The Book of Sirach in the Armenian Biblical Tradition: Yakob Nalean and His Commentary on Sirach

Description

The extreme complexity of Sirach’s text at times makes it almost impossible to come to one clear conclusion as regards certain issues. There are numerous differences between various translations of this deuterocanonical text. In addition, the Armenian translation, being a textual witness to not one but multiple parent texts, has its own complications. This research provides a sustained theological reading of the Armenian text of Sirach on the basis of Yakob Nalean’s commentary written in the 18th century. At the same time it places a great emphasis on the textual evaluation of the various versions of Sirach in Armenian. In this respect an attempt has been made to display the unique features of the Armenian Sirach within the wider scope of the scholarship of this biblical text. Through a comprehensive linguistic and theological analysis of some major parts of Sirach in Armenian, this study assesses the extent to which this book was in use amongst Armenians throughout the centuries. In particular, the numerous references to Sirach in both Armenian and non-Armenian patristic literature are examined, with the aim of dating the first translations into Armenian and tracing the development of the text in the Armenian medieval schools. Contents Abbreviations 1 Introduction 1.1 General Introduction 1.2 General Plan of the Research 1.3 Review of Existing Secondary Literature 1.4 The Name of the Author and the Date of the Book of Sirach 1.5 Sirach and Hellenism 2 The Armenian Version of Sirach 2.1 The Translation of the Book of Sirach and its Inclusion in the Canon of the Armenian Bible (The Earliest Translations of the Bible into Armenian) 2.2 Dating the First Translation of the Book of Sirach 2.3 References from the Book of Sirach in Medieval Armenian and Translated Literature 2.4 Textual Sources of the Armenian Translation of Sirach 2.4.1 Hebrew Version of Sirach 2.4.2 Syriac Version of Sirach 2.4.3 Greek Version of Sirach 2.5 List of all the Extant Armenian Manuscripts, Complete and in Fragments, which Contain Sirach 2.6 Printed Editions of the Armenian Bible 2.7 The Newly Found Chapters of Sirach in Jerusalem and Yerevan 2.8 Misplaced Chapters 2.9 Four Unique Passages Which Are Found Only in the Armenian Translation 2.10 A Comparative Chart of the Extant Armenian Texts of Sirach 3 Yakob Nalean’s commentary on Sirach 3.1 Yakob Nalean 3.2 A Historical Glance on Armenia and the Armenian Communities Abroad Which Shaped the Theology of Nalyan’s Commentary 3.3 Nalean in Literature and His Commentary 3.4 The Twelve MSS of Nalean’s Commentary 3.5 Nalean’s Theological Views and Hermeneutical Methods 3.6 One-Line Commentary by Nalean 4 The Main themes of Sirach discussed by Yacob Nalean 4.1 Wisdom, Fear of God, the Law and Happiness 4.2 The Vocation of the Sages and Scribes 4.3 Creation, Free Will and Sin 4.4 God 4.5 Retribution 4.6 Prayer, Worship 4.7 Social Justice 4.8 Attitude towards Women 5 Conclusions Bibliography Manuscripts Volumes and Entries Index of names Subject index