Most of my threads are about religions other than my own. Recently a thread about the Muslim Jesus and another touching on the historical Jesus led to some thought provoking discussions. So with this thread I’d like to explore and compare the Christian Jesus and the Baha’i Jesus. Of course there is only one Jesus the Christ recorded in the NT. However there are different perspectives. For example there is the historical Jesus based on what we can reasonably establish to be true based on established methodology with analysis of historic documents and archaeology. Most scholars of antiquity would agree Jesus was an itinerant Jewish Preacher who was baptised by John the Baptist and crucified at the behest of Pontius Pilate.
The Christian Jesus is predominately understood through the four Gospels but also through the Apostolic letters. So beyond what we know of the historical Jesus, Jesus becomes so much more through the New Testament. Christ is understood to be God incarnate, the Son of God born to the Virgin Mary, one of the three aspects of the Trinity, and a fulfilment of Prophecies in Hebrew Scriptures. Jesus rose from the dead three days after being Crucified and then Ascended to be with His Father in Heaven during Pentecost after appearances to His Disciples. He inaugurated a New Covenant. Of course Christianity is a diverse religion and so there is a range of views but these are some of the key theological concepts in regards the Biblical Jesus.
Nearly six hundred years later, we have the emergence of Islam as the Quran is Revealed through Muhammad. Muhammad was the bearer of a Divine Message equivalent to the Torah through Moses and the Gospel through Christ brings a new vision. According mainstream Islam, Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary but is not the son of god. He is a Prophet who brought the Gospel which was subsequently lost or corrupted. He was not part of a triune god for God is strictly One. He is not God incarnate for God can have no partners. He was not crucified for God would not allow crucifixion of one so exalted as Jesus. So the Muslim Jesus is very different from the Christian Jesus. The two versions are not reconciled. Mainstream Islam discounts the testimony of the Gospels as being superseded by the Quran which is considered by Muslims as the Word of God.
1260 Islamic years from the beginning of the Islamic calendar, in the year 1844, a Persian Merchant from Shiraz claims to be the Promised Qa’im and the bearer of a New Revelation. As the movement spreads through Persia opposition from clergy and the government seeks to eradicate this new found movement. The Bab (meaning the Gate) is executed and later thousands of His followers put to death.
The purpose of the Bab’s mission was to prepare for Him Whom God shall make manifest. Bahá’u’lláh has a vision while in prison in Tehran during 1852 and was later recognised by most Babis to be the Promised One. Bahá’u’lláh according to Baha’is also brought a Divine Revelation. Over 40 years through tablets and letters He provided extensive commentary on many themes touching on Christian topics as early as the 1860s through the Kitab-i-Iqan.
After 1892 when Bahá’u’lláh passed away, His eldest so ‘Abdu’l-Baha was appointed successor, leader, and authorised interpreter. ‘Abdu’l-Baha came into close contact with Westerners who were interested in this new Faith. Eventually He traveled to Europe and North America including the USA during 1912. Through out His Ministry He spoke at length about many Christian topics. One of the most important works is a book titled Some Answered Questions.
So if you’ve made it this far, this is my limited understanding of aspects of biblical scholarship, Christianity, Islam and the Baha’i Faith. I’ve avoided providing my view on what the Baha’i Faith says about Jesus. I might write about it later. I’m interested to hear who on this forum can explain the Baha’i Jesus. Who is He? What does He have in common with the Christian Jesus and how does He differ? If I’ve misrepresented the position of mainstream Christianity, Islam or the Baha’i Faith please feel free to correct me. Thanks.
The Christian Jesus is predominately understood through the four Gospels but also through the Apostolic letters. So beyond what we know of the historical Jesus, Jesus becomes so much more through the New Testament. Christ is understood to be God incarnate, the Son of God born to the Virgin Mary, one of the three aspects of the Trinity, and a fulfilment of Prophecies in Hebrew Scriptures. Jesus rose from the dead three days after being Crucified and then Ascended to be with His Father in Heaven during Pentecost after appearances to His Disciples. He inaugurated a New Covenant. Of course Christianity is a diverse religion and so there is a range of views but these are some of the key theological concepts in regards the Biblical Jesus.
Nearly six hundred years later, we have the emergence of Islam as the Quran is Revealed through Muhammad. Muhammad was the bearer of a Divine Message equivalent to the Torah through Moses and the Gospel through Christ brings a new vision. According mainstream Islam, Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary but is not the son of god. He is a Prophet who brought the Gospel which was subsequently lost or corrupted. He was not part of a triune god for God is strictly One. He is not God incarnate for God can have no partners. He was not crucified for God would not allow crucifixion of one so exalted as Jesus. So the Muslim Jesus is very different from the Christian Jesus. The two versions are not reconciled. Mainstream Islam discounts the testimony of the Gospels as being superseded by the Quran which is considered by Muslims as the Word of God.
1260 Islamic years from the beginning of the Islamic calendar, in the year 1844, a Persian Merchant from Shiraz claims to be the Promised Qa’im and the bearer of a New Revelation. As the movement spreads through Persia opposition from clergy and the government seeks to eradicate this new found movement. The Bab (meaning the Gate) is executed and later thousands of His followers put to death.
The purpose of the Bab’s mission was to prepare for Him Whom God shall make manifest. Bahá’u’lláh has a vision while in prison in Tehran during 1852 and was later recognised by most Babis to be the Promised One. Bahá’u’lláh according to Baha’is also brought a Divine Revelation. Over 40 years through tablets and letters He provided extensive commentary on many themes touching on Christian topics as early as the 1860s through the Kitab-i-Iqan.
After 1892 when Bahá’u’lláh passed away, His eldest so ‘Abdu’l-Baha was appointed successor, leader, and authorised interpreter. ‘Abdu’l-Baha came into close contact with Westerners who were interested in this new Faith. Eventually He traveled to Europe and North America including the USA during 1912. Through out His Ministry He spoke at length about many Christian topics. One of the most important works is a book titled Some Answered Questions.
So if you’ve made it this far, this is my limited understanding of aspects of biblical scholarship, Christianity, Islam and the Baha’i Faith. I’ve avoided providing my view on what the Baha’i Faith says about Jesus. I might write about it later. I’m interested to hear who on this forum can explain the Baha’i Jesus. Who is He? What does He have in common with the Christian Jesus and how does He differ? If I’ve misrepresented the position of mainstream Christianity, Islam or the Baha’i Faith please feel free to correct me. Thanks.
