i THE BOOK OF RESH MELLE BY YOḤANNAN BAR PENKAYE: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE TEXT AND A STUDY OF ITS LITERARY GENRES By Emmanuel Joseph Mar-Emmanuel A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy The Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations University of Toronto © Copyright by Emmanuel Joseph Mar-Emmanuel 2015 ii The Book of Resh Melle by Yoḥannan bar Penkaye: an Introduction to the Text and a Study of its Literary Genres Emmanuel Joseph Mar-Emmanuel Doctor of Philosophy The Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations University of Toronto 2015 Abstract This dissertation offers a study of the fifteen books of Resh Melle, a work written in Mesopotamia before the close of the seventh century A.D. by Yoḥannan (John) bar Penkaye. John’s purpose is to explain God’s dispensation in human history. He offers theological instruction through the medium of historical narrative. Chapter one discusses John’s political and ecclesiastical context. The fifteenth book of Resh Melle illustrates historical events which were contemporary to John. This chapter also discusses the rise of Islam, which had a great impact on the monastic centres and the numerous communities that formed the Church of the East. Chapter two investigates the life, literary works, and importance of the author. The works that have been traditionally attributed to John are discussed and their authenticity assessed. The chapter also discusses John’s importance for modern scholarship in various fields of study, including history, theology, exegesis, liturgy, and asceticism. Chapter three discusses the title, provenance, sources, manuscripts, editions and translations of Resh Melle. A survey of Syriac literature is undertaken to explain the idiomatic meaning of the title. A description of the four manuscripts of Resh Melle which were consulted by this study iii is also given, along with information on the other extant (but unedited) manuscripts of the work. The chapter closes with a summary of modern editions and translations. The fourth and final chapter examines the question of the literary genres of Resh Melle. John’s intention is clear: to produce a concise account of world history. The apocalyptic genre is clearly attested in certain sections of the work, but mainly towards its end. The bulk of Resh Melle employs other genres, including historiography, theology, exegesis, pedagogy, homily and philosophy. These genres are identified and illustrated with numerous quotations from John’s work, which we translated into English for the first time. iv Acknowledgements I would like to thank various people for their assistance in the completion of this dissertation. To begin with, I am deeply indebted to my dissertation committee. My supervisor and mentor, Professor Amir Harrak, provided advice and encouragement through all the years of my academic studies. His instruction in Aramaic and Syriac was of immeasurable benefit, as was his guidance in framing the present study. I would like to thank Prof. Kyle Smith for his thorough reading of my manuscript at its various stages; his judicious criticism and recommendations for the development of my thesis is highly appreciated. I would like also to thank Prof. Paul-Alain Beaulieu and Prof. Abdel-Khalig Ali for reading my manuscript and providing crucial feedback. The recommendations of my external examiner, Prof. Adam Becker, will be quite helpful as I prepare my thesis for publication. I would also like to thank the many members of the Assyrian community and of the Assyrian Church of the East who have supported and encouraged my study through all these years. My special thanks and gratitude go out to my late Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV († March 26, 2015), who greatly supported higher education and learning in his Church but sadly is not here to see the completion of my doctoral work. Finally, in recognition of the centennial of the genocide of Assyrians by the Ottomans during WWI, it is with great honour that I dedicate this work to the persecuted Christians of the Assyrian Church and nation, who continue to be found in their ancient homeland as well as in flourishing communities around the world. v Table of Contents Abstract ii Acknowledgements iv Table of Contents v List of Abbreviations ix Introduction 1 Chapter 1: The Seventh Century Context 10 1.1 Political Context 10 1.1.1 Byzantine-Sasanian Relations 11 1.1.2 The Rise of an Arab Empire 13 1.1.2.1 The Rise of Islam 14 1.1.2.2 Byzantine-Arab Relations 16 1.2 Ecclesiastical Context 18 1.2.1 Monophysitism 20 1.2.2 Messalianism 26 1.3 The Church of the East 29 1.3.1 The Name “Church of the East” (ܐܚܢܕܡܕ ܐܬܕܥ) 29 1.3.1.1 The Synod of Isaac (410 A.D.) 30 1.3.1.2 The Synod of Yab’alaha (420 A.D.) 31 1.3.1.3 The Synod of Dadishoʿ 32 1.3.1.4 A Summary of the evidence of the early synods 32 1.3.1.5 Other references to “the Church of the East” 33 1.3.1.6 John’s use of the name “the Church of the East” 33 1.3.2 Institutions 35 1.3.2.1 The Synod 35 1.3.2.2 Schools and Monastic Learning Centres 38 1.3.2.3 Missions 40 1.3.3 Influence of the Political and Religious Context 44 1.3.3.1 The Sasanian Context 44 1.3.3.2 The Arab Context 49 1.4 Monasticism in the Church of the East 53 1.4.1 Terms and Definitions 53 1.4.2 The Tradition of Mar Awgen 54 1.4.3 The tradition of Mar Abraham the Great 57 1.5 The Monastery of Mar Yoḥannan of Kmol 59 1.6 John’s View of Monasticism 65 1.6.1 The Origin of Monasticism According to John 66 1.6.2 Virginity and Holiness 69 1.6.3 Bride and Bridegroom 70 1.6.4 The term ‘Covenant’ (ܐܡܝܩ ; Qyama) 72 Chapter 2: Yoḥannan (John) bar Penkaye: A Biographical Sketch 76 vi 2.1 Life 76 2.2 Literary Works 81 2.2.1 John’s witness to his own works 82 2.2.2 The Manuscript of Tabriz 82 2.2.2.1 BL OR 9385 83 2.2.2.2 The Book of Partute (‘Crumbs’) 87 2.2.2.3 Sources Syriaques 87 2.2.3 Catalogue of ʿAbdishoʿ of Nisibis 87 2.2.4 The Pearl: on the Truth of Christianity by ʿAbdishoʿ of Nisibis 88 2.2.5 Anonymous Biography 89 2.2.6 Mingana (i.e. MMC), Syr. 47 89 2.2.7 Mingana (i.e. MMC), Syr. 488 90 2.2.8 The Book of Ḥudra 91 2.2.9 Library of Seʿert 92 2.2.10 Summary of Bibliographical Evidence 92 2.3 John’s importance for modern scholarship 93 2.3.1 A Historian 94 2.3.2 A Theologian 99 2.3.3 An Exegete 101 2.3.4 A Liturgist 102 2.3.5 An Ascetic and Mystical Author 104 Chapter 3: The Book of Resh Melle 106 3.1 Title 106 3.2 The phrase ‘resh melle’ and related terms in earlier texts 107 3.2.1 Danniel 7:1 107 3.2.2 Quhlath (Ecclesiastes) 10:13 107 3.2.3 Psalm 111:10 108 3.2.4 The New Testament 108 3.2.5 The Syriac Version of the Hexaemeron of Basil 109 3.2.6 Theodore of Mopsuestia (350-428 A.D.) 110 3.2.7 The Synod of Ishoʿyahb (585 A.D) 110 3.2.8 The Book of Mnawatha (“The Book of Gifts”) 111 3.3 Meaning of ‘resh melle’ for John 113 3.4 Time of Composition 115 3.5 Purpose of Writing 118 3.6 The missing Preface 119 3.7 Sources 122 3.8 Biblical Citations 127 3.9 Surviving Manusctiprs 130 3.9.1 Bibliotheque de l’Université de Strasbourg, no. 4133 (BS) 130 3.9.2 Bibliotheque Nationale de France, Paris, R 90793, Syriaque 405, R 90794, Syriaque 406 (BP) 130 3.9.3 British Library, OR 9385 (BL) 131 3.9.4 The Mingana Manuscript, no. 179 (MM) 131 vii 3.10 Editions, Translations, and Scholarship 132 Chapter 4: Literary Genres in Resh Melle 134 4.1 Historiography 134 4.1.1 Terms with historical connotation 135 4.1.1.1 tashʿitha (ܐܬܝܥܫܬ) 135 4.1.1.2 suʿrana (ܐܢܪܥܘܣ) 136 4.1.1.3 Sharba (ܐܒܪܫ) 137 4.1.1.4 tni (ܝܢܬ) 137 4.1.1.5 ʿuhdana (ܐܢܕܗܘܥ) 138 4.1.1.6 mlo’a (ܐܐܘܠܡ) 138 4.1.1.7 makhtwanutha (ܐܬܘܢ݂ ܒܬ݂ ܟܡ݂ ) 139 4.1.1.8 ṭebba (ܐܒܛ) 139 4.1.1.9 kunasha (ܐܫܢܘܟ) 139 4.1.1.10 Summary of the evidence 140 4.1.2 Universal History 143 4.1.3 Theological History 145 4.2 Theology 147 4.2.1 God 147 4.2.2 Creation 150 4.2.3 Anthropology 154 4.2.3.1 Glory 154 4.2.3.2 Sin 155 4.2.3.3 Redemption 156 4.2.3.4 Eternal Life 157 4.2.4 Angels and Demons 158 4.2.5 Soteriology 162 4.2.6 Baptism 165 4.2.6.1 Types of Baptism in the Old Testament 165 4.2.6.2 Explanation of why Christ was baptized 167 4.2.6.3 Regeneration through Jesus Christ 167 4.2.6.4 The Gifts of the Holy Spirit 168 4.2.7 Eucharist 168 4.2.7.1 Sacrifices 169 4.2.7.2 The Offerings of Melchizedek 171 4.2.7.3 Eucharist and Passover 172 4.2.8 Trinity 173 4.2.9 Christology 176 4.2.10 Ecclesiology 182 4.2.10.1 The Tabernacle as a prototype of the Church 182 4.2.10.2 The Church as the Body of Christ 183 4.2.10.3 The Church as the Bride of Christ 184 4.2.10.4 Apostolic Church 185 4.2.10.5 The Church is Christocentric 186 4.2.10.6 The Apostolic Succession 187 viii 4.2.10.7 The Church is Catholic 188 4.2.11 Death 190 4.2.12 Resurrection 191 4.3 Apocalypse 193 4.4 Exegesis 199 4.4.1 The clarification of difficult terms 200 4.4.2 Typological interpretation 201 4.4.3 Systematic interpretation 203 4.4.3.1 Psalm 45 203 4.4.3.2 Psalm 110 206 4.4.3.2.1 Scepter 207 4.4.3.2.2 Firstborn 208 4.4.3.2.3 Priest as Melchizedek 208 4.4.3.2.4 King 208 4.4.3.2.5 Vengeance 209 4.5 Pedagogy 209 4.6 Homily 213 4.6.1 Direct Speech 213 4.6.2 Exhortations 214 4.6.3 Addressing Biblical Figures 214 4.6.4 Exclamations 215 4.6.5 Lamentation 216 4.6.6 Thanksgiving 216 4.7 Philosophy 217 Conclusion 223 Bibliography 227 Appendix A 238 Appendix B 240 ix List of Abbrreviations AMS Acta Martyrum et Sanctorum, ed.