Table of Contents

Introduction: The Language of Chosenness vii
1 In the Beginning … 1
2 Chosenness in the Ancient Near East 11
3 Best Practice Models and Religious Success 35
4 Chosenness and Covenant in the New Testament 57
5 Chosenness and Covenant in the Qur'an 73
6 Chosenness and Covenant in Rabbinic Literature 85
7 The Merit of the Ancients 91
8 The Legacy of Chosenness 115
9 Does Redemption Require Election? 131
Conclusion: Retaining Our Uniqueness while
Affirming the Other 147
Notes 151
Suggestions for Further Reading 157

About the Author

Rabbi Reuven Firestone, PhD, is professor of Medieval Jewish and Islamic Studies at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion. He is the author of Introduction to Islam for Jews and Children of Abraham: An Introduction to Judaism for Muslims,among other books. He is a frequent speaker on the topics of early Islam and its relationship to Judaism and Christianity, scriptural interpretation of the Bible and Qur'an, and the phenomenon of holy war in the Abrahamic religions.

Reviews

"The first careful, fair, and thorough comparison of how the concept functions in the three major Abrahamic religions…. Required reading."
—Harvey Cox, Hollis Professor of Divinity, Harvard University



“Scholars and laypeople, believers and skeptics alike will profit greatly from this informative and thought-provoking book.”
—Rabbi David Ellenson, PhD, president, Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion

“Does the reader a favor by not glossing over the hard issues that confront us, rather offering a timely analysis of the concept of chosenness.”
—Akbar Ahmed, PhD, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, American University