In contemporary society, a common worldview presents Jesus Christ merely as a good man—a moral teacher, a wise philosopher, or a compassionate leader. Many regard Him as an extraordinary individual, comparable to figures such as Mahatma Gandhi or even the Apostle Paul—remarkable human beings that changed history, but still mere mortals. However, this perception stands in stark contrast to the truth revealed in Scripture, that Jesus was fully God and fully man. Interestingly, this view is not unique to modern times; its roots can be traced back to ancient heresies that similarly sought to reduce Jesus to a mere human figure.
One such early heresy was Ebionitism, a Jewish-Christian sect that emerged during the early centuries of the church. The Ebionites believed that Jesus was a great prophet and moral teacher, but denied His divinity. They rejected the doctrine of the virgin birth, asserting instead that Jesus was the natural son of Joseph and Mary. Moreover, they maintained that salvation was attainable only through strict adherence to Jewish law, including circumcision and other ritual observances. For the Ebionites, Jesus was an inspired messenger of God—but not God Himself incarnate. In doing so, they stripped Christ of His divine identity and undermined the foundational truth of the incarnation.
This Ebionite worldview bears a remarkable resemblance to the Islamic understanding of Jesus (ʿĪsā ibn Maryam), which emerged centuries later. In Islam, Jesus is highly honoured as one of the greatest prophets sent by Allah. The Qur’an even refers to Him as al-Masīḥ (the Messiah) and acknowledges His virgin birth—an important distinction from the Ebionite denial of that miracle. Nevertheless, Islam firmly rejects the divinity of Jesus, denying that He is the Son of God or a part of the Trinity. Instead, He is viewed as a fully human prophet, a messenger who taught wisdom, righteousness, and submission to Allah’s will.
The Islamic worldview denies the Trinity and the Divinity of Jesus, the second person of the Trinity. In this framework, Jesus is revered but only as “the son of Mary,” not as the eternal Son of God. The Qur’an describes Him as a miracle worker and prophet who was sent to guide humanity, yet it explicitly rejects the belief that He was crucified or resurrected. Instead, it teaches that Jesus was taken up to heaven by Allah before the crucifixion, and that another person—according to some traditions, Judas—was made to resemble Him and was crucified in His place. Islam also teaches that Jesus will return at the end of time to defeat the Antichrist and restore justice, after which He will die a natural death.
These beliefs sharply contrast with the central tenets of Christian theology, which affirm that the cornerstone of the Christian faith is the incarnation—Jesus Christ as fully God and fully man. The climax of His divine mission lies in His crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension. Through these events, humanity receives reconciliation with God and access to new creation life. The divinity of Christ is not a side note; it is the very essence of the Gospel message and the foundation upon which salvation rests.
Thus, the modern portrayal of Jesus as merely a moral teacher or an enlightened man is not a new phenomenon. It echoes the ancient Ebionite heresy and parallels the Islamic denial of Christ’s divinity. Both perspectives diminish the true identity of Jesus Christ as the incarnate Son of God and undermine the redemptive significance of His life, death, and resurrection. Recognising these parallels highlights the ongoing importance of defending the biblical truth that Jesus is not merely a good man, but God Himself revealed in human flesh, the Saviour of the world.
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2. https://www.christianpost.com/voices/10-heretical-views-regarding-jesus.html