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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