When I wrote about Rick Warren including Isa as an equivalent name for Jesus in a previous post, a decent discussion erupted. What a learned from this discussion is that there are regional variances in the use of the word. My point was (from speaking to a Muslim co-worker) that Isa is the name used for Jesus by at least some Christians in Arab and Muslim countries.
For a few examples:
“It is clear from wikipedia and many other Arabic Christian resources that the differences between Isa of the Quran and the Jesus of the Bible are very different and that they are indeed differentiated by those Christians in the Arab world. “
“I got one response so far from my wife’s cousin’s husband who is Muslim (not sure of his nationality)… according to him all of the Arabic Christians HE knows refer to Jesus as Yeshua.”
From a related post at Phoenix Preacher:
“This is ridiculous. I’ve got on my desk 3 testimonies from Arabic speaking believers (which I cannot share more details of) who referred to Jesus as “Isa.” There are a lot of Arabic Christians in the world who have come out of Islam that call Jesus “Isa.” Are they any less saved than those of us who call upon the English transliteration of the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name Yeshua?”
“Strictly speaking, ‘Isa’ is the Arabic name for Jesus. However, it is not the name that is ever used in Arab churches – at least, not mine. I believe the reason for that is to distinguish our beliefs from those of Muslims. To the Muslims, “Isa” is a prophet born of the virgin Mary. To the Christians, “Jesus” is the Son of God born of the virgin Mary. There is a big difference between the 2, and to avoid any confusion, Isa is never used.”
“I am extremely surprised to hear this – I have lived in African and Gulf Arab countries for many years, and have never – and I repeat NEVER – heard a Christian refer to Jesus as ‘Isa’.”
“It appears that Warren wanted to be explicitly clear that he was praying in the Name of Jesus Christ and no other name. He probably consulted many former muslims and would have chosen the word they recommended. Regardless, the muslim world knows that Warren was regarding Jesus (Isa, if you will) as God.”
“I lived in Malaysia, a Muslim country, for six years, and ‘Isa’ is the one and only word in the Malay language used to refer to Jesus. This word was borrowed from Arabic hundreds of years ago, and has long been a mainstay in the Malay language. The handful of former Muslims I had the privilege to know, who are now genuine followers of Christ, continue to use “Isa” to refer to Christ. Their understanding of who He is, of course, has dramatically changed, and they affirm with conviction that He is God and the Son of God.
In my interactions with Muslims there (speaking in the Malay language), I did use ‘Isa’ to refer to Christ. With many of my friends, quite honestly, I would have received a blank look had I attempted to use the English name “Jesus” or any other alternative to ‘Isa.’”
