Description
Book SynopsisIn Jesus of Arabia, the Reverend Canon Andrew Thompson introduces an unfamiliar Jesus—Jesus in the context of his home in the Middle East. Whether readers believe Jesus to be a prophet or the messiah, Thompson enhances our understanding of his work and character by looking at his social context as a man and Middle Easterner. Jesus’s teachings take on new meaning as Thompson explores themes including family in Arabia, gender roles in the region, food culture, and more. Jesus of Arabia looks at the bridges between Islam and Christianity through the figure of Jesus and how the two communities may reflect each other despite their differences. Thompson draws on his experience as a priest in the Anglican Church and his many years living in the Middle East to analyze the often conflicting roles and loyalties concerning family, culture, and God. A timely and incisive work, Jesus of Arabia invites us to consider contemporary views of the Middle East and how a figure like Jesus might be received today.
Trade ReviewOffers engaging perspectives on Gospel stories that are rarely considered by Western readers. * Publishers Weekly *
Thompson’s treatise is so ingratiating that anyone seeking to understand Jesus better may cherish it. * Booklist *
Jesus of Arabia is one of those rare books that has both a theological depth and an inviting accessibility. Thompson has written a gem about the Jesus most of us in the West never meet—the real one. A brown-skinned, short, Middle Eastern man. I highly recommend both this book and its author. -- Carl Medearis, author of Muslims, Christians, and Jesus: Gaining Understanding and Building Relationships
Andrew Thompson brings a wealth of experience and insight to this contemporary and engaging contribution to the dialogue between Christianity and Islam. He writes with integrity as someone with a commitment to all the peoples of Arabia: honest about the challenges, but hopeful about the bridges that can be built and the discovery of common ground that can lead to mutual flourishing. Thompson provides lively and incisive analysis as a critical friend and commentator respected by Christians and Muslims alike. -- Mark Poulson, Secretary for Inter Religious Affairs to the Archbishop of Canterbury, National Inter Religious Affairs Adviser for the Church of England
The Reverend Canon Andrew Thompson, from his varied and always reflective experience in the lands of the Gulf and the Arabian peninsula, makes a thought-provoking contribution to Christian–Muslim friendship and understanding. -- The Right Reverend Michael Lewis, Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf
In his book Andrew Thompson helps Muslims and Christians understand the Middle Eastern heritage of Jesus. It’s a must-read for anyone seeking to grasp the words of Jesus as they applied to his day, and now apply to ours. -- Pastor Jim Burgess, Lead Pastor, Fellowship of the Emirates
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Foreword Introduction Section 1 – Family, Tribe & Possessions Camel Majlis Wedding Section 2 – Religion Fast Pearl Feet Section 3 - Women Scent Water Hospitality Section 4 – Poet & Story Teller Shepherd Bread Run Conclusion Section 5 – The Elephant in the Room Appendix A Corruption of Scriptures? Appendix B Muslim Understanding of the Crucifixion Appendix C The Identity of Jesus Appendix D The Bible and Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula Bibliography
