Jacob of Edessa

c.640-708. Jacobite* scholar. Born near Antioch, he was elected bishop of Edessa in 684, but soon yielded his position to spend most of his time in monasteries. His presence often led to open hostility, especially at the monastery in Tell 'Addam. He was one of the most important writers of the Monophysite Church in W Syria; Greek theology influenced the area through him. His works included Syriac homilies in verse and prose, liturgies, commentaries on the OT and NT, and a chronicle that took up where Eusebius left off. Guided by Greek and Syriac versions, he revised the Peshitta OT. Among the Greek writers he translated into Syriac was Severus of Antioch. He wrote the earliest known Syriac Grammar, and introduced the use of Greek letters for Syriac vowels.