Overview

John, the sixth-century orthodox bishop of Scythopolis in Palestine, was the first of many authors to comment upon the highly influentional Pseudo-Dionysian writings (such as The Mystical Theology). Here translated and interpreted, John's Prologue and Scholia (marginalia) have only recently been separable from later comments. They present his complex theological and philosophical observations on the Dionysian texts. The book begins with the general outlines of the appearance and reception of the Dionysian corpus in the sixth century, followed by an overview of the career and works of John of Scythopolis. Written around AD 540, John's own comments in the Prologue provide the outline for introducing the concerns dominating his Scholia: biblical, classical, and patristic sources; liturgical terminology and context; orthodox and heretical doctrines of the Trinity, Christology, creation, and eschatology; Dionysian authenticity; Neoplatonism and John's unacknowledged quotations from Plotinus. Most of the Scholia and all of the Prologue are translated and annotated in order to present the first of many layers of Dionysian interpretation.

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This is a very clear, extremely well-written, balanced and highly informative work * Journal of Early Christian Studies * It not only provides an English translation of a classical theological work but has also now opened the door for further research into John of Scythopolis * Journal of Early Christian Studies *

`This is no doubt the most insightful work to treat the person of John of Scythopolis in recent years. ... This work will surely prove to be an standard not only for those interested in the figures of Dionysius the Areopagite and John of Scythopolis, but for anyone wrestling with the numerous and diverse Christological claims made during the century after Chalcedon.' American Historical Review, June 2001 `excellent study ... Scholarship surrounding the person of John of Scythopolis has been minimal and this volume accordingly performs a great service by making available his life and theological concerns.' Review of Metaphysics, June 2000 `The authors have produced a first class textual and historical study and have justly overturned a few apple carts.' John McGuckin, Religious Studies Review, Vol 27, No 2, Aril 2001 `The translation is fluent and well annotated.' John McGuckin, Religious Studies Review, Vol 27, No 2, Aril 2001 `The authors write with refreshing clarity and explode the thesis that the Dionysian corpus originated in a monophysite circles' John McGuckin, Religious Studies Review, Vol 27, No 2, Aril 2001 `This work is helpful in shedding light on the earliest state of the acceptance of the Dionysian writings, and in providing further insights regarding the christological disputes in the Middle East of the sixth century.' Seely Beggiani, Theological Studies, March 00, Vol.61, No.1. `Paul Rorem and John Lamoreaux have done us a great service in extending to the remainder of the Pseudo-Dionysian corpus the work of Beate Suchla in identifying John of Scythopolis' Scholia on The Divine Names. Their translation of the Scholia and of John's Preface allows us for the first time confidently to place the Dionysian texts in the context in which the bulk of their early readers would have met them. ... this volume will be a valuable resource in a fascinating journey of discovery.' Janet P Williams, Journal of Theological Studies 50:2 October 1999

It not only provides an English translation of a classical theological work but has also now opened the door for further research into John of Scythopolis Journal of Early Christian Studies This is a very clear, extremely well-written, balanced and highly informative work Journal of Early Christian Studies

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