Analecta Gorgiana is a collection of long essays and short monographs which are consistently cited by modern scholars but previously difficult to find because of their original appearance in obscure publications. Carefully selected by a team of scholars based on their relevance to modern scholarship, these essays can now be fully utilized by scholars and proudly owned by libraries.
Wishing to educate the western world to the wonders of Islam, Lord Headley penned several books on the religion. In the present volume he volunteers the various attributes that made Islam a viable option for a western citizen. Understanding the religion would ultimately undermine fears others felt toward the unfamiliar faith. Taking traditional areas of concern to task, he addresses peacefulness, women’s place in Islam, willful misrepresentations, self-control, fear, law and order, converts, praise and thanksgiving, and the continuation of God’s blessings. Such a strong case suggested to his readers that society’s fears stemmed from misunderstanding.
In his zeal to convert Muslims to Christianity, Zwemer was unmatched and this book helps to explain why. Not shy about admitting that the three major monotheistic religions share the concept of one God, he begins an examination of Islamic ideas about God, from a Christian perspective. Starting with the premise of the singularity of Allah, Zwemer discusses the Muslim ideas of the divine essence. In a chapter about the ninety-nine names of Allah he explores the similarity to the rosary and Islamic ideas of divine justice. Passing next to the attributes of Allah, Zwemer examines and analyzes what Muslims assert regarding God. In further chapters he deals with how Allah interacts with the world, the concept of the Trinity, and predestination. Determining that the completed idea of God in Islam is incomplete, Zwemer concludes with a case for the God of Christianity.
Exploring the concept of the kingdom of God, this thesis is based on Patristic sources from the time of Clement of Rome to that of John of Damascus. Herrick begins with the Apostolic Fathers to set the stage for the major divisions that follow. Divided into the Ante-Nicene Fathers and the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, the sources are divided into the Greek and Latin traditions and the major theologians and historic sources are examined for what they indicate about the theme. Written in non-technical language, this volume is readable by laity and specialists alike.
In this brief study of the creation account in Genesis 1, Radau makes full use of the Sumerian materials available in his day. Summarizing the sea monster versus deity scenario known from the Enuma Elish’s account of Marduk against Tiamat, he shows how Yahweh fits this role in Genesis 1. Going into linguistic detail of the Hebrew and Sumerian sources, he draws a set of correlations between the two.
Having lived for many years in Beirut, John Wortabet grew to know much about the Islamic world. Recognizing the wisdom and integrity of the people and religion of what was then known as Syria, Wortabet set about to preserve the essentials of Arabic wisdom in this little book. The wisdom saying, a literary form of ancient pedigree in this part of the world, is generally a brief but pointed statement of a truth distilled from careful observation. Wortabet here presents these saying arranged according to topic, with the goal of facilitating understanding between the wider world and those who live in what has become a very unsettled region.
Written by a well-known convert to Islam, this little study traces the connections between the major prophets of each of the monotheistic faiths. Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad. He discusses the moral influences of these founders on their followers and the impact they had on their world. Headley next considers the way that these founders died or left the world and also what they had taught about the next world. Special attention is given, naturally, to the advent of Islam and what happened after the founding of the faith. Headley ends with a brief sketch of the life of Muhammad. A compact study written from the Islamic point of view, this book will be of interest to anyone concerned with the relations between the three monotheistic religions.
Hasting’s Great Texts of the Bible was a massive, twenty volume set of Bible Studies. Under each biblical book comments were added to the lections in order to provide homiletical support. Conscientious about the difficulty of locating material in a resource of about 10,000 pages, Hastings had an index prepared. Knowing that clergy and biblical scholars tend to seek subjects for study, the index was prepared as an alphabetical index rather than a simple scriptural one. Such a resource retains its value for those who continue to use the extensive commentary that Hastings edited. This little index will be helpful to anyone following in Hasting’s impressive footsteps.
In this theological exposition on the concept of the Logos in the writings of Philo of Alexandria, Réville offers a probing piece of research. Beginning with the historical milieu of Philo’s time, he moves on to his main focus, playing out what the doctrine of the Logos is. Theologians who wish to know turn-of-the-century ideas concerning the Logos will find this irresistible reading.
This volume contains Schrader’s study of the underworld journey of Ishtar. He examines this Old Babylonian epic together with samples from Assyrian poems. The text is given, along with a translation, commentary and glossary.
This volume contains Syriac texts of the old Syriac translation of Gregory Nazianzen’s orations edited from British Museum manuscripts. Fourteen orations, in whole or in part, are included, with concordance of the texts with Migne’s Patrologia Graeca edition.
Tiamat was the Babylonian sea deity. The sea was affiliated with evil. Tiamat was therefore thought to be evil. As a result, the writers of Genesis 1 purposely omitted any wording relating to the word ‘sea’.
The name Asur is difficult. In cuneiform, it is designated for the city, country, and deity. However, it appears that the deity was named after the city, which emerged first.
Bhartrharinirveda of Harihara is a play that glorifies the Yoga philosophy, which teaches that the summum bonuzz is the discrimination and separation of soul from matter, thus leading through renunciation of the world to isolation of the ego.
Samuel A. Rhea created a brief vocabulary and grammar while doing missionary work with the Kurds. His goal in creating a Kurdish grammar was to translate the Old and New Testaments into Kurdish.
Jastrow addresses how the final codification of the laws of Hammurapi evolved and which process the Babylonians used to get there. The Code of Hammurapi was subject to constant adjustments, providing that conditions constantly changed and new situations arose.
A significant portion of this article contains the original texts, translations, and comments of two Sanskrit inscriptions discovered in 1857. Both inscriptions list the names of the rulers of Chedi and the names of their consorts and kinsmen.
The Sumerian hymn K. 257 is in the Emne-sal dialect, which is the non-Semitic designation for a variation of Sumerian. The focus of the hymn is the goddess Belit. However, no conclusion was reached about her origin.
Burgess attempts to prove the originality of the nakshatra system to the Hindus. He proves the early existence of this system and disproves the origin of the lunar zodiac system to the Chinese and the Arabs.
The article refutes many of the arguments Stephen Henry Langdon made in his article on the text “The Sumerian Epic of Paradise, Flood, and Fall of Man”. The essay concludes with the entire text laid out and a commentary.
One of the issues consistently plaguing New Testament scholars is the date of the Gospel of John. No consensus exists on this thorny dilemma. Looking at the world around the Bible, extrabiblical testimony often provides evidence for such questions. Insights drawn from Irenaeus are used by Lewis to help shed light on the topic. Noting the extent to which Irenaeus bears on the fourth Gospel, Lewis discusses the potential authors of John that could have been known by Irenaeus. Ending with modern conclusions to the issue, Lewis provides a useful summary of state of Irenaeus studies around the beginning of the twentieth century.
Among the many issues that plague Christian sensibilities, perhaps none is as stressful as the virgin birth. Since the advent of higher criticism the concept itself the concept had grown increasing untenable to the point that an anonymous cleric decided to take action in this booklet. Scientific study of the Bible had revealed that what had appeared to have been predictions were often mistranslations, and many were shaken by such revelations. Succinct and irenic, this treatment will be appreciated by Christians who are still concerned over the implications that serious biblical study raises.
From one of the leading scholars of Islam in the last century comes this exploration of Christianity and Islam. Right from the beginning Becker notes that there are different points of view on the subject. Examining the nature of the subject and the historical connections between the religions, he turns to the meeting of the two faiths. Emerging outlooks at the time demonstrated just how much these religions affected each other. Those interested in the history of western religions will find this a refreshing resource. Also useful to students, this informative booklet is a welcome find.
In the days when many Americans were first becoming aware of the larger religious world, Sailer introduced them to Islam. Reaching for an understanding of how the two religions relate, he begins this study with an introduction to the Muslim world. Sailer approaches the subject with a respect for Islam and its believers. Aiming to prepare missionaries for Muslim regions, he writes for a general readership. Understanding, he believes, begins with an overview of Muslim life and the character and influences on Islam. Designed as a short adult course on the subject, this booklet has instructions for the leader of an adult group on the topic. Interested in the impact of Christianity on Islam, Sailer explores what churches might do. Taken all together, this little booklet spells out a plan of action for what the author saw as a missionary opportunity.
Deissmann was a scholar well known for his work with the Greek of the New Testament. In this little volume he considers the Hellenization of Semitic monotheism. Primarily concerned with the changes after Alexander’s conquest, the book is a brief exploration of Greek religion in the aftermath of conquest. Semitic monotheism was, according to Deissmann, a new concept for the Greek world. Hellenistic outlooks had long been influenced by classical viewpoints. Into this cultural milieu the Judaic concept of monotheism made immediate inroads. This influence is explored primarily in linguistic form, including considerations of the Septuagint. Both Hellenists and Semitic scholars will find material of interest here. Observations made by Deissmann influenced later thought in this field. Stretching across disciplines, this study will interest cultural historians as well. Share the sense of discovery with this useful booklet.
Generally considered the leading pre-Islamic dialect of Coptic, Sahidic is an important language for Orientalists. Perhaps because of its body of original, non-translated material, Sahidic is the Coptic dialect most commonly studied outside of ecclesiastical settings. Sahidic, however, is also used as a language of translation, as in this booklet containing the biblical book of Job in that dialect. Unparalleled as a source for beginners in Coptic, this small portion of the Bible presents a familiar starting point. Coptic scholars will also find this resource worth their time as an historical example of the language and its study. Known also as Thebaic, this form of Coptic was used for translating major portions of the Bible. Since it was used by the church as well, this tract will be of interest to biblical scholars as well.