Eznik of Kolb


Eznik of Kolb, was an Armenian Christian writer of the 5th century.

Biography

Eznik was born at Koghb, in the historical province of Tayk, a tributary valley of the Chorokh, in Northern Greater Armenia.
He was a pupil of Isaac the Great of Armenia and of Saint Mesrop. At their request he went first to Edessa, then to Constantinople to perfect himself in the various sciences and to collect or copy Syriac and Greek manuscripts of the Bible, and the writings of the Fathers of the Church. He returned to Armenia after the First Council of Ephesus.
He is probably identical with Eznik, Bishop of Bagrevand region, who took part in the Synod of Artashat in 449.

Works

In addition to his labors in connection with the new version of the Bible and various translations, he composed several works, the principal of which is his remarkable apologetic treatise "Against the Sects" or "On God". It was written between 441 and 449, and contains four parts:
An essential theme of the work is on the importance of free will in Christian theology. Eznik displays much acumen and an extensive erudition. Eznik was evidently as familiar with the Persian language as with Greek literature. His Armenian diction is of the choicest classical type, although the nature of his subject matter forced him to use quite a number of Greek words. The book also contains many interesting asides, such as Eznik's refutation of astrology and his diversion to the topic of animal behavior and psychology.
The original manuscript of "Against the Sects" is lost: The work survived due to a single medieval transcription copied at the University of Gladzor. This manuscript is currently at the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts. A copy of the first printing of "Against the Sects" as a book in Smyrna in 1762 is in the collection at the British Library. The Mechitarists at Venice published an updated edition in 1826 and again in 1865. Most recently, Sophene Books published "Against the Sects" as a paperback in 2019. The work can be read freely in its entirety online.

Translations

French Translation

A French translation by LeVaillant de Florival was published in 1853.

German Translation

A German translation by J. M. Schmid was published in 1900.

English Translation

A complete English translation by Monica Blanchard and Robin Darling Young was published in 1998.
An retelling of the work in English by Thomas Samuelian was published in 1986 and is available to read online.