Images of Christ
in the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá

by Maryam Afshar

Occasional Papers volume 1

Sponsored by the Haj Mehdi Arjmand Memorial Fund

161 B.E. 2004 C.E.
Copyright © 2004, Haj Mehdi Arjmand Memorial Fund

Cover design by Majid Nolley
Typeset by Jonah Winters, winterswebworks.com

                         Table of Contents  

  Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
  
  Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
  
  Images of Christ  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
       Manifestation of God
       "Glorious Word of God"
       "Son of the living God"
       Quickener of the world
       Teacher-Educator
       Promised Messiah
       One who brought unity and love
       The Physician
	   
  Parallels between Christ and Bahá'u'lláh  . . . . . . . . . . . 13
       Teachings of the Prophets
       Teachings have always come from the East
       The light of the Prophet
       The trials of the Prophets
       The renewal of the Teachings
       Christ and Bahá'u'lláh, Founders of spiritual civilizations
       Manifestation of God as a Physician
       The promulgation of the teachings through disciples
	   
  Interpretation of some Christian Beliefs  . . . . . . . . . . . 17
       The birth of Christ
       Baptism
       The Trinity
       The symbolism of the bread and wine
       Sacrifice for redeeming the original sin
       The resurrection of Christ
       The return of Christ
	   
  Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
  
  Bibliography  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31