Father Abraham’s Many Children: The Bible in a World of Religious Difference
Overview
Reframing religious diversity through the stories of Cain, Ishmael, and Esau.
The way we read the Bible matters for the way we engage the pluralistic world around us. For instance, if we understand the book of Genesis as narrowly focused on primary characters like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, we’ll miss the larger story and end up with the impression that God only cares about those who are “chosen.” In fact, the narratives of marginalized biblical characters reveal that God protects and provides for them also. What might this mean for Christians living in a world of religious difference today?
In Father Abraham’s Many Children, Tyler Mayfield reflects on the stories of three of the most significant “other brothers” in the Bible—namely, on God’s continued engagement with Cain after he murders Abel, Ishmael’s circumcision as a sign of God’s covenant, and Esau’s reconciliation with Jacob. From these stories, Mayfield draws out a more generous theology of religious diversity, so that Christians might be better equipped to authentically love their neighbors of multiple faith traditions—as God loves, and has always loved, all humanity.
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- Explores how God protects and provides for marginalized biblical characters
- Draws out a more generous theology of religious diversity
- Reflects on the stories of three of the most significant “other brothers” in the Bible
- Foreword by Eboo Patel
- Introduction
- Religious Diversity and Our Bibles: Retelling the Ancient Stories
- Chosenness and Genesis’s Fuller Story: Reading Expansively
- God Asks Good Questions: The Story of Cain
- God Was with the Boy: The Story of Ishmael
- Only One Blessing, Father? The Story of Esau
- Conclusion
- Title: Father Abraham’s Many Children: The Bible in a World of Religious Difference
- Author: Tyler D. Mayfield
- Publisher: Eerdmans
- Print Publication Date: 2022
- Logos Release Date: 2021
- Pages: 133
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
- Subjects: Bible. O.T. Genesis › Criticism, interpretation, etc; Christianity and other religions
- ISBN: 9780802879455
- Resource ID: LLS:FTHRBRHMSDFFRNC
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-01-04T21:32:18Z
In the Logos Reader Edition, this volume is enhanced to best fit the content. Scripture references are hand-tagged to integrate with powerful functionality in Logos Bible Software. Page milestones and internal citation tagging provide accurate points of reference. Search important words across resources to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive tools for reading digital content are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.
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