Narratives in Conflict
Atonement in Hebrews and the Qur’an
- Evangelism & Missions
- Publisher: Pickwick Publications (Wipf and Stock)
- Published: 2019
FritzSearch.com earns a commission on purchases made through Bookshop.org links.
Publisher's Description
Did Jesus die on the cross for our sins as the Gospels describe? Or, as Muslims often contend, was Jesus rescued to heaven in order to avoid the shameful crucifixion that would be unbefitting of a messenger of God? This debate has raged for generations and has caused no shortage of frustration among those seeking to explain the central teaching of the Christian faith to those influenced by the Qur'an. What this book aims to do is uncover four barriers to understanding the biblical teaching on atonement that likely exist in the minds of our Muslim friends prior to asking about the historical reality of the Christ event. What we will discover is that the Qur'an diverges from the biblical teaching on atonement at the lexical, ritual, narrative, and worldview levels. Each of these points of divergence presents a barrier to communication. Therefore, before arguing with our Muslim friends that Jesus died on the cross, we must provide an answer to the prior question, why would it matter? This book argues that the Letter to the Hebrews provides a particularly helpful biblical starting point for overcoming all four barriers.
Endorsements (2)
“A thorough understanding of biblical atonement must inform any serious interaction with the Qur'an's very different teaching on forgiveness. In this helpful study, Dr. Bennett shows how Christ’s fulfillment of the Day of Atonement, as presented by the book of Hebrews, effectively challenges the Qur’an's claims. It will certainly inform serious Muslim-Christian dialogue on the centrality of the Lord Jesus Christ to true monotheistic faith.”
“Muslims and Christians have been in conversation for centuries. On the one hand, they share belief in one God, divine revelation, and communion with the Divine. On the other hand, the sacred texts of each tradition presuppose divergent narratives within which the various tenets of each faith are revealed. Narratives in Conflict delves into the texts (biblical and qur’anic) and the attendant theological constructions associated with what is arguably the most contentious issue separating the two faith traditions—the atonement. Bennett does an excellent job unearthing the lexical, historical, and theological reasons for this conflict and offers a constructive way forward.”
See something wrong on this page? Report a problem