The prologue to John in Ibn al-Ṭayyib's commentary on the Gospels

Thesis

The thesis presents a critical edition of the Arabic text (Chapter 2), annotated translation (Chapter 3) and analysis of various aspects of the Prologue to John in the Commentary on the Gospels by the Abbasid philosopher, doctor, theologian and Biblical exegate, Abii al-Faraj ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Tayyib (d. 1043/44). It is unquestionably the most influential work of Gospel exegesis in Arabic. The critical edition compares three mss, Paris ar. 85 and 86 (both c. 13th C), and BL or. 3201 (early 19th C). All three are of Egyptian provenance.

Chapter 4 analyses the differences between the original Eastern (‘Nestorian’) and later Miaphysite (‘Jacobite’) recensions, whilst Chapter 5 consists of a discussion of the exegetical sources for the Commentary(meaning that portion of it on the Prologue to John), concentrating on Theodore of Mopsuestia, Chrysostom, Moshe bar Kepha and Isho‘dad of Merv, only the last of whom has been established as a likely direct source. Unidentified intermediaries were established as being the sources for interpretations derived from the other exegetes. Close links were identified between the East- and West-Syriac exegetical traditions.

Chapter 6 discusses the technical terminology in (and beyond) the Commentary including, in particular, a substantial analysis of jawhar (substance) and ddhdt (essence), and terms relating to ‘person’ and hypostasis. Chapter 7 analyses the Biblical quotations in the Commentary, found to be translated from the Peshitta, and a discussion of the strong possibility of Ibn al-Tayyib's authorship of the Arabic Diatessaron There is also analysis of the Ge‘ez (Ethiopic) translation of the Commentary (Chapter 8).

A context for the Commentary is provided by a biography of the author (Chapter 1), based on a detailed analysis of the primary sources, along with a brief survey of his works. There is also a discussion of his relationship with Ibn Sinā.

The conclusion includes a discussion of Ibn al-Tayyib’s relationship to the Islamic tradition, which turns out to be far from obvious.

Authors: Faultless, J

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-0z6gbqdrp
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: Bible; Ibn al-Ṭayyib; John; commentaries; prologue; al-Tayyib; Abū al-Faraj; Gospels
• Subjects: Bible. John -- Commentaries; Abū al-Faraj ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Tayyib, -1043