[B-Greek] Prevalence of holy books
Ken Penner
ken.penner at acadiau.ca
Tue Feb 19 09:08:39 EST 2008
Philo tends to call the scriptures as a collection hIERAI GRAFAI, hIERAI BIBLOI, hIERA GRAMMATA, CRHSMOI, hIEROI CRHSMOI.
He calls the Pentateuch H NOMOQHSIA (including Joshua once), OI NOMOI, hIERAI BIBLOI, CRHSMOI.
Although Philo makes it clear that most of the other (i.e., non-Pentateuchal) biblical writings are prophetic and inspired, he rarely uses the above labels for them. Philo refers to Joshua as ‘the sacred Records’ (Hypothetica 6.5), and referring to the Samuel story, he mentions ὁ ἱερὸς λόγος, in Drunkenness 143.
Ken
Ken M. Penner, Ph.D. (McMaster)
Acadia/Greek&Hebrew
Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic vocabulary memorization software:
http://purl.org/net/kmpenner/flash
> -----Original Message-----
> From: b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org
> [mailto:b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Anita Clerke
> Sent: February 19, 2008 8:33 AM
> To: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: [B-Greek] Prevalence of holy books
>
> Thanks Carl for the corrections. Regarding your statement
> concerning the prevalence of LOGOI hIEROI (sacred books):
> "It is used in the sense of a doctrinal formulation -- and
> where I've seen it, it's used of a myth, myths, or a
> doctrinal formulation of a mystery cult." Could you supply a
> citation or two of when these words are used in such a pagan
> context? I realise you may be too busy to do this though.
>
> Thanks very much Jeffrey for the list of citations of LOGOI
> hIEROI (sacred books). I was particularly interested in such
> sacred books that could be read aloud, so as to match the
> context of Lucian's use.
>
> FYI, regarding the context of these citations:
>
> The reference from Philo isn't in the same context as that of
> Lucian, as Philo's "sacred words" in "On Dreams", doesn't
> appear to refer to words that could actually be read aloud. I
> can not be certain if the English translation of sacred words
> does in fact refer to the Greek LOGOI hIEROI (sacred books).
> However nothing else in the English translation appears to
> come close to translating these Greek words.
>
> The reference to Eusebius of Caesarea's 'Praeparatio
> Evangelica (Preparation for the Gospel)' also doesn't always
> appear to refer to words that could actually be read aloud.
> Eusebius describes God's sacred laws and God's word as the
> source of control of the elements such as flood-tides,
> sequence of seasons, and the alternating course of day and
> night. However the chapter also talks of the 'sacred laws'
> delivered by Moses. The last sentence in chapter 10 mentions
> Scripture. As so far I only have access to an english
> translation of this work, which doesn't indicate the exact
> line reference of 7.10.3, means I can not be certain if the
> latter reference to Moses uses the same Greek words that I am
> interested in, namely those of Lucian, LOGOI hIEROI (sacred
> books). I imagine that they are. In fact I can not be certain
> if the English translation of sacred laws does in fact refer
> to the Greek LOGOI hIEROI (sacred books). However nothing
> else in the English translation appears to come close to
> translating these Greek words.
>
> Regarding the reference to Eusebius of Caesarea's 'The
> History of the Martyrs in Palestine', once again I only have
> access to an english translation of this work, which doesn't
> indicate the exact line reference of 4.6 means I can not be
> certain, but the only reference in English to 'sacred' that
> is relevant, is a reference to Pamphilus'
> "...accomplishments in philosophy, and his acquirements both
> in sacred and profane literature." This is found in the chapter
> titled: The Confession of Domninus. The context indicates
> that sacred literature here probably refers to Christian literature.
>
> The reference to Lucian is that which I gave originally, and
> the context indicates that LOGOI hIEROI (sacred books) here
> refers to Christian literature. I really appreciated finding
> out that this is the only time Lucian used these words.
>
> As Photius lived in the ninth century, I did not check out
> his references, though will probably do so later.
>
> Thanks again to both of you.
> Regards
>
> Jonathan Clerke
> clerke at humanperformance.cc
>
>
>
>
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