Comparative Theology · Textual History & Manuscripts
Historical Jesus Scholarship (Q Source & the Synoptic Problem)
In short
- 1.The historical Jesus was an **apocalyptic Jewish prophet** preaching the **Kingdom of God**, not his own deity.
- 2.The earliest layer (the **Q source** / sayings tradition) contains **no passion narrative**, **no vicarious atonement**, and **no incarnation**.
- 3.The high christology of **John** evolved late (**c. 90-110 CE**) and does not represent the historical speech of Jesus.
The claim being examined
The view that the canonical Gospels record Jesus proclaiming his own divinity in his own words.
The Islamic position
The earliest recoverable layer of Jesus material has no incarnation, no atonement, and no passion theology.
Analysis
The Synoptic Problem — Matthew and Luke's dependence on Mark plus a shared sayings source (Q) — shows christology developing over time: Mark's adoptive, prophetic Jesus, then Matthew and Luke's birth narratives, then John's pre-existent Logos. Development over decades is the mark of a growing tradition, not a fixed revelation.
From the Qur'an
Qur'an 5:117
مَا قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِلَّا مَا أَمَرْتَنِي بِهِ أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمْ
I said not to them except what You commanded me — to worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.
From the Bible
Mark 10:18
τί με λέγεις ἀγαθόν; οὐδεὶς ἀγαθὸς εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ θεός
Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
Read it in their BibleJohn 17:3
ἵνα γινώσκωσιν σὲ τὸν μόνον ἀληθινὸν θεὸν
That they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
Read it in their BibleSources
James Tabor · John Dominic Crossan · Dale Martin · Bart Ehrman
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