Evidence of Greek Philosophical Concepts in the Writings of Ephrem the SyrianEphrem the Syrian (d. 373) has often been taken to represent an unhellenized Semitic form of Christianity in unbroken continuity with the tradition of Jesus and the apostles. This somewhat romanticized view of Ephrem disregards the fact that Syria had been subject to Greek influence since its conquest centuries earlier by Alexander the Great. Ephrem's own writings however frequently betray a familiarity with Greek philosophical ideas. This book first introduces Ephrem's intellectual context and his attitude towards learning. It then systematically analyzes parallels between Ephrem and Greek writers on the subjects of atomism, space, on corporeals, vision, and the four elements. This study thereby demonstrates that Ephrem draws not only on Semitic cultural traditions, but also on Greek philosophical thought. |
Contents
Section 1 | 1 |
Section 2 | 13 |
Section 3 | 33 |
Section 4 | 55 |
Section 5 | 79 |
Section 6 | 113 |
Section 7 | 127 |
Section 8 | 155 |
Section 9 | 186 |
Section 10 | 230 |
| 236 | |
Section 12 | 263 |
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Common terms and phrases
Aetius Albinus Alexander of Aphrodisias Aphrahat argues Aristides Quintilianus Aristotelian Aristotle atoms attributes Bardaisan Bardaisan's Domnus Beck BiTeu Leipzig body Brock Christian Cleomedes colors concept context corporeal cosmology CSCO.S Diels Diogenes Laertius discussion divine Drijvers earth Eccl Edessa Elementum Empedocles enclosed English translation entities Ephrem Ephrem the Syrian Ephrem's notion Ephrem's theology Epicurus Eusebius existence fire four elements Galen God's Greek philosophical Heinemann Hellenic Hellenistic human Hymns hypostasis Ibid idem incorporeal itutâ ityâ ityê Jewish kyânâ Lactantius LCL London light Lucretius math meaning names nature Nemesius Nisibis object passage perceive Philo Phys Plato Platonists Plotinus Plutarch qnomâ qualities refers Refutations rejects resembles sense organ sense perception seven senses Sextus Empiricus sight soul sound space Stoic Stoic theory substance Syriac teaching terminology Tertullian Teubner theologians Theophrastus things thought tion Treatise Against Bardaisan's Vitae void word writes
Popular passages
Page 256 - Macdonald (G.), Catalogue of Greek coins in the Hunterian Collection, University of Glasgow. Vol. II : North Western Greece, Central Greece, Southern Greece and Asia Minor. Glasgow, J. Maclehose & Sons, 1901. VI, 649 S. 4".