Jesus Is the Real One: A Critical Theological Analysis of the Islamic Isa bin Maryam

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute

Abstract

This article examines the theological divergence between the Biblical Jesus Christ—the eternal Son of God—and the Islamic figure known as Isa bin Maryam. While both traditions claim reverence for Jesus, their portrayals differ radically in identity, mission, and eschatological role. Through biblical analysis and comparative theology, this paper argues that the Islamic Isa represents a constructed figure fundamentally inconsistent with the historical and biblical Jesus, and aligns more closely with the New Testament warnings concerning false Christs and end-time deception.

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1. Introduction

Throughout Christian history, the identity of Jesus Christ has stood at the center of faith, doctrine, and salvation. Islam, however, presents an alternative figure called Isa bin Maryam, whom it identifies as a prophet, denies His divine Sonship, and predicts His return to establish Islamic rule. This theological conflict raises a crucial question: Is the Isa of Islam the same Jesus revealed in Scripture?
This paper argues that the answer is unequivocally no. Instead, the Islamic Isa fits the biblical warnings of a counterfeit Christ—one who denies the fundamental truths of the Gospel.

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2. The Biblical Portrait of Jesus Christ

The New Testament presents Jesus as:

• The eternal Word and Creator (John 1:1–3)

• The only begotten Son of God (John 3:16)

• The incarnate Lord and Savior (Matthew 1:23; Titus 2:13)

• The Judge of all nations (Acts 17:31)

• The returning King of kings (Revelation 19:11–16)

These attributes are non-negotiable within Christian theology. To deny His Sonship or divine identity is to reject the very essence of Christian revelation.

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3. The Islamic Isa: A Theological Departure

Islamic doctrine, as found in the Qur’an and Hadith, presents Isa as:

• Not the Son of God (Qur’an 5:116; 112:1–4)

• Not crucified or resurrected (Qur’an 4:157)

• A prophet subordinate to Muhammad

• A figure who will return to destroy crosses, abolish Christianity, kill the swine, and convert the world to Islam

This portrayal is incompatible with the biblical narrative. The Isa of Islam rejects every cornerstone of Christianity—atonement, resurrection, Sonship, and divinity. The two figures cannot be harmonized.

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4. False Christs and Biblical Warnings

Jesus warned His disciples that false Christs would arise to mislead even the elect (Matthew 24:23–25). The apostle Paul similarly cautioned that a deceptive figure would appear before Christ’s return—one who exalts himself against the true God (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4).

The Islamic Isa fits these warnings precisely:

• He denies Jesus’ divine identity

• He overturns central Christian doctrines

• He demands global submission to a religious system that rejects the true Gospel

Thus, the Isa of Islam is not simply a different interpretation of Jesus; he is a theological counterfeit.

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5. Isa and the Antichrist Paradigm

An important theological observation emerges when comparing Islamic eschatology with the Bible:

• Islam’s “Dajjal” resembles the Jesus of Scripture:

  • Performs miracles

  • Claims divine authority

  • Rules from Jerusalem

• Islam’s “Isa” resembles the biblical Antichrist:

  • Denies Jesus’ divinity

  • Opposes Christian doctrine

  • Seeks to destroy Christian faith

This inversion creates a profound eschatological conflict:
The true Christ of Christianity is portrayed as the villain in Islamic eschatology, while the false Christ becomes Islam’s savior.

Therefore, within a biblical framework, Islam’s Isa fits the category of the Antichrist spirit described in 1 John 2:18—the one who denies the Father and the Son.

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6. Eschatological Outcomes: A Clash of Two “Jesus” Figures

Islamic tradition asserts that their Isa will descend, kill the Christian Messiah, and enforce global Islam. However, Scripture reveals a dramatically different outcome:

• The true Jesus Christ returns with heavenly armies (Revelation 19:11–14)

• He destroys the Antichrist and his forces (2 Thessalonians 2:8)

• The armies opposing Him are slain in great number (Revelation 19:19–21)

This sharp contrast underscores the irreconcilable nature of the two narratives. One is rooted in the biblical revelation of God; the other stands in opposition to it.

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7. The Deception Embedded in Islamic Theology

Islamic doctrine establishes an eschatological system that redefines evil as good and good as evil. It prepares its followers to:

• Reject the real Jesus

• Embrace a false Christ

• Oppose God’s redemptive plan

• Misinterpret the return of Christ as the arrival of the “Dajjal”

This, according to Scripture, is the very essence of end-time deception (2 Corinthians 11:13–15).

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8. Conclusion

The Jesus of the Bible and the Isa of Islam are not the same. One is the true Son of God, the Savior of the world, and the returning King. The other is a figure constructed within a theological system that denies the essential truths of the Gospel.
For Christians, the warning is clear: faithfulness requires discernment. The rise of a false Christ is not a distant theory but a present theological reality embedded within Islamic doctrine.
The true Jesus Christ—crucified, resurrected, and glorified—will return to judge the world and to expose every counterfeit. Until then, believers must hold fast to the biblical revelation and refuse to be deceived.

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