The Sentences of Sextus

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Described by Origen as a writing that "even the masses of believers have read," the "Sentences" of Sextus offers unique insights into popular Christian thought during the late second century C.E. Although it draws extensively on canonical texts for the composition of its sayings, it is especially fascinating for the manner in which it integrates these texts with material derived from two generically similar collections of Pythagorean maxims. This volume provides a critical edition including evidence from the Greek, Latin, Syriac, and Coptic versions; a new translation; and the first commentary for the "Sentences," an important document for investigating the history of early Christian wisdom, asceticism, and ethics.