Table of Contents

ERDMAN, Michael, “From Language to Patois and Back Again: Syriac Influences on Arabic in Mont Liban during the 16th to 19th Centuries”, SOPJ 55 (2017), 1-19.

Abstract: This study investigates the influence of Syriac on Christian Middle Arabic in Mount Lebanon between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries through a linguistic analysis of Maronite council records, Druze religious writings, and commercial documents. By examining features such as definiteness, dual forms, relative pronouns, and negation, the author identifies grammatical patterns that reflect continued Syriac or Aramaic influence in early Christian Arabic texts. The comparison with later religious and secular writings demonstrates a gradual mastery of Classical Arabic and the diminishing visibility of these substratum effects by the eighteenth century. The article argues that linguistic change in Ottoman Lebanon was a dynamic process shaped by education, social interaction, and cultural continuity rather than by fixed ethnic or ideological identities.

PAAR, Christoph, “The walking on water in the exegesis of Ephrem, Dionysius and the hagiography of Mar Awgīn”, SOPJ 55 (2017), 21-37.

Abstract: This study explores the miracle of Christ walking on water through the Syriac exegesis of Ephrem the Syrian and Dionysius bar Salibi, comparing their interpretations with the hagiographical account of Mar Awgīn. Rather than treating the narrative primarily as a demonstration of power over nature, the article argues that Syriac tradition understands it as an epiphany revealing Christ’s divine identity and inviting a deeper response of faith. The comparison shows that Ephrem emphasizes Christological and apologetic concerns, while Dionysius focuses on personal trust and proximity to God. By reading Mar Awgīn’s miracle in light of these exegetical traditions, the study highlights its theological, spiritual, and apologetic dimensions, presenting the saint as an imitator of Christ whose holiness strengthens faith and hope.

CHIALÀ, Sabino, “St Ephrem the Syrian as a Reader of Holy Scripture: A witness of plurality in Biblical hermeneutics”, SOPJ 55 (2017), 39-49.

Abstract: This study examines St Ephrem the Syrian as an exegete whose biblical hermeneutics embody a deliberate plurality of interpretive methods. Ephrem views Scripture as intrinsically complex, containing both material words and hidden meanings that require complementary “factual” and “spiritual” readings. His prose commentaries privilege historical clarity, while his hymns and metrical homilies cultivate theological and symbolic insight. Ephrem justifies this multiplicity through two images: Scripture as an inexhaustible spring, whose meanings cannot be exhausted, and as a mirror, reflecting the diverse conditions of its readers. Parallels with Aphrahat demonstrate that such hermeneutical fecundity is foundational to early Syriac exegesis, offering a dynamic model for contemporary biblical interpretation.

TAMCKE, Martin “Ephrem and the Lutherans”, SOPJ 55 (2017), 51-62.

Abstract: The article traces the reception of St Ephrem the Syrian within Lutheran scholarship from the Reformation to the modern era. It highlights how Lutheran theologians—such as August Hahn, Caesar von Lengerke, and later scholars in Göttingen—engaged Ephrem’s writings for doctrinal, historical, and spiritual purposes. Particular attention is given to debates over Ephrem’s Eucharistic theology, where Lutheran and Catholic interpreters contested his understanding of Christ’s presence in the sacrament. The study shows that Lutheran interest in Ephrem consistently combined philological rigor, theological reflection, and devotional sensitivity. It concludes that Ephrem’s poetic and symbolic theology has served as a bridge across confessional boundaries, enriching Lutheran thought while revealing the challenges of denominational interpretation.

AKHRASS, Roger-Youssef, « La tradition syriaque sous-jacente au Psautier spirituel attribué à Éphrem le Syrien », SOPJ 55 (2017), 63-77.

Abstract: The article examines the Syriac sources underlying the Psautier spirituel, a 19th‑century Russian compilation of 150 prayers attributed to Ephrem the Syrian by Bishop Theophane the Recluse. It analyzes the structure of the collection, its dependence on the Greek and Slavonic “Ephrem,” and the complex issue of authenticity within the Greek Ephrem corpus. The study highlights theological anachronisms—such as Chalcedonian formulas and Byzantine Marian titles—absent from genuine Syriac Ephrem. By comparing the prayers with Syriac liturgical and ascetical texts, especially the Šbiṯo and various madrošē, the author identifies numerous Syriac parallels. The findings demonstrate that the Psautier spirituel reflects a broader Syriac–Byzantine exchange rather than authentic Ephremic authorship.

Ecumenical Report

Fourteenth Meeting of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, SOPJ 55 (2017), 79-81.

Fifth Meeting of the Anglican-Oriental Orthodox International Commission, Communiqué, SOPJ 55 (2017), 82-84.

Book Reviews

PEPPARD, Michael, The World’s Oldest Church: Bible, Art and Ritual at Dura-Europos, Syria, New Haven, Conn: Yale University Press, 2016. ”, by Lamia Doumato, SOPJ 55 (2017), 85-87.

KOLLAMPARAMPIL, Thomas, Exegetico-theological Study on the Homilies on the Homilies of Jacob of Serugh on the Feasts of Our Lord, Piscataway, N. J.: Gorgias Press, 2010, by Charbel Samuel Rizk, SOPJ 55 (2017), 88-89.

HAINTHALER, Theresia, Christliche Araber vor dem Islam. Verbreitung und konfessionelle Zugehörigkeit. Eine Hinführung, coll. Eastern Christian Studies 7, Leuven : Peeters, 2007, XII-188 p. Compte rendu intitulé « Christianisme arabe avant l’Islam, Une œuvre de synthèse et d’actualisation de nos connaissances », par Adel Youssef Sidarous, 89-97.