The Teaching of Jacob (Ancient Greek: Διδασκαλία Ἰακώβου, Didaskalia Iakobou; Latin Doctrina Jacobi; Ethiopic Sargis d'Aberga), has a controversial dating from the early 7th century to the late 8th century.[1] A GreekChristianpolemical tract supposedly set in Carthage in 634 but written in Palestine sometime between 634 and 640.[2][3] It supposedly records a weeks-long discussion ending on July 13, 634, among Jews who have been forcibly baptized by order of the emperor. One of them, Jacob, has come to believe sincerely in Christianity; he instructs the rest about why they should also sincerely embrace their new faith. Halfway through, a Jewish merchant named Justus arrives and challenges Jacob to a debate. In the end, all of the participants are convinced to embrace Christianity, and Jacob and Justus return east.[4] In addition to several partial Greek manuscripts, the text survives in Latin, Arabic, Ethiopic and Slavonic translations.
Map of the Mediterranean region around the time of the writing of the Teaching of Jacob
The text provides one of the earliest external accounts of Islam, presenting a significantly different Islamic historiography than found in traditional Islamic texts.[5] It also shows Jacob comparing the Byzantine Empire to the fourth beast of the prophecy of Daniel from Judeo-Christian eschatology. Although not unfamiliar imagery, it is part of a series of Byzantine literature, from the early stages of the Islamic religion, of trying to reconcile Islam with the apocalyptic vision.[6] Further examples of this are contained in the pseudo-Athanasian's Quaestiones ad Antiochum ducem, and the Quaestiones et responsiones attributed to Anastasius of Sinai.
It records a prophet in Arabia who was waging war. According to Crone, who has presented a highly disputed account of the period, the document contradicts the notion in Islamic tradition that the prophet Muhammad was dead at the time of the conquest of Palestine but agrees with some traditions of other peoples of the time.[7]
When the candidatus [i.e., Sergios, commander of the Byzantine army in Palestine] was killed by the Saracens, I was at Caesarea and I set off by boat to Sykamina. People were saying "the candidatus has been killed," and we Jews were overjoyed. And they were saying that the prophet had appeared, coming with the Saracens, and that he was proclaiming the advent of the anointed one, the Christ who was to come. I, having arrived at Sykamina, stopped by a certain old man well-versed in scriptures, and I said to him: "What can you tell me about the prophet who has appeared with the Saracens?" He replied, groaning deeply: "He is false, for the prophets do not come armed with a sword. Truly they are works of anarchy being committed today and I fear that the first Christ to come, whom the Christians worship, was the one sent by God and we instead are preparing to receive the Antichrist. Indeed, Isaiah said that the Jews would retain a perverted and hardened heart until all the earth should be devastated. But you go, master Abraham, and find out about the prophet who has appeared." So I, Abraham, inquired and heard from those who had met him that there was no truth to be found in the so-called prophet, only the shedding of men's blood. He says also that he has the keys of paradise, which is incredible.[8]
Academic commentaries on the work
"What is significant here is the possibility that Jews and Arabs (Saracens) seem to be allied together during the time of the conquest of Palestine and even for a short time after"[9]
"This document is plausibly one of the most archaic elements of the Islamic tradition, its agreement with the earliest external accounts of the origins of Islam is highly significant" [10][citation needed]
"To be sure, the picture given in the Doctrina Iacobi seems garbled, and many of its details disagree with the traditional account (for example, in seeming to describe the prophet as leading the armies of the Saracens himself). ... Yet one could hardly expect a Byzantine source from this early and turbulent period to get all the details right. Even later, most Byzantine sources displayed gross misunderstanding of matters Islamic, just as Muslim sources generally did of matters Byzantine." – Colin Wells.[11]
References
Doctrina Jacobi nuper Baptizati, in G. Dagron and V. Déroche, "Juifs et chrétiens dans l'Orient du VIIe siècle", Travaux et Mémoires 11 (1991) 17-248. -- Edition of the Greek text with French translation.
Patrologia orientalis vol. 8 (1903) -- Contains Greek text of first half with French introduction.
Patrologia orientalis vol. 3—Contains Ethiopic text of first half with French translation.
Walter Emil Kaegi, Jr. "Initial Byzantine Reactions to the Arab Conquest." Church History, Vol. 38, No. 2. (June 1969), pp. 139–149.
References and notes
^Anthony, Sean W. (2014-01-01). "Muḥammad, the Keys to Paradise, and the Doctrina Iacobi: A Late Antique Puzzle". Der Islam. 91 (2). doi:10.1515/islam-2014-0010. ISSN 1613-0928.
^Crone, 3, It is set in 634 and was "in all probability written in Palestine within a few years of that date". 152³, Crone and Cook argue F. Nau's date of 640 is too late.
^Wells, Colin (2004-02-17). "Yehuda D. Nevo, Judith Koren, Crossroads to Islam: The Origins of the Arab Religion and the Arab State". Bryn Mawr Classical Review. Retrieved 14 December 2006.
External links
English translation by Andrew S. Jacobs
January 22, 2023
teaching, jacob, ancient, greek, Διδασκαλία, Ἰακώβου, didaskalia, iakobou, latin, doctrina, jacobi, ethiopic, sargis, aberga, controversial, dating, from, early, century, late, century, greek, christian, polemical, tract, supposedly, carthage, written, palesti. The Teaching of Jacob Ancient Greek Didaskalia Ἰakwboy Didaskalia Iakobou Latin Doctrina Jacobi Ethiopic Sargis d Aberga has a controversial dating from the early 7th century to the late 8th century 1 A Greek Christian polemical tract supposedly set in Carthage in 634 but written in Palestine sometime between 634 and 640 2 3 It supposedly records a weeks long discussion ending on July 13 634 among Jews who have been forcibly baptized by order of the emperor One of them Jacob has come to believe sincerely in Christianity he instructs the rest about why they should also sincerely embrace their new faith Halfway through a Jewish merchant named Justus arrives and challenges Jacob to a debate In the end all of the participants are convinced to embrace Christianity and Jacob and Justus return east 4 In addition to several partial Greek manuscripts the text survives in Latin Arabic Ethiopic and Slavonic translations Map of the Mediterranean region around the time of the writing of the Teaching of Jacob Contents 1 Content 1 1 Academic commentaries on the work 2 References 3 References and notes 4 External linksContent EditThe text provides one of the earliest external accounts of Islam presenting a significantly different Islamic historiography than found in traditional Islamic texts 5 It also shows Jacob comparing the Byzantine Empire to the fourth beast of the prophecy of Daniel from Judeo Christian eschatology Although not unfamiliar imagery it is part of a series of Byzantine literature from the early stages of the Islamic religion of trying to reconcile Islam with the apocalyptic vision 6 Further examples of this are contained in the pseudo Athanasian s Quaestiones ad Antiochum ducem and the Quaestiones et responsiones attributed to Anastasius of Sinai It records a prophet in Arabia who was waging war According to Crone who has presented a highly disputed account of the period the document contradicts the notion in Islamic tradition that the prophet Muhammad was dead at the time of the conquest of Palestine but agrees with some traditions of other peoples of the time 7 When the candidatus i e Sergios commander of the Byzantine army in Palestine was killed by the Saracens I was at Caesarea and I set off by boat to Sykamina People were saying the candidatus has been killed and we Jews were overjoyed And they were saying that the prophet had appeared coming with the Saracens and that he was proclaiming the advent of the anointed one the Christ who was to come I having arrived at Sykamina stopped by a certain old man well versed in scriptures and I said to him What can you tell me about the prophet who has appeared with the Saracens He replied groaning deeply He is false for the prophets do not come armed with a sword Truly they are works of anarchy being committed today and I fear that the first Christ to come whom the Christians worship was the one sent by God and we instead are preparing to receive the Antichrist Indeed Isaiah said that the Jews would retain a perverted and hardened heart until all the earth should be devastated But you go master Abraham and find out about the prophet who has appeared So I Abraham inquired and heard from those who had met him that there was no truth to be found in the so called prophet only the shedding of men s blood He says also that he has the keys of paradise which is incredible 8 Academic commentaries on the work Edit What is significant here is the possibility that Jews and Arabs Saracens seem to be allied together during the time of the conquest of Palestine and even for a short time after 9 This document is plausibly one of the most archaic elements of the Islamic tradition its agreement with the earliest external accounts of the origins of Islam is highly significant 10 citation needed To be sure the picture given in the Doctrina Iacobi seems garbled and many of its details disagree with the traditional account for example in seeming to describe the prophet as leading the armies of the Saracens himself Yet one could hardly expect a Byzantine source from this early and turbulent period to get all the details right Even later most Byzantine sources displayed gross misunderstanding of matters Islamic just as Muslim sources generally did of matters Byzantine Colin Wells 11 References EditDoctrina Jacobi nuper Baptizati in G Dagron and V Deroche Juifs et chretiens dans l Orient du VIIe siecle Travaux et Memoires 11 1991 17 248 Edition of the Greek text with French translation Patrologia orientalis vol 8 1903 Contains Greek text of first half with French introduction Patrologia orientalis vol 3 Contains Ethiopic text of first half with French translation Patricia Crone and Michael Cook Hagarism The Making of the Islamic World Cambridge Cambridge University Press 1977 ISBN 0 521 21133 6 Robert G Hoyland Seeing Islam As Others Saw It A Survey and Evaluation of Christian Jewish and Zoroastrian Writings on Early Islam Studies in Late Antiquity and Early Islam Darwin Press Incorporated 1998 ISBN 0 87850 125 8 Walter Emil Kaegi Jr Initial Byzantine Reactions to the Arab Conquest Church History Vol 38 No 2 June 1969 pp 139 149 References and notes Edit Anthony Sean W 2014 01 01 Muḥammad the Keys to Paradise and the Doctrina Iacobi A Late Antique Puzzle Der Islam 91 2 doi 10 1515 islam 2014 0010 ISSN 1613 0928 Crone 3 It is set in 634 and was in all probability written in Palestine within a few years of that date 152 Crone and Cook argue F Nau s date of 640 is too late Averil Cameron Kaegi Jr 141 Crone 4 Kaegi Jr 142 Crone 3 4 Doctrina Jacobi V 16 209 p 57 Patricia Crone Michael Cook 1976 clarification needed Patricia Crone Michael Cook 1977 Wells Colin 2004 02 17 Yehuda D Nevo Judith Koren Crossroads to Islam The Origins of the Arab Religion and the Arab State Bryn Mawr Classical Review Retrieved 14 December 2006 External links EditEnglish translation by Andrew S Jacobs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Teaching of Jacob amp oldid 1122811381, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
