Hear from top scholars on the language of Scripture in this special Hartford Seminary symposium. A Compassionate Response: What it Means to be a Neighbor Father Joseph Cheah University of Saint Joseph The word compassion comes from the Hebrew word rehem, which means a mother’s womb.  To be compassionate is to have a deep feeling a woman has for the child that comes forth from her womb.  In the parable of the Good Samaritan, it was the Good Samaritan who exemplifies this sort of compassion by offering liberating assistance to the half-death man lying on the side of the road. Father Cheah will examine what this good Samaritan, a foreigner and racialized other, teaches us about what it means to be neighbor and exemplifies for us the value of strangers in our midst. Dr. Deena Grant Exploring Jewish and Christian Translations of Scripture: Practical Applications Is translation interpretation? We will explore together ways that translation can influence meaning by discussing a variety of diverse translations of the identical Scripture passages. The Book of Job, Islamic Thought and the Gospels Dr. Steven Blackburn Retired from Hartford Seminary As a rising tide of Islamization began to engulf both Jews and Christians in Mesopotamia by the mid 8^th century C.E., interpreters of Jewish scripture presented their writings in ways that were accessible to Muslims through preferences for vocabulary with an Qur’anic cast.  The translation of Pethion ibn Ayyub of the Book of Job betrays not only affinities to Islamic thought but simultaneously attempts to harmonize Job’s teaching with portions of the Gospels. Does Everyone in Heaven Speak Arabic? Dr. Suheil Laher Adjunct Professor at Hartford Seminary ‘When God is angry, He sends revelation in Arabic. When He is pleased, He sends revelation in Persian.’ What might have led someone to claim the Prophet Muhammad had said these words? The Qur’an is central to Islamic belief and practice, as God’s words. But what exactly is meant by the phrase, “God’s words.” Is Arabic “the language of God”? And if so, how much leeway is there for prayer and sermons to be in other languages? Will everyone in Heaven speak Arabic? Dr. Laher will discuss these theological and ritual questions, and how they impacted and were impacted by socio-political factors. Register here.