H.F. van Rooy, «The Headings of the Psalms in the East Syriac Tradition Reconsidered», Vol. 89 (2008) 505-525
In the first half of the previous century the headings of the Psalms in the East Syriac tradition received a lot of attention, with important contributions by scholars such as Devreesse and Vosté. In 1960 Bloemendaal published an edition of these headings. Since 1960 a number of important new manuscripts became available, as well as a translation of the commentary of Theodore and a translation of the commentary of Diodore on the first fifty Psalms. This paper deals with the light shed on the history of the East Syrian headings particularly by two manuscripts not available to Bloemendaal. The examples discussed lead one to the conclusion that 6t1, used by Bloemendaal, must not be regarded as the paradigmatic witness in all instances.
The Headings of the Psalms 511
In a short section Bloemendaal dealt with what he calls the
Nestorian headings through the years (41). He again agreed with the
view of Vosté that these headings had not changed much through the
years. The starting point remained the same: the exegesis of Theodore.
Bloemendaal regarded 6t1 as the paradigmatic manuscript with respect
to the headings. In only three instances did headings occur that are not
in agreement with Theodore’s exegesis, viz., in Psalm 74 in 13t2, and
in Psalm 113 and 114 in Mingana 428, where Western influence was
discerned (42).
In the period after the publication of the work of Bloemendaal, the
stream of publications on the exegesis of Theodore on the Psalms and
the headings of the East Syrian church almost dried up. It was more
than a decade before new publications started to appear, especially
linked to the publication of new editions of Syriac commentaries on the
Psalms, such as the commentaries of Athanasius and Iπô`dâdh. Instead,
a number of studies appeared that dealt with aspects of the theology of
Theodore and Antiochene exegesis.
After a preliminary report in 1978 (43), Van Rompay published the
remaining fragments of the Syriac version of the Commentary of
Theodore on the Psalms in 1982 (44). This was a very important
development in the study of Theodore, his interpretation of the Psalms
and his influence on the interpretation of the Psalms in the Syriac
tradition. In the introduction to his translation Van Rompay offered an
extensive discussion of the manuscript (45), as well as of the origin of
these fragments and their relation to the work of Theodore. He stated
that there was no doubt that Theodore had written a commentary on the
Psalms. Theodore himself had regarded it the most important of all his
works (46).
(41) BLOEMENDAAL, Headings, 20-21.
(42) BLOEMENDAAL, Headings, 21-22.
(43) Cf. L. VAN ROMPAY, “Fragments syriaques du Commentaire de
Théodore de Mopsueste sur les Psaumesâ€, OLP 9 (1978) 83-93.
(44) L. VAN ROMPAY, Théodore de Mopsueste. Fragments syriaques du
Commentaire des Psaumes (Psaumes 118 et Psaumes 138-149) (CSCO 435
Scriptores Syri 189; Leuven 1982) (containing the Syriac text); and Théodore
de Mopsueste. Fragments syriaques du Commentaire des Psaumes (Psaumes
118 et Psaumes 138-149) (CSCO 436 Scriptores Syri 190; Leuven 1982)
(containing a French translation).
(45) VAN ROMPAY, Théodore de Mopsueste (Translation) X-XVII. The
fragments of the Psalms are on folio 176v-218v.
(46) VAN ROMPAY, Théodore de Mopsueste (Translation) V.
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