Bardaisan's Influence on Late Antique Christianity
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6,27*2631&/2+ 73.&( 56).*4#2/ 8 '7*5-&3)65-2!-* 73.&(145.565*&1)23,.&43*44 BARDAISAN’S INFLUENC $#!)#)&* '()#). *)%$(( ! '+'+#).($$! !! %34>,=?4.70>006>?:0A,7@,?03:B?30?3:@23?:1,=/,4>,9:1 /0>>,B,>=0.04A0/-D7,?0=2090=,?4:9>:13=4>?4,9>%30,=?4 .70>3:B>?3,??30AA=A8F:7!3IEA8AG@FD;7E,$D=4,. /4,7:[email protected],=/,4>,94>?308,4949?0=7:.@?:=0C0=.4>0/ .:9>4/0=,[email protected]:?3?30=006,9/$D=4,.>;0,6492 worlds. Although later authors tended to denigrate Bardaisan’s A40B>:91,?0,9/1=00B477,>,9@9/@0.:8;=:84>0?30D90A0= ?3070>> /4/ 9:? 30>4?,?0 ?: -:==:B 1=007D 1=:8 34> .:209? ,9?4 /0?0=8494>?4.,=2@809?>,9/49?02=,?0?30849?:?304=:B9/4> courses. But Bardaisan’s influence, especially in the Syriac >;0,6492=024:9>0C?09/0/49?::?30=,=0,>,>B07734>499:A, ?4:9>49?30=0,78:1;:0?=D,9/8@>4.34>,>?=:9:84.,7.,7.@7, ?4:9>34>0?39:2=,;34./4>.:@=>0,9/34>,9?4,=.4:94?0;:708 4.> B0=0 ,77 ,;;=0.4,?0/ ,9/ ,/,;?0/ -D >@->0<@09? ,@?3:=> (34704?4>B07769:B9?3,?7,?0=3=4>?4,9>?09/0/?:8,7429 Bardaisan’s thought, and especially his cosmology, as tainted with 30=0>D?34>,=?4.701,A:=>,8:=09@,9.0/A40B,7:92>4/0?307,?0 ,9?4<@0=050.?4:9:1,=/,4>,9=@9>,9:?,-70.@==09?:1;:>4?4A0 =0.0;?4:9:134>499:A,?4A0.:9?=4-@?4:9>49?30=0,78>:1>.409.0 8@>4.,9/,;:7:20?4.> *F7%AEE7=7> 3D63;E3@ – 5A?BAE76@G?7DAGEIAD=EA@3I;673D D3KA8F:7A>A9;53>3@6B:;>AEAB:;53>FAB;5ED3@9;@98DA?5AE ?A>A9KFA7E5:3FA>A9K8DA?7F:@A9D3B:;5EGDH7KEFA3EFDA@ A?K .7FA8:;E>3D97 >;F7D3DKAGFBGF@AF:;@9:3E 477@BD7 E7DH76;@;FE7@F;D7FKE3H7F:7(KD;356;3>A9G7=@AI@3EF:7::6 :1?30,B>:1?30:@9?=40>, written down by Bardaisan’s disciple %:;>;B;@I:;5:3D63;E3@;EF:7?3;@;@F7D>A5GFAD ):7835F F:3FA@>KF:;EI3EBD7E7DH764K>3F7D97@7D3F;A@EA8:D;EF;3@E ;E3>D736K;@6;53F;H7A8;FE;?B35FGBA@F:7>3F73@F;CG75:GD5: Yet while Bardaisan’s reflections on free will and fate, as set 6AI@;@F:;E6;3>A9G77H;67@F>K:363>A@9FD3<75FADKA8;@8>G 7@57 GBA@ 4AF: (KD;35 3@6 D77=EB73=;@9 D7367DE GBA@ 5>AE7D;@EB75F;A@;F7?7D97EF:3FAF:7D3EB75FEA8:;EF735:;@9E 6;6EA3EI7>>):;E7EE3KI;>>:;9:>;9:FEA?73D73E;@I:;5: Bardaisan’s oeuvre shaped and challenged subsequent genera- F;A@EA8:D;EF;3@E *(*( ?7@F;A@E 6;3>A9G7E 5A?BAE76 4K 3D63;E3@ 393;@EF F:7 "3D5;A@;F7E3@6AF:7D:7D7F;5E3EI7>>3E36;3>A9G7 9,?030 76 (,')/):"$""(#@>0-4@>(0=60404=.30920>.34.3?0 E75A@676;F;A@(# 7D>;@ – – %'" 7JB>;5;F>KD787DEFA3::6:1:89:>ĸŴƍƉĪĪ ťŨƦƃ3@63::6:1D>?0=40> ŦĮĥƭ ƢƙƏ::6:1:89:>%'"!=:>0#01@?,?4:9>:7D738F7D5;F763E !#76I;F:@9>FD3@E>,")!!+#*' )) $;3=,48’s !=:>0 #01@?,?4:9> :1 ,94 ,=.4:9 ,9/ ,=/,4>,9 HA>E !A@6A@ – HA> B 3@6B – ::6:1D>?0=40>%'" D89>,2,49>?0=0>40> 76I;F:7D?3@FD3@E> ;3=,08/0> $D=0=>D8909.:9?=,3,0=0>0>($ – (KD–!AGH3;@ :7D738F7D5;F763EF7JF;@($ 58 7675= 73>EA@AF7EF:3F3D63;E3@5A?BAE76:K?@E –7675= – 3@63FD73F;E7A@F:7D7EGDD75F;A@D89>:94>4-4> – 76 I;F: 7D?3@ FD3@E> 0> 30474209 ;3=,08 /0> $D=0=> ,=849, 4>4-09, ($ – (KD – 0!AGH3;@ – 1 3D63;E3@ 3>EAIDAF7A@3EFDA@A?;53>EG4<75FE3@65A?BAE763FD73F;E7A@@6;3A@ F:7E7E7747>AI ):7::6:1?30,B>;EBD7E7DH76;@A@>KA@7?3@GE5D;BF!(KD 366 8A> 3– 3 63F76 4K ,D;9:F FA F:7 E7H7@F: 57@FGDK ,,'),?,7:2@0:1?30$D=4,.,9@>.=4;?>49?30=4?4>3@>0@8HA> 0!A@6A@ 1 ):;E?3@GE5D;BF5A@F3;@EH3D;AGEFD73F;E7EA8B:;>A EAB:;53>3@6E5;7@F;8;55A@F7@FE77;4;6 – Bardaisan’s@8>G7@57 !% Before addressing particular aspects of Bardaisan’s (4=6@92> 20>.34.3?0;FI;>>475A@H7@;7@FFAFD357:AIF:7?7?ADKA83D 63;E3@3E3B7DEA@I3EBD7E7DH76;@D77=!3F;@(KD;353@6 D34;5>;F7D3FGD7 >F:AG9::;EID;F;@9EI7D7>AEF:;ED7?7? 4D3@57I3E=7BF3>;H74K8D;7@63@68A73>;=7 A@E;67D;@9F:7 8;7D57BA>7?;5EA8>3F7D(KD;353GF:ADE;F5A?7E3E3EGDBD;E7FA @AF7F:3F?3@KA8F:AE7>3F73@F;CG7ID;F7DEI:A?7@F;A@:;? 7JBD7EED3F:7D3@3?;534>73FF;FG67FAI3D6EF:767EE7@7F:7 A>A9;3@?A@9EFF:AE7I:A7JBD7EE>KH3>G73D63;E3@3D7G> ;GE8D;53@GEI:A>78FF:7A@>K:;EFAD;53>355AG@FA83B7DEA@3> 7@5AG@F7DI;F:3D63;E3@GE74;GEA837E3D73;6K?GEF:7 >;@6 F:7 3@A@K?AGE 8AGDF:57@FGDK 3GF:AD A8 F:7 410 :1 -0=64:>3@67DA?7 H7@B;B:3@;GE;@EB;F7A8:;EA4<75 F;A@E53@@AF4GF5A@5767F:3F3D63;E3@I3EӿӵӬӶӸ֒ӷӸӬӷӾӱ֎ӵ ADD73EA@EA8EB357F:7D?7@;3@FD36;F;A@53@@AF475A@E;67D76 :7D7 ):7;@:;EH;7I;DD75A@5;>34>76;E5D7B3@5;7E;@F:7D757BF;A@:;EFADK A83D63;E3@;@>3F73@F;CG;FKI7D77?B:3E;L764KF:7GF5:E5:A>3D )#(",?@@=7:?09A=45304/,=/0>,90>/0147:>::1/0==,800M=>09E459 48,20> 3:;7DE 4;< :7F #767D>3@6E F:7A>A9;E5: F;<6E5:D;8F ,397@;@97@ *!*( '#*( 0>?:4 763@6FD3@E>",3>>D388 (53D6;@A!"757>>3:G;9@3D6,6>7D0>?4%30C?,9?=,2 809?> ( # 7D>;@ – *(*( 30 76 (,')/"$""(# – – BD3;E7E3D63;E3@’E;@97@G;FK ."*()!#:8809?,=D:9!>,78> –A@%E 76I;F: 7D?3@FD3@E>(M"'$#,!4/D8@>/0=749/0!>,7809 6:8809?,=%@=,!,;D=@>HA> %3BKDA>A9;E5:7)7JF7G@64:3@6>G@97@ A@@ – 6;E5GEE7E3D63;E3@I;F:AGF3@793F;H75A??7@F 410:1-0=64:>76):#((#$-0=.44'4?,!7;BL;9 '$"'4= 477 76''($#40=:9D8@>4-0=/0A4=4>497@>?=4-@>099,/4@> 4-0=/0A4=4>497@>?=4-@>)* !7;BL;9 – %%#*(!,9 76 $!!;4;3,94@>(0=60( !7;BL;9 @9>;E:FD3@E>,!!"(%30!,9,=4:9:1;4;3, 94@>::6>,9/$0.?> –04/0#393??36;3@6"3@;5:373@ (FG6;7E !7;67@ *F7%AEE7=7> >F:AG9:E7H7D3>A8F:7E73GF:ADE7JBD7EEEA?76AG4FD793D6 ing Bardaisan’s ADF:A6AJK –43E76A85AGDE7A@F:7;DAI@ >3F7DF:7A>A9;53>B7DEB75F;H7E–F:7K3>>3DF;5G>3F7F:7;D36?;D3 F;A@8ADF:7?3@:;E>73D@;@9:;E7>ACG7@57:;ED78GF3F;A@A8 :7D7EK:;EE=;>>3E3@3D5:7D:;EE5;7@F;8;5?;@6E7F $H7D393;@EFF:;E9DAGBA8BD76A?;@3@F>KD77=EB73=;@9 3GF:ADE83HAD34>K6;EBAE76FAI3D6EF:767EE7@7EF3@6F:AE7 I;F:3:AEF;>73FF;FG67?AEFA8I:A?8>AGD;E:76;@F:7E3?7 (KD;35?;>;7G3E6;63D63;E3@;E?AEFAGFEBA=7@5D;F;5I3E F:7BA7FB:D7?6 K7F7H7@:76A7E@AF:7E;F3F7A553 sionally to borrow from Bardaisan’s ideas –I;F:AGF35=@AI> 7697?7@FFA47 EGD7GE74;GEA8?7E3653 I:A 9D7IGB4;>;@9G3>>K;@67EE33@6IDAF7;@D77=7@9397EI;F: Bardaisan’s views in his :8809?,=D :9 090>4>(;9@;8;53@F>K F:7A@>KFIA@A@4;4>;53>3GF:ADE?7@F;A@764K@3?7;@F:;E 5A??7@F3DK3D73D63;E3@3@6A?7D@F:75AGDE7A8F:7 5:D;EFA>A9;53>5A@FDAH7DE;7EA8F:78;8F:3@6E;JF:57@FGD;7E3E sociating one’s opponent with Bardaisan and his theology be- 53?735A@H7@;7@FD:7FAD;53>FAA>4GF:7D7FAA3GF:ADEEA?7 times unintentionally cited passages from Bardaisan’E IAD=E F:3FE77?FA:3H7475A?7B3DFA8F:75A??A@>AD7@793 F;H7 ?7?ADK A8 3D63;E3@ ;E BD7E7DH76 ;@ F:7 :7D7E;A>A9;53> ):75A??7@F3DK;EBD7E7DH76A@>K;@3@D?7@;3@H7DE;A@3@6;@ D77=3@6(KD;358D39?7@FE76%))!+#'$"%.(, )#'@>K-0/’É8K>0:8809?,4=0/07,09K>0%0C?0,=8J9409/0l’édition /0'094>0=,2809?>2=0.>0?>D=4,<@0>A0.?=,/@.?4:9>)D36;F;AJ797F;53 D3753 !AGH3;@ E75F;A@A@3D63;E3@A@BB – – – (773>EA')'''$"#.$D=4,949=006=0>>%30 &>0:1=0060-=0B,9/$D=4,.4-74.,7%0C?>49@>0-4@>:1Emesa’s:8809?,=D :9 090>4> )D36;F;A J797F;53 D3753 !AGH3;@ – (B357 6A7E@AFEG88;57:7D7FA6;E5GEEFAI:3F7JF7@FF:7AB;@;A@E3FFD;4GF76FA 3D63;E3@4KGE74;GEA8?7E3D78>75FEBardaisan’sAI@F:AG9:F3@6FA I:3F7JF7@FF:7K?3KD7BD7E7@F7;F:7D>3F7D67H7>AB?7@FE3?A@9:;E6;E5; B>7EAD:7D7E;A>A9;53>3FF7?BFEFA6;E5D76;F3D63;E3@ %))+#'$"%.,)#'@>K-0/’É8K>0JJJH;;;@AF7 8 !+# '$"%. “Bardaisan3@6"3@;;@%:;>AJ7@GEA8 Mabbog’sMēmrē2,49>?,--4-,”;@$D=4,.!:7084.>$?@/40>49:9:@=:10==4? Bardaisan’s@8>G7@57 EG??3D;7E A8 3 ?G5: >3F7D 397 ;@5>G6;@9 F:AE7 4K 3Dʘ36 47E:3443 ޏD43;3 F:57@F ):7A6AD7 43D A@; >3F7 F: 57@F "AE7E 43D 7B:3 6 3@6 ";5:37> F:7 (KD;3@ F:57@F $@F:7AF:7D:3@6EA?7>3F7D(KD;353GF:ADE6A 7JBD7EE383HAD34>73FF;FG67FAI3D6E3D63;E3@@3?7>KI;F:D7 93D6FA:;EE5;7@F;8;5G@67DEF3@6;@9A83EFDA@A?K $@7D73EA@8ADF:;EEGDBD;E;@96;EB3D3F7D757BF;A@I;F:;@ F:7D77=3@6(KD;35FD36;F;A@E;EF:3F835FF:3F;@F:7(KD;35 EB73=;@95A??G@;F;7EA8@ADF:7D@"7EABAF3?;33D63;E3@;F7 F735:;@9E>A@95A@F;@G76FA4738AD57FA47D75=A@76I;F: 5:3>>7@9;@9 F:7 7EF34>;E:76 5:GD5: I;F: 6A5FD;@7E 3F F;?7E ?G5:?AD7D36;53>F:3@:36477@F:AE7A83D63;E3@:;?E7>8 @AF:7D3@6@AF7@F;D7>KG@5A@@75F76D73EA@8ADF:;E6;E<G@5F ?7?ADKA83D63;E3@;Ethat in the Syriac tradition Bardaisan’s @3?7BD;?3D;>KD7?3;@763EEA5;3F76I;F::;E5AE?A>A9K>3F7D <G6976FA47:7D7F;53>I:7D73E:D;EF;3@E;@F7DD;FAD;7EFAF:7 ,7EFA867EE3D7?7?47D763D63;E3@BD;@5;B3>>K8AD:;E53 B34>7D78GF3F;A@A83EFD3>67F7D?;@;E? F:;D63@66;EF;@5F?7?ADKA83D63;E3@;EBD7E7DH764K >3F7DD34;5EB73=;@93GF:ADE?3@KA8I:A?D793D6:;?3E3 ,9#04949676,+ *",'+'( !* ()$! !AGH3;@ – $ʗ%ʲ$ %&!$* .-!'"$-$"$ &l’ %&!$$ʚš‘$/)&%*$#'.&.&&$'&#" – &""$$"!!! .-%$ !!$'% $ KňnĪ $ %!!$' %" %=8 6;<*25 – 8.5,1:8*593$%#$$'&.!!$$ ! ($ % %!% $ %! .$& %" %=8 6;<*25 / "%% $ # )$! ! &$* 8.3.<*5: 9.,:265 .-!'&$!!*$ – 9.,:265*396.-) $($%$ʜ,9:1/0>>,(FG6;3(7?;F;53#77D>3@6;53EE7@ – 7D?3@ FD3@E> A8 F:7 7@F;D7 FD73F;E7 ! 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