Your interpretation of Sura 19:32-33 is inaccurate. Jesus did not know that his life would bring about uncommon events. Comment?
Question/Comment:
Your interpretation of Sura 19:32-33 is a little inaccurate. This is a quote from Jesus, not about Jesus, about what he knew of his life. He could not see the future, and therefore made a statement about what everyone knows, we live, we die. He didn’t know that his life would bring about uncommon events.
I enjoy your site. It is informative, and interesting, I thought you may
want to take a look at that.
I enjoy your site. It is informative, and interesting, I thought you may
want to take a look at that.
Reply:
Here is what I have on this passage in the Qu’ran:
And (hath made me) dutiful toward her who bore me, and hath not made me arrogant, unblest. Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the I shall be raised alive! Such was Jesus, son of Mary, (this is) a statement of the truth concerning which they doubt. Sura 19:32-33.
It seems to me that this passage is both: In other words, the first sentence is a "quote" from Jesus, while the second sentence is a statement about Jesus. I am not sure of the theological implications of the distinction. I do not trust the statements of Muhammed about Jesus because he never met Jesus and he was probably did not even read the New Testament writings, but in this case, he is more or less correct. Jesus was indeed raised from the dead.
Jesus definitely did know that his life would bring about uncommon events. I do not know why you say that Jesus did not know that his life would bring about uncommon events. Anyone who knows much about Jesus–even those who do not believe in him–know that he believed his life would bring about uncommon events. Let me give you a couple of examples. (there are dozens like this!)
1. John 6:40 "For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." Here Jesus says that he will raise up people from the dead at the last day.
2. John 8:51 "I tell you the truth, if a man keeps my word, he will never see death." Jesus says that those who obey him will be saved and go to heaven.
3. John 11:25 I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." Jesus says again that he will raise the faithful from the dead for eternity.
4. John 12:32 "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself" Jesus is explaining that he would be crucified and through this, to bring salvation (also see John 3:14).
5. John 12:49 "There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day." Jesus prophesies that at Judgment Day, his words will be judge which determines our eternal destiny.
There are so many examples. Jesus said that he will come back in a "second coming" Matthew 24:30-35.
Perhaps some Muslims believe that Jesus did not know that his life would bring about uncommon events, but obviously this is a distorted understanding. It is simply wrong. The eyewitnesses who actually walked with Jesus surely know more about what he said and did than someone who never met him and did not even read his words (the New Testament) who wrote almost six hundred years after he died.
That is how I view the question that you raise.
Again, if you want any more comments or corrections about Sura 19, please let me know.
John Oakes, PhD
