Three Testaments

Reviews / Votes

This work brings together in one volume scholarly and gender-inclusive translations and interpretations of Judaism's Torah, Christianity's New Testament, and Islam's Qur'an. Each scriptural text is preceded by introductory and scholarly essays, often exploring the relationship of one to the other two. In addition, attention is given to the possible encounter of these three traditions with Zoroastrianism, thereby adding unique content. Intimately connected, the sacred scriptures of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are "possibly the most spiritually significant trilogy in the history of literature." This work not only introduces each scriptural text but also serves as a foundation for greater understanding among the three traditions. Recommended for theological, academic, and large public libraries. * Booklist * Brown (Noah's Other Son), a United Church of Canada minister, was surprised that the sacred scriptures of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are not usually included in a single volume. He includes all three here, emphasizing the common ground among these monotheistic religions and their texts. As editor, he utilizes reputable scholars from the three religious traditions to give introductory information on the sacred texts as well as providing commentary. In particular, he emphasizes the ways in which Zoroastrianism influenced all these sacred writings. It is curious that Brown includes the entirety of the New Testament and the Quran but only the first five books (Torah) of the Hebrew Bible. Nonetheless, what is here is useful for comparative analysis as persons from each tradition may not have read the other texts or studied them as is possible here. VERDICT General readers and undergraduates with an interest in these monotheistic religions and their sacred writings will find this book to be very helpful. * Library Journal * That's the premise behind Three Testaments: Torah, Gospel and Quran. Brown has assembled Muslim, Christian and Jewish scholars to introduce modern, readable translations of the three texts. The scholars explain how the holy books of each community are used and understood withing the faith they represent. * The Catholic Register * This volume presents together in English the texts of the Torah (Genesis through Deuteronomy), the NT, and the Quran, inviting the reader to examine the interdependence of the Scriptures that are central to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Also included are supplementary essays on possible relationships with other religious traditions. After an eight-page prologue on the people of the book by Brown and a preface to the Torah by E. Frankel, there are essays by Brown on "Also Sprach Zarathustra," monotheism, from Zoroaster to Zorobabel, and Israel's Redeemer; an introduction to the Torah by M. Z. Brettler; and the text according to The Contemporary Torah. Next after a preface to the Gospel by H. L. Carrigan, there are essays by Brown on Gospel and Torah, Gospel and Wisdom, Gospel and Avesta, and Gospel and Quran; an introduction to the Gospel by D. Bruce; and the text according to The Inclusive Bible. Then after a preface to the sublime Quran by L. Bakhtiar, there are essays by Brown on Zoroastrians in the Quran, Torah in the Quran, Gospel in the Quran, and Avesta in the Quran; an introduction to the Quran by N. Reda; and the text according to The Sublime Quran. * New Testament Abstracts * This is an unusual, ambitious, and groundbreaking book that seeks to discover the threads that connect the sacred texts of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. * The Bible Today * From disagreement over an Islamic Center in New York to clashes between Christians and Muslims in Egypt, tension between the three Abrahamic faiths often runs high. Three Testaments brings together the text of the Torah, the New Testament, and the Quran, so that readers can explore for themselves the connections, as well as the points of departure, between Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Notable religion scholars (Laleh Bakhtiar, Marc Zvi Brettler, David Bruce, Henry Carrigan, Ellen Frankel, and Nevin Reda) provide accessible introductions to each tradition. Commentary from editor Brian Arthur Brown explores how the three faiths may draw similarities from the ancient Zoroastrian tradition. This new paperback edition of the 2012 volume provides a much-needed interfaith perspective on key sacred texts. * Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology * As no language is pure, having only its own root words or idioms; no gene pool is devoid of influences from foreign genetic lines and no ecological system is without the presence of invasive and adaptive species, so no religious tradition is whole or pure within itself, cut off from historic and interactive encounter with internal heterodox or vital forces from external religious encounters. Having demonstrated the many ways in which Christian and Islamic sacred texts manifest such influences and parallels in a seminal previous work, Brian Arthur Brown and his associates here turn to a deeper investigation of the common as well as the distinctive features of the monotheistic world faiths present in the Torah, the Gospel, and the Quran, including some possible influence in each by Zoroastrianism. Well aware that the evidence is not conclusive in many cases, he courageously and suggestively charts out the dots that can be, or perhaps can become, connected as further research dictates, thereby setting forth a possible map of the partially hidden root system that feeds the major branches of the flourishing world religions. If this map is followed and fleshed out it should lead us to discover how much the heirs or this cluster of faiths share and open the doors to a deeper, wider dialogue. -- Max L. Stackhouse, professor of theology and public life emeritus, Princeton Theological Seminary Since the medium is indeed a great part of the message, Three Testaments-bringing together the Torah, the Christian Scriptures, and the Koran in one volume-is already transformative, simply by challenging all of us to look each other in the face. And to see in each Face the Face of God. Besides that, Brian Brown's 'message'-his proposal for seeing the Zoroastrian tradition as having set the context for new Revelations in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam-may open us up to fuller spiritual and religious explorations. -- Rabbi Arthur Waskow, author of The Tent of Abraham; director, The Shalom Center What an interesting read! I am delighted to see the use of the calligraphy by Zakariya in balance with the evocative Kligfield collection of engravings in this splendid book. -- Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, president, Union Theological Seminary Three Testaments is appropriately inclusive in many ways. The use of inclusive scripture is especially appropriate for the twenty-first century, both scholarly and evocative. To leave women out of the scripture in our time would be to distort the message entirely. -- Sister Joan Chittister, author of Called to Question; columnist in National Catholic Reporter Three Testaments suggests new paradigms that could considerably enrich interfaith discussions for each of these three faiths: 'a new paradigm for Jews about the origin of monotheism in world religion, a new paradigm for Christians about the saviour of the world, and a new paradigm for Muslims about the people of the book.' -- Mark G. Toulouse, principal and professor of the history of Christianity, Emmanuel College, and the Department for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto From the Foreword: The book that you hold in your hands is revolutionary. It presents together the texts of the Torah, Gospels, and Quran, inviting the reader to examine the interdependence of the Scriptures that are central to Jews, Christians and Muslims. That shared presentation in and of itself gives Three Testaments its name and makes it extraordinary. What makes it revolutionary are the connections that Brian Arthur Brown and the other contributors to this volume make among these three great traditions. -- Amir Hussain, Loyola Marymount University, author of Oil and Water: Two Faiths, One God Three Testaments: Torah, Gospel and Quran invites readers to study the interdependence of the Scriptures claiming the tradition of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar as their heritage. I especially appreciate the use of inclusive language and the voice of wo/men scholars in part I and III introducing the progressive edge of Jewish and Muslim Scriptures. This volume is a very unique and helpful resource for introductory Scripture courses and interreligious dialogue. I highly recommend it. -- Elisabeth Schuessler Fiorenza, Krister Stendahl Professor, Harvard Divinity School