Contents

Contents

Preface

Preface

Introduction

Introduction

I. On Theodore Abu Qurrah, the Melkite Bishop of Ḥarrān

I. On Theodore Abu Qurrah, the Melkite Bishop of Ḥarrān

II. Abu Qurrah in this Study: Going beyond Mere Apologetics

II. Abu Qurrah in this Study: Going beyond Mere Apologetics

III. Outline of the Volume and Abū Qurrah’s Works

III. Outline of the Volume and Abū Qurrah’s Works

Part One: The Historical and Religious Settings

Part One: The Historical and Religious Settings

Chapter One. “If Indeed They Were Known At All”: Christians’ Attitudes towards Islam

Chapter One. “If Indeed They Were Known At All”: Christians’ Attitudes towards Islam

I. The Dawn of the Arabs’ ‘Invasion’ in the Eyes of Christians

I. The Dawn of the Arabs’ ‘Invasion’ in the Eyes of Christians

II. Between Social and Cultural Appraisal and Simply Seeking to Survive

II. Between Social and Cultural Appraisal and Simply Seeking to Survive

III. From Social Indifference to Apologetic Reaction

III. From Social Indifference to Apologetic Reaction

IV. Conclusion

IV. Conclusion

Chapter Two. Abu Qurrah and the Christian Apologetics of the Melkite Church

Chapter Two. Abu Qurrah and the Christian Apologetics of the Melkite Church

I. From Emperor to Caliph: The End of Christian Triumphalism

I. From Emperor to Caliph: The End of Christian Triumphalism

II. The Christian Response to Islam and the Beginning of Apologetics

II. The Christian Response to Islam and the Beginning of Apologetics

III. The Melkite Church in the Land of Islam: The Birth of Arabic Theology

III. The Melkite Church in the Land of Islam: The Birth of Arabic Theology

IV. Theodore Abū Qurrah as an Apologetic Mutakallim: Remarks on Style

IV. Theodore Abū Qurrah as an Apologetic Mutakallim: Remarks on Style

V. Towards a ‘Positive’ Orthodox Apologetic: On Being a Mutakallim after Abu Qurrah

V. Towards a ‘Positive’ Orthodox Apologetic: On Being a Mutakallim after Abu Qurrah

Part Two: The Dogmatic Framework of Abu Qurrah’s Orthodoxy

Part Two: The Dogmatic Framework of Abu Qurrah’s Orthodoxy

Chapter Three. From Nicene Trinitarian Trends to Chalcedonian Christological Terminology

Chapter Three. From Nicene Trinitarian Trends to Chalcedonian Christological Terminology

I. Introduction

I. Introduction

II. On Hypostasis in Greek Trinitarian Terminology

II. On Hypostasis in Greek Trinitarian Terminology

III. On Qnoma in Syriac Trinitarian Terminology

III. On Qnoma in Syriac Trinitarian Terminology

IV. Using Trinitarian Ontology in Re-reading Christological Terminology

IV. Using Trinitarian Ontology in Re-reading Christological Terminology

V. Conclusion

V. Conclusion

Chapter Four. Theodore Abū Qurrah’s Trinitarian Theology, or Orthodoxy in Dialogue with Muslim Monotheism

Chapter Four. Theodore Abū Qurrah’s Trinitarian Theology, or Orthodoxy in Dialogue with Muslim Monotheism

I. Introduction

I. Introduction

II. AbūQurrah’s Trinitarian Theology in al-Mujadalah

II. AbūQurrah’s Trinitarian Theology in al-Mujadalah

A. On Shirk and the Allegory of ‘Intellect’

A. On Shirk and the Allegory of ‘Intellect’

B. When Oneness Prevails over Trinitarian Unity

B. When Oneness Prevails over Trinitarian Unity

III. Abū Qurrah’s Trinitarian Theology in His Maymar on the Trinity

III. Abū Qurrah’s Trinitarian Theology in His Maymar on the Trinity

A. The Theological Argument of the Maymar

A. The Theological Argument of the Maymar

B. Some Remarks on the Trinitarian Terminology

B. Some Remarks on the Trinitarian Terminology

IV. AbūQurrah and the Melkites’ Trinitarian Legacy

IV. AbūQurrah and the Melkites’ Trinitarian Legacy

A. John of Damascus and the Trinity

A. John of Damascus and the Trinity

B. Maximus the Confessor and the Trinity

B. Maximus the Confessor and the Trinity

C. Abu Qurrah’s Trinitarian Theology: Confession or Innovation?

C. Abu Qurrah’s Trinitarian Theology: Confession or Innovation?

V. Conclusion

V. Conclusion

Chapter Five. Theodore Abū Qurrah’s Christological Discourse and the Muslims’ Jesus

Chapter Five. Theodore Abū Qurrah’s Christological Discourse and the Muslims’ Jesus

I. When ‘Jesus the Son of God’ and ‘Īsā Ibn Maryam’ Collided

I. When ‘Jesus the Son of God’ and ‘Īsā Ibn Maryam’ Collided

II. On Jesus as Kalimat Allāh’ and Rūḥ Minhu

II. On Jesus as Kalimat Allāh’ and Rūḥ Minhu

A. On Using the Terms ‘God’s Word’ and ‘Spirit’ in Christian and Muslim Kalām

A. On Using the Terms ‘God’s Word’ and ‘Spirit’ in Christian and Muslim Kalām

B. Abū Qurrah’s Use of ‘God’s Word’ and ‘Spirit’ in al-Mujādalah and Other Maymars

B. Abū Qurrah’s Use of ‘God’s Word’ and ‘Spirit’ in al-Mujādalah and Other Maymars

III. Jesus’ Divine Sonship and the Muslim God, Who ‘Lam Yalid Wa-Lam Yūlad’

III. Jesus’ Divine Sonship and the Muslim God, Who ‘Lam Yalid Wa-Lam Yūlad’

A. God’s Taking a Child unto Himself in the Qur'an and Kalām

A. God’s Taking a Child unto Himself in the Qur'an and Kalām

B. Abū Qurrah’s Defense of Jesus’ Divine Sonship before the Muslims

B. Abū Qurrah’s Defense of Jesus’ Divine Sonship before the Muslims

IV. The Incarnation in Abū Qurrah’s Christology

IV. The Incarnation in Abū Qurrah’s Christology

A. The Incarnation between Tajassud/Taʾnnus and Ḥulūl

A. The Incarnation between Tajassud/Taʾnnus and Ḥulūl

B. On the Incarnation as Hulūl in Abū Qurrah’s Apologies

B. On the Incarnation as Hulūl in Abū Qurrah’s Apologies

V. Abū Qurrah and Melkite/Chalcedonian Christological Orthodoxy

V. Abū Qurrah and Melkite/Chalcedonian Christological Orthodoxy

A. Some Christological Views from John of Damascus

A. Some Christological Views from John of Damascus

B. Some Christological Views from Maximus the Confessor

B. Some Christological Views from Maximus the Confessor

C.Abū Qurrah’s Christology and the Melkite Tradition: Concurrence or Divergence?

C.Abū Qurrah’s Christology and the Melkite Tradition: Concurrence or Divergence?

VI. Conclusion

VI. Conclusion

Concluding Postscript. Theodore Abū Qurrah: A Melkite Orthodox Mutakallim in Dār al-Islām

Concluding Postscript. Theodore Abū Qurrah: A Melkite Orthodox Mutakallim in Dār al-Islām

Bibliography

Bibliography

Name Index

Name Index

Subject Index

Subject Index