The Spirit Before the Letter: Theodore Abū Qurra’s Use of Biblical Quotations in the Context of Early Christian Arabic Apologetics

https://biblia-arabica.com/bibl/NMVEUBSN

Preferred Citation

Tarras, Peter. “The Spirit Before the Letter: Theodore Abū Qurra’s Use of Biblical Quotations in the Context of Early Christian Arabic Apologetics.” In Senses of Scripture, Treasures of Tradition: The Bible in Arabic among Jews, Christians and Muslims, edited by Miriam Lindgren Hjälm, 79–103. Biblia Arabica 5. Leiden: Brill, 2017.

Abstract

Argues that Theodore Abū Qurra’s use of biblical quotations can be read in light of both a discourse of accomodation and a discourse of resistance with respect to Muslim charges. It is shown that Abū Qurra’s pneumatic, i.e. non-literal, interpretation of the Bible preempts the Muslim accusation of corruption (taḥrīf). On the other hand, Abū Qurra sides with the Qurʾānic understanding of revelation, pairing it with anti-Jewish polemics, which, however, are directed mainly against non-Chalcedonian Christians, at times also against Muslims. Argues that Theodore Abū Qurra’s use of biblical quotations can be read in light of both a discourse of accomodation and a discourse of resistance with respect to Muslim charges. It is shown that Abū Qurra’s pneumatic, i.e. non-literal, interpretation of the Bible preempts the Muslim accusation of corruption (taḥrīf). On the other hand, Abū Qurra sides with the Qurʾānic understanding of revelation, pairing it with anti-Jewish polemics, which, however, are directed mainly against non-Chalcedonian Christians, at times also against Muslims.

Full Citation Information

Article

Title: The Spirit Before the Letter: Theodore Abū Qurra’s Use of Biblical Quotations in the Context of Early Christian Arabic Apologetics

Author: Peter Tarras

Editor: Miriam Lindgren Hjälm

URI: https://biblia-arabica.com/bibl/NMVEUBSN  Link to Biblia Arabica bibliography Bibliographic Record.

Publication

Title: Biblia Arabica

TextLang:

Place of Publication: Leiden

Publisher: Brill

Date of Publication: 2017

Pages: 79-103

 Zotero

Subject Headings

Christian  Melkite  Biblical quotations in Christian Arabic writings  Theodore Abū Qurra 

Cited Manuscripts

Sinai, St. Catherine's Monastery, Ar. 1  Sinai, St. Catherine's Monastery, Ar. 154  Sinai, St. Catherine's Monastery, Ar. 2  Sinai, St. Catherine's Monastery, Ar. NF. Parch. 14  Sinai, St. Catherine's Monastery, Ar. NF. Parch. 16 
 

About this Online Entry

Editorial Responsibility:

  • Ronny Vollandt, general editor, Biblia Arabica
  • Ronny Vollandt and Nathan P. Gibson, editors, Biblia Arabica
  • Tarras, entry contributor, “The Spirit Before the Letter: Theodore Abū Qurra’s Use of Biblical Quotations in the Context of Early Christian Arabic Apologetics”
  • rvollandt, entry contributor, “The Spirit Before the Letter: Theodore Abū Qurra’s Use of Biblical Quotations in the Context of Early Christian Arabic Apologetics”

Additional Credit:

  • Record added to Zotero by Tarras
  • Record edited in Zotero by rvollandt

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