The Quran contains a verse concerning the ascension of Jesus in verse 3:55: "Oh, Isa, Son of Mary, lo! I am gathering Thee unto Me and causing Thee to ascend to Me." However, the Quran does not explicitly clarify whether Jesus ascended bodily or if only his soul ascended. The narrative of Jesus' bodily ascension to heaven is solely found in the Gospel, specifically in Mark (16:9-20) and in The Acts of the Apostles (1:1-11).
One perspective posits that the inclusion of the story of Jesus' resurrection and ascension was intended to align Jesus with other dying and reviving gods of that era, such as Tammuz, Adonis, Attis, and Osiris [72]. Moreover, it's important to consider that the Gospel writers were unknown Jewish Christians who were influenced by their biases and edited earlier materials. They composed their accounts in Greek and lived within the Hellenistic cities of the Roman Empire [73].
Furthermore, the ascension story in the Gospel of Mark is believed to have been a later addition, and the account in the Acts of the Apostles, attributed to Luke, was penned in the early second century. Consequently, the narrative of the ascension appears to have developed as a later tradition within Christianity, potentially influenced by stories like the Ascension of the Prophet Elijah in 2 Kings 2:11 [74]. It's worth noting that in the earliest stages of the Church, there was no tradition of a visible ascension of Jesus in the presence of his disciples [75]. Thus, the concept of Jesus' physical resurrection back into this world lacks clear support [76], suggesting instead that God raised Jesus from death (the grave) into His divine presence.
In summary, the Quran's account of Jesus' ascension remains ambiguous, not specifying whether it was a bodily or spiritual ascent. The detailed narrative of Jesus' bodily ascension is primarily found in the New Testament, particularly in the later accounts of Mark and Acts. The inclusion of this story in the Gospels and Acts reflects the evolving traditions within early Christianity, influenced by various cultural and religious beliefs of the time. The ascension tale served not only as a testament to Jesus' divinity but also paralleled stories of other divine figures in contemporary religions. However, historical and textual analyses suggest that the concept of Jesus' physical return to heaven might have developed as a later tradition, influenced by a variety of sources.
As interpretations and scholarship continue to shed light on these narratives, the understanding of Jesus' ascension remains a subject of ongoing exploration and debate, reflecting the complex interplay of religious, cultural, and historical influences in shaping religious traditions.
72. Baigent, Leigh and Lincoln (1982)
73. Armstrong (2007)
74. Papas (1991)
75. Kung (1984)
76. Spong (1994)
