God Is One: A Christian Defence of Divine Unity in the Muslim Golden Age (Global Perspectives) - Softcover

Kuhn, Michael F

Softcover

ISBN 10: 178368576X ISBN 13: 9781783685769

Publisher: Langham Global Library, 2019

Synopsis

Since the first interactions between Christians and Muslims, a central point of contention has been the nature of God in relation to the doctrine of the trinity and divine oneness. Yet the belief that God is one is vociferously upheld by Christians, Jews and Muslims alike.

In this detailed historical study and subsequent analysis, Dr Michael F. Kuhn explores the teaching of two Arab Christian theologians from the Abbasid Era (750-1250), 'Abd Allāh Ibn al-Ṭayyib and Iliyyā of Nisibis, and how they defended the Christian view of God as three-in-one in the Muslim milieu and in reference to the Islamic concept of tawḥīd, God's absolute unity. The intellectual contribution of these two Christian thinkers can be seen in the concepts they articulated continuing to feature in Muslim-Christian dialogue to this day. Dr Kuhn shows the great lengths that Middle Eastern Christians went to explain their view of God's oneness in the Trinity and the divinity of Christ to their fellow Christians and to commend it to their Muslim counterparts. There is much to learn from the historical debates investigated in this book to help Christians today to uphold the truth of the Christian scriptures, both in the Muslim context and beyond. Readers will appreciate the review of Nestorian Christology in light of recent studies and the important theological background to contemporary Muslim-Christian engagement that is provided.

This book also makes a significant addition to the Christian understanding of the Trinity by linking the eternal attributes of God, a common theme in Islamic thought, to the three persons of the God-head deepening our understanding of the inter-relations of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Anyone engaging intellectually or academically with Muslims with hopes to dialogue thoughtfully in the area of theology, spirituality and ethics will find this book acutely helpful.

About this title

About the Author

MICHAEL F. KUHN and his family were privileged to call Morocco, Egypt and Lebanon "home" for nearly thirty years. Most recently he taught Biblical Theology and Discipleship at Arab Baptist Theological Seminary, Beirut, Lebanon. He has a PhD in Muslim-Christian Relations from the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, UK, and master's degrees in Theology and Arabic Language and Literature (AUC).

Review

This is a materially rich, intellectually nuanced, theologically responsible study in comparative theology, which will illumine and give depth to any current Christian-Muslim conversation on Christology and the trinity.
Hani Hanna, PhD
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology,
Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, Egypt

Dr Michael Kuhn's study is not only a significant contribution to scholarship on medieval Arabic-speaking Christians theologizing under Islamic rule, but also a delightful guide full of practical insights and helpful information for today's peacemakers, who lovingly and willingly seek to share the power of the Triune God with their neighbours.
Ayman S. Ibrahim, PhD
Bill and Connie Jenkins Associate Professor of Islamic Studies,
Director, Jenkins Center for the Christian Understanding of Islam,
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Michael Kuhn's work brilliantly juxtaposes two disparate medieval Christians whose input could potentially add a rich layer in the story of the "Christian-Muslim discourse" on God. These cases highlight not just the humility of men who took initiatives to give an honest account of a revelatory faith but also the story of God who reveals his true nature so humanity can relate with him as sons and daughters and not as slaves and servants. I have no hesitation in recommending this excellent work to all honest people of faith, Muslim and Christian.
David Emmanuel Singh, PhD
PhD Stage Leader and Link Tutor,
Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, Oxford, UK

This ground-breaking study of Elias of Nisibis and Abd Allah Ibn al-Tayyib is the first sustained analysis of their work in English, and so will open up the significance of these theologians for the global dialogue with Muslims that is happening in our time.
Mark Beaumont, PhD
Research Associate,
London School of Theology, Northwood, London, UK

Mike Kuhn's erudite book, God Is One, may at first appear too academic and overwhelming for the general reader, but you will want to overcome that initial hesitation and pick it up anyway. His constant concern for relevance and applicability . . . also make his book vastly accessible and useful, not only for the Arab student, but also for others everywhere. I celebrate Kuhn's unique contribution to taking the church's positive engagement with Islam one step further in the direction of loving understanding in a world where Christians and Muslim are living as neighbors in closer proximity than ever before.
Martin Accad, PhD
Chief Academic Officer and Associate Professor of Islamic Studies,
Arab Baptist Theological Seminary, Beirut, Lebanon

Michael Kuhn's God Is One is an outstanding contribution to scholarship on medieval Muslim-Christian relations with deep resonance for Muslim-Christian interaction in the present. [It] is among the most thorough and nuanced explorations that I have read of the single most important topic in Muslim-Christian interaction, the doctrine of God.
Daniel Brown, PhD
Director,
Institute for the Study of Religion in the Middle East

This book is a valuable resource for both Christian scholars in dialogue with Islam and Christians needing the life-giving knowledge that the incarnate God is with them in their day-to-day struggles.
Frank Newell
Professor,
Alexandria School of Theology, Egypt

Edition details

• Publisher: Langham Global Library
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 178368576X
• ISBN 13: 9781783685769
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 304