Christians, Jews, Muslims and Abraham

Q: Why do Christians, Jews and Muslims all know Abraham?

A: All claim Abraham as a physical or a spiritual father. Muslims claim descent of the promise and the prophecies through Abraham’s son Ishmael, who was born of Sarah’s servant Hagar. Israel was descended from Abraham and Sarah’s son Isaac, whose son Jacob was called Israel. Non-Jews who converted are also counted as his children. Christians also honor Abraham as a father, since they are also his descendants according to Abraham’s greatest Son, Jesus. Paul picked up on some of this thought in his epistles, such as his allegory of Sarah and Hagar in Galatians.

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Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book What Do Lutherans Believe.