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Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR

When you ask Christians to show one verse where Jesus (pbuh) claimed divinity while doing Dawah. The Christians come up with certain verses from the Bible to show that Jesus claimed to be divine. In my experience, there are about 8 verses which the Christians usually bring up. I will reply to them here.

1.     I and my father are one.

This is the most common verse, which you will find Christians quoting in order to show that Jesus claimed divinity. It is a quotation from John 10:30

When you ask Christians about the context of this verse, you will NOT come across a Christian who can tell you the context without opening the Bible. For context read from verse 23. John 10:23-30

23 and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.

24 The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

25. Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my father’s name speak for me,

This is the first charge by the Jews that Jesus (pbuh) was speaking ambiguously.

26 But you do not believe it because you are not my sheep.

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and the father are one.”

Verse 28 says that “No one can snatch them out of my hand” verse 29 says “No one can snatch them out of my father’s hand” then verse 30 says that “I and the father are one.”

It is one in purpose. In context, we come to know that Jesus is saying that once the person has believed. God and I both see to it that the person remains in faith. On purpose, they both are one.

If, someone still insists that it is one in Trinity or One person. Then let us read further.

 

“21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us:” (John 17:21)

“One” used in both the verses John 10:30 and John 17:21 is the same

Its “heis” hice

Now if someone insists that it is One in a trinity then you should change trinity into another concept meaning 14 gods. God Almighty, Jesus (pbuh) and twelve disciples.

Let us read after verse 30. John verses 31-35

31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him,

The Jews wanted to kill him for good riddance. Jesus (pbuh) gives the reply.

32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

33 “We are not stoning you for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.

This is the second charge by the Jews that Jesus (pbuh) claimed divinity and anyone who blasphemes should be put to death according to the Jewish Law (Leviticus 24:16). But Jesus (pbuh) gives them the answer.

“34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are gods’?

He is quoting from Psalms 82:6.

Psalm 82:6 “I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’

John 10:35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came– and the Scripture cannot be broken–

Jesus (pbuh) is telling them that in the language of the Jews. Prophets are called “god.” (Exodus 7:1) Other people are called as “gods” and you do not take exception to it then why do you take exception when I am making a far inferior claim of being the son of God?

This explanation is sufficient to prove that Jesus (pbuh) did NOT claim divinity when he said, “I and my Father are one.”

2. “Before Abraham was I am.”

This is another quotation which the Christians bring to show the divinity of Jesus. It is from John 8:58.

Let us analyze this verse.

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58)

The reasons Christians give that Christ (pbuh) claimed divinity here are:

A. Jesus existed before Abraham.

B. “I am” is the name of God in the Bible (Exodus 3:14)

Let us analyze both the reasons.

A.

If Jesus (pbuh) existed before Abraham that does not make him God in any way because even angels existed before Abraham. They existed before the world was created. Does it make them God? No! Jesus (pbuh) was with God before Abraham (pbuh), but in what form?

Was he like a handsome young man moving around and then God reduced him to a small baby and put him in his mother’s womb? No No! It means in the knowledge of God we all were there. Jeremiah is said to have been made a Prophet before his birth. The Bible says

“Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

In Islam, we share somewhat a similar belief. The Quran says

“When thy Lord drew forth from the Children of Adam – from their loins – their descendants, and made them testify concerning themselves, (saying): “Am I not your Lord (who cherishes and sustains you)?”- They said: “Yea! We do testify!” (This), lest ye should say on the Day of Judgment: “Of this we were never mindful”:(Quran 7:172)

B.

The Christians claim that “I am” is the name of God in the Bible in Exodus 3:14. The verse reads.

“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” (Exodus 3:14)

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, God (I am.)”

We have no objection in agreeing that God was there before Abraham.

If Jesus was claiming divinity here. He should have at least remained consistent in the usage of words. In Exodus 3:14 the word for “I am” is “haw-yaw’ Whereas the word in John 8:58 is “Ego Eimi”

This is sufficient to prove that in John 8:58 Jesus did not claim divinity.

3.    “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

4.    “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father”

I will reply to these two verses together. They are from John 14:6 and John 14:9 respectively.

Let us read the verses in context.

¹“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

²In my father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.

³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

 ⁴You know the way to the place where I am going.”

⁵Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:1-5)

In context we read that Jesus Christ (pbuh) is talking about God Almighty. Verse 2 gives the answer. Jesus says, “In my FATHER’S house”. He is talking about going to paradise, he is talking about spiritual matters, they are thinking of some geographical location. So, Jesus (pbuh) gives the reply.

“⁶Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” (John 14:6)

He is the way to God. Every Prophet during his time was the way to God. At the time of Moses (pbuh) he was the way to God. The Children of Israel chose another way through the golden calf, it was not accepted by them. 

At the time of Noah (pbuh) he was the way to God. If you had to get saves, just get into the ark, that is all! At the time of Jesus (pbuh) he was the way to God. But today, it is the time of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), he is the way to Almighty God.

⁷If you really knew me; you would know my father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:7)

Here Jesus (pbuh) is saying that if you know me, you know God i.e. if you follow me, you are indirectly following Almighty God. Seeing God here means knowing God as we can see from the verse.

⁸Philip said, “Lord, show us the father and that will be enough for us.” (John 14:8)

Here Philip is asking Jesus (pbuh) to show him God. The Bible says

“No one has ever seen God” (John 1:18)

“But,” he (God) said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” (Exodus 33:20)

Note: The word “God” in brackets is mine.

Being a Jew, he knew that no man can see God and live, making such an absurd request to Jesus (pbuh) of showing the father. So, Jesus (pbuh) replies

⁹Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the father. How can you say, ‘Show us the father’? (John 14:9)

Jesus (pbuh) is saying to Phillips that he had been with him for so long and still making such a silly request of showing God, so Jesus says that “Anyone who has seen me has seen the father” meaning if you know me, you know Almighty God as well. You follow my teachings; you are following the teachings of Almighty God.

In context, we come to know that anyone who knows Jesus (pbuh) i.e. anyone who follows Jesus (pbuh) is indirectly following Almighty God to which we have no objection. Verses 1-2 give the context.

5.    “In the beginning was the word, the word was with God and the word was God.”

The above statement is from John 1:1.

First, to remind the Christians that it is NOT Jesus Christ (pbuh) speaking here. So, this statement is just made by some other person. It is not the statement of Jesus (pbuh). Let me reveal some deception in the Biblical Translation here.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

The word used for God in this verse is “theos”.

The Europeans have evolved a system, they put a capital “G” for God when they refer to Almighty God and put a small “g” when referring to some other deity.  When they speak about Hindu and Greek gods and goddesses, they put a small “g”.

When the Christians speak about Jesus (pbuh). They put a capital “G”, when the same word “theos” is used for somebody else, the Christians put a small “g”. Consider the following.

“⁴The god (theos) of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers,” (II Corinthians 4:4)

The same word “theos” is used here, which is used in John 1:1. But the Christians have put a small “g” here. Take another example.

“¹⁹Their destiny is destruction, their god (theos) is their stomach,” (Philippians 3:19)

Again, they have put a small “g” when translating for something/somebody else. However, the King James Version is honest in translating Philippians 3:19. The above translation is from NIV.

So, we see from the above examples, the deception of the Biblical Translators. When it comes to Jesus (pbuh), they translate the word “theos” as “God”. Consider one more example.

“⁸But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God (theos), will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.” (Hebrews 1:8)

Again, when it is referring to Jesus (pbuh), they put a capital “G”.

This deception is not only there in the New Testament, but it is also there in the Old Testament.

“¹ In the beginning God (elohim) created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)

When it is referring to Almighty God. They have used a capital “G” But when it refers to somebody else, they put a small “g”

⁶ “I said, ‘You are “gods” (elohim); you are all sons of the Most High.’ (Psalms 82:6)

However, this deception is also there in Exodus 7:1 in the King James Version. They put a small “g” when referring to Moses (pbuh), but NIV has put a capital “G”.

6.     “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father”

The above statement is from John 5:23.

The Christians bring up this statement to show that Jesus (pbuh) is divine. Let us analyze the verse and see what Jesus (pbuh) meant when he said those words.

That all men should honour the son, even as they honour the father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. (John 5:23)

So, we see that Jesus (pbuh) is saying that anyone who does not honour the son does not honour the father. That is True! If you do not honour Jesus (pbuh), indirectly you do not honour Almighty God. If you do not follow his message, you do not follow the message of Almighty God.

The next verse makes it clearer.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24)

So, we see here that Jesus (pbuh) is saying that if you hear his word and believe in “HIM THAT SENT ME” i.e. Almighty God, then you will have everlasting life. So we see that honoring Jesus (pbuh) simply means to believe in him. The doctrine that he gave was not his, it was of God.

“…and the word which ye hear is NOT mine, but the father’s which sent me” (John 14:24)

So, if anyone believes in Jesus (pbuh) and follows his word, he follows Almighty God. The Quran tells us the same thing.

“Say: “If ye do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Quran 3:31)

Here Almighty God is commanding Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to say to the people, that if you love Almighty God than follow the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

Same is said by Jesus Christ (pbuh), that if you do not believe in Jesus (pbuh), if you do not honour him, you do not believe in Almighty God, you do not honour Almighty God.

If someone still insists that Jesus (pbuh) is here claiming to be equal to God, then Jesus (pbuh) himself refutes such a thing. He speaks.

“….for my Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28)

“My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all…” (John 10:29)

Hence, we can see that Jesus (pbuh) did not claim divinity here.

7.     Thomas said, “My Lord, and my God.”

The above statement is from (John 20:28)

Firstly, this statement is not of Jesus (pbuh). It is of Thomas. Let us read the verse in context.

John 20

²⁰After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

²¹Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²²And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

²⁴Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
      But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”

So, we see that after the alleged crucifixion of Jesus (pbuh). The disciples had seen Jesus (pbuh) alive. Thomas did not believe that. So, he demanded to see the nail marks in his hands and put his finger where the nails were and put his side into his side.

  ²⁶A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷Then he (Jesus) said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Thomas doubted that Jesus (pbuh) was alive, so Jesus (pbuh) shows him his hands and asks him to put his hand into his (Jesus’s) side and stop doubting and believe that he is still Alive. This was surprising to Thomas, So Thomas exclaimed.

“²⁸Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

This was a mere exclamation by Thomas. In day-to-day life, we utter things like “Oh My God! What have I done?” “Oh My God! It is so late” Does it mean I am calling my hearer a God?

²⁹Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Believed what? Believed that he is God? No!! Believe that Jesus (pbuh) is still alive and NOT dead. Didn’t Thomas see Jesus (pbuh) before the alleged “crucifixion”? Of course, he did! 

If Jesus meant, that you have believed that I am God, so why is Jesus saying that you have seen me and believe? He had already seen him before.

This explanation is sufficient to Prove that Jesus (pbuh) did not claim divinity. It was only an exclamation by Thomas.

8.    “I am Alpha and Omega”

  The above quotation is from Revelation 1:8.

Assuming this statement is made by Jesus, the book of Revelation is a dream of John. Suppose if a person sees in a dream that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) claims divinity. Does it mean he really claimed to be divine? No! Similarly, this is only a dream of John. Book of Revelation also talks about things like:

 ¹And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. ²The beast I saw resembled a leopard but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. (Revelation 13:1-2)

Do Christians believe in these things?

Allah knows Best. 

Response to the verses, which Christians bring up to show Jesus claimed Divinity Exodus 3:14

John 10:30 I and my father are one

Is YHWH referred to in the Quran?
—

Almighty Allah is the highest and most knowledgeable, and the attribution of knowledge to him is the safest.

Right from Almighty Allah and wrong from me and Satan

Prepared by Mohamad Mostafa Nassar-

www.IslamCompass.com 

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Arrogance is not only a sign of insecurity, but also a sign of immaturity. Mature and fully realised persons can get their points across, even emphatically without demeaning or intimidating others.