First Arabic Volumes of Major Bible Commentary Series Released for Arab Churches
Translators in Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt worked on five volumes, aiming to give pastors and Bible students across the Arab world in-depth study tools in their own language.
Arabic editions of two widely used Bible commentary series are now available to churches in the Arab world, Christian Daily International reported Oct. 25.
Five volumes were released Sept. 22: two on Genesis, plus one each on Psalms, Galatians and Ephesians. They come from the New International Commentary on the Old Testament and the New International Commentary on the New Testament, both published in English by Eerdmans.
The Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Lebanon carried out the project with the Christian publisher Dar Manhal al Hayat. Translators, editors, reviewers and scholars from Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt worked on the books, according to the report, which drew on information from THIMAR.
Wajih Youssef, the project's editor-in-chief, said “few comprehensive commentaries exist in Arabic.” He said he often stopped while translating to say, “Glory be to God.”
Seminary president Wissam Nasrallah said, “This is not the end of a project, but the beginning of new growth.” He said he hopes the books will be read in “classrooms and pulpits, so that Christ may be served more faithfully.”
Others named in the report include Sandra El Hajj Baz, publishing and communications director at Dar Manhal al Hayat, and Walid Zailaa, the seminary's academic dean.
More photos
