Die expliziten Theodor von Mopsuestia-Referenzen in der ostsyrischen Literatur zur Genesis. Präliminarien zu einer Sammlung der Fragmente und Zeugnisse zu Theodors Genesiskommentar

Abstract: Theodore of Mopsuestia’s commentaries are widely used in later Eastern Syrian literature, yet very rarely quoted, and if so, they are often referenced in a questionable or ambiguous manner. The present contribution thus undertakes a comprehensive comparison of all the explicit Theodore-references in the relevant texts on Genesis (Anonymus Diyarbakir, Theodore bar Koni, Isho‘ bar Nun, Isho‘dad of Merv) in order to assess their reliability as possible witnesses for his Genesis-commentary. Although this reliability can in general be taken for granted, it is also called into question by two problematic tendencies: First, they tend to ascribe complex theories to “Theodore and others” only a nucleus of which actually goes back to the interpreter. Second, they seek the latter’s authority in the context of discussions his commentary did not directly take part in and thus recontextualize his exegetical decisions (or possible consequences thereof) in a way which has very little to do with original wording or intention of his text.