Did Jesus Redeem Mankind? — Page 106
? 99 basis that Messiah was the Son of God. But, I added, if he were a son of Abram, there could be no point in favour of the said theory. He was an aged man, some 55 to 60 years old but my question caused him no ordinary headache. In the end, after an hour's argument, he apologetically said that according to a Greek proverb every fool could put a question but it needed a wise man to answer. In other words, he told me that I was a fool and that he himself was not wise enough to answer every question. I was young in those days and hardly in a mood to take it quietly. I retorted back that I regretted very much that I had come to him taking him for a wise man. The substance of the whole argument is that if the Messiah was a son of Abram (peace be on him), the atonement theory becomes untenable. But if he was the son of God, the prophecy of Abram (peace be on him) does not relate to him. In either case the objection is there; either the Messiah cannot be a factor of atonement, or the prophecy of Abram (peace be on him) does not apply to him. There is yet another aspect of the matter. If Abram (peace be on him) has foretold the advent of someone, we have to determine his identity. Abram (peace be on him) foretold the appearance of one from among his progeny. It has been held by the progeny of Abram (peace be on him) that he had foretold the advent of a great man from among them.