Matthew Aaron Bennett - The Quran and the Christian: An In-Depth Look Into the Book of Islam for Followers of Jesus

There is a lot of confusion about Islam and the Quran. Confused by the apparent similarities between the Quran and the Bible, many Christians have drawn erroneous conclusions and devised unbiblical approaches to Muslims. If you have ever been confused, read this book; it will clear your mind. What I love about the book is that while it is compassionate and loving toward Muslims, and acknowledges the similarities, it does not obscure the reality of fundamental differences. Dr. Bennett will challenge you to engage Muslims effectively by sharing with them the truth in love.

Georges Houssney,

president, Horizons International; author of Engaging Islam

In The Quran and the Christian, Matthew Bennett invites and equips Christians to read the Quran with an informed understanding, in order to better understand and share the gospel with their Muslim neighbors. Warning readers about the dangers of focusing on similarities between the Bible and the Quran without comprehending real and profound differences, Bennett argueswith great eruditionthat knowing how the Quran bends the worldview of its followers away from biblical truth is an essential first step to introducing Muslims to the Jesus of the Bible. This book is an outstanding tool to help Christians understand the spiritual worldview of Muslims and share the love of Christ with them.

Mark Durie,

senior research fellow, Arthur Jeffery Centre for the Study of Islam, Melbourne School of Theology; director, Institute for Spiritual Awareness

Written with a comfortable mastery of the subject, Matthew Bennetts The Quran and the Christian is a well-articulated, charitable work of solid scholarship. Designed to enhance meaningful discussions with ones Muslim neighbors, it also serves as an excellent introduction to Islam. Bennett leaves no doubt about the important differences between the Quran and biblical revelation, but helpfully opens the door to understand how Muslims think, especially about Christians and the Bible.

Ant Greenham,

retired professor of missions and Islamic studies, Southeastern Seminary; coauthor of Muslim Conversions to Christ: A Critique of Insider Movements in Islamic Contexts

Matthew Bennetts newest study is one more example of his deep understanding of Islam, rigorous scholarship, and sincere passion for Christ. What a wonderful guide for Christians who seek to reflect the image of Christ to their Muslim neighbors!

Ayman S. Ibrahim, PhD,

Bill and Connie Jenkins Professor of Islamic Studies, and director, Jenkins Center for the Christian Understanding of Islam

This book is an excellent extension of some of the things Muslim practitioners have been telling us at the Heart for Muslims conference in New York City. However, it is more academic while still accessible to a layperson. Definitely, a must-read for pastors in urban areas. It portrays a realistic perspective of Muslims/Islam: it doesnt try to cover up differences but to understand, making it a good book for Muslim scholarship. It provides a good emphasis on why and how Christians should read the Quran, along with helpful commentary on how to understand the Quran, which makes it a valuable resource for missions, evangelism, and academics.

Dr. Alfonse Javed,

executive director of Heart for Muslim Conference, NYC; author of The Muslim Next Door

In the Quran and the Christian, Matthew Bennett takes a deep dive into Islams holy book. In this helpful work, the author skillfully enters into the Muslim worldview through the prism of the Quran. Simultaneously fascinating and frightening, the Quran provides the clearest window into the Muslim mind. Most Christians, even missiologists, avoid actually studying Islams holy book in detail. The author shows that Christians omit such analysis at their peril. Thankfully, Matthew Bennett provides a trustworthy guide for the church to understand the Quran which is the key to evangelizing Muslims for Christ. I wholeheartedly recommend that each missionary, pastor, and layman interested in understanding and reaching Muslims for Jesus read this outstanding book.

Robin Dale Hadaway,

senior professor of missions, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, MO

The Quran is one of the worlds most important books since it is the fundamental source of rituals, creeds, ethics, and laws for Muslims worldwide. Yet the Quran is also an extremely foreign and confusing scripture to most Christians. Matthew Bennetts The Quran and the Christian is a valuable guide, providing readers with easy access to this most challenging scripture. Bennett especially helps us recognize how differently words and concepts vital to a true understanding of the gospelsuch as sin, atonement, and salvationfunction within the Quran. He also shows us how very differently God is presented in the Quran from the Bible. His basic concern is to enable Christians to present the gospel with clarity, and he provides many helpful suggestions along that line. Bennett effectively demonstrates some of the more significant ways the Quran subverts biblical truth and, to his credit, he does so without rancor or acrimony, out of a sincere desire to see Muslims receive Gods grace. Bennetts guide will prove very useful to anyone serious about understanding Muslims and communicating the gospel effectively to them.

Mark Robert Anderson,

author of The Quran in Context: A Christian Exploration

The Quran and the Christian: An In-Depth Look into the Book of Islam for Followers of Jesus

2022 by Matthew Aaron Bennett

Published by Kregel Academic, an imprint of Kregel Publications, 2450 Oak Industrial Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505-6020.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwisewithout written permission of the publisher, except for brief quotations in printed reviews.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV Text Edition: 2016. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

ISBN 978-0-8254-4708-2

Printed in the United States of America

22 23 24 25 26 / 5 4 3 2 1

To Anabelle, Elliot, and Oliver.

May you grow up in the gospel and be used by the Lord to bring

it to the ends of the earth.

A s a Christian attempting to discuss the sacred text and religious faith of my Muslim friends, I approach this task from a posture of caution and with a desire to exhibit charity. I recognize within myself the human desire to validate my own faith and, if unchecked, this desire could incline me toward a biased presentation of my conversation partners.

At the same time, I also am committed to the Christian message of salvation in Jesus Christ alone. Any alternative message and worldview that distorts or denies that good news is something that is incompatible with the biblical worldview that I believe to be objectively true. Therefore, in this book I intend to walk the line between presenting my understanding of my Muslim friends and their beliefs in ways that they would recognize as accurate while also being clear to demonstrate where their claims and beliefs diverge from biblical teaching.