Rufinus the Syrian orRufinus of Syria (fl.c. 400) was a Christian theologian, priest and author, generally identified as aPelagian.[1]
According to the anti-Pelagian writerMarius Mercator, Rufinus "of the Syrian nation" (natione Syrus) taught atRome during the episcopate ofAnastasius I (399–401) and through this teaching was a bad influence on the theology ofPelagius and his followers.[1] There is disagreement between scholars over the correct reading of the word precedingnatione Syrus: it is eitherquidam ("a nobody of Syrian race") orquondam ("at one time of the nation of Syria"). Walter Dunphy even argues that whole phrase is ultimately a copyist's error and that there was no Rufinus from Syria.[2]
There are a total of seven references to persons named Rufinus from around 400 and scholars are unsure how many individuals lie behind them. There are three other Rufinuses who are often identified with the Mercator's Syrian Rufinus. If "Syrian" was being used in its broad sense (i.e., ofSyria Palaestina), then Mercator's Rufinus may be identical to the Rufinus who was a monk inBethlehem and went on a mission to the West forJerome in early 399.[2]
The Syrian Rufinus is usually identified with the Rufinus who wrote theLiber de fide (Book of Faith), which survives in a single manuscript, now MS Q. v. 1. 6 in the Saint Petersburg Public Library. The manuscript describes the author as a priest from theprovince of Palestine. In this work Rufinus attacksArianism,Origenism and the doctrine oforiginal sin. The work was for a long time ascribed erroneously toTyrannius Rufinus.[1] The latter, also called Rufinus of Aquileia, was definitely a different person.[2]
The Syrian Rufinus is usually also identified with the "holy priest" mentioned byCaelestius at his trial inCarthage in 411. At that time the priest was already dead.[1][2]
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