Chapter Six. The Religious Profile Of The Syriac Sirach

Abstract

This chapter summarizes and evaluates the main characteristics of the religious profile of Syr. It first distinguishes between the profile of the translation and that of the translator. The chapter also discusses the characteristics of the religious profile of the translator and the translation, and Syr in the Syriac tradition. The combination of 'Jewish' and 'Christian' elements at first sight suggests a Jewish-Christian background, but a closer look at the material reveals that some of the 'Christian' elements, such as the indifference or even hostility towards 'the Law' cannot be accounted for if we assume a Jewish-Christian background of Syr. The argument that Syr contains parallels with rabbinic literature is not valid. The translator is helpful for describing his religious profile, but does not assist in identifying the community in which Syr originated with any known religious group from the second or third century CE.Keywords: rabbinic literature; religious profile; Syr; Syriac Sirach; Syriac tradition