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ABTS Graduate Emad Botros
Teaches Old Testament Background

February 10 to 14, ABTS Graduate Emad Botros taught the “Old Testament Background” course. The purpose of the course was to explore the historical, geographical, sociological, and cultural backgrounds with respect to the interpretation of the Old Testament. It equips students to diligently engage in the process of OT interpretation in order to better understand its message.

Emad is from Egypt. He graduated from ABTS in 2003 with a Bachelor of Theology. Following graduation, he pursued his calling to continued theological education and in May 2013 completed an M.A. in Christian Studies from McMaster Divinity College, Ontario. His thesis focused on writing biblical theology of the Old Testament in the context of Islam. He is currently working on his PhD at the same college.

During his stay, Emad delivered one of the daily morning devotions wherein he discussed key elements of his journey and how God used ABTS to shape his personality and clarify God’s calling on his life.
According to Emad, “ABTS was a place where God transformed my life, shaped my vision, and developed my skills. I came to ABTS with a feeling of inferiority. I did not believe in myself, nor did I think that I was qualified for such a calling. I also had doubts that I would be able to succeed. However, God had a different agenda. He brought one of the ABTS faculty members into my life, a godly man who believed in me and was able to see things that I did not see in myself. This was a transformational moment in my life. With a touch of love and the trust of this man, I was able to trust myself once again, and discover the real me. Now, I enthusiastically look forward to what God has in store for me.”

Emad added: “At ABTS, I fell in love with the Old Testament and started to ask: what does it mean to read the Old Testament in a Middle Eastern context? How can the Old Testament be used to help Muslims understand God and his work through Jesus Christ? Would the Old Testament assist Muslims in their journey of searching for God? Since then, I have been on a journey to answer these questions. I have a passion to teach the word of God, particularly the Old Testament. My dream is to revive the message of the Old Testament in the life of the ABTS students, as well as in the church, and to help Christians as they make the message of the Old Testament relevant to our Middle Eastern context today. I trust that teaching at ABTS is part of accomplishing this dream.”

Emad is married to Almass from Iraq and has two boys, aged 8 and 6. Emad and Almass met at ABTS when they were both students. Almass’s current ministry is among Arabs in Waterloo, Ontario.