By Dr. Maxwell Shimba | Shimba Theological Institute
Abstract
This article offers a critical and comparative theological examination of the divinity of Jesus Christ in both Christianity and Islam. While the Bible explicitly affirms Jesus as divine, eternal, and sovereign, the Quran presents a differing view, denying the deity of Christ and affirming strict monotheism through the person of Allah. This study seeks to explore, from a scholarly perspective, what each of these two Abrahamic faiths teaches concerning the identity of Jesus and the nature of God, using authoritative texts—the Bible and the Quran—as the primary sources of analysis.
Introduction
The question "Is Jesus God?" remains one of the most defining and debated theological inquiries in human history. The answer to this question divides the world's two largest religions—Christianity and Islam. Christianity holds that Jesus is the divine Son of God, the second Person of the Trinity, eternally existing with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Islam, on the other hand, maintains that Jesus (Isa) is a revered prophet, but categorically denies His divinity, asserting that Allah alone is God.
This article explores how each faith constructs its understanding of divinity and attributes such as eternity, omnipotence, and finality, focusing especially on the titles given to God and Jesus in their respective scriptures.
The Eternity of God and Christ: A Comparative View
In the Quran, Allah is referred to by 99 beautiful names (Asma al-Husna) that describe His nature and attributes. Two of these names are especially relevant to our discussion:
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Al-Awwal (ٱلْأَوَّلُ) – The First, found in Surah Al-Hadid (57:3):
"He is the First and the Last, the Ascendant and the Intimate, and He is, of all things, Knowing."
This name underscores the eternal pre-existence of Allah, an attribute central to Islamic theology. -
Al-Akhir (ٱلْآخِرُ) – The Last, also in Quran 57:3, indicating God’s unending nature and absolute finality.
In Christian theology, similar attributes are used to describe Jesus Christ. In fact, Revelation 1:8 records Jesus saying:
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8, NIV)
Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, symbolizing the fullness of time and being. These titles echo the same eternal qualities attributed to God in the Old Testament (cf. Isaiah 44:6), but they are here used directly by Jesus, claiming the very nature and identity of God.
Moreover, Revelation 22:13 further affirms this:
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
In this, Jesus not only parallels but directly claims the divine titles of Yahweh, indicating that He shares in the eternal nature of God.
The Biblical Evidence for the Deity of Christ
The New Testament is rich with Christological affirmations of Jesus’ divinity. For example:
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John 1:1-3:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... Through Him all things were made.”
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Colossians 1:16-17:
“For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth... all things have been created through Him and for Him.”
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Hebrews 1:3:
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word.”
These passages affirm not only Jesus' eternal preexistence but also His role in creation, a function attributed only to God in Jewish monotheism.
The Quranic Rejection of Christ’s Divinity
While the Quran honors Jesus (Isa) as a prophet and the Messiah, it strictly denies that He is divine or that He is the Son of God.
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Surah Al-Ikhlas (112:1-4):
"Say: He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent."
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Surah An-Nisa (4:171):
“...Say not ‘Three’; desist—it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son.”
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Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:72):
“They have certainly disbelieved who say, ‘Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary’...”
From the Quranic perspective, associating Jesus with God (known as shirk) is a grave theological error. Islam's monotheism (tawhid) is uncompromising, and any claim of divine sonship is considered blasphemous.
Theological Implications
The tension between Christian Trinitarianism and Islamic Tawhid is unbridgeable on doctrinal grounds. Christianity's assertion that Jesus is both fully God and fully man—God incarnate—lies at the heart of the Gospel. The Quran's denial of this identity creates an irreconcilable divergence.
Yet, both scriptures ascribe eternal titles—The Beginning and The End—to the divine. The critical distinction is that the Bible attributes these titles directly to Jesus Christ, implying His full participation in the divine nature. In contrast, the Quran reserves these names for Allah alone and considers any sharing of these attributes a violation of monotheism.
Conclusion
This comparative theological study demonstrates that the Bible and the Quran offer fundamentally different views on the identity and nature of Jesus. In Christianity, Jesus is not merely a prophet but God incarnate—eternal, omnipotent, and worthy of worship. In Islam, Jesus is a revered messenger but strictly human, subordinate to Allah, and never divine.
Thus, the question, Is Jesus God? is not merely a matter of interpretation but of doctrinal allegiance. For the Christian, Jesus is "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15), the eternal Logos who "became flesh" (John 1:14). For the Muslim, such a belief is incompatible with the core tenets of Islamic monotheism.
About the Author
Dr. Maxwell Shimba is a theologian, apologist, and founder of the Shimba Theological Institute. He specializes in comparative religion, Christian apologetics, and biblical studies. He is a leading voice in promoting theological clarity and defending the divinity of Christ through Scripture and reasoned scholarship.
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