Classic Replay: Did Jesus' followers believe he was God? Yusuf Ismail vs Jonathan McLatchie
Nov 7, 2023
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Yusuf Ismail and Jonathan McLatchie discuss whether early church Christology evolved or if Jesus' first followers believed in his deity. They explore the nature of Jewish monotheism, the belief of Jesus' disciples in Islam and Pauline Christianity, the authorship of the Gospels, and the differences in the portrayal of Jesus in Mark, Luke, and John.
The podcast explores the question of whether the early church evolved the Christology of Jesus over time.
The debate shifts to the reliability and authorship of the gospels, with one perspective arguing for high Christology from early sources like the Q source.
The podcast episode also briefly highlights the need to explore diverse sources beyond the Quran for finding the historical Jesus.
Deep dives
Early Church Christology
The podcast explores the question of whether the early church evolved the Christology of Jesus over time. Jonathan McClatchy argues that the belief in the deity of Jesus was present from the very first followers of Jesus, while Yusuf Ismail, a Muslim, claims that the early church corrupted the message of Jesus and that his divine Christology developed over time.
The Case for Early Church Christology
Jonathan McClatchy presents several arguments to support his view. He starts by emphasizing the affirmation of the deity of Christ by the apostle Paul, who was approved by and approved of the leaders of the Jerusalem church. Jonathan argues that the weight of evidence strongly supports the claim that the original followers of Jesus, including Peter and James, held a high Christology.
The Quranic Perspective
Yusuf Ismail challenges the interpretation of Jonathan, highlighting a Quranic verse that states believers would prevail until the Day of Resurrection, which Yusuf argues implies the victory of those who believed in the oneness of God and Jesus as a subordinate servant. He suggests that the interpretation claiming victory for Pauline Christianity is a subjective and biased scholarly approach.
The Reliability of the Gospels
The debate shifts to the reliability and authorship of the gospels. Yusuf questions the attribution of the gospels to their traditionally attributed authors, noting that they were likely written by individuals removed from the immediate disciples. He suggests that the variability of Jesus' portrayal in the gospels indicates an evolution of his divinity, while Jonathan argues that early sources, such as the Q source, affirm a high Christology.
Early Church Christology and its Evolution
The podcast episode discusses the question of whether early church christology evolved over time. One perspective argues that the earliest sources affirm the deity of Christ, while another perspective suggests a development in the concept of Jesus' divinity across the gospels. Specific examples from the gospels, such as the story of Jesus in the boat during the storm and the trial narrative, are mentioned to support these contrasting views. The discussion touches on the potential telescoping and modification of the Jesus narrative within the gospels.
Debating the Historical Jesus and the Quran
The podcast episode also briefly highlights a debate on finding the historical Jesus and the role of the Quran in identifying him. The belief that the Quran does not provide the fully accurate historical Jesus is expressed, emphasizing the need to explore diverse sources beyond the Quran. The participant expresses the view that the Quran represents an incomplete interpretation of Jesus, and highlights the importance of examining the historical context of the gospels and their independent circulation.
From 2016: In Islam, Jesus is regarded as a prophet. Muslims commonly claim that the Christian belief in Christ as co-equal with God is a corruption of Jesus' message and that his first followers did not regard him as the Son of God. Christian apologist Jonathan McLatchie returns for a second week to debate Islamic evangelist Yusuf Ismail on whether early church Christology evolved over time or whether Christ's deity was believed by his first followers.
For Michael J Alter: https://m.facebook.com/pages/Yusuf-Ismail/476386472392334
For Jonathan McLatchie: http://www.apologetics-academy.org/
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