The Ninth Century Apologetic Commentary from the Church of East: On the Letter to Hebrews in Sinai Arabic MS 151
[Thesis]
Song, Yoseob
Swanson, Mark N.
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
2020
344 p.
Ph.D.
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
2020
This thesis will examine the MT Sinai Arabic MS 151 and its commentary focusing on the Epistle to the Hebrews to illuminate that it has an apologetic characteristic and missional purpose. The MT Sinai Arabic MS 151 is the oldest known Arabic translation of the Bible containing Pauline letters, the catholic letters, Acts, and commentaries. It was written in the 9th century at Damascus, one of the cultural centers in the Islamic milieu, reflecting the fierce controversy about Christology and the Trinity between the Church of the East (aka Nestorian) and Muslim theologians (mutakallim). Specifically, the MT Sinai Arabic MS 151 has commentaries that belong to the Eastern exegetical tradition of the Church of the East, one of the most dynamic communities in missionary activity over the Euro-Asian world. Its author, Bishir Ibn Sirrī, completed his commentaries for the arabophone readers and notably wrote the letter to the Hebrews and its notes for those who doubted Christ's divinity. To convince them, Bishir Ibn Sirrī supplemented traditional exegeses with apologetic terms and expressions. Bishr ibn as-Sirrī introduced Paul as Mua ͑tazilites in the emergence of "New Jews" with strong Islamicization and Arabicization. Also, he supplemented traditional exegeses with two main apologetic tools: Mu ͑tazilite theology and prosōponic union of two natures. Also, he develops his apology different from his contemporary apologetics. Instead of scrutiny in theological-philosophical questions, he proceeds to the eschatological invitation, such as the fellowship of the resurrection (sharikat al-qiyāmah). Therefore, Bishr's Bible translation and exegesis encouraged conversation in the early stage of Christian-Islamic encounters. The Nestorian missional mindset of the inculturation and the Syriac-Arabic bilingual circumstance led Bishr to engage in Christians-Muslims dialogue.