Arab-Christian Theologies in Dialogue: Comparative Analysis of the Doctrines of the Melkite Saʻīd Ibn Baṭrīq, the Copt Sawīrus Ibn al-Muqaffaʻ, and the Nestorian Elias of Nisibis

Usually scholars studying Arab-Christian heritage and theological literature highlight its interreligious intent, especially in dialogue with Muslims. I my paper I focus on another important aspect of this Christian tradition: the dialogue between different Christian confessions of the East. For the first time, in fact, the three major Christian confessions of the East, Chalcedonians (Melkites), Miaphysites and Nestorians (East Syrians) expressed and developed their Trinitarian, and especially their Christological doctrine through the same language, Arabic. However, sometimes these three traditions understood the same philosophical terms in somewhat different ways. I study three authors, representing each of these major confessions: Saʿīd ibn Baṭrīq Sāwīrūs ibn al-Muqaffaʿ and Elias of Nisibis. The study of their work is significant because they wrote Christian theological works in Arabic; in fact, they wrote Christological polemics against each other. In this paper, I analyze their theological thought, showing that their Trinitarian and Christological doctrines, although expressing some differences and disagreements, can actually be included in one scheme. This paper aims to highlight the real meaning of the metaphysical terminology and that some differences can be overcome when we understand what the authors really wanted to affirm and reject, i.e. the content they gave to terminology.