Comparative Theology · Common Ground
The only true God, and the one he sent
In short
- 1.Jesus (PBUH) addresses the Father as 'the only true God'.
- 2.He places himself in the category of the one sent.
- 3.This is the Islamic description of Jesus (PBUH) in his own words.
The claim being examined
In John 17:3 Jesus (PBUH) prays to the Father and distinguishes 'the only true God' from himself as the one sent.
The Islamic position
Islam holds Jesus (PBUH) to be a messenger sent by the one true God - which is precisely the distinction the verse draws.
Analysis
What makes this verse striking is where it sits. John is the Gospel with the highest view of Jesus (PBUH), and even here Jesus (PBUH) prays to someone else, calls that someone "the only true God", and describes himself as the one who was sent.
From the Qur'an
يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَا تَغْلُوا۟ فِى دِينِكُمْ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْحَقَّ ۚ إِنَّمَا ٱلْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُۥٓ أَلْقَىٰهَآ إِلَىٰ مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌۭ مِّنْهُ ۖ فَـَٔامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ ۖ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ ثَلَـٰثَةٌ ۚ ٱنتَهُوا۟ خَيْرًۭا لَّكُمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا ٱللَّهُ إِلَـٰهٌۭ وَٰحِدٌۭ ۖ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥٓ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُۥ وَلَدٌۭ ۘ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلًۭا
yāahla l-kitābi lā taghlū fī dīnikum walā taqūlū ʿalā l-lahi illā l-ḥaqa innamā l-masīḥu ʿīsā ub'nu maryama rasūlu l-lahi wakalimatuhu alqāhā ilā maryama warūḥun min'hu faāminū bil-lahi warusulihi walā taqūlū thalāthatun intahū khayran lakum innamā l-lahu ilāhun wāḥidun sub'ḥānahu an yakūna lahu waladun lahu mā fī l-samāwāti wamā fī l-arḍi wakafā bil-lahi wakīlan
The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was no more than a messenger of Allah.
From the Bible
hina ginoskosin se ton monon alethinon theon
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
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