The Syriac Works of Nonnus of Nisibis (d. after 862)

One can distinguish between different lines of traditions within Christianity: Apart from the well-known Greek-Byzantine and Latin traditions, several different traditions of Middle Eastern Christianity exist; Syriac Christianity is one of them. In this context, Syriac means the Aramaic dialect of the ancient city of Edessa (todays Sanliurfa in southeastern Turkey). This dialect became the language of literature and liturgy of a branch of Christianity which is accordingly called Syriac Christianity. One of the theologians writing in Syriac who has attracted little attention in modern research so far is Nonnus of Nisibis. He lived in the 9th century AD in Northern Mesopotamia and belonged to the Miaphysite or Syriac Orthodox tradition. Nonnus flourished in a period of transition in which Christian Syriac authors moved increasingly to write in Arabic. Christians of the Middle East lived under the rule of Muslim authorities since the 7th century. In the middle of the 9th century, the living conditions of Christians diminished during the reign of Caliph al-Mutawakkil (847861). Altogether, five works written by Nonnus of Nisibis are preserved: Nonnus composed a commentary on the Gospel of John in Arabic that is preserved only in an Armenian translation. An English translation of this Armenian text was published a few years ago by Robert W. Thomson. Aside from this commentary, four works of Nonnus composed in Syriac are preserved in a single manuscript which is located in the British Library. Until now, only the text of one of these Syriac works of Nonnus has been edited and published with a Latin translation. It is the aim of this present project to produce the first critical edition and modern translation of all four extant Syriac works written by Nonnus of Nisibis. The translation will be annotated, placing the crucial contents of Nonnus Syriac texts into a broader historical, theological, and cultural context. Nonnus of Nisibis lived in a period of intensive theological debates between the religious communities in the Middle East. Hence, Nonnus was also an author who dealt with different religious adversaries in his works; among his opponents were Christians of other theological traditions as well as Muslims and Jews. The apologetics and polemics against other religious notions in Nonnus Syriac works will be in the center of the annotations on his texts compiled in the present project. Thus, in addition to providing an access to primary sources, the project will contribute to the investigation of the historical relationship between the religions in the Middle East.

Nonnus of Nisibis was a West Syriac theologian who lived in the 9th century. In this context, 'Syriac' refers to the Aramaic dialect of the ancient city of Edessa. This dialect became the language of a branch of Christianity known as Syriac Christianity. In the course of the Christological controversies beginning in the 5th century, a schism arose between the West Syriac theologians, who taught one nature (Greek: mia physis) after the union of divinity and humanity in Christ (Miaphysitism), and the East Syriac representatives, who strictly distinguished between two natures, each with its own individuality or "hypostasis" (Syriac: qnm). Nonnus was a proponent of Miaphysitism. His Syriac works have received relatively little attention in modern scholarship. Within the project, the two most extensive Syriac works by Nonnus of Nisibis - his 'Apologetic Treatise' and the 'Treatise against Thomas of Bt Garmai' - were edited and translated into German with annotations and an introduction. The edition is based on a manuscript from the 9th or 10th century (British Library Add. MS 14,594), which is the only manuscript that preserves Nonnus's Syriac works. The extensive annotations to the translation put Nonnus's arguments into their historical and theological context. The 'Apologetic Treatise' is a general apology for Christianity intended to prove it as the "true" religion. However, it is primarily an apology for Christianity vis-à-vis Islam, even though Nonnus also addresses other religions. In the three parts of the treatise, Nonnus first briefly addresses monotheism, then discusses the doctrine of the Trinity, before turning to Christology in the most extensive section of the treatise. The 'Treatise against Thomas of Bt Garmai' is entirely devoted to Miaphysite Christology, defending it against the strict Dyophysitism of the East Syriac Church. The fundamental theological problem of the treatise are the so-called exalted and lowly statements of Christ, that is, words (and also acts) of Christ that seem to belong more to his divinity, and those that seem to fit more to his humanity. On the one hand, Nonnus argues against the East Syriac doctrine of two natures and two "hypostases" (qnm) using a multitude of apparently controversial biblical passages. On the other hand, Gregory of Nazianzus (d. 390) proves to be Nonnus's most important authority among the Church Fathers. Furthermore, Nonnus's theological reliance on West Syriac Miaphysite authorities such as Philoxenus of Mabbug (d. 523) and Severus of Antioch (d. 538) is evident. Regarding East Syriac Christology, Nonnus clearly sets himself apart from Theodore of Mopsuestia (d. 428) and Narsai of Nisibis (d. c. 500). Furthermore, references to contemporary East Syriac Christology - such as in the letters of the East Syriac Patriarch Timothy I (d. 823) - can be identified.