Read on with Xenophon, read another or ... ?
Posted: November 27th, 2014, 12:48 am
I'm still a distance behind Wes in the first chapter of Xenophon's Estate manager (Οἰκονομικός), and that the last two sections of that chapter are going to be quite arduous to get through, but rather than leave things to the last minute, now might be a good time to ask for future direction.
These earlier short readings, followed by the Lysias and now Xenophon are essentially a pass-the-torch level exchange, rather than a set-the-forest-on-fire type stimulation of interest in broader Greek literature as it helps us to understand the New Testament in a more practiced manner, but it has evidently been of value.
There are a number of options for after Xenophon Chapter One:
I think they are all good in their own ways (Doric Koine less so). Any other ideas?
These earlier short readings, followed by the Lysias and now Xenophon are essentially a pass-the-torch level exchange, rather than a set-the-forest-on-fire type stimulation of interest in broader Greek literature as it helps us to understand the New Testament in a more practiced manner, but it has evidently been of value.
There are a number of options for after Xenophon Chapter One:
- Continuing with Chapter Two of the Estate manager is a good option. There 18 sections. Socrates and Critobulus continue their exchange, discussing affluence and frugality. The language is more of the same, which could be good practice, but not much new.
- Reading some of Arrian's Tactica might be good too because it has a lot of description of spatial positions, which would be good for relating Greek to the concrete world around us.
- Of the geographers Pausanias and Strabo, Strabo is probably the easiest to read without a background in Classical studies.
- Reading some Doric Koine would probably do more to introduce dialectical forms in general, rather than show how they united into a Lingua Franca.
- Some Euripides may be good for the experience of reading drama.
- Plotinus is an often mentioned but little read philosopher who is said to have had a great effect on the development of Christian thinking.
- The protoevangelium of James makes for easy reading due to its closeness to the Gospels in style and content.
- Eusebius' verbosity is both annoying and helpful and his work is important in the history of Christianity.
I think they are all good in their own ways (Doric Koine less so). Any other ideas?