The English Interest In The Arabic-Speaking Christians

Abstract

Many reasons were given for studying Arabic in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Since most practitioners were theologians, theological arguments for learning the language of the Qurʾān tended to prevail. One of these was the presence of the Arabic-speaking Christians: Greek Orthodox, Copts, Jacobites, Armenians, Maronites and Nestorians. Under Ottoman rule, they were regarded in the west as the victims of persecution who should in some way be assisted and possibly even liberated. Although the Lutherans, became aware that the Greek Orthodox Church practised ceremonies and held beliefs which were far closer to Roman Catholicism than to Protestantism, their interest in the Christianity of the east continued. Throughout the seventeenth century, German princes encouraged expeditions to the Levant and members of the eastern Churches were made as welcome in Germany as in other parts of Europe. Keywords: Arabic-speaking Christians; Armenians; Greek Orthodox Church; Maronites; Roman Catholicism