Acknowledgments
In a comment preserved by Bossuet, Pascal reprobates those who dare to speak of “My Book, my commentary, my history, and so forth” (Ils feraient mieux de dire: Notre livre, notre commentaire, notre histoire). In the present case, certainly, there could be no truer words. This book began life as a Ph.D. thesis, undertaken at the Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College, Dublin, and the first person I want to thank is my supervisor there, Professor Andrew Pierce. I hope that he will understand the profound depth of my gratitude to him, for his wisdom, friendship, and guidance. He it was who introduced me to the Reverend Professor Paul Avis, General Editor of this series; and to him also I owe a tremendous debt, as I do, likewise to my contacts at Brill, Mirjam Elbers and Ingrid Heijckers-Velt. The latter, especially, has been an unfailing source of help and encouragement. I must thank, too, Professor James Lindsay of Colorado State University for reading various chapters, and for his insightful comments. Last, but by no means least, I want to acknowledge my wife, Andrea, for her love, patience, and support, as well as for her much needed technical help and advice. To her I dedicate this book; truly, γυνὴ ἀνδρεία στέφανος τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς.