FROM ADAM TO MAN
A STUDY ON THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF SONSHIP IN THE DEMONSTRATIONS OF APHRAHAT, THE PERSIAN SAGE
Keywords:
ADAM, MAN, ANTHROPOLOGY, SONSHIP, DEMONSTRATIONS OF APHRAHAT, PERSIAN SAGEAbstract
The present study is an attempt to trace the sonship anthropology of Aphrahat in the Demonstrations, especially focusing on Demonstration 17:7. Aphrahat represents Christianity with its Syrian pedigree. He was born in the Persian Empire. It is believed that he lived in the fourth century. From his own writings, we assume that he was born of pagan parents and later became a Christian by conversion. The name ‘Aphrahat’ — which is the Syriac version of the Persian Farhad — always appears with the title ‘Persian Sage.’ The only extant work of Aphrahat is known as the Demonstrations (taḥwyātā),1 and it was written in Syriac between 337 and 345 A.D. (Demonstration 22:25; Demonstration 15:50).2 The Demonstrations, which are also known as Homilies or Expositions, are arranged according to the letters of the Syriac alphabet (Dem. 23:69). There is no recorded history concerning the personal details of Aphrahat. However, his twenty-three Demonstrations are witness to a great theologian of a particular tradition.
References
I. Parisot, ed., Aphraatis Sapientis Persae Demonstrationes, Patrologia Syriaca I, vii.
J. Xavier, “Theological Anthropology of Gaudium et Spes and Fundamental Theology,” Gregorianum 91.1 (2010).
nternational Theological Commission, Theology, Christology, Anthropology, D: 1, 2, M. Sharkey, ed., International Theological Commission: Texts and Documents 1969-1985, San Francisco, 1989.
