Is it true that Jesus is called the Word of God in the Quran?
Yes, the Quran says, “O Mary God gives you good news of a Word from him. His name is theMessiah, Jesus Son of Mary, well esteemed in this world and the next, and one of the nearest.”
Why do you think Jesus was called the Word from God?
Some Muslims believe that Jesus was called the Word because he was created via God’s word or command. Others believe that Jesus was called God’s word because he preached God’s word.
If that is true, all prophets would also be called God’s word because they are all created by the God’s word or command. Moreover, all prophets preach God’s word so why was Jesus the only one who has given that title?
I see. Those two reasons don’t adequately explain why Jesus was called God’s word.
The Injil tells us that when Jesus was born into this world, the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Do you think God’s word is something eternal or something that came into existence at some point in time?
I think God’s word must have existed with God from eternity. If not, that would mean there was a time when God was without the ability to communicate, which is impossible.
Christians believe that too. The Bible says that in the beginning was the Word (referring to Jesus) and the Word was with God.
Christians believe that Jesus existed in the beginning with God? Wasn’t Jesus born 2000 years ago?
It is possible for the Word of God to be eternal, yet come into existence at some point in time. Muslims believe that the Quran is the eternal uncreated Word of God, isn’t it?
Yes, we believe the Quran is uncreated and existed with God from the beginning.
Isn’t it also true that the message of the Quran descended from heaven upon man at a particular point in history when the angel Gabriel brought the message to the Prophet? And the physical Quran that you possess came into existence when it was printed?
I see. Something can have an eternal essence and yet take on physical form at a particular point in time.
Exactly. That is why we believe that while Jesus is eternal, he came to earth at a particular point in time. That’s why Jesus told the Jews that he existed even before Abraham. He said “Before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:48)
Wasn’t that claiming to be God? Who existed from the beginning except God?
Yes. That’s why after Jesus said that, the Jews try to stone him.
I wonder why Jesus would be called the Word of God.
Scripture is called the Word of God because it is the revelation of God. Could Jesus be called the Word of God because he is the living revelation of God? Jesus teaches in the Injil that he reveals God. He said “If you really knew me, you would know my father as well. Anyone who has seen me has seen the father.”
Jesus is the living revelation of God? Why does God need to be revealed in a person?
God is spirit and He is invisible. The Bible teaches that Jesus is the image of the invisible God.
Interesting. Let’s discuss more another day.