GENOITO!

Edward Hobbs EHOBBS at WELLESLEY.EDU
Wed Dec 15 16:52:41 EST 1999


Bart Ehrman asks:   --------------->>>>>>>>>

  Ignatius goes on a tear with GENOITO MOI in Ephesians 11f (3x).  It's
normally translated something like "may it be to me that ..." or "may I
be" (optative of wish).  What do you think of "I hope that I," or
something comparable?  E.g., translating

    "In him I am bearing my chains, which are spiritual pearls, EN hOIS
GENOITO MOI ANASTHNAI TH PROSEUXH hUMWN" as "In him I am bearing my
chains, which are spiritual pearls.  In them I hope to rise again through
your prayers..."

  Too weak?  Wrong idea?  Unnuanced?  Perfect in every way?

-- Bart Ehrman
   University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

<<<<------------


I've wrestled with this "last-leaf-on-the-tree" optative for decades, and 
my answer to Bart's question is:

		"Perfect in every way."

His solution in Ignatius, "I hope to..." is stylish, and really RIGHT, I 
think.

I'm really beginning to look forward to Bart's replacement for Kirsopp
Lake's venerable Loeb "Apostolic Fathers".


Edward Hobbs
Wellesley College





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