For example, for Muslims, Abraham is not the first monotheist or the founder of Islam. A Muslim would say the first monotheist, the first Muslim was Adam.
So, the first man whom God created was created as a Muslim; and he preached Islam. For Jews too, of course, the figure of Abraham has a principal role but maybe not necessarily as the founder of Judaism in any way or the founder of monotheism. Jews, of course, look not to Abraham but to his grandson, Jacob, who has the name Israel later as the founder of the people of Israel.
And, we might even notice that in theological terms, the person of Abraham becomes an object, in some ways, of disagreement and, also, methods of expressing a particular theological viewpoint. If we notice in the New Testament , Paul, in the Book of Romans, looks to Abraham in a very particular way, very Christian way, as an example of faith.
But the amazing fact about Abram is that he does what he is asked. There are no signs or miracles; he has no scriptures or traditions on which to draw, so Abram has to place his trust in this nameless God. Consequently, Abram has gone down in history as a man of tremendous faith. As a result of his obedience, God changes his name to Abraham, meaning 'father of the people'. The ultimate test of Abraham's obedience, however, comes in Genesis 22 when he is asked to sacrifice his son by Sarah - Isaac.
God had promised that Abraham's descendents would come through Isaac, so the level of faith he displays is quite astonishing. Abraham trusts God and takes his son, as directed, up a mountain. At the very last minute, God intervenes and spares Isaac's life by providing another animal a ram for sacrifice.
The test is complete and God once more reiterates his promises to Abraham of land, descendents and a personal relationship. According to the Bible, Abraham is humanity's last chance to establish a relationship with God. At the beginning of the Bible in the creation narratives, Adam and Eve set in train a pattern of disobedience to God's commands which takes root. Even after the Great Flood, in which only Noah was saved, humanity once again comes perilously close to alienating themselves from their creator God.
They build the tower of Babel Genesis 11 , a tower that seems like it will almost break through to the heavens and God again intervenes and scatters the people across the earth. Many scholars believe these stories were written to explain to people why the world is like it is and why humans are like they are. What is our place in the world?
Why do we die? They address questions of life and death, rather than being simply explanations about how the world was created. At the end of Genesis 11, we are provided with a genealogy and Abraham becomes the new hope through which God will try and create a people to live by a certain set of values.
The important thing to learn here is the uniqueness of the Covenant relationship between God and Abraham. For the first time, we see the beginning of a two-way relationship: God doing something for Abraham, and Abraham doing something for God. The blessings of God are passed on from one generation to another.
The practice of circumcision represents a significant sign of the covenant between God and Jewish people. Abraham and his son Ishmael at the age of thirteen and all the men in the household are circumcised.
Once again, God reassures him that Ishmael picture and his offspring will make a great nation. Abraham reluctantly sends them away. Islam teaches that Abraham was one of 5 great prophets who received special revelations from Allah. If you want to learn to share your faith with a Muslim Friend, be sure to check out our free guide!
Ibrahim is the same name given to the patriarch in the Arabic Bible. Genesis — This is not surprising when we remember that, biblically, the Abrahamic covenant is precisely what excludes Ishmael.
Droge, trans. For a side-by-side comparison of translations, see here. See especially Genesis —3; —21; — The earliest commentators were divided as to whether the son was Ishaq or Ismail. Contemporary Islamic scholarship favors Ismail. Matt holds a Ph. Follow Matt on Twitter. We use cookies to improve your experience on our website.
Please read our privacy policy to find out more. Skip to main content. Time is short.
0コメント