[B-Greek] Encyclical Letter of the Synod of Alexandria (362)

Dodson, Derek S Derek_Dodson at baylor.edu
Thu Apr 15 12:18:10 EDT 2004


I am requesting assitance in analyzing a greek sentence that comes from an encyclical letter of the Synod of Alexandria in 362.  The text is given by Martin Tetz in Zeitschrift fur Neutesmentliche Wissenschaft 79 (1988):  262-281 (the actual text is found on pages 271-273).
 
For the sake of context, the first sentence is an exhortation neither to "interact with the impiety of those who reject the one, true divinity of the holy trinity, alienate the Son from the Father, and separate the Spirit from the Son, nor should you join associate with their turmoils and bloodthirstiness."  The second sentence is as follows (commas are from Tetz):
 
OUTW GAR KAI hHEIS, hEAUTOUS BOULOMENOI SWZEIN KAI TOUS PEIQOMENOUS hHMIN, EK PLEIONOS HDH CRONOU THN PROFANH ASEBEIAN TWN AREIOU DIELEGCOMEN KAI THN hUPOKRISIN TWN EPIPLASTOIS hRHMASIN hUPAGOMENWN TOUS AFELESTEROUS CWRIZOMEQA TE PASHS ATAXIAS AUTWN, PENQOUNTES EF OIS PRATTOUSIN, hOTI TO ONOMA TO AGATHON DUSFHMEISQAI POIOUSI, KAI BOULOMENOI DIATHRHQHNAI PWS EN hHMIN KAI TOIS MEQ hHMWN TON TE THS PISTEWS KAI THS EPIEIKOUS ANASTROFHS NOMON.
 
Here is my tenative translation:
 
For in the same way, we too-wanting to save ourselves and those who follow/obey us-have been refuting for a long time now the conspicuous impiety of the Arians and the hypocrisy of the those who lead away by feigned/false words the more simple-minded.  We also separate ourselves from every undisciplined way of theirs by grieving over the things that they do-namely, cause the good name to be slandered/reviled/blasphemed-and by wanting the law/custom/principle/rule of both the faith and the gentle lifestyle to be observed by us and those with us.

 

 

My questions:

1)  What is the function of the two participles PENQOUNTES ("grieving") and the second BOULOMENOI?  I translate them as parallel adverbial participles modifying the verb CWRIZOMEQA ("we separate").  Or does BOULOMENOI modify POIOUSI ("they cause")?  But this doesn't seem to make sense:  The ones who revile the good name also want to the rule of faith and gentle lifestyle to be observed by us and those with us?  Or does the particle PWS offer some misgiving about BOULOMENOI:  They cause the good name to be reviled, though somehow also wanting the rule of faith and gentle lifestyle to be observed by us . . . .? 

 

2)  How does the hOTI clause function?  I translate it epexegetically, but it could also be causal.

 

Any help, insight, and corrections are welcomed.

 

Derek Dodson




More information about the B-Greek mailing list