Contents
By Way of a Preface - Columba Stewart
Introduction
Part 1. The World Around the Book of Steps
1. The Romano-Persian Frontier and the Context of the Book of Steps
2. Parallel Paths: Tracing Manichaean Footprints along the Syriac Book of Steps
3. The Book of Steps on Magic
Part 2. The Text of the Book of Steps
4. A Previously Unknown Reattributed Fragment from Memra 16 of the Book of Steps
5. A Last Disciple of the Apostles: The “Editor’s” Preface, Rabbula’s Rules, and the Date of the Book of Steps
Part 3. Biblical Exegisis in the Book of Steps
6. Biblical Exegesis in the Syriac Book of Steps: A Preliminary Survey
7. Did the Author of the Book of Steps Understand Paul?
Part 4. Theological Perspectives in the Book of Steps
8. A Broken Mind: The Path to Knowledge in the Book of Steps
9. The Perfect and Perfection in the Book of Steps
10. You Are What You Eat: Dietary Metaphors in the Syriac Book of Steps
11. Falling from the Path of Perfection: Sin in the Syriac Book of Steps
Part 5. Practices of Asceticism in the Book of Steps
12. Disturbed Sinners: In Pursuit of Sanctity in the Book of Steps
13. Marriage and Sexuality in the Book of Steps: From Encratism to Orthodoxy
14. "Hidden Work" of the Heart and Spiritual Progression in the Book of Steps
15. Reading the Ascetic Ideal into Genesis 1–3: Hermeneutic Strategies in the Book of Steps Memra 21
16. Lowering in Order to be Raised, Emptying in Order to be Filled: The Ascetical System of the Book of Steps
Bibliography
Contributors
Index of Citations of the Book of Steps
Subject Index