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Rabbula (d. 435/436 CE) was born around 350 CE in Qennishrin (Chalcis), about 40 km southwest of Aleppo, to a wealthy family whose father was pagan (Pagan/Paganism) and mother Christian. As an influential local citizen, Rabbula was given a distinguished honorary governorship. However, on a visit to his estates, he witnessed a healing miracle by a Christian hermit (Anchorite), and he soon converted to Christianity. He went on pilgrimage (Pilgrim/Pilgrimage) to Jerusalem, and then decided to becom…

Sayings from the Gospel of the Egyptians are quoted explicitly by Clement of Alexandria (c. 150–c. 215 CE). The quotations from the Greek Gospel of the Egyptians all occur within book 3 of Clement’s Stromateis, in which Clement speaks of marriage and sexuality. He debates those Christians who abstained from sexual intercourse even if married, as they rejected both it and procreation. These Encratites (Encratism/Encratites), as they were called from the term ἐγκράτεια (self-control), supported their position by reference to the Gospel of the Egyptians, and Clement sets out to sh…

Ibas (Hiba) was bishop of Edessa 433–457 CE, except for the years 449–451 CE. He was a member of the School of Edessa, and was active in the translation of writings in Greek into Syriac, particularly the works of Theodore of Mopsuestia. During the Nestorian controversy (Nestorianism/Nestorius), Ibas was on the opposite side from Rabbula, bishop of Edessa (Rabbula of Edessa), a staunch supporter of Cyril of Alexandria’s miaphysite position. In a letter to Mari the Persian shortly after the Formul…