We read the following in John of Damascus’ “Heresy of the Ishmaelites” against the claim that Christians “associating partners with God (e.g., Jesus), and are therefore guilty of shirk:
Moreover, they call
us “εταιριαστας” (Associators) because, they say, we introduce in addition to God a
partner when we declare that Christ is the son of God and God. We say to them
in response: “This is what the prophets and the Scriptures have delivered to
us. You insist that you also accept the prophets. If, therefore, we are wrong
in saying Christ is the son of God, then so too are those who have taught this
and handed it down to us.” Some of them say that we have allegorized the
prophets and added these things to what they have said, while others say that
the Hebrews, out of hated, have deceived us by writing those things as if they
had been written by the prophets, so that we might be misled.
Again, we say to
them, “Since you also say that Christ is Word and Spirit of God, why do you
accuse us of being “εταιριαστας” (Associators)? For the Word and the
Spirit are inseparable from the one in whom they exist by nature. Therefore, if
the Word of God is in God, then it is evident that he is God as well. If,
however, the Word is outside of God, then, according to you, God is without
Word and Spirit. Consequently, by avoiding the association of a partner with
God, you have mutilated him. It would be far better for you to say that he had
a partner, rather than mutilate him and treat him like a stone, a piece of wood
or some inanimate objects. Thus, since you falsely call us “εταιριαστας” (Associators), we
will, in turn, call you “κοπτας” (Mutilators) of God. (Daniel J. Janoski,
John of Damascus First Apologist to the Muslims: The Trinity and Christian
Apologetics in the Early Islamic Period [Eugene, Oreg.: Pickwick
Publications, 2016], 263-64)
