Routledge - Arabic Christianity in Ninth-Century Palestine

Explore a major turning point in Christian history with this scholarly study from Routledge. This volume examines the 8th-century shift when monks in Palestinian monasteries began producing theology and saints' lives in Arabic. This transition marked a significant move toward using the lingua franca of the Islamic caliphate to express Christian thought. Professor Griffith details the extensive programme of translating the Bible and other vital Christian texts from Greek and Syriac into Arabic. The book explains how the development of Islamic theology created a direct need for Christian apologetics, driving this linguistic and literary movement. This collection of studies provides a deep look at how religious communities adapted to their changing cultural and political environment through written works.