Quran Issues: The Virgin Birth - Jesus & Adam

Question: Does the comparison made in the Quran between Jesus and Adam prove that Jesus is not God?

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Overview

The Quran (3:58-64) compares Jesus and Adam by stating that both were created by the will and power of God. The purpose of the comparison is to discourage Christians from believing that Jesus is divine because Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary. This is why Muslims add the polemic (which is not found in the Quran) that God created Adam without a father or mother and God created Jesus without a father.

The comparison that the Quran makes between Jesus and Adam is flawed when pressed. God created Adam without a father or mother because Adam was the first human to exist. However, God purposefully interrupted human reproductive processes to ensure that Jesus was born without a father. This makes the birth of Jesus highly unusual and distinguishes it from the creation of Adam. Put differently, Adam was without a father or mother by necessity whereas Jesus was without a father by choice.

Jesus was born without a human or earthly father to show that Jesus has two natures. Jesus has a mother but no father within the context of his humanity to show that Jesus is truly human. Jesus has a Father but no mother within the context of his divinity to show that Jesus is truly divine. It would be difficult to believe that Jesus is truly divine if Jesus had been born with two earthly parents (hence the virgin birth). It should be noted that Christians do not believe that Jesus is divine because Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary. This is to mistake the effect for the cause. Christians believe that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary because Jesus is divine (the divinity of Jesus preceded the virgin birth). The Quran therefore cites the virgin birth of Jesus but denies its true meaning and significance.

Quran Passages

The Quran 3:58-64 (Abdul Haleem)

(58) We relate to you [Muhammad] this revelation, a decisive statement. (59) In God’s eyes Jesus is just like Adam: He created him from dust, said to him, “Be”, and he was. (60) This is the truth from your Lord, so do not be one of those who doubt. (61) If anyone disputes this with you now that you have been given this knowledge, say, ‘Come, let us gather our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, and let us pray earnestly and invoke God’s rejection on those of us who are lying. (62) This is the truth of the matter: there is no god but God; God is the Exalted, the Decider.’ (63) If they turn away, [know that] God is well aware of anyone who causes corruption. (64) Say, ‘People of the Book, let us arrive at a statement that is common to us all: we worship God alone, we ascribe no partner to Him, and none of us takes others beside God as lords.’ If they turn away, say, ‘Witness our devotion to Him.’