Abstract:
The first hymn in Ephrem the Syrian’s cycle Contra Haereses is
translated and analysed in terms of its rhetorical and argumentative
features. It seems that Ephrem used various rhetorical strategies to
construct a polarity between a jealous Satan and a loving God. He
argues that the heresies that became known under the names of
Marcion, Bardaisan, and Mani are merely different manifestations
of Satan’s jealous attempt to hurt mankind. He urges the orthodox
faithful to flee from this threat by illustrating how great the danger is
with the help of analogies from everyday life and biblical stories.
