Liber Graduum: The Sixteenth Memra

A translation from Syrian and an introduction by G. M. Kessel’

Abstract

"The Book of Degrees is an early Syriac (late 4th century) anonymous literary monument consisting of thirty words (syr. mēmrē) of ascetic content. Scholars have long since abandoned the thesis expressed in 1926 by the publisher of the "Book of Degrees", Michael Kmosko, who considered the teaching of the "Book of Degrees" to be Messalianic, and the book itself - one of the few surviving monuments of this heretical movement3. Although the relationship of the Book of Degrees to Mesalianism continues to be debated to this day, there is no doubt that the text contains notions and ideas that were consonant with the condemned doctrine, but which were developed by the anonymous author in a different direction and occupy a definitely different place in his teaching.