Cain and Abel in Syriac and Greek Writers (4th-6th Centuries)

Johannes Bartholdy Glenthøj, J. B. Glenthoj

Peeters Publishers, 1997 - Religion - 326 pages

The main part of this work is a detailed inventory of interpretations of Gen. 4.1-17. The exegesis related to each verse is presented quoting sources century by century, first Greek, then Syriac texts. The book introduces early Jewish, Christian and Gnostic exegesis, and on the basis of the inventory, it studies selected themes in the two genres: commentaries and homilies; Greek as opposed to Syriac exegesis, the use of speeches, especially fictive speeches in the dramatized homilies, main themes related to the character of Cain, and the interrelationship of sources. The book will be of interest for students of theology, history of religion, as well as for anyone studying the history of exegesis, art and literature.

Contents

• A Scope and method: 1
• U Between verses 8 and: 9
• Early Christian and Gnostic sources: 10
• Z Verse: 11
• Main sources from the fourth to the sixth centuries: 33
• E The biblical text: 51
• A Before verse 1: 57
• Why did Cain bring an offering?: 86
• Abels attitude and virtues: 92
• Verse: 101
• Rejection: 105
• Purpose of the rejection: 106
• N Verse 5b 1 Adam as subject: 107
• The reaction of Cains family to his rejection: 110
• Medical language: 111
• Reproach: 112
• Division of the offering: 113
• Exhortation to remain still: 114
• God does not punish at this point: 115
• Allegorical interpretation: 116
• You shall rule by means of it: 117
• Sins activity: 119
• Development of the narrative: 120
• Cains reaction in relation to Abel: 121
• Cains inner state: 122
• Gods response to Cain: 123
• Cain and the corpse: 154
• Cains thoughts after his act of murder: 155
• Cain in relation to his parents: 156
• Witnesses: 158
• Gods dwelling place: 159
• Cains future life: 160
• Typological interpretation: 161
• Contrast between lovemercy and angerjustice: 162
• Contrast between ignorance and knowledge: 163
• The attitude of God towards Cain: 164
• Verse 9b 1 Cains inner state: 166
• Gods relationship to Cain and Abel: 168
• Development of speech and narrative: 169
• Typological interpretation: 170
• Y Verse 10: 171
• The question: 172
• Cains reaction: 173
• Innocence: 174
• Witnesses: 175
• Verse 2bc: 323
• 7: 324

Bibliographic information

• Title: Cain and Abel in Syriac and Greek Writers (4th-6th Centuries); Corpus scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium, [Corpus scriptorum Christianorum orientalium
• Authors: Johannes Bartholdy Glenthøj, J. B. Glenthoj
• Publisher: Peeters Publishers, 1997
• ISBN: 9068319094, 9789068319095
• Length: 326 pages
• Subjects: Religion / Christianity / History