The Logos and the Qur’anic Creative Word

Abstract

The Johannine Prologue (John 1:1–18) is among the central theological texts of the New Testament and provides essential Christological statements concerning the divine nature of Christ and his relationship to God. In particular, the Logos, the divine creative Word, plays a prominent role. In contrast to the Synoptic Gospels, the Johannine Prologue does not begin with the birth or baptism of Jesus but instead formulates a poetic-theological reflection on the origin and destiny of the person of Christ. The text focuses on four central themes: the Logos, John the Baptist as witness, the activity of the Logos in the world, and the incarnation of the Logos in Jesus Christ. These four aspects can also be found in modified form in the Qur’an. A comparison between the two texts reveals both surprising points of connection for interreligious dialogue and theological boundaries.