Incarnation at the Crossroad: The Doctrine of the Pre-existence of Jesus Christ in Dialogue with Judaism and Islam

Abstract

Renewed study of the doctrine of the pre-existence of Jesus Christ can advance mutual understanding between Christianity and the two other great monotheistic religions, Judaism and Islam, and at the same time contribute to the development of a comparative systematic theology. Christian and Jewish traditions offer remarkable ways of conceiving God's relationship to the world that seem to move in the direction of some kind of plurality in God. The Muslim doctrine of the pre-existent, eternal, and uncreated Qur'an, without questioning the oneness of Allah, may be a step in the direction of a more plural concept of God's nature. In particular, the Christian doctrines of the Trinity and the Incarnation may help develop a theology of encounter with Jews and Muslims.