The Islamic Jesus: How the King of the Jews Became a Prophet of the Muslims

After receiving a copy of the New Testament from a missionary in his home city of Istanbul, Akyol (Islam Without Extremes) brought it home to read. The author was taken by a passage in the Epistle of James that closely resembled a passage in the Qur'an. Intrigued, he researched the epistle further and learned that James, the brother of Jesus, espoused a form of Christianity much different than that promoted by St. Paul. James was the leader of the Jerusalem Church which practiced an early form of Christianity rooted in Judaism. Akyol discovered that early Jewish Christianity paralleled Islam to a large extent. Both considered Jesus as Israel's messiah but neither considered him divine. Neither accepted the concept of original sin or the Trinity, both of which are precepts of the Christian Church. Akyol explores the possible connections between early Jewish Christianity and Islam, including archaeological and historic links, while also delving into the Jesus described in the Qur'an. In doing so, the author touches on the Nativity, the Virgin Mary, and the Second Coming.