Aphrahat the Persian Sage and the Temple of God A Study of Early Syriac Theological Anthropology

Table of Contents....................................................................................................v
Preface.....................................................................................................................vii
Acknowledgments..................................................................................................ix
Abbreviations ..........................................................................................................xi
Transliteration System .................................................................................xii
Introduction .............................................................................................................1
Biography.........................................................................................................2
Definition of Key Terms.............................................................................17
Structure of this study..................................................................................27
1 Aphrahat and Temple..................................................................................29
Scriptural Quotations...................................................................................29
Adam and Paradise.......................................................................................35
Christology ....................................................................................................43
Ecclesiology...................................................................................................59
Baptism ..........................................................................................................64
Eucharist ........................................................................................................68
2 The Ascetics ..................................................................................................73
The singles (Ihidayē) ......................................................................................73
The Covenanters (bnay qyāmā) ....................................................................82
Holy Women.................................................................................................90
The virgins (btulē)..........................................................................................95
Marriage and Virginity .................................................................................99
The Holy ones (qaddishē)............................................................................103
3 Being a Temple ...........................................................................................107
Inner Person................................................................................................107
Heart and Prayer.........................................................................................110
Rest of God.................................................................................................117
Grieving the Spirit ......................................................................................122
4 The Sage “May” See God .........................................................................139
Theme #1 – The Sage ...............................................................................144
Theme #2 – The Temple..........................................................................150
Theme #3 – To See God..........................................................................165
Theme #4 – Ascent and Descent............................................................189
Conclusion............................................................................................................195
Bibliography .........................................................................................................203
Primary Sources ..........................................................................................203
Secondary Sources......................................................................................208
5 Index.............................................................................................................229