An Examination of the Teachings of Ephraim the Syrian and Aphrahat the Persian Sage and their implications for Christian Discipleship in Africa

Joshua D Settles

doi:10.38159/erats.2022832

Abstract

This study is an examination of the teachings of two prominent Christian writers of Syrian Christianity: Ephraim the Syrian, and Aphrahat the Persian. It examines the cultural and religious background that informs their thought. It is a literary study that draws on extant writings of both theologians and identifies concepts that are key to understanding the Syrian Christian vision of discipleship and the Christian life and provides some implications of that vision that yield valuable insights into models of discipleship and formation that can strengthen African Christians on the journey to Christlikeness. Keywords: Aphrahat the Persian, Ephraim the Syrian, Christian Discipleship, African Christianity, the Church.

Highlights

IntroductionThe popular view of the history of Christianity is one often defined by the history of the West, and confined mostly to Europeans
It is a literary study that draws on extant writings of both theologians and identifies concepts that are key to understanding the Syrian Christian vision of discipleship and the Christian life and provides some implications of that vision that yield valuable insights into models of discipleship and formation that can strengthen African Christians on the journey to Christlikeness
This study aims to explore a bit of that vision as reflected in the teachings of two of the most prominent of the Eastern Church Fathers: Ephraim the Syrian and Aphrahat4 the Persian Sage

Summary

Introduction

The popular view of the history of Christianity is one often defined by the history of the West, and confined mostly to Europeans. The less well-known story of the early eastward missionary expansion of Christianity challenges the dominance of this narrative Research indicates that it was from mission bases in what are Syria, Iraq and Iran that the message of Christianity reached as far afield as Japan and as early as the 8th century.. Research indicates that it was from mission bases in what are Syria, Iraq and Iran that the message of Christianity reached as far afield as Japan and as early as the 8th century.1 Such was the dynamism of this Asian Christianity that it is entirely plausible to claim that ‘the Nestorian church The distinctions between these, while important, are beyond the scope of this study

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Conclusion