Arabic theological terminology in two creed explanations by Sawirus bishop of ashmunain

The article discusses the usage of arabic credal terminology in two texts by sawirus ibn al-muqaffa',bishop of ashmunain (tenth century): the explanation of christian faith (tafsir al-'amana),and the lamp of understanding (kitab misbah al-'aql). vocabulary study is preceded by contextual passages on the language diversity in the 10th century egypt,the personality of sawirus,and the heritage of polemical literature in arabic. the lexicological material of the two texts is arranged in topics that reflect both the credal articles (an arabic version of the constantinopolitan creed of 381),and the catechetical chaptering of the lamp of understanding. relationship to normative greek terminology of the councils is taken into account. the aim is to show bishop sawirus' usage within the context of christian arabic writing of the time,perhaps observing some particularities of expression and attempting an interpretation of such.