John of Damascus, First Apologist to the Muslims: The Trinity and Christian Apologetics in the Early Islamic Period

316 Pages·2016·2.31 MB·English

by  Daniel J. Janosik

John of Damascus,
first apologist to the muslims

John of Damascus,
first apologist to the muslims
The Trinity and Christian Apologetics in the
Early Islamic Period
Daniel J. Janosik
foreword by Peter G. Riddell
John of Damascus, first apologist to the muslims
The trinity and christian apologetics in the early islamic period
copyright © 2016 Daniel J. Janosik. all rights reserved. except for brief quotations
in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any
manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: permissions,
Wipf and stock publishers, 199 W. 8th ave., suite 3, eugene, or 97401.
used by permission of southern evangelical seminary, Christian Apologetics Journal:
Daniel Janosik, “The Development of the trinity Through controversy,” Chris-
tian Apologetics Journal, Vol. 11, no. 1 (spring 2013).
Daniel Janosik, “John of Damascus, first apologist to the muslims,” Christian
Apologetics Journal, Vol. 9, no. 1 (spring 2011).
used by permission of melbourne school of Theology, The centre for the study of
islam and other faiths:
Daniel Janosik, “The Development of early islam according to the neo-revi-
sionists,” Occasional Papers in the Study of Islam and Other Faiths, no. 1 (July
2009), 13–24.
pickwick publications
an imprint of Wipf and stock publishers
199 W. 8th ave., suite 3
eugene, or 97401
www.wipfandstock.com
paperback isbn: 978-1-4982-8982-5
hardcover isbn: 978-1-4982-8984-9
ebook isbn: 978-1-4982-8983-2
Cataloguing-in-Publication data:
Janosik, Daniel. |
John of Damascus, first apologist to the muslims : an exploration of John of Damascus’s
use of his trinitarian teachings in his apologetic approach to muslims in the early
period of islam / Daniel Janosik.
eugene, or: pickwick publications, 2016 | includes bibliographical references and index.
isbn 978-1-4982-8982-5 (paperback) | isbn 978-1-4982-8984-9 (hardcover) | isbn 978-
1-4982-8983-2 (ebook)
John of Damascus, saint | Theology—history—middle ages, 600–1500 | christianity
and other religions—islam.
Br1720 J36 2016 (paperback) | Br1720 (ebook)
manufactured in the u.s.a. 11/07/16
i dedicate this book to the memory of Dr. William larkin,
professor emeritus, columbia international university seminary
and school of missions. Dr. larkin was a scholar’s scholar and an
example to many, not only in his pursuit of knowledge, but also, to
a greater extent, in his pursuit of his lord and savior, Jesus christ.
i am grateful for his wise counsel, instruction concerning greek
translations, many stimulating and instructive conversations, and
most of all for his encouragement, prayers, and friendship.

Contents
List of Illustrations and Tables | ix
Foreword by Peter G Riddell | xi
Preface | xiii
Acknowledgments | xv
List of Abbreviations | xvi
1 The Development of the trinity through controversy | 1
2 John of Damascus: controversies regarding his life and Work | 20
3 John’s islamic context | 45
4 The early formation of islam | 66
5 Theological Development of islam | 79
6 heresy of the ishmaelites: authenticity and analysis | 90
7 Disputation between a christian and a saracen: authenticity and
transmission | 115
8 analysis of the Disputation between a christian and a saracen | 140
9 The trinitarian Beliefs of John of Damascus | 170
10 The Development of John’s apologetic approach | 199
11 The apologetic successors of John | 219
12 concluding Thoughts | 249
appendix a: substantiated historical “markers”
in the life of John of Damascus | 255
appendix B: Theological Development chart | 259
appendix c: heresy of the ishmaelites
(translation from Kotter’s text) | 260
appendix D: Disputation between a christian and a saracen | 269
Bibliography | 277
Index | 291

Illustrations and Tables
possible transmission of the Disputation | 117
comparison chart for the transmission of the manuscripts | 120
comparison chart for Kotter, section 5, lines 1–10 | 123
possible transmission of the written dialogues and oral lectures of John | 137
appendix a: substantiated historical “markers”
in the life of John of Damascus | 255
appendix B: Theological Development chart | 259
appendix c: heresy of the ishmaelites
(translation from Kotter’s text) | 260
appendix D: Disputation between a christian and a saracen | 269
ix