Sebastian Brock studied Classics and then Oriental Languages (Hebrew and Aramaic) at Cambridge, followed by a DPhil at Oxford on the textual history of the Septuagint 1 Samuel. Taught Biblical Hebrew at Birmingham University and then at Cambridge University (in due course, also Aramaic and Syriac); finally taught Aramaic and Syriac at Oxford University till retirement in 2003. Has written extensively on Syriac topics, including editions and translations of new texts. Publications include, The Luminous Eye: the spiritual world vision of St Ephrem, The Syriac Fathers on Prayer and the Spiritual Life (an anthology), The Holy Spirit in the Syrian Baptismal Tradition, Isaac of Nineveh: the ‘Second Part’ (from a manuscript discovered in the Bodleian Library), The Bible in the Syriac Tradition.