Biblical and Theological Studies Faculty Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Spring 2020
Journal Title
Southeastern Theological Review
Volume
11
Issue
1
First Page
99
Last Page
117
Abstract
The Qur’an endorses and reveres Jesus, providing Christian missionaries with communicative traction as they can lean into a shared Messiah. Or does it? This article compares the qur’anic Jesus (‘Isa) and the biblical Jesus (Yasua‘) in order to investigate whether or not the apparent similarity extends beyond superficial similarities. By employing Daniel Strange’s categories of “remnantal revelation” and “subversive fulfillment” as a helpful heuristic for assessment, this article contends that the two Jesus characters are not compatible. In fact, the Qur’an’s use of ‘Isa appears to be an attempt to subvert the message and work of the biblical Yasua‘. As a result, it recommends rejection of the missiological impulse to utilize the qur’anic nomenclature in evangelism, discipleship, and Bible translation. Such attempts at contextualization are counterproductive since this name is inextricably tied to a character whose intent is to subvert the message and work of the biblical Jesus.
Keywords
Arabic, contextualization, evangelism, ‘Isa, Islam, missiology, Qur’an, translation, Yasua‘
Recommended Citation
Bennett, Matthew A., "Christ in the Scripture of Islam: Remnantal Revelation or Irredeemable Imposter?" (2020). Biblical and Theological Studies Faculty Publications. 507.
https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/biblical_and_ministry_studies_publications/507
