False Passages for Gentiles, Mysterious Teachings for Believers - Essay Sample

In the Clementine Homilies, the apostle Peter claims that Scripture contains certain false passages. Explain clearly and briefly, (in your own words) what makes such passages false, and what the wisdom or benefit behind the inclusion of such passages might be (according to Peter in the Homilies).

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The Clementine Homilies refer to the false passages contained within the Scripture as a hurdle for the Gentiles but they grant mysterious teachings to the believers. Apostle Peter believes that Gentiles with polytheistic tendencies will fall for the trap of these false passages as opposed to believers who attain spiritual nourishment from the same. Believers know that the falsehoods of Scripture act as a test and a source of learning. Apostle Peter claims the Scripture contains false passages to bring the notion that evil coexists with good, thus separating the pious from the impious. The pious would have a discerning spirit to differentiate the true from the false passages but the impious would flee for lacking the power to discern. Clement affirms that when a believer meets a false passage within the Scripture, instead of getting distracted to review the word of God, they should attempt to uncover the true underlying lesson.

According to Knight (2020), Apostle Peter while confronted by the Sadducees about the false passages replied that every written word or spoken against God is false. The false passages will not distract the righteous but the impious will reason with ignorance. While one group learns the mysteries of the Scriptures, the other strays away because a trial of their faith separated believers from non-believers. The inclusion of false passages in the Scripture is controversial because it creates a rift between two groups of people, those who doubt God's word, and those who learn from the passages. False passages cast doubt over the words concerning God but at the same time provide an opportunity for believers to learn and instruct others from the same Scripture others find false.

Explain clearly and briefly, in your own words, the key characteristics of the True Prophet in the Clementine Homilies; what tests could we use to decide whether someone was, in fact, the True Prophet?

The True Prophet will advocate for the message of peace, the Word of God, and faith unto salvation. According to Horn (2007), the True Prophet, as well as those sent by him, will preach peace to the audience and spread the conviction of the need to accept God's truth. The True Prophet is both a child of peace and a child of truth and acts as a messenger to the Word of God. The Clementine Homilies make a gender-determined definition of the True Prophet, referring to him as the 'son of peace'. Furthermore, the Clementine Homilies also depict the True Prophet as a child (child of peace), placing him in a family unit that gives him a sense of belonging to a larger family. The True Prophet; therefore, shows the characteristics of humility like a child, an oasis of peace and truth, and part of a harmoniously structured family.

The Clementine Homilies describe the True Prophet as He who knows everything is sinless and merciful and declares only the truth. The True Prophet knows about things in the present, the past, and the future. Where many died in the quest to find the truth, the True Prophet possesses the knowledge of morality and His declarations of truth clear all sorts of ignorance. The True Prophet knows the thoughts of men, lacks the blemish of sin, and respects the judgment of God. Testing the knowledge of things to come is an assured way of deciding whether someone is the True Prophet. The True Prophet speaks simply and clearly of prophecies without limitation or vagueness in their capabilities. Finally, anyone who labors shall find rest in the True Prophet, and those seeking the truth will find it; the True Prophet gives the teachings of salvation and acts as a gate to new life.

Explain clearly and briefly, in your own words, the key events of the Meccan phase of the Prophet's mission

The Meccan phase of the Prophet's mission is a thirteen-year period representing the laying of foundations of Islamic beliefs. The Prophet's teachings targeted Bedouin Arabs in the desert urging them to return to faith and reconnect the essence and interrelationship between men and God. The Quranic revelations to the Prophet during the Meccan phase heeded people to surrender the worship of idols and turn only to Allah. Despite his message, the Prophet faced stiff resistance where people ridiculed his teachings and threw animal intestines where he prayed (Helms, 2006). However, the Prophet repaid cruelty with kindness and continued spreading the teachings of Islam.

The Meccan phase of the Prophet's mission also faced dissuasion from the Meccans who felt concerned about the growing followers of Islam. The Meccans often tortured and persecuted the followers of Islam, for instance, Sumayya, the slave woman and Bilal, the Ethiopian slave. Meccans also attempted to bribe the Prophet with power and riches but these actions only strengthened the resolve of believers. The Prophet instructed the weakest believers to seek refuge from Ethiopia as the Meccans pushed the rest of the believers to hunger and strife in the desert.

Despite the suffering of the believers of Islam in Mecca, their faith grew as many people converted and Islam continued to spread. People flocked from different places of the world to seek guidance from the believers in Mecca while others sought to comfort the believers who underwent persecution for their faith. The Meccan era started around 610 CE up to 622 CE when the Islam community relocated to the city of Medina. In the desolate valley outside Mecca, the foundations of Islam, such as the belief in the afterlife and testifying to the oneness of Allah came to being.

Explain clearly and briefly, in your own words, the key events of the Madinan phase of the Prophet's mission

Quraish persecution in Mecca forces the Prophet to leave to Medina where believers welcome him and he establishes his Masjid. Muslims, polytheists, and Jews lived together in Medina, causing the prelude to confrontations. Jews in Medina were of Hebrew descent and came from Syria as refugees (Crone, 2015). The Prophet ensured a pact of no aggression with the Jews but still faced substantial persecution from the Quraish Arabs, forcing him to authorize Jihad.

In Medina, the Prophet authorized Muslims to make personal Jihad, verbal Jihad, or physical Jihad while protecting Allah, Islam, and Muslims from transgressions and oppression. Jihad involves the use of words, nonviolent acts, wealth, or political activism to perpetuate good deeds in the society, for instance, through charitable actions, helping the elderly and needy, and preventing oppression. The battle of Badr and the battle of Uhud took place in Medina between Muslims and the Quraish Arabs, leading to massive loss of lives but a strengthening of martyrdom and faith.

During the Medinan phase, the Prophet agreed on the treaty of Hudaibiah, which resolved the conflict between the Quraish of Mecca and the Muslims of Medina. Some Muslims returned to Mecca without a quarrel from the Quraish and the Prophet forgave all enemies of Islam. The Prophet also conducted a farewell pilgrimage and the Last Sermon in anticipation of his death upon falling ill. The Prophets companion, Abu Bakr led Muslims in prayer, recited verses from the Quran and affirms that despite the Prophet's death, no one who worships Allah will ever die. The Medinan phase gave a learning lesson to Muslims surrounding helping the needy, observing prayer, loves other Muslims as they love themselves. Muslims who fight against the oppression of others will receive alleviation from grief by Allah on the Day of Judgment.

Explain clearly and briefly, in your own words, some of the reasons why the Prophet of Islam was believed by his early followers to be an authentic messenger from God.

Muslims believe that the Prophet of Islam is the authentic messenger of God because he belonged to a line of prophets, in the same capacity as Moses and Jesus. Born to the powerful merchant tribe, the Quraish, Prophet Muhammad started received visions at about forty years old revealing the content of the Quran. The sayings of Prophet Mohammad (hadith) and descriptions of how he lived (Sunna) form some of the most important religious texts for Muslims. Followers of Prophet Mohammad believed his capabilities because he came from a respectable tribe and a long-ordained line of prophets (Useem, 2006). Without the credibility of strong family ties, an ordinary person could hardly rise to any notable position within society. The Quraish tribe controlled trade routes and Mohammad worked for a wealthy widow, Khadija, who he later married. A rich historical background and strong cultural ties gave Prophet Mohammad the platform to air his beliefs.

Prophet Mohammad advocated for a monotheistic religion instead of polytheism, widely practiced around the Arabian Peninsula during the era. Prophet Mohammad experienced the conviction of a monotheistic God from his revelations but had little support from others, especially his clan members. His wife, Khadija was the first to support the monotheistic ideas of Prophet Mohammad, followed by other few followers. Prophet Mohammad decided to move from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE where he believed he would obtain the freedom to practice their religion without interference from the Quraish. Many people believed in the Prophet Mohammad because he offered an alternative form of religion compared to the traditional practices of the people. The Prophet advocated for one true God instead of idolatry, polytheism, and the life of sin. The night journey and ascension of the Prophet also cement his position in Islam.

References

Crone, P. (2015). Jewish Christianity and the Quran (Part One). Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 74(2), 225-253. doi:10.1086/682212

Helms, B. (2006). #13 Prophet Muhammad: the Meccan Period. Members.tripod.com. Retrieved 18 April 2020, from http://members.tripod.com/dar-ul-ihsan_centre/id29.html.

Horn, C. B. (2007). The Pseudo-Clementine Homilies on the Challenges of the Conversion of Families. The Pseudo-Clementines, 170-190.

Knight, K. (2020). Church Fathers: Clementine Homily 2. Newadvent.org. Retrieved 18 April 2020, from https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/080802.htm.

Useem, A. (2006). How and Why Muhammad Made a Difference. Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. Retrieved 18 April 2020, from https://www.pewforum.org/2006/05/22/how-and-why-muhammad-made-a-difference/.