The Questions of Theodore. Part 1

Abstract

The article contains a translation of the first part of the Coptic text, composed in the genre of “erotapokrisis” (question-answer) and in the form of a dialogue between the Archbishop of the Coptic Church John III and a certain presbyter named Theodore. Most of the sections are interpretations of individual sayings of the Old and New Testaments. The Questions reveals a number of legends and interpretations based on the biblical text; some of them find analogies in Coptic as well as in early Christian literature in other languages and in Jewish interpretations, other ones probably should be considered unique. The absence of typical pseudepigraphal details in the Coptic original suggests that both actors are real historical characters.