Journal: Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
Volume: SBJT 20:2 (Summer 2016)
Article: Jesus In Islam
Author: Tony Costa

SBJT 20:2 (Summer 2016) p. 41

Jesus In Islam

Tony Costa

Tony Costa teaches apologetics at the Toronto Baptist Seminary, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and also serves as adjunct professor with Heritage College and Seminary, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, and Providence Theological Seminary in Franklin, Tennessee. He earned his PhD in theology and New Testament studies from Radboud University in the Netherlands. He also holds a BA and MA in religious, biblical, and philosophical studies from the University of Toronto.

Jesus of Nazareth, perhaps more than any other historical figure, has consistently remained a magnetic person for the past two millennia. Since the earliest inception of the Christian movement, Jesus has remained a source of spiritual, historical and philosophical inquiry, while at the same time, remaining a person of intense controversy. The question of the identity of Jesus is a question that will not go away, but continues to vex the modern person. Who really was Jesus of Nazareth? Was he a prophet? The Messiah? The Son of God? A charismatic Jewish rabbi? Or a zealot with a revolutionary vision to bring about the destruction of the Roman occupants and thereby usher in the kingdom of God? The other extreme side of the question asks whether Jesus even existed at all.1 Perhaps he was a mythical figure invented by early Christians by copying from pagan sources? All of these questions have been raised, entertained, debated, and answered. The debate however is not over, as the question of Jesus’ identity still persists.

The Identity Of Jesus

In what appears to be an ironic twist, Jesus himself seemed to be cognizant of questions pertaining to his identity. In Matthew 16:13-17 we read,

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say

SBJT 20:2 (Summer 2016) p. 42

John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.2

The query of the identity of Jesus is posed as two q...