Communicating the Word : Revelation, Translation, and Interpretation in Christianity and Islam

Summary: Communicating the Word is a record of the 2008 Building Bridges seminar, an annual dialogue between leading Christian and Muslim scholars convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Featuring the insights of internationally known Christian and Muslim scholars, the essays collected here focus attention on key scriptural texts but also engage with both classical and contemporary Islamic and Christian thought. Issues addressed include, among others, the different ways in which Christians and Muslims think of their scriptures as the “Word of God,” the possibilities and challenges of translating scripture, and the methods—and conflicts—involved in interpreting scripture in the past and today.In his concluding reflections, Archbishop Rowan Williams draws attention to a fundamental point emerging from these fascinating contributions: “Islam and Christianity alike give a high valuation to the conviction that God speaks to us. Grasping what that does and does not mean . . . is challenging theological work.” Quotes:"There are very few people, specialist or otherwise, who will not learn much from this rich and varied volume. It is rare for inter-religious exchange to take place at such a sustained level of quality, and much of the authors' contributions manage to feel both erudite and direct."-Caner K. Dagli, assistant professor, department of religious studies, College of the Holy CrossAuthor Bio: The Reverend Dr. David Marshall is the academic director of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Building Bridges seminar and a research fellow at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University. Table of Contents:ParticipantsIntroductionDavid MarshallPart 1: Particularity, Universality, and Finality in Revelation1.1 Particularity and Universality in the Qur’anSeyed Amir Akrami1.2 Particularity, Universality, and Finality: Insights from the Gospel of JohnDaniel A. Madigan1.3 Revelation in Israel: Deuteronomy 7:1-11; Isaiah 49:1-6Ellen F. Davis1.4 Revelation in Israel: Qur’an 2:47-57; 5:44-48Osman Bakar1.5 Revelation in Christ: 1 John 1:1-4; Matthew 28:16-20; John 16:12-15 John Langan1.6 Revelation in the Qur’an: Qur’an 6:91-92; 25:32; 21:107; 38:87; 33:40Asma AfsaruddinPart 2: Translating the Word?2.1 Translating the Qur’anMuhammad Abdel Haleem2.2 Translation and the Incarnate Word: Scripture and the Frontier of LanguagesLamin Sanneh2.3 The Body of Christ: 1 Corinthians 11:23-27 and 12:12-13, 27Daniel Madigan2.4 An Arabic Qur’an: Qur’an 12:1-2; 14:4; 16:103; 26:192-99; 46:12Muhammad Abdel Haleem2.5 The Divine and Human Origins of the Bible: Exodus 32:15-16; Jeremiah 1:9; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Luke 1:1-4; 1 Corinthians 7:10-13; Mark 5:41John Azumah2.6 The Self-Perception and the Originality of the Qur’an: Qur’an 2:23-24; 3:44; 10:15; 69:38-47Abdullah SaeedPart 3: Methods and Authority in Interpretation3.1 Authority in Interpretation: a Survey of the History of ChristianityJohn Langan3.2 Authority in Qur’anic Interpretation and Interpretive CommunitiesAbdullah Saeed3.3 Reading Scripture in the Light of Christ: Matthew 12:1-8; Luke 24:44-49Susan Eastman3.4 Interpreting the Qur’an: Qur’an 3:7; 2:106; 16:101; 31:20Muhammad Abdel Haleem3.5 The Use of Scripture in Generous LoveMichael Ipgrave3.6 The Use of Scripture in A Common WordReza Shah-KazemiConversations in RomeDavid MarshallAfterwordRowan Williams