Paul Meets Muhammad: A Christian-Muslim Debate on the Resurrection
Overview
Imagine a crowded arena full of Christians, Muslims, and curious onlookers packed in to hear the outcome of one of the greatest debates in all of history. If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, Christianity is false. But if Jesus was resurrected, Christianity is true and Islam is false. The stakes are high.
Paul Meets Muhammad imagines a futuristic face-off between two religious heavyweights, each speaking on the validity of their doctrines, forming arguments and rebuttals while citing evidence from the Qur’an and the Gospel accounts. Intriguing and entertaining, this page-turner uniquely offers a comprehensive defense of Jesus’ resurrection and of Christianity itself.
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- Addresses contemporary philosophical issues
- Defends the Christian faith, Jesus’ resurrection, and Scripture’s inerrancy
- Presents a comparative debate between Christian and Muslim views on the resurrection
- Into the Future
- Paul’s Opening Statement
- Muhammad’s Opening Statement
- Paul’s Rebuttal
- Muhammad’s Rebuttal
- Discussion Period: Part One
- Discussion Period: Part Two
- Discussion Period: Part Three
- Discussion Period: Part Four
- Discussion Period: Part Five
- Discussion Period: Part Six
- Discussion Period: Part Seven
- Muhammad’s Closing Statement
- Paul’s Closing Statement
- Moderator’s Conlusion
Top Highlights
“Since Jesus’s resurrection is the foundation of the Christian faith and is an event denied by Islam’s holy Scripture called the Qur’an, both Muslims and Christians can agree upon two things: (1) If Jesus did not rise from the dead, Christianity is false, and (2) if Jesus was resurrected, Christianity is true and Islam is false. The resurrection of Jesus, therefore, is a good topic for discussion among Muslims and Christians.” (Page 13)
“In historical investigation, very rarely can something be concluded with absolute or 100 percent certainty. Because of this, the historian looks for high probability and selects the best explanation of the known facts.” (Page 36)
“the view that I practically invented Christianity has been largely abandoned by scholars since the end of the 1970s.17” (Page 61)
“Today’s scholars date this creed as very early, usually within five years of the crucifixion of Jesus.18” (Page 34)
“However, being willing to die for their convictions does indicate that they believed they knew the truth” (Pages 34–35)
In a day of heightened awareness of Islam in the West, it is vitally important that Christians know how to give an answer when asked by a Muslim for the hope that is in us. Since the Qur’an denies the historicity of the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, the evidence for these events constitutes justification for thinking that Christianity rather than Islam gives us the truth about Jesus and the God he revealed. In this book Licona not only marshals that evidence but also refutes the typical objections brought by Muslim apologists against it.
—William Lane Craig, research professor of philosophy, Talbot School of Theology
The Islam/Christian debate all comes down to whether Jesus rose from the dead shortly after his crucifixion. If he did not, then Christianity is a sham. In his book, Paul Meets Muhammad, Michael Licona entertains and educated the reader in an ingeniously crafted debate that is fair to both sides. If you are a Christian looking for a resource on how to share your faith with your Muslim friend, look no further.
—D. James Kennedy, former senior minister, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Reconstructing debates between the greats of the past is a clever device occasionally attempted in the media-printed or aired-but never with such success as in Paul Meets Muhammad. St. Paul debating Muhammad? Forget the time warp and simply enjoy the interchange! Since Michael Licona is fast becoming one of Christianity’s most eloquent apologists for the Resurrection, you will assume a strong, pro-Christian bias in this book (St. Paul will have all the good lines and Muhammad the bad) but you will be wrong! Licona brilliantly presents also the Muslim arguments at the heart of the Christian-Muslim dialogue, claims that Jesus never died and so could not have been resurrected. Since the Muslim challenge to the church is becoming more acute each passing day, it is well for Christians to arm themselves with the arsenal of arguments presented in these pages.
—Paul L. Maier, Emeritus Russell H. Seibert Professor of Ancient History, Western Michigan University
This brilliant idea for reconstructing a dialogue between Paul and Mohammad plainly indicates Mike Licona’s mastery of the subject matter of Jesus’ resurrection. Islam postulates an alternate theory that is supernatural in nature. This book successfully critiques this approach and needs to be read by any Christian desiring to have constructive dialogue with Muslims. Since Mike’s presentation of the Muslim view is actually stronger than I have heard presented by Muslim scholars, Muslims should enjoy reading it, too!
—Gary Habermas, distinguished professor of apologetics and philosophy, Liberty University
Paul Meets Muhammad is appropriately titled. In this book Michael Licona makes plain the differences that exist between Christianity and Islam concerning the central truth of the Christian faith: the historical, bodily resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God. The debate format between the apostle Paul and the prophet Muhammad will draw one quickly into the discussion. Licona’s treatment of the issue, fiat and balanced, draws on primary sources which allows each side to speak for themselves. The importance of historically credible evidence, careful reasoning, and logical consistency are clearly demonstrated. Read this book and learn. Read this book and be challenged. Read this book and see evidence mount for the empty tomb and the supernatural resurrection of Jesus Christ.
—Daniel L. Akin, president, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Title: Paul Meets Muhammad: A Christian-Muslim Debate on the Resurrection
- Author: Michael R. Licona
- Publisher: Baker
- Print Publication Date: 2006
- Logos Release Date: 2013
- Pages: 176
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Jesus Christ › Resurrection; Paul, the Apostle, Saint; Muhammad, Prophet, d. 632; Christianity and other religions › Islam; Islam › Relations--Christianity
- ISBNs: 9781441253965, 0801066026, 9780801066023, 1441253963
- Resource ID: LLS:PLMTSMHMMDCHRST
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T02:14:50Z
Dr. Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. He holds a PhD in New Testament studies from the University of Pretoria, which he earned with distinction and the highest mark.
Dr. Licona was interviewed for Lee Strobel’s book The Case for the Real Jesus and he appeared in Strobel’s video The Case for Christ. He is the author of numerous books, including The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach, Paul Meets Muhammad: A Christian-Muslim Debate on the Resurrection, co-author of the award-winning book The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus, and co-editor of Evidence for God: 50 Arguments for Faith from the Bible, History, Philosophy, and Science. His next book will concern ancient compositional devices resulting in discrepancies in the Gospels and Plutarch’s Lives. Dr. Licona is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, the Institute for Biblical Research, the Evangelical Theological Society, and the Evangelical Philosophical Society. He has spoken on more than 70 university campuses and has appeared on dozens of radio and television programs.