Who is the Real Jesus? [Part 2]

[ Part 1 | Part 2 ]

In the previous article, only the Gospels were considered in answering this question. Now, attention shifts to the rest of the New Testament, beginning with the book of Acts. This book is the companion to the Gospel of Luke, written by the same author. Acts records the beginning of the Christian movement after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The date of the book of Acts is placed between 57 and 62 AD.

Acts 1:1-5
Luke writes to Theophilus about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until He was taken up into heaven. Before Jesus ascended, He gave instructions to the apostles He had chosen, through the Holy Spirit. For forty days after His suffering and death, He appeared to His apostles to prove to them that He had risen. He spoke to them about God’s kingdom and instructed them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promised Holy Spirit. John baptized with water, but they were soon to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

These opening verses state clearly that Jesus suffered, died, was resurrected, and appeared over a period of forty days to prove He had risen. He gave instructions about waiting in Jerusalem, about God’s kingdom, and about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Then He was taken up into heaven.

The presence of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life is essential. When Jesus lived as a man in Israel, His physical body limited Him to one place at a time. God’s plan was not limited like this. The gift of the Holy Spirit allowed God to dwell within every believer, not bound by geography or time. The Spirit of God can indwell all who commit their lives to Jesus. He is with us forever.

This is significant for Muslims to think about. Mohammed taught that the crucifixion never happened (Quran 4:157). Yet, the earliest historical documents affirm that it did. Muslims deny that Jesus died, but the historical documents affirm that He did die and rose on the third day. Muslims teach that the Holy Spirit refers to Mohammed. This cannot be correct, because Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would come soon—not 600 years later.

Acts 1:8-9
Jesus told His followers that the Holy Spirit would come upon them and give them power. Then, they would testify about Him in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, and throughout the world. After saying this, Jesus was taken up into a cloud as they watched.

There are many religions in the world, but this discussion focuses on Christianity and Islam. Islam advances by the sword and suppresses freedom of choice. In contrast, the early apostles received power from the Holy Spirit—not weapons—and were commissioned to testify about Jesus everywhere. Christianity is based on the transforming power of the story of Jesus. It is about God’s love in sending His Son to die, bringing forgiveness, new life in Christ, and hope for eternity in God’s presence. It brings freedom from sin’s power, from guilt, and from spiritual slavery. It offers equality and dignity to both men and women.

By contrast, Islam, through conquest, has brought captivity to civilizations, suffering to women, slavery, mutilation of women, honor killings, and inequality between men and women.

Acts 1:14
The apostles gathered and prayed together with one purpose. The women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers were also present.

Women were already involved in Jesus’ ministry, and now they were united with the apostles in prayer—not separated as they are in Islamic practice. Men and women prayed together as equals from the very start of the Christian church. This is the last mention of Mary in the New Testament. Notice: the disciples prayed with her—not to her.

Acts 1:16
Peter spoke and affirmed that long ago, through the power of the Holy Spirit, David prophesied about Judas. The Holy Spirit did not begin His work in the New Testament. He was active throughout history, as a person of the Trinity, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son.

Acts 1:21
Peter said that a new witness must be chosen, someone who had been with them from Jesus’ baptism until His ascension. This person must testify that Jesus had been raised from the dead.

The message of Jesus’ death and resurrection is based on historical witnesses. The credibility of their testimony depended on their long-term association with Jesus—from the beginning of His public ministry through His death, resurrection, and ascension. The Bible records real history. Luke’s Gospel itself is presented as an orderly account based on careful investigation.

Acts 2:1-4
On the day of Pentecost, the believers were together in one place. Suddenly, a sound like a mighty wind filled the house. What looked like tongues of fire rested on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages as the Spirit enabled them.

Jesus had promised this. The Holy Spirit empowered them to speak in many languages, but the more remarkable truth is that God’s Spirit came to dwell within them. This fulfills Jesus’ words that the Spirit would live in them and remain with them. The believer now has the Spirit as helper and companion. This intimacy with God does not exist in Islam. Allah demands obedience, but offers no companionship, no closeness, no inner transformation.

Acts 2:16-21
Peter explained that what happened was the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy. In the last days, God said He would pour out His Spirit on everyone. Sons and daughters would prophesy. Young men would see visions. Old men would dream dreams. God would give His Spirit to His servants—both men and women—and they would prophesy. Miracles would happen in the sky and on earth. Everyone who calls on the Lord would be saved.

Joel’s prophecy predicted the events of Pentecost. The Spirit would be poured out, people would prophesy, miracles would occur, and people would be saved. These things happened in the early church.

Equally important: the Spirit was given to daughters and women. They received the Spirit because of their faith in Jesus. Their status was equal to the men. Muslim men and women should consider the difference. Islam treats women as second-class. But in Jesus, women are elevated to equality with men.

Acts 2:22-24
Peter addressed the people directly. Jesus of Nazareth had been accredited by God through miracles, signs, and wonders. Yet, they had handed Him over and killed Him. But God raised Him from the dead, because death could not hold Him.

Peter affirmed that Jesus died and was raised on the third day. The people knew about His miracles. Yet, more significant was Peter’s declaration that Jesus’ death was God’s plan from the beginning. Some Muslims teach that prophets should not suffer persecution. Yet, the Old Testament shows many prophets who suffered and were killed. Jesus’ death was the most important of all, and death could not keep Him.

Jesus said: “Because I live, you shall live also.”

Acts 2:31-33
Peter explained that David foresaw the resurrection of Christ. God would not leave Him in the grave, nor let His body decay. Peter and the other witnesses testified that God raised Jesus to life. Jesus was taken up to sit at God’s right hand, and the promised Holy Spirit was given.

David, considered a prophet even by Muslims, foretold that Christ would rise. Peter declared that all the witnesses could affirm that God raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus is now exalted, and the Holy Spirit has been poured out as promised.

Acts 2:36-37
Peter declared that God had made Jesus both Lord and Christ—even though the people had crucified Him. When the people heard this, they were deeply troubled and asked the apostles, “What shall we do?”

Realizing they had crucified the Messiah, they felt guilt and fear. Their question led to Peter’s answer.

Acts 2:38-39
Peter told them: repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Then they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise was not limited to them but was for their children and for all whom the Lord would call, no matter where they lived.

Becoming a Christian begins with repentance and turning to God. It continues with baptism in Jesus’ name, which brings forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. This affirms the Trinity again: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This doctrine was not something invented centuries later. It was present from the very beginning of the Christian church.

Acts 3:1-6
At the time of afternoon prayer, Peter and John went to the temple. A man who had been lame from birth sat at the Beautiful Gate begging for money. When he asked Peter and John for help, Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6).

This is the first miracle recorded by the apostles. It was performed by the power of Jesus Christ. In contrast, the name of Mohammed is not associated with miracles. The Muslim claim that the Qur’an itself is a miracle (Qur’an 17:88; 2:23) is false. There is nothing miraculous about the Qur’an. Mohammed challenged people to produce a chapter like it, and despite the fact that similar verses have been produced, Islam refuses to accept them as valid simply because Mohammed claimed that none could succeed. This is not a proof—it is a closed system that denies the possibility of competition.

Acts 3:12-15
When the people gathered in amazement, Peter asked why they were staring at them as if the apostles had healed the man by their own power or holiness. Peter said that it was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who glorified His Servant Jesus—the one they had handed over, rejected before Pilate, and killed, though Pilate wanted to release Him. They chose a murderer instead, and killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and the apostles were witnesses of this fact (Acts 3:12-15).

If, as Mohammed taught (Qur’an 4:157), the crucifixion and resurrection never happened, why did those who witnessed Jesus’ life and death stress this point so repeatedly? Peter’s charge was direct: “You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead.” This flatly contradicts Mohammed’s claims.

How wrong Mohammed was becomes clear in Peter’s declaration that Jesus is the Author of life. If one wants life—eternal life—one must reject Mohammed and give their life to Jesus. It is that simple. It is that urgent. It will be a bitter realization for those who rejected Jesus, the giver of life.

Acts 3:18-23
Peter explained that God had foretold through His prophets that the Messiah would suffer. This promise was now fulfilled. He urged the people to repent and turn to God, so their sins could be wiped out and times of refreshing could come from the Lord. Jesus, the appointed Messiah, would remain in heaven until God restores everything, as foretold by the prophets. Peter quoted Moses, who said that God would raise up a prophet from among them, like Moses himself, and that everyone must listen to Him. Those who do not listen to that prophet would be cut off from God’s people (Acts 3:18-23).

The Muslim claim that Jesus was not crucified or resurrected (Qur’an 4:157–158) contradicts history. The idea that someone else was substituted on the cross is deceptive and contradicts the testimony of the Old Testament prophets. The Messiah was destined to suffer, as seen in Isaiah 53 and other prophecies. Not only would He suffer, but He would return when God restores all things.

Peter’s words also directly refute the Muslim claim that the prophet mentioned by Moses refers to Mohammed. Peter applies Moses’ prophecy to Jesus. Therefore, rejecting Jesus means being cut off from God’s people. Peter again stresses that Jesus, the chosen Messiah, is the only answer for sin and forgiveness.

Acts 4:1-2
As the apostles were teaching the people that the resurrection of the dead was real—because Jesus had been raised—the priests, temple guard, and Sadducees came upon them in anger (Acts 4:1-2).

The Sadducees denied the resurrection. Yet, the apostles’ message centered on Jesus’ death and resurrection. This was the core of their message: a real event seen by witnesses. No amount of denial—whether from Sadducees or Muslims—can change the truth. Rejecting this truth means excluding oneself from God’s people.

Acts 4:4
Despite opposition, many who heard the message believed. The number of believers grew to about five thousand (Acts 4:4).

The affirmation that Jesus is Lord began early. This belief is not something developed centuries later—it was foundational to the early church, as the book of Acts and the letters of the apostles demonstrate.

Acts 4:7-13
Peter and John were brought before the authorities, who demanded to know by what power or in whose name the man had been healed. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter answered: it was by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom they crucified but whom God raised from the dead. He told them that Jesus is the stone they rejected, which became the cornerstone. He declared that salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven by which people can be saved (Acts 4:7-12).

Peter’s words are clear: Jesus is the only way of salvation.

Dear Muslim reader: let these words reach your mind, heart, and soul. You have a choice to make between Jesus and Mohammed. Mohammed offers no hope. Jesus is the source of life. If these words are true—and they are—then following Mohammed leads to death, not life.

The officials were astonished but recognized that Peter and John had been with Jesus. If you surrender your heart to Jesus, you will know His power to transform you from within. Mohammed cannot change your inner being.

Acts 4:19-20
When commanded to stop speaking about Jesus, Peter and John replied that they must obey God, not human authorities. They said they could not remain silent about what they had seen and heard (Acts 4:19-20).

The apostles spoke as eyewitnesses. Christian faith is not built on stories—it is founded on the testimony of witnesses.

Acts 4:23-31
After their release, Peter and John reported to the other believers. Together they prayed to God, acknowledging Him as Creator of heaven, earth, and sea. They recalled how the Holy Spirit spoke through David about nations and rulers opposing the Lord and His Messiah (Psalm 2). In Jerusalem, Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel conspired against Jesus, but all of it happened according to God’s predetermined plan. The believers prayed for boldness to speak God’s message and for God to perform healings, signs, and wonders through Jesus’ name. After they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke God’s word boldly (Acts 4:23-31).

The Holy Spirit’s presence empowered the early church. In their prayer, the Spirit is linked again to David as a prophet. Plans made against the Messiah in Jerusalem fulfilled God’s purpose. The believers’ prayer for signs and wonders was answered by the filling of the Holy Spirit, and they proclaimed the message of Jesus boldly.

Acts 5:1-5
Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property but lied about the amount they received, keeping back part of the money. When Ananias presented the rest to the apostles, Peter asked why he had lied to the Holy Spirit. Peter said that Ananias had not lied to people, but to God. When Ananias heard this, he fell dead. Great fear came upon all who heard about it (Acts 5:1-5).

Lying to the Holy Spirit was declared a sin against God Himself. This event affirms the unity of the Trinity—the Holy Spirit is God.

Acts 5:9
Peter confronted Sapphira, saying that she had conspired with her husband to test the Spirit of the Lord. Her punishment was the same as her husband’.

Acts 5:12-14
The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. Though others were hesitant to join them, many believed and were added to the church.

Following Jesus means committing oneself to Him as Lord. This is life’s most important commitment. Marriage, parenthood, and even business require commitment. But committing your life to Jesus surpasses all of them in significance.

Acts 5:28-32
The authorities told the apostles that they had forbidden them to preach in Jesus’ name, yet they had filled Jerusalem with their teaching. Peter and the apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings. You killed Jesus by hanging Him on a cross. But God raised Him from the dead and exalted Him as Leader and Savior. God did this to bring Israel to repentance and forgiveness. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him”.

The authorities’ accusation—“You are trying to blame us for His death”—makes no sense unless the crucifixion really happened. The apostles witnessed it. They preached it. Jesus was crucified. God raised Him. The Holy Spirit confirmed their testimony.

Acts 6:3-4
The apostles instructed the believers to choose seven men who were respected, wise, and filled with the Holy Spirit. These men would handle practical matters so the apostles could continue focusing on prayer and preaching. The presence of God’s Spirit in their lives was essential. Among those chosen was Stephen, described as being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 6:8
Stephen, empowered by God, performed great miracles and wonders among the people. However, false accusations were made against him, leading to his death by stoning.

Acts 7:51-56
Stephen’s speech rebuked his listeners as stubborn and resistant to the Holy Spirit, just like their ancestors. He reminded them that their ancestors persecuted the prophets who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. Now, they had betrayed and murdered Him. Though angels delivered God’s law to them, they still disobeyed it. When Stephen said these words, the leaders were furious. But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. He declared, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God”.

Acts 7:59-60
As Stephen was being stoned, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He then knelt and said, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” After this, he died. Stephen accused them of killing the Messiah, just as their ancestors killed the prophets. His vision showed Jesus at the right hand of God, affirming His divine position. His final prayer echoed Jesus’ own words on the cross (Luke 23:34), asking for the forgiveness of his killers.

Acts 8:16-17
In Samaria, though many had believed and were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon them. Peter and John laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. The emphasis on the Holy Spirit and the title of Jesus as Lord reinforces His relationship with God the Father. This event is significant because it welcomed Samaritans—a people marginalized by Jews—into the church.

Acts 8:27-29
Philip obeyed God’s command and met an important Ethiopian official traveling in his chariot, reading the prophet Isaiah. The Holy Spirit instructed Philip to approach the chariot. Throughout Acts, the Spirit is shown leading, directing, and empowering. No correlation to Mohammed can be drawn—the Spirit’s presence and guidance are clear and personal, not metaphorical or delayed by centuries (contrary to Islamic claims).

Acts 8:32-35
The Ethiopian was reading Isaiah’s prophecy about the suffering servant (Isaiah 53). He asked Philip whether the prophet spoke of himself or someone else. Philip began with that passage and explained the good news about Jesus. The prophecy pointed to Jesus’ suffering and death. After understanding, the Ethiopian believed and was baptized. Later, “the Lord’s Spirit took Philip away” (Acts 8:39), and the Ethiopian continued on his way rejoicing.

Acts 9:1-2
Saul of Tarsus intensified his persecution of Christians. He sought letters from the high priest authorizing him to arrest any believers he found in Damascus—men or women who belonged to “the Way”. Notice that Jesus is referred to as Lord, and His followers belonged to His Way.

Acts 9:3-5
Near Damascus, Saul saw a sudden bright light from heaven and fell to the ground. A voice called, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Saul asked, “Who are You, Lord?” The answer: “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting”. Saul was persecuting Jesus by attacking His followers. Similarly, modern-day persecution of Christians is, in truth, persecution of Jesus Himself.

Acts 9:10-11
In Damascus, the Lord spoke to a believer named Ananias in a vision. When Ananias responded, “Here I am, Lord,” the Lord instructed him to go to Saul. Ananias obeyed the Lord’s command.

Acts 9:17
Ananias went to Saul and laid hands on him, saying, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit”. Once again, Jesus is called Lord, distinct from the Holy Spirit, who comes to dwell within Saul.

Acts 9:20
Soon after his encounter, Saul began preaching in the synagogues, declaring that Jesus is the Son of God. From opposing Jesus, Saul now proclaimed Him as the Son of God. This same revelation occurs today among Muslims who encounter Jesus in visions or dreams—they recognize Him as the Son of God.

Acts 9:31
The church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced peace. Strengthened by the Holy Spirit, the church grew as believers lived in reverence for the Lord. Again, the presence of the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus is emphasized distinctly yet together—another foundation for the doctrine of the Trinity.

Acts 9:34-35
Peter healed a paralyzed man named Aeneas, saying, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” Aeneas was immediately healed. As a result, many in Lydda and Sharon turned to the Lord. The miracle led people to faith in Jesus.

Acts 9:42
Later, Peter prayed for a dead woman named Tabitha (Dorcas), and she was raised to life. As a result, “many people in Joppa believed in the Lord”. The power of Jesus was demonstrated, and faith in the Lord spread.

Acts 10:22
The men explained that Cornelius, a god-fearing man respected by the Jewish people, had been told by one of God’s holy angels to send for Peter to hear his message. What mattered about Cornelius was that although he worshiped God sincerely, something was still missing—he needed to hear the Gospel. Once he did, his life changed.

In obedience to the vision, Peter went to Cornelius’ house, a Gentile household, and spoke to the gathered people.

Acts 10:34-48
Peter declared that God shows no favoritism; He accepts all who fear Him and do what is right, from any nation (Acts 10:34-35). God sent Jesus Christ, the Lord of all, to bring peace. Peter recounted that Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and power, went about doing good, healed those oppressed by the devil, was crucified, but God raised Him on the third day. Jesus was seen by chosen witnesses who ate and drank with Him after His resurrection (Acts 10:36-41). Peter stated that Jesus is appointed to judge the living and the dead. All the prophets testify that through His name, everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:42-43). While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentile listeners. The Jewish believers were amazed that the Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. They heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Peter then ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 10:44-48).

This section affirms key teachings:

1. God sent Jesus Christ, the Lord of all, to offer peace to everyone.
2. God gave the Holy Spirit to Jesus.
3. Jesus was crucified.
4. He was raised three days later.
5. The apostles were witnesses of these facts.
6. Jesus—not anyone else—is appointed as judge of the living and the dead.
7. The Holy Spirit came upon Gentiles, as at Pentecost.
8. Baptism in Jesus’ name followed their faith.

Acts 11:20-21
Persecution scattered believers. Some preached first to Jews, but others preached to Gentiles. In Antioch, believers from Cyprus and Cyrene preached the good news about the Lord Jesus to Gentiles. The Lord’s power was with them, and many believed and turned to the Lord. The title “the Lord Jesus” was used early—it did not develop over centuries.

Acts 11:23-24
When Barnabas arrived in Antioch and saw God’s grace at work, he rejoiced and encouraged them to remain faithful to the Lord. Barnabas was described as a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. As a result, many more people turned to the Lord.

Christianity spread by preaching, not military conquest. These early believers had no political power or weapons. Their strength came from the Holy Spirit. Their message focused on Jesus’ death, resurrection, and the forgiveness of sins in His name. There was no coercion, no forced conversions, no threats. It was the simple proclamation that God loved the world and sent His Son to die for them, offering new life.

Acts 12:24
God’s message continued to spread and grow. This message is the Gospel. It is the only message from God. Rejecting the Gospel, as Muslims do, is rejecting God’s message itself. Refusing the light leaves only darkness.

Acts 13:2
During a time of worship and fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke: “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them”. The Spirit acts as a person—with will, intelligence, and authority.

Acts 13:4
Barnabas and Saul, sent by the Holy Spirit, went to Seleucia and then sailed to Cyprus. The Spirit actively directed their mission.

Acts 13:26-30
In Antioch of Pisidia, Paul addressed both Jews and Gentiles, saying: “Listen to this message of salvation—it is for everyone.” He explained that the people of Jerusalem and their leaders failed to recognize Jesus. Even though they read the prophets every Sabbath, they fulfilled those prophecies by condemning Him. Though they found no proper reason to execute Jesus, they asked Pilate to carry it out. Jesus was crucified, taken down from the cross, and placed in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead.

If Paul were speaking today, he would say, “Listen, Muslims, this message of salvation is for everyone.” Muslims must give up Mohammed’s denial of the crucifixion (Qur’an 4:157). The Gospel records declare Jesus’ death and resurrection repeatedly. There is no forgiveness apart from Jesus as Lord.

Acts 13:31-38
Paul stated that Jesus appeared to His followers after His resurrection. These witnesses now shared the message. Paul reminded them of God’s promise: “You are my Son; today I have become your Father” (Psalm 2:7). God raised Jesus from death, ensuring His body did not decay, just as Scripture promised: “You will not let your Holy One see decay” (Psalm 16:10). David died and decayed, but Jesus did not. Paul concluded, “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus, the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you”.

Paul emphasized that the Law of Moses could not free people from their sins. Forgiveness comes only through Jesus. The prophecies about the suffering Messiah were fulfilled in Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Acts 13:52
As Paul and Barnabas left, the disciples in Antioch were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

God’s promise of the Holy Spirit, first made in the Gospels, continued to be experienced by believers. This reality would become even clearer in the letters of the New Testament.

Acts 14:3
In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time preaching boldly about the Lord. The Lord confirmed the truth of their message by enabling them to perform miracles and wonders. Throughout Acts, miracles are repeatedly shown as affirming the message of the Gospel.

Acts 15:7-9
At the Jerusalem council, after much discussion, Peter reminded the others that God had chosen him to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. God, who knows every heart, confirmed His acceptance of the Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He had given to the Jewish believers. God made no distinction between them, purifying their hearts by faith. The gift of the Holy Spirit to Gentiles confirmed their full inclusion in God’s kingdom.

Acts 15:11
Peter concluded: “We believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are”. This emphasizes that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus, equally for Jews and Gentiles.

Acts 16:6-9
As Paul and his companions traveled through Phrygia and Galatia, the Holy Spirit prevented them from preaching in Asia. When they reached Mysia and attempted to enter Bithynia, the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them. In Troas, Paul received a vision of a Macedonian man pleading for help. These verses show that the Holy Spirit—referred to also as the Spirit of Jesus—acts personally, guiding and directing the mission.

Acts 16:17-18
In Philippi, a girl possessed by a spirit of divination followed Paul, shouting that they were servants of the Most High God. After several days, Paul commanded the spirit in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her, and it left immediately. The power and authority of Jesus’ name were demonstrated. Jesus alone is the basis for transformation.

Acts 16:30-34
After the earthquake in the prison, the jailer asked, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas answered: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” They spoke the word of the Lord to him and his entire household, who were baptized that same night. The jailer rejoiced, having come to believe in God with his whole household. The answer to salvation remains unchanged: have faith in the Lord Jesus.

Acts 17:1-3
In Thessalonica, Paul reasoned from the Scriptures over three Sabbaths, explaining that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. He declared that Jesus is the Messiah. The central Gospel message remained the same: Jesus’ death and resurrection, fulfilling what the prophets foretold. Muslims today reject this not because of logic but due to misunderstanding or misinformation.

Acts 17:30-32
In Athens, Paul told the people that God commands all people everywhere to repent, for He has set a day when He will judge the world through Jesus, whom He raised from the dead. Upon hearing about the resurrection, some mocked, while others expressed interest in hearing more. God’s proof to humanity was raising Jesus from death—a demonstration of divine power that set Jesus apart from all others.

Acts 19:1-7
In Ephesus, Paul found disciples who had been baptized with John’s baptism but had not received the Holy Spirit or even heard of Him. Paul explained that John pointed to belief in Jesus. After hearing this, they were baptized in Jesus’ name, and when Paul laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them. They spoke in tongues and prophesied. This account shows the incompleteness of John’s message and the necessity of knowing the full Gospel—Jesus’ death, resurrection, and the gift of the Spirit.

Acts 20:20-23
In his farewell address to the elders at Ephesus, Paul said he taught both Jews and Gentiles to turn to God and have faith in the Lord Jesus. He acknowledged that the Holy Spirit was leading him to Jerusalem, warning him in every city that imprisonment and suffering awaited him. Here again, the Trinity is reflected: turning to God, faith in Jesus as Lord, and guidance from the Holy Spirit.

Acts 20:28-30
Paul instructed the elders to be shepherds of God’s church, which He purchased with His own blood. The Holy Spirit had appointed them to their roles. Paul warned that after his departure, false teachers would arise from within the church to distort the truth. This passage emphasizes Jesus’ sacrifice—the shedding of His blood—as the foundation of the church, and the role of the Holy Spirit in appointing leaders.

Acts 21:4
In Tyre, believers, prompted by the Holy Spirit, urged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. This is another example of the Spirit’s active guidance.

Acts 21:11
In Caesarea, the prophet Agabus, taking Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet, and declared: “The Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way, the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles’”. Once again, the Holy Spirit speaks and directs.

Acts 26:14-18
Paul recounted his conversion before King Agrippa. He described hearing Jesus’ voice on the Damascus road: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” Jesus revealed Himself: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Jesus then commissioned Paul to open people’s eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they might receive forgiveness of sins and a place among God’s people by faith in Jesus. Paul was commanded to preach the forgiveness of sins through Jesus alone.

Acts 26:22-23
Paul testified that he had said nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen: that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, bringing light to both Jews and Gentiles. The Old Testament consistently pointed to the suffering and resurrection of the Messiah. That remains the Gospel message.

Acts 28:25-27
In Rome, Paul quoted the Holy Spirit’s words spoken through Isaiah: the people would hear but never understand, see but never perceive, because their hearts were hardened. If they turned, they would be healed (Acts 28:25-27; Isaiah 6:9-10). Paul applied this to his audience—those rejecting the Gospel remain spiritually blind.

This marks the final summary in the book of Acts. The Holy Spirit’s role is emphasized throughout the early church’s history. From the beginning, the Spirit empowered and guided believers, transforming lives. The basis for the doctrine of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is not a later invention but rooted in the Gospels and the spread of the church recorded in Acts.

Now the account turns to the letters of Paul, all written before 64 AD. The exact date of Paul’s death is unknown. Most New Testament books were likely written before 70 AD, as none mention the destruction of the Temple, which would have been a key event to reference had the books been written later. We begin now with the book of Romans.

Romans, written by Paul about 57 AD to the believers in Rome.

Romans 1:1-4
Paul begins by identifying himself as a servant of Christ Jesus. God appointed him to proclaim the Gospel, a message promised long before by the prophets in the Holy Scriptures. This Gospel is centered on God’s Son—Jesus Christ, our Lord—who, in His human nature, descended from David. Yet it was the Holy Spirit who declared Jesus to be the powerful Son of God by raising Him from the dead. From the start of Romans, Paul presents Jesus as both human and divine, and emphasizes the resurrection as the ultimate proof of His divine Sonship.

Romans 1:7-9
Paul greets all believers in Rome as those loved by God and called to be His people. He prays for grace and peace from “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” He thanks God through Jesus Christ for the believers’ faith, which is spoken of throughout the world. Paul notes that he serves God with his whole heart in proclaiming the Gospel concerning His Son. The prayer is addressed to both the Father and the Lord Jesus, yet they are united in one God. The Gospel is described as “about His Son”—who died, rose again, and now ministers through the presence of His Spirit.

Romans 1:11
Paul expresses his desire to visit the believers and share with them some spiritual gift to strengthen their faith. The Spirit’s blessings are intended to build the unity and strength of believers.

Romans 2:15-16
Paul teaches that human conscience itself is like a law written on the heart. It testifies for or against a person when God judges everyone’s secrets through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is clearly appointed as the Judge of all humanity. No other figure—neither Mohammed, Moses, nor any prophet—will hold that position.

Romans 3:22-25
God shows no partiality. People are accepted by Him only through faith in Jesus Christ. All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Yet God offers grace: through Christ Jesus, He redeems sinners. Jesus was sent as a sacrifice, offering His life’s blood so that, by faith, people could be reconciled to God. God’s patience in the past pointed forward to this moment. Now, the forgiveness of sins is possible only through faith in Jesus.

Romans 4:24-25
Paul emphasizes that believers today are accepted because of their faith in God, who raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus was delivered over to death for our sins and raised to life for our justification). Without His death and resurrection, we remain unacceptable to God.

Romans 5:1-6
Faith makes us acceptable to God, bringing peace through Jesus Christ. Suffering, too, is meaningful—it produces endurance, character, and hope. This hope is grounded in the Holy Spirit, who fills believers’ hearts with God’s love. Christ’s death occurred when humanity was helpless and lost in sin. All of this—the peace with God, hope, and love—flows from Christ’s sacrifice and the Holy Spirit’s work within.

Romans 5:8-11
God demonstrated His love by sending Christ to die for sinners. Through Christ’s sacrifice, believers are justified and saved from God’s wrath. Reconciliation with God was made possible through Jesus’ death; now, salvation is secured through His life. This truth brings joy to believers, as God’s peace is given through Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:2-10
Paul teaches that believers are united with Christ in His death and resurrection. Baptism symbolizes dying with Christ and being raised to a new life, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father’s glory. Sin’s power is broken through this union. Just as Christ died once for all and now lives for God, believers too are called to live for God. Through union with Jesus, the old life of sin ends, and new life begins.

Romans 6:23
The result of sin is death. But God offers the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Salvation cannot be earned—it is a gift given through faith in Christ alone.

Romans 7:4
Paul explains that believers are now united to Christ. They have died to the Law’s demands and belong to the risen Christ, so that they may serve God. The Law highlighted sin, but it could not provide salvation.

Romans 7:6
Now, believers serve in the new way of the Spirit, not the old way of the written code. Life in Christ is not about obeying regulations but being led by the Spirit.

Romans 8:1-6
Those who belong to Christ Jesus face no condemnation. The Holy Spirit gives life and sets believers free from sin and death. What the Law could not do, God accomplished by sending His Son in human likeness to deal with sin. Now, believers are called to live according to the Spirit, not the flesh. The mind governed by the Spirit brings life and peace; the mind governed by flesh leads to death.

Romans 8:9-11
True believers are led by God’s Spirit, who lives within them. Anyone without the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. But if Christ lives within, believers are alive through righteousness, even though physical death remains. The Spirit who raised Jesus will give life to believers as well. If Islam denies the Son and the Spirit, as it does, then according to Paul, Muslims do not belong to God.

Romans 8:14-17
Only those led by God’s Spirit are God’s children. The Spirit does not enslave with fear; instead, it assures believers that they are God’s children, enabling them to call God “Father.” This Spirit testifies that believers are heirs with Christ, destined to share in His glory. In contrast, Muslims have no assurance of salvation, not even Mohammed himself.

Romans 8:26-27
When believers are weak and uncertain how to pray, the Spirit intercedes for them. The Spirit communicates with God on behalf of believers, according to God’s will. Prayer is not mere repetition; it is personal communication with God, assisted by the Spirit.

Romans 8:28-29
God works all things for the good of those who love Him. His purpose is that they be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus, who becomes the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. The transformation into Christlikeness begins at faith and continues eternally.

Romans 8:31-34
Paul declares that if God is for believers, none can stand against them. God did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for all. Christ, who died and was raised, now intercedes for believers at God’s right hand. The depth of God’s love is seen in His giving of His Son.

Romans 9:1-2
Paul affirms his sincerity: as a follower of Christ, his conscience is confirmed by the Holy Spirit. He speaks the truth and not a lie. His heart grieves for his people, Israel. Once again, Christ and the Holy Spirit are mentioned together, showing the consistent presence of both persons of the Trinity.

Romans 10:9-13
Salvation comes through a clear and simple confession: declaring “Jesus is Lord” and believing with the heart that God raised Him from death (Romans 10:9-10). This is not a cultural tradition or religious ritual. It is a confession that crosses boundaries of nationality, race, and background. Paul emphasizes that anyone—Jew or Gentile—who calls upon the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:11-13). The invitation is universal. But it requires a response. To be saved from judgment, confess Jesus as Lord and believe God raised Him. This is not optional. This is the way.

Romans 12:11
Paul exhorts believers to never give up but to be fervent, following the Holy Spirit as they serve the Lord. Service to Christ is not sustained by human strength, but through the guidance and empowerment of the Spirit.

Romans 14:7-9
Paul teaches that whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. He reminds that Christ died and rose to life in order to be the Lord of both the living and the dead. The distinction between “God” and “the Lord” is not a contradiction for Paul. For him, Jesus is the Lord in whom God’s authority and life are revealed.

Romans 14:14-18
Paul explains that food restrictions are not central to God’s kingdom. Instead, the kingdom is about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Yet he reminds that Christ died for each believer—even those whose conscience is weak. The believer’s peace comes from the Spirit, fulfilling Christ’s promise. Serving Christ in this way pleases God and earns respect from others (Romans 14:18).

Romans 15:5-7
God, the source of patience and encouragement, enables believers to live in harmony as they follow Christ. Together, they are to glorify the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 15:5-6). Believers are commanded to accept one another, just as Christ accepted them, to bring praise to God (Romans 15:7). True honor to the Father is expressed by following Christ.

Romans 15:16-19
Paul describes his mission as a priestly duty: presenting the Gentiles as an acceptable offering to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:16). He highlights that Christ worked through him, both in word and deed, and that miracles and wonders were performed through the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:18-19). Paul’s mission, extending from Jerusalem to Illyricum, was not driven by human strength, but by Christ and the Spirit’s power.

Romans 15:30-33
Paul appeals for prayer, invoking “the Lord Jesus Christ” and “the love of the Spirit” as his basis (Romans 15:30). He requests protection and hopes for a refreshing visit, concluding his plea with a prayer for the peace of God to be upon the believers (Romans 15:33). The presence of the Father, Son, and Spirit together is evident once again.

Romans 16:25-27
Paul ends the letter by praising God, who strengthens believers through the Gospel—the message about Jesus Christ (Romans 16:25). This message, once hidden, has now been revealed for all nations to obey. He calls God the only wise God, to whom glory is due through Jesus Christ forever (Romans 16:26-27).

The message of Romans is clear: salvation through Jesus Christ, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the glory of God the Father form the foundation of Christian life.

We now turn to the epistles to the Corinthians, written about 54 or 55 AD.

1 Cor. 1:1-6 “From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from Sosthenes, our fellow believer. To the church of God in Corinth. Christ Jesus has chosen you as his own people, and you worship in his name, just like all others who call him Lord. I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will show you kindness and bless you with peace. I never stop thanking my God for the grace he gave you in Christ Jesus. He has helped you speak and understand clearly. And now, you are certain that everything we told you about our Lord Jesus Christ is true.”

The believers in Corinth worshipped under the name of Jesus. In Paul’s prayer, both the Father and the Son are mentioned together. Paul affirms his message, everything he preached about Jesus Christ was reliable and true.

1 Cor. 1:9 “God is faithful. He called you to share life with his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In the Gospels Jesus called his followers his “friends.” Paul uses the word “partners” here, showing how believers are joined with God’s Son, Jesus Christ. The belief that Jesus is God’s Son, sent to earth in human form, was not something that evolved over time. It was the foundational belief of early Christianity.

1 Cor. 1:17-18 “Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the good news. I was not sent to use fancy words, which would weaken the power of Christ’s cross. The message about the cross sounds foolish to those who are perishing. But for those of us being saved, it is the power of God.”

The gospel message was simple: Christ was crucified and raised from the dead. What makes more sense? Historical records confirming Jesus’ death and resurrection? Or Mohammed’s claim that the crucifixion never happened? The Gospel message brings hope. The alternative leads only to despair.

1 Cor. 1:22-23 “Jews demand miraculous signs, and Greeks seek wisdom. But we preach Christ crucified: a message that offends Jews and sounds foolish to Gentiles.”

1 Cor. 2:1 “When I came to you, dear friends, to share God’s mystery, I didn’t use eloquent words or human wisdom. I decided to speak only of Jesus Christ, and of him crucified.”

Yet again, Paul emphasizes the message that Jesus was crucified. This is not a new or hidden teaching.

1 Cor. 2:4-5 “When I spoke and preached, I didn’t try to persuade you with clever arguments. Instead, the power of God’s Spirit proved the message true. That way, your faith wouldn’t rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.”

No one becomes a true believer simply by effort or human reasoning. Conversion isn’t self-improvement. It is transformation, made possible only by the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit comes to a person who receives Jesus as Lord.

1 Cor. 2:8-10 “None of the rulers of this world understood God’s wisdom. If they had, they wouldn’t have crucified the glorious Lord. As Scripture says, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’ But God has revealed these things to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches everything, even the deep thoughts of God.”

The truth about God cannot be discovered through science or philosophy. Only through God’s own revelation can we understand him. These things were beyond human understanding until God’s Spirit revealed them.

1 Cor. 2:14 “People without God’s Spirit don’t accept what comes from God’s Spirit. They think it’s nonsense. They cannot understand it, because it’s spiritually understood.”

Is it surprising that Muslims reject the Gospel? Without God’s Spirit, they cannot comprehend it. Believers see life differently, because they belong to Christ.

1 Cor. 3:10-11 “Because of God’s grace, I became a skilled builder and laid a foundation. Others are building on it. But each one must build carefully. No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid: Jesus Christ.”

Jesus is the only foundation for life. We do not build upon Mohammed, or Sharia law, or the example of Mohammed. If someone tries to build on any foundation other than Christ, their life will collapse.

1 Cor. 3:16-17 “Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? Together you are God’s holy temple. If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person.”

Two key ideas appear here. First, the emphasis on the Holy Spirit living within believers again hints at the Trinity. Second, there’s a serious warning: whether it’s a congregation or a single Christian – God calls them his temple. Anyone who destroys God’s temple will face God’s judgment. Those who kill Christians are destroying themselves. They won’t find paradise or virgins. Only God’s destruction awaits them.

1 Cor. 5:6-7 “Stop being proud! Don’t you know that a little yeast spreads through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast so you’ll be like fresh dough without yeast – which you already are. Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”

The Passover lamb was sacrificed during Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. In the same way, Jesus is described as the Passover lamb for Christians, having given his life for us. Just as the lamb’s blood was placed on the doorposts to save lives, Jesus said his blood was poured out for the forgiveness of sins.

1 Cor. 6:11 “That’s what some of you were. But now you have been washed clean. You have been made holy and acceptable to God, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

Accepting Jesus changes a person from within. God’s Spirit begins cleansing a person’s heart and life, washing away sin and guilt, granting forgiveness, and restoring a relationship with God.

1 Cor. 6:14 “By his power, God raised the Lord from death, and he will also raise us by his power.”

The same power that raised Jesus from death works within believers.

1 Cor. 6:19-20 “Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourselves, because God paid a price to buy you. So use your body to honor God.”

Jesus had promised that his followers would receive the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a gift, not something earned or bought. The Spirit comes to live within those who believe in Jesus – the crucified Lord.

1 Cor. 7:17 “In every church I tell people to stay in the situation they were in when the Lord Jesus called them. Now I say the same to you.”

Throughout the New Testament letters, there is a consistent pattern of mentioning both the Lord Jesus and God the Father together.

1 Cor. 7:23 “You were bought at a price. Do not become slaves of human beings.”

The price paid was the death of God’s Son on the cross.

1 Cor. 8:4-6 “Now, about eating food offered to idols – we know that an idol is nothing in this world. There is only one God. Many are called ‘gods’ or ‘lords’ in heaven and on earth, but for us there is only one God – the Father. He created everything, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord – Jesus Christ. Through him, all things were created, and through him we have life.”

Christians have always affirmed belief in one God – monotheism. God is infinite, and beyond full human understanding. Only through God’s revelation can his character be known. The claim that God became human in Christ is not something Christians invented. It was revealed, and fulfilled in Christ. God remained the Father, while the Son came as Jesus.

1 Cor. 8:10-13 “Now, you know this – so eating in an idol’s temple doesn’t bother you. But imagine someone with a weak conscience sees you eating there. He might be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols. Then your knowledge has destroyed someone Christ died for. When you sin like this against weak believers, wounding their consciences, you sin against Christ. So if eating meat causes a believer to stumble, I will never eat meat again.”

In that culture, much of the meat sold came from idol temples. Paul warns not to harm weaker believers by exercising freedom carelessly. The reference to “someone Christ died for” shows again how central Jesus’ death is, even in daily life instructions. The message of Christ’s death cannot be removed from Christianity. History records it. Mohammed denied it. Whose testimony do you trust?

1 Cor. 10:1-9 “Friends, I want to remind you that all our ancestors were under the cloud and passed through the sea. This acted as a kind of baptism, making them followers of Moses. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink, which came from the spiritual rock that accompanied them. That rock was Christ. Yet, most of them did not please God, and their bodies were scattered across the desert. What happened to them serves as a warning so that we do not desire evil as they did. They worshiped idols, just as the Scriptures describe, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink and then got up to celebrate.’ So, avoid idol worship. Some of them committed shameful acts, and in one day about twenty-three thousand of them died. Do not engage in shameful behavior like them. And do not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were bitten by poisonous snakes.”

When the first Christians understood who Christ actually was – God in human form – they began to recognize his involvement even in Old Testament events. In this instance, the care provided to the Israelites during the Exodus was understood as the work of the pre-existent Christ.

1 Cor. 11:23-26 “I already told you what the Lord Jesus did on the night he was betrayed, and I received this directly from him. He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Eat this and remember me.’ After the meal, he took a cup of wine and said, ‘This is my blood, with which God makes his new covenant with you. Drink this and remember me.’ When you eat this bread and drink from this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he returns.”

Jesus prepared his followers for his approaching death by giving them a special ceremony that they would remember: the Lord’s Supper. The broken bread and the poured wine represented his body and blood, signifying his death. It also marked the start of the New Covenant that promises forgiveness.

1 Cor. 12:2-5 “Remember that before you followed the Lord, you were led astray by idols that couldn’t even speak. Now, I want you to understand that anyone led by God’s Spirit will acknowledge that Jesus is Lord and will never speak against him. There are different types of spiritual gifts, but they all come from the same Spirit. And there are different ways to serve the same Lord…”

Jesus had promised that the Holy Spirit would bear witness about him. This continues to be seen in the lives of believers.

1 Cor. 12:8-11 “To one person the Spirit gives wisdom, to another knowledge. Someone else is given great faith, or the ability to heal, or to perform miracles. Some are made prophets, others can recognize when God’s Spirit is present. Some speak in unknown languages, others can interpret them. But the same Spirit is behind all of these gifts, choosing what to give to each person.”

The work of the Spirit is demonstrated in believers’ lives through a variety of spiritual gifts. These gifts are not earned or chosen by the individual – they are given by the Spirit to help the Christian community live and serve.

1 Cor. 12:13 “Some of us are Jews, others are Gentiles. Some are slaves, others are free. But God’s Spirit baptized all of us and made us part of Christ’s body. And now we all share in that same Spirit.”

When people commit themselves to Christ, they are united with him. Just like a marriage unites two people, becoming a Christian forms a deep bond with Christ. Through the Holy Spirit, believers become part of his body – the church, not a physical building, but a spiritual body of believers. This action involves two persons of the Trinity – Christ and the Spirit.

1 Cor. 14:1 “Let love lead you. Desire the gifts that come from the Holy Spirit, especially the gift of prophecy.”

From Pentecost onward, the Holy Spirit worked powerfully in the early church, and the Spirit is often mentioned in the New Testament alongside the Father and the Son.

1 Cor. 15:3-8 “I passed on to you what I received as the most important message: that Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures foretold. He was buried, and three days later he rose to life, also as the Scriptures said. He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve, then to more than five hundred of his followers, most of whom are still alive, although some have died. He also appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all to me.”

Paul states clearly what lies at the heart of the Christian faith: that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again after three days. This message is central to Christianity, and to reject it is to reject the core of the Gospel. Paul’s words emphasize that this was not an ancient myth – these were recent events witnessed by hundreds.

1 Cor. 15:12-20 “If we proclaim that Christ was raised from the dead, how can some of you say that the dead will not be raised? If there’s no resurrection of the dead, then Christ wasn’t raised either. And if Christ wasn’t raised, then our preaching is useless, and so is your faith. If there’s no resurrection, we are lying about God, because we said that God raised Christ from the dead. If the dead are not raised, then Christ wasn’t raised. And if Christ wasn’t raised, your faith is pointless, and you’re still in your sins. Those who died believing in Christ are lost.”

Some people, like the Sadducees, denied any resurrection. Paul challenges that thinking. The resurrection of Jesus wasn’t a hidden event. Many people saw him alive after his death. If the resurrection hadn’t happened, then faith would be meaningless, and all believers – alive or dead – would be lost.

1 Cor. 15:20 “But the truth is, Christ has been raised from the dead! His resurrection is the guarantee that others will also be raised.”

Christ’s resurrection, and his appearance to Paul, motivated Paul to spread the Gospel widely. His resurrection implies his death was real, which poses a major problem for Muslims who deny it. Throughout the letters of the New Testament, Christ’s death and resurrection are repeatedly affirmed.

1 Cor. 15:23-28 “Everyone will be raised in their proper order. Christ was raised first, and then his followers will be raised when he returns. After he has defeated all powers and forces, the end will come. Then he will hand over the kingdom to God the Father. Christ will rule until all his enemies are under his authority, and the last enemy to be defeated is death. When the Scriptures say that everything is under Christ’s power, they don’t include God, who put everything under Christ. After everything is under Christ’s authority, he will submit himself to God, who put everything under his power. Then God will be supreme over everything and everyone.”

This passage raises two important points. First, it confirms that Christ’s resurrection followed his death. Second, it highlights the distinct roles of God the Father and God the Son, Jesus Christ – another affirmation of the Trinity in the New Testament.

II Corinthians, written months later than I Corinthians.

2 Cor. 1:2-3 “I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will show you kindness and bless you with peace! Praise be to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He is a merciful Father, always ready to give us comfort.”

The phrase “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” appears often in the letters. Keep in mind, Paul was once a strict monotheist who persecuted Christians. But after Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus, he came to understand that Jesus is Lord—God in human form. Speaking of both the Father and the Son together did not change his belief in one God.

2 Cor. 1:5 “We share in the intense sufferings of Christ, but we also share in the comfort he gives.”

That suffering refers to the crucifixion.

2 Cor. 1:18-22 “God is faithful, and so am I when I tell you that our message has always been “Yes” and not “No.” Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the one we preached to you—Silas, Timothy, and I—and in him the answer to God’s promises is always “Yes.” That’s why we say “Amen” through Christ, to give glory to God. God makes both you and us strong in Christ. He chose us and placed his Spirit in our hearts to show that we belong to him.”

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. God gives the Spirit to live in our hearts. Here again, the Trinity appears in just a few verses. But along with that, there’s a major truth: the Holy Spirit is the guarantee, the assurance, that God’s promises will be fulfilled. If someone is a follower of Jesus, they can be absolutely certain that after death they will be with God. Why? Because God has given his Spirit to live in their heart. Most Muslims don’t have this assurance. They wait to see what Allah will decide. For women, it’s worse—since Mohammed claimed to have seen hell mostly filled with women. In contrast, God’s promise through Christ is a guaranteed “Yes!” The Holy Spirit is the guarantee that it will happen—for anyone, male or female.

2 Cor. 2:14-15 “I’m grateful to God who always allows Christ to lead us to victory. God helps us spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like the fragrance of perfume. To God, we are like a sweet smell of Christ to everyone. To those being saved, it’s a sweet scent that leads to life. To those who are lost, it smells awful and leads to death.”

The Gospel of Jesus is like perfume. To believers, it’s a pleasant fragrance. To those who reject it, it smells offensive. The difference lies in whether someone accepts Jesus or not. To the believer, Jesus brings joy and new life. To the unbeliever, it is rejected.

2 Cor. 3:3-4 “You are like a letter from Christ, delivered through us—not written with ink or carved on stone tablets, but written in human hearts by the Spirit of the living God. We are confident of this, thanks to Christ, as we stand before God.”

Once more, Christ, the Spirit, and God the Father appear together.

2 Cor. 3:6 “God has made us worthy to serve under the new agreement which comes from the Spirit, not from a written law. The law brings death, but the Spirit brings life.”

Jesus said he came to bring real life. His Spirit living inside the believer produces love, peace, patience, kindness, self-control—everything good.

2 Cor. 3:8-10 “If the new covenant that the Spirit brings is so glorious, won’t it be even more wonderful? If something that brought death was glorious, then something that makes us right with God must be even more glorious. In fact, compared to this, the old law has no glory at all.”

What could be better than having your sins forgiven, having God promise eternal life with Him, and having His Spirit in your life now?

2 Cor. 3:17-18 “The Lord and the Spirit are one and the same, and where the Lord’s Spirit is, there is freedom. Our faces are now uncovered, and they reflect the glory of the Lord, as the Spirit of the Lord transforms us to become more and more like Him.”

Though there are distinct persons in the Trinity, their nature is one. This verse speaks of the oneness of the Lord and the Spirit, but their roles remain distinct. Meanwhile, believers are being changed by the Spirit into the image of Christ. The Spirit is the gift Jesus promised and is our constant companion.

2 Cor. 4:3-5 “If our message seems hidden, it’s only hidden to those who are lost. The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the good news about the glorious Christ, who shows us what God is like. We aren’t preaching about ourselves. Our message is that Jesus Christ is Lord. We are your servants for Jesus’ sake.”

What is stopping people from believing in Jesus as Lord? According to this passage, it’s because the god of this world has blinded their minds. Why do you think that is? History supports the Gospel, not Mohammed. Don’t confuse Hollywood’s version of Christianity with the truth. That’s part of Satan’s deception. The Gospel’s message is simple: Jesus is Lord, and believing that changes everything.

2 Cor. 4:6 “As the Scriptures say, ‘God commanded light to shine in the darkness.’ Now God has caused his light to shine in our hearts, so we can know His glory seen in Jesus Christ.”

Muslims may honor Jesus in some ways, but they miss the core message: God’s glory is shown through Jesus. Jesus is the Son of God, revealing God in human form. His coming brings people from darkness into light.

2 Cor. 4:14 “We speak with confidence, because we know that God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead. And just as God raised Jesus, he will also raise us to life and bring us into his presence together with you.”

Again, the resurrection is emphasized. It wasn’t just a past event—it’s something that affects us now. Because Jesus was raised, we will be raised too.

This life isn’t the end of the story. God, the eternal Creator, reaches out to restore people to Himself. It is not something we can earn, buy, or achieve. His love is freely given. Asking Jesus into your heart is where the journey begins.

2 Cor. 5:4-5 “These bodies we live in are like heavy burdens, and we long to be free from them—not because we want to die, but because we long to have new bodies that will never die. God makes this possible, and He has given us His Spirit to guarantee that He will do it.”

God isn’t distant and unknowable as Islam teaches. He didn’t just reveal His will. He revealed Himself through Jesus and gave His Spirit as proof of His promises. You can be certain of eternal life because of the Spirit He’s given you.

2 Cor. 5:14-20 “Christ’s love controls us. We believe that if one person died for everyone, then everyone died with Him. Christ died for everyone, so those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised for them. We don’t evaluate people based on outward appearances. At one time we thought of Christ that way, but no longer. Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! God made all of this happen. He brought us back to Himself through Christ, and He has given us the task of reconciling others to Him. God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s sins against them. He gave us the message of reconciliation. We speak for Christ when we plead: be reconciled to God.”

This passage contains the heart of the Gospel. God was in Christ. God sent Christ to reconcile the world to Himself. Christ died for all. God came in Christ to bring us back to Him. What incredible love! God Himself is reaching out to you, asking you to accept this message and come back to Him.

2 Cor. 6:6-7 “We have lived with purity, understanding, patience, and kindness. The Holy Spirit has been with us, and our love has been genuine. We speak the truth, and God’s power works in us. In every situation, we have done what is right.”

If you’re tired of your guilt, your shame, and your life of sin, the Holy Spirit can change your life. Through Him, there is forgiveness, cleansing, and peace. And remember—the Holy Spirit, mentioned here, has been part of Christian teaching since the beginning.

2 Cor. 11:3-4 “I’m afraid that just like Eve was deceived by the serpent’s lies, your minds may be led astray from sincere devotion to Christ. If someone comes and preaches another Jesus, one different from the Jesus we preached, or you receive a different spirit or a different message, you are too willing to accept it.”

Here is a clear warning: beware of false teachers. Even in Paul’s time, people spoke about “another Jesus.” Their message was false. The Qur’an presents a different Jesus—a Jesus who didn’t die, wasn’t raised, and wasn’t God’s Son. This is not the real Jesus revealed in the New Testament. False teachers appear in every generation, denying the Jesus who died and rose again.

2 Cor. 11:31 “God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, knows that I am telling the truth. Praise God forever!”

In the midst of describing his own hardships, Paul reaffirms the relationship between God the Father and Jesus the Son.

2 Cor. 13:4-5 “Jesus was crucified in weakness, but now lives by God’s power. We are weak too, but we will live with Him by God’s power. Examine yourselves to see whether you are truly in the faith. Test yourselves. Don’t you know that Christ is living in you? Unless you fail the test.”

Jesus was crucified. This point is repeated because it is central to the Gospel. A crucifixion without a resurrection means nothing—but the resurrection changed everything. Because of it, we can live by God’s power. The key question remains: is Christ living in you?

2 Cor. 13:13-14 “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

This Trinitarian statement appears at the end of many of Paul’s letters.

Galatians, probable date would be 56 AD.

Gal. 1:1-4 “This letter is from Paul, an apostle—not appointed by humans or any human authority, but chosen directly by Jesus Christ and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead. All the followers of the Lord who are with me send their greetings. To the churches in Galatia: I ask God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ to be kind to you and to give you peace. Christ followed the will of God our Father and gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins, to rescue us from this evil world.”

Jesus personally appeared to Paul and appointed him as an apostle, an act which involved both Jesus and God the Father. Paul prays to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ’s willing death for our sins, in obedience to the Father, is a theme repeated throughout the New Testament.

Gal. 1:7-9 “Some people are confusing you and trying to change the good news about Christ. I pray that God will curse anyone who preaches a different message than the one we preached—even if it’s one of us or an angel from heaven! I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: whoever preaches anything different from what you received should be cursed by God.”

Paul’s warning applies to anyone who distorts the true message of Christ—including Mohammed. Mohammed did change the message, rejecting Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, and his death for our sins.

Gal. 1:11-12 “Friends, I want you to understand that the message I preached wasn’t made up by humans. No one taught it to me; I received it directly from Jesus Christ when he appeared to me.”

Gal. 2:16 “We know that God only accepts people who have faith in Jesus Christ. No one can be made right with God simply by obeying the Law. So we have put our faith in Christ Jesus, so that God will accept us because of that faith.”

The only way to be accepted by God is through faith in Jesus Christ. Just acknowledging Isa as a prophet in the Qur’an does nothing. In the Qur’an, Jesus is not Lord, not Savior, not the Son of God. That’s not the Gospel—it’s a false version.

Gal. 2:19-21 “The Law itself brought me to death and freed me from its hold so I could live for God. I have been crucified with Christ. My old life has ended, and Christ now lives in me. I now live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me. I won’t reject God’s grace. If we could be made right with God through the Law, then Christ’s death was meaningless.”

Sin causes death under the Law. But when someone puts their trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior, they are united with him by faith. His death becomes their death; his resurrection brings them new life. This happens through faith in the Son of God, who gave his life for us on the cross.

This passage raises a serious question: have you rejected God’s free gift of grace?

Gal. 3:1-3 “You foolish Galatians! I told you clearly how Jesus Christ was nailed to a cross. Who has tricked you? I want to know this: did you receive God’s Spirit by obeying the Law of Moses, or by believing the message you heard about Christ? Are you so foolish that after starting with the Spirit, you now think you can finish by your own efforts?”

The message preached to them was simple: Jesus was crucified. Following the law didn’t bring them the Holy Spirit.

Gal. 3:5-7 “God gives you his Spirit and works miracles among you. Does he do this because you obey the Law, or because you heard the message about Christ and believed it? The Scriptures say that Abraham was accepted because of his faith. So understand this: everyone who has faith is a child of Abraham.”

What’s new in Christianity compared to Abraham’s time? God now gives his Spirit to those who believe in Christ. Abraham didn’t have the Spirit living inside him.

Gal. 3:12-14 “The Law is not based on faith. It says that whoever obeys its commands will have life. But Christ freed us from the curse of the Law when he became cursed for us, as Scripture says: anyone hung on a tree is cursed. Because of what Christ did, the blessing given to Abraham is now available to the Gentiles, so that through faith we can receive the promised Holy Spirit.”

Have you ever broken God’s law? If not, you’d be the first. Scripture declares that everyone has sinned. That’s the curse of the Law.

Gal. 3:26-29 “You are all God’s children through faith in Christ Jesus. When you were baptized, you clothed yourselves with Christ like putting on new clothes. In Christ, it doesn’t matter if you are Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. You are all equal in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, you are part of Abraham’s family, and will receive what God promised.”

Faith in Christ changes everything. Everyone who believes in him is equal—whether Jew or Gentile, former Muslim, slave or free, male or female. Equality in Christ is real. Anyone who denies this denies Christ’s work. This is the foundation for equality of women, even though many societies have ignored it. Historically, women in the West have had more freedom, while in India, Muslim cultures, and traditional China, women have been severely oppressed. Christ gives equality to all.

Gal. 4:4-6 “When the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, who obeyed the Law. His purpose was to free us from the Law so we could become God’s children. Now that we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, and that Spirit calls out to God as our Father.”

These verses bring together the foundation of the Trinity: God sent his Son, born of Mary. Then, God sent the Spirit of that Son into our hearts. We see Father, Son, and Holy Spirit here—one God in three persons.

Gal. 5:3-6 “If you insist on circumcision, then you must obey the entire Law. And if you try to please God by obeying the Law, you cut yourself off from Christ and reject his grace. But the Spirit makes us confident that God will accept us because of our faith in Christ. In Christ Jesus, being circumcised or not doesn’t matter. What matters is faith that expresses itself through love.”

Trying to obey the Law to please God cuts a person off from Christ. Religious actions can’t win God’s approval. Only faith in Christ matters. Then the Spirit works to transform a person from within.

People who pray five times a day, fast routinely, or go on pilgrimages are trying to earn God’s favor. The Gospel says: it’s impossible.

Trying to earn God’s approval is an insult. What could a sinful human possibly do to earn favor from a holy God?

Gal. 5:16-18 “Let the Spirit guide you, and you won’t give in to selfish desires. Your sinful nature fights against the Spirit, and the Spirit fights against your sinful nature. These two are always in conflict, keeping you from doing what you know is right. But when you follow the Spirit, the Law of Moses no longer controls you.”

Jesus promised his Spirit to believers, to transform them from within. Trusting Jesus frees a person from the Law, so they can live by love. Love doesn’t harm others.

Gal. 5:22-25 “The Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There’s no law against these things. Because we belong to Christ, we’ve put to death our selfish desires. The Spirit has given us life, so we should live by the Spirit.”

The Spirit’s goal is to transform believers. The Spirit brings love, joy, peace, and more. People search everywhere for happiness—but here it is.

Gal. 6:7-8 “Don’t fool yourself, and don’t mock God. You will harvest what you plant. If you plant to satisfy your sinful desires, you’ll harvest destruction. But if you live by the Spirit, you’ll harvest eternal life.”

Do you want eternal life? The choice is yours.

Gal. 6:12 “Those people telling you to get circumcised just want to look good to others. They don’t want to suffer for teaching about the cross of Christ.”

Certain people followed Paul, pushing circumcision on believers. But the early church rejected this requirement. Paul calls out these people for trying to avoid persecution by not teaching about the cross of Christ. If Paul hadn’t preached about the crucified Lord, he wouldn’t have faced persecution.

One last reminder: you can’t fool God. If you follow the Spirit, you’ll receive eternal life. Nothing less than life in God’s presence awaits you—but not through religious rituals. Only by God’s grace, through Christ’s death and resurrection.

Ephesians, written probably about 60 AD.

Eph. 1:2-6 “I pray that God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will show kindness to you and bless you with peace! Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the spiritual blessings that Christ has brought us from heaven! Before the world began, God had Christ choose us to live with him as his holy, innocent, and loving people. God’s kindness led him to decide that Christ would choose us to be adopted as his own children. All of this was because of the Son whom he loves so much. So, we should praise God for his goodness.”

Before the world even existed, both God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ chose us to be part of his family. Think carefully about that. Creation didn’t happen randomly. It happened because God is love, and love seeks to create and give value to others.

Eph. 1:7-9 “Christ sacrificed his life’s blood to set us free, meaning that our sins are now forgiven. Christ did this because God was so gracious to us. With his great wisdom and understanding, God revealed his mysterious plan through Christ.”

The world often thrives on revenge and punishment, yet God chose to come into the world in the person of Jesus to show that forgiveness is the ultimate goal. God forgives. Because of him, we can forgive. True change is possible through Jesus.

Eph. 1:10-14 “When the right time comes, God will carry out his plan, bringing everything together in Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. God always carries out his purpose. That’s why he chose Christ to choose us. He planned that we Jews would honor him first, putting our hope in him. Christ also brought the truth to you: the good news that you could be saved. After believing, you were given the promised Holy Spirit to mark you as belonging to God. The Spirit is the guarantee that God will give you what he has promised to his people. Then we will truly be free, and God will be honored and praised.”

Jesus Christ is the key to understanding the meaning of existence itself. He brought the truth. Other religions—Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, Hinduism, Lao-tzu—offer different teachings. But Jesus declared that he is “the way, the truth, and the life.” If that is true, then all other paths claiming truth are false (John 14:6). This is not culturally popular in a world that promotes multi-culturalism, especially in places like America. But Islam does not promote multi-culturalism. It claims supremacy (Qur’an 3:19).

The Greek word for “down payment” is used here to describe the Holy Spirit—the guarantee that believers are truly God’s adopted children and that he will keep his promise to them.

Eph. 1:17 “I ask the glorious Father, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will make you wise and help you understand what it means to know God.”

This verse is one of many that led to the Christian teaching of the Trinity—not as something invented later, but as an explanation of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit described together in the New Testament.

Eph. 1:19-23 “I pray that you will understand the incredible power God gives to us who believe. It’s the same mighty power he used when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in heaven. Christ now rules over all rulers, authorities, powers, and all beings in this world and the next. God placed everything under Christ’s authority and made him head over everything for the benefit of the church. The church is Christ’s body, filled with Christ himself, who fills everything in every way.”

God’s power, which seems impossible to human minds, is displayed through raising Christ from death. Human beings hunger for power—like jihadists who seek to subjugate the world under Islamic law (Qur’an 9:29). But no matter what humans attempt, the final authority belongs to Christ and his church. Believers are secure in his presence forever. There is no place in the kingdom of God for jihadists. The promised paradise of virgins is a deception from Satan (Qur’an 56:22).

Eph. 2:12-16 “At that time, you didn’t know Christ. You were outsiders to Israel, with no share in the promises God gave to them. You lived in the world without hope and without God. But Christ, through the sacrifice of his blood, brought you close to God. He brought peace between Jews and Gentiles by breaking down the wall of hostility between them. By giving his own body, Christ abolished the law of Moses with its regulations. He united Jews and Gentiles as one people, making peace. On the cross, Christ ended the hatred between groups and made peace between us and God by creating one united body.”

In Paul’s time, humanity was divided into Jews and Gentiles. Hatred ran deep between these two groups. Today, we see divisions between Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, and others. Yet the same truth applies: in Christ, these divisions are broken down. All are one in him. Realizing that Christ died for them changes people’s lives. Through Christ, peace is possible for everyone who trusts him.

Eph. 2:18-19 “Through Christ, all of us—regardless of background—can now come to the Father through the same Spirit. You Gentiles are no longer strangers and outsiders. You are fellow citizens with all of God’s people, members of his household.”

God reveals himself in Christ and by the Spirit. We become part of God’s family.

Eph. 2:22 “You are part of the building Christ is constructing as a place where God’s Spirit lives.”

Believers are described as a structure where God’s own Spirit lives. This Spirit transforms believers from the inside out, shaping them to become like Christ.

Eph. 3:11-12 “This was God’s eternal plan, carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. Because of what Christ has done, we can boldly and confidently approach God through faith in him.”

God isn’t far away or unreachable. He has drawn near to us through Christ. Faith in Jesus means being accepted by God the Father.

Eph. 3:14-17 “I kneel before the Father in prayer. Every being in heaven and on earth gets its life from him. God is great and glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you strong inwardly and that Christ will live in your hearts through faith. Stand firm, grounded in his love.”

We pray to the Father, through Christ, by the power of the Spirit. This is why the language of the Trinity appears so frequently in the New Testament.

Eph. 4:3-6 “Do everything you can to keep yourselves united through the Spirit, by living in peace. All of you belong to the same body. There is only one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is the Father of all people. He is over everything, works through everyone, and lives in all of us.”

The language here stresses the oneness of God’s nature while distinguishing between the three persons. We see the Spirit, the Lord, and the Father—all described as present within believers. Whether you speak of Christ living in you, the Spirit living in you, or the Father living in you—it is the same God. The three persons are equal, eternal, and united in one divine essence.

Eph. 4:13 “This process will continue until we are unified in faith and knowledge of the Son of God, reaching maturity and becoming fully like Christ.”

The purpose of Christ’s coming was to transform believers. This transformation begins with new birth and continues as believers grow to become like Christ himself.

Eph. 4:30-32 “Don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. The Spirit assures you that one day you will be free from your sins. Get rid of bitterness, anger, and harsh words. Don’t shout at each other, curse one another, or be rude. Instead, be kind and compassionate, forgiving others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.”

Our relationship with God involves the Holy Spirit—a person who can be grieved. The Spirit assures believers of their forgiveness, a forgiveness that comes from God through Christ. As God forgives, we are called to forgive.

Eph. 5:2 “Let love guide your life. Christ loved us and gave himself as a sacrifice to God, a pleasing offering.”

Why deny Christ’s sacrifice as a historical reality? The New Testament repeatedly affirms it from the very beginning. The crucifixion of Jesus is even recorded in non-Christian sources, both Roman and Jewish.

Eph. 5:5 “Being greedy, immoral, or indecent is another form of idolatry. People who live like this have no place in the kingdom that belongs to Christ and God.”

The kingdom of God belongs to those who follow Christ. You cannot belong to God without belonging to Christ first (John 14:6). This is not optional.

Eph. 5:18-21 “Don’t destroy yourselves with drunkenness. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. When you gather together, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, making music in your hearts to the Lord. Always thank God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Honor Christ by putting others before yourselves.”

Here, the Trinity again appears: the Spirit filling believers, prayers offered to the Father, and thanksgiving through Jesus Christ. At the same time, Christ’s sacrificial love for the church is emphasized—he gave his life for it. Muslims claim these events never happened. Yet the New Testament documents prove that early Christians believed this from the start. The doctrine of the Trinity was not a later invention; it is woven throughout these early writings.

Eph. 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.”

Two critical points are highlighted here. First, Christ’s death for the world and his sacrificial love for the church. Second, the instruction that husbands must love their wives in this same sacrificial way. Compare this with the teachings in Islam, where wife-beating is permitted (Qur’an 4:34). Beating a wife is never acceptable in Christianity.

Eph. 6:17-18 “Wear God’s salvation like a helmet, and use the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. Never stop praying for others. Always pray through the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for all of God’s people.”

The power of the Gospel comes through the Spirit, and prayer depends on the Spirit’s strength.

Eph. 6:23-24 “I pray that God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will give peace, love, and faith to all who follow him! May God’s grace be with everyone who loves our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This is the same style of closing that appears at the end of many of Paul’s letters.

Philippians, probably written about 61 AD.

Phil. 1:2-3 “I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace! Every time I think of you, I thank my God.”

Here again, God the Father and Jesus Christ are paired together as equals. If God is Father, then He has always been Father, which means the Son has always existed as the eternal Son. There is no change in God. Love is eternal, and for love to exist eternally, there must always have been both the beloved (the Son) and the Spirit of love between the Father and the Son. This is the foundation of the Christian understanding of God as triune.

Phil. 1:19 “I will keep on being glad, because I know that your prayers and the help that comes from the Spirit of Christ Jesus will keep me safe.”

The phrase “Spirit of Christ Jesus” refers to the Holy Spirit. Jesus had promised to send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who would be with His followers forever (John 14:16). The Spirit is not separate from Christ but is His Spirit, continuing His work in believers.

Phil. 2:1 “Christ encourages you, and his love comforts you. God’s Spirit unites you, and you are concerned for others.”

Both Christ and the Spirit are mentioned together here. Christ’s love comforts, and God’s Spirit creates unity among believers. This demonstrates two persons of the Trinity working together in the lives of Christians.

Phil. 2:4-11 “Care about them as much as you care about yourselves and think the same way that Christ Jesus thought: Christ was truly God. But he did not try to remain equal with God. Instead he gave up everything and became a slave, when he became like one of us. Christ was humble. He obeyed God and even died on a cross. Then God gave Christ the highest place and honored his name above all others. So at the name of Jesus everyone will bow down, those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And to the glory of God the Father everyone will openly agree, ‘Jesus Christ is Lord!'”

This passage from Philippians was written around 60 AD. That is too soon for myths or legends to have developed. The earliest Christians were already proclaiming that Jesus was truly God, who became human in the incarnation. He humbled Himself and died on the cross, after which God raised Him and exalted Him above all. The day will come when every being in existence will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord—either willingly in worship or unwillingly in judgment. Rejecting Him now leads to self-inflicted judgment, not because God desires it, but because one refuses the salvation offered.

Phil. 3:3 “But we are the ones who are truly circumcised, because we worship by the power of God’s Spirit and take pride in Christ Jesus.”

Paul’s understanding of worship was centered around two persons: the Holy Spirit and Christ Jesus. Worship is not external rituals but the work of the Spirit, who enables believers to rejoice in Christ.

Phil. 3:7-11 “But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ and to know that I belong to him. I could not make myself acceptable to God by obeying the Law of Moses. God accepted me simply because of my faith in Christ. All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him to life. I want to suffer and die as he did, so that somehow I also may be raised to life.”

Everything Paul had once valued in religion and achievement was now meaningless to him compared to knowing Christ. His new life came from faith in Christ, not from law-keeping. The same power that raised Christ from the dead was at work in Paul. His greatest desire was to know Christ personally, to share in His sufferings, and to experience resurrection life. The death and resurrection of Jesus are central once again.

Phil. 3:18-21 “I often warned you that many people are living as enemies of the cross of Christ. And now with tears in my eyes, I warn you again that they are headed for hell! They worship their stomachs and brag about the disgusting things they do. All they can think about are the things of this world. But we are citizens of heaven and are eagerly waiting for our Savior to come from there. Our Lord Jesus Christ has power over everything, and he will make these poor bodies of ours like his own glorious body.”

Those who deny the cross of Christ are called enemies of the cross. This includes Muslims, who reject the crucifixion event (Qur’an 4:157). Paul warns that such people are headed for destruction. But believers, described as citizens of heaven, look forward to the return of Christ and the transformation of their bodies to be like His resurrected body.

Phil. 4:7 “Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.”

Belonging to Christ Jesus results in a supernatural peace from God, which controls the mind and heart. Here again, Jesus and God are closely linked, affirming the unity of their work.

Phil. 4:19-20 “I pray that God will take care of all your needs with the wonderful blessings that come from Christ Jesus! May God our Father be praised forever and ever. Amen.”

Paul closes with a common pattern: God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ mentioned together. The blessings God gives come through Christ Jesus. In praising the Father, believers acknowledge the Son.

Colossians, this book was also written about 60 AD.

Col. 1:1-4 “From Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, who is also a follower. To God’s people who live in Colossae and are faithful followers of Christ. I pray that God our Father will be kind to you and will bless you with peace! Each time we pray for you, we thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have heard of your faith in Christ and of your love for all of God’s people…”

God’s grace is His reaching down to humanity, and peace is the outcome of that grace. Love originates from God because God is love itself, and that love is expressed through Christ. The result is that when believers experience His love, they begin to show love toward others. Throughout the New Testament, especially in Paul’s writings, the Father and Son appear together—this is not a later theological invention but early Christian teaching.

Col. 1:7-10 “… from our good friend Epaphras. He works together with us for Christ and is a faithful worker for you. He is also the one who told us about the love that God’s Spirit has given you. We have not stopped praying for you since the first day we heard about you. In fact, we always pray that God will show you everything he wants you to do and that you may have all the wisdom and understanding that his Spirit gives. Then you will live a life that honors the Lord, and you will always please him by doing good deeds. You will come to know God even better.”

Here the Holy Spirit is not treated as an impersonal force. He is a divine person who lives within believers, giving wisdom, understanding, and teaching them to live in a way that pleases the Lord. This leads to a deeper relationship with God. In contrast, in many religious schools (madrassas), children are taught hatred, division, and violence. This reflects the work of Satan, not God. God’s Spirit teaches love, joy, and wisdom.

Col. 1:12-16 “I pray that you will be grateful to God for letting you have part in what he has promised his people in the kingdom of light. God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son, who forgives our sins and sets us free. Christ is exactly like God, who cannot be seen. He is the first-born Son, superior to all creation. Everything was created by him, everything in heaven and on earth, everything seen and unseen, including all forces and powers, and all rulers and authorities. All things were created by God’s Son, and everything was made for him.”

This passage is central in understanding who Christ is. God rescues people and transfers them into the kingdom of His beloved Son. Christ is described as “exactly like God”—the invisible God is made known through Him. In John 14:9, Jesus said, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” The term “firstborn” here does not mean Christ was created. It is a title of supremacy, not birth order. In Psalm 89:27, David is called “firstborn” though he was the youngest son of Jesse. The term indicates pre-eminence, not literal birth. Everything was created through Christ—the visible and invisible, spiritual powers and physical creation alike.

Col. 1:19-22 “God himself was pleased to live fully in his Son. And God was pleased for him to make peace by sacrificing his blood on the cross, so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God. You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things. But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent.”

The incarnation—the fact that God fully lived in His Son—is described as God’s own plan. God, through His Son, made peace by shedding His blood on the cross. If you reject the incarnation and crucifixion, your thoughts align you against God. You become His enemy by denying the sacrifice He offered to reconcile you. God went to the ultimate extent to save humanity. Denying that is rejecting the gift of life itself.

Col. 2:5-7 “Even though I am not with you, I keep thinking about you. I am glad to know that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong. You have accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord. Now keep on following him. Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful.”

Jesus is called Lord, which for Jews means divine authority. In accepting Jesus as Lord, you accept Him as God in human form. He is not one of many prophets like Mohammed or Buddha. He is the foundation of life. Building life on anything else means building on sand with no eternal future.

Col. 2:9-15 “God lives fully in Christ. And you are fully grown because you belong to Christ, who is over every power and authority. Christ has also taken away your selfish desires, just as circumcision removes flesh from the body. And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death. God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross. There Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory.”

If you ask who Jesus really is, this passage gives a direct answer: “God lives fully in Christ.” The death of Jesus was not a tragedy but a victory over sin and spiritual powers. His death removes guilt and restores people to God. No other religious leader has defeated death, sin, and evil through their own resurrection. Jesus did, making Him unique.

Col. 3:11-13 “It doesn’t matter if you are a Greek or a Jew, or if you are circumcised or not. You may even be a barbarian or a Scythian, and you may be a slave or a free person. Yet Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you.”

Forgiveness belongs to God alone. Here, Christ is the one who forgives sin—again pointing to His divine nature. The Christian message erases human divisions and calls for a community where all people—men, women, rich, poor, Jew, Gentile—are equal and united in Christ.

Col. 3:15-17 “Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful. Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him.”

Life in Christ is filled with peace, gratitude, and joy. Believers are to live as a community reflecting the unity of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Spirit—who exist together in perfect relationship. All of life is to be lived “in the name of the Lord Jesus,” with thanks given to God the Father through Him.

Thessalonians, this letter was written about the year 50-51. This would be 20 years after the Ascension of the Lord Jesus.

1 Th. 1:1-3 “From Paul, Silas, and Timothy. To the church in Thessalonica, the people of God the Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that God will be kind to you and will bless you with peace! We thank God for you and always mention you in our prayers. Each time we pray, we tell God our Father about your faith and loving work and about your firm hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

At the start of the letter, Paul once again links together God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. These are not abstract titles; this was being taught within twenty years of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Paul and the early church identified the Father and the Son as distinct persons yet united in divine nature. This shows early Christian understanding of the Trinity already forming. Very soon after, the Holy Spirit will also be mentioned.

1 Th. 1:5-6 “When we told you the good news, it was with the power and assurance that come from the Holy Spirit, and not simply with words. You knew what kind of people we were and how we helped you. So, when you accepted the message, you followed our example and the example of the Lord. You suffered, but the Holy Spirit made you glad.”

Here the Holy Spirit is presented as a divine person providing power and inner joy, especially in the face of persecution. Believers endured suffering not by their own strength, but by the Spirit’s presence. This verse clarifies that Christians were persecuted — they did not persecute others. Christian teaching includes no command to force conversion by violence or threats.

1 Th. 1:9-10 “Everyone is talking about how you welcomed us and how you turned away from idols to serve the true and living God. They also tell how you are waiting for his Son Jesus to come from heaven. God raised him from death, and on the day of judgment Jesus will save us from God’s anger.”

The Thessalonian believers abandoned idol worship to follow “the true and living God” and to wait for His Son from heaven. Jesus, as God’s Son, was raised from death and will return again. These two facts — His resurrection and His future return — were foundational to the first Christians. Islam denies both the crucifixion and resurrection (Qur’an 4:157-158). Paul makes it clear: Jesus died and rose, and He will return to deliver believers from the judgment of God.

1 Th. 2:14-15 “My friends, you did just like God’s churches in Judea and like the other followers of Christ Jesus there. And so, you were mistreated by your own people, in the same way they were mistreated by their people. Those Jews killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and they even chased us away. God doesn’t like what they do and neither does anyone else.”

The letter openly names the crucifixion again: “the Lord Jesus” was killed. Christian churches (called both “God’s churches” and “the body of Christ”) were communities formed in unity with Jesus, whose death is central to their identity.

1 Th. 3:11-12 “We pray that God our Father and our Lord Jesus will let us visit you. May the Lord make your love for each other and for everyone else grow by leaps and bounds. That’s how our love for you has grown.”

Paul addresses both God the Father and the Lord Jesus in his prayer, clearly presenting their relationship without confusion. The main teaching focus for believers is to grow in love — for fellow believers and all people.

1 Th. 4:1-3 “Finally, my dear friends, since you belong to the Lord Jesus, we beg and urge you to live as we taught you. Then you will please God. You are already living that way, but try even harder. Remember the instructions we gave you as followers of the Lord Jesus. God wants you to be holy, so don’t be immoral in matters of sex.”

Believers are described as “belonging to the Lord Jesus.” Their aim in life is to please God — yet the path to pleasing God runs through belonging to Jesus.

1 Th. 4:8 “So if you don’t obey these rules, you are not really disobeying us. You are disobeying God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.”

Obedience to apostolic teaching is obedience to God, because God has given believers His Holy Spirit. Notice the Spirit is again referred to as God’s gift, personally involved in guiding and transforming believers.

1 Th. 4:14-17 “We believe that Jesus died and was raised to life. We also believe that when God brings Jesus back again, he will bring with him all who had faith in Jesus before they died. Our Lord Jesus told us that when he comes, we won’t go up to meet him ahead of his followers who have already died. With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of God’s trumpet, the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life. Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever.”

This passage summarizes the key beliefs of early Christians: Jesus died, Jesus rose again, and Jesus will return. Unlike Islam’s description of Jesus returning to kill Jews hiding behind trees (Sahih Muslim 2922a), the New Testament presents His return as a moment of resurrection and reunion, not vengeance.

1 Th. 5:9-10 “God doesn’t intend to punish us, but wants us to be saved by our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ died for us, so that we could live with him, whether we are alive or dead when he comes.”

Why did Christ die? So “we could live with him.” The death of Jesus is central because it is the foundation of salvation. Since Islam denies His death (Qur’an 4:157), it also removes any promise of eternal life with Him.

1 Th. 5:18-19 “Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do. Don’t turn away God’s Spirit….”

Believers are instructed to continually give thanks to God — why? Because of Jesus Christ. Rejecting or ignoring the Holy Spirit is considered rejecting God Himself, since His Spirit is His personal presence.

II Thessalonians, written probably a few weeks later than the first letter to clear up their misunderstanding.

2 Th. 1:1-2 “From Paul, Silas, and Timothy. To the church in Thessalonica, the people of God our Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!”

Just as in the previous letter, the introduction of this letter again places God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ together as the divine source of grace and peace. This repetition shows that, in the mind of the earliest Christians, the Father and the Son were distinct yet united, both actively involved in blessing the church.

2 Th. 1:6-10 “It is only right for God to punish everyone who is causing you trouble, but he will give you relief from your troubles. He will do the same for us, when the Lord Jesus comes from heaven with his powerful angels and with a flaming fire. Our Lord Jesus will punish anyone who doesn’t know God and won’t obey his message. Their punishment will be eternal destruction, and they will be kept far from the presence of our Lord and his glorious strength. This will happen on that day when the Lord returns to be praised and honored by all who have faith in him and belong to him. This includes you, because you believed what we said.”

This passage directly describes Jesus returning from heaven—not as a prophet or teacher, but as the final Judge. His arrival will bring punishment for those who rejected the truth. The punishment will be eternal destruction and separation from His presence. This is not human revenge but divine justice carried out by the Lord Jesus Himself. Nowhere in the New Testament are believers told to carry out punishments on unbelievers. In contrast, Islam explicitly commands jihad and human-led punishments (Qur’an 9:5; 9:29). In Christianity, judgment belongs to God alone, and specifically to Christ at His return.

2 Th. 2:12-14 “Then, because God and our Lord Jesus Christ are so kind, you will bring honor to the name of our Lord Jesus, and he will bring honor to you. My friends, the Lord loves you, and it is only natural for us to thank God for you. God chose you to be the first ones to be saved. His Spirit made you holy, and you put your faith in the truth. God used our preaching as his way of inviting you to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Notice again how God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Spirit are all mentioned together. The believers’ salvation began with God’s love and His choice, the work of the Spirit who makes them holy, and their own faith in the truth. But the ultimate goal of this salvation is expressed clearly: sharing in the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. To reject the Son is to reject the glory God offers.

2 Th. 2:16-17 “God our Father loves us. He is kind and has given us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope. We pray that our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father will encourage you and help you always to do and say the right thing.”

This conclusion contrasts directly with Islamic teaching. In the Qur’an, Allah’s love is conditional—he loves only those who are righteous and obedient (Qur’an 2:195, 3:76). In contrast, the Christian God loves first, even while people are sinners (Romans 5:8). His love provides comfort, hope, and guidance—not as a reward for righteousness, but as a gift that transforms the sinner.

I Timothy, the date on this book would be somewhere around 64 AD before Paul’s death.

1 Tim. 1:1-2 “From Paul. God our Savior and Christ Jesus commanded me to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, who gives us hope. Timothy, because of our faith, you are like a son to me. I pray that God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind and merciful to you. May they bless you with peace!”

Once again, Paul greets using the consistent formula linking God the Father with the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice Paul calls God both our Father and our Savior. Jesus is not introduced as a separate Savior but united with the Father’s work. This repetition in early Christian letters shows the unity of the Father and Son.

1 Tim. 1:12-16 “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord. He has given me the strength for my work because he knew that he could trust me. I used to say terrible and insulting things about him, and I was cruel. But he had mercy on me because I didn’t know what I was doing, and I had not yet put my faith in him. Christ Jesus our Lord was very kind to me. He has greatly blessed my life with faith and love just like his own. ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.’ This saying is true, and it can be trusted. I was the worst sinner of all! But since I was worse than anyone else, God had mercy on me and let me be an example of the endless patience of Christ Jesus. He did this so that others would put their faith in Christ and have eternal life.”

Paul declares that Jesus is Lord, and identifies him directly as the one who came into the world to save sinners—this refers to the Incarnation. His mercy and endless patience are directly tied to his divinity. Islam denies this (Qur’an 4:157), but Paul insists that Christ came specifically to save sinners. This is not legend; this is Paul’s personal testimony only years after the crucifixion.

1 Tim. 2:2-6 “Pray for kings and others in power, so that we may live quiet and peaceful lives as we worship and honor God. This kind of prayer is good, and it pleases God our Savior. God wants everyone to be saved and to know the whole truth, which is, There is only one God, and Christ Jesus is the only one who can bring us to God. Jesus was truly human, and he gave himself to rescue all of us. God showed us this at the right time.”

Paul again links God the Father and Christ Jesus as the only way to salvation. One God, and one mediator—Jesus Christ, who alone can bring humans to God. His humanity and his self-sacrifice are essential. Islam denies that anyone can act as a mediator (Qur’an 2:48), but Paul says Christ is the only mediator between God and humanity.

1 Tim. 3:16 “Here is the great mystery of our religion: Christ came as a human. The Spirit proved that he pleased God, and he was seen by angels. Christ was preached to the nations. People in this world put their faith in him, and he was taken up to glory.”

Christ’s incarnation, the work of the Spirit, and his ascension to glory are all confirmed here. This passage compresses the entire Gospel message into one statement, confirming again the early Christian focus on Jesus as God revealed in flesh, whose work was affirmed by the Spirit and whose message spread worldwide.

1 Tim. 4:1-2 “God’s Spirit clearly says that in the last days many people will turn from their faith. They will be fooled by evil spirits and by teachings that come from demons. They will also be fooled by the false claims of liars whose consciences have lost all feeling.”

It is the Spirit who speaks directly in this prophetic warning. The Spirit is not a force but a Person who gives direct revelation and warns the church about false teachers and deceptive doctrines. This explains why denials of the cross, resurrection, or incarnation are considered demonic deception in the New Testament view.

1 Tim. 4:10 “We have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, but especially of those who have faith. That’s why we work and struggle so hard.”

Both God the Father and Jesus Christ are called Savior interchangeably. Why? Because salvation is the work of the triune God. The Father wills salvation. The Son accomplishes it. The Spirit applies it to the believer.

1 Tim. 6:3 “Anyone who teaches something different disagrees with the correct and godly teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Any teaching that rejects Jesus as Lord, or denies his work, is considered false teaching. Paul is clear that loyalty to the teaching of Jesus is required to belong to the true faith.

1 Tim. 6:14-16 “Promise to obey completely and fully all that you have been told until our Lord Jesus Christ returns. The glorious God is the only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords. At the time that God has already decided, he will send Jesus Christ back again. Only God lives forever! And he lives in light that no one can come near. No human has ever seen God or ever can see him. God will be honored, and his power will last forever. Amen.”

The Father is here called the only Ruler, King of kings, and Lord of lords, yet Revelation 17:14 applies the same titles to Jesus. This shows the unity of titles and attributes shared between the Father and the Son. What belongs to God belongs also to Christ. This is why early Christians worshiped Jesus without considering it idolatry.

II Timothy, the date would be about 67 or the spring of 68 at the latest.

2 Tim. 1:1-2
Paul identifies himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus, chosen by God. It is God who appointed him, but the promised life is made possible through Jesus Christ. Paul’s blessing to Timothy is from God our Father and the Lord Christ Jesus. This consistent pairing shows the unity between the Father and the Son, and that Jesus is not a mere human prophet, but Lord.

2 Tim. 1:7-10
The Spirit of God gives power, love, and self-control. This Spirit does not produce fear or hesitation, but courage and strength. Paul instructs Timothy not to feel ashamed about the message of Christ or about suffering for Him. The Spirit’s power enables the proclamation of the Gospel. Salvation, according to Paul, comes not from human effort but entirely from God’s grace, which was planned “before time began” to be revealed through Christ Jesus. This stresses that Christ’s coming, His defeat of death, and His message of eternal life were not a later invention, but the fulfillment of God’s eternal plan. The phrase “Christ our Savior” affirms His divine role.

2 Tim. 1:13-14
Paul tells Timothy to maintain the correct teaching he received, modeled by faith and love in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit, who lives within believers, helps to guard this message. Both Christ and the Spirit are active in the believer’s life: Jesus is the model, the Spirit is the helper. This clearly shows two persons of the Trinity working in unison in the believer’s sanctification.

2 Tim. 2:11-13
Union with Christ means sharing in His death and resurrection spiritually. Those who remain faithful will rule with Him. However, those who deny Christ will be denied by Him at judgment. Still, Christ remains faithful to His nature and mission, regardless of human response. Faith in Christ is presented as the only pathway to eternal life.

2 Tim. 4:1
Paul describes Christ Jesus as the future King and Judge over both the living and the dead. The authority of Christ is the same as that of God. Paul charges Timothy to preach with the awareness that both God and Christ are witnesses to his ministry. The anticipation of Christ’s return is a core part of Christian hope. His role as Judge confirms His divinity and His eternal kingship.

Titus, written about 64 AD before 2 Timothy and after 1 Timothy.

Tit. 1:2-4
God is described as the one who promised eternal life long ago. This promise reflects God’s unchanging nature—God never lies. At the right moment, God our Savior revealed this message, with Paul tasked to preach it. Paul then blesses Titus in the names of God our Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. The titles God our Savior and Christ Jesus our Savior appear together without contradiction, showing that salvation is the work of both the Father and the Son. Their roles in salvation are so intertwined that either title fits both persons. This reinforces the unity of the Trinity—what one person of the Godhead does, they all participate in, though specific roles may be assigned.

Tit. 2:13-14
Believers are told to wait in hope for the return of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. In this verse, Jesus Christ is directly called both God and Savior. This shows that the early Christians did not see Jesus as a mere prophet or teacher, but as divine. His role as Savior is tied to His sacrificial death—He gave Himself to rescue us. His goal was to purify a people for Himself, creating a people eager to live righteously.

Tit. 3:4-8
Here again, God our Savior is credited with showing kindness and mercy—not due to our works but purely out of His grace. The washing and new birth are done by the power of the Holy Spirit, marking the Spirit’s role in applying salvation to believers. Then, God sent Jesus Christ our Savior, who in turn gives the Holy Spirit to believers. The outcome is being made acceptable to God and receiving the hope of eternal life.

In summary:

• God the Father planned salvation.
• Jesus Christ accomplished salvation through His sacrifice.
• The Holy Spirit applies salvation, renewing and transforming believers.

The entire Trinity is active in giving eternal life.

Philemon, probably about 60 AD.

Phm 1:3
Paul greets Philemon personally by invoking God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, asking that they show kindness and bring peace. Even though this is a private letter addressed to an individual and not a church, Paul uses the exact same formula seen in his letters to whole congregations. This shows that for Paul, the relationship between the Father and the Son was not limited to public or formal teaching—it was a central and constant truth, even in personal communication.

This consistent greeting underscores the unity of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ as foundational to Christian identity, whether addressed to churches or to a single believer.

Hebrews, a book written while temple sacrifices were still conducted, and before Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD. Perhaps a date of 63-65 AD.

Heb. 1:1-3 “Long ago in many ways and at many times God’s prophets spoke his message to our ancestors. But now at last, God sent his Son to bring his message to us. God created the universe by his Son, and everything will someday belong to the Son. God’s Son has all the brightness of God’s own glory and is like him in every way. By his own mighty word, he holds the universe together. After the Son had washed away our sins, he sat down at the right side of the glorious God in heaven.”

The Son is the one through whom God created the universe. The Son is described as having all the brightness of God’s own glory, and he is exactly like God in every way. He holds everything together and after cleansing sin by his sacrifice, he sat down at God’s right hand in heaven.

Heb. 1:5-8 “God has never said to any of the angels, “You are my Son, because today I have become your Father!” Neither has God said to any of them, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son!” When God brings his first-born Son into the world, he commands all of his angels to worship him. And when God speaks about the angels, he says, “I change my angels into wind and my servants into flaming fire.” But God says about his Son, “You are God, and you will rule as King forever! Your royal power brings about justice.””

The angels are created beings who serve God. The Son is above them all. Angels are commanded to worship the Son. God himself calls the Son, “You are God.” The Son will rule forever.

Heb. 1:10-13 “The Scriptures also say, “In the beginning, Lord, you were the one who laid the foundation of the earth and created the heavens. They will all disappear and wear out like clothes, but you will last forever. You will roll them up like a robe and change them like a garment. But you are always the same, and you will live forever.” God never said to any of the angels, “Sit at my right side until I make your enemies into a footstool for you!””

The Son is again affirmed as Creator. The created world will come to an end but the Son is eternal. God tells the Son to sit at his right side, waiting for all enemies to be subjected.

Heb. 2:4 “God himself showed that his message was true by working all kinds of powerful miracles and wonders. He also gave his Holy Spirit to anyone he chose to.”

God confirmed his message through miracles and through the giving of the Holy Spirit to believers. The Spirit is mentioned as part of the work of God in the world.

Heb. 2:9-11 “What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels. Because of God’s wonderful kindness, Jesus died for everyone. And now that Jesus has suffered and died, he is crowned with glory and honor! Everything belongs to God, and all things were created by his power. So God did the right thing when he made Jesus perfect by suffering, as Jesus led many of God’s children to be saved and to share in his glory. Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family. That is why he isn’t ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.”

Jesus was made human, lower than angels temporarily, in order to die for all. His suffering and death are God’s plan. Jesus leads many to salvation and is not ashamed to call believers his family.

Heb. 2:14-18 “We are people of flesh and blood. That is why Jesus became one of us. He died to destroy the devil, who had power over death. But he also died to rescue all of us who live each day in fear of dying. Jesus clearly did not come to help angels, but he did come to help Abraham’s descendants. He had to be one of us, so that he could serve God as our merciful and faithful high priest and sacrifice himself for the forgiveness of our sins. And now that Jesus has suffered and was tempted, he can help anyone else who is tempted.”

Jesus shared humanity to destroy the power of death and the devil. His death provides forgiveness. His suffering makes him able to help those who suffer. Mohammed and others died and remained dead. Jesus died and now lives to help people.

Heb. 3:5-8 “Moses was a faithful servant and told God’s people what would be said in the future. But Christ is the Son in charge of God’s people. And we are those people, if we keep on being brave and don’t lose hope. It is just as the Holy Spirit says, “If you hear God’s voice today, don’t be stubborn! Don’t rebel like those people who were tested in the desert.””

Christ is the Son ruling over God’s people. The Holy Spirit warns not to reject this truth.

Heb. 4:14-16 “We have a great high priest, who has gone into heaven, and he is Jesus the Son of God. That is why we must hold on to what we have said about him. Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.”

Jesus as Son of God is now in heaven. He experienced human temptation but did not sin. He invites people to approach God confidently through him.

Heb. 5:5-10 “That is how it was with Christ. He became a high priest, but not just because he wanted the honor of being one. It was God who told him, “You are my Son, because today I have become your Father!” In another place, God says, “You are a priest forever just like Melchizedek.” God had the power to save Jesus from death. And while Jesus was on earth, he begged God with loud crying and tears to save him. He truly worshiped God, and God listened to his prayers. Jesus is God’s own Son, but still he had to suffer before he could learn what it really means to obey God. Suffering made Jesus perfect, and now he can save forever all who obey him. This is because God chose him to be a high priest like Melchizedek.”

God appointed Jesus to be high priest. Jesus suffered but was faithful. As Son, he is the source of eternal salvation.

Heb. 6:4-6 “But what about people who turn away after they have already seen the light and have received the gift from heaven and have shared in the Holy Spirit? What about those who turn away after they have received the good message of God and the powers of the future world? There is no way to bring them back. What they are doing is the same as nailing the Son of God to a cross and insulting him in public!”

Rejecting Christ after receiving the truth is compared to crucifying him again. To deny the cross or the identity of the Son of God is an insult to God.

Heb. 7:25-28 “He is forever able to save the people he leads to God, because he always lives to speak to God for them. Jesus is the high priest we need. He is holy and innocent and faultless, and not at all like us sinners. Jesus is honored above all beings in heaven, and he is better than any other high priest. Jesus doesn’t need to offer sacrifices each day for his own sins and then for the sins of the people. He offered a sacrifice once for all, when he gave himself. The Law appoints priests who have weaknesses. But God’s promise, which came later than the Law, appoints his Son. And he is the perfect high priest forever.”

Jesus saves completely those who come to God through him. His one-time sacrifice was enough for all people, unlike the repeated sacrifices of human priests. He is holy and perfect forever.

Heb. 8:1 “What I mean is that we have a high priest who sits at the right side of God’s great throne in heaven.”

Jesus is now seated beside God in heaven, serving as high priest and mediator of the new covenant.

Heb. 9:8-12 “All of this is the Holy Spirit’s way of saying that no one could enter the most holy place while the tent was still the place of worship. This also has a meaning for today. It shows that we cannot make our consciences clear by offering gifts and sacrifices. These rules are merely about such things as eating and drinking and ceremonies for washing ourselves. And rules about physical things will last only until the time comes to change them for something better. Christ came as the high priest of the good things that are now here. He also went into a much better tent that wasn’t made by humans and that doesn’t belong to this world. Then Christ went once for all into the most holy place and freed us from sin forever. He did this by offering his own blood instead of the blood of goats and bulls.”

External rituals cannot cleanse the heart. Christ’s sacrifice, not rituals, cleanses people from sin.

Heb. 9:14-15 “But Christ was sinless, and he offered himself as an eternal and spiritual sacrifice to God. That’s why his blood is much more powerful and makes our consciences clear. Now we can serve the living God and no longer do things that lead to death. Christ died to rescue those who had sinned and broken the old agreement. Now he brings his chosen ones a new agreement with its guarantee of God’s eternal blessings!”

Christ’s sinless sacrifice provides true forgiveness and access to eternal blessings. His blood cleanses the conscience, unlike physical rituals.

Heb. 9:24-28 “This is why Christ did not go into a tent that had been made by humans and was only a copy of the real one. Instead, he went into heaven and is now there with God to help us. Christ did not have to offer himself many times. He wasn’t like a high priest who goes into the most holy place each year to offer the blood of an animal. If he had offered himself every year, he would have suffered many times since the creation of the world. But instead, near the end of time he offered himself once and for all, so that he could be a sacrifice that does away with sin. We die only once, and then we are judged. So Christ died only once to take away the sins of many people. But when he comes again, it will not be to take away sin. He will come to save everyone who is waiting for him.”

Christ died once for sins. His return will not be for sacrifice but for salvation of those who belong to him. His first coming dealt with sin. His second coming will fulfill salvation.

Heb. 10:5-7 “When Christ came into the world, he said to God, “Sacrifices and offerings are not what you want, but you have given me my body. No, you are not pleased with animal sacrifices and offerings for sin.” Then Christ said, “And so, my God, I have come to do what you want, as the Scriptures say.”

Christ existed before coming into the world. He came to do the Father’s will. His mission involved giving his body, pointing clearly to the incarnation. Animal sacrifices were never enough. Christ came to fulfill what the Father wanted from the beginning.

Heb. 10:10-17 “So we are made holy because Christ obeyed God and offered himself once for all. The priests do their work each day, and they keep on offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. But Christ offered himself as a sacrifice that is good forever. Now he is sitting at God’s right side, and he will stay there until his enemies are put under his power. By his one sacrifice he has forever set free from sin the people he brings to God. The Holy Spirit also speaks of this by telling us that the Lord said, “When the time comes, I will make an agreement with them. I will write my laws on their minds and hearts. Then I will forget about their sins and no longer remember their evil deeds.”

Christ’s death was once for all. There is no repeated sacrifice. Animal sacrifices failed to remove sin, but Christ’s sacrifice works forever. The Holy Spirit testifies of this. The new agreement involves God’s Spirit working within, transforming believers. Christ’s death brings forgiveness, internal change, and peace with God.

Heb. 10:18-20 “When sins are forgiven, there is no more need to offer sacrifices. My friends, the blood of Jesus gives us courage to enter the most holy place by a new way that leads to life! And this way takes us through the curtain that is Christ himself.”

Because Christ’s death brings real forgiveness, there is no more sacrifice needed. The blood of Jesus – meaning his death – opened direct access to God, replacing the temple curtain. Prayer is now possible with confidence because of him.

Heb. 10:29-31 “But it is much worse to dishonor God’s Son and to disgrace the blood of the promise that made us holy. And it is just as bad to insult the Holy Spirit, who shows us mercy. We know that God has said he will punish and take revenge. We also know that the Scriptures say the Lord will judge his people. It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God!”

To reject the Son or his death is not neutral. It is to insult God’s greatest gift. It is to insult the Holy Spirit who testifies of Christ. Judgement is assured for those who reject God’s offer of mercy. The warning is serious: rejecting Christ is rejecting God himself.

Heb. 12:2-3 “We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew that later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side of God’s throne! So keep your mind on Jesus, who put up with many insults from sinners. Then you won’t get discouraged and give up.”

The believer is instructed to look to Jesus. His endurance of the cross was not meaningless; it was purposeful. His death and resurrection are central. He now sits at God’s right side, confirming his authority.

Heb. 12:22-25 “You have now come to Mount Zion and to the heavenly Jerusalem. This is the city of the living God, where thousands and thousands of angels have come to celebrate. Here you will find all of God’s dearest children, whose names are written in heaven. And you will find God himself, who judges everyone. Here also are the spirits of those good people who have been made perfect. And Jesus is here! He is the one who makes God’s new agreement with us, and his sprinkled blood says much better things than the blood of Abel. Make sure that you obey the one who speaks to you. The people did not escape, when they refused to obey the one who spoke to them at Mount Sinai. Do you think you can possibly escape, if you refuse to obey the one who speaks to you from heaven?”

Jesus is presented as the one who brings the new agreement, through his death. His blood is the basis for forgiveness and access to God. The invitation is to listen to him, for refusing Christ is refusing God himself.

Heb. 13:8 “Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

Christ is eternal and unchanging. He existed before the world began, lived as Jesus in history, and now reigns forever. His work is finished and sufficient for salvation.

Heb. 13:12-15 “Jesus himself suffered outside the city gate, so that his blood would make people holy. That’s why we should go outside the camp to Jesus and share in his disgrace. On this earth we don’t have a city that lasts forever, but we are waiting for such a city. Our sacrifice is to keep offering praise to God in the name of Jesus.”

Jesus’ crucifixion outside Jerusalem fulfilled his mission. His death makes people holy. Now, the believer’s response is worship: not ritual sacrifice, but praise in Jesus’ name.

Heb. 13:20-21 “God gives peace, and he raised our Lord Jesus Christ from death. Now Jesus is like a Great Shepherd whose blood was used to make God’s eternal agreement with his flock. I pray that God will make you ready to obey him and that you will always be eager to do right. May Jesus help you do what pleases God. To Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever! Amen.”

Christ’s resurrection confirms God’s approval of his sacrifice. His blood established the eternal covenant. Now, Jesus himself helps believers follow God’s will. The entire work of salvation is centered in Christ – who he is, what he did, and what he continues to do.

James, the book was written sometime between 45 and 48 AD.

Jas. 1:1 “From James, a servant of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Greetings to the twelve tribes scattered all over the world.”

James, who was known as a strict monotheist, refers to himself as a servant of both God and the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no hesitation in placing Jesus alongside God. This shows that early Jewish believers recognized service to Jesus as service to God.

Jas. 2:1 “My friends, if you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, you won’t treat some people better than others.”

Faith in Jesus Christ leads to equality in how people are treated. The early church emphasized that Jesus’ character defined how believers were to act, without favoritism based on status or wealth.

Jas. 3:9 “My dear friends, with our tongues we speak both praises and curses. We praise our Lord and Father, and we curse people who were created to be like God, and this isn’t right.”

James acknowledges the practice of praising both the Father and the Lord. This is significant because James, as a Jewish believer, did not see praising Jesus as compromising monotheism. Rather, it was the natural outflow of understanding God through Jesus.

Jas. 4:5 “Do you doubt the Scriptures that say, ‘God truly cares about the Spirit he has put in us’?”

James refers to the Spirit as something God places within believers. This reflects early Christian teaching that God’s Spirit dwells within, marking the person as belonging to Him. The Spirit is not treated as separate from God but as His own active presence within the believer.

In these short passages, the Father, Son, and Spirit appear naturally in the text, without explanation or defense, showing how integral they were to the life and theology of the early church.

I Peter, written somewhere around 64-65.

1 Pet. 1:2-4 “God the Father decided to choose you as his people, and his Spirit has made you holy. You have obeyed Jesus Christ and are sprinkled with his blood. I pray that God will be kind to you and will keep on giving you peace! Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is so good, and by raising Jesus from death, he has given us new life and a hope that lives on. God has something stored up for you in heaven, where it will never decay or be ruined or disappear.”

This opening brings together the Father, the Spirit, and Jesus Christ. The tri-personal nature of God is assumed as normal truth. There is no division of roles here—Father chooses, Spirit makes holy, Jesus brings obedience through his blood. All are united in action. The resurrection of Jesus, rejected in Islam (Qur’an 4:157), is directly affirmed as the reason for new life and hope.

1 Pet. 1:10-12 “Some prophets told how kind God would be to you, and they searched hard to find out more about the way you would be saved. The Spirit of Christ was in them and was telling them how Christ would suffer and would then be given great honor. So they searched to find out exactly who Christ would be and when this would happen. But they were told that they were serving you and not themselves. They preached to you by the power of the Holy Spirit, who was sent from heaven. And their message was only for you, even though angels would like to know more about it.”

The prophets of the Old Testament are said to have the Spirit of Christ working in them. This shows that Christ existed before his human birth, consistent with John 1:1. The coming suffering of Christ is highlighted again. Suffering and death were not accidental—they were the plan from the beginning.

1 Pet. 1:13 “Be alert and think straight. Put all your hope in how kind God will be to you when Jesus Christ appears.”

Hope is not in human effort, not in prophets, but in the return of Jesus Christ. Islam does expect Jesus to return, but without understanding who he really is. According to the New Testament, hope belongs to those waiting for Christ, not anyone else.

1 Pet. 1:19-21 “You were rescued by the precious blood of Christ, that spotless and innocent lamb. Christ was chosen even before the world was created, but because of you, he did not come until these last days. And when he did come, it was to lead you to have faith in God, who raised him from death and honored him in a glorious way. That’s why you have put your faith and hope in God.”

The plan for Christ to die for sins was not a late invention. Christ’s death was chosen before creation itself. The resurrection, constantly rejected in the Qur’an (4:157), is once more presented as the foundation for faith in God. Faith in God cannot be separated from faith in Christ.

1 Pet. 2:4-7 “Come to Jesus Christ. He is the living stone that people have rejected, but which God has chosen and highly honored. And now you are living stones that are being used to build a spiritual house. You are also a group of holy priests, and with the help of Jesus Christ you will offer sacrifices that please God. It is just as God says in the Scriptures, “Look! I am placing in Zion a choice and precious cornerstone. No one who has faith in that one will be disappointed.” You are followers of the Lord, and that stone is precious to you. But it isn’t precious to those who refuse to follow him. They are the builders who tossed aside the stone that turned out to be the most important one of all.”

Rejecting Christ is like throwing away the cornerstone of a building. You can build on Mohammed if you choose, but the foundation won’t hold. Rejecting the Son means you lose everything, according to Peter.

1 Pet. 2:21-25 “After all, God chose you to suffer as you follow in the footsteps of Christ, who set an example by suffering for you. Christ did not sin or ever tell a lie. Although he was abused, he never tried to get even. And when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he had faith in God, who judges fairly. Christ carried the burden of our sins. He was nailed to the cross, so that we would stop sinning and start living right. By his cuts and bruises you are healed. You had wandered away like sheep. Now you have returned to the one who is your shepherd and protector.”

The difference between Christ and Mohammed is sharp. Christ did not seek revenge. He carried sins himself. He did not have to ask for forgiveness—he granted it. His death on the cross, explicitly denied in Islam (Qur’an 4:157), is here stated again.

1 Pet. 3:15 “Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope.”

It is not Moses, nor Mohammed, nor anyone else, but Christ who is to be made Lord of life. He is to be honored in everyday life.

1 Pet. 3:18 “Christ died once for our sins. An innocent person died for those who are guilty. Christ did this to bring you to God, when his body was put to death and his spirit was made alive.”

This is the Gospel itself. Christ’s death is not a side detail—it is the entire basis for reconciliation with God. Islam’s rejection of this (Qur’an 4:157) is a rejection of the core message.

1 Pet. 3:21-22 “Those flood waters were like baptism that now saves you. But baptism is more than just washing your body. It means turning to God with a clear conscience, because Jesus Christ was raised from death. Christ is now in heaven, where he sits at the right side of God. All angels, authorities, and powers are under his control.”

Christ is in heaven, seated in authority. His resurrection affirms his status. All powers are under his rule now—not under Mohammed, not under angels, but under Christ.

1 Pet. 4:13-14 “Be glad for the chance to suffer as Christ suffered. It will prepare you for even greater happiness when he makes his glorious return. Count it a blessing when you suffer for being a Christian. This shows that God’s glorious Spirit is with you.”

Christ will return. His Spirit lives in believers now. Suffering for Christ is not failure but proof of belonging to Him.

1 Pet. 5:1 “Church leaders, I am writing to encourage you. I too am a leader, as well as a witness to Christ’s suffering, and I will share in his glory when it is shown to us.”

Peter was not reporting stories. He was an eyewitness of Christ’s suffering. His letter stands as historical testimony.

1 Pet. 5:10-11 “But God shows undeserved kindness to everyone. That’s why he appointed Christ Jesus to choose you to share in his eternal glory. You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm. God will be in control forever! Amen.”

There is no other way into God’s eternal glory except through Christ Jesus. He alone opens the way. Islam denies this entirely. Therefore, rejecting Christ according to Peter is rejecting eternal life itself.

II Peter, written shortly before Peter’s death at 66 or 67 AD.

2 Pet. 1:1-2 “From Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ. To everyone who shares with us in the privilege of believing that our God and Savior Jesus Christ will do what is just and fair. I pray that God will be kind to you and will let you live in perfect peace! May you keep learning more and more about God and our Lord Jesus.”

In this letter Peter explicitly calls Jesus “our God and Savior”. There is no confusion. The early Christians, including the apostolic leaders like Peter, viewed Jesus as divine. He is referred to as both God and Savior. When Muslims claim Jesus was only a prophet, they contradict the testimony of the apostles. Also, notice that learning about God and learning about Jesus are not separated. They are unified. Knowing Jesus is knowing God.

2 Pet. 1:10-11 “My friends, you must do all you can to show that God has really chosen and selected you. If you keep on doing this, you won’t stumble and fall. Then our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will give you a glorious welcome into his kingdom that will last forever.”

It is Jesus Christ who welcomes believers into heaven. Not a prophet. Not a saint. The promise of entering eternal life is connected directly to the personal relationship with Christ. Jesus is not only the entrance into heaven but the one waiting to receive his people.

2 Pet. 1:16-18 “When we told you about the power and the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not telling clever stories that someone had made up. But with our own eyes we saw his true greatness. God, our great and wonderful Father, truly honored him by saying, ‘This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him.’ We were there with Jesus on the holy mountain and heard this voice speak from heaven.”

Peter personally witnessed Jesus’ glory at the transfiguration. He did not follow myths or legends. He heard the voice of God the Father affirming Jesus as “Son”. This is not a metaphor or title without meaning. It identifies Jesus as uniquely related to God, distinct from all prophets. This message is opposite to what the Qur’an teaches (Qur’an 4:171; Qur’an 5:72-75), where calling Jesus the Son of God is rejected.

2 Pet. 1:20-21 “But you need to realize that no one alone can understand any of the prophecies in the Scriptures. The prophets did not think these things up on their own, but they were guided by the Spirit of God.”

The Spirit of God inspired the prophets. This Spirit, according to the Christian understanding, is the same Spirit active in Jesus and given to believers. Muslims acknowledge prophets but deny the Spirit’s revelation about Jesus as the Son of God and Savior. By doing so, they reject the very prophecies the Spirit inspired.

2 Pet. 3:18 “Let the wonderful kindness and the understanding that come from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ help you to keep on growing. Praise Jesus now and forever! Amen.”

Jesus is called “our Lord and Savior” again. He is not merely honored as a teacher or a holy man, but praised eternally. Muslims often express respect for Jesus, but refuse to give him praise. This stands in contrast to the apostles who worshiped him as God.

I John, some believe these letters were written before Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD. Others favor later in the century about 90 AD. It would seem that some allusion would be made to the destruction of Jerusalem if the letters were written after that event. No New Testament document reflects on that prophecy of Jesus being fulfilled. Hence, it makes more sense to affirm them as being written before 70 AD.

1 Jn. 1:1-3
“The Word that gives life was from the beginning, and this is the one our message is about. Our ears have heard, our own eyes have seen, and our hands touched this Word. The one who gives life appeared! We saw it happen, and we are witnesses to what we have seen. Now we are telling you about this eternal life that was with the Father and appeared to us. We are telling you what we have seen and heard, so that you may share in this life with us. And we share in it with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

Another reference to the Incarnation. The Son appeared in human form, Jesus, and he is the one who gives life, to begin with, and everlasting life to those who trust Him as Savior.

1 Jn. 1:7
“But if we live in the light, as God does, we share in life with each other. And the blood of his Son Jesus washes all our sins away.”

When you commit your life to Christ the problem of sin and guilt is settled.

1 Jn. 2:2-3
“Christ is the sacrifice that takes away our sins and the sins of all the world’s people. When we obey God, we are sure that we know him.”

Obeying God is to obey the Son.

1 Jn. 2:22-27
“And a liar is anyone who says that Jesus isn’t truly Christ. Anyone who says this is an enemy of Christ and rejects both the Father and the Son. If we reject the Son, we reject the Father. But if we say that we accept the Son, we have the Father. Keep thinking about the message you first heard, and you will always be one in your heart with the Son and with the Father. The Son has promised us eternal life. I am writing to warn you about those people who are misleading you. But Christ has blessed you with the Holy Spirit. Now the Spirit stays in you, and you don’t need any teachers. The Spirit is truthful and teaches you everything. So stay one in your heart with Christ, just as the Spirit has taught you to do.”

The theme that you have the Father and the Son together appears over and over. If you do not have the Son, you don’t have the Father. The Son promises eternal life. No one else can make that claim and deliver on it, only Jesus the Son. Don’t call God a liar in saying the Son does not exist, nor the Spirit.

1 Jn. 3:8-10
“Anyone who keeps on sinning belongs to the devil. He has sinned from the beginning, but the Son of God came to destroy all that he has done. God’s children cannot keep on being sinful. His life-giving power lives in them and makes them his children, so that they cannot keep on sinning. You can tell God’s children from the devil’s children, because those who belong to the devil refuse to do right or to love each other.”

The power of the Son of God will be displayed ultimately in the destruction of the Devil and all his works.

1 Jn. 3:16
“We know what love is because Jesus gave his life for us. That’s why we must give our lives for each other.”

This verse can only be seen from the standpoint of the crucifixion, a historical fact.

1 Jn. 3:23-24
“God wants us to have faith in his Son Jesus Christ and to love each other. This is also what Jesus taught us to do. If we obey God’s commandments, we will stay one in our hearts with him, and he will stay one with us. The Spirit that he has given us is proof that we are one with him.”

Faith in the Son, prescribed by the Father, brings about love. The proof of this relationship is that the Spirit has been given to us. The Greek word translated “one” is the word also translated “union,” to be in union with Christ. We know that we are in union with Christ because of the gift of the Spirit.

When the early Christians learned all of this about God, they were led in time to formulate a doctrine of the trinity. The concepts are in the early writings, the doctrinal expression was formulated later. It is difficult to read these ideas without being brought to think of God in a more elaborate way than unitarianism, or Islamic concept.

1 Jn. 4:1-2
“Dear friends, don’t believe everyone who claims to have the Spirit of God. Test them all to find out if they really do come from God. Many false prophets have already gone out into the world, and you can know which ones come from God. His Spirit says that Jesus Christ had a truly human body.”

The false prophets roving around in the first century were the emerging Gnostics who denied that real body of Jesus Christ. His body was an illusion, not really real. But this letter also relates to other prophets, as in the case of Mohammed, who denied Jesus as the Son of God.

1 Jn. 4:4-6
“Children, you belong to God, and you have defeated these enemies. God’s Spirit is in you and is more powerful than the one that is in the world. These enemies belong to this world, and the world listens to them, because they speak its language. We belong to God, and everyone who knows God will listen to us. But the people who don’t know God won’t listen to us. That is how we can tell the Spirit that speaks the truth from the one that tells lies.”

Many Muslims will not listen to the truth. The judgement of this verse is that they don’t know God. Muslims do not have the Spirit of God in their lives.

1 Jn. 4:9-10
“God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life. Real love isn’t our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven.”

It seems burdensome to mention again the idea of God’s Son, his only Son, the giving of his life as a sacrifice for our sins. One of the purposes of this study was to point up the repeated emphasis on these ideas. They are the message of the Gospel from the beginning to the end.

1 Jn. 4:13-16
“God has given us his Spirit. That is how we know that we are one with him, just as he is one with us. God sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. We saw his Son and are now telling others about him. God stays one with everyone who openly says that Jesus is the Son of God. That’s how we stay one with God and are sure that God loves us. God is love. If we keep on loving others, we will stay one in our hearts with God, and he will stay one with us.”

This passage points up the problem with Islam. Mohammed did not have God in his life. Whoever Allah was, it was not the same as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God the Father stays with “everyone who openly says that Jesus is the Son of God.” Moreover, Mohammed’s life does not reflect the love that is related to God.

1 Jn. 5:1
“If we believe that Jesus is truly Christ, we are God’s children. Everyone who loves the Father will also love his children.”

A better translation would be everyone who loves the Father will also love his child. The verse is referring to the Father and the Son. Because we love the Father we also love the Son.

1 Jn. 5:5
“No one can defeat the world without having faith in Jesus as the Son of God.”

The struggles of life are great and defeat lies ahead. How is it possible to defeat the world? Only by faith in Jesus as the Son of God. These are the words of one of Jesus’ disciples.

1 Jn. 5:6-13
“Water and blood came out from the side of Jesus Christ. It wasn’t just water, but water and blood. The Spirit tells about this, because the Spirit is truthful. In fact, there are three who tell about it. They are the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and they all agree. We believe what people tell us. But we can trust what God says even more, and God is the one who has spoken about his Son. If we have faith in God’s Son, we have believed what God has said. But if we don’t believe what God has said about his Son, it is the same as calling God a liar. God has also said that he gave us eternal life and that this life comes to us from his Son. And so, if we have God’s Son, we have this life. But if we don’t have the Son, we don’t have this life. All of you have faith in the Son of God, and I have written to let you know that you have eternal life.”

There are serious issues in this passage for Mohammed and his followers. The Spirit is truthful. What does the Spirit say? “If we have faith in God’s Son, we have believed what God has said. But if we don’t believe what God has said about his Son, it is the same as calling God a liar.” Will a Muslim admit that Mohammed called God a liar? This is what the Apostle declared concerning anyone who would not have faith in the Son.

Even more alarming is the statement, “if we don’t have the Son, we don’t have life.”

What does this say about Mohammed? The millions who have followed him? The millions who yet follow him? What does this say about the many countries that do not allow the Christian gospel to be heard?

1 Jn. 5:18-21
“We are sure that God’s children do not keep on sinning. God’s own Son protects them, and the devil cannot harm them. We are certain that we come from God and that the rest of the world is under the power of the devil. We know that Jesus Christ the Son of God has come and has shown us the true God. And because of Jesus, we now belong to the true God who gives eternal life. Children, you must stay away from idols.”

Dear reader, you have been confronted by this letter written by a disciple of Jesus, an eye witness, a companion for the 3 years of Jesus’ public ministry, an eye witness to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, a witness to the voice of the Father on the mount in which he declared, “This is my son, hear him!” This letter declares that you need the Son if you want everlasting life. This life is in His presence. There are no paradise virgins for anyone. Don’t be deceived. Trust Jesus as the Son of God for your forgiveness, your everlasting destiny in the presence of God, flee the darkness of separation from God for a lack of faith in Jesus.

2 John, probably in the early 60s.

2 Jn. 1:3-4
“I pray that God the Father and Jesus Christ his Son will be kind and merciful to us! May they give us peace and truth and love. I was very glad to learn that some of your children are obeying the truth, as the Father told us to do.”

Here again the greeting includes both God the Father and Jesus Christ his Son. The request for peace, truth, and love is made from both of them, showing their unity and shared role in the life of believers.

2 Jn. 1:9
“Don’t keep changing what you were taught about Christ, or else God will no longer be with you. But if you hold firmly to what you were taught, both the Father and the Son will be with you.”

This passage directly warns against altering the foundational teachings about Christ. It states that changing the teachings means God will no longer be with you. However, holding firmly to the original message results in both the Father and the Son being with you. This makes it clear that teaching correctly about the Son is essential to remaining in union with God.

This raises a serious question about Mohammed, who denied that Jesus is the Son of God and denied His crucifixion. According to this passage, by changing the teaching about Christ, Mohammed cut himself and his followers off from God. The letter does not give room for reinterpretation. It connects knowing and teaching rightly about Jesus to having both the Father and the Son. Thus, from the perspective of this letter, Islam is without God, because it denies the truth about the Son.

Jude, probably about 67 AD.

Jud. 1:1
“From Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and the brother of James. To all who are chosen and loved by God the Father and are kept safe by Jesus Christ.”

Jude opens by acknowledging two distinct persons: God the Father and Jesus Christ. He presents himself as a servant of Jesus Christ, not simply of God, emphasizing the centrality of Christ in Christian life. He refers to believers as those loved by God the Father and kept safe by Jesus Christ, showing both as active agents in salvation.

Jud. 1:4
“Some godless people have sneaked in among us and are saying, ‘God treats us much better than we deserve, and so it is all right to be immoral.’ They even deny that we must obey Jesus Christ as our only Master and Lord. But long ago the Scriptures warned that these godless people were doomed.”

The false teachers mentioned here deny Jesus Christ as Master and Lord. Jude describes this denial as godlessness. If someone does not submit to Jesus Christ as Lord, Jude declares them doomed, according to the Scriptures. Denial of Jesus’ lordship is thus presented as rebellion against God.

Jud. 1:18-21
“They told you that near the end of time, selfish and godless people would start making fun of God. And now these people are already making you turn against each other. They think only about this life, and they don’t have God’s Spirit. Dear friends, keep building on the foundation of your most holy faith, as the Holy Spirit helps you to pray. And keep in step with God’s love, as you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to show how kind he is by giving you eternal life.”

The absence of God’s Spirit marks the false teachers. By contrast, true believers are to pray in the Holy Spirit, stay within God’s love, and wait for Jesus Christ, who will give eternal life. Here again, salvation is linked to Christ and to the Spirit. Jude makes it clear: those who lack the Spirit of God are without God’s help and do not belong to Him. Muslims, by denying both Jesus as Lord and the Holy Spirit, meet the description Jude gives of those without the Spirit.

Jud. 1:24
“Offer praise to God our Savior because of our Lord Jesus Christ! Only God can keep you from falling and make you pure and joyful in his glorious presence. Before time began and now and forevermore, God is worthy of glory, honor, power, and authority. Amen.”

Jude closes by praising God our Savior because of our Lord Jesus Christ. This shows the unity between the Father and the Son. God is described as Savior precisely because of what Jesus Christ has done. Without acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, as Jude commands, one cannot offer proper praise to God, nor can they expect to stand pure and joyful in His presence.

Revelation, the date is uncertain. Some propose a date as early as the 50s’ or late 60’s. Tradition also dates it toward the end of the century.

Rev. 1:5-6
“May kindness and peace be yours from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness. Jesus was the first to conquer death, and he is the ruler of all earthly kings. Christ loves us, and by his blood he set us free from our sins. He lets us rule as kings and serve God his Father as priests. To him be glory and power forever and ever! Amen.”

This opening blessing of Revelation identifies Jesus Christ as the faithful witness, the conqueror of death, and the ruler over all earthly kings. The death of Jesus, described as by his blood, is declared as the means by which sins are forgiven and people are set free. Service to God his Father is the goal of salvation. Jesus shares his glory with his followers, but glory and power belong to him forever. The themes of Jesus’ death, forgiveness through him, and his intimate relationship to God the Father continue as central messages.

Rev. 1:8
“The Lord God says, ‘I am Alpha and Omega, the one who is and was and is coming. I am God All-Powerful!'”

Here, the title Alpha and Omega is linked to the Lord God. Since Jesus also declares himself to be the Alpha and Omega later in Revelation, this indicates that Jesus and the Lord God share divine identity. Jesus is both the coming one and God All-Powerful.

Rev. 1:10
“On the Lord’s day the Spirit took control of me, and behind me I heard a loud voice that sounded like a trumpet.”

The Spirit is presented as the active force leading John. The Spirit is not just power, but a guiding, instructing person throughout Revelation. Revelation is not just John’s words; it is directed by the Spirit of God.

Rev. 1:13-18
“There with the lamp stands was someone who seemed to be the Son of Man. He was wearing a robe that reached down to his feet, and a gold cloth was wrapped around his chest. His head and his hair were white as wool or snow, and his eyes looked like flames of fire. His feet were glowing like bronze being heated in a furnace, and his voice sounded like the roar of a waterfall. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword was coming from his mouth. His face was shining as bright as the sun at noon. When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead person. But he put his right hand on me and said: Don’t be afraid! I am the first, the last, and the living one. I died, but now I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys to death and the world of the dead.”

The speaker is clearly Jesus Christ. He describes himself as the one who died but is now alive forevermore, and as the first and the last. He holds the keys to death and the realm of the dead. The description ties the identity of the Son of Man to God himself, since the title “the first and the last” belongs to God in the Old Testament.

Rev. 2:18-19
“This is what you must write to the angel of the church in Thyatira: I am the Son of God! My eyes are like flames of fire, and my feet are like bronze. Listen to what I say. I know everything about you, including your love, your faith, your service, and how you have endured. I know that you are doing more now than you have ever done before.”

Here Jesus directly claims: “I am the Son of God.” The reader cannot evade or avoid this claim. Denying it is to deny what Jesus himself has declared.

Rev. 2:29
“If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Rev. 3:6
“If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”

These repeated calls reveal the role of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit speaks actively to the churches, reinforcing that the Spirit is not an abstract force but a personal communicator within the Trinity.

Rev. 21:6-7
“Everything is finished! I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give water from the life-giving fountain to everyone who is thirsty. All who win the victory will be given these blessings. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

At the end of the book, Jesus Christ again declares himself to be Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, confirming his identity as divine. Those who are victorious will belong to him, and he will be their God.

This closes Revelation’s consistent theme: Jesus Christ is God, the Son of God, the Savior, and the one who holds the future.

A typical Muslim reply is that the New Testament is corrupted. However, the Qur’an itself recognizes the Injil (the Gospels) as valid revelation. Manuscripts of the New Testament predate Mohammed by centuries. The claim that God preserved the Qur’an but could not preserve His previous revelations lacks logical consistency. Historically, manuscript evidence supports the Bible far more robustly than the Qur’an.

Therefore, the challenge for the Muslim is historical. Should one follow the verifiable documents about Jesus Christ or accept Mohammed’s claims, who appeared centuries later, contradicting them without evidence?

Revelation ends as it began: with the call to recognize Jesus Christ as Lord and God.