Moshe Bar Kepha’s Cause of the Celebration of the Nativity : A Genre for Exegesis, Ecumenism, and Apology

"This book is a part of series of Causes of Celebrations written by Moshe Bar Kepha (813-903). These Causes are unique in that they demonstrate a new genre of the Syriac literature initiated by the East Syriac authors at the beginning of the sixth century. Moreover, these Causes reveal the appreciation and dependency of Moshe Bar Kepha on the East Syriac sources despite the ecclesiastical doctrinal separation between the East Syriac and West Syriac churches. As a master of harmony of the Syriac literature, Moshe Bar Kepha adopts the early writing of the Cause of Nativity of the East Syriac author, Thomas of Edessa (d. 543), providing a masterpiece of hermeneutic theology and Christology for both East and West Syriac traditions. Moreover, he raised his exegetical studies to new heights of ecumenism, apology, and contextualization."-- Publisher's website "Moshe Bar Kepha was a prolific writer of the ninth century. His writings reflect various aspects of West Syriac theology and ecclesiology, and his literary legacy links the earlier Syriac exegetical tradition (beginning with Ephrem) with the Syriac 'Renaissance' of the eleventh to thirteenth centuries. His use of sources crosses Christian confessional boundaries in such a way that his works are tinged with aspects of Syriac exegesis from both East and West Syriac traditions. In his Commentary on Luke, the Muslim-dominated context in which Moshe lived is clearly evident in the background, and his aim is to fortify the credibility of the Christian faith and the validity of Christian doctrines for his readers"-- Provided by publisher Table of Contents 7 Acknowledgments 9 Abbreviations and Sigla 11 Introduction 13 Text and Translation 49 Bibliography 91 Index 101