Exploring God’s Attributes in the Hymnology of Eastern Women | Dr. Grace Al-Zoughbi | Theo Global

Theology is done and proclaimed richly and beautifully in song and poetry, not just in prose and logic. This presentation is an extraordinary survey of historical examples of women and hymnology from the Middle East that have articulated God’s Attributes - in ways profoundly meaningful in the Middle East and to the church throughout the world.  Dr. GRACE AL-ZOUGHBI ARTEEN is Assistant Professor at Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Lebanon and Accreditation Officer at Middle East and North Africa Association for Theological Education. She is a Palestinian Christian originally from Bethlehem. She holds a PhD in theology from the London School of Theology. Her doctoral research focused on Arab women in theological education as a contribution to ecclesial understanding of Christianity in the Middle East. 0:00 - Over centuries, hymns were a vehicle for unique theological contributions by women in the Middle East. 2:50 - Examples of eastern women bearing witness to God’s attributes 5:08 - Origins & overview of the Syriac Church and adoption of its hymnology by the Protestant tradition 7:45 - Mary’s Magnificat as a biblical example of poetic theology, by a woman, on God’s attributes 10:35 - Mary’s emphasis and insights on God’s striking juxtapositions and faithfulness 14:07 - Mary’s song is a triumphant song of reversals, in Christ, and particularly relevant to the experience of Christians in the Middle East 14:55 - Juxtaposition and paradox: St. Ephrem (4th C) and women in poetry and hymnology 20:12 - Daughters of the Covenant sang to defeat the heresies of the early centuries, declaring theology 23:00 - Importance of theological contributions from Arab women and the Middle East to the wider Christian tradition 26:45 - Recent example: Mary’s mournful lament hymn sung by Fairuz 30:58 - Theology is a reaction to God’s self-revelation, and can be done in song, poetry, and hymns. 33:05 - Theology doesn’t have to be a treatise or paper, to be profound 33:30 - Need for public singing of theology and for women’s theological voices in the Middle East and global Protestant church.    THEO GLOBAL JOURNAL Get your copy of the Theo Global Journal, including this presentation and other papers from the 2024 symposiums https://solamedia.org/tgjournal/ JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER https://solamedia.org/subscribe FOLLOW US Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/solamediaorg/ X/Twitter  https://x.com/solamediaorg  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/solamediaorg/ THEO GLOBAL Theo Global annual symposiums gather brothers and sisters who teach theology in more than 70 seminaries and Bible colleges around the world. Our annual events include South Asia, East Africa, and the Middle East. We are working to expand to Southeast Asia and Latin America in the near future. WHO WE ARE Sola is home to White Horse Inn, Core Christianity, Modern Reformation, and Theo Global. Our mission is to serve today’s global church by producing resources for reformation grounded in the historic Christian faith. Our vision is to see reformation in hearts, homes, and churches around the world. https://solamedia.org/