[B-Greek] ANAGNWSIS
William Warren
wfwarren at aol.com
Thu May 5 06:38:19 EDT 2005
Andrew, you are correct in thinking that ANAGINWSKW can be used of
both public and private reading. On the other hand, what should be
keep in mind is that the sharp distinction we often make today
between these two forms of reading cannot simply be read back into
the Greco-Roman setting. For example, most private reading was done
"out loud" rather than silently (the oft-cited example of Augustine's
surprise at Ambrose reading silently is a good example of silent
reading being outside of the expected practice). Also, as seen in
the case of Pliny the younger's comments about his uncle, Pliny the
elder, private reading was not always done personally. Pliny the
elder had books read to him and his friends as they gathered after
meals, while traveling, etc., once even scolding his nephew for
walking rather than being carried by the servants, noting that the
time should have been used for listening to a book being read to him
while being carried rather than wasting it walking. While this was
private reading, the reading was obviously "out loud" and at times
benefited more than one person. In sum, the difference between
public reading and private reading was not equal to an audience of
several people versus only one person. Even private reading often
involved more than one person.
paz,
Bill Warren
Director of the Center for New Testament Textual Studies
Landrum P. Leavell, II, Professor of New Testament and Greek
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
On May 5, 2005, at 4:22 AM, A. J. Birch wrote:
> Dear 'B-Greekers',
>
> I don't know whether this has come up before, but my question is:
> does the Greek word ANAGNWSIS necessarily imply public reading, or
> can it also refer to private reading? Of the three (?) Greek New
> Testament texts in which the word is found, two (Acts 13:15 and 2nd
> Corinthians 3:14) seem to suggest public reading, and commentators
> seem divided regarding the third (1st Timothy 4:13). But the verb
> ANAGINWSKW (found thirty-three times in the Greek New Testament,
> apparently) seems to be used in all the same ways that our English
> word 'read' is used - i. e. in private, in public, etc. I would
> appreciate any light on this.
>
> Andrew J. Birch
> Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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