{"product_id":"to-train-his-soul-in-robin-darling-young-9780813217321","title":"To Train His Soul in Books: Syriac Asceticism in Early Christianity","description":"\u003cp\u003eFlourishing from the inland cities of Syria down through the Tigris and Euphrates valley, Syriac speakers in late antiquity created a new and often brilliant expression of Christian culture. Although the origins of their traditions are notoriously difficult to trace, authors of fourth-century Syrian communities achieved sophisticated forms of expression whose content little resembles the Christian culture of their neighbors to the west. From the fourth through the seventh centuries they achieved religious works of great beauty and complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e Increasing interest in Syriac Christianity has prompted recent translations and studies. \u003ci\u003eTo Train His Soul in Books \u003c\/i\u003eexplores numerous aspects of this rich religious culture, extending previous lines of scholarly investigation and demonstrating the activity of Syriac-speaking scribes and translators busy assembling books for the training of biblical interpreters, ascetics, and learned clergy. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e Befitting an intensely literary culture, it begins with the development of Syriac poetry--the genre beloved by Ephrem and other, anonymous authors. It considers the long tradition of Aramaic and Syriac words for the chronic condition of sin, and explores the dimensions of the immense work of Syriac translators with a study of the Syriac life of Athanasius. Essays consider the activity of learned ascetics, with a proposal of the likely monastic origin of the \u003ci\u003eApocalypse of Daniel\u003c\/i\u003e; the goal and concept of renunciation; and the changes rung by Syriac-speaking ascetics on the daily reality of housekeeping. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e Also included in the volume are two essays on the influence of Syriac literary culture on Greek traditions, and in turn ascetic life. Finally, an original poem in Syriac demonstrates the continuing vitality of this culture, both in its homeland and in the Diaspora.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e These essays seek to extend and honor the work of renowned scholar and pillar of the Department of Semitic and Egyptian Languages at the Catholic University of America, Sidney H. Griffith.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Robin Darling Young is associate professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame. Monica J. Blanchard is curator of the Semitics\/Institute of Christian Oriental Research Library at the Catholic University of America. \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Contributors: Joseph P. Amar, Gary A. Anderson, Monica J. Blanchard, Sebastian Brock, Alexander Golitzin, Susan Ashbrook Harvey, Michael J. Hollerich, Francisco Javier Martínez, Kathleen McVey, Shawqi Talia, and Robin Darling Young\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Robin Darling Young\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0813217326\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780813217321\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Catholic University of America Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/15\/2011\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 248\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.20lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.20h x 6.30w x 0.90d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChronicle of Higher Education\u003c\/i\u003e 09\/09\/2011 pg. 17","brand":"Robin Darling Young","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":49096747155711,"sku":"9780813217321","price":55.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/to-train-his-soul-in-robin-darling-young-9780813217321","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}