An Introduction to Syriac Studies

Book excerpt: This introduction (the first edition of which was published in 1980) aims to provide basic guidance to the most important areas of Syriac studies. This second edition has been considerably expanded and in part completely rewritten in view of the many developments in the field during the last twenty-five years. After a brief first chapter indicating how Syriac is still very much alive in the twenty-first century, Chapter II looks at how Syriac studies are of relevance to a variety of other fields, notably, Biblical studies, Patristics, and the general history of the Near East, especially in Late Antiquity and the early Arab period. A brief orientation to the history of Syriac literature is offered in Chapter III, while Chapter IV sets Syriac within the context of the other Aramaic dialects. Nearly half the book is taken up by Chapter V, on the most important tools, or Instrumenta Studiorum. This should prove invaluable, both for the student commencing on study in the field, and for scholars working in adjacent areas who need some guidance in an area that may be less familiar. Histories of Syriac Literature, bibliographical aids and relevant series, periodicals, and encyclopedias. Chapter VI, in a more personal and light-hearted vein, describes some of the delights of working with Syriac manuscripts. Finally, an Appendix explains how the different Churches of Syriac tradition are related to one another and how they fit into the Christian tradition as a whole. It also sorts out the confusing variety of terms by which they are known.