François Nau (1864–1931), who is well known for his numerous editions and translations of Syriac texts, in this volume gives a French translation of the so-called Octateuch of Clement from Syriac. Not surprisingly, there are many parallels with other canonical literature such as the Apostolic Constitutions and the Canons of Hippolytus, and Nau indicates these in his observations and also in an analytical table at the end of the book, which also includes a Scripture index. His introduction covers the contents of the work, manuscripts and editions, the origin of the Syriac version, Severus of Antioch and the Syrian Orthodox Church and this text, and other texts related to Clement’s Octateuch. This text along with Nau’s introduction and notes are an important contribution to church practice in the Syriac church. This volume also has affixed to it a modern handwritten copy (16 pages) of extracts from BL Add. ms. 12155, with the title “LittŽrature canonique” at the top of each page.
FrançoisNau