Comparative Theology · Internal Contradictions
The Last Words from the Cross
Handle with care. Some argue he said all three in sequence. Acknowledge that possibility, then point out that each Gospel presents its saying as the last, and the tone of each is incompatible with the others.
In short
- 1.Mark and Matthew: 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'
- 2.Luke: 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit'
- 3.John: 'It is finished'
- 4.A last word is by definition singular — these are three different endings
The claim being examined
Christian devotion treats the final saying of Jesus (PBUH) as a revealed word of God. The four Gospels record three mutually exclusive final utterances.
The Islamic position
The Qur'an presents Jesus (PBUH) as a servant honoured by God, never abandoned by Him (Q 19:30-33). A cry of forsakenness sits awkwardly with the doctrine of an incarnate God, and the sources cannot agree that it was said at all.
Analysis
Mark, the earliest Gospel, has Jesus (PBUH) cry out in Aramaic the opening line of Psalm 22, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Luke replaces it with a calm handing over of his spirit, borrowed from Psalm 31:5. John replaces it again with "It is finished", which fits John's picture of a Jesus (PBUH) fully in control. The direction of change is steady: the later the Gospel, the calmer the dying Jesus (PBUH). That is a story being reshaped, not four halves of one speech.
Side by side
| Mark | 15:34,37 | 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' … and he breathed his last. |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew | 27:46,50 | 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' … and yielded up his spirit. |
| Luke | 23:46 | 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.' Having said this, he breathed his last. |
| John | 19:30 | 'It is finished.' And he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. |
From the Qur'an
قَالَ إِنِّى عَبْدُ ٱللَّهِ ءَاتَىٰنِىَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَجَعَلَنِى نَبِيًّۭا وَجَعَلَنِى مُبَارَكًا أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُ وَأَوْصَـٰنِى بِٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَٱلزَّكَوٰةِ مَا دُمْتُ حَيًّۭا
qāla innī ʿabdu l-lahi ātāniya l-kitāba wajaʿalanī nabiyyan wajaʿalanī mubārakan ayna mā kuntu wa-awṣānī bil-ṣalati wal-zakati mā dum'tu ḥayyan
He said: Indeed I am the servant of God. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.
From the Bible
Πάτερ, εἰς χεῖράς σου παρατίθεμαι τὸ πνεῦμά μου
Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.
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