Why and How are the Angels Studying?

The Angels in the Exegesis of the Creation in “The Cause of the Foundation of the Schools”

Abstract

At the end of the sixth and the beginning of the seventh century, “The Cause of the Foundation of the Schools was written at the East Syriac School of Nisibis. Barḥadbešabba, the author of the Cause, was a member of the teaching staff at the school and explained the theological importance of learning, almost as a liturgical act for the students. In his argumentation, he drew heavily from the school’s curriculum, focusing primarily on the reading of the Bible as a foundational source. Barḥadbešabba, while explaining the importance of study, commented on Genesis 1:1-31 as a lection for spiritual beings, particularly for the angels. We examine this narration, which has its roots in earlier ecclesiastical writers like Theodore of Mopsuestia and Narsai. In our analysis of the section on creation as a school for angels, we worked with the first Hungarian translation of the text. The central questions of our study are: why and how do the angels study? What is the underlying theological conviction and purpose of Barḥadbešabba in presenting such a fictional narrative in an exegetical academy? Our study concludes that Barḥadbešabba's purpose was to demonstrate the opportunity and obligation of intellectual beings to attain knowledge of God through the revelation provided by creation.