of truth and co-labourers in the gospel. Paul: Champion of the New Creation Ethos Paul is often misunderstood as ...
Read more