Hellenistic and Biblical Greek

This Hellenistic Greek reader is designed for students who have completed one
or more years of Greek and wish to improve their reading ability and gain a
better appreciation for the diversity of the language. The seventy passages in this
reader reflect different styles, genres, provenances, and purposes and are
arranged into eight parts according to their level of difficulty. Grammatical
support and vocabulary lists accompany each passage, and a cumulative glossary
offers further assistance with translation. Students are led to a deeper
understanding of Hellenistic Greek and a greater facility with the language.

Includes canonical and non-canonical Christian texts, Septuagint (prose and

poetry), Jewish pseudepigrapha, inscriptions, and Jewish and Hellenistic
literary Greek.
Includes a Web component with more than thirty additional readings for
classroom and independent use.
Offers a glimpse into the everyday life of Hellenistic Greeks, with themes
such as sexuality, slavery, magic, apocalypticism, and Hellenistic
philosophy.

B. H. MCLEAN is Professor of New Testament Language and Literature at

Knox College, University of Toronto. He is the author of Biblical Interpretation
and Philosophical Hermeneutics (Cambridge University Press, 2012), New
Testament Greek: An Introduction (Cambridge University Press, 2011), An
Introduction to the Study of Greek Epigraphy of the Hellenistic and Roman
Periods from Alexander the Great Down to the Reign of Constantine (323 BCE–
337 CE) (2002), and Greek and Latin Inscriptions in the Konya Archaeological
Museum (2002). Using a variety of textbooks, he has taught introductory New
Testament Greek for more than twenty years in four institutions and serves as
the Greek examiner for biblical doctoral candidates at the Toronto School of
Theology.
Hellenistic and Biblical Greek

A Graduated Reader

B. H. McLean
Knox College, University of Toronto
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McLean, Bradley H. (Bradley Hudson), 1957– Hellenistic and biblical Greek : a
graduated reader / B. H. McLean.
pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-107-02558-5 (hardback) – ISBN 978-1-10768628-1 (paperback) 1.
Greek language, Hellenistic (300 B.C.–600 A.D.) – Readers. 2. Greek language,
Hellenistic (300 B.C.–600 A.D.) – Grammar. 3. Greek language, Biblical –
Readers. 4. Greek language, Biblical – Grammar. 5. Bible. New Testament –
Language, style – Problems, exercises, etc. I. Title.
PA617.M34 2014
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ISBN 978-1-107-02558-5 Hardback ISBN 978-1-10768628-1 Paperback
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 Contents
List of Illustrations
Guide to Abbreviations and Grammar
I. Editorial Abbreviations
II. Abbreviations of Texts Cited in the Glossary
III. Abbreviations of Books, Articles, and Ancient Manuscripts
IV. Frequently Occurring Grammatical Constructions

Introduction

1. Basic Level: Early Christian Texts

1.1. Didache: The Two Ways Doctrine (Did. 1:1–2, 3:1–10)
1.2. Gospel of Luke: Jesus’ Trial by the Adversary (Luke 4:1–15)
1.3. Gospel of Luke: Jesus’ Inaugural Sermon (Luke 4:16–30)
1.4. Gospel of Thomas: The Greek Fragments (Gos. Thom. 1–7, 27–28, 30–
32, 77b / 36–37, 39 and synoptic parallels)
1.5. Gospel of Mark: Jesus’ Secret and Controversial Teaching (Mark 3:20–30,
4:10–20)
1.6. Shepherd of Hermas: The First Vision of Hermas (Herm. 1:1–9)
1.7. Gospel of Mary Magdalene: Mary’s Unique Relationship with Jesus
1.8. Protoevangelium of James: Verifying the Virginity of Mary (Prot. Jas. 13–
16, 19–20)
1.9. Gospel of Peter: The Crucifixion of Jesus (Gos. Pet. 2–7)
1.10. Revelation: The Whore of Babylon and the Beast (Rev 17:1–18)

2. Basic Level: The Isometric Translational Greek of the Septuagint

2.1. Book of Genesis: The First Sin and Its Punishment (Gen 3:1–24)
2.2. 1 Kingdoms: The Anointing of David as King (1 Kgdms 16:1–13 [1
Samuel])
2.3. Book of Jeremiah: Sayings from the Book of Consolation (Jer 38:27–34
[MT 31:27–34])
2.4. Book of Amos: A Lament over Israel’s Sin (Amos 5:14–27)
2.5. Book of Exodus: The Song of the Sea (Exod 15:1–18)
2.6. Book of Isaiah: The Fourth Suffering Servant Song (Isa 52:13–53:12)
3. Intermediate Level: Jewish Recensional Greek
3.1. 1 Esdras: The Last Kings of Judah and the Fall of Jerusalem (1 Esdr 1:32–
55 [2 Chr 36:1–21 MT])
3.2. Book of Esther: Esther Saves the Jews (Esth 7:1–8:8 OG)
3.3. 1 Maccabees: The Program of Hellenization of Antiochus Epiphanes (1
Macc. 1:10–28)
3.4. Book of Job: The Adversary’s Attack on Job (Job 1:6–2:13)
3.5. Book of Job: Job’s Complaint Before the Lord (Job 23:1–17)
3.6. Book of Daniel: A Vision of the Resurrection of the Dead (Dan 12:1–13)
3.7. 1 Enoch: The Book of the Watchers (1 En. 1, 6:1–8:2)
3.8. 1 Enoch: The Miraculous Birth of Noah (1 En. 106–107)
3.9. Life of Adam and Eve: God Curses Eve (L.A.E. 19–21, 25, 31–32)

4. Intermediate-Level Hellenistic Greek

4.1. Letter of Introduction to Zenon (PMich I, 6)
4.2. Letter of Petition to the King with Respect to a Burial Association
(PEnteuxeis 20)
4.3. Family Letter of an Army Recruit to His Mother (PMich VIII, 491)
4.4. Memorandum to Zenon (PGL IV, 413)
4.5. Galatians: Paul Defends His Apostleship (Gal 1:1–2:10)
4.6. 1 Thessalonians: Concerning Recently Deceased Christians (1 Thess
4:13–5:11)
4.7. 1 Corinthians: Potential in Weakness (1 Cor 1:18–2:5)
4.8. 1 Corinthians: On Slavery and Freedom, Marriage and Celibacy (1 Cor
7:17–31)
4.9. 2 Corinthians: Paul’s Ecstatic Journey to the Third Heaven (2 Cor 12:1–
10)
4.10. Philippians: Paul Breaks with His Past (Phil 3:1b–16)
4.11. Romans: Paul’s Typological Interpretation of Adam (Rom 5:6–21)

5. High-Intermediate-Level Hellenistic Greek

5.1. Acts: The People of Lystra Mistake Paul and Barnabas for Hermes and
Zeus (Acts 14:1–20)
5.2. Acts: Paul Preaches to the Epicurean and Stoic Philosophers (Acts 17:16–
34)
5.3. Acts: Burning the Handbooks of Magicians (Acts 19:11–20)
5.4. A Magical Handbook (PGM XIII, 230–334)
5.5. Book of Acts: Shipwrecked on the Island of Malta (Acts 27:1–28:1)
5.6. Epistle of Barnabas: A Typological Interpretation of the Levitical
 Scapegoat (Barn. 7:1–11)
5.7. Martyrdom of Polycarp: The Glorification of Martyrdom (Mart. Pol. 2,
15–18)
5.8. Apocalypse of Peter: A Tour of Hell (Apoc. Pet. 21–34)
5.9. Acts of Paul: The Story of Thekla (Acts Paul 30–34, 37–42)
5.10. Acts of Thomas: The Story of Mygdonia (Acts Thom. 9:82–83, 87–88,
96–98)

6. Advanced-Level Hellenistic Greek: Jewish Literary Greek

6.1. 2 Maccabees: Jason’s Hellenistic Reforms in Jerusalem (2 Macc 4:7–17)
6.2. 2 Maccabees: The Martyrdom of Eleazar (2 Macc 6:1–23)
6.3. 4 Maccabees: The Supremacy of Devout Reason (4 Macc 1:1–17)
6.4. Philo of Alexandria, Allegories of the Sacred Laws (Alleg. Interp. 1.1.31–
42)
6.5. Testament of Reuben: The Evil of Women (T. Reu. 1:1–6, 3:9–6:4)
6.6. Ezekiel the Tragedian (Ezek. Trag. 68–119)

7. Inscriptions
7.1. Gospel of the Savior, Caesar Augustus, Son of God (IPriene 105)
7.2. Sacred Laws of a Silver Miners’ Association Dedicated to the Lunar God
(IG II2 1366)
7.3. Sacred Laws of a Religious Association Dedicated to Zeus Savior and
Two Magical Spells (SIG3 985 / PGM IV, 1496–1595, XXXVI, 320–
332)
7.4. Sacred Laws of an Athenian Men’s Drinking Club (IG II2 1368)
7.5. Founding a Voluntary Religious Association: The God Sarapis Arrives on
the Island of Delos (IG XI/4, 1299)
7.6. The Sacred Laws of the Civic Mysteries of Andania (IG V/1, 1390)
7.7. Circumcising the High Priestess of Demeter (LSCG 154)
7.8. The Sacred Redemption (Manumission) of Slaves to Apollo in Delphi
(GDI II/2, 2171, 2170)
7.9. The Hellenistic Healing Testimonials of Epidauros (LiDonnici A1–5, 8,
B12, C21)
7.10. The Delphic Oracle Commands the Importation of Maenads (IMagn-Mai
215)
7.11. The Metrical Epigram of Bishop Aberkios: The Earliest Christian
Epigram (SEG 30.1479)

8. Advanced-Level Hellenistic Greek: Atticizing and Literary Greek

 8.1. Flavius Philostratus, Life of Apollonios of Tyana (VA 8.7.7–9)
8.2. Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus (Men. 125–127)
8.3. Epictetus, Discourses (Diatr. 1.9.1–24)
8.4. Poimandres: Hermetic Corpus (Poim. 1–26)
9. Summary of Verbal Paradigms
10. Glossary

Online Materials

Part 1
1.11. Didache: Christ’s Triumphant Return (Did. 16:1–8)
1.12. Gospel of Mark: Three Healing Stories (Mark 1:32–39, 7:31–37, 8:22–
26)
1.13. Gospel of Mark: Peter’s Confession (Mark 8:27–35)
1.14. Protoevangelium of James: The Childhood of Mary (Prot. Jas. 8, 11–12)
1.15. Gospel of Peter: The Empty Tomb (Gos. Pet. 8–13)

Part 2
2.7. Book of Genesis: The Second Creation Account (Gen 2:4b–9, 15–25)
2.8. The Song of Solomon: Selections (Song 1:1–7, 2:10–17, 4:9–16)
2.9. Book of Jesus, Son of Sirach: A Hymn in Honor of the Ancestors (Sir
44:1–15)

Part 3
3.10. Life of Adam and Eve (L.A.E. 1, 7–9)

Part 4
4.12. 2 Thessalonians: Christ’s Second Coming (2 Thess 1:1–12)
4.13. 1 Corinthians: A Typological Interpretation of the Feeding in the
Wilderness (1 Cor 10:1–15)
4.14. Philippians: The Christ Hymn (Phil 2:1–16 – Letter 1)
4.15. Galatians: Apotropaic Soteriology (Gal 3:1–14)
4.16. Galatians: Paul’s Use of Allegory (Gal 4:21–5:12)

Part 5
5.11. The Wisdom of Solomon: A Hymn to Wisdom (Wis 8:1–15)
5.12. Book of Acts: Paul Visits Cyrpus and Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:1–16,
42–52)
5.13. Book of Acts: Silversmiths Instigate a Riot in Ephesos (Acts 19:21–20:1)
 5.14. Epistle to the Hebrews: The Faith of the Patriarchs (Heb 11:1–31)
5.15. Acts of Paul: The Mission of Paul (Acts Paul 1–8)
5.16. Acts of Andrew: The Story of Maximilla (Acts Andr. 5–9)

Part 6
6.7. Testament of Reuben: The Seven Spirits of Deceit (T. Reu. 2:1–3:8)

Part 7
7.12. Decree Concerning Merchants’ Request to Build a Temple of Aphrodite,
Piraeus (IG II2 337)
7.13. Honorary Decree Voting Honors for the Secretary of a Religious
Association, Piraeus (IG II2 1263)
7.14. Sacred Laws of a Dionysian Thiasos in Miletos (IMilet VI, 22)
7.15. Sacred Laws of a Dionysian Thiasos in Physkos (IG IX/12 670)
7.16. Purification Laws of the Civic Sanctuary in Lesbos (IG XII Suppl. 126)
7.17. Funerary Laws for the Valiant Dead on the Island of Thasos (LSCG
Suppl. 64)
7.18. Founding a Religious Association: The God Sarapis Arrives in the City
of Opous (IG X/2, 255)
7.19. Redemption (Manumission) of Slaves to a Jewish Prayer House (JMIB
161; CIJ I, 683; CIJ I, 690)
7.20. Dedicating Religious Buildings: Four Building Inscriptions (MAMA VI,
263, 264, 239, IJudDonateurs 10)
7.21. The Healing Testimonial of Marcus Julius Apellas, Epidauros (IG IV2/1,
126)
7.22. Edict Suppressing a Bakers’ Strike in Ephesos (IEph II, 215)
7.23. The Klarian Oracle on Pagan Monotheism (NewDocs II, 39)
7.24. The Metrical Epigram of the Pectorius, A Christian from Autun (IG XIV,
2525)

Part 8
8.5. Flavius Philostratus, Life of Apollonios of Tyana (Philostr. VA 4.17–18)
8.6. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus (Her. 38–42, 63–68)
List of Illustrations
1 The Hellenistic Greek world
2 Carved figures of three men and a woman, in panel with pediment, Kuşça,
Turkey
3 Carved face, theater, Antaleia
4 Carved relief of two women on limestone block, Konya
5 Emperor Domitian, Ephesos (Selçuk Archaeological Museum)
6 Relief of the archangel Michael, carved on recessed panel, Konya
7 Temple of Apollo, ancient Corinth
8 Relief of sacrificial ox head wearing a garland, Ephesos
9 Relief of man holding a bird, Konya
10 Relief of a man holding the tiller of a small boat, ancient Corinth
11 Panel relief on sarcophagus (Istanbul Archaeological Museum)
12 Head, Smyrna
13 Lion charging a man, Smyrna
14 Funerary relief (Neapolis Archaeological Museum)
15 Sacred laws of Men Tyrannos, Laurion, Attica
16 Larnax with relief depicting funeral banquet, Çatmakaya, Turkey
17 Carved relief of a fish in incised panel, Apa, Turkey
 Guide to Abbreviations and Grammar

I. Editorial Abbreviations
√ verbal root

> alternative/variant/dialectical form of

abbrev. abbreviation

acc. accusative case

act. active voice

adj. adjective/adjectival

adv. adverb/adverbial

Aeol. Aeolic dialect

1aor. first aorist
2aor. second aorist

apoc. apocopated

approx. approximately

art. inf. articular infinitive

assim. assimilation

Att. Attic dialect

attr. rel. attraction of the relative pronoun (to the case of its
antecedent)
1st attrib. pos. modifier in first attributive position

2nd attrib. pos. modifier in second attributive position

3rd attrib. pos. modifier in third attributive position

BCE before the Christian era = before Christ (BC)

btw. between

ca. circa (Lat.), about

CE Christian era = Anno Domini (AD)

cf. confer (Lat.), compare

cogn. acc. cognate accusative (i.e., same root word as the verb
governing it)

col. column

conat. impf. conative imperfect (expressing an action attempted in

the past)

cond. conditional

conj. conjunction

contr. contracted / contraction

cust. impf. customary imperfect (expressing habitual action)

dat. dative case

ὁ δεῖνα “So-and-so”

dep. deponent

dim. diminutive

disc. syn. discontinuous syntax

Dor. Doric dialect

ed.pr. edition princeps (Lat.), the first editor of a text

e.g. exempli gratia (Lat.), for example

emph. fut. neg. emphatic future negation

encl. enclitic

Ep. Epic dialect

epex. gen. epexegetic/explanatory genitive

epith. Epithet

esp. especially

euphem. Euphemism

fig. figurative/figuratively

fm. feminine gender

fr. from

freq. frequently

fut. future tense

gen. genitive case

gen. absol. genitive absolute

gen. comp. genitive of comparison

Heb. Hebrew

HGr Hellenistic Greek

hist. pres. historic present

hort. subj. hortatory subjunctive

i.e. id est (Lat.), that is

impers. impersonal

impf. imperfect tense

impv. imperative

incept. impf. inceptive imperfect (expressing the beginning of a past

action)

ind. indicative mood

indecl. indeclinable

inf. infinitive

instr. instrumental

intens. intensive

interrog. interrogative

intrans. intransitive (refers to verb not taking a direct object)

Ion. Ionic dialect

irreg. irregular (heteroclite)

iter. impf. iterative imperfect

κ.τ.λ. καὶ τὰ λοιπά = et cetera (Lat.)

l. / ll. line(s)

Lat. Latin

lit. literally
loanw. loanword

LXX Septuagint

m. masculine gender

mid. middle voice

mod. modern-day

ms./mss. manuscript(s)

MT Masoretic text (of the Tanakh)

naut. Nautical

n.b. nota bene (Lat.), note well

neg. negative

neol. neologism

nom. nominative case

nt. neuter gender

NW Northwest group of dialects

obj. object

obj. gen. objective genitive

obsol. Obsolete

OG Old Greek version

opt. optative mood

pass. passive voice

passim very frequently attested

periph. periphrastic construction

pers. person

pf. perfect tense

2pf. second perfect (no κ)

pl. plural

pleon. pleonastic

plpf. pluperfect tense

poet. poetic

poss. possession, possessive

postpos. postpositive

pred. pos. predicate position

prep. preposition

pres. present tense

prob. probably

prog. impf. progressive imperfect (expressing continuing past

action)

prolep. prolepis (word brought forward for emphasis out of its

normal syntactical order)

pron. pronoun

ptc. participle

rel. relative pronoun

sc. scilicet (Lat.), implied but not written

sg. singular

subj. subjunctive mood

superl. superlative

trans. translated; translation

uncontr. uncontracted

v./vv. verse/verses

var. variant

voc. vocative case

w. with

w/o without

Y1 hyp. Y1 hyperbaton: [modifier] + intervening word(s) +

[substantive]

Y2 hyp. Y2 hyperbaton: [substantive] + intervening word(s) +

[modifier]

II. Abbreviations of Texts Cited in the Glossary

Acts Acts of the Apostles

Acts Andr. Acts of Andrew

Acts Paul Acts of Paul and Thekla

Acts Thom. Acts of Thomas

Aesch. Aeschylus

Amos Amos
Apoc. Pet. Apocalypse of Peter

Ar. Aristophanes

Barn. Epistle of Barnabas

1 Chr 1 Chronicles

2 Chr 2 Chronicles

CIJ J. B. Frey (ed.), Corpus Inscriptionum Iudaicarum:

Recueil des inscriptions juivres qui vont du IIIe siècle
avant J.-C, 2 vols. (Rome: Pontificio istituto di
archeologia Cristiana, 1936–1952)

Col Colossians

1 Cor 1 Corinthians

2 Cor 2 Corinthians

DanOG Book of Daniel, Old Greek version

DanTh Book of Daniel, Theodotion version

Dem. Demosthenes

Deut Deuteronomy

Did. Didache

1 En. 1 Enoch

Eph Ephesians

Epict. Diatr. Epictetus, Diatribai (Dissertationes)

Epicurus, Her. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus

Epicurus, Men. Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus

1 Esd 1 Esdras

Esth Esther

Eur. Med. Euripides, Medea

Exod Exodus

Ezek. Trag. Ezekiel the Tragedian

Gal Letter to the Galatians

GDI H. Collitz and F. Bechtel (eds.), Sammlung der

griechischen Dialekt-Inschriften, 4 vols (Göttingen,
1884–1915); rpt. Nendeln/Liechtenstein, 1973; II, 2.
Die delphischen Inschriften (nos. 2087–2342), ed. J.
Baunack, 1896

Gen Genesis

Gos. Mary1 Gospel of Mary Magdalene (POxy 3525)

Gos. Mary2 Gospel of Mary Magdalene (PRylands 463)

Gos. Pet. Gospel of Peter

Gos. Thom. Gospel of Thomas (POxy 654 POxy 1 POxy 655)

Heb Epistle to the Hebrews

Herm. Shepherd of Hermas

Herod. Hist. Herodotus, Histories

Hos Hosea

I Eph II C. Bürker and R. Merkelbach (eds.), Die Inschriften

von Ephesos, vol. II (nos. 101–599) (Bonn, 1979)

I Eph VI R. Merkelbach and J. Nollé (eds.), Die Inschriften von

Ephesos, vol. VI (nos. 2001–2958) (ed. Bonn, 1980).
IG II2 Johannes Kirchner, ed. Inscriptiones Atticae Euclidis
anno posteriors, 4 vols. (Berlin, 1913–40)

IG IV2/1 F. Hiller von Gaertringen (ed.), Inscriptiones Epidauri

(Berlin, 1913)

IG V/1 W. Kolbe (ed.), Inscriptiones Laconiae et Messeniae,

pars 1 (Berlin, 1913)

IG IX/12 G. Klaffenbach (ed.), Inscriptiones Acarnaniae, pars

1, fasc. 2 (Berlin, 1957)

IG X/2 C. Edson (ed.), Inscriptiones Thessalonicae et

viciniae, pars 2, fasc. 2 (Berlin, 1972)

IG XI/4 P. Roussel (ed.), Inscriptiones Deli: Decreta, foedera,

catalogi., dedicationes, varia (Berlin, 1914)

IG XII Suppl. F. Hiller von Gaertringen (ed.), Supplementum (Berlin,

1939)

IG XIV G. Kaibel (ed.), Inscriptiones Siciliae et Italiae,

additis Graeci Galliae, Hispaniae, Britanniae,
Germaniae inscriptionibus (Berlin, 1890)

IJudDonateurs Baruch Lifshitz, Donateurs et fondateurs dans les

synagogues juivres. Répertoire des dédicaces
grecques relatives à la construction et à la réflection
des synagogues (Paris, 1967)

IMagnMai O. Kern (ed.), Die Inschriften von Magnesia am

Maeander (Berlin, 1900); rpt. Berlin, 1967

IMilet A. Rehm (ed.), Milet, Ergebnisse der Ausgrabungen

und Untersuchungen seit dem Jahre 1899: VI. Der
Nordmarkt und der Hafen an der Louwenbucht (nos.
187–192) (Berlin, 1922)

IPriene F. F. Hiller von Gaertringen (ed.), Inschriften von

Priene (Berlin, 1906); rpt. Berlin, 1968
Isa Isaiah

Jer Jeremiah

JMIB E. Leigh Gibson, The Jewish Manumission

Inscriptions of the Bosporus Kingdom (Tübingen,
1999)

Job Book of Job

1 Kgdms 1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel)

1 Kgs 1 Kings

L.A.E. Life of Adam and Eve (Apocalypse of Moses)

Lev Leviticus

LiDonnici Lynn R. LiDonnici, The Epidaurian Miracle

Inscriptions: Text, Translation and Commentary
(Atlanta, 1995)

LSCG F. Sokolowski, Lois sacrées des cités grecques (Paris,

1969)

LSCG Suppl. F. Sokolowski, Lois sacrées des cités grecques:

Supplément (Paris, 1962)

Luke Gospel of Luke

1 Macc 1 Maccabees

2 Macc 2 Maccabees

4 Macc 4 Maccabees

MAMA W. M. Calder, E. Herzfeld, S. Guyer, and C. W. M.

Cox (eds.), Monumenta Asiae Minoris Antiqua
(London 1928–1993)
Mark Gospel of Mark

Mart. Pol. Martyrdom of Polycarp

Matt Gospel of Matthew

NewDocs I–V G. H. R. Horsley, New Documents Illustrating Early

Christianity (North Ryde, Australia, 1981–1992)

NewDocs VI–IX S. R. Llewelyn, New Documents Illustrating Early

Christianity (North Ryde, Australia, 1992–2002)

Num Numbers

PChBeatty 46 Papyrus Chester Beatty

PEnteuxeis O. Guéraud (ed.), ENTEUXIS: Requêtes et plaintes

addressées au Roi d’Egypte au IIIe siècle avant J.-C
(Cairo, 1931)

1 Pet 1 Peter

PGL G. Vitelli and M. Norsa (eds.), Papiri greci e latini

(Florence, 1917)

PGM Karl Preisendanz (ed.), Papyri Graecae Magicae: Die

Griechischen Zauberpapyri (Leipzig/Berlin, 1928)

Philo, Alleg. Interp. Philo of Alexandria, Allegorical Interpretation

Philostr. VA Lucius Flavius Philostratos, Vita Apollonii

Phlm Philemon

Pl. Rep. Plato, Republic

PMich A. E. R. Boak, Papyri from Tebtunis, Michigan

Papyri, vols. II and V (Ann Arbor, 1933–1944)

Poim. Poimandres, Hermetic Writings

Prot. Jas. Protoevangelium of James

Ps Psalm

Rev Revelation of John

Rom Paul’s Letter to the Romans

SEG Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum

SIG3 W. Dittenberger, Sylloge inscriptionum graecarum,

3rd ed., 4 vols. (Leipzig, 1915–1924)

Sir Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)

Song Song of Songs (Canticles)

Soph. Sophocles

T. Levi Testament of Levi

T. Reu. Testament of Reuben

1 Thess 1 Thessalonians

2 Thess 2 Thessalonians

1 Tim 1 Timothy

Wis Wisdom of Solomon

III. Abbreviations of Books, Articles, and Ancient

Manuscripts
AM Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archÿauologischen
Instituts: Athenische Abteilung

AnatSt Anatolian Studies, Journal of the British Institute of

Archaeology at Ankara
ANRW Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt

BCH Bulletin de correspondance hellénique

BDAG W. Bauer, F. Wm. Danker, W. F. Arndt, and F. W.

Gingrich, A Greek–English Lexicon of the New
Testament, 3rd ed. (Chicago, 2000)

BE Bulletin épigraphique (published in REG 1888–);

issues of BE by J. and L. Robert published separately
in 10 vols. (Paris, 1972–1987) with 5 vols. of indices
(Paris, 1973–1983)

Bernhard Andrew E. Bernhard, Other Early Christian Gospels:

A Critical Edition of the Surviving Greek Manuscripts
(London, 2006)

Buck Carl Darling Buck, Greek Dialects: Grammar,

Selected Inscriptions, Glossary (Chicago, 1955)

CIG Corpus Inscriptionum Graecarum, 4 vols. (Berlin,

1828–1877); rpt. Hildesheim, 1977

CIJ J. B. Frey, ed. Corpus Inscriptionum Iudaicarum:

Recueil des inscriptions juivres qui vont du IIIe siècle
avant J.-C., 2 vols. (Rome, 1936–1952)

CIRB V. V. Struve et al. (eds.), Corpus inscriptionum regni

Bosporani (Leningrad, 1965)

CMRDM E. Lane, Corpus monumentorum religionis dei Menis,

4 vols. (Leiden, 1971–1978)

Comfort/Barrett Philip W. Comfort and David P. Barrett (eds.), The

Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek
Manuscripts: A Corrected, Enlarged Edition
(Wheaton, IL, 1999)

CR Classical Review
DGE E. Schwyzer (ed.), Dialectorum Graecarum exempla
epigraphica potiora (Leipzig, 1923); rpt. Hildesheim,
1960

Ehrman Bart Ehrman (ed.), Apostolic Fathers, 2 vols., LCL

24–25 (Cambridge, MA, 2003)

GDI H. Collitz and F. Bechtel (eds.), Sammlung der

griechischen Dialekt-Inschriften, 4 vols. (Göttingen,
1884–1915); rpt. Nendeln/Liechtenstein, 1973; II, 2.
Die delphischen Inschriften (nos. 2087–2342), ed. J.
Baunack, 1896

GRA J. S. Kloppenborg and R. S. Ascough, Greco-Roman

Associations: Texts, Translations, and Commentary. I.
Attica, Central Greek, Macedonia, Thrace (Berlin,
2011)

GRBS Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies

HSCP Harvard Studies in Classical Philology

HTR Harvard Theological Review

IBM III/1 E. L. Hicks (ed.), The Collection of Ancient Greek

Inscriptions in the British Museum: III.1 Priene and
Iasos (Oxford, 1883)

IDelos Inscriptions de Délos, 7 vols. (Paris, 1926–1972)

IEph II C. Bürker and R. Merkelbach (eds.), Die Inschriften

von Ephesos, vol. II (nos. 101–599) (Bonn, 1979)

IEph VI R. Merkelbach and J. Nollé (eds.), Die Inschriften von

Ephesos, vol. VI (nos. 2001–2958) (Bonn, 1980)

IG II2 Johannes Kirchner (ed.), Inscriptiones Atticae Euclidis

anno posteriors, 4 vols. (Berlin, 1913–1940)

IG IV2/1 F. Hiller von Gaertringen (ed.), Inscriptiones Epidauri

 (Berlin, 1913)

IG V/1 W. Kolbe (ed.), Inscriptiones Laconiae et Messeniae,

pars 1 (Berlin, 1913).

IG IX/2 G. Klaffenbach (ed.), Inscriptiones Thessaliae (Berlin,

1972)

IG IX/12 G. Klaffenbach (ed.), Inscriptiones Acarnaniae, pars

1, fasc. 2 (Berlin, 1957)

IG X/2 C. Edson, Inscriptiones Thessalonicae et viciniae, pars

2, fasc. 2 (Berlin, 1972)

IG XI/4 P. Roussel, Inscriptiones Deli: Decreta, foedera,

catalogi, dedicationes, varia (Berlin, 1914)

IG XII/5 Inscriptiones Cycladum, 2 parts (Berlin, 1903/1909)

IG XII Suppl. F. Hiller von Gaertringen, ed. Supplementum (Berlin,

1939)

IG XIV G. Kaibel (ed.), Inscriptiones Siciliae et Italiae,

additis Graeci Galliae, Hispaniae, Britanniae,
Germaniae inscriptionibus (Berlin, 1890)

IGE B. H. McLean, An Introduction to the Study of Greek

Epigraphy of the Hellenistic and Roman Periods from
Alexander the Great Down to the Reign of Constantine
(323 BCE–337 CE) (Ann Arbor, MI, 2002)

IGRR I R. Cagnat, J. Toutain, and P. Jouguet (eds.),

Inscriptiones Graecae ad res Romanas pertinentes: I.
Inscriptiones Europae (praeter Graeciam) et Africae
(Paris, 1906); rpt. Chicago, 1975

IGUR L. Moretti Inscriptiones Graecae Urbis Romae

(Rome, 1968–1991)

IJO David Noy, Alexander Panayotov, and Hanswulf

 Bloedhorn (eds.), Inscriptiones Judaicae Orientis, vol.
1 (Tübingen, 2004)

IJudDonateurs Baruch Lifshitz, Donateurs et fondateurs dans les

synagogues juivres. Répertoire des dédicaces
grecques relatives à la construction et à la réfection
des synagogues (Paris, 1967)

IKonya B. H. McLean, Greek and Latin Inscriptions in the

Konya Archaeological Museum, Regional Epigraphic
Catalogues of Asia Minor, BAR International Series
(London, 2002)

IKosHerzog Rudolph Herzog (ed.), Heilige Gesetze von Kos

(Berlin, 1952)

ILydiaKP J. Keil and A. von Premerstein (eds.), Bericht über

eine Reise in Lydien und der sünlichen Aiolis (1910),
DenkschrWien 53/2 (Vienna, 1908–1914)

IMagnMai O. Kern (ed.), Die Inschriften von Magnesia am

Maeander (Berlin, 1900); rpt. Berlin, 1967

IMilet A. Rehm (ed.), Milet, Ergebnisse der Ausgrabungen

und Untersuchungen seit dem Jahre 1899: VI. Der
Nordmarkt und der Hafen an der Lÿouwenbucht (nos.
187–192) (Berlin, 1922)

IPriene F. F. Hiller von Gaertringen (ed.), Inschriften von

Priene (Berlin, 1906); rpt. Berlin, 1968

ISardBR W. H. Buckler and D. M. Robinson (eds.), Sardis.

VII/1. Greek and Latin Inscriptions (Leiden, 1932)

ISmyrna G. Petzl (ed.), Die Inschriften von Smyrna (Bonn,

1982–1990)

JbAc Jahrbuch für Antike und Christentum

JBL Journal of Biblical Literature

JHS Journal of Hellenic Studies

JRS Journal of Roman Studies

JSNT Journal for the Study of the New Testament

JTS Journal of Theological Studies

Klauck Hans-Josef Klauck, The Religious Context of Early

Christianity: A Guide to Graeco-Roman Religions,
trans. Brian McNeil (Edinburgh, 2000)

LiDonnici Lynn R. LiDonnici, The Epidaurian Miracle

Inscriptions: Text, Translation and Commentary
(Atlanta, 1995)

LSAM F. Sokolowski, Lois sacrées de l’Asie Mineure (Paris,

1955)

LSCG F. Sokolowski, Lois sacrées des cités grecques (Paris,

1969)

LSCG Suppl. F. Sokolowski, Lois sacrées des cités grecques:

Supplément (Paris, 1962)

LSJ A Greek–English Lexicon with Revised Supplement,

comp. Henry George Liddell and Robert Scott, rev.
and augmented by H. S. Jones and R. McKenzie
(Oxford, 1996)

MAMA W. M. Calder, E. Herzfeld, S. Guyer, and C. W. M.

Cox (eds.), Monumenta Asiae Minoris Antiqua
(London, 1928–1993)

MBAH Münsterlische Beitrüge zur antiken Handelsgeschichte

Michel C. Michel (ed.), Recueil d’inscriptions grecques

(Brussels, 1900); rpt. Hildesheim, 1976

NETS Albert Pietermas and Benjamin G. Wright (eds.), A

 New Translation of the Septuagint: A New Translation
of the Greek into Contemporary English (New York,
2007)

NewDocs I–V G. H. R. Horsley, New Documents Illustrating Early

Christianity (North Ryde, Australia, 1981–1992)

NewDocs VI–IX S. R. Llewelyn, New Documents Illustrating Early

Christianity (North Ryde, Australia, 1992–2002)

NovT Novum Testamentum

OGI W. Dittenberger (ed.), Orientis graeci inscriptiones

selectee, 2 vols. (Leipzig, 1903–1905); rpt.
Hildesheim, 1970

Pap 30 Papyrus 30 (Oxy 1598), Ghent University (in Andrew

E. Bernhard, Other Early Christian Gospels: A
Critical Edition of the Surviving Greek Manuscripts
(London, 2006))

PChBeatty 46 Papyrus Chester Beatty II (ca. 200 CE); in Bernhard,

2006

PEnteuxeis O. Guéraud (ed.), ENTEUXIS: Requêtes et plaintes

addressées au Roi d’Egypte au IIIe siècle avant J.-C.
(Cairo, 1931)

PGL G. Vitelli and M. Norsa (eds.), Papiri greci e latini

(Florence, 1917)

PGM Karl Preisendanz (ed.), Papyri Graecae Magicae: Die

Griechischen Zauberpapyri (Leipzig, 1928)

PMich A. E. R. Boak, Papyri from Tebtunis, Michigan Papyri

vols. II and V (Ann Arbor, 1933–1944)

POxy B. P. Grenfell, A. S. Hund, et al. (eds.), The

Oxyrhynchus Papyri (London, 1986–)
PRyl Rylands Papyrus

RAC Reallexikon für Antike und Christentum (Stuttgart,

1950–)

Rahlfs/Hanhart Alfred Rahlfs and Robert Hanhart (eds.), Septuaginta,

ed. altera (Stuttgart, 2006)

RE [Paulys] Realencyclopÿaudie der classischen

Altertumswissenschaft, ed. K. Ziegler, rev. G.
Wissowa (Stuttgart, 1894–1980)

REG Revue des études grecques

RHR Revue de l’histoire des religions

SEG Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum

SIG3 W. Dittenberger, Sylloge inscriptionum graecarum,

3rd ed., 4 vols. (Leipzig, 1915–1924)

SIRIS Ladislaus Vidman (ed.), Sylloge inscriptionum

Religionis Isiacae et Sarapiacae (Berlin, 1969)

Smyth Herbert Weir Smyth, Greek Grammar, Rev. Gordon

M. Messing (Cambridge, MA, 1956)

TAM V/II P. Herrmann (ed.), Tituli Asiae Minoris: V.2. Regio

septentrionalis ad occidentem vergens (Vienna, 1981–
1989)

TLG Thesaurus Linguae Graecae (www.tlg.uci.edu),

Irvine, CA

White John L. White, Light from Ancient Letters

(Philadelphia, 1986)

ZNTW Zeitschrift für die Neutestamentliche Wissenschaft

IV. Frequently Occurring Grammatical
Constructions
Contents
1. Adverbial Participles

Temporal Adverbial Participles: 1.1 Present Participle; 1.2 Aorist

Participle; 1.3 Perfect Participle Non-Temporal Use of Adverbial
Participles: 1.4 Causal Adverbial Participle; 1.5 Concessive Adverbial
Participle; 1.6 Instrumental Adverbial Particle Expressing Means; 1.7
Expressing Adverbial Purpose; 1.8 Conditional Adverbial Participle

2. Articular Infinitive: 2.1 Prepositions with Articular Infinitive Expressing

Purpose; 2.2 Prepositions with Articular Infinitive of Time; 2.3 Articular
Infinitive of Cause 3. Attraction of the Relative 4. Attributive Adjectives: 4.1
First Attributive Position; 4.2 Second Attributive Position; 4.3 Third Attributive
Position 5. Case Endings Expressing Time: 5.1 Accusative of Time; 5.2 Dative
of Time; 5.3 Genitive of Time 6. Counting the Days of the Month 7. Deponent
Verbs 8. Emphatic Future Negation 9. Genitive Absolute 10. Genitive of
Comparison
11. Historic Present 12. Hortatory Subjunctive 13. Imperfect: 13.1 Progressive
Imperfect; 13.2 Customary Imperfect; 13.3 Iterative Imperfect; 13.4 Conative
Imperfect; 13.5 Inceptive Imperfect; 13.6 Imperfect with Verbs of “Saying”;
13.7 Imperfect in Indirect Discourse 14. Impersonal Use of εἰμί
15. Infinitive with ὥστε to Express Result 16. Iota-adscript 17. Objective
Genitive 18. Periphrastic Constructions 19. Predicate Adjectives 20.
Subjective Genitive

1. Adverbial Participles
Temporal Adverbial Participles
Many adverbial participles function temporally, which is to say, they specify the
time of an action relative to the action of the main verb. Thus, the tense of a
temporal participle is always relative to the tense of the finite verb of the
sentence:
1.1 A present participle denotes an action occurring at the same time as the
main verb. This contemporaneous action can be expressed by the use of helping
words such as “while” or “when” (e.g., “When the disciples arrived, Jesus was
praying”).
1.2 An aorist participle often denotes an action occurring prior to the action
specified by the main verb. This antecedent action can be expressed by the use
of the helping word “after” (e.g., “After the disciples arrived, Jesus prayed”).
1.3 A perfect participle, like the perfect indicative, denotes a present state as a
result of past actions.

Non-Temporal Use of Adverbial Participles

Even though adverbial participles often function temporally, especially in
narratives, one should not overlook the fact that adverbial participles can have
many other meanings, depending on the specific context. Here follow some
typical non-temporal uses of adverbial participles:

1.4 Causal Adverbial Participle (“because”) The cause of an action or

event can be indicated by the use of a participle: for example, “because he
wanted to justify himself, he said to Jesus” (Luke 10:29).
1.5 Concessive Adverbial Participle (“although”) A participle can be used
to concede, or admit, a point: for example, “for although we are walking in
the flesh, we are not fighting according to the flesh” (2 Cor 10:3).
1.6 Instrumental Adverbial Particle Expressing Means (“by means of”) A
participle can be employed to specify the means or manner by which an
action takes place: for example, “by touching the ear, he healed him” (Luke
22:51).
1.7 Expressing Adverbial Purpose (“in order to”) A participle can specify
the purpose of an action: for example, “Elijah is coming, in order to save
him” (Matt 27:49).
1.8 Conditional Adverbial Participle (“if”) A participle can be used to
indicate the protasis (i.e., “if” clause) of a conditional sentence: for
example, “if you keep yourselves from such things, you will do well” (Acts
15:29).

2. Articular Infinitive
When an infinitive is preceded by an article (always neuter), it is termed an
“articular infinitive.” If the infinitive has an explicit subject, it will be in the
accusative case. If there is an object, it will also be in the accusative case.

2.1 Prepositions with Articular Infinitive Expressing

Purpose
Articular infinitives are often preceded by prepositions. Much of what you
learned about the meaning of prepositions is applicable here, though there are
important differences. The prepositions εἰς and πρός followed by the articular
infinitive (with article in accusative case) express purpose:
(a) εἰς + accusative article + infinitive (“in order to”) (b) πρός + accusative
article + infinitive (“in order to”)

2.2 Prepositions with Articular Infinitive of Time

The articular infinitive in conjunction with various prepositions can express the
time of an action:
(a) πρό + genitive article + infinitive, “before” (antecedent time) (b) ἐν +
dative article + infinitive, “when/while” (simultaneous time)
(c) μετά + accusative article + infinitive, “after” (subsequent time) (d) ἕως +
genitive article + infinitive, “until”

2.3 Articular Infinitive of Cause

διά + accusative article + infinitive, “because”

3. Attraction of the Relative

When the antecedent of the relative pronoun is in the genitive or dative case, the
case of the relative pronoun is normally “attracted” to the case of its antecedent.
In other words, it takes on the same case as its antecedent, regardless of its
grammatical function. For example, if the antecedent is genitive or dative, the
relative pronoun would conform to this case by becoming respectively genitive
(οὗ) or dative (ᾧ) regardless of its function in its own clause.

4. Attributive Adjectives
Attributive adjectives directly modify a noun. An attributive adjective is always
preceded by a definite article. There are three possible configurations, with little
difference in meaning:

4.1 First Attributive Position

In this case, the attributive adjective is found between the article and the noun, as
it often is in English syntax. This is termed the “first attributive position”: ὁ
ἀγαθὸς ἀδελφός (“the good brother”)

4.2 Second Attributive Position

In this case, the attributive adjective follows the noun and has its own article.
This is termed the “second attributive position”: ὁ ἀδελφός ὁ ἀγαθὸς (“the
good brother”).

4.3 Third Attributive Position

In this case, the attributive adjective follows the noun and has its own article, but
the noun lacks an article. This is more common with attributive participles than
with adjectives. This is termed the “third attributive position”: for example,
ἀδελφὸς ὁ ἀγαθός (“the good brother”). This construction is commonly used
with proper names.

5. Case Endings Expressing Time

The case endings can be used, without prepositions, to express different
meanings of time:

5.1 Accusative of duration of time: e.g., δύο ἡμέρας (acc. pl.) (“for two
days”).
5.2 Dative of time when something happens (i.e., often a specific point in
time, e.g., τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ (dat. sg.) (“on the third day”).
5.3 Genitive of time within which something happens (e.g., the thief comes
in the night): “You must say that his disciples came during the night (gen.,
νυκτός) and stole him away while we were asleep” (Matt 28:13).

6. Counting the Days of the Month

The first day of the month was known as νουμηνία (first day of the lunar
month/new moon). The days from 2 to 10 were counted as the “rising”
(iJstamevnou) of the month (μηνός), using ordinal numbers (e.g., δευτέρα
ἱσταμένου, τρίτη ἱσταμένου, τετρὰς ἱσταμένου, πέμπτη ἱσταμένου, etc.). The
second decade (i.e., days 11–19) was counted either by continuing the previous
count (i.e., 11th, 12th, 13th, ..., 19th) or by recommencing the count with 1 (i.e.,
1st, 2nd, 3rd, ..., 9th) followed by the term μεσοῦντος (μηνός). The 20th day
was known as εἰκάς or εἰκοστή. The third decade (days 21–29/30) was counted
in terms of the “dying” or waning of the month (μηνὸς φθίνοντος/παυομένου/
λήγοντος/ἀπιόντoς/με εἰκάδας).

7. Deponent Verbs
A “deponent” verb is a verb that is middle, or passive, in form but active in
meaning. The term “deponent” describes the function of a word, not its form. For
this reason, it should not be used for the parsing of verbs, because parsing is an
analysis of morphology (i.e., form), not function.

8. Emphatic Future Negation

The aorist subjunctive, preceded by οὐ μή, expresses a very strong denial: for
example, “... unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will never enter (oὐ μὴ εἰσέλθητε) the kingdom of God” (Matt 5:20).

9. Genitive Absolute
The genitive absolute is a special grammatical construction that has no
equivalent in English grammar. If you fail to recognize this grammatical
structure in the Greek text, you will find yourself unable to translate the sentence
correctly. Therefore, you must fully master this construction. The genitive
absolute has the following features: (1) a genitive participle is followed by a
noun or pronoun in the genitive case, forming an adverbial phrase; (2) the
subject of the participle is independent of the subject of the main verb of the
sentence; (3) the genitive participle is translated as an adverbial participle (see
1.1–1.8): temporal, causal, concessive, and so on.

10. Genitive of Comparison

When two things are compared with one another, a comparative adjective or
adverb is often used, followed by a noun in the genitive. This is termed the
“genitive of comparison.” In translation, the word “than” must often be supplied
(e.g., “more than,” “greater than”): for example, πλεῖον τῶν γραμματέων καὶ
Φαρισαίων; Farisaivwn (Matt 5:20).

11. Historic Present

When reading the gospels, one often encounters the present tense in contexts
where one would expect the past tense. It is used by authors to give a narrative
greater vividness. Verbs in the “historic” present tense should be translated as
past tense verbs (e.g., “Jesus said”).

12. Hortatory Subjunctive

The hortatory subjunctive is used to express an imperative in the first person
plural: for example, “let us have (ἒχωμεν) peace with God” (Rom 5:1).

13. Imperfect
13.1 Progressive Imperfect
The progressive imperfect describes an ongoing past action (e.g., “he was
—ing”).

13.2 Customary Imperfect

The customary imperfect describes a regularly occurring action in the past
over an extended period of time (e.g., “he used to ..., “she continually ...”).

13.3 Iterative Imperfect

The iterative imperfect describes a repeated action in the past over a period
of time (e.g., “he repeatedly ...”).

13.4 Conative Imperfect

The conative imperfect describes an action that was attempted but not
completed (e.g., ‘he tried to ... ,’ ‘she attempted to ...’).

13.5 Inceptive Imperfect

The inceptive imperfect describes the beginning of an action (e.g., “he
began to ...”).

13.6 Imperfect with Verbs of “Saying”

 Verbs of “saying” (e.g., ἒλεγεν) often occur in the imperfect tense,
especially if they introduce a speech of some length. In such cases, the
emphasis is not on the fact that “such and such” a thing was said, but on the
exposition of what was said. These imperfects can be translated as simple
past tenses (“he said”).

13.7 Imperfect in Indirect Discourse

Indirect discourse in the Greek language preserves the original tense of
direct discourse. In contrast, in English, when direct discourse is changed to
indirect discourse, a present tense verb must be changed to a past tense
verb, the tense also changes. For example, if John says: “I am going to the
library,” and someone asks you what John said, you would reply, “John
said that he was going to the library.” Notice how the present tense verb
“am going” is changed to the past tense “was going” in English.

14. Impersonal Use of εἰμί

The third-person forms of εἰμί are sometimes used impersonally, without an
implied real subject: ἐστί(ν), “there is”; εἰσί(ν), “there are.”

15. Infinitive with ὥστε to Express Result

When ὥστε is followed by an infinitive, the infinitive expresses the result of an
action (“so that:): for example, ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν ἡ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἐξελήλυθεν,
ὥστε μὴ χρείαν ἔχειν ἡμᾶς λαλεῖν τι (“Your confidence toward God has gone
out, so that we have no need to say anything” [1 Thess 1:8]).

16. Iota-adscript
In inscriptions of the Classical period and beyond, the iota of the so-called
improper diphthongs was never written subscript (i.e., -ῃ -ᾳ -ῳ). When written
at all, it was written adscript, after the thematic vowel (i.e., -ηι -αι -ωι).
Throughout the Hellenistic period, these diphthongs were gradually
monophthongized in popular speech and consequently came to be written simply
as (-η -α -ω without an iota-adscript, because there was no longer any qualitative
distinction in terms of pronunciation between these vowels and their
corresponding simple vowels.
17. Objective Genitive
This can be explained as follows. As an example, we will use the phrase
“blasphemy of the Spirit (τοῦ πνεύματος βλασφημία)” (Matt 12:31). Once
again, imagine the non-genitive noun as a verbal idea. In the case of this
example, “blasphemy” implies the verbal idea of “blaspheming.” Next, think of
the noun in the genitive as the recipient (direct object) of this verbal action or
that this verbal action is directed toward the term in the genitive. In the case of
our example, “of the Spirit” implies blasphemy that is “directed toward the
Spirit.” Thus, “of the Holy Spirit” is an objective genitive.

18. Periphrastic Constructions

The term “periphrastic” means a roundabout or indirect manner of doing
something. In Greek, the so-called periphrastic construction is composed of an
auxiliary verb, εἰμί, followed by a participle. In the formation of a periphrastic
construction, no element may come between the auxiliary verb (εἰμί) and the
participle, except for terms that complete or directly modify the participle itself.
The following three periphrastic tenses are formed with the present participle:

present periphrastic pres. ind. of εἰμί + present participle

imperfect periphrastic impf. ind. of εἰμί + present participle

future periphrastic fut. ind. of εἰμί + present participle

The perfect, pluperfect, and future perfect are formed with the perfect
participle:

perfect periphrastic pres. ind. of εἰμί + perfect participle

pluperfect periphrastic impf. ind. of εἰμί + perfect participle

future perfect periphrastic fut. ind. of εἰμί + perfect participle

19. Predicate Adjectives

In this case, the adjective is not preceded by a definite article. As before, the
adjective may come before or after the noun it modifies, with very little
difference in meaning: (a) first predicate position: ἀγαθὸς ὁ ἀδελφός; (b)
second predicate position: ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἀγαθός. Both of these phrases mean “the
brother (is) good” or “the brother who is good.” Note that in neither case is the
adjective preceded by an article.

20. Subjective Genitive

This use of the genitive case can be explained as follows. As an example, we
will use the phrase “comfort of the Holy Spirit (τῇ παρακλήσει τοῦ ἁγίου
πνεύματος)” (Acts 9:31). First, imagine the non-genitive noun as a verbal idea.
In the case of our example, “comfort” implies the verbal idea of “comforting.” If
the genitive term would better serve as the subject of the verbal action, in the
sense of initiating this verbal action, then the genitive term is a subjective
genitive. Thus, “comfort of the Holy Spirit” implies the comfort given by the
Holy Spirit. Thus, “of the Holy Spirit” is a subjective genitive.
 Introduction

This Hellenistic Greek reader is designed to meet the needs of those who have
completed one or more years of Greek studies and now wish to improve their
Greek reading ability and gain a better appreciation for the diversity of
Hellenistic Greek. This goal can be accomplished only if one reads through a
selection of Greek texts that reflect different styles, genres, provenances, and
purposes.1 The Greek passages in this reader have been arranged into eight parts
on the basis of their level of difficulty. Each passage is accompanied by
grammatical aids and vocabulary lists, as well as other aids to translation. The
grammatical information is contained in the footnotes. The vocabulary lists are
conveniently positioned below the Greek texts to which they refer.
The provision of these vocabulary lists relieves the translator of the time-
consuming work of looking up every unfamiliar lexeme in a Greek lexicon. Of
course, much of this vocabulary is not even listed in lexica dedicated solely to
early Christian literature2 or to the Septuagint3 and can be found only in the
Greek lexicon of Liddell and Scott.4
Each vocabulary list makes a clear distinction between vocabulary for
memorization, which is printed in boldface type, and supplementary vocabulary,
which is not. The vocabulary lists in Part 1 have been designed on the
assumption that the translator has previously learned only those Greek words
(lexemes) occurring fifty times or more in the Greek New Testament.5 These
high-frequency words are not listed in any of the vocabulary lists. However, they
have all been included in the final glossary (§10). Thus, the vocabulary lists in
Part 1 include all the vocabulary occurring in the translation passages
themselves, except those words occurring fifty times or more in the Greek New
Testament. Within Part 1, the vocabulary for memorization does not build from
passage to passage; each vocabulary list in Part 1 is based on the same
assumption, namely that the translator is familiar only with those New
Testament lexemes occurring fifty times or more.6
However, since one of the primary purposes of this graduated reader is to
assist the users of this book in expanding their knowledge of Greek vocabulary,
they are required to undertake some memory work in order to proceed
expeditiously. To help them with this task, the design of the vocabulary lists in
Part 2 does assume that they have learned the bolded vocabulary in Part 1. The
same assumption holds for subsequent parts of the book, with Part 3 assuming
knowledge of the bolded vocabulary of Parts 1 and 2, and Part 4 assuming
knowledge of the bolded vocabulary of Parts 1–3, and so forth. But if one
happens to forget some of this vocabulary, there is always the option of
consulting the cumulative glossary at the end of the book (§10).7 Thus, when a
word in one part of this reader is a bolded word for memorization, it will not be
listed a second time in the vocabulary lists in subsequent parts of the book.
Instead, all the definitions and grammatical forms needed for subsequent uses of
the same lexeme are provided in the first listing of that lexeme. By implication,
one should endeavor to become familiar with all the definitions and grammatical
forms of the bolded vocabulary, even if such information is not needed for the
specific Greek passage in question.
Following the main entry of verbs in the vocabulary lists, additional verbal
forms are sometimes listed, followed by a number from 1 to 6. These numbers
refer to Greek principal parts (2 = future active/middle, 3 = aorist active/middle,
etc.). By necessity, the number of words for memorization (printed in boldface
type) in each passage are of variable length, owing to the nature of the passages
themselves: some passages contain more high-frequency words than do others.
The vocabulary lists in Part 1 tend to be the longest because this book assumes
(rightly or wrongly) that the translator has acquired only a minimal Greek
vocabulary base. This being said, most lists of words for memorization are
limited to about twenty words each. The footnotes help identity frequently
occurring grammatical forms (summarized in §IV of this introduction)8 and
references to the tables of verb paradigms (§9), located at the back of the book,
as well as limited textual commentary.
This reader also includes many non-canonical Jewish and Christian writings,
which may be less familiar than canonical writings and, for this reason, are
perhaps of greater interest and educational value. For example, Part 1 includes a
representative sample of various gospel genres, including a “sayings gospel”
(Gospel of Thomas, §1.4), a “nativity gospel” (Protoevangelium of James, §§1.8,
1.14), and a “passion gospel” (Gospel of Peter, §§1.9, 1.15), as well as the first
vision of the Shepherd of Hermas (§1.6), which was one of the most beloved
books in early Christian antiquity. Similarly, Part 5 includes selections from the
Epistle of Barnabas (§5.6), the Apocalypse of Peter (§5.8), and the Acts of Paul
and Thekla (§§5.9, 5.15).
 But to refer to such writings as “non-canonical” is somewhat misleading,
because many of these texts were indeed considered to be canonical at various
times and places. For example, the Shepherd of Hermas was widely considered
to be canonical scripture and was often bound with the New Testament. The
Epistle of Barnabas is included in Codex Sinaiticus (fourth century) and Codex
Hierosolymitanus (eleventh century). The Apocalypse of Peter (§5.8) appears in
the canonical lists of the Muratorian Canon and Codex Claramontanus.
Likewise, the Acts of Paul and Thekla was widely disseminated in early
Christian antiquity and also appears in the canonical list of Codex
Claramontanus.
The inclusion of these extra-canonical texts has distinct educational
advantages: When one sets out to translate a text from the Greek New
Testament, whose English translation is already known, this familiarity tends to
interfere with the translation process. One may even be tempted to skip over
textual difficulties in the Greek text because the English translation of the verse
is known in advance, before the translation process begins. In such cases, it is
hardly surprising that the translation one produces may be nearly identical with
the published English translations of the New Testament. This raises the
question, why bother reading the Greek text at all? Thus, the translation of non-
canonical texts helps to circumvent this vicious hermeneutic circle.
But there is a second danger: experience suggests that when students are
exposed only to passages from the Greek New Testament, they may become
dependent upon computer software (e.g., BibleWorks 9.0, Logos 4), interlinear
translations, and parsing guides,9 all of which can close down the reasoning
processes that should accompany the act of translation. Once such unhealthy
dependencies have been formed, it can be difficult to break them, rendering one
unable to translate Greek texts without the aid of such supports. Thus, from an
educational perspective, the translation of non-canonical texts (for which such
academic resources are generally not available) provides the most beneficial
experience of translating Hellenistic Greek texts. Indeed, this is the best way to
build one’s translational skills and confidence over time. Indeed, the ability to
translate non-canonical Greek passages is a better indicator of one’s translational
skills.

1. A Graduated Greek Reader

As previously noted, the passages for translation in this Hellenistic Greek reader
have been grouped into eight parts primarily on the basis of level of difficulty
rather than on the basis of date of composition, style, genre, provenance, or
theme. In other words, this is a graduated reader. The Greek readings in this
book become more difficult as one progresses from part to part. This being said,
no Greek text is perfectly homogeneous in terms of level of difficulty. All texts
possess certain peculiarities of form, syntax, and vocabulary, and characteristics
of the localities in which their respective authors lived. As such, the issue of
level of difficulty can perhaps be theorized more profitably if we recognize that
different types of Greek texts pose different kinds of challenges. For example,
the isometric translational Greek of the Septuagint in Part 2, the Greek
inscriptions in Part 7, and the Atticizing and literary Greek texts in Part 8 each
pose different kinds of translation challenges.10
The contents of the eight parts of this reader can be summarized as follows.
Part 1 is comprised of early Christian texts whose Greek is characterized by
relatively short sentences, limited vocabulary, minimal participial subordination,
and a limited use of syntactical constructions (such as the genitive absolute,
articular infinitive, adverbial participles, and periphrastic construction). The
majority of extracts in Parts 2 and 3 are taken from the Septuagint.11 The term
“Septuagint” designates the Greek translation of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible or
“Old Testament”),12 which was produced in Alexandria (Egypt) in the third to
second century BCE.13 This translation is one of the undisputed centerpieces of
Greco-Jewish literature of the Hellenistic period. It functioned as the liturgical
text for innumerable synagogues in the Ptolemaic and Seleucid domains, and
later as the “Scriptures” (or “Old Testament”) of emerging Christian churches.
The readings in Parts 2 and 3 have been chosen with two specific pedagogical
aims. The first aim is to contrast the translational Greek of the Septuagint with
the compositional Greek of the Christian texts in Part 1. (I use the term
“compositional Greek” in reference to texts that were originally composed in
Hellenistic Greek.) The second, related pedagogical aim is to contrast the
isometric translational Greek of texts in Part 2 (which is characteristic of most of
the books of the Septuagint) with the “recensional” Greek of texts in Part 3 (as
found in such books as Job, Esther, Daniel, and 1 Esdras). “Isometric”
translational Greek is characterized by a high degree of linguistic interference
from the source language (i.e., Hebrew), resulting in an almost word-for-word
correspondence between the Hebrew and Greek texts and a corresponding
avoidance of the typical literary conventions of Hellenistic Greek. In contrast,
the “recensional” translation Greek in Part 3 is characterized by greater
assimilation to the standard literary conventions of Hellenistic Greek. These
latter texts are more likely to employ typical Greek syntactical constructions,
with correspondingly less interference from the Hebrew parent text.
Parts 4–6 take up the study of the compositional Greek of more challenging
texts. As previously noted, compositional Greek employs a broad range of
typical Greek syntactical constructions and vocabulary. Part 4 begins with the
non-literary (so-called documentary) Greek of ancient papyrus letters,
introducing the student to the four primary types of ancient Greek letters: letters
of introduction (§4.1), letters of petition (§4.2), family letters (§4.3), and
memoranda (§4.4). This knowledge of the structure of ancient letters provides
our point of departure for reading and interpreting the ancient letters of Paul
(§§4.5–11, 4.12-16).14 For the Greek text of Paul’s letters I have used (where
possible) the Chester Beatty papyrus (PChBeatty 46), dating ca. 200 CE, which
is the earliest extant manuscript of the ten Pauline letters (noting unexpected
readings in the footnotes).15 In contrast to the edited text of the Greek New
Testament published by the United Bible Society16 and Nestle-Aland (which is
conjectural in character), the Chester Beatty papyrus is a real, physical, historical
text that was actually used and read by churches in antiquity.
Part 5 introduces other early Christian texts that display higher literary
aspirations, such as the Acts of the Apostles (§§5.1–3, 5.5, 5.12, 5.13) and the
Epistle to the Hebrews (§5.14). Well more than a century ago, Joseph Lightfoot
pioneered the study of the “apostolic fathers” in the field of New Testament
studies.17 Drawing inspiration from Lightfoot’s legacy, Part 5 introduces a
variety of non-canonical texts, including the Epistle of Barnabas (§5.6), the
Martyrdom of Polycarp (§5.7), the apocryphal Acts of Paul, Thomas, and
Andrew (§§5.9, 5.10, 5.15, 5.16), and the Apocalypse of Peter (§5.8). The
account of the burning of the magicians’ handbooks in Acts 19:11–20 (§5.3) has
been complemented with the remarkable magical handbook (§5.4, cf. §7.3)
discovered among the famous Greek magical papyri in Egypt.18
Part 6 takes us into the world of Jewish literary Greek, as attested in the
writings of 2 Maccabees (§§6.1, 6.2), 4 Maccabees (§6.3), and Philo of
Alexandria (§6.4). Such Jewish (compositional) Greek is highly literary and
makes use of the full expressive range of the Hellenistic Greek language,
including discontinuous syntax.19 Also included in this part is the metrical
Jewish tractate of Ezekiel the Tragedian (§6.6), which is remarkable for having
been composed in iambic trimeter, which is to say, in the poetic style of ancient
Greek tragedy. The imprint of Hellenization is also evident in the Jewish
Testament of Reuben (§§6.5, 7), which reflects many ideas found in
contemporaneous Stoic philosophical speculation.
Part 7 surveys a representative sample of the primary types of Greek
inscriptions, including decrees, sacred laws of voluntary religious associations,
healing testimonials, redemption (manumission) inscriptions, and so
forth.20Louis Robert once described Greco-Roman civilization as “une
civilisation d’épigraphie.” With such a great profusion of epigraphic writing in
antiquity there is virtually no aspect of ancient life upon which epigraphy does
not bear. Epigraphic monuments are especially valuable in reconstructing social
and religious history of the ancient world, for they are primary witnesses to
society’s laws and institutions, its social structures, public cults, and private
associations, its thoughts and values, and, of course, its language. As long ago as
1908, Adolf Deissmann recognized the immense importance of epigraphical and
papyrological texts for the study of the New Testament.21 Such contemporary
publications as New Documents Illustrating Early Christianity and the newly
published Greco-Roman Associations build on this venerable tradition of biblical
scholarship.22 As important as Greek inscriptions may be for understanding the
New Testament, they also pose special challenges owing to their particular
grammatical constructions, specific functions, and sometimes their dialectical
features.
Part 8 brings together a small sample of literary authors of distinction,
beginning with Flavius Philostratus, whose Life of Apollonios of Tyana (§§8.1,
8.5) is written in Atticizing Greek. “Atticizing” Greek is a style of Hellenistic
Greek that is modeled on the literary standards of the Classical Greek of the
great Attic authors of the fourth and fifth centuries BCE. Part 8 also includes
three samples of philosophical Greek, namely excepts from Epicurus’s Letter to
Menoeceus (§8.2), his Letter to Herodotus (§8.6), and an excerpt from the
Discourses of the Stoic philosopher Epictetus (§8.3). The style and vocabulary
of Epictetus are remarkably close to the Greek found in the New Testament. Part
8 concludes with Poimandres, the first part of the well-known Hermetic Corpus
(§8.4).23
With the contents and design of this reader having been summarized, a few
additional comments are in order. First, in order to keep the book within
publishable limits, it was necessary to exclude much of which might otherwise
have been included, such as extensive bibliographies and detailed textual
commentary. To compensate for this deficiency, the user of this book should
foster the habit of making use of a university library to consult the chief
authorities firsthand, instead of relying too implicitly on the limited information
supplied by this textbook. It must also be stated that the texts included in this
reader are not identical to the critical published editions. Minor editorial changes
have been made to the texts in order to facilitate rapid reading. Therefore, when
employing any of the texts in this book for research purposes, one should always
consult the original publications first.

2. Pronouncing Hellenistic Greek: The “Historical”

Greek Pronunciation System
The traditional system for the pronunciation of Hellenistic Greek is known as the
“Erasmian” system, so-called because it was developed centuries ago by
Desiderius Erasmus (1466/69–1536 CE). This system gives the same
pronunciation values to Greek letters as their corresponding Latin “equivalents.”
It is also based on the non-linguistic principle that each letter should be
pronounced differently. As might be expected from its origins, this system of
pronunciation is entirely artificial and misleading. It is merely “classroom”
pronunciation that has never been used by Greeks in any period of their history.
On the basis of thousands of papyri and inscriptions, we now know that this
Latinized pronunciation contradicts how Greek was actually spoken in the
Hellenistic period.
In retrospect, it is indeed surprising that this pronunciation system, invented
by a Dutchman living five hundred years ago in northern Europe, who had no
real contact with Greek culture, should still be in use in the modern Western
university of the twenty-first century. But this is indeed the case. Nevertheless,
in our own era, many scholars, following the lead of Chrys Caragounis, are now
advocating a return to what he has termed the “historical Greek” pronunciation
system (which is a Modern Greek pronunciation). Though I have explained this
system in detail in my book New Testament Greek: An Introduction, it can be
summarized as follows:24

Letter name Pronunciation Phonic value

Α α alfa father [a]

Β β vita vat [v]

Γ γ ghama yet / go [y] / [g]25

Γ γ ghama yet / go [y] / [g]25

Δ δ [dh]
dhelta the

Ε ε epsilon bet [e]

Ζ ζ zita zoo [z]

Η η ita ski [i]

Θ θ thita think [th]

Ι ι iota ski [i]

Κ κ kappa keep [k]

Λ λ lamdha letter [l]

Μ μ mi moon [m]

Ν ν ni noon [n]

Ξ ξ ksi ox [ks]

Ο ο omikron dog [o]

Π π pi put [p]

Ρ ρ rho r (trilled) [r / rh when initial]

Σ σ/ς sigma rose [s]

Τ τ taf top [t]

Υ υ ipsilon ski [i]

Φ φ fi find [f]

Χ χ khi (Scottish) loch [kh]

 (German) Bach

Ψ ψ psi hips [ps]

Ω ω omega dog [o]

(a) Pronouncing Vowels

α [a] ἀπό (a-po)

ε [e] ἐλπίς (el-pis)

ι [i] ἴσος (i-sos)

ο [o] ὄνομα (o-no-ma)

η [i] μή (mi)

υ [i] κύριος (ki-ri-os)

ω [o] φῶς (fos)

(b) Pronouncing Double Vowels

Pronunciation Phonic value

αι bet [e]

ει, οι, υι ski [i]

ου look [ou]

αυ av before vowels and β, γ, δ, ζ, λ, μ, ν, ρ [av]

but af before all other consonants [af]

ευ ev before vowels and β, γ, δ, ζ, λ, μ, ν, ρ [ev]

 ευ ev before vowels and β, γ, δ, ζ, λ, μ, ν, ρ [ev]

[ef]
but ef before all other consonants

ηυ iv before vowels and β, γ, δ, ζ, λ, μ, ν, ρ [iv]

but if before all other consonants [if]

(c) Pronouncing Stops and Fricatives

(i) Labials : π, β, φ
π like p in page: e.g., πόλις (po-lis) β like v in van: e.g., βιβλίον (vi-vli-on)
φ like f in fact: e.g., φίλος (fi-los)

(ii) Dentals: τ, δ, θ
τ like t in top: e.g., τόπος (to-pos) δ like th in the [dh]: e.g., δοῦλος (dhou-
los) θ like th think [th]: e.g., θάνατος (tha-na-tos)

(iii) Velars: κ, γ, χ
κ like k in keen: e.g., κύριος (ki-ri-os) γ like y when followed by e- and i-
sounds (namely, ε, η, ι, υ, αι, ει, οι, υι)

To be more precise:

γι yi as in γινώσκω (yi-no-sko) / ὀργή (or-yi) / γυνή (yi-

γη “yeast” ni)
γυ

γε ye as in γελῶ (ye-lo) / Αἰγαίος (e-ye-os) / ὑγιαῖνος (i-ye-

γαι “yet” nos)
γιαι

για ya as in ἁγιάζω (a-ya-zo), ὄργια (or-ya), ἁγία (a-ya) /

/ “yard”
γεια
 γεια ἐνέργεια (e-ner-ya)26

γιο yo as in ἅγιος (a-yos), λόγιον (lo-yon), πτερύγιον (pte-

“yogurt” ri-yon), σφάγιον (sfa-yon)

γ like g as in (but deeper, from the back of the throat: “gho”)

“go” before other vowels: e.g., γάμος (ga-mos), γάλα
(ga-la), ἐγώ (e-go)

χ like ch in loch: e.g., χαρά (kha-ra), χάρις (kha-ris),

Scottish χρόνος (khro-nos)

(iv) Pronouncing Special Groups of Velar Consonants

γγ / γκ finger [ng-g] ἄγγελος (ang-ge-los)

[ng-g] ἀγκάλη (ang-ga-li)

γχ [ng-kh] ἐλέγχω (e-leng-kho)

γξ banks [ng-ks] ἔλεγξις (e-leng-ksis)

(v) Pronouncing Other Consonant Clusters

μπ [mb] as in “symbol” πέμπω (pem-bo)

ντ [nd] as in “end” ἀντί (an-di)

(d) Aspiration
Attic Greek did use aspiration at the beginning of certain words, though it did
not use a “rough” breathing mark. However, such aspiration was used for only a
relatively brief period, and then only erratically. The other main dialects of
Greek, namely Ionic, Doric, and Aeolic, never employed aspiration. All
aspiration in Greek died out prior to the first century CE.27 Therefore, there is
no good reason to continue using these breathing marks in modern editions of
the Greek New Testament. The historical Greek pronunciation system ignores
these rough breathing marks. Likewise, one should ignore them when
pronouncing Hellenistic Greek words.
In contrast to the Erasmian system, the “historical Greek” (or Modern Greek)
pronunciation is a real, euphonic system. Some scholars would argue that this
pronunciation system does not make absolute phonetic distinctions, but it should
be noted that no language limits itself to such rigid consistency. Moreover, the
purported benefits of the Erasmian system of pronunciation shrink when one
realizes that there is no consensus, even among those scholars who employ it:
there are actually several Erasmian pronunciations according to whether one
learns Hellenistic Greek in the United States, Germany, or Britain. In contrast,
learning the historical Greek pronunciation system is not very difficult because it
is entirely regular. This feature allows one to master it easily with a little
patience and practice. On the basis of its advantages, I strongly encourage the
users of this Hellenistic reader to consider adopting this pronunciation system in
order to enrich their experience of Hellenistic Greek.

Fig. 1. The Hellenistic Greek world

1 This book draws its inspiration from Allen Wikgren’s Hellenistic Greek
Texts (Chicago: Chicago University Press, 1947).
2 E.g., W. F. Bauer, W. Danker, W. F. Arndt, and F. W. Gingrich, A Greek–
English Lexicon of the New Testament, 3rd ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago
Press, 2000); J. P. Louw and E. A. Nida, Greek–English Lexicon of the New
Testament based on Semantic Domans, 2 vols. (New York: United Bible
Societies, 1988).
3 E.g., Eynikel J. Lust and K. A. Hauspie, A Greek–English Lexicon of the
Septuagint, 2 vols. (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1992–1996); T.
Muraoka, A Greek–English Lexicon of the Septuagint (Leuven: Peeters, 2009).
4 Henry George Liddell and Robert Scott, A Greek–English Lexicon with
Revised Supplement, revised and augmented by H. S. Jones and R. McKenzie
(Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996).
5 For a list of these words consult Bruce M. Metzger, Lexical Aids for Students
of New Testament Greek (Edinburgh: T & T Clarke, 1990).
6 The online material is not part of this schema. Thus, one need not necessarily
learn any of the (bolded) vocabulary for memorization in the online Greek
passages to progress from part to part in the printed version of this graduated
reader. High-frequency words in the vocabulary lists of the online texts have
been set in boldface type to help you build your vocabulary base.
7 The glossary includes all bolded words (including the bolded words in the
vocabulary lists of the online passages), as well as all lexemes occurring fifty
times or more in the Greek New Testament.
8 See “Editorial Abbreviations” (§I) for an explanation of all abbreviations.
For detailed grammatical information see Herbert Weir Smyth, Greek Grammar,
rev. Gordon M. Messing (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1959); cf.
F. Blass and A. Debrunner, A Greek Grammar of the New Testament and Other
Early Christian Literature, trans. and rev. Robert W. Funk (Chicago: University
of Chicago Press, 1961); Maximilian Zerwick, Biblical Greek Illustrated by
Example, adapted from the Latin by Joseph Smith (Rome: Pontifici Instituti
Biblici, 1963).
9 E.g., Maurice A. Robinson, Analytical Lexicon of New Testament Greek, rev.
ed. (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2012); Nathan E. Han, A Parsing Guide to the
Greek New Testament (Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1971); Bernard A. Taylor,
The Analytical Lexicon to the Septuagint: A Complete Parsing Guide (Peabody,
MA: Hendrickson, 1994).
10 I.e., Hellenistic Greek composition that has modeled itself on the style and
idiom of the Attic (Athenian) Greek of the fifth to fourth century BCE.
11 The dates for all Christian texts have been assigned on the basis of L.
Michael White, From Jesus to Christianity: How Four Generations of
Visionaries & Storytellers Created the New Testament and Christian Faith (San
Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2004).
12 Which is to say, the “Masoretic text,” as published by R. Kittel, K. Elliger,
and W. Rudolph, (eds.), Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (Stuttgart: Deutsche
Bibelstiftung, 1977).
13 Alfred Rahlfs and Robert Hanhart, (eds.), Septuaginta, ed. altera (Stuttgart:
Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2006).
14 Cf. William G. Doty, Letters in Primitive Christianity (Philadelphia:
Fortress, 1973); Calvin Roetzel, The Letters of Paul: Conversations in Context,
4th ed. (Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1998); Stanley K. Stowers, Letter
Writing in Greco-Roman Antiquity (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1986).
15 As published by Andrew E. Bernhard, Other Early Christian Gospels: A
Critical Edition of the Surviving Greek Manuscripts (London: T & T Clark,
2006).
16 The Greek New Testament, 4th ed., rev. Barbara Aland, Kurt Aland, et al.
(Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2001).
17 J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers, ed. and completed by J. R. Harmer
(London: Macmillan and Co., 1891); cf. Bart Ehrman (ed.), Apostolic Fathers, 2
vols., LCL 24–25 (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2003).
18 Hans Dieter Betz, (ed.), The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation including
the Demotic Spells, 2nd ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1992).
19 Discontinuous syntax, or “hyperbaton,” often takes the form of the
interruption of syntax of the modification of substantives (such as nouns) by
modifiers (e.g., adjectives, participles); cf. A. M. Divine and Laurence D.
Stephens, Discontinuous Syntax: Hyperbaton in Greek (New York: Oxford
University Press, 1999).
20 B. H. McLean, An Introduction to the Study of Greek Epigraphy of the
Hellenistic and Roman Periods from Alexander the Great Down to the Reign of
Constantine (323 BCE–337 CE) (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press,
2002).
21 Adolf Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East: The New Testament
Illustrated by Recently Discovered Texts of the Graeco-Roman World, 4th ed.,
trans. Lionel R. M. Strachan (New York: George H. Doran Co., 1927); cf. James
H. Moulton and George Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament
Illustrated from the Papyri and Other Non-Literary Sources (Grand Rapids, MI:
Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1930).
22 G. H. R. Horsley, New Documents Illustrating Early Christianity (North
Ryde, Australia, 1981–1992); S. R. Llewelyn, New Documents Illustrating Early
Christianity (North Ryde, Australia, 1992–2002); J. S. Kloppenborg and R. S.
Ascough, Greco-Roman Associations: Texts, Translations, and Commentary. I.
Attica, Central Greek, Macedonia, Thrace (Berlin: De Gruyter, 2011), with vol.
II forthcoming.
23 Brian P. Copenhaver, Hermetica: The Greek Corpus Hermeticum and the
Latin Asclepius in a New Translation (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,
1992).
24 B. H. McLean, New Testament Greek: An Introduction (New York:
Cambridge University Press, 2011), 1–18 (audio files provided online).
25 See (c) (iii).
26 Similarly -ιει = ya (e.g., ὑγίεια, i-yi-ya).
27 This ancient aspiration leaves its mark in the language only in some forms
of elision. Breathing marks were never written in the oldest New Testament
manuscripts.
 Part 1 Basic Level: Early Christian Texts

Part 1 consists of ten early Christian texts (§§1.1–10) and five more online
(§§1.11–15) whose Greek is characterized by relatively short sentences, limited
vocabulary, minimal participial subordination, and a limited use of more
complex syntactical constructions.1 Notably, this section also includes some
non-canonical writings (or at least texts that are no longer canonical). These
texts will be less familiar to many and yet may be of greater interest and
educational value because, from a pedagogical perspective, the ability to
translate such texts provides a better measure of one’s translation ability.
In the vocabulary lists, the words for memorization are in boldface type. The
vocabulary so designated for memorization does not build from reading to
reading in this section. Instead, each of the vocabulary lists in Part 1 is compiled
on the basis of the same assumption, namely that you have learned only those
words occurring fifty times or more in the Greek New Testament.2 These words,
as well as all bolded words for memorization throughout the book, have been
compiled in the final glossary (§10). (Non-bolded vocabulary is not listed in this
cumulative index.) Nonetheless, you should strive to become familiar with as
much of the bolded vocabulary as possible in the readings found in §§1.1–8
because this vocabulary will not be repeated in the remaining parts of the book.
Fig. 2. Carved figures of three men and a woman, in panel with pediment,
Kuşça, Turkey (IKonya 130).
 1.1. Didache: The Two Ways Doctrine
(Did 1:1–2, 3:1–10)

Provenance: Syria (or Alexandria). Date: 100–140 CE.

Text: Ehrman, I, 305–333; Aaron Milavec, The Didache: Faith, Hope & Life
of the Earliest Christian Communities, 50–70 CE (New York: Newman Press,
2003).
The Didache, also known as “The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles,”
preserves parts of the oldest surviving church catechism and church order. This
ancient text was originally part of the Christian canon in some regions (being
included in, e.g., Codex Hierosolymitanus). The first section of the Didache (Did
1–6) summarizes the basic character of Christian life in terms of a “two ways”
doctrine: a way of life and a way of death.
Related Texts: The final section, Did 16:1–8, contains a brief apocalypse,
which is available online (§1.11).

ΔιδαχH κυρIου διA τῶν δωδεκα AποστOλων τοῖς

Eθνεσιν
1:1 Ὁδοὶ δύο εἰσί, μία τῆς ζωῆς καὶ μία τοῦ θανάτου, διαφορὰ δὲ πολλὴ
μεταξὺ τῶν δύο ὁδῶν. 2 ἡ μὲν οὖν1 ὁδὸς τῆς ζωῆς ἐστιν αὕτη· πρῶτον
ἀγαπήσεις τὸν θεὸν τὸν ποιήσαντά σε, δεύτερον (ἀγαπήσεις) τὸν πλησίον
σου ὡς σεαυτόν· πάντα δὲ ὅσα ἐὰν2 θελήσῃς μὴ γίνεσθαί σοι, καὶ σὺ ἄλλῳ
μὴ ποίει. (text continues …)
Vocabulary
δεύτερος, -α, -ον, second; secondary διαφορά, ἡ, difference διδαχή, ἡ,
teaching, instruction μεταξύ (w. gen.), between; next πλησίον (w. gen.), near,
nearby; ὁ πλησίον, neighbor; ἡ, female companion σεαυτοῦ, -ῆς (reflexive
pron.), yourself
3:1 Τέκνον μου, φεῦγε ἀπὸ παντὸς πονηροῦ καὶ ἀπὸ παντὸς ὁμοίου αὐτοῦ.
2 μὴ γίνου3 ὀργίλος, ὁδηγεῖ γὰρ ἡ ὀργὴ πρὸς τὸν φόνον, μηδὲ4 ζηλωτὴς5
μηδὲ ἐριστικὸς μηδὲ θυμικός· ἐκ γὰρ τούτων ἁπάντων φόνοι γεννῶνται. 3
τέκνον μου, μὴ γίνου ἐπιθυμητής, ὁδηγεῖ γὰρ ἡ ἐπιθυμία πρὸς τὴν πορνείαν,
μηδὲ αἰσχρολόγος μηδὲ ὑψηλόφθαλμος· ἐκ γὰρ τούτων ἁπάντων μοιχεῖαι
γεννῶνται. 4 Τέκνον μου, μὴ γίνου οἰωνοσκόπος, ἐπειδὴ ὁδηγεῖ εἰς τὴν
εἰδωλολατρίαν, μηδὲ ἐπαοιδὸς μηδὲ μαθηματικὸς μηδὲ (ὁ) περικαθαίρων,
μηδὲ θέλε αὐτὰ βλέπειν μηδὲ ἀκούειν· ἐκ γὰρ τούτων ἁπάντων
εἰδωολολατρία γεννᾶται. 5 τέκνον μου, μὴ γίνου ψεύστης, ἐπειδὴ ὁδηγεῖ τὸ
ψεῦσμα εἰς τὴν κλοπήν, μηδὲ φιλάργυρος μηδὲ κενόδοξος· ἐκ γὰρ τούτων
ἁπάντων κλοπαὶ γεννῶνται.
Vocabulary
αἰσχρολόγος, ὁ, foul-mouthed person αὐθάδης, -ες, stubborn εἰδωλολατρία, -
ας, ἡ, idolatry ἐπαοιδός (= ἐπῳδός), ὁ, enchanter, one who uses magical spells
and incantations6
ἐπιθυμητής, ὁ, one who is filled with desire ἐριστικός, -ή, -όν, quarrelsome
θυμικός, -ή, -όν, quick-tempered κενόδοξος, -ον, conceited, boastful κλοπή, ἡ,
theft, pl. acts of robbery μαθηματικός, ὁ, astrologer μαρτυρέω, bear witness,
testify; speak favorably of; approve of somebody (dat.); pass. gain approval for
something, be approved of by somebody μοιχεία, ἡ, adultery οἰωνοσκόπος, ὁ,
one who obtains omens by interpreting the flight of birds ὅμοιος, -α, -ον (w.
dat.), like, similar to (w. dat. or gen.); subst. τὰ ὅμοια, the same things
ὀργίλος, -η, -ον, inclined to anger, quick-tempered; subst. hot temper, one of
violent temper περικαθαίρω, use purification rites of magic for personal gain
πορνεία, ἡ, unlawful sexual practice, sexual promiscuity/immorality πρόβατον,
τό, sheep ταπεινός, -ή, -όν, humble, lowly, undistinguished ὑψηλόφθαλμος, -
ον, one who directs one’s eyes lustfully φεύγω, 2. φεύξομαι, 3. ἔφυγον: flee,
escape; avoid, turn from φιλάργυρος, -ον, avaricious, greedy; subst. a lover of
money φόνος, ὁ, murder ψεῦσμα, -ματος, τό, lying
3:6 τέκνον μου, μὴ γίνου γόγγυσμος, ἐπειδὴ ὁδηγεῖ εἰς τὴν βλασφημίαν,
μηδὲ αὐθάδης μηδὲ πονηρόφρων· ἐκ γὰρ τούτων ἁπάντων βλασφημίαι
γεννῶνται. 7 Ἴσθι7 δὲ πραΰς, ἐπεὶ οἱ πραεῖς κληρονομήσουσι τὴν γῆν. 8 γίνου
μακρόθυμος καὶ ἐλεήμων καὶ ἄκακος καὶ ἡσύχιος καὶ ἀγαθὸς καὶ τρέμων
τοὺς λόγους, οὓς ἤκουσας. 9 οὐχ ὑψώσεις8 σεαυτὸν οὐδὲ δώσεις9 τῇ ψυχῇ
σου θράσος. οὐ κολληθήσεται ἡ ψυχή σου μετὰ ὑψηλῶν, ἀλλὰ μετὰ δικαίων
καὶ ταπεινῶν ἀναστραφήσῃ. 10 τὰ10 συμβαίνοντά σοι ἐνεργήματα ὡς ἀγαθὰ
προσδέξῃ, εἰδώς11 ὅτι ἄτερ θεοῦ οὐδὲν γίνεται.
 Vocabulary
ἄκακος, -ον, innocent ἀναστρέφω, 6. ἀνεστράφην, fut. pass.
ἀναστραφήσομαι: overturn something; pass. behave/conduct oneself; associate
with (gen.) ἅπας, ἅπασα, ἅπαν, alternate form of πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν
ἄτερ, without βλασφημία, ἡ, slander, defamatory speech γογγυσμός, ὁ,
complainer; complaining ἐλεήμων, -ον, -ονος (gen.), merciful, compassionate
ἐνέργημα, -ματος, τό, experience ἐπεί, when, after; because, since, for
ἐπειδή, since, because, whereas, after ἡσύχιος, -ον, quiet, well-ordered θράσος,
-ους, τό, arrogance, insolence κληρονομέω, inherit, acquire possession of
something
κολλάω, join with, associate with μακρόθυμος, -ον, patient, forbearing
ὁδηγέω, to guide, lead; to lead to (w. πρός/εἰς) πονηρόφρων, -ον, evil-minded
πραΰς, πραεῖα, πραΰ, mild, soft, gentle; meek, unassuming προσδέχομαι,
accept; receive, welcome; admit into membership; expect, wait for συμβαίνω, 3.
συνέβην, 4. συμβέβηκα, pf. ptc. συμβεβηκώς: happen; συμβαίνω τί τινι,
something happens to somebody; subst. τὸ συμβεβηκός, a contingent attribute
(“accident”) of something ταπεινόω, humble, humiliate; bring low, be made
low τρέμω: tremble at (w. acc.), shake in fear, be in awe of ὑψηλός, -ή, -όν,
tall, high; proud, haughty ὑψόω, lift up, raise; fig. to exalt

1 For example, constructions such as the genitive absolute, articular infinitive,

adverbial participles, periphrastic construction, and discontinuous syntax. This is
especially common in the case of the interruption of syntax of the modification
of substantives by modifiers (e.g., adjectives).

2 For a list of these words see Bruce M. Metzger, Lexical Aids for Students of
New Testament Greek (Edinburgh: T & T Clarke, 1990).

1 μὲν οὖν, “moreover.”

2 ἐάν > ἄν.

3 Cf. table 9.2.4(a); 2aor. verbs in non-indicative moods have the same endings
as the present tense of the same mood.
4 μηδέ…μηδέ…μηδέ.…

5 In this context, “one who is jealous.”

6 Cf. PGM XIII, 230–334 (§5.4), PGM IV, 1496–1595, XXXVI, 320–332
(§7.3).

7 Cf. table 9.13.4.

8 Note the three successive fut. ind. verbs instead of the expected impv.

9 Cf. table 9.8.3(a).

10 τὰ…ἐνεργήματα.

11 table 9.5.4; the root of οἶδα originally began with a digamma, √ Fιδ-, √
Fοιδ- or √ Fειδ(ε)- (comparable to the Lat. word, vid-eo); Fιδ- became οἰδ-in the
pf. ind., and εἰδ-in most other tenses, from which the plpf., ᾔδειν is derived.
 1.2. Gospel of Luke: Jesus’ Trial by the Adversary
(Luke 4:1–15)

Provenance: Probably outside of Palestine. Date: 80–100 CE.

The story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness introduces the character of an
“adversary” (διάβολος) who tempts Jesus three times. It is significant that the
Septuagintal version of the Book of Job opens with the story of Job’s trials at the
hands of this same “adversary” (Job 1:6–2:13, §3.4) rather than “Satan” (who is
named in the Hebrew version).
Related Texts: Luke’s story of Jesus’ trial was probably included in the first
section of the “Q Sayings Gospel.” Its original function may have been to
validate Jesus’ authority as a teacher of wisdom. This understanding of Jesus as
a teacher of wisdom is comparable to the presentation of Jesus in the Gospel of
Thomas (§1.4) and Mark 4:10–20 (§1.5), where he is similarly presented as a
teacher of enigmatic proverbs and parables.
4:1 Ἰησοῦς δὲ (ὤν) πλήρης πνεύματος ἁγίου ὑπέστρεψεν ἀπὸ τοῦ Ἰορδάνου
καὶ ἤγετο ἐν τῷ πνεύματι ἐν1 τῇ ἐρήμῳ 2 ἡμέρας τεσσεράκοντα2
πειραζόμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ διαβόλου.3 καὶ οὐκ ἔφαγεν4 οὐδὲν ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις
ἐκείναις καὶ συντελεσθεισῶν5 αὐτῶν ἐπείνασεν. 3 εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ διάβολος·
εἰ6 υἱὸς εἶ τοῦ θεοῦ, εἰπὲ τῷ λίθῳ τούτῳ ἵνα γένηται7 ἄρτος. 4 καὶ ἀπεκρίθη
πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ Ἰησοῦς· γέγραπται ὅτι Οὐκ ἐπʼ ἄρτῳ μόνῳ ζήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος
(Deut 8:3). 5 Καὶ ἀναγαγὼν αὐτὸν ἔδειξεν8 αὐτῷ πάσας τὰς βασιλείας τῆς
οἰκουμένης ἐν στιγμῇ χρόνου 6 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ διάβολος· σοὶ δώσω τὴν
ἐξουσίαν ταύτην ἅπασαν καὶ τὴν δόξαν αὐτῶν,9 ὅτι ἐμοὶ παραδέδοται10 καὶ ᾧ
ἐὰν11 θέλω δίδωμι αὐτήν· 7 σὺ οὖν ἐὰν προσκυνήσῃς ἐνώπιον ἐμοῦ, ἔσται
σοῦ πᾶσα. 8 καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ· γέγραπται· κύριον τὸν θεόν
σου προσκυνήσεις καὶ αὐτῷ μόνῳ λατρεύσεις (Deut 6:13, 10:20).
Vocabulary

ἀνάγω, 3. ἀνήγαγον, 6. ἀνήχθην: lead up; mid. or pass. be brought to/up;

be restored to an original condition; sail away, put out to sea ἀποδίδωμι,
 2aor.impv. ἀπόδος: give, give back, return; hand over; deliver a letter; pay,
repay, reimburse, reward; ἀποδοῦναι λόγον, give account, render financial
accounts; to grant; give off (smoke) διάβολος, ὁ, slanderer, adversary (cf.
Job 1:6–2:13, §3.4) λατρεύω, serve somebody (dat.), worship οἰκουμένη,
ἡ, inhabited world περίχωρος, -ον, neighboring, surrounding; τὸ
περίχωρον, surrounding region στιγμή, ἡ, point; an “instant” (of time)
τεσσαράκοντα (Att. τετταράκοντα), forty

4:9 Ἤγαγεν δὲ αὐτὸν εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ καὶ ἔστησεν ἐπὶ τὸ πτερύγιον τοῦ
ἱεροῦ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· εἰ υἱὸς εἶ τοῦ θεοῦ, βάλε σεαυτὸν ἐντεῦθεν κάτω· 10
γέγραπται γὰρ ὅτι Tοῖς ἀγγέλοις αὐτοῦ ἐντελεῖται περὶ σοῦ τοῦ διαφυλάξαι12
σε (Ps 91:11) 11 καὶ ὅτι Ἐπὶ χειρῶν ἀροῦσίν σε, μήποτε προσκόψῃς πρὸς
λίθον τὸν πόδα σου (Ps 91:12). 12 καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὅτι
εἴρηται·13 Oὐκ ἐκπειράσεις14 κύριον τὸν θεόν σου (Deut 6:16). 13 Καὶ
συντελέσας15 πάντα πειρασμὸν ὁ διάβολος ἀπέστη ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ ἄχρι καιροῦ. 14
Καὶ ὑπέστρεψεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐν τῇ δυνάμει τοῦ πνεύματος εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν. καὶ
φήμη ἐξῆλθεν καθʼ ὅλης16 τῆς περιχώρου περὶ αὐτοῦ. 15 καὶ αὐτὸς
ἐδίδασκεν17 ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν δοξαζόμενος ὑπὸ πάντων.
Vocabulary

ἀφίστημι, 1aor. ἀπέστησα/2aor. ἀπέστην, 2aor. subj. ἀποστῶ: cause to

stand away; keep away from somebody (gen.); withdraw something; mid.
go away, withdraw from, abandon; rebel, revolt διαφυλάσσω, 3.
διεφύλαξα: preserve from danger/harm ἐκπειράζω, put to the test, tempt
ἐντέλλω/ομαι, 2. ἐντελοῦμαι, 3. ἐνετειλάμην, 5. ἐντέταλμαι: command
somebody (dat.) ἐντεῦθεν, from there/here (of place), from then (of time),
from that (of cause); ἐντεῦθεν...ἐντεῦθεν..., on this side ... on that side
κάτω, down (adv.) μήποτε, that ... not, lest πειρασμός, ὁ, period/process
of tempting, trial, test προσκόπτω, 2. προσκόψω, 3. προσέκοψα: hit
against; offend πτερύγιον, τό, parapet συντελέω, 1aor. pass. ptc.
συντελεσθείς: bring to an end, finish; carry out, accomplish; arrange, agree
upon; pay toward common expenses, contribute; pass. to end; be brought to
perfection ὑποστρέφω, return φήμη, ἡ, good report, fame
1 ἐν for εἰς.

2 Acc. of time (cf. IV, 3.1).

3 ὁ διάβολος as “adversary,” cf. Job 1:6–7, 9, 12; 2:1, 2–4, 6–7 (LXX) (§3.4).

4 S.v. ἐσθίω/ἔσθω.

5 Gen. absol. (cf. IV, 9).

6 εἰ w. ind. introducing a real condition.

7 ἵνα + sub. (γένηται) for inf.

8 S.v. δείκνυμι/δεικνύω.

9 The antecedent of αὐτῶν is βασιλείας.

10 Cf. table 9.11.5(a).

11 ἐάν > ἄν.

12 Art. inf. expressing purpose (cf. IV, 2).

13 S.v. λέγω.

14 οὐ w. fut. (categorical prohibition).

15 Adv. aor. ptc.

16 Distributive κατά (of places viewed serially).

17 Iter. or incept. impf. (cf. IV, 13.3, 5).

 1.3. Gospel of Luke: Jesus’ Inaugural Sermon
(Luke 4:16–30)

In Jesus’ inaugural sermon in Nazareth, the key themes of his later ministry (as
presented in the Gospel of Luke) are summarized.
4:16 Καὶ (Ἰησοῦς) ἦλθεν εἰς Ναζαρά, οὗ1 ἦν τεθραμμένος,2 καὶ εἰσῆλθεν
κατὰ τὸ εἰωθὸς αὐτῷ3 ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῶν σαββάτων4 εἰς τὴν συναγωγὴν καὶ
ἀνέστη ἀναγνῶναι. 17 καὶ ἐπεδόθη αὐτῷ βιβλίον τοῦ προφήτου Ἠσαΐου καὶ
ἀναπτύξας τὸ βιβλίον εὗρεν τὸν τόπον οὗ ἦν γεγραμμένον·5

Πνεῦμα κυρίου ἐπʼ ἐμὲ6 18

7
οὗ εἵνεκεν ἔχρισέν με
εὐαγγελίσασθαι πτωχοῖς, ἀπέσταλκέν με
κηρύξαι αἰχμαλώτοις ἄφεσιν
καὶ τυφλοῖς ἀνάβλεψιν, ἀποστεῖλαι (away) τεθραυσμένους ἐν8 ἀφέσει,
κηρύξαι ἐνιαυτὸν9 κυρίου δεκτόν. (Isa 61:1–2a) 19

4:20 Καὶ πτύξας τὸ βιβλίον ἀποδοὺς10 τῷ ὑπηρέτῃ ἐκάθισεν· καὶ πάντων οἱ

ὀφθαλμοὶ ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ ἦσαν ἀτενίζοντες11 αὐτῷ. 21 ἤρξατο δὲ λέγειν
πρὸς αὐτοὺς ὅτι σήμερον πεπλήρωται ἡ γραφὴ αὕτη ἐν τοῖς ὠσὶν ὑμῶν.
Vocabulary

αἰχμάλωτος, ὁ, captive ἀνάβλεψις, -εως, ἡ, restoration of sight

ἀναπτύσσω, 3. ἀνέπτυξα: unroll a scroll ἀτενίζω, 2. ἀτενίσω: stare at,
look intently at (w. dat./πρός) ἄφεσις, -εως, ἡ, release (fr. captivity); the
act of sending away, letting go; a pardon (fr. punishment) διέρχομαι, go
through; come/go toward a destination; cross over εἴωθα (pf. tense takes
the place of an obsol. pres. form, ἔθω), 2pf. ptc. εἰωθώς, -υῖα, -ός: be
accustomed to; nt. 2pf. ptc. subst., τὸ εἰωθός, a custom Ἐλισαῖος, ὁ, Elisha
ἕνεκα/ἕνεκεν (w. gen.), because of, for the sake of; in honor of; on
account; for this reason ἐνιαυτός, ὁ, year; κατὰ ἐνιαυτόν, annual, yearly
 ἐπιδίδωμι, 6. ἐπεδόθην, pf. ptc. ἐπιδεδωκῶς: put into one’s hands, give
somebody one’s hand; surrender, give up control; give back/return;
increase, grow in size θραύω, pf. pass. ptc. τεθραυσμένος, to break, pass.
be oppressed, downtrodden Καφαρναούμ, ἡ (indecl.), Capernaum, a city on
Lake Gennesaret λιμός, ὁ/ἡ, famine οὖς, ὠτός, τό, ear; pl. τὰ ὦτα,
hearing πτύσσω, 3. ἔπτυξα, roll up (a scroll) τρέφω, 3. ἔθρεψα, pf. pass.
ptc. τεθραμμένος: rear/raise a child; feed ὑπηρέτης, -ου, ὁ, assistant,
attendant; helper χρίω, 3. ἔχρισα, 4. κέκρικα, 5. κέχριμαι/κέκρισμαι:
anoint (with), rub/smear (with)

22 Καὶ πάντες ἐμαρτύρουν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐθαύμαζον ἐπὶ τοῖς λόγοις τῆς
χάριτος12 τοῖς ἐκπορευομένοις ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔλεγον· οὐχὶ υἱός
ἐστιν Ἰωσὴφ13 οὗτος;14 23 καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· πάντως ἐρεῖτέ15 μοι τὴν
παραβολὴν ταύτην· ἰατρέ, θεράπευσον σεαυτόν· (and you will say) ὅσα
ἠκούσαμεν γενόμενα εἰς τὴν Καφαρναοὺμ ποίησον καὶ ὧδε ἐν τῇ πατρίδι σου.
24 εἶπεν δέ· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οὐδεὶς προφήτης δεκτός ἐστιν ἐν τῇ πατρίδι
αὐτοῦ. 25 ἐπʼ ἀληθείας16 δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν, πολλαὶ χῆραι ἦσαν ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις
Ἠλίου ἐν τῷ Ἰσραήλ, ὅτε ἐκλείσθη ὁ οὐρανὸς ἐπὶ17 ἔτη τρία καὶ μῆνας ἕξ,
ὡς ἐγένετο λιμὸς μέγας ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν, 26 καὶ πρὸς οὐδεμίαν18 αὐτῶν
ἐπέμφθη Ἠλίας εἰ μὴ εἰς Σάρεπτα τῆς Σιδωνίας (χώρας) πρὸς (τινὰ) γυναῖκα
χήραν. 27 καὶ πολλοὶ λεπροὶ ἦσαν ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ ἐπὶ19 Ἐλισαίου τοῦ
προφήτου, καὶ οὐδεὶς αὐτῶν ἐκαθαρίσθη εἰ μὴ Ναιμὰν20 ὁ Σύρος. 28 καὶ
ἐπλήσθησαν πάντες θυμοῦ ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ21 ἀκούοντες ταῦτα 29 καὶ
ἀναστάντες22 ἐξέβαλον αὐτὸν ἔξω τῆς πόλεως καὶ ἤγαγον αὐτὸν ἕως ὀφρύος
τοῦ ὄρους ἐφʼ οὗ ἡ πόλις ᾠκοδόμητο αὐτῶν23 ὥστε24 κατακρημνίσαι αὐτόν·
30 αὐτὸς δὲ διελθὼν διὰ μέσου αὐτῶν ἐπορεύετο.
Vocabulary

δεκτός, -ή, -όν, acceptable, favorable διέρχομαι, go through; come/go

toward a destination; cross over ἐκπορεύομαι, go away, to come out (of
gods/evil spirits) ἕξ, six Ἠλίας, -ου, ὁ, Elijah Ἠσαΐας, ου, ὁ, Isaiah
θαυμάζω, intrans. marvel, wonder, be amazed; trans. marvel/wonder at,
admire θεραπεύω, serve a god, perform a ritual for a god; heal θυμός, ὁ,
soul/spirit (as the principle of life); soul/heart (as revealed by one’s feelings
and passions); passion, desire; anger, rage ἰατρός, ὁ, physician καθαρίζω,
purify, cleanse κατακρημνίζω, throw down a precipice κλείω, 6.
 ἐκλείσθην: close up, shut up λεπρός, -ά, -όν, having a serious skin
disease25
μήν, μηνός, ὁ, month οἰκοδομέω, pf. pass. ᾠκοδόμημαι: build,
construct; to form, fashion; fig. build up, encourage ὀφρῦς, -ύος, ἡ,
eyebrow; (fig.) edge (of a cliff) πάντως (adv.), certainly, doubtless; strictly
πατρίς, -ίδος, ἡ, homeland; hometown πίμπλημι, 3. ἔπλησα, 1aor. inf.
πλάσαι, 1aor. impv. πλῆσον, 6. ἐπλήσθην, fut. pass. πλησθήσομαι: to fill,
fulfill; pass. be filled with (w. gen.) Σάρεπτα, τά, Zarephath, a city on the
Phoenician coast between Tyre and Sidon (cf. 1 Kgs 17:9) Σιδώνιος, -α, -
ον, of Sidon, Sidonian (adj.) Σύρος, ὁ, Syrian χήρα, ἡ, widow

Select Bibliography
Kimball, Charles. “Jesus’ Exposition of Scripture in Luke 4:16–30: An Inquiry
in Light of Jewish Hermeneutics.” Perspectives in Religious Studies 21/3
(1994), 179–202.

1 οὗ, gen. of ὅς, is also an adv. of place (“where”).

2 Plpf. periphr. (cf. IV, 17); since the pf. of this verb is normally translated as a
present tense, the plpf. should be translated as a simple past tense.

3 Dat. of poss.

4 The pl. form, τὰ σάββατα, is normally used to express a single Sabbath day.

5 Plpf. periphr. (IV, 18).

6 Nominal phrase (supply a form of εἰμί).

7 εἵνεκεν > ἕνεκεν.

8 ἐν, instr. (“by means of”).

9 ἐνιαυτὸν…δεκτόν.

10 Cf. table 9.12.4(a).

11 Impf. periphr. (IV, 18).

12 τῆς χάριτος, i.e., gracious, pleasing (words).

13 Ἰωσήφ (indecl.), here gen.

14 οὐχί in questions anticipates the answer “yes” (i.e., “Isn’t this ... ?”).

15 S.v. λέγω.

16 ἐ ἀληθείας, “in truth.”

17 ἐπί (w. acc.) expressing duration of time.

18 Antecedent is χῆραι.

19 ἐπί (w. gen.), “at the time of.”

20 Ναιμὰν ὁ Συρος, Naaman, the Syrian commander, who was healed by

Elisha.

21 πάντες…ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ.

22 S.v. ἀνίστημι.

23 ἡ πόλις…αὐτῶν.

24 ὥστε + inf. (instead of ἵνα + subj.) (cf. IV, 15).

25 Leprosy, or Hansen’s disease (as it is now known), originated in the Far East
and was not present in the Mediterranean area during the Hellenistic period.
 1.4. Gospel of Thomas: The Greek Fragments
(Gos. Thom. 1–7, 27–28, 30–32, 77b / 36–37, 39 and Synoptic
Parallels)

Text: Bernhard, 56–78, §§2–23.

In 1897 and 1903, three Greek fragments of the Gospel of Thomas were
discovered in an ancient garbage dump near the ancient city of Oxyrhynchos in
Upper Egypt (POxy 654, POxy 1, POxy 655). These fragments were
subsequently published in 1903. A complete Coptic version of the Gospel of
Thomas was subsequently discovered in 1945 in the city of Nag Hammadi,
shedding fresh light of the nature and significance of the three Greek fragments
as all belonging to an ancient sayings gospel, comparable to the Q Sayings
Gospel. Some of the sayings recorded in this document may preserve traditions
that are independent of the Synoptic Gospels, though other sayings were added
over time.1 It is now recognized that some of the earliest sayings of Jesus, as
recorded in the Gospel of Thomas, actually predate their parallel versions in the
Synoptic tradition.
Date: These three papyrus fragments date from 130–250 CE.
Related Texts: The Gospel of Thomas is also representative of the “Thomas
tradition” of early Syrian Christianity (in contrast to the Petrine and Pauline
traditions). Many Syrian Christians, believing that Thomas was the twin brother
of Jesus (Mark 6:3, cf. John 11:16, 20:24, 21:2), came to regard him as Jesus’
privileged spokesperson (contrasting the role of Peter in Mark 8:22–9:1, §1.13).
This so-called Thomas Christianity was also responsible for the Gospel of
Thomas, the Book of Thomas, and the Acts of Thomas (§5.10).
Prologue: Οὗτοι οἱ λόγοι οἱ ἀπόκρυφοι οὓς ἐλάλησεν Ἰησοῦς ὁ ζῶν2 καὶ
ἔγραψεν Ἰούδας ὁ καὶ3 Θωμᾶς.
1 καὶ (Jesus) εἶπεν· ὅστις ἂν τὴν ἑρμημνείαν τῶν λόγων τούτων εὑρίσκῃ,
θανάτου οὐ μὴ γεύσηται.4
2 λέγει Ἰησοῦς· μὴ παυσάσθω ὁ ζητῶν τοῦ ζητεῖν ἕως ἂν εὕρῃ, καὶ ὅταν
εὕρῃ θαμβηθήσεται, καὶ θαμβηθεὶς βασιλεύσει, καὶ βασιλεύσας ἀναπαήσεται.
3 λέγει Ἰησοῦς· ἐὰν οἱ ἕλκοντες ὑμᾶς εἴπωσιν ὑμῖν· ἰδοὺ ἡ βασιλεία (is) ἐν
οὐρανῷ, ὑμᾶς φθήσεται τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οῦρανοῦ· ἐὰν εἴπωσιν ὅτι ὑπὸ τὴν
γῆν ἐστιν, εἰσελεύσονται οἱ ἰχθύες τῆς θαλάσσης προφθάσαντες ὑμᾶς· καὶ ἡ
βασιλεία τοῦ πατρὸς ἐντὸς ὑμῶν ἐστι κἀκτός.5 ὅστις ἂν ἑαυτὸν γνῷ6 ταύτην
εὑρήσει· καὶ ὅτε ὑμεῖς ἑαυτοὺς γνώσεσθε, εἴσεσθε7 ὅτι οἱ υἱοί ἐστε ὑμεῖς τοῦ
πατρὸς τοῦ ζῶντος· εἰ δὲ μὴ γνώσεσθε ἑαυτούς, ἐν τῇ πτωχείᾳ ἐστὲ καὶ
ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἡ πτωχεία.
Luke 17:20–21 Ἐπερωτηθεὶς δὲ ὑπὸ τῶν Φαρισαίων πότε ἔρχεται ἡ
βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ (Jesus) ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς καὶ εἶπεν· οὐκ ἔρχεται ἡ βασιλεία
τοῦ θεοῦ μετὰ παρατηρήσεως,8 21 οὐδὲ ἐροῦσιν· ἰδοὺ ὧδε ἤ ἐκεῖ, ἰδού, γὰρ
ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ ἐντὸς ὑμῶν ἐστιν.
Mark 13:21: (Jesus said) Καὶ τότε ἐάν τις ὑμῖν εἴπῃ· ἴδε ὧδε ὁ χριστός, ἴδε
ἐκεῖ, μὴ πιστεύετε.
Vocabulary

ἀναπαύω, 1aor. mid. ἀνεπαυσάμην, 2fut. pass. ἀναπαήσομαι: cause to

rest; to end, finish; mid. rest ἀπόκρυφος, -ον, hidden, secret; τὰ
ἀπόκρυφα, hidden things γεύομαι, to taste/eat something (gen.);
experience ἐκτός (w. gen.), outside of, except ἕλκω, 1aor. εἵλκυσα: pull an
object, attract somebody; stretch something; spin thread ἐντός (w. gen.),
within, among; within (a period of time); inside ἑρμηνεία, ἡ, interpretation
θαμβέω, be astounded, amazed; pass. w. act. sense ἰχθύς, -ύος, ὁ, fish
οὐαί (w. dat.), woe/alas (concerning, by reason of) παρατήρησις, -εως, ἡ,
close observation (Luke 17:20)
παύω, make to end, bring to an end; mid. cease/stop doing something
πετεινός, -ή, -όν, winged; τὸ πετεινόν, bird προφθάνω, go before
πτωχεία, ἡ, poverty φθάνω, 2. φθήσομαι, 3. ἔφθασα, 4. ἔφθακα: come/go
before somebody, come/go first

4 λέγει Ἰησους· οὐκ ἀποκνήσει ἄνθρωπος παλαιὸς ἡμερῶν9 ἐπερωτῆσαι

παιδίον τῶν ἑπτὰ ἡμερῶν περὶ τοῦ τόπου τῆς ζωῆς, καὶ αὐτὸς ζήσεται· ὅτι
πολλοὶ ἔσονται πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι10 καὶ οἱ ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι, καὶ εἰς ἓν
καταντήσουσιν.
 Mark 10:31 (Jesus said) Πολλοὶ δὲ ἔσονται πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι καὶ οἱ ἔσχατοι
πρῶτοι.
5 λέγει Ἰησοῦς· γνῶθι11 τὸ ὂν12 ἔμπροσθεν τῆς ὄψεώς σου, καὶ τὸ
κεκαλυμμένον ἀπό σου ἀποκαλυφθήσεται σοι·13 οὐ γάρ ἐστιν14 (anything)
κρυπτὸν15 ὃ οὐ φανερὸν γενήσεται, καὶ τεθαμμένον16 ὃ οὐκ ἐγερθήσεται.
Mark 4:22 (Jesus said) Οὐ γάρ ἐστιν κρυπτὸν ἐὰν μὴ ἵνα φανερωθῇ, οὐδὲ
ἐγένετο ἀπόκρυφον ἀλλʼ ἵνα ἔλθῃ εἰς φανερόν.
6–7 ἐξετάζουσιν αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ λέγουσιν· πῶς νηστεύσομεν;
καὶ πῶς προσευξόμεθα; καὶ πῶς ἐλεημοσύνη ποιήσομεν καὶ τί
παρατηρήσομεν περὶ τῶν βρωμάτων; 7 λέγει Ἰησοῦς· μὴ ψεύδεσθε καὶ ὅτι17
μισεῖτε μὴ ποιεῖτε (for all things will be full) τῆς ἀληθείας (before heaven).
Οὐδὲν γάρ ἐστιν ἀποκεκρυμμένον ὃ οὐ φανερὸν ἔσται. μακάριός ἐστιν ὁ
λέων ὃν φάγεται ἄνθρωπος καὶ ὁ λέων ἔσται18 ἄνθρωπος· καὶ οὐαὶ τῷ
ἀνθρώπῳ ὃν φάγεται λέων…
Luke 12:2 (Jesus said) Οὐδὲν δὲ συγκεκαλυμμένον ἐστὶν19 ὃ οὐκ
ἀποκαλυφθήσεται καὶ (nothing is) κρυπτὸν ὃ οὐ γνωσθήσεται.
Vocabulary

ἀποκαλύπτω, 6. ἀπεκαλύφθην, reveal, disclose ἀποκνέω, hesitate from

ἀπόκρυφος, -ον, hidden away; τὰ ἀπόκρυφα, hidden things
βρῶμα, -ματος, τό, food (sg. and pl.) ἐλεημοσύνη, ἡ, giving alms/money
to a needy person ἔμπροσθεν (w. gen.), before, in front of; previously
ἐξετάζω, 2. ἐξετάσω, question somebody closely θάπτω, 2. θάψω, 3.
ἐτάφησα, 1aor. inf. θάψαι, pf. pass. ptc. τεθαμμένος, 1aor. pass.
ἐθάφθην/2aor. pass. ἐτάφην: bury somebody; provide a funeral for (πρὸς)
somebody καλύπτω, pf. pass. ptc. κεκαλυμμένος: cover, hide, conceal;
pass. be hiding καταντάω, reach (a goal); arrive at (εἰς) a place; attain
something; come to (εἰς) κρυπτός, -ή, -όν, hidden λέων, -οντος, ὁ, /
λέαινα, ἡ, lion, lioness μισέω, hate, despise, disregard νηστεύω, to fast,
observe a fast (for) ὄψις, -εως, ἡ, appearance, countenance, face; vision,
apparition; pl. eyes; sight παλαιός, -ά, -όν, old, former παρατηρέω,
carefully observe a custom or practice φανερός, -ά, -όν, known, visible;
evident, notable; (adv.) φανερῶς, openly, publicly φανερόω, make known,
show, manifest, reveal συγκαλύπτω, pf. pass. ptc. συγκεκαλυμμένος, to
 veil, cover completely (Luke 12:2) ψεύδομαι, lie, tell a falsehood

27 λέγει Ἰησοῦς· ἐὰν μὴ νηστεύσητε τὸν κόσμον,20 οὐ μὴ εὕρητε21 τὴν

βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ· καὶ ἐὰν μὴ σαββατίσητε τὸ σάββατον, οὐκ ὄψεσθε τὸν
πατέρα.
28 λέγει Ἰησοῦς· ἔστην ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ κόσμου καὶ ἐν σαρκὶ ὤφθην22 αὐτοῖς
καὶ εὗρον πάντας μεθύοντας καὶ οὐδένα εὗρον διψῶντα ἐν αὐτοῖς· καὶ πονεῖ
ἡ ψυχή μου ἐπὶ23 τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων ὅτι τυφλοί εἰσιν τῇ καρδίᾳ
αὐτῶν καὶ οὐ βλέπουσιν.
30 + 77b λέγει Ἰησοῦς· ὅπου ἐὰν24 ὦσιν τρεῖς (people), εἰσὶν ἄθεοι· καὶ
ὅπου εἷς ἐστιν μόνος, λέγω, ἐγώ εἰμι με αὐτοῦ. ἔγειρον τὸν λίθον κἀκεῖ25
εὑρήσεις με· σχίσον τὸ ξύλον κἀγὼ ἐκεῖ εἰμι.
31 λέγει Ἰησοῦς· οὐκ ἔστιν δεκτὸς προφήτης ἐν τῇ πατρίδι αὐτοῦ, οὐδὲ
ἰατρὸς ποιεῖ θεραπείας εἰς26 τοὺς γινώσκοντας αὐτόν.
32 λέγει Ἰησοῦς· πόλις ᾠκοδομημένη ἐ ἄκρον ὄρους ὑψηλοῦ καὶ
ἐστηριγμένη οὔτε πεσεῖν δύναται οὔτε κρυβῆναι.
Vocabulary

ἄθεος, -ον, without God ἄκρον, τό, high point, top (of a mountain, a staff),
extremity; a peel (of fruit) δεκτός, -ή, -όν, acceptable, favorable διψάω,
be thirsty θεραπεία, ἡ, worship of a god; pl. divine services; medical
treatment, healing ἰατρός, ὁ, physician κρύπτω, impf. pass. ἐκρυβόμην,
3. ἔκρυψα, 6. ἐκρύβην, 2aor. pass. inf. κρυβῆναι, pf. pass. ptc.
κεκρυμμένος: to cover, hide, conceal; pass. be hiding μεθύω, be drunk,
intoxicated ξύλον, τό, wood, tree (collective, trees); cross οἰκοδομέω, pf.
pass. ᾠκοδόμημαι: build/construct; form/fashion; (fig.) build up, encourage
ὅπου, where (non-interogative) πονέω, engage in hard work for/on behalf
of (ἐπί) somebody; be troubled σαββατίζω, 2. σαββατιῶ: keep the Sabbath;
σαββατίζω τὸ σάββατον, keep the Sabbath as the Sabbath στηρίζω, set up;
establish, strengthen σχίζω, to split, divide τυφλός, -ή, -όν, blind

36 λέγει Ἰησοῦς· μὴ μεριμνᾶτε ἀπὸ πρωῒ ἕως ὀψέ, μήτε ἀ ἑσπέρας ἕως
πρωΐ, μήτε τῇ τροφῇ ὑμῶν τί φάγητε, μήτε τῇ στολῇ ὑμῶν τί ἐνδύσησθε.
πολλῷ27 κρείσσονές ἐστε τῶν κρίνων, ἅτινα28 οὐ ξαίνει οὐδὲ νήθει μηδὲν
ἔχοντα ἔνδυμα. τί ἐνδύεσθε καὶ ὑμεῖς; τίς ἂν προσθείη29 ἐπὶ τὴν ἡλικίαν
ὑμῶν; αὐτὸς δώσει ὑμῖν τὸ ἔνδυμα ὑμῶν.
Luke 12:22–23 (Jesus) εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ· διὰ τοῦτο λέγω
ὑμῖν· μὴ μεριμνᾶτε τῇ ψυχῇ τί φάγητε, μηδὲ τῷ σώματι τί ἐνδύσησθε. 23 ἡ
γὰρ ψυχὴ πλεῖόν ἐστιν τῆς τροφῆς καὶ τὸ σῶμα τοῦ ἐνδύματος.
37 λέγουσιν αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ· πότε ἡμῖν ἐμφανὴς ἔσει,30 καὶ πότε
σε ὀψόμεθα; λέγει· ὅταν ἐκδύσησθε καὶ μὴ αἰσχυνθῆτε…
39 λέγει Ἰησοῦς· οἱ Φαρισαῖοι καὶ οἱ γραμματεῖς ἔλαβον τὰς κλεῖδας τῆς
γνώσεως καὶ ἔκρυψαν αὐτάς· οὔτε εἰσῆλθον οὔτε τοὺς εἰσερχομένους
ἀφῆκαν εἰσελθεῖν. ὑμεῖς δὲ γίνεσθε φρόνιμοι ὡς οἱ ὄφεις καὶ ἀκέραιοι ὡς αἱ
περιστεραί.

Luke 11:46 ὁ δὲ (Jesus) εἶπεν· καὶ ὑμῖν τοῖς νομικοῖς οὐαί, ὅτι φορτίζετε
τοὺς ἀνθρώπους φορτία31 δυσβάστακτα, καὶ αὐτοὶ32 ἑνὶ τῶν δακτύλων
ὑμῶν οὐ προσψαύετε τοῖς φορτίοις.
Luke 11:52 (Jesus said) Οὐαὶ ὑμῖν τοῖς νομικοῖς, ὅτι ἤρατε τὴν κλεῖδα
τῆς γνώσεως· αὐτοὶ οὐκ εἰσήλθατε καὶ τοὺς εἰσερχομένους33
ἐκωλύσατε.

Vocabulary

αἰσχύνω (mid. and pass. dep. in GNT), mid. be ashamed ἀκέραιος, -ον,
innocent ἀφίημι, impf. ἤφιον, 3. ἀφῆκα, 2aor. 2nd sg. impv. ἄφες, 6.
ἀφέθην, fut. pass. ἀφεθήσομαι, 2aor. pl. pass. ptc. ἀφέντες: let, allow,
permit; leave behind; forsake; forgive somebody (dat.); release (manumit) a
slave to (ἐπί); acquit of (ἐπί) charges γνῶσις, ἡ, knowledge, secret
knowledge; personal acquaintance δάκτυλος, ὁ, finger δυσβάστακτος, -ον,
hard to carry/bear ἐκδύω, 6. ἐξεδύθην: strip, take off; mid. strip/undress
oneself; pass. be stripped of one’s clothing ἐμφανής, -ές, visible, known
ἔνδυμα, -ματος, τό, clothing, garment ἐνδύω, aor. inf. ἔνδυσαι: to dress,
put on (clothing); mid. put on (oneself), wear ἑσπέρα, ἡ, evening ἡλικία,
ἡ, life span, years of age; maturity; ἐπέρχομαι εἰς ἡλικία, come of age;
παρὰ καιρὸν ἡλικίας, past the normal age κλείς, κλειδός, ἡ, key (cf. Luke
11:52) κρείσσων, -ον, gen. –ονος (comp. of ἀγαθός, Att. κρείττων),
 stronger, better than (+ gen.), of higher rank/value; subst. τὸ κρεῖσσον,
something better κρίνον, τό, lily κωλύω, hinder, prevent; prohibit
μεριμνάω, be anxious to do something νήθω, spin (wool) νομικός, -ή, -όν,
pertaining to the law; subst. lawyer ξαίνω, to card (wool) ὄφις, -εως, ὁ,
snake, serpent ὀψέ, adv., late, late in the evening; as prep. (w. gen.), late
for something
περιστερά, ἡ, dove πλεῖων (m./fm.), πλείονα (m./fm. acc.), πλεῖον/πλέον
(nt.); pl. πλείονες (nom.), πλειόνων (gen.), πλείοσιν (dat.), πλείους (m.
acc.): more; more (than + gen.); better/greater; ἐπὶ (τὸ) πλεῖον, all the
more; ἐπὶ πλεῖον, at greater length; ἐπὶ πλείονα χρόνον, for a long time;
adv. (nt. pl.), πλείονα, all the more; (superl.), πλεῖστος, -η, -ον, most; subst.,
πλείστοι, the majority προστίθημι, aor. subj. προσθῶ, 2aor. inf.
προσθεῖναι, aor. subj. προσθῶ: add to something; continue, repeat (an
action) προσψαύω, touch something (dat.) πρωΐ (adv.), early, early in the
morning στολή, ἡ, robe, garment τροφή, ἡ, food φορτίζω, burden
somebody with a load φορτίον, τό (dim. of φόρτος), burden φρόνιμος, -ον,
prudent, wise; superl. φρονιμώτατος, wisest

Select Bibliography
Ageirsson, John, April D. Deconick, and Risto Uro. Thomasine Traditions in
Antiquity: The Social and Cultural World of the Gospel of Thomas. Leiden:
Brill, 2006.
Davies, Stevan L. Gospel of Thomas: Annotated & Explained. Woodstock, VT:
SkyLight Paths, 2002.
Foster, Paul (ed.). The Non-Canonical Gospels. London: T&T Clark, 2008.
Valantasis, Richard. Gospel of Thomas. London: Routledge, 1997.

1 Included in the former category are Gos. Thom. 8 (Matt 5:14), 20 (Mark
4:30–32), 34 (Matt 13:47–50).

2 Modifier in 3rd attrib. pos. (cf. IV, 4.3).

3 ὁ καί, “also called,” “also known as.”

4 οὐ μὴ + aor. subj. (emph. fut. neg., cf. IV, 8).

5 κἀκτός > καὶ ἐκτός.

6 Cf. table 9.6.3.

7 S.v. οἶδα, which has two future forms, εἰδήσω and εἴσομαι.

8 I.e., in such a way that it can be observed.

9 Gen. of measure (“old in days”).

10 ἔσονται…ἔσχατοι.

11 Cf. table 9.6.5.

12 Nt. ptc., s.v. εἰμί.

13 Typically ἀποκαλύπτω is followed by the dat. (to reveal something to

somebody), but here the gen. is used.

14 Impers. use of ἐστιν (cf. IV, 14).

15 Nt.

16 S.v. θάπτω.

17 S.v. ὅστις, ἥτις, ὅτι > ὅ τι.

18 ἔσται, here “become.”

19 Pf. periphr. (cf. IV, 18).

20 The phrase “fast from the world” (or “fast with respect to the world”), has
not yet been satisfactorily explained. Perhaps it means “to abstain from the
world” (BDAG 672).

21 οὐ μή + aor. subj. (emph. fut. neg., cf. IV, 8).

22 S.v. ὁράω.

23 ἐπὶ, “on account of”

24 ἐάν > ἄν.

25 κἀκεῖ > καὶ ἐκεῖ.

26 εἰς (w. acc.), “for.”

27 S.v. πολύς.

28 S.v. ὅστις.

29 Opt. (table 9.13.3).

30 ἔσει > ἔσῃ.

31 Cogn. acc. (i.e., same root word as the verb governing it).

32 αὐτοί intensifies the implied subject of προσψαύετε.

33 Conative (expressing an attempted action).

1.5. Gospel of Mark: Jesus’ Secret and Controversial
Teaching
(Mark 3:20–30, 4:10–20)

Provenance: Outside Palestine. Date: 70–75 CE.

According to Mark 3:20–30, the scribes charged Jesus with being in league
with demons. This charge is reminiscent of a similar charge made against
Apollonios of Tyana (Philostr. VA 8.7.7–9 [§8.1]), an itinerant healer who was
also accused of being a sorcerer or magician. The understanding of Jesus as a
teacher of secret wisdom (Mark 4:10–20) is also found in the Gospel of Thomas
(§1.4) and the Q Sayings Gospel.

Jesus Is Charged with Being in League with Demons

(Mark 3:20–30)
3:20 Καὶ (Jesus) ἔρχεται1 εἰς οἶκον· καὶ συνέρχεται πάλιν ὁ ὄχλος, ὥστε2 μὴ
δύνασθαι αὐτοὺς3 μηδὲ ἄρτον φαγεῖν. 21 καὶ ἀκούσαντες (what had happened)
οἱ παρʼ αὐτοῦ4 ἐξῆλθον κρατῆσαι αὐτόν· ἔλεγον γὰρ ὅτι ἐξέστη. 22 Καὶ οἱ
γραμματεῖς οἱ ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων5 καταβάντες ἔλεγον ὅτι Βεελζεβοὺλ ἔχει6 καὶ
ὅτι ἐν7 τῷ ἄρχοντι τῶν δαιμονίων ἐκβάλλει τὰ δαιμόνια. 23 Καὶ
προσκαλεσάμενος αὐτοὺς ἐν παραβολαῖς (Jesus) ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· Πῶς δύναται
σατανᾶς8 σατανᾶν9 ἐκβάλλειν; 24 καὶ ἐὰν βασιλεία ἐφʼ ἑαυτὴν μερισθῇ, οὐ
δύναται σταθῆναι10 ἡ βασιλεία ἐκείνη· 25 καὶ ἐὰν οἰκία ἐφʼ ἑαυτὴν μερισθῇ,
οὐ δυνήσεται ἡ οἰκία ἐκείνη σταθῆναι. 26 καὶ εἰ ὁ σατανᾶς ἀνέστη ἐφʼ
ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἐμερίσθη, οὐ δύναται στῆναι ἀλλὰ τέλος ἔχει.11 27 ἀλλʼ οὐ
δύναται οὐδεὶς12 εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν τοῦ ἰσχυροῦ13 εἰσελθὼν τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ
διαρπάσαι, ἐὰν μὴ14 πρῶτον τὸν ἰσχυρὸν δήσῃ, καὶ τότε τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ
διαρπάσει. 28 Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι πάντα15 ἀφεθήσεται16 τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν
ἀνθρώπων17 τὰ ἁμαρτήματα18 καὶ αἱ βλασφημίαι ὅσα ἐὰν19 βλασφημήσωσιν·
29 ὃς δʼ ἂν βλασφημήσῃ εἰς20 τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον, οὐκ ἔχει ἄφεσιν εἰς τὸν
αἰῶνα, ἀλλὰ ἔνοχός ἐστιν αἰωνίου ἁμαρτήματος.21 30 (he said this) ὅτι
ἔλεγον· Πνεῦμα ἀκάθαρτον (Jesus) ἔχει.
Vocabulary

ἀκάθαρτος, -ον, unclean, impure; τὰ ἀκάθαρτα, impurities, filth ἄκανθα,

ἡ, thorny plant ἁμάρτημα, τό, sin, transgression ἄρχων, -οντος, ὁ,
prince, ruler, leader; archon (title of a city magistrate) Βεελζεβούλ, ὁ,
Beelzebul; in NT, the prince of the demons (making this charge in effect a
charge of sorcery; cf. Beelzebub, 2 Kgs 1:2) βλασφημέω, to slander, speak
impiously; blaspheme δέω, 3. ἔδησα, pf. pass. δέδεμαι, pf. pass. ptc.
δεδεμένος: to bind/tie, put in chains; imprison; pass. be bound, be bound to
somebody in marriage διαρπάζω, to plunder διωγμός, ὁ, persecution;
persecution against (w. ἐπι) εἶτα, then, next; and so, therefore ἔνοχος (w.
gen.), liable for, guilty of ἐξίστημι, 2. ἐκστήσω/ομαι, 3. ἐξέστησα /
ἐξέστην: amaze (trans.), be amazed/ astonished (intrans.); be out of one’s
mind
ἰσχυρός, -ά, -όν, strong, powerful; comp. ἰσχυρότερος, stronger κρατέω,
attain; conquer, to master, rule over (w. gen.), subdue; take possession of;
take custody of (w. gen.); hold something (w. gen.) μερίζω, Att. fut. μεριῶ,
6. ἐμερίσθην: divide; assign προσκαλέω/έομαι (mostly mid.), 6.
προσεκλήθην: summon; call to a special task; entreat; encourage ῥίζα, ἡ,
root σκεῦος, -ους, τό, vessel, container; instrument; τὰ σκευή, equipment,
possessions, ship’s tackle συνέρχομαι, assemble, gather together

*
After Jesus tells the parable of the sower (Mark 4:1–9), he takes his disciples
aside to explain the purpose of his parables. He speaks in parables in order to
hide the meaning of his teaching from the outer group. Their meaning or solution
is given only to the inner group, namely Jesus’ disciples (Mark 4:33–34). This
use of the word παραβολή to mean “a communication that disguises meaning” is
very unusual. This passage is an example of the Markan literary device known as
the “messianic secret.”

Jesus as a Teacher Is Secret Wisdom (Mark 4:10–20)

4:10 Καὶ ὅτε (Jesus) ἐγένετο κατὰ μόνας,22 ἠρώτων αὐτὸν οἱ23 περὶ αὐτὸν
σὺν τοῖς δώδεκα (about) τὰς παραβολάς. 11 καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· ὑμῖν τὸ
μυστήριον δέδοται τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ· ἐκείνοις δὲ τοῖς ἔξω24 ἐν
παραβολαῖς τὰ πάντα γίνεται,

ἵνα25 βλέποντες βλέπωσιν καὶ μὴ ἴδωσιν,26 12

καὶ ἀκούοντες ἀκούωσιν καὶ μὴ συνιῶσιν, 27

μήποτε ἐπιστρέψωσιν καὶ (sin) ἀφεθῇ28 αὐτοῖς. (Isa 6:9–10)

4:13 Καὶ (Jesus) λέγει αὐτοῖς· (if) οὐκ οἴδατε (the meaning of) τὴν
παραβολὴν ταύτην, καὶ29 πῶς πάσας τὰς παραβολὰς γνώσεσθε;30 14 ὁ σπείρων
τὸν λόγον31σπείρει. 15 οὗτοι δέ εἰσιν οἱ παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν· ὅπου σπείρεται ὁ
λόγος καὶ ὅταν ἀκούσωσιν, εὐθὺς ἔρχεται ὁ σατανᾶς καὶ αἴρει τὸν λόγον τὸν
ἐσπαρμένον32 εἰς αὐτούς. 16 καὶ (similarly) οὗτοί33 εἰσιν οἱ ἐπὶ τὰ πετρώδη
σπειρόμενοι,34 οἳ ὅταν ἀκούσωσιν τὸν λόγον εὐθὺς μετὰ χαρᾶς λαμβάνουσιν
αὐτόν, 17 καὶ οὐκ ἔχουσιν ῥίζαν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἀλλὰ (only) πρόσκαιροί εἰσιν,
εἶτα35 γενομένης θλίψεως36 ἢ διωγμοῦ διὰ τὸν λόγον εὐθὺς σκανδαλίζονται.
18 καὶ ἄλλοι εἰσὶν οἱ εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας σπειρόμενοι· οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ τὸν λόγον
ἀκούσαντες, 19 καὶ αἱ μέριμναι τοῦ αἰῶνος καὶ ἡ ἀπάτη τοῦ πλούτου καὶ αἱ
περὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ἐπιθυμίαι37 εἰσπορευόμεναι συμπνίγουσιν τὸν λόγον καὶ
ἄκαρπος (it) γίνεται. 20 καὶ ἐκεῖνοί εἰσιν οἱ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν τὴν καλὴν
σπαρέντες,38 οἵτινες ἀκούουσιν τὸν λόγον καὶ παραδέχονται (it) καὶ
καρποφοροῦσιν ἓν (seed) τριάκοντα (fold/times) καὶ ἓν (seed) ἑξήκοντα
(fold/times) καὶ ἓν (seed) ἑκατόν (fold/times).
Vocabulary

ἄκαρπος, -ον, unfruitful; useless ἀπάτη, ἡ, deception, deceitfulness

ἑκατόν, one hundred ἑξήκοντα (indecl.), sixty ἔξω, out, outside; (prep. w.
gen.) out of, outside; ὁ ἔξω, outsider, unbeliever ἐπιθυμία, ἡ, desire,
longing; sexual desire, covetousness ἐπιστρέφω, return; turn (in
religious/moral sense), turn around/back; pass. (dep.), pay attention to, care
about ἐρωτάω, ask, request, beg θλῖψις, ἡ, distress, affliction
καρποφορέω, bear fruit μέριμνα, ἡ, worry μυστήριον, τό, mystery, secret
knowledge; pl., secret rituals παραδέχομαι, accept, receive πετρώδης, -ες,
stony; τὰ πετρώδη, rocky ground πλοῦτος, ὁ, wealth πρόσκαιρος, -ον,
lasting a short while, temporary σατανᾶς, -α (gen.), ὁ, adversary, Satan (w.
article), enemy of God39
σκανδαλίζω, cause to be caught/fall; pass. be led into sin σπείρω, 3.
 ἔσπειρα, pf. pass. ptc. ἐσπαρμένος, 6. ἐσπάρην: sow (seed) συμπνίγω,
crowd out/choke out (plants)
συνίημι (fr. ἵημι), 2. συνήσω, 3. συνῆκα, 1aor. subj. συνῶ, ptc. συνιείς, -
εντος, pl. συνιέντες: understand something (gen.); subst. wise ones40
τριάκοντα, thirty

Select Bibliography
Aichele, George. “Jesus’ Uncanny Family Scene.” JSNT 74 (1999), 29–49.
Busch, Austin. “Questioning and Conviction: Double-Voiced Discourse in Mark
3:22–30.” JBL 125/3 (2006), 477–505.
Juel, Donald H. “Encountering the Sower in Mark 4:1–20.” Interpretation
(2002), 273–283.

1 Hist. pres. (cf. IV, 11); ἔρχομαι εἰς οἶκον, “to go home.”

2 ὥστε w. inf. (cf. IV, 15).

3 I.e., Jesus and his twelve disciples.

4 οἱ παρʼ αὐτοῦ, “those who were close to him,” here, Jesus’ own family
(contrasting οἱ περὶ αὐτόν in 4:10).

5 Ἱεροσολύμων > Ἱεροσόλυμα; in the NT, one always “goes up to” or “down
from” Jerusalem, regardless of one’s geographical location.

6 ἔχω in this context has mng. “to be possessed (by a devil), taking Βεελζεβούλ
(indecl.) as a dat.

7 Instr., “through,” “by.”

8 Subject of δύναται.
9 Obj. of inf.

10 Cf. table 12.3.3(f).

11 τέλος ἔχει, “to have an end,” “to be finished.”

12 οὐ ... οὐδεὶς, double negation strengthens negation.

13 Art. creates generic subst. (sc. ἀνθρώπου).

14 ἐὰν μή, “unless.”

15 πάντα…τὰ ἁμαρτήματα (disc. syn.).

16 3 sg. fut. pass. ind. s.v. ἀφίημι, cf. table 9.15.

17 οἱ υἱοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, i.e., “human beings.”

18 Subject of ἀφεθήσεται.

19 ὅσα ἐάν (> ἄν), “whatever”; take w. αἱ βλασφημίαι.

20 εἰς, “against.”

21 Here “slandering” the Holy Spirit means attributing the work of the Spirit in
Jesus’ healings to the work of Satan.

22 κατὰ μόνας, “alone” (adv.).

23 “Those around him,” i.e., Jesus’ followers.

24 ἐκείνοις…τοῖς ἔξω (i.e., those beyond Jesus’ inner circle).

25 This ἵνα probably denotes purpose, indicating the belief that Jesus was
fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy.

26 Here εἶδον has the contextual meaning “to perceive.”

27 Cf. paradigm of ἵημι (table 9.15).

28 S.v. ἀφίημι, cf. paradigm of ἵημι (table 9.15).

29 καί (“then”) introduces a question.

30 Fut. of γινώσκω is mid.

31 Throughout this passage trans. λόγος as “message (of faith).”

32 τὸν λόγον τὸν ἐσπαρμένον, 2nd attrib. pos.

33 καὶ οὗτοί ... καὶ ἄλλοι (“and some ... and others,” Mark 4:18).

34 οἱ ... σπειρόμενοι.

35 εἶτα…ἤ… (“either ... or …”).

36 Gen. absol. (cf. IV, 9).

37 αἱ ... ἐπιθυμίαι, with the modifer περὶ τὰ λοιπά (“for other things”) in 1st
attrib pos. (cf. IV, 4.1).

38 οί ... σπαρέντες.

39 Note many proper names of Hebrew origin have -ᾶ as a gen. ending.

40 Do not confuse forms of συνίημι (fr. ἵημι, §9.15) with those of σύνειμι (fr.
εἶμι, §9.14) or with those of σύνειμι (fr. εἰμί, §9.13).
Fig. 3. Carved face, theater, Antaleia (photo: author).
1.6. Shepherd of Hermas: The First Vision of Hermas
(Herm. 1:1–9)

Provenance: Written by a Christian and former slave, named Hermas ( Ἑραμᾶς),

who lived in Rome.
Date: 100–140 CE.
Text: Ehrman, II, 175–178.
The book known as the “Shepherd of Hermas” (Ποιμὴν τοῦ Ἑραμᾶ) was one
of the most beloved Christian books in the second and third centuries CE.
Indeed, it was widely considered to be canonical scripture and was often
included in the Greek New Testament. The Shepherd of Hermas consists of a
series of visions, precepts, and “similitudes” (parables), whose overall purpose is
to exhort readers to repent of their sins. The book begins with Hermas being
granted five visions, the first of which is given here.
1:1 Ὁ θρέψας με πέπρακέν με Ῥόδῃ τινὶ εἰς Ῥώμην· μετὰ πολλὰ ἔτη
ταύτην ἀνεγνωρισάμην καὶ ἠρξάμην αὐτὴν ἀγαπᾶν ὡς ἀδελφήν. 2 μετὰ
χρόνον τινὰ λουομένην εἰς τὸν παταμὸν τὸν Τίβεριν εἶδον (her) καὶ ἐπέδωκα
αὐτῇ τὴν χεῖρα καὶ ἐξήγαγον αὐτὴν ἐκ τοῦ ποταμοῦ. ταύτης οὖν ἰδὼν
κάλλος διελογιζόμην ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ μου λέγων· μακάριος ἤμην εἰ τοιαύτην
γυναῖκα εἶχον καὶ τῷ κάλλει καὶ τῷ τρόπῳ. μόνον τοῦτο ἐβουλευσάμην,
ἕτερον δὲ οὐδέν.
Vocabulary

ἀδελφή, ἡ, sister, fellow believer ἀναγνωρίζω, become reacquainted with

somebody (acc.); learn to recognize βουλεύω, resolve, decide; be a
member of the Council (βουλή) διαλογίζομαι, consider, ponder
ἐκφέρω, 3. ἐξήνεγκον, 6. ἐξηνέχθην, aor. pass. subj. ἐξενέχθω: lead out,
take out; produce; carry the dead for burial; declare one’s opinion ἐξάγω,
lead out, bring ἐπιδίδωμι, 6. ἐπεδόθην, pf. ptc. ἐπιδεδωκώς: give into
one’s hands; give somebody one’s hand; surrender, give up control; give
back/return; increase/grow in size ἔτος, ἔτους, τό, year κάλλος, -ους, τό,
 beauty λούω/λόω, bathe, wash; mid. bathe oneself (the contr. impf. mid.
forms, ἐλοῦμην and ἐλοῦτο, belong to λόω), bathe (as a baptism)
πιπράσκω, 3. πέπρακα, 6. ἐπράθησα: sell something ποταμός, ὁ, river
Ῥώμη, ἡ, Rome τρέφω, 1aor. ἔθρεψα, pf. pass. ptc. τεθραμμένος:
rear/raise a child τρόπος, ὁ, way, manner; ὅν τρόπον, (just) as; κα ὃν
τρόπον, in the manner that

1:3 μετὰ χρόνον τινὰ πορευομένου μου εἰς κώμας καὶ δοξάζοντος τὰς
κτίσεις τοῦ θεοῦ, ὡς μεγάλαι καὶ ἐκπρεπεῖς καὶ δυναταί εἰσιν, περιπατῶν
ἀφύπνωσα. καὶ πνεῦμα με ἔλαβεν καὶ ἀπήνεγκέν με δἰ ἀνοδίας τινός, δἰ ἧς
ἄνθρωπος οὐκ ἐδύνατο ὁδεύσαι· ἦν δὲ ὁ τόπος κρημνώδης καὶ ἀπερρηγὼς
ἀπὸ τῶν ὑδάτων. διαβὰς οὖν τὸν ποταμὸν ἐκεῖνον ἦλθον εἰς τὰ ὁμαλά, καὶ
τιθῶ τὰ γόνατα καὶ ἠρξάμην προσεύχεσθαι τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ ἐξομολογεῖσθαί
μου τὰς ἁμαρτίας. 4 προσευχομένου δέ μου ἠνοίγη ὁ οὐρανός, καὶ βλέπω τὴν
γυναῖκα ἐκείνην ἣν ἐπεθύμησα ἀσπραζομένην με ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, λέγουσαν·
Ἑρμᾶ, χαῖρε.
Vocabulary

ἀνοδία, ἡ, place with no roads ἀπερρηγώς, eroded (rare) ἀποφέρω, 2aor.

inf. ἀπενεγκεῖν, aor. mid. inf. ἀποφέρεσθαι: carry off/away; mid. win a
prize; carry away from (ἀπό) somebody to (ἐπί) somebody ἀφυπόω, to fall
asleep γόνυ, -νατος, τό, pl. γόνατα: knee διαβαίνω, 2aor. ptc. διαβάς:
cross over δοξάζω, think, imagine; glorify; mid. display one’s greatness;
pass. supposed to be; be held in honor δυνατός, -ή, -όν, strong, powerful;
able, capable of; subst. ruler; δυνατώτερός, stronger δύνω (also δύω), mid.
δύομαι, 2. δύσομαι, 2aor. ἔδυν: go down, set (of the sun); mid. to sink/set
(of the sun) ἐκπρεπής, -ές, remarkable, splendid ἐξομολογέομαι, confess,
acknowledge ἐπιθυμέω, to desire
κρημνώδης, -ες, steep, precipitous κτίσις, -εως, ἡ, creation, that which is
created; creature, created thing κώμη, ἡ, village; pl. countryside ὀδεύω,
to travel ὁμαλός, -ή, -όν, smooth, level; τὰ ὁμαλά, level ground

1:5 Βλέψας δὲ εἰς αὐτὴν λέγω αὐτῇ· Κυρία, τί σὺ ὧδε ποιεῖς; Ἡ δὲ

ἀπεκρίθη μοι· Ἀνελήμφθην ἵνα σου τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἐλέγξω πρὸς τὸν κύριον. 6
Λέγω αὐτῇ· Νῦν σύ μου ἔλεγχος εἶ; οὔ, φησίν, ἀλλὰ ἄκουσον τὰ ῥήματα ἅ
σοι μέλλω λέγειν. ὁ θεὸς ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς κατοικῶν καὶ κτίσας ἐκ τοῦ μὴ
ὄντος τὰ ὄντα καὶ πληθύνας καὶ αὐξήσας ἕνεκεν τῆς ἁγίας ἐκκλησίας αὐτοῦ
ὀργίζεταί σοι ὅτι ἥμαρτες εἰς ἐμέ. 7 Ἀποκριθεὶς αὐτῇ λέγω· Εἰς σὲ ἥμαρτον;
ποίῳ τρόπῳ; ἢ πότε σοι αἰσχρὸν ῥῆμα ἐλάλησα; οὐ πάντοτέ σε ὡς θεὰν
ἡγησάμην; οὐ πάντοτέ σε ἐνετράπην ὡς ἀδελφήν; τί μου καταψεύδῃ, ὦ
γύναι,1 τὰ πονηρὰ ταῦτα καὶ ἀκάθαρτα;
Vocabulary

αἰσχρός, -ά, -όν, socially or morally unacceptable, shameful, base

ἀκάθαρτος, -ον, unclean, impure; τὰ ἀκάθαρτα, impurities, filth
ἁμαρτάνω, 2aor. ἥμαρτον (but oft. ἁμαρησ-in non-ind. moods), 4.
ἡμάρτηκα: to sin, commit a sin ἀναλαμβάνω, 6. ἀνελήφθην: take up,
carry; resolve; take up (a discourse); take over, carry away αὐξάνω/αὐξω,
3. ηὔχανον: make grow/increase; pass. grow/increase in
size/number/strength ἔλεγχος, ὁ, proof, legal argument; accusation
ἐλέγχω, reprove, reproach ἕνεκα/ἕνεκεν (w. gen.), because of, for the sake
of, on account of; in honor of; for this reason; τίνος ἕνεκα, why?
ἐντρέπω, 2aor. ἐνετράπην: show deference to, respect ἡγέομαι (w. inf.),
lead the way; consider, regard; regard as necessary; subst. ptc. leader, chief;
pass. be led θεά, ἡ, goddess καταψεύδομαι, tell lies against somebody
(gen.) κατοικέω, settle, dwell in; subst. inhabitants κτίζω, found, create,
make; build; pass. be created, constructed κυρία, ἡ, lady ὀργίζω, pass.
become angry πάντοτε, always (adv.) πληθύνω, multiply, increase, grow
in number
πότε, when? (direct question); when (indirect question); ἕως πότε, how
long?
τρόπος, ὁ, way, manner; ὅν τρόπον, (just) as; κα ὃν τρόπον, in the
manner that

1:8 Γελάσασά μοι λέγει· ‘Ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν σου ἀνέβη2 ἐπιθυμία τῆς
πονηρίας. ἢ οὐ δοκεῖ σοι ἀνδρὶ δικαίῳ πονηρὸν πρᾶγμα εἶναι ἐὰν ἀναβῇ
αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν ἡ πονηρὰ ἐπιθυμία; ἁμαρτία γέ ἐστιν καὶ μεγάλη,
φησίν. ὁ γὰρ δίκαιος ἀνὴρ δίκαια βουλεύεται (to do). ἐν τῷ οὖν δίκαια
βουλεύεσθαι αὐτὸν κατορθοῦται ἡ δόξα αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς καὶ (τὸν)
εὐκατάλλακτον ἔχει τὸν κύριον ἐν παντὶ πράγματι αὐτοῦ. οἱ δὲ (to do)
πονηρὰ βουλευόμενοι ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν θάνατον καὶ αἰχμαλωτισμὸν
ἑαυτοῖς ἐπισπῶνται, μάλιστα οἱ τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦτον περιποιούμενοι καὶ
γαυριῶντες ἐν τῷ πλούτῳ αὐτῶν καὶ μὴ ἀντεχόμενοι τῶν ἀγαθῶν τῶν
μελλόντων.
Vocabulary

αἰχμαλωτισμός, ὁ, captivity ἀντέχομαι, cling to, be devoted to something

(gen.) βουλεύομαι, plan, resolve, decide; be a member of the city council
(βουλή) γαυρόω, be proud, pride oneself γέ, even, at least, indeed (focuses
attention on the previous word) γελάω, to laugh ἐπιθυμία, ἡ, desire for
good things (longing); negative desire (lust, covetousness, craving)
ἐπισπάω, be responsible for bringing something on/making something
happen; pull the foreskin over the head of the penis (in order to hide the
marks of circumcision) εὐκατάλλακτος, -ον, favorable; subst. favor
κατορθόω, set straight; pass. be established μάλα, very; comp. μᾶλλον,
more, all the more; instead of/rather than; by all means; μᾶλλον ἤ, more
than; μᾶλλον…ἤ…; πολλῷ μᾶλλον, much more; superl. μάλιστα, most of
all, above all, especially περιποιέω, to gain possession of something, to
gain for oneself πλοῦτος, ὁ, wealth, riches πρᾶγμα, τό, matter, event,
affair; thing

1:9 μεταμελήσονται αἱ ψυχαὶ αὐτῶν, οἵτινες οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἐλπίδα, ἀλλὰ

ἑαυτοὺς ἀπεγνώκασιν καὶ τὴν ζωὴν αὐτῶν. ἀλλὰ σὺ προσεύχου πρὸς τὸν
θεόν, καὶ ἰάσεται τὰ ἁμαρτήματά σου καὶ ὅλου τοῦ οἴκου σου καὶ πάντων
τῶν ἁγίων.
Vocabulary

ἁμάρτημα, τό, sin, transgression ἀπογινώσκω, 4. ἀπέγνωκα: give up

hope, despair ἰάομαι, 2. ἰάσομαι, 3. ἰασάμην, 6. ἰάθην: hear/cure; find a
remedy μεταμέλομαι, to regret, be sorry προσευχή, ἡ, prayer; (Jewish)
prayer house

Select Bibliography
Osiek, Carolyn. Shepherd of Hermas: A Commentary. Hermeneia. Minneapolis:
Fortress, 1999.
1 Voc. Case.

2 S.v. ἀναβαίνω.
Fig. 4. Carved relief of two women on limestone block, Konya (IKonya 95).
 1.7. Gospel of Mary Magdalene: Mary’s Unique
Relationship with Jesus

Provenance: Unknown.
Date: Mid-second century CE.
Text: The Gospel of Mary is preserved in full in a Coptic version, which was
discovered in 1896 but not published until 1955. Older Greek fragments (POxy
3525, PRyl 463) of the same text were discovered in Oxyrhynchos, Upper
Egypt, in an ancient garbage dump and published in 1903.1
At the beginning of the extant Greek version (below), Peter addresses Mary as
“sister” and invites her to tell the disciples about the secret teaching she had
received from the risen savior in a vision. It seems that Peter had accepted that
Mary was Jesus’ favorite among women. However, his attitude changes when
Mary implies that Jesus actually loved her more than even the male disciples,
including Peter himself. Peter responds angrily and is called “hot-tempered.” He
resents the implication that he has been displaced by Mary and even accuses her
of lying. Mary receives moral support from Levi, who defends her against
Peter’s claim that the savior would not have chosen a mere woman to
communicate such a secret teaching (cf. Gos. Thom. 114, §1.4).
From a historical perspective, the Gospel of Mary probably presupposes a
second-century debate between those Christians who sought gnosis (new
spiritual truths) through private visions (cf. 2 Cor 12:1–6 [§4.9], Apoc. Pet.
[§5.8]) and other Christians, associated with the legacy of Peter, who lived
according to rules of life derived from written traditions about Jesus. From this
perspective, the Gospel of Mary re-enacts a debate between what may cautiously
be termed “proto-gnostic” Christians and “Petrine” Christians. For their part, the
“gnostic” Christians seem to have been critical of the many rules imposed by
Petrine Christianity.2 In any case, the fact that any early Christian group would
attempt to validate its own Jesus tradition by claiming derivation from Mary
Magdalene is remarkable indeed. In the canonical Gospels, Mary Magdalene is
uniquely recorded as the witness of three key events in Jesus’ life: his
crucifixion, burial, and empty tomb.3 No doubt, the tradition that Mary was a
follower of Jesus and received an appearance of the risen Lord (John 20:14–18,
Mark 16:9–11) accorded her special authority in some circles. The Gospel of
Mary attempts to defend the theological legitimacy of ecstatic visions as
legitimate sources of revelation by invoking this tradition.

Gos. Mary1 (POxy 3525)

(The lines above are missing) 1 Ταῦτα εἴπων ἐξῆλθεν. 2 οἱ δὲ λυπήθησαν
δακροῦντες πολλὰ καὶ λέγοντες· Πῶς πορευώμεθα πρὸς τὰ ἔθνη κηρύσσοντες
τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου. 3 εἰ γὰρ μη ἐκείνου
ἐφείσαντο πῶς ἡμῶν φείσονται; 4 τότε ἀνάστασα Μαριάμμη4 καὶ
ἀσπαζόμενη αὐτοὺς κατεφίλησε πάντας λέγουσα τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς· Μὴ δακρύετε
μὴ λύπεισθε μηδὲ δισταζέτει, ἡ χάρις γὰρ αὐτοῦ ἔσται με ὑμῶν σκέπουσα
ὑμᾶς. 5 μᾶλλον εὐχαρίστῶμεν5 τῇ μεγαλειότητι αὐτοῦ ὅτι συνήρτηκεν ἡμᾶς
καὶ ἀνθρώπους πεποίηκεν. 6 οὕτω λέγουσα Μαριάμμη μετέστρεψεν τὸν νοῦν
αὐτῶν ἐ ἀγαθὸν. 7 καὶ ἤρξαν6 συνζήτειν περὶ τῶν ἀποφθεγμάτων τοῦ
σωτῆρος. 8 λέγει Πέτρος πρὸς Μαριάμμην· Ἄδελφή, οἴδαμεν ὅτι πολλὰ
ἀγαπᾶσαι7 ὑπὸ τοῦ σωτῆρος ῶς οὐκ ἄλλη γυνή. εἶπε οὐν ἡμῖν ὅσους8 σὺ
γινώσκεις λόγους τοῦ σωτῆρος οὓς ἡμεῖς οὐκ ἠκούσαμεν. 9 ὑπέλαβε
Μαριάμμη λέγουσα· Ὅσα ὑμᾶς λανθάνει καὶ ἀπομνημονεύω, ἀπαγγέλω
ὑμῖν, καὶ ἤρχεν αὐτοῖς τούτων τῶν λόγων ἐμοί· ποτὲ ἐν ὁράματι ἰδούση τὸν
κύριον καὶ εἰπούση κύριε, σήμερον… (incomplete line) Vocabulary
ἀπαγγέλλω, tell, inform, proclaim ἀπομνημονεύω, remember ἀπόφθεγμα, –
ματος, τό, terse, pointed saying, apophthegm
ἀσπάζομαι, greet/welcome somebody; take leave of δακρύω, weep διστάζω,
to doubt, have doubts δοκέω, 3. ἔδοξα, pf. mid. inf. δεδόχθαι: to think, suppose,
consider; seem to (w. inf.), regard to be (something); δοκεῖ + inf., it seems (to
somebody) that, he purportedly; εἰ δοκεῖ (w. dat.), if it pleases (somebody);
ἔδοξε/δοκεῖ, it was/is resolved (by); seem good/appropriate/best; propose/make
(a request); pass. be decided; pass. inf. δεδόχθαι, be it resolved that (re a motion)
εὐχαριστέω, do a favor for somebody (dat.); give thanks καταφιλέω, kiss,
caress; kiss somebody in greeting/farewell λανθάνω, escape notice of
somebody, be unknown to somebody (acc.); adv., secretly λυπέω, cause
pain/grief; pass. be sorrowful, distressed μάλα, very; comp. μᾶλλον, more, all
the more; instead of/rather; by all means; μᾶλλον ἤ, more than; μᾶλλον…ἤ…;
πολλῷ μᾶλλον, much more; superl. μάλιστα, most of all, above all, especially
μεγαλειότης, -ητος, ἡ, greatness μεταστρέφω, change, turn (somebody’s mind)
to; pervert something νοῦς, (gen.) νοός, (dat.) νοΐ/νῷ, (acc.) νοῦν, ὁ, mind,
understanding; κατὰ νοῦν, in one’s mind παράκειμαι, be ready; be available,
have in stock ποτέ (encl.), once, former/formerly; sometimes; ever; at last; ὅσον
ποτέ, whatever; whenever ὅραμα, -ματος, τό, a vision σήμερον, τό, today
σιγή, ἡ, silence, quiet σκεπάζω, 3. ἐσκέπασα: protect, shelter συζητέω (w.
dat.), dispute, debate συναρτάω, join together σωτήρ, -ῆρος, ὁ, savior
ὑπολαμβάνω, reply; believe, assume, suppose; undertake to φανερός, -ά, -όν,
known, evident, notable; visible; φανερῶς (adv.), openly, publicly φείδομαι, 3.
ἐφεισάμην: refrain from; spare somebody (gen.) from something

Gos. Mary2 (PRyl 463)

And Mary said: 1 …τὸ λοιπὸν δρόμου καιροῦ, χρόνου, αἰῶνος, (I will find)
ἀνάπαυσιν ἐν σιγῇ· ταῦτα εἴπουσα ἡ Μαριάμμη ἐσιώπησεν ὡς9 τοῦ σωτῆρος
μέχρι ὦδε εἰρηκότος.102 Ἀνδρέας λέγει· Ἄδελφοι, τι ὑμῖν δοκεῖ περὶ τῶν
λαληθέντων; ἐγὼ μὲν γὰρ οὐ πιστεύω ταῦτα τὸν σωῆτρα εἰρηκέναι·11 δοκεῖ
γὰρ ἐτερογνωμόνειν τῇ ἐκείνου ἔννοια. 3 Πέτρος λέγει, Περὶ τοιοῦτων
πρᾶγμα τῶν ἐξεταζόμενος· ὁ σωτήρ λάθρᾳ γυναικί ἐλάλει καὶ οὐ φανερῶς
ἵνα πάντες ἀκούσωμεν; (ἐστίν αὕτη) μὴ ἀξιολογώτεραν ἡμῶν;12 ... 4
Λευείς13 λέγει Πέτρῳ· Πέτρε, ἀεί σοι τὸ ὀργῖλον παράκειται καὶ ἄρτι οὑτῶς
συνζητεῖς14 τῇ γυναικὶ ὡς ἀντικεῖμενοι αὐτῇ. 5 εἰ ὁ σωτὴρ ἀξίαν αὐτῄν
ἡγήσατο, σὺ τις εἶ ἐξουθενῶν αὐτὴν; 6 πάντως γὰρ ἐκεῖνος εἰδὼς15 αὐτὴν
ἀσφαλῶς ἠγάπησεν. 7 Μᾶλλον αἰσχυνθῶμεν16 καὶ ἐνδυσάμενοι τὸν τέλειον
ἄνθρωπον, ἐκεῖνο τὸ προσταχθὲν ἡμῖν ποιήσωμεν,17 κηρύξωμεν τὸ
εὐαγγέλιον, μηδὲν ὁρίζοντες, μηδὲ νομοθετοῦντες, ῶς εἷπεν ὁ σωτὴρ· 8 ταῦτα
εἶπων ὁ Λευεις μὲν ἀπελθὼν ἤρχεν κήρυσσειν τὸ εὐαγγέλιον κατὰ
Μαριάμμην.
Vocabulary
ἀεί, ever, always; eternal, eternally, constantly; at that time ἀνάπαυσις, ἡ,
relief, rest ἀντίκειμαι (w. dat.), be opposed to somebody; subst. adversary
ἑτερογνωμονέω, be of a different opinion, not be in agreement with ἀξιόλογος,
-ον, important, worthy; comp. ἀξιολογώτερος, more important/worthy ἐξετάζω,
scrutinize, examine; question ἄξιος, -α, -ον, worthy, deserving; proper, fitting;
ἀξίως (adv.), worthily ἀσφαλής, -ές, safe; subst. (τὸ) ἀσφαλές, safeguard;
ἀσφαλῶς, safely; for certain, beyond a doubt δρόμος, ὁ, racing, running; the
course of (one’s) life, course of a season (καιρός) ἐνδύω, 1aor. inf. ἐνδῦσαι:
dress, put on (clothing); mid. clothe oneself, wear ἔννοια, ἡ, thought ἐξετάζω,
look for, make a careful search for ἐξουδενόω (= ἐξουδενέω), despise, treat
with contempt ἡγέομαι (w. inf.), lead the way; consider, regard it necessary,
think; subst. ptc. leader, chief; pass. be led λάθρᾳ, secretly (adv.) λοιπός, -ή, -
όν, remaining, rest; (τὸ) λοιπόν, from now on, finally; (adv.); οἱ λοιποί/τὰ
λοιπά the rest/others νομοθετέω, enact laws, legislate ὁρίζω, set limits; appoint,
set; administer an oath; pass. be fixed/determined
ὀργίλος, -η, -ον, inclined to anger, quick-tempered; subst. hot temper; one of
violent temper οὕτω / οὕτως, in this way, so, in the same way; such πάντως
(adv.), certainly, doubtless; strictly παρακαλέω, beg, urge, encourage; request,
ask, appeal to; comfort πρᾶγμα, τό, a matter, event, affair; thing προστάσσω,
pf. pass. ptc. προστεταγμένος: command, order; pass. be fixed, determined
σιωπάω, keep silent, say nothing; become quiet τέλειος, -α, -ον, complete,
perfect; mature, full-grown (of persons); superl. τελειότατος, -η, -ον, most
perfect; τὰ τέλεια, mature animals φανερός, -ά, -όν, known, visible; evident,
notable; φανερῶς (adv.), openly, publicly

1 The Coptic Gospel of Mary is part of Papyrus Berolinensis 8502; POxy 3525
= 9.5–10.14 of the Coptic version; PRyl 463 = 17.4–22, 18.5–19.3 of the Coptic
version. These Greek fragments have been republished by Christopher Tuckett
in The Gospel of Mary (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007), 108–115; cf.
Antti Marjanen, The Woman Jesus Loved: Mary Magdalene in the Nag
Hammadi Library and Related Documents (New York: Brill, 1996), 94–121.

2 Marjanen, The Woman Jesus Loved, 121.

3 Mark 15:40, 16:1, 9, Matt 27:56, 28:9, Luke 24:10, John 19:25, 20:1, 16.

4 Μαριάμμη > Μαρία.

5 Hort. subj.
6 ἄρχω: HGr often employs mid. forms of ἄρχω to express the initiation or
beginning of an action or process, but Gos. Mary employs the active voice
instead (cf. Gos. Mary1 9, Gos. Mary2 8).

7 Cf. table 9.4.

8 ὅσους…λόγους.

9 ὡς w. ptc. providing the reason for an action.

10 S.v. λέγω in gen. absol. construction (IV, 9).

11 S.v. λέγω; pf. inf., table 9.1.5(d).

12 Gen. of comp. (cf. IV, 10).

13 Λευί, Levi (indecl.).

14 συνζ > συζ.

15 S.v. οἶδα.

16 Hort. subj. (cf. IV, 12).

17 Hort. subj.
 1.8. Protoevangelium of James: Verifying the
Virginity of Mary
(Prot. Jas. 13–16, 19–20)

Date: 75–125 CE.

Text: Ronald F. Hock, The Infancy Gospels of James and Thomas (Santa
Rosa, CA: Polebridge Press, 1995).
This text is a proto-gospel in the sense that it narrates the events leading up to
Jesus’ birth, with a special interest in Mary (Μαρία/Μαριάμμη) and her purity.
Other texts concerned with the purity of women include IG II2 1366 (§7.2),
IMilet VI, 22 (§7.14), LSCG 154 (§7.7), and IG XII Suppl. 126 (§7.16).
Related Readings: Prot. Jas. 8, 11–12 (§1.14).
Joseph accuses Mary 13:1 Καὶ ἐγένετο αὐτῇ ἕκτος μήν,1 καὶ ἰδοὺ ἦλθεν
Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τῶν οἰκοδομῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ἐν τῷ οἴκῷ καὶ εὗρεν αὐτὴν
ὠγκωμένην. 2 καὶ ἔτυψεν τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔρριψεν αὑτὸν χαμαὶ ἐπὶ
τὸν σάκκον καὶ ἔκλαυσεν πικρῶς λέγων· Ποίῳ2 προσώπῳ ἀτενίσω πρὸς
κύριον τὸν θεόν; 3 τί ἄρα εὔξωμαι περὶ αὐτῆς ὅτι παρθένον παρέλαβον
αὐτὴν ἐκ ναοῦ κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἐφύλαξα αὐτήν; 4 τίς ὁ θηρεύσας με;
τίς τὸ πονηρὸν τοῦτο ἐποίησεν ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ μου; τίς ᾐχμαλώτευσε τὴν
παρθένον ἀ ἐμοῦ καὶ ἐμίανεν αὐτήν; 5 μήτι ἐν ἐμοὶ ἀνεκεφαλαιώθη ἡ
ἱστορία τοῦ Ἀδάμ; ὥσπερ γὰρ Ἀδὰμ ἦν ἐν τῇ ὥρᾳ τῆς δοξολογίας αὐτοῦ καὶ
ἦλθεν ὁ ὄφις καὶ εὗρεν τὴν Εὔαν μόνην καὶ ἐξηπάτησεν αὐτὴν καὶ ἐμίανεν
αὐτήν, οὕτως κἀμοὶ3 συνέβη.
Vocabulary

αἰχμαλοτεύω, take prisoner, lure away; pass. be taken prisoner

ἀνακεφαλαιόω, sum up, recapitulate ἀτενίζω, 2. ἀτενίσω: stare at, look
intently at (w. dat./πρός) ἄρα, so, then δοξολογία, ἡ, a prayer ἕκτος, -η, -
ον, sixth ἐξαπατάω, deceive εὔχομαι, 3. ηὐξάμην, 1aor. mid. impv. εὖξαι:
pray; vow θηρεύω, set a trap for somebody (acc.) ἱστορία, ἡ, story, account
 μήν, ὁ, μηνός, month μήτι, used in questions anticipating a negative
answer μιαίνω, 3. ἐμίανα, 5. μεμίαμμαι: defile, contaminate; mid. defile
oneself ναός, ὁ, temple, inner part of Jewish temple, sanctuary ὀγκόω,
pass. to swell (through pregancy); be pregnant οἰκοδομή, ἡ, building
project, construction project παραλαμβάνω, receive, accept; take, take
charge of; take over/receive somebody as a prisoner; inherit sacred objects;
succeed to an office παρθένος, ἡ, virgin, unmarried girl ποῖος, -α, -ον
(interrog. pron.), what, which; what sort/kind of ῥίπτω, 3. ἔρριψα, 1aor.
impv. ῥῖψον, 6. ἐρρίφην: throw, cast away; lay/put something down
συλλαμβάνω, 3. συνέλαβον, inf. συλλαβεῖν, 2aor. mid. impv. συλλαβοῦ, 6.
συνελήμφθην: lay hold of, seize; comprehend; conceive a child; mid. take
part in something with somebody τύπτω, 3. ἔτυψα: beat, strike φυλάσσω
(Att. φυλάττω), keep; guard, protect; observe, follow; pass. be kept χαμαί,
on/to the ground

13:6 Καὶ ἀνέστη Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τοῦ σάκκου καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὴν καὶ εἶπεν
αὐτῇ· Μεμελημένη θεῷ, τί τοῦτο ἐποίησας; 7 ἐπελάθου κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου;
τί ἐταπείνωσας τὴν ψυχήν σου, ἡ ἀνατραφεῖσα εἰς τὰ ἅγια τῶν ἁγίων καὶ
τροφὴν λαμβάνουσα ἐκ χειρὸς ἀγγέλου; 8 Ἡ δὲ ἔκλαυσεν πικρῶς λέγουσα
ὅτι καθαρά εἰμι ἐγὼ καὶ ἄνδρα οὐ γινώσκω. 9 Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ Ἰωσήφ· Πόθεν
οὖν τοῦτό ἐστιν ἐν τῇ γαστρί σου; 10 Ἡ δὲ εἶπεν· (I swear, as) Zῇ4 κύριος ὁ
θεός μου καθότι οὐ γινώσκω πόθεν ἐστὶν ἐν ἐμοί.
Vocabulary

ἀνατρέφω, 3. ἀνέθρεψα, 6. ἀνετράφην: are for, bring up, raise γαστήρ, -

τρος, ἡ, belly, stomach; womb ἐπιλανθάνομαι (w. gen.), 2. ἐπιλήσομαι,
3. ἐπελαθόμην, pf. pass. ptc. ἐπειλημμένος: forget; to neglect, overlook
καθαρός, -ά, -όν, pure, clean, innocent; superl. καθαρώτατος, purest
καθότι, (for an oath) “I swear that (ὅτι)”; because (= διότι) κλαίω, pres.
ptc. κλάων, 3. ἔκλαυσα: weep (for), cry μέλω, μέλει τινι, impers., it is a
care/concern to somebody (dat.); pass. be a special interest to somebody
(dat.) πικρός, -ά, -όν, bitter, harsh; fierce (animal); πικρῶς, bitterly,
fiercely πόθεν (interog. adv.), from where? how? in what way? why?
σάκκος, ὁ, sackcloth (course cloth made of goat or camel hair) ταπεινόω,
to humble, humiliate; bring low Joseph’s vision
 14:1 Καὶ ἐφοβήθη ὁ Ἰωσὴφ σφόδρα καὶ ἠρέμησεν ἐξ αὐτῆς,
διαλογιζόμενος (with) αὐτὴν τί ποιήσει. 2 καὶ εἶπεν Ἰωσήφ ἐν ἑαυτῷ· Ἐὰν
αὐτῆς κρύψω τὸ ἁμάρτημα,5 εὑρεθήσομαι μαχόμενος τῷ νόμῳ κυρίου· 3 καὶ
ἐὰν αὐτὴν φανερώσω τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραήλ, φοβοῦμαι μήπως ἀγγελικόν ἐστιν
τὸ ἐν ἑαυτῇ, καὶ εὑρεθήσομαι παραδιδοὺς ἀθῷον αἷμα εἰς κρίσμα6 θανάτου.
4 τί οὖν (with) αὐτὴν ποιήσω; λάθρᾳ αὐτὴν ἀπολύσω ἀ ἐμοῦ. 5 Καὶ
κατέλαβεν αὐτὸν νύξ. καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου φαίνεται αὐτῷ κα ὄνειρον
λέγων· Μὴ φοβηθῇς τὴν παῖδα ταύτην· τὸ γὰρ ἐν αὐτῇ ὂν ἐκ πνεύματός
ἐστιν ἁγίου. 6 τέξεται δέ σοι υἱὸν καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν·
αὐτὸς γὰρ σώσει τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων αὐτῶν. 7 καὶ ἀνέστη
Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕπνου καὶ ἐδόξασεν τὸν θεὸν τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ τὸν δόντα αὐτῷ
τὴν χάριν ταύτην. 8 καὶ ἐφύλασσε τὴν παῖδα.
Vocabulary

ἀγγελικός, -ή, -όν, angelic, heaven-sent ἀθῷος, -ον, innocent ἁμάρτημα,

τό, sin, transgression διαλογίζομαι, consider, ponder ἠρεμέω, be quiet; not
speak with (ἐκ) somebody καταλαμβάνω, obtain, attain, seize, overtake;
catch up to somebody (acc.); understand; fall (of night)
κρίμα, -ματος, τό (= κρίσμα), legal case; legal judgment κρύπτω, impf.
pass. ἐκρυβόμην, 3. ἔκρυψα, 6. ἐκρύβην, 2aor. pass. inf. κρυβῆναι, pf.
pass. ptc. κεκρυμμένος: cover, hide, conceal; pass. be hiding λάθρᾳ,
secretly (adv.) μάχομαι, quarrel, dispute; fight; fight with (ἐν/dat.), be in
conflict with; οἱ μαχόμενοι, those who fight, combatants μήπως, that
perhaps, lest somehow ὄνειρος, ὁ, a dream; κα ; ὄνειρον, in a dream
παῖς, παιδός, ὁ/ἡ, child (in relation to parents); slave/servant (in relation
to a master/God); ἐκ παιδός, from (one’s) childhood σφόδρα, very (much),
extremely, greatly (adv.) τίκτω, 2. τέξομαι, 3. ἔτεκον, 4. τέτοκα, pf. pass.
τέτεγμαι, fm. pf. pass. ptc. τετοκυῖα, 6. ἐτέχθην: give birth (to) ὕπνος, ὁ,
sleep; κα ὕπνον, in a dream φαίνω, pres. pass. inf. φαίνεσθαι, 2. φανῶ/
φανοῦμαι, 6. ἐφάνην, 2aor. fm. pass. ptc. φανείσα, aor. pass. impv. φάνηθι:
shine, give light; mid. make one’s appearance; pass. appear, appear to be, be
seen, become visible; attend (a meeting) φανερόω, make known, show,
manifest, reveal φυλάσσω (Att. φυλάττω), keep; guard, protect; observe,
follow; pass. be kept Mary and Joseph accused

15:1 Ἦλθεν δὲ Ἄννας ὁ γραμματεὺς πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ἰωσήφ,
διὰ τί7 οὐκ ἐφάνης τῇ συνόδῳ ἡμῶν; 2 Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ὅτι ἔκαμον ἐκ τῆς
ὁδοῦ καὶ ἀνεπαυσάμην τὴν μίαν8 ἡμέραν. 3 Καὶ ἐστράφη Ἄννας καὶ εἶδεν
τὴν Μαρίαν ὠγκωμένην. 4 Καὶ ἀπῄει δρομαῖος πρὸς τὸν ἀρχιερέα καὶ εἶπεν
αὐτῷ· Ἰδοὺ Ἰωσὴφ, ᾧ σὺ μαρτυρεῖς, ἠνόμησεν σφόδρα. 5 Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ
ἀρχιερεύς· Τί τοῦτο; 6 Καὶ εἶπεν· Τὴν παρθένον ἣν Ἰησὴφ παρέλαβεν ἐκ
ναοῦ κυρίου, ἐμίανεν αὐτὴν καὶ ἔκλεψεν τοὺς γάμους9 (with) αὐτῆς καὶ οὐκ
ἐφανέρωσεν τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραήλ. 7 Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἀρχιερεύς· Ἰωσὴφ ταῦτα
ἐποίησεν; 8 Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ἄπόστειλον ὑπηρέτας καὶ εὑρήσεις τὴν
παρθένον ὠγκωμένην. 9 καὶ ἀπῆλθον οἱ ὑπηρέται καὶ εὗρον αὐτὴν καθὼς
εἶπεν καὶ ἀπήγαγον αὐτὴν ἅμα τῷ Ἰωσὴφ εἰς τὸ κριτήριον.
Vocabulary

ἅμα, together with (w. dat.): adv. at the same time, when, all at once
ἀναπαύω, 1aor. mid. ἀνεπαυσάμην, fut. mid. ἀναπαήσομαι: to cause to
rest; to end, finish; mid. to rest
ἀνομέω, to sin, act lawlessly
ἀπάγω, 3. ἀπήγαγον: lead away by force; bring before, bring by force to
(εἰς acc. of goal) somebodysomething; lead somebody somewhere ἄπειμι
(fr. εἶμι, cf. paradigm, 9.14), ptc. ἀπιόντος, impf. ἀπῄειν: leave, depart (for
paradigm of εἶμι see table 9.14) δρομαῖος, -α, -ον, running at full speed
κάμνω, 2aor. ἔκαμον: be worn out, tired κριτήριον, τό, court ὀγκόω, pass.
to swell (through pregancy); be pregnant παραλαμβάνω, receive, accept;
take, take charge of; take over/receive somebody as a prisoner; inherit
sacred objects; succeed to an office παρθένος, ἡ, virgin, unmarried girl
στρέφω, 6. ἐστράφην (dep.): to turn, turn around; change into (εἰς)
something; make revolve, turn something around; pass (dep.), turn toward;
mid. turn oneself around in circles σύνοδος, ἡ, assembly, meeting
ὑπηρέτης, -ου, ὁ, assistant, attendant; helper

15:10 Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ ἀρχιερεύς· Μαρία, τί τοῦτο ἐποίησας; τί

ἐταπείνωσας τὴν ψυχήν σου; 11 ἐπελάθου10 κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου, ἡ
ἀνατραφεῖσα εἰς τὰ ἅγια τῶν ἁγίων καὶ λαβοῦσα τροφὴν ἐκ χειρὸς ἀγγέλων;
12 σὺ (of all people) ἡ ἀκούσασα τῶν ὕμνων αὐτῶν καὶ χορεύσασα ἐνώπιον
αὐτῶν, τί τοῦτο ἐποίησας; 13 Ἡ δὲ ἔκλαυσεν πικρῶς λέγουσα· (I swear, as)
Zῇ κύριος ὁ θεὸς καθότι καθαρά εἰμι ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἄνδρα οὐ γινώσκω.
14 Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀρχιερεύς· Ἰωσήφ, τί τοῦτο ἐποίησας; 15 Eἶπεν δὲ Ἰωσήφ· (I
swear, as) Zῇ κύριος καθότι καθαρός εἰμὶ ἐξ αὐτῆς. 16 Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀρχιερεύς·
Μὴ ψευδομαρτύρει, ἀλλὰ λέγε τὰ ἀληθῆ· ἔκλεψας τοὺς γάμους σου καὶ οὐκ
ἐφανέρωσας τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσαρήλ, 17 καὶ οὐκ ἔκλινας τὴν κεφαλήν σου ὑπὸ τὴν
κραταιὰν χεῖραν (of God) ὅπως εὐλογηθῇ τὸ σπέρμα σου. 18 καὶ Ἰωσὴφ
ἐσίγησεν.
Vocabulary

ἀληθής (m. and fm.), -ές (nt.), true, truthful ἀνατρέφω, 3. ἀνέθρεψα, 6.
ἀνετράφην: care for, bring up, raise γάμος, ὁ (oft. in pl. w. no different in
meaning), wedding; πρὸς γάμον, in marriage ἐνώπιον (w. gen.), before, in
the presence of ἐπιλανθάνομαι (w. gen.), 2. ἐπιλήσομαι, 3. ἐπελαθόμην,
pf. pass. ptc. ἐπειλημμένος: forget; to neglect, overlook εὐλογέω, bless;
(as a Heb. euphemism) to curse καθότι, (in an oath) “I swear that (ὅτι),”
because
κλέπτω, steal κλίνω, 3. ἔκλινα: bend down; κλίνω τὴν κεφαλήν, bow
one’s head; κλίνω τὰ γόνατα, fall on one’s knees κραταιός, -ά, -όν,
powerful, mighty σιγάω, be silent σπέρμα, τό, seed, offspring, children;
descendants ταπεινόω, to humble, humiliate; bring low, be made low
τροφή, ἡ, food ὕμνος, ὁ, hymn χορεύω, to dance in a chorus
ψευδομαρτυρέω, give false testimony, bear false witness The drink test

16:1 Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀρχιερεύς· Ἀπόδος τὴν παρθένον ἣν παρέλαβες ἐκ ναοῦ

κυρίου. 2 Καὶ περιδάκρυτος γενόμενος ὁ Ἰωσὴφ… 3 Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀρχιερεύς·
Ποτιῶ ὑμᾶς τὸ ὕδωρ τῆς ἐλέγξεως κυρίου, καὶ φανερώσει τὸ ἁμάρτημα
ὑμῶν ἐν11 ὀφθαλμοῖς ὑμῶν. 4 Καὶ λαβὼν ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς ἐπότισεν τὸν Ἰωσὴφ
καὶ ἔπεμψεν αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν ἔρημον, καὶ ἦλθεν ὁλόκληρος. 5 καὶ ἐπότισεν καὶ
τὴν παῖδα καὶ ἔπεμψεν αὐτὴν εἰς τὴν ἐρεμίαν, καὶ κατέβη ὁλόκληρος. 6 Καὶ
ἐθαύμασεν πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ὅτι οὐκ ἐφάνη ἡ ἀμαρτία αὐτῶν. 7 καὶ εἶπεν ὁ
ἀρχιερεύς· Εἰ κύριος ὁ θεὸς οὐκ ἐφανέρωσεν τὸ ἁμάρτημα ὑμῶν, οὐδὲ ἐγὼ
κρίνω ὑμᾶς. καὶ ἀπέλυσεν αὐτούς. 8 καὶ παρέλαβεν Ἰωσὴφ τὴν Μαριάμ καὶ
ἀπῄει ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ χαίρων καὶ δοξάζων τὸν θεὸν Ἰσραήλ.
Vocabulary

ἀποδίδωμι, 2aor. impv. ἀπόδος: give; give back, return; hand over; deliver
a letter; pay; repay, reimburse, reward; ἀποδοῦναι λόγον, give account,
render financial accounts; grant; to give off (smoke) ἔλεγξίς, ἡ, pleading,
 test ἐρημία, ἡ, desert θαυμάζω, (intrans.) marvel, wonder, be amazed;
(trans.) marvel, wonder at, admire ὁλόκληρος, -ον, whole, unharmed
ὀφθαλμός, ὁ, eye περιδάκρυτος, -ον, weeping bitterly As the story
continues, Joseph finds a cave and takes Mary inside and stations his sons
to guard her. Next, he tells in his own words the story of what happened as
he was walking along the road.
A child is born

19:1 Καὶ εἶδον γυναῖκα καταβαίνουσαν ἀπὸ τῆς ὀρεινῆς, καὶ εἶπέν μοι·
Ἄνθρωπε,12 ποῦ πορεύῃ; 2 Kαὶ εἶπον· Μαῖαν ζητῶ Ἑβραίαν. 3 Kαὶ
ἀποκριθεῖσα εἶπέν μοι· Ἔξ Ἰσραὴλ εἶ; 4 Καὶ εἶπον αὐτῇ· Ναί. 5 Ἡ δὲ εἶπεν·
Καὶ τίς ἐστιν ἡ γεννῶσα ἐν τῷ σπηλαίῳ; 6 Καὶ εἶπον ἐγώ· Ἡ μεμνηστευμένη
μοι. 7 Καὶ εἶπέ μοι· Οὐκ ἔστι σου γυνή; 8 Καὶ εἶπον αὐτῇ· Μαρία ἐστίν, ἡ
ἀνατραφεῖσα ἐν ναῷ κυρίου. καὶ ἐκληρωσάμην αὐτὴν (as) γυναῖκα, 9 καὶ οὐκ
ἔστιν μου γυνή, ἀλλὰ σύλλημμα ἔχει ἐκ πνεύματος ἁγίου. 10 Καὶ εἶπεν ἡ
μαῖα· Τοῦτο ἀληθές; 11 Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ Ἰωσήφ· Δεῦρο καὶ ἴδε. 12 Καὶ ἀπῄει
ἡ μαῖα με αὐτοῦ. 13 καὶ ἔστησαν ἐν τῷ τόπῳ13 τοῦ σπηλαίου. καὶ ἦν
νεφέλη σκοτεινὴ ἐπισκιάζουσα τὸ σπήλαιον.
Vocabulary

ἀνατρέφω, 3. ἀνέθρεψα, 6. ἀνετράφην: care for, bring up, raise δεῦρο

(adv.), here; come here Ἑβραῖος, -α, Hebrew-speaking ἐπισκιάζω, to
overshadow; to cover κληρόω, obtain/appoint by lot; pass. be assigned
μαῖα, ἡ, midwife μνηστεύω, betroth; pass. be betrothed, engaged to
somebody (dat.) ναός, ὁ, temple, inner part of Jewish temple, sanctuary
νεφέλη, ἡ, cloud ὀρεινός, -ή, -όν, hilly, mountainous; subst. hill country
σπήλαιον, τό, cave (as a place of refuge, as a hideout) σύλλημμα, -ματος,
τό, unborn child σκοτεινός, -ή, -όν, dark

19:14 καὶ εἶπεν ἡ μαῖα· Ἐμεγαλύνθη ἡ ψυχή μου σήμερον, ὅτι εἶδον οἱ
ὀφθαλμοί μου παράδοξα σήμερον, ὅτι σωτηρία τῷ Ἰσραὴλ γεγένηται. 15 Καὶ
παραχρῆμα ἡ νεφέλη ὑπεστέλλετο τοῦ σπηλαίου, καὶ ἐφάνη φῶς μέγα ἐν τῷ
σπηλαίῳ ὥστε τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς μὴ φέρειν. 16 Καὶ πρὸς ὀλίγον14 τὸ φῶς
ἐκεῖνο ὑπεστέλλετο, ἕως ἐφάνη βρέφος· καὶ ἦλθεν καὶ ἔλαβε μαστὸν ἐκ τῆς
μητρὸς αὐτοῦ Μαρίας. 17 Καὶ ἀνεβόησεν ἡ μαῖα καὶ εἶπεν· Ὣς μεγάλη μοι ἡ
σήμερον ἡμέρα, ὅτι εἶδον τὸ καινὸν θέαμα τοῦτο. 18 Καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἐκ τοῦ
σπηλαίου ἡ μαῖα, καὶ ἀπήντησεν ἡ μαῖα Σαλώμῃ. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· Σαλώμη
Σαλώμη, καίνον σοι θέαμα ἔχω ἐξηγήσασθαι· παρθένος ἐγέννησεν ἃ οὐ
χωρεῖ ἡ φύσις αὐτῆς. 19 καὶ εἶπεν Σαλώμη· (I swear as) Zῇ κύριος ὁ θεός
μου, ἐὰν μὴ βαλῶ15τὸν δάκτυλόν μου καὶ ἐρευνήσω τὴν φύσιν αὐτῆς, οὐ μὴ
πιστεύω16 ὅτι ἡ παρθένος ἐγέννησεν.
Vocabulary

ἀναβοάω, cry out ἀπαντάω, 3. ἀπήντησα, 1aor. inf. ἀπαντῆσαι: meet

somebody (w. dat.); attend a meeting; go (somewhere) to meet somebody
(dat.) βρέφος, ους, τό, unborn child, fetus; infant δάκτυλος, ὁ, finger
ἐξηγέομαι, tell (in detail), report ἐρευνάω > ἐραυνάω, examine θέαμα, -
ματος, τό, a sight, spectacle καινός, -ή, -όν, new; strange; comp.
καινότερος
μαστός, ὁ, (woman’s) breast; chest μεγαλύνω, praise, glorify, exalt
ὀλίγος, -η, -ον, little, few; pl. δι᾿ ὀλίγων, in a few (words), briefly; (πρὸς)
ὀλίγον, a short while; με ὀλιγον, after a brief (time) παράδοξος, -ον,
strange, wonderful; τὰ παράδοξα, wonderful things σήμερον (adv.), today
σωτηρία, ἡ, deliverance, rescue, salvation ὑποστέλλω, withdraw; mid.
draw back, disappear φύσις, ἡ, circumstance; the nature (of something),
natural condition; substance; nature; natural being, creature; female
genitalia χωρέω, go forward, make progress; (of money) be spent; hold,
contain something (gen.); subst. ptc. Payment Salome’s folly

20:1 Καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ἡ μαῖα καὶ εἶπεν· Μαρία, σχημάτισον σεαυτήν· οὐ γὰρ
μικρὸς ἀγὼν πρόκειται περὶ σοῦ. 2 Καὶ ἡ Μαρία ἀκούσασα ταῦτα
ἐσχημάτισεν αὑτήν. καὶ ἔβαλε Σαλώμη τὸν δάκτυλον αὐτῆς εἰς τὴν φύσιν
αὐτῆς. 3 καὶ ἀνηλάλαξεν Σαλώμη καὶ εἶπεν· Οὐαὶ (to me) τῇ ἀνομίᾳ μου καὶ
τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ μου, ὅτι ἐξεπείρασα θεὸν ζῶντα. 4 καὶ ἰδοὺ ἡ χείρ μου πυρὶ
ἀποπίπτει ἀ ἐμοῦ.17 5 Καὶ ἔκλινεν τὰ γόνατα πρὸς τὸν δεσπότην Σαλώμη
λέγουσα· Ὃ θεὸς τῶν πατέρων μου, μνήσθητί18 μου ὅτι σπέρμα εἰμὶ
Ἀβραὰμ19 καὶ Ἰσαὰκ καὶ Ἰακώβ. 6 μὴ παραδειγματίσῃς με τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραήλ,
ἀλλὰ ἀπόδος με τοῖς πένησιν. 7 σὺ γὰρ οἶδας, δέσποτα, ὅτι ἐπὶ τῷ σῷ
ὀνόματι τὰς θεραπείας ἐπετέλουν καὶ τὸν μισθόν μου παρὰ σοῦ ἐλάμβανον.
Vocabulary

ἀγών, -ῶνος, ὁ, contest, game, race; struggle; legal trial, test; pl., athletic
 games ἀναλαλάζω, cry out ἀνομία, ἡ, lawless deed; lawlessness ἀπιστία,
ἡ, unbelief, incredibility ἀποπίπτω, burn up γόνυ, -νατος, τό, pl. γόνατα:
knee δεσπότης, master, lord, ruler; owner.
ἐκπειράζω, to test ἐπιτελέω, to complete, perform, accomplish; celebrate a
birthday θεραπεία, ἡ, worship of a god; pl. divine services; medical
treatment, healing κλίνω, 3. ἔκλινα: bend down; κλίνω τὴν κεφαλήν, bow
one’s head; ἔκλινεν τὰ γόνατα, fall on one’s knees μικρός, -α, -ον, little,
small, of little importance μιμνῄσκομαι (w. gen.) (also μνῄσκομαι), 6.
ἐμνήσθην, 2nd sg. aor. pass. impv. μνήσθητι, 4. μέμνημαι: remember
somebody (gen.), recollect; make mention of (w. gen.); pass. dep. be
remembered, remember μισθός, ὁ, wages, pay; reward; physician’s fee
οὐαί (w. dat.), woe/alas; concerning, by reason of (dat.) παραδειγματίζω,
make an example of somebody (acc.) πένης, -ητος, ὁ, poor person
πρόκειμαι, to face σχηματίζω, to position (in this context it refers to Mary
positioning her body to be probed to verify her virginity) (cf. Prot. Jas.
20:2)

20:8 Καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἐπέστη λέγων πρὸς αὐτήν· Σαλώμη
Σαλώμη, ἐπήκουσεν ὁ πάντων δεσπότης τῆς δεήσεώς σου. 9 προσένεγκε20
τὴν χεῖρά σου τῷ παιδίῳ καὶ βάστασον αὐτό, καὶ ἔσται σοι σωτηρία καὶ
χαρά. 10 Καὶ προσῆλθε Σαλώμη τῷ παιδίῳ καὶ ἐβάστασεν αὐτὸ λέγοῦσα·
Προσκυνήσω αὐτῷ, ὅτι οὗτος ἐγεννήθη βασιλεὺς τῷ Ἰσραήλ. 11 καὶ
παραχρῆμα ἰάθη Σαλώμη καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἐκ τοῦ σπηλαίου δεδικαιωμένη. 12 Καὶ
ἰδοὺ φωνὴ λέγουσα· Σαλώμη Σαλώμα, μὴ ἀναγγείλῃς ὅσα εἶδες παράδοξα
ἕως ἔλθῃ ὁ παῖς εἰς Ἱεροσάλημα.
Vocabulary

ἀναγγέλλω, tell, proclaim; report, inform βαστάζω, pick up; carry a

burden, bear a burden; remove, take away
δέησις, -εως, ἡ, prayer δικαιόω, declare somebody to be justified; pass. be
aquitted ἐπακούω, hear, listen to; heed ἰάομαι, 2. ἰάσομαι, 3. ἰασάμην, 6.
ἰάθην: heal/cure; find a remedy παῖς, παιδός, ὁ/ἡ, child (in relation to
parents); slave/servant (in relation to a master/God); ἐκ παιδός, from
childhood παράδοξος, -ον, strange, wonderful παραχρῆμα, immediately,
instantly; recently προσφέρω, 3. προσήνεγκον: bring to somebody; offer
something as a sacrifice; offer/reach out one’s hand
Select Bibliography
Bovon, François. New Testament and Christian Apocrypha. Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker Academic, 2011.
Clivaz, Claire (ed.). Infancy Gospels: Stories and Identities. Tübingen: Mohr
Siebeck, 2011.
Davies, Stevan L. The Infancy Gospels of Jesus: Apocryphal Tales from the
Childhoods of Mary and Jesus. Woodstock, VT: SkyLight Paths, 2009.
Foskett, Mary F. A Virgin Conceived: Mary and Classical Representations of
Virginity. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2002.

1 Of pregnancy.

2 Dat., “with what sort of … ”.

3 καὶ ἐμοί.

4 Note that the root of ζῶ (-άω) is actually √ ζη (not √ ζα). The present active
paradigm of ζῶ is: 1st ζῶ, 2nd ζῇς, 3rd ζῇ / pl. 1st ζῶμεν, 2nd ζῆτε, 3rd
ζῶσι(ν).

5 αὐτῆς…τὸ ἁμάρτημα.

6 κρίσμα > κρίμα.

7 διὰ τί, “why?”

8 I.e., “first.”

9 κλέπτω τοὺς γάμους, “to secretly consummate marriage” (i.e., without the
blessing of the community).
10 S.v. ἐπιλανθάνομαι.

11 ἐν, “before.”

12 ἄνθρωπε in voc. oft. means “sir.”

13 ἐν τῷ τόπῳ, i.e., “in front of.”

14 πρὸς ὀλίγον, “a little later.”

15 βάλλω meaning “to insert” (cf. Prot. Jas. 20:2).

16 οὐ μή + aor. subj. (emph. fut. neg., cf. IV, 8).

17 ἀπό, “before.”

18 S.v. μιμνήσκομαι.

19 Ἀβραάμ, Ἰσαάκ, Ἰακώβ (indecl.) are all gen.

20 S.v. προσφέρω.
 1.9. Gospel of Peter: The Crucifixion of Jesus
(Gos. Pet. 2–7)

Provenance: Syria. The Gospel of Peter (Akhmim Fragment, PCair 10759) was
discovered, along with the Apocalypse of Peter (§5.8), in the tomb of a Christian
monk in Akhmim, north of Nag Hammadi, in 1887.
Date: Early layers may date to the late first century CE, with later layers
added from 125 to 150 CE.
Text: Paul Foster, The Gospel of Peter: Introduction, Critical Edition and
Commentary (Leiden: Brill, 2010), 179–195; Bernhard: 56–78 (§§2–23).
Special Features: This is the only gospel that explicitly narrates the
resurrection of Jesus (Gos. Pet. 10). It is also notable for exonerating Pontius
Pilate for the crucifixion of Jesus and ascribing the responsibility to Herod
Antipas (1:1–2). This gospel has many other notable features. For example,
Jesus’ cry of dereliction on the cross has been changed to “My power, my
power, you have forsaken me” (Gos. Pet. 5:15–20; cf. Mark 15:34, Matt 27:46,
Ps 21:2 [LXX = Ps 22:1 MT]). This text also includes many supernatural
embellishments.
Related Readings: Gos. Pet. 8–13 (§1.15).
2:3 Εἱστήκει δὲ ἐκεῖ Ἰωσήφ, ὁ φίλος Πειλάτου καὶ τοῦ κυρίου, καὶ εἰδὼς1
ὅτι σταυρίσκειν2 αὐτὸν μέλλουσιν3 ἦλθεν πρὸς τὸν Πειλᾶτον καὶ ᾔτησε τὸ
σῶμα τοῦ κυρίου πρὸς ταφήν. 4 καὶ ὁ Πειλᾶτος πέμψας (a messenger) πρὸς
Ἡρῴδην ᾔτησεν αὐτοῦ τὸ σῶμα. 5 καὶ ὁ Ἡρῴδης ἔφη· Ἀδελφὲ Πειλᾶτε, εἰ
καὶ μή τις αὐτὸν ᾐτήκει, ἡμεῖς αὐτὸν ἐθάπτομεν, ἐπεὶ καὶ σάββατον
ἐπιφώσκει. γέγραπται γὰρ ἐν τῷ νόμῳ ἥλιον μὴ δῦναι4 ἐπὶ πεφονευμένῳ.
καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτὸν τῷ λαῷ πρὸ μιᾶς5 τῶν ἀζύμων, τῆς ἑορτῆς αὐτῶν.
Vocabulary

ἀζύμα, τά, Festival of Unleavened Bread (i.e., Passover) ἐπιφώσκω, to

become daylight, to dawn; draw near ἑορτή, ἡ, festival, feast ἥλιος, ὁ,
 sun; Ἥλιος, ὁ, Helios (sun god) ταφή, ἡ, burial, burial place φίλος, -η, -
ον, beloved, pleasant; popular; subst. friend

3:6 Οἱ δὲ λαβόντες τὸν κύριον6 ὤθουν αὐτὸν7 τρέχοντες καὶ ἔλεγον·

σύρωμεν8 τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ θεου ἐξουσίαν αὐτοῦ ἐσχηκότες.9 7 καὶ πορφύραν
αὐτὸν περιέβαλον καὶ ἐκάθισαν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ καθέδραν κρίσεως, λέγοντες·
Δικαίως κρῖνε, βασιλεῦ τοῦ Ἰσραήλ. 8 καὶ τις αὐτῶν ἐνεγκὼν10 στέφανον
ἀκάνθινον ἔθηκεν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς τοῦ κυρίου, 9 καὶ ἕτεροι ἑστῶτες11
ἐνέπτυον αὐτοῦ ταῖς ὄψεσι, καὶ ἄλλοι τὰς σιαγόνας αὐτοῦ ἐράπισαν ἕτεροι
καλάμῳ ἔνυσσον αὐτὸν καί τινες αὐτὸν ἐμάστιζον λέγοντες· Ταύτῃ τῇ τιμῇ
τιμήσωμεν12 τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ θεοῦ.
Vocabulary

ἀκάνθινος, -η, -ον, thorny, of thorns ἐμπτύω, impf. ἐνέπτυον: spit on

καθέδρα, ἡ, chair, seat καθίζω, (instrans) sit down, take one’s seat; stay;
(trans.) cause to sit, set κάλαμος, ὁ, reed, stalk, staff κρίσις, -εως, ἡ,
judgment, judging; condemnation μαστίζω, strike with a whip, scourge
νύσσω, to prick, stab ὄψις, -εως, ἡ, appearance, countenance, face; vision,
apparition περιβάλλω, 2aor. περιέβαλον, pf. ptc. περιβεβλημένος: lay
something around, put around, clothe with something; mid. throw around
oneself; to embrace, clothe oneself; pass. be clothed πορφύρα, ἡ, purple
cloth ῥαπίζω, to strike, slap
σιαγών, -όνος, ἡ, cheek στέφανος, ὁ, wreath, crown; crowning σύρω, to
drag, pull τιμάω, 1aor. ἐτίμησα, 1aor. ptc. τιμάς: to honor τιμή, -ῆς, ἡ,
honor, pl. honors; price/cost, value; (gen.), at a price of τρέχω, 2.
δραμοῦμαι, 3. ἔδραμον: run; exert oneself ὠθέω, push, shove somebody

4:10 καὶ ἤνεγκον δύο κακούργους καὶ ἐσταύρωσαν ἀνὰ μέσον αὐτῶν τὸν
κύριον· αὐτὸς δὲ ἐσιώπα ὡς μηδένα πόνον ἔχων. 11 καὶ ὅτε ὤρθωσαν τὸν
σταυρόν, ἐπέγραψαν ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ Ἰσραήλ. 12 καὶ
τεθεικότες τὰ ἐνδύματα ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ διεμερίσαντο, καὶ λαχμὸν ἔβαλον ἐ
αὐτοῖς. 13 εἷς δέ τις τῶν κακούργων ἐκείνων ὠνείδισεν αὐτοὺς λέγων·
Ἡμεῖς διὰ τὰ κακὰ ἃ ἐποιήσαμεν οὕτω13 πεπόνθαμεν,14 οὗτως δὲ σωτὴρ
γενόμενος τῶν ἀνθρώπων τί ἠδίκησεν ὑμᾶς; 14 καὶ ἀγανακτήσαντες ἐ
αὐτῷ ἐκέλευσαν ἵνα μὴ σκελοκοπηθῇ ὅπως βασανιζόμενος ἀποθάνῃ.
 Vocabulary

ἀγανακτέω, become indignant/angry at (ἐπί) somebody (regarding an

assumed wrong) ἀγωνιάω, be anxious ἀδικέω, do wrong; pass. be
wronged by somebody ἀνά, each, apiece; ἀνὰ μέσον, between, within (w.
gen.) βασανίζω, to torture, torment; pass. be in torment/great pain
διαμερίζω, to divide, distribute ἔμπροσθεν (w. gen.), before, in front of;
previously ἔνδυμα, τό, clothing; garment ἐπιγράφω, write on/in; inscribe
on κακοῦργος, -ον, criminal, evildoer καταλείπω / καταλιμπάνω, 2aor.
κατέλιπον, 2aor. ptc. καταλι(μ)πών, 6. κατελείφθην, aor. pass. inf.
κατελείφθηναι: leave behind, abandon, forsake; have remaining; leave
alone κελεύω, to command, order (w. dat.) κεράννυμι, 1aor. ἐκέρασα: mix
(oft. of water w. wine) λαχμός, λαχμὸν βάλλειν, throw lots for (ἐπί)
something μηδείς, μηδεμία, μηδέν (w. non-ind.), no one, nothing; μηδέν
(adv.), not at all, in no way ὄξος, -ους, τό, vinegar ὀνειδίζω, mock, insult,
heap insults upon
ὀρθόω, set upright; pass. be erected πάσχω, 2. πείσομαι, 3. ἔπαθον, 4.
πέπονθα: suffer, endure; experience πόνος, ὁ, hard labor, pain, affliction
σιωπάω, keep silent, say nothing, become quiet σκελοκοπέω, break the
legs of somebody σταυρόω, crucify χολή, ἡ, gall, bile

5:15 ἦν δὲ μεσημβρία, καὶ σκότος κατέσχεν πᾶσαν τὴν Ἰουδαίαν· καὶ

ἐθορυβοῦντο καὶ ἠγωνίων μήποτε ὁ ἥλιος ἔδυ ἐπειδὴ ἔτι ἔζη· γέγραπται γὰρ
αὐτοῖς15 ἥλιον μὴ δῦναι16 ἐπὶ πεφονευμένῳ. 16 καί τις αὐτῶν εἶπεν·
Ποτίσατε αὐτὸν χολὴν μετὰ ὄξους· καὶ κεράσαντες ἐπότισαν. 17 καὶ
ἐπλήρωσαν πάντα καὶ ἐτελείωσαν κατὰ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτῶν τὰ ἁμαρτήματα.
18 περιήρχοντα δὲ πολλοὶ μετὰ λύχνων νομίζοντες ὅτι νύξ ἐστιν ἔπεσάν τε.17
19 καὶ ὁ κύριος ἀνεβόησε λέγων· Ἡ δυναμίς μου, ἡ δύναμις, κατέλειψάς με18
καὶ εἰπὼν ἀνελήφθη. 20 καὶ αὐτῆς ὥρας19 διεράγη τὸ καταπέτασμα τοῦ ναοῦ
τῆς Ἰερουσαλὴμ εἰς δύο.
Vocabulary

ἁμάρτημα, τό, sin, transgression ἀναβοάω, cry out ἀναλαμβάνω, 6.

ἀνελήφθην: take up, carry; resolve; take up (a discourse); take over, carry
away διαρρήγνυμι/διαρήσσω, 3. διέρρηξα, 6. διεράγην: tear something,
tear something to pieces; to break (shackles) δύνω (also δύω), mid. δύομαι,
 2. δύσομαι, 2aor. ἔδυν: go down, set (of the sun); sink; mid. to sink/set (of
the sun) ἐπειδή, since, because; after ἡγεμών, -όνος, ὁ, leader; imperial
governor (of a Roman province) ἥλιος, ὁ, sun θορυβέω, trouble/bother
somebody; create a disturbance, clamor for somebody (acc.); pass. be
troubled, distressed Ἰουδαῖος, -α, ον, Jewish/Judean (adj.); Jew/Judean
(noun) καταπέτασμα, curtain; here, the curtain in the Jerusalem temple that
separated the Holy of Holies (inner sanctuary) from the sanctuary
κατέχω,2aor. κατέσχον, aor. pass. ptc. κατασχεθείς: possess, occupy, take
into one’s possession; hold (a ship on a certain course); hold back, bind,
confine; understand that (ὅτι)
λύχνος, lamp (of metal or clay) μεσημβρία, ἡ, midday, noon μήποτε, that
... not, lest ναός, ὁ, temple, inner part of Jewish temple, sanctuary νομίζω,
think, suppose, assume; institute a custom; pass. ptc. customary; nt. pl. ptc.,
customary things περιέρχομαι, wander about (from place to place) ποτίζω,
2. ποτιῶ, 3. ἐπότισα: give somebody a drink σκότος, -ους, τό, darkness;
sin, evil τελειόω, fulfill, bring to full measure; pass. be accomplished (of
promises, prophecies); become mature, perfect φονεύω, to murder; to
execute, put to death

6:21 καὶ τότε ἀπέσπασαν τοὺς ἥλους ἀπὸ τῶν χειρῶν τοῦ κυρίου καὶ
ἔθηκαν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς· καὶ ἡ γῆ πᾶσα ἐσείσθη καὶ φόβος μέγας ἐγένετο.
22 τότε ὁ ἥλιος ἔλαμψε καὶ εὑρέθη ὥρα ἐνάτη. 23 ἐχάρησαν δὲ οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι
καὶ ἔδωκαν τῷ Ἰωσὴφ τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ ἵνα αὐτὸ θάψῃ, ἐπειδὴ θεασάμενος
ἦν20 ὅσα ἀγαθὰ (Jesus) ἐποίησεν. 24 λαβὼν δὲ τὸν κύριον ἔλουσε καὶ
ἐνεἴλησε (ἐν) σινδόνι καὶ εἰσήγαγεν εἰς ἴδιον τάφον καλούμενον Κῆπον
Ἰωσήφ.21
Vocabulary

ἀποσπάω, pull out εἴλω/εἰλέω, 3. εἴλησα: wrap in something; roll up

something εἰσάγω, lead in, bring in; introdpruce ἔνατος, -η, -ον, ninth
ἧλος, ὁ, nail θεάομαι, see, look at, notice, observe κῆπος, ὁ, garden
κρύπτω, impf. pass. ἐκρυβόμην, 3. ἔκρυψα, 6. ἐκρύβην, 2aor. pass. inf.
κρυβῆναι, pf. pass. ptc. κεκρυμμένος: cover, hide, conceal; pass. be hiding
λάμπω, 3. ἔλαμψα: shine, shine forth; shine upon somebody (dat.) λούω
(contract form λόω), bathe, wash νηστεύω, to fast, observe a fast οἷος, -α,
-ον, what kind (of), such as; οἷον + inf. (impling fitness, possibility), it is
 possible οὐαί (w. dat.), woe/alas; concerning, by reason of (dat.) σείω, to
shake σινδών, -όνος, ἡ, linen cloth τάφος, grave, tomb
τέλος, -ους, τό, end; outcome, resolution, conclusion φόβος, ὁ, fear, fright

7:25 τότε οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς γνόντες οἷον κακὸν
ἑαυτοῖς ἐποίησαν, ἤρξαντο κόπτεσθαι καὶ λέγειν· Οὐαὶ ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ἡμῶν·
ἤγγισεν ἡ κρίσις καὶ τὸ τέλος Ἰερουσαλήμ.22 26 ἐγὼ δὲ μετὰ τῶν ἐταίρων
μου ἐλυπούμην καὶ τετρωμένοι23 κατὰ διάνοιαν ἐκρυβόμεθα. ἐζητούμεθα γὰρ
ὑ αὐτῶν ὡς24 (we were) κακοῦργοι καὶ ὡς τὸν ναὸν θέλοντες ἐμπρῆσαι.
27 ἐπὶ25 δὲ τούτοις πᾶσιν ἐνηστεύομεν καὶ ἐκαθεζόμεθα πενθοῦντες καὶ
κλαίοντες νυκτὸς26 καὶ ἡμέρας ἕως τοῦ σαββάτου.
Vocabulary

διάνοια, ἡ, understanding, mind, thoughts ἐγγίζω, approach, come near

(in either a spatial or temporal sense) ἐμπί(μ)πρημι, 1aor. inf. ἐμπρῆσαι, set
on fire, burn ἑταῖρος, ὁ, companion, friend; ἑταίρα, ἡ, prostitute ἱερεύς, -
έως, ὁ, pl. ἱερεῖς, priest; ἐπὶ ἱρέως, during the priesthood of so-and-so
καθέζομαι, 1aor pass. ptc. καθεσθείς, καθεσθεῖσα: sit, sit down; + ἐπί, sit
by; sit as a suppliant (in a sacred service) κακοῦργος, -ον, criminal, evildoer
κλαίω, pres. ptc. κλάων, 3. ἔκλαυσα: weep (for), cry κόπτω, 3. ἔκοψα: to
cut, beat (one’s breast); strike somebody; mid. to mourn λυπέω, cause pain
or grief; pass. be sorrowful, distressed πενθέω, be sad, grieve, mourn;
πενθῶ ἐπί, mourn over τιτρώσκω, pf. τέτρωμαι: inflict a wound, injure

Select Bibliography
Cameron, Ron (ed.). The Other Gospels: Non-Canonical Gospel Texts.
Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1982.
Foster, Paul. The Gospel of Peter: Introduction, Critical Edition and
Commentary. Leiden: Brill, 2010.

1 Temp. adv. ptc. (cf. IV, 1); since the pf. of this verb functions as a pres. tense,
the ptc. should be trans. using the helping word “when.”
2 σταυρίσκω = σταυρόω.

3 μέλλω takes a complementary inf.

4 Impv. inf.

5 Sc. ἡμέρας, i.e., “day one,” “the first day.”

6 I.e., the body of the Lord.

7 Perhaps on a cart.

8 Hort. subj. (cf. IV, 12).

9 S.v. ἔχω; causal adv. ptc. (“because”) (cf. IV, 1.4).

10 S.v. φέρω.

11 Cf. table 9.12.

12 Hort. subj. (IV, 12)

13 οὕτω > οὕτως.

14 S.v. πάσχω.

15 “For them.”

16 Impv. inf.

17 S.v. πίπτω, 3. ἔπεσον / ἔπεσα (1aor ending on 2aor stem); in this context, “to
stumble, fall down.”
18 Cf. Ps 21:2 (LXX): Ὁ θεὸς, ὁ θεὸς μου ... ἵνα τί ἐγκατέλιπές με; (cf. Mark
15:34; Matt 27:46).

19 Gen. of time (cf. IV, 5.3).

20 Periphr. cstr. (IV, 17), but oddly here w. aor. ptc. instead of the expected pf.
ptc.

21 Gen. (indecl.).

22 Gen. (indecl.).

23 S.v. τιτρώσκω.

24 ὡς, “as if.”

25 ἐπί + dat. (“because of”).

26 Gen. of time (cf. IV, 5.3).

Fig. 5. Emperor Domitian, Ephesos (Selçuk Archaeological Museum) (photo:
author).
 1.10. Revelation: The Whore of Babylon and the
Beast
(Rev 17:1–18)

Provenance: The author of the Book of Revelation is identified simply as the

prophet “John.” He lived on the island of Patmos, off the western coast of Asia
Minor. It was here, on this island, that he received his first vision (Rev 1:9–11)
and prophesied to the seven churches in Asia Minor (Rev 1:10–13).1
Date: This apocalypse was composed near the end of Domitian’s reign (ca.
95–96 CE).
Special Features: The Greek syntax of Revelation is sometimes awkward and
ungrammatical, and the text contains numerous Semitisms, suggesting that the
mother tongue of its author was Aramaic. The socio-rhetorical context of
Revelation is one of persecution, suffering, and injustice. The visions, which
make up the bulk of this book (Rev 4:1–22:5), present alternating visions of
hope and visions of conflict. In Rev 17, the prophet is taken into the wilderness
to behold “the great whore ... with whom the kings of the earth have committed
fornication” (Rev 17:2). This “whore” is called “Babylon,” a code name for the
Roman Empire (cf. Rev 17:18), which, like ancient Babylon, was opposed to
God. The “seven mountains” upon which the “whore of Babylon” sits (Rev
17:9) correspond to the seven hills of Rome.
This passage is part of a larger vision of despair and oppression (Rev 17:1–
18:24). It is sandwiched between two visions of hope (the martyrs worshipping
God [Rev 15:2–8] and worship in heaven [Rev 19:1–16]). The overall purpose
of these visions was to inspire Christians to remain steadfast in the face of
persecution.
The prophet John speaks: 17:1 Καὶ ἦλθεν εἷς ἐκ τῶν ἑπτὰ ἀγγέλων τῶν
ἐχόντων τὰς ἑπτὰ φιάλας καὶ ἐλάλησεν μετʼ ἐμοῦ λέγων· δεῦρο, δείξω σοι τὸ
κρίμα τῆς πόρνης τῆς μεγάλης τῆς καθημένης ἐπὶ ὑδάτων πολλῶν,2 2 μεθʼ ἧς
ἐπόρνευσαν οἱ βασιλεῖς3 τῆς γῆς καὶ ἐμεθύσθησαν οἱ κατοικοῦντες τὴν γῆν ἐκ
τοῦ οἴνου τῆς πορνείας αὐτῆς. 3 καὶ ἀπήνεγκέν4 με εἰς ἔρημον ἐν πνεύματι.
καὶ εἶδον γυναῖκα καθημένην ἐπὶ θηρίον κόκκινον, γέμοντα ὀνόματα
βλασφημίας, ἔχων5 κεφαλὰς ἑπτὰ καὶ κέρατα δέκα. 4 καὶ ἡ γυνὴ ἦν
περιβεβλημένη6 πορφυροῦν καὶ κόκκινον καὶ κεχρυσωμένη χρυσίῳ καὶ λίθῳ
τιμίῳ καὶ μαργαρίταις, ἔχουσα ποτήριον χρυσοῦν ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτῆς γέμον
βδελυγμάτων καὶ τὰ ἀκάθαρτα τῆς πορνείας αὐτῆς 5 καὶ ἐπὶ τὸ μέτωπον
αὐτῆς ὄνομα γεγραμμένον, μυστήριον, Βαβυλὼν ἡ μεγάλη, ἡ μήτηρ τῶν
πορνῶν καὶ τῶν βδελυγμάτων τῆς γῆς.
Vocabulary
ἀναφέρω, 2. ἀνοίσω, 3. ἀνήνεγκον: take up, carry away; offer up; bring back;
w. ἐπί, refer to γέμω (w. gen.), nt. pres. ptc. γέμον: be full of something
κόκκινος, -η, -ον, scarlet, red; τὸ κόκκινον, scarlet cloth μαργαρίτης, ὁ, pearl
μέτωπον, τό, forehead πόρνη, ἡ, prostitute, whore πορφυροῦς, -ᾶ, -οῦν,
purple; purple garment ποτήριον, τό, cup τίμιος, -α, -ον, precious, valuable;
superl. τιμιώτερος, -α, -ον, more precious χρυσόω, to gild, adorn with (dat.)
17:6 Καὶ εἶδον τὴν γυναῖκα μεθύουσαν ἐκ τοῦ αἵματος τῶν ἁγίων καὶ ἐκ
τοῦ αἵματος τῶν μαρτύρων Ἰησοῦ. Καὶ ἐθαύμασα ἰδὼν αὐτὴν θαῦμα μέγα. 7
Καὶ εἶπέν μοι ὁ ἄγγελος· διὰ τί 7 ἐθαύμασας; ἐγὼ ἐρῶ8 σοι τὸ μυστήριον τῆς
γυναικὸς καὶ τοῦ θηρίου τοῦ βαστάζοντος αὐτὴν τοῦ ἔχοντος τὰς ἑπτὰ
κεφαλὰς καὶ τὰ δέκα κέρατα. 8 τὸ θηρίον ὃ εἶδες ἦν καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν, καὶ μέλλει
ἀναβαίνειν9 ἐκ τῆς ἀβύσσου καὶ εἰς ἀπώλειαν ὑπάγει, καὶ θαυμασθήσονται οἱ
κατοικοῦντες ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὧν10 οὐ γέγραπται τὸ ὄνομα11 ἐπὶ τὸ βιβλίον τῆς
ζωῆς ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου, βλεπόντων12 τὸ θηρίον, ὅτι ἦν καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν
καὶ παρέσται.13 9 Ὧδε (calls for) ὁ νοῦς ὁ ἔχων σοφίαν. Αἱ ἑπτὰ κεφαλαὶ
ἑπτὰ ὄρη εἰσίν, ὅπου ἡ γυνὴ κάθηται ἐπʼ αὐτῶν. καὶ βασιλεῖς ἑπτά εἰσιν·14 10
οἱ πέντε ἔπεσαν, ὁ εἷς ἔστιν,15 ὁ ἄλλος οὔπω ἦλθεν,16 καὶ ὅταν ἔλθῃ ὀλίγον
αὐτὸν δεῖ μεῖναι. 11 καὶ τὸ θηρίον ὃ ἦν καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν καὶ αὐτὸς ὄγδοός ἐστιν
καὶ (one) ἐκ τῶν ἑπτά ἐστιν, καὶ εἰς ἀπώλειαν ὑπάγει.17 12 Καὶ τὰ δέκα
κέρατα ἃ εἶδες δέκα βασιλεῖς εἰσιν, οἵτινες βασιλείαν οὔπω ἔλαβον, ἀλλὰ
ἐξουσίαν ὡς βασιλεῖς μίαν ὥραν18 λαμβάνουσιν μετὰ τοῦ θηρίου. 13 οὗτοι
μίαν γνώμην ἔχουσιν καὶ τὴν δύναμιν καὶ ἐξουσίαν αὐτῶν τῷ θηρίῳ διδόασιν.
14 οὗτοι μετὰ τοῦ ἀρνίου πολεμήσουσιν καὶ τὸ ἀρνίον νικήσει αὐτούς, ὅτι
κύριος κυρίων ἐστὶν καὶ βασιλεὺς βασιλέων καὶ οἱ μετʼ αὐτοῦ (are the) κλητοὶ
καὶ ἐκλεκτοὶ καὶ πιστοί. 15 Καὶ λέγει μοι· τὰ ὕδατα ἃ εἶδες οὗ19 ἡ πόρνη
κάθηται λαοὶ καὶ ὄχλοι εἰσὶν καὶ ἔθνη καὶ γλῶσσαι. 16 καὶ τὰ δέκα κέρατα ἃ
εἶδες καὶ τὸ θηρίον οὗτοι μισήσουσιν τὴν πόρνην καὶ ἠρημωμένην ποιήσουσιν
αὐτὴν καὶ γυμνὴν καὶ τὰς σάρκας αὐτῆς φάγονται καὶ αὐτὴν κατακαύσουσιν20
ἐν πυρί.21 17 ὁ γὰρ θεὸς ἔδωκεν εἰς τὰς καρδίας αὐτῶν ποιῆσαι τὴν γνώμην
αὐτοῦ22 καὶ ποιῆσαι μίαν γνώμην καὶ δοῦναι23 τὴν βασιλείαν αὐτῶν τῷ
θηρίῳ ἄχρι τελεσθήσονται οἱ λόγοι τοῦ θεοῦ. 18 καὶ ἡ γυνὴ ἣν εἶδες ἔστιν ἡ
πόλις ἡ μεγάλη ἡ ἔχουσα βασιλείαν ἐπὶ τῶν βασιλέων τῆς γῆς.
Vocabulary
ἄβυσσος, ἡ, abyss (i.e., Sheol) ἀρνίον, τό, lamb, here the Lamb24
ἐρημόω, pf. pass. dep. ptc. ἠρημωμένος: make uninhabitable, make desolate
θαῦμα, τό, a wonder/marvel καταβολή, ἡ, beginning, creation μάρτυς, -υρος,
ὁ, witness; martyr
νικάω, to defeat, triumph ὄγδοος, -η, -ον, eighth οὔπω, not yet πολεμέω,
wage war, go to war with ὑπάγω, bring under one’s power, induce somebody to
do something; bring before a court of law; go away, depart

1 The seven churches of Asia are Ephesos, Smyrna, Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardis,
Philadelphia, and Laodikea.

2 An allusion to the Tiber River (cf. Rev 17:15)

3 I.e., the Roman emperors.

4 S.v. ἀναφέρω.

5 ἔχων, m. here for nt.

6 Plpf. periphr. (cf. IV, 17).

7 διὰ τί, “why?”

8 S.v. λέγω.

9 In other words, the beast (Rome) existed in the past and then waned
(becoming almost extinct), but will be revived in the future.

10 ὧν...τὸ ὄνομα, “whose name.”

11 Nt. sg. for nt. pl.

12 Agreeing w. ὧν, instead of οἱ κατοικοῦντες (similar to a gen. absol. cstr.,

“when the ...”).

13 Cf. Rev 20:2, where Satan is about to be thrown into this same bottomless
pit.

14 The “seven kings” are like the Roman emperors up to the time of the fall of
Jerusalem in 70 CE. Though there were actually ten emperors during this period
(Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho,
Vitellius, and Vespasian), Galba, Otho, and Vitellius each ruled less than a year,
leaving seven emperors.

15 “One is,” i.e., Nero, who persecuted Christians from 64 to 68 CE.

16 Probably a reference to Domitian, who succeeded Titus.

17 Perhaps a reference to an eschatological Antichrist (cf. Rev 13).

18 Acc. of duration of time (“for”) (cf. IV, 5).

19 οὗ, “where.”

20 S.v. κατακαίω.

21 This verse seems to indicate that the ten kings (emperors) will not be united
in purpose, but rather will be in conflict with one another in their quest for
power, thus causing the downfall of Rome.
22 ποιῆσαι τὴν γνώμην αὐτοῦ, “to carry out his purpose.”

23 S.v. δίδωμι.

24 I.e., the lion-like Lamb (“slain but standing”), the resurrected Christ (Rev
5:1–7), who has twelve apostles (Rev 21:14).
 1.11. Didache: Christ’s Triumphant Return
(Did. 16:1–8)

Text: Ehrman, I, 305–333. Date: Late first or early second century CE.
Related Texts: Did 1:1-2, 3:1-10 (§ 1.1) The Didache preserves parts of the
oldest surviving written catechism and church order. The reading here is taken
from the final section, which is a brief apocalypse.
16:1 Γρηγορεῖτε ὑπὲρ τῆς ζωῆς ὑμῶν· οἱ λύχνοι ὑμῶν μὴ σβεσθήτωσαν,
καὶ αἱ ὀσφύες ὑμῶν μὴ ἐκλυέσθωσαν, ἀλλὰ γίνεσθε ἕτοιμοι· οὐ γὰρ οἴδατε
τὴν ὥραν, ἐν ᾗ ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν ἔρχεται. 2 πυκνῶς δὲ συναχθήσεσθε
ζητοῦντες τὰ ἀνήκοντα ταῖς ψυχαῖς ὑμῶν· οὐ γὰρ ὠφελήσει ὑμᾶς ὁ πᾶς
χρόνος τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν, ἐὰν μὴ ἐν τῷ ἐσχάτῳ καιρῷ τελειωθῆτε. 3 ἐν
γὰρ ταῖς ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις πληθυνθήσονται οἱ ψευδοπροφῆται καὶ οἱ φθορεῖς,
καὶ στραφήσονται τὰ πρόβατα εἰς λύκους, καὶ ἡ ἀγάπη στραφήσεται εἰς
μῖσος·
Vocabulary

ἀνήκω, impers. be proper, fitting γρηγορέω, wake up, be alert, watchful;

γρηγορέω ἐπί, watch (over) ἐκλύω, take off one’s belt; pass. be unbelted,
ungirded λύκος, ὁ, wolf μῖσος, -ους, τό, hatred πληθύνω, multiply,
increase, grow in number ὀσφύς, -ύος, ἡ, waist πυκνῶς (adv.), frequently
σβέννυμι, aor. inf. σβέσαι, aor. pass. impv. σβέσθητι: extinguish, put out
(a fire); pass. be extinguished φθορεύς, -έως, ὁ, corrupter ψευδοπροφήτης,
false prophet ὠφελέω, to gain, profit, achieve something; help, benefit

16:4 αὐξανούσης γὰρ τῆς ἀνομίας1 μισήσουσιν ἀλλήλους καὶ διώξουσιν

καὶ παραδώσουσιν, καὶ τότε φανήσεται ὁ κοσμοπλανὴς ὡς υἱὸς θεοῦ καὶ
ποιήσει σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα, καὶ ἡ γῆ παραδοθήσεται εἰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ, καὶ
ποιήσει τὰ ἀθέμιτα, ἃ οὐδέποτε γέγονεν ἐξ αἰῶνος. 5 τότε ἥξει2 ἡ κτίσις τῶν
ἀνθρώπων εἰς τὴν πύρωσιν τῆς δοκιμασίας, καὶ σκανδαλισθήσονται πολλοὶ
καὶ ἀπολούνται, οἱ δὲ ὑπομείναντες ἐν τῇ πίστει αὐτῶν σωθήσονται ὑ
αὐτοῦ τοῦ καταθέματος. 6 καὶ τότε φανήσεται τὰ σημεῖα τῆς ἀληθείας·
πρῶτον σημεῖον ἐκπετάσεως ἐν οὐρανῷ, εἶτα σημεῖον φωνῆς σάλπιγγος, καὶ
τὸ τρίτον ἀνάστασις νεκρῶν. 7 οὐ πάντων δέ, ἀλ ὡς ἐρρέθη·3 ἥξει ὁ
κύριος καὶ πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι με αὐτοῦ (Zech 14:5). 8 τότε ὄψεται ὁ κόσμος
τὸν κύριον ἐρχόμενον ἐπάνω τῶν νεφελῶν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ...
Vocabulary

ἀθέμιτον, -ον, forbidden, disgusting ἀνάστασις, -εως, ἡ, resurrection (of

the dead); the erection (of a building) δοκιμασία, ἡ, a testing (for
genuineness) ἐκπέτασις, -εως, ἡ, opening ἥκω, pres. inf. ἥκειν, 2. ἥξω: to
have come, be present καταθέμα, -ματος, τό, an accursed thing (=
ἀνάθεμα) κοσμοπλανής, ὁ, deceiver of the world κτίσις, -εως, ἡ, creation,
that which is created οὐδέποτε, never πύρωσις, -εως, ἡ, burning ordeal
σάλπιγξ, -ιγγος, ἡ, trumpet σημεῖον, τό, a sign, token; marking (on
approved sacrificial animals); pl. stripes τέρας, -ατος, τό, portentous sign,
wonder ὑπομένω, remain, await, endure φαίνω, pres. pass. inf. φαίνεσθαι,
2. φανῶ/φανοῦμαι, 6. ἐφάνην, 2aor. fm. pass. ptc. φανείσα, aor. pass.
impv. φάνηθι: shine, give light; mid. make one’s appearance; pass. appear,
appear to be, be seen, become visible; attend (a meeting)

Select Bibliography
Collins, Adela Yarbro. Cosmology and Eschatology in Jewish and Christian
Apocalypticism. Leiden: Brill, 1996.
Milavec, Aaron. The Didache: Faith, Hope, & Life of Earliest Christian
Communities, 50–70 CE. New York: Newman Press, 2003, 811–826.

1 Gen. absol. (cf. IV, 9).

2 S.v. ἥκω.

3 S.v. λέγω.
 1.12. Gospel of Mark: Three Healing Stories
(Mark 1:32–39, 7:31–37, 8:22–26)

In contrast to the healings of Jesus, the healing testimonials from Epidauros

(Lidonnici §7.9, cf. §7.21) arise from an institutional setting, namely that of the
Asklepieion, where the god Asklepios would heal those who sought his help.
The functionaries associated with the Asklepieion viewed with suspicion
itinerant healers such as Apollonios of Tyana (§8.1) and Jesus of Nazareth, who
healed outside of institutional settings.

(a) Jesus Heals the Sick and Those Possessed by

Demons (Mark 1:32–39)
After Jesus healed a possessed man and a sick woman in Capernaum (Mark
1:21–31), night fell, and he performed more healings of demon-possessed
persons. The story here is one of many instances in Mark’s gospel in which
Jesus requires that the demons keep his identity a secret. Such texts are examples
of a Markan literary device known as the “messianic secret.” The demon’s
confession acts as a stage whisper to the reader concerning Jesus’ true identity.
Thus Jesus silences the demons, not because they say the wrong thing about him,
but precisely because they say the right thing, namely that Jesus is the Son of
God.
1:32 Ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης, ὅτε ἔδυ ὁ ἥλιος, (the crowd) ἔφερον πρὸς αὐτὸν
πάντας τοὺς κακῶς ἔχοντας καὶ τοὺς δαιμονιζομένους· 33 καὶ ἦν ὅλη ἡ πόλις
ἐπισυνηγμένη πρὸς τὴν θύραν. 34 καὶ ( Ἰησοῦς) ἐθεράπευσεν πολλοὺς κακῶς
ἔχοντας ποικίλαις νόσοις καὶ δαιμόνια πολλὰ ἐξέβαλεν καὶ οὐκ ἤφιεν λαλεῖν
τὰ δαιμόνια, ὅτι ᾔδεισαν αὐτόν. 35 Καὶ πρωῒ ἔννυχα λίαν ἀναστὰς ἐξῆλθεν
καὶ ἀπῆλθεν εἰς ἔρημον τόπον κἀκεῖ προσηύχετο. 36 καὶ κατεδίωξεν αὐτὸν
Σίμων καὶ οἱ μετʼ αὐτοῦ, 37 καὶ εὗρον αὐτὸν καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ ὅτι πάντες
ζητοῦσίν σε. 38 καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ἄγωμεν ἀλλαχοῦ εἰς τὰς ἐχομένας
κωμοπόλεις, ἵνα καὶ ἐκεῖ κηρύξω· εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ ἐξῆλθον. 39 καὶ ἦλθεν
κηρύσσων εἰς τὰς συναγωγὰς αὐτῶν εἰς ὅλην τὴν Γαλιλαίαν καὶ τὰ δαιμόνια
ἐκβάλλων.
Vocabulary

ἀλλαχοῦ, elsewhere ἀφίημι, impf. ἤφιον, 3. ἀφῆκα, 2aor. 2nd pers. sg.
impv. ἄφες, 6. ἀφέθην, fut. pass. ἀφεθήσομαι, 2aor. pl. pass. ptc. ἀφέντες:
to let, allow, permit; to leave behind; to forsake; to forgive somebody (dat.)
δαιμονίζομαι, be possessed by a demon/hostile spirit δύνω (also δύω),
mid. δύομαι, 2. δύσομαι, 2aor. ἔδυν: go down/set (of the sun); mid. set (of
the sun); sink ἔννυχος, -ον, at night; when it is still dark; acc. nt. pl. as adv.
ἐπισυνάγω, gather; pass. be gathered θύρα, ἡ, door, doorway (of a house);
entrance (of cave/tomb); ἐπὶ θύραις, lit. “at the doors” (i.e., impending)
κακῶς, wrongly, wickedly; idiom, κακῶς ἔχειν, be sick/ill καταδιώκω,
hunt down, seek out κωμόπολις, ἡ, market town λίαν, very, exceedingly
νόσος, ἡ, disease, illness ὀψιά, ἡ, evening ποικίλος, -η, -ον, various,
various kinds πρωΐ (adv.), early, early in the morning

(b) Jesus Heals a Deaf Man with Spittle (Mark 7:31–

37)
Jesus’ use of a foreign word to heal in Mark 7:34 is suggestive of the use of such
words in magical spells, as witnessed by the Greek magical papyri in PGM XIII,
230–334 (§5.4), PGM IV, 1496–1595 and PGM XXXVI, 320–332 (§7.3).
7:31 Καὶ πάλιν ( Ἰησοῦς) ἐξελθὼν ἐκ τῶν ὁρίων Τύρου ἦλθεν διὰ Σιδῶνος
εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν ὁρίων Δεκαπόλεως.1 32 Καὶ
φέρουσιν2 αὐτῷ κωφὸν καὶ μογιλάλον καὶ παρακαλοῦσιν αὐτὸν ἵνα ἐπιθῇ3
αὐτῷ τὴν χεῖρα. 33 καὶ ἀπολαβόμενος αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄχλου κατʼ ἰδίαν4
(Ἰησοῦς) ἔβαλεν5 τοὺς δακτύλους αὐτοῦ εἰς τὰ ὦτα αὐτοῦ καὶ πτύσας ἥψατο
τῆς γλώσσης αὐτοῦ (with the saliva on his fingers), 34 καὶ ἀναβλέψας εἰς τὸν
οὐρανὸν ἐστέναξεν καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ΕΦΦΑΘΑ,6 ὅ ἐστιν, διανοίχθητι. 35 καὶ
εὐθέως ἠνοίγησαν αὐτοῦ αἱ ἀκοαί, καὶ ἐλύθη ὁ δεσμὸς τῆς γλώσσης αὐτοῦ
καὶ ἐλάλει ὀρθῶς. 36 καὶ διεστείλατο αὐτοῖς ἵνα μηδενὶ λέγωσιν·7 ὅσον δὲ
αὐτοῖς διεστέλλετο, αὐτοὶ μᾶλλον8 περισσότερον ἐκήρυσσον. 37 καὶ
ὑπερπερισσῶς ἐξεπλήσσοντο λέγοντες· καλῶς πάντα πεποίηκεν, καὶ τοὺς
κωφοὺς ποιεῖ ἀκούειν καὶ τοὺς ἀλάλους λαλεῖν (Isa 35:5–6).9
Vocabulary
 ἀκοή, ἡ, (faculty of) hearing; act of hearing; account, report; obedience; αἱ
ἀκοαί, ears; chamber where the voice of the god Asklepios is heard
ἄλαλος, -ον, unable to speak ἀνά, each, apiece; ἀνὰ μέσον, between,
within, through (w. gen.) ἀναβλέπω, look up/above at (w. acc.); regain
sight (cf. Mark 8:24) ἀπολαμβάνω, receive something; regain, recover;
mid. take away/aside; receive ἅπτομαι (w. gen.), 3. ἡψάμην, 1aor. mid.
impv. ἅψαι: touch, take hold of; attack Δεκάπολις, ἡ, Decapolis, a
federation of ten cities lying east of the Jordan River δεσμός, ὁ, pl. δεσμά:
pl. shackles, chains, sandal straps; fig. hindrance (that deafens or physically
handicaps) διανοίγω, 6. διηνοίχθην: to open; explain, interpret διαστέλλω,
impf. διεστελλόμην, 3. διεστειλάμην: mid. give orders ἐκπλήσσω, impf.
ἐξεπλησσόμην, 6. ἐξεπλάγην, 2aor. pass. ptc. πλαγείς: amaze; pass. be
amazed κωφός, -ή, -όν, deaf, unable to speak μογιλάλος, -ον, speaking
with difficulty, speaking in a hollow manner ὀρθός, -ή, -όν, upright, erect;
straight, true, correct; ὀρθῶς, correctly, rightly, strictly; normally, in good
order; duly ὅριον, τό, boundary; τὰ ὅρια, region, district οὖς, τό, ὠτός
(gen.), ὠτί (dat.) / pl. τὰ ὦτα: dim. ὠτίον: ear, hearing παρακαλέω, beg,
request; urge, encourage; console, comfort; appeal to περισσός, -ή, -όν,
abundant, profuse; comp. περισσότερος, -α, -ον, abundantly, still more
πτύω, to spit Σιδών, -ῶνος, ἡ, Sidon, a former Phoenicia city in the
province of Syria, west of Damascus στενάζω, to groan, sigh Τύρος, ἡ,
Tyre, ancient Phoenician city ὑπερπερισσῶς, beyond all measure

(c) Jesus Heals a Blind Man with Spittle (Mark 8:22–

26)
The blind man is symbolic of the disciples, who are blind to Jesus’ true identity
as the Son of God. When the blind man is healed, he “sees everything clearly”
(Mark 8:26). Immediately following this healing, Peter is similarly healed of his
spiritual blindness and sees the true identity of Jesus as the Christ (Mark 8:29,
§1.13).
8:22 Καὶ (Jesus and his disciples) ἔρχονται εἰς Βηθσαϊδάν.10 Καὶ (the
townspeople) φέρουσιν αὐτῷ τυφλὸν καὶ παρακαλοῦσιν αὐτὸν ἵνα αὐτοῦ
ἅψηται. 23 καὶ ἐπιλαβόμενος τῆς χειρὸς τοῦ τυφλοῦ ἐξήνεγκεν11 αὐτὸν ἔξω
τῆς κώμης καὶ πτύσας εἰς τὰ ὄμματα αὐτοῦ, ἐπιθεὶς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῷ
ἐπηρώτα αὐτόν· εἴ12 τι βλέπεις; 24 καὶ ἀναβλέψας13 (τυφλός) ἔλεγεν· βλέπω
τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ὅτι14 ὡς δένδρα ὁρῶ περιπατοῦντας. 25 εἶτα πάλιν ἐπέθηκεν
τὰς χεῖρας ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ, καὶ (τυφλός) διέβλεψεν καὶ
ἀπεκατέστη καὶ ἐνέβλεπεν τηλαυγῶς ἅπαντα. 26 καὶ (Ἰησοῦς) ἀπέστειλεν
αὐτὸν εἰς οἶκον αὐτοῦ λέγων· μηδὲ εἰς τὴν κώμην εἰσέλθῃς.
Vocabulary

ἀναβλέπω, look up/above at (w. acc.); regain sight ἀποκαθίστημι, 1aor.

ἀπεκατέστησα / 2aor. ἀπεκατέστην: re-establish, restore, cure; intrans. be
cured δένδρον, τό, tree διαβλέπω, see clearly, look intently, open one’s
eyes (wide) ἐκφέρω, 3. ἐξήνεγκον, 6. ἐξηνέχθην, aor. pass. subj.
ἐξενέχθω: lead out, take out; produce; carry the dead for burial; declare
one’s opinion ἐμβλέπω, impf. ἐνεβλέπον: look at (w. dat.), gaze on;
consider ἐπεί, when, after; because, since ἐπιλαμβάνω, 5. ἐπεἴλημμαι:
take hold of something; overtake, seize; pass. be imprisoned ἐπιτίθημι,
2aor. ptc. ἐπιθείς: lay/put something (acc.) on (ἐπί) somebody/something

(acc.); give something (acc.) to somebody (dat.) κώμη, ἡ, village; pl.

countryside ὄμμα, -ματος, τό, eye πτύω, to spit τηλαυγῶς, distinctly,
clearly τυφλός, -ή, όν, blind, unable to see

1 I.e., Jesus traveled through largely Gentile territory.

2 Hist. pres. (cf. IV, 11).

3 S.v. ἐπιτίθημι, cf. table 9.12.1(c).

4 κα ἰδίαν, “privately.”

5 In HGr βάλλω oft. has meaning “to put.”

6 ΕΦΦΑΘΑ, contr. Aramaic word (’eppattah, meaning “be opened”) is

displayed here in capital letters to indicate a magical word (cf. PGM, §5.4, §7.3),
which may not have been understood by the intended readers of Mark’s gospel
(hence the need for a translation).
7 Another example of the “messianic secret” in Mark.

8 ὅσον (“as much as ...”) is coordinated with μᾶλλλον (“the more ...”).

9 This is a quotation from a longer poem concerning the restoration of Zion (Isa
35:1–10). Its citation here implies that the expected Kingdom of God is already
in some way present in Jesus’ healings.

10 Bethsaida is located at the north end of Lake Gennesaret.

11 S.v. φέρω.

12 εἰ here introduces a direct question (leave untranslated).

13 Incept. aor.

14 ὅτι, declarative “that” preceeding an explanation (“for,” “since”).

 1.13. Gospel of Mark: Peter’s Confession
(Mark 8:27–35)

In the Synoptic Gospels, Peter is accorded the distinction of being the first
disciple to understand Jesus’ true identity. He is also known for being the first to
misunderstand the nature of Jesus’ true mission.1 This tradition can be contrasted
with textual traditions that accord the authority to Mary Magdalene (§1.7) and to
the disciple Thomas (§§1.4, 5.10).
8:27 Καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὰς κώμας Καισαρείας
τῆς Φιλίππου·2 καὶ ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ (Jesus) ἐπηρώτα τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ λέγων3
αὐτοῖς· τίνα4 με5 λέγουσιν οἱ ἄνθρωποι6 εἶναι; 28 οἱ δὲ εἶπαν7 αὐτῷ λέγοντες
ὅτι Ἰωάννην τὸν βαπτιστήν, καὶ ἄλλοι Ἠλίαν, ἄλλοι δὲ ὅτι εἷς τῶν προφητῶν.
29 καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπηρώτα αὐτούς· ὑμεῖς δὲ τίνα με λέγετε εἶναι; ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ
Πέτρος λέγει αὐτῷ· σὺ εἶ ὁ χριστός. 30 καὶ (Jesus) ἐπετίμησεν αὐτοῖς ἵνα
μηδενὶ λέγωσιν περὶ αὐτοῦ.
31 Καὶ ἤρξατο διδάσκειν αὐτοὺς ὅτι δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου πολλὰ
παθεῖν8 καὶ ἀποδοκιμασθῆναι ὑπὸ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων καὶ τῶν ἀρχιερέων καὶ
τῶν γραμματέων καὶ ἀποκτανθῆναι9 καὶ μετὰ τρεῖς ἡμέρας ἀναστῆναι· 32 καὶ
παρρησίᾳ τὸν λόγον ἐλάλει. καὶ προσλαβόμενος ὁ Πέτρος αὐτὸν ἤρξατο
ἐπιτιμᾶν αὐτῷ. 33 ὁ δὲ ἐπιστραφεὶς καὶ ἰδὼν τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ
ἐπετίμησεν Πέτρῳ καὶ λέγει· ὕπαγε ὀπίσω μου,10 σατανᾶ, ὅτι οὐ φρονεῖς τὰ
τοῦ θεοῦ11 ἀλλὰ τὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων. 34 Καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος τὸν ὄχλον σὺν
τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἀκολουθεῖν,
ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω12 τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι.
35 ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι ἀπολέσει13 αὐτήν· ὃς δʼ ἂν14
ἀπολέσει τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου σώσει αὐτήν. 36
τί γὰρ ὠφελεῖ ἄνθρωπον κερδῆσαι τὸν κόσμον ὅλον καὶ15 ζημιωθῆναι τὴν
ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ; 37 τί γὰρ δοῖ16 ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ; 38 ὃς
γὰρ ἐὰν17 ἐπαισχυνθῇ με καὶ τοὺς ἐμοὺς λόγους ἐν τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ τῇ
μοιχαλίδι18 καὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπαισχυνθήσεται αὐτόν,
ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐν τῇ δόξῃ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων τῶν ἁγίων.
 Vocabulary

ἁμαρτωλός, -όν, sinful; subst. sinner ἀντάλλαγμα τινος, an exchange for

something (w. gen.) ἀπαρνέομαι, deny somebody; ἀπαρνέομαι ἑαυτόν,
deny oneself (i.e., be without regard for one’s own advantage)
ἀποδοκιμάζω, reject ἀπόλλυμι, 2. ἀπολέσω, 2aor. ἀπώλεσα/2aor.
ἀπωλόμην, aor. inf. ἀπολεῖν, aor. mid. inf. ἀπολέσθαι, 4. ἀπόλωλα, 2plpf.
ἀπωλώλειν: destroy, kill; lose; mid. perish, be ruined; die, be lost; be
destroyed ἀρχιερεύς, -έως, ὁ, high priest βαπτιστής, ὁ, Baptist, baptizer
(term for John) ἐπαισχύνομαι, be ashamed ἐπιτιμάω, warn, speak
seriously to (w. dat.); rebuke ζημιόω, fine somebody an amount (dat.);
pass. suffer a loss, forfeit Ἠλίας, ου, ὁ, Elijah κερδαίνω, 3. ἐκέρδησα/
ἐκέρδανα: gain; spare oneself, avoid μοιχαλίς, -ίδος, ἡ, adulteress; as adj.,
unfaithful/adulterous παρρησία, ἡ, confidence, boldness, courage;
παρρησίᾳ (adv.), freely, openly, plainly προσλαμβάνω, mid. take
somebody aside; partake of food φρονέω, think, have in mind, set one’s
mind on, be concerned about ὠφελέω, gain, profit, achieve something;
help, benefit

1 In Matt 16:17–19, this tradition is expanded, with Peter being given the “keys
to the kingdom of heaven.”

2 This is a reference to the villages around the city of Caesarea Philippi, which
were located at the foot of Mt. Hermon, east of Tyre and north of Bethsaida.

3 λέγων, pleon. after ἐπηρώτα.

4 Do not confuse the interog. pron. τίνα with the indef. pron. τινά (encl. τινα).

5 Subject of inf.

6 οἱ ἄνθρωποι, i.e., “the people (in general).”

7 εἶπαν > εἶπον.

8 S.v. πάσχω.

9 S.v. ἀποκτείνω.

10 ὕπαγε ὀπίσω μου, “get out of my sight!”

11 τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, i.e., the things that pertain to God, the concerns of God.

12 S.v. αἴρω.

13 Fut. in place of subj.

14 ἄν w. fut. ind. (instead of the expected aor. subj.).

15 καί, Semitic coordinate conjunction for subordinate, “if he loses ...” (i.e., at
the price of himself).

16 δοῖ, HGr for δῷ (s.v. δίδωμι), cf. table 9.12.1(b).

17 ὅς…ἐάν (“whoever”).

18 Adj. in 2nd attrib. pos. (cf. IV, 4.2).

 1.14. Protoevangelium of James: The Childhood of
Mary
(Prot. Jas. 8, 11–12)

Joachim and Anna, the parents of Mary (Μαρία/Μαριάμμη), took her to the
Jerusalem Temple at the age of three years and then returned home. Mary then
remained in the Temple precincts until she reached the age of puberty.
Text: Ronald F. Hock, The Infancy Gospels of James and Thomas (Santa
Rosa, California: Polebridge Press, 1995); ET: NTA, I, 378–81.
Related Texts: Prot. Jas. 13–16, 19–20 (§1.8).
8:1 Καὶ κατέβησαν οἱ γονεῖς αὐτῆς θαυμάζοντες καὶ ἐπαινοῦντες καὶ
δοξάζοντες τὸν δεσπότην θεὸν ὅτι οὐκ ἀπεστράφη ἡ παῖς1 ἐ αὐτούς. 2 ἦν
δὲ Μαρία ἐν ναῷ κυρίου ὡσεὶ περιστερὰ νεμομένη καὶ ἐλάμβανε τροφὴν ἐκ
χειρὸς ἀγγέλου. 3 Γενομένης δὲ αὐτῆς2 δωδεκαετοῦς, συμβούλιον ἐγένετο
τῶν ἱερέων λεγόντων· ἰδοὺ Μαρία γέγονεν δωδεκαετὴς ἐν τῷ ναῷ κυρίου. 4
τί οὖν αὐτὴν ποιήσωμεν, μήπως μιάνῃ τὸ ἁγίασμα κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν; 5
καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ οἱ ἱερεῖς· σὺ ἕστηκας ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον κυρίου. εἴσελθε
καὶ πρόσευξαι περὶ αὐτῆς· καὶ ὃ ἐὰν φανερώσῃ σοι κύριος ὁ θεός, τοῦτο
ποιήσομεν. 6 Καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς λαβὼν τὸν δωδεκακώδωνα εἰς τὰ
ἅγια τῶν ἁγίων καὶ ηὔξατο περὶ αὐτῆς. 7 καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἐπέστη
λέγων· Ζαχαρία Ζαχαρία, ἔξελθε καὶ ἐκκλησίασον τοὺς χηρεύοντας τοῦ λαοῦ,
καὶ ἐνεγκάτωσαν3 ἀνὰ ῥάβδον, 8 καὶ ᾧ ἐὰν ἐπιδείξῃ κύριος ὁ θεὸς σημεῖον,
τούτῳ ἔσται γυνή. 9 ἐξῆλθον δὲ οἱ κήρυκες κα ὅλης τῆς περιχώρου τῆς
Ἰουδαίας, καὶ ἤχησεν ἡ σάλπιγξ κυρίου, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἔδραμον ἅπαντες.
Vocabulary

ἁγίασμα, -ματος, τό, sanctuary ἀνά, each, apiece; ἀνὰ μέσον, between,
within (w. gen.) ἀποστρέφω, 2aor. pass. ἀπεστράφην (dep.): look back at
(ἐπί) somebody, look away; refrain from, turn back from; revoke γονεύς,
ὁ, pl. γονεῖς, parent δεσπότης, ὁ, master, lord, ruler; owner δωδεκαετής, -
ες, twelve years (old) δωδεκακώδων, -ωνος, ὁ, high priest’s vestment with
 twelve small bells ἐκκλησιάζω, 1aor. impv. ἐκκλησίασον: hold an
assembly, gather ἐπαινέω, commend, praise; approve (statutes)
ἐπιδείκνυμι/ἐπιδεικνύω, pres. mid. inf. ἐπιδείκνυσθαι, 3. ἐπέδειξα, 1aor
mid. ἐπεδειξάμην: show, point out; discuss; prove that (ὅτι) ἐφίστημι,
pres. mid. ἐφίσταμαι, 3. ἐπέστησα/ἐπέστην, aor. ptc. ἐπιστάς, -άντος, 4.
ἐφέστηκα: stand on/near, stand beside (παρά); approach; come upon,
attack; mid. (intrans.), come upon somebody (w. dat.), overtake somebody
ἠχέω, to sound (a brass instrument) θυσιαστήριον, τό, altar of burnt
offerings (in the forecourt of the Jerusalem Temple) κῆρυξ, -υκος, ὁ,
herald, public messenger; trumpet shell (a seashell with sharp edges used in
torture) μήπως, that perhaps ... not, lest somehow μιαίνω, 3. ἐμίανα, 5.
μεμίαμμαι: defile, contaminate; mid. defile oneself νέμω, feed, graze (of
birds and cattle) ῥάβδος, ἡ, rod, staff ῥίπτω, 3. ἔρριψα, 1aor. impv.
ῥῖψον, 6. ἐρρίφην: throw, cast away; lay/put something down σάλπιγξ, -
ιγγος, ἡ, trumpet σημεῖον, τό, a sign, token; a marking (on approved
sacrificial animals); pl. stripes συμβούλιον, τό, meeting, council session
χηρεύω, be a widower ὡσεί, like, as; about, approximately

After Mary was betrothed to Joseph, the following

event occurred:
11:1 Καὶ ἔλαβεν τὴν κάλπιν καὶ ἐξῆλθεν γεμίσαι ὕδωρ· 2 καὶ ἰδοὺ φωνὴ
λέγουσα αὐτῇ· χαῖρε, κεχαριτωμένη· ὁ κύριος μετὰ σοῦ· εὐλογημένη σὺ ἐν
γυναιξίν. 3 καὶ περιεβλέπετο τὰ δεξιὰ καὶ τὰ ἀριστερὰ Μαρία πόθεν αὕτη
εἴη4 ἡ φωνή. 4 καὶ ἔντρομος γενομένη εἰσῄει εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτῆς καὶ
ἀναπαύσασα τὴν κάλπιν ἔλαβεν τὴν πορφύραν καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου
καὶ εἷλκεν αὐτήν. 5 Καὶ ἰδοὺ ἔστη ἄγγελος ἐνώπιον αὐτῆς λέγων· μὴ φοβοῦ,
Μαρία· εὗρες γὰρ χάριν ἐνώπιον τοῦ πάντων δεσπότου. συλλήψει5 ἐκ λόγου
αὐτοῦ. 6 Ἡ δὲ ἀκούσασα Μαρία διεκρίθη ἐν ἑαυτῇ λέγουσα· εἰ ἐγὼ
συλλήψομαι ἀπὸ κυρίου θεοῦ ζῶντος, καὶ γεννήσω ὡς πᾶσα γυνὴ γεννᾷ; 7
Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου· οὐκ οὕτως, Μαρία· δύναμις γὰρ θεοῦ ἐπισκιάσει
σοι· διὸ καὶ τὸ γεννώμενον (will be) ἅγιον κληθήσεται υἱὸς ὑψίστου. 8 καὶ
καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν· αὐτὸς γὰρ σώσει τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῶν
ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν. 9 Καὶ εἶπε Μαρία· ἰδοὺ ἡ δούλη κυρίου κατενώπιον αὐτοῦ.
γένοιτό6 μοι κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου.
Vocabulary

ἀριστερός, -ά, -όν, best; euphem. for “left” (like εὐώνυμος); on the left;
ἀριστερά, ἡ, left hand; τὰ ἀριστερά (sc. μέρη), on the left side γεμίζω, fill
with (w. acc.) δεξιός, -ά, -όν, on the right; δεξιά, ἡ, right hand, authority;
τὰ δεξιά (sc. μέρη), on the right side διακρίνω, judge, decide; pass.,bring
an issue to decsion; to doubt εἴσειμι (fr. εἶμι), impf. εἰσῄειν, inf. εἰσιέναι:
enter; come before, enter before7
ἔντρομος, -ον, trembling ἐπισκιάζω, overshadow (w. dat.); to cover
θρόνος, ὁ, chair, seat, throne κάλπις, -ιδος, ἡ, water jar κατενώπιον (w.
gen.), before περιβλέπω, look around πόθεν, from where; why (interog.
adv.) πορφύρα, ἡ, purple dye; purple cloth; purple stripe συλλαμβάνω, 3.
συνέλαβον, inf. συλλαβεῖν, 2aor. mid. impv. συλλαβοῦ, 6. συνελήμφθην:
lay hold of, seize; comprehend; conceive a child; mid. take part in
something with somebody ὕψιστος, -η, -ον, highest; ὁ ὕψιστος, the Most
High (God) χαριτόω, bestow favor upon somebody

12:1 Καὶ ἐποίησεν τὴν πορφύραν καὶ τὸ κόκκινον, και ἀνήνεγκεν8 (them)
τῷ ἀρχιερεῖ. 2 καὶ λαβὼν (the cloths) ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς εὐλόγησεν αὐτὴν καὶ
εἶπεν· Μαρία, ἐμεγάλυνεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς τὸ ὄνομά σου, καὶ ἔσῃ εὐλογημένῃ
ἐν πάσαις ταῖς γενεαῖς τῆς γῆς. 3 Χαρὰν δὲ λαβοῦσα9 Μαρία ἀπῄει πρὸς τὴν
συγγενίδα αὐτῆς Ἐλισάβεδ. 4 καὶ ἔκρουσεν πρὸς τὴν θύραν, καὶ ἀκούσασα ἡ
Ἐλισάβεδ ἔρριψεν τὸ κόκκινον καὶ ἔδραμεν πρὸς τὴν θύραν καὶ ἤνοιξεν αὐτῇ
καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτὴν καὶ εἶπεν· 5 πόθεν (happening) μοι (is) τοῦτο ἵνα10 ἡ
μήτηρ τοῦ κυρίου μου ἔλθῃ πρὸς ἐμέ; ἰδοὺ γὰρ τὸ ἐν ἐμοὶ ἐσκίρτησεν καὶ
εὐλόγησέν σε. 6 Ἡ δὲ Μαρία ἐπελάθετο τῶν μυστηρίων ὧν11 ἐλάλησεν
Γαβριὴλ ὁ ἄγγγελος. καὶ ἠτένισεν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ εἶπεν· τίς εἰμι ἐγὼ,
κύριε, ὅτι ἰδοὺ πᾶσαι αἱ γενεαὶ τῆς γῆς μακαριοῦσίν με; 7 Καὶ ἐποίησεν τρεῖς
μῆνας πρὸς12 τὴν Ἐλλισάβεδ. 8 καὶ ἡμέρᾳ ἀ ἡμέρας ἡ γαστὴρ αὐτῆς
ὠγκοῦτο. καὶ φοβηθεῖσα ἡ Μαρία ἦλθεν ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτῆς καὶ ἔκρυπτεν
αὑτὴν ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ. 9 ἦν δὲ ἐτῶν δέκα ἓξ ὅτε ταῦτα τὰ μυσήρια
ἐγένετο αὐτῇ.
Vocabulary

ἀναφέρω, 2. ἀνοίσω, 3. ἀνήνεγκον: take up, carry away; offer up; bring
 back; + ἐπί, refer to ἄπειμι (fr. εἶμι), ptc. ἀπιόντος, impf. ἀπῄειν: leave,
depart (for paradigm of εἶμι see table 9.14) ἀρχιερεύς, -έως, ὁ, high priest
γαστήρ, -τρος, ἡ, belly, stomach; womb ἐπιλανθάνομαι (w. gen.), 2.
ἐπιλήσομαι, 3. ἐπελαθόμην, pf. mid./pass. ptc. ἐπειλημμένος: forget;
neglect, overlook εὐλογέω, bless κόκκινος, -η, -ον, scarlet, red; τὸ
κόκκινον, scarlet cloth κρούω, knock on (πρός) a door μακαρίζω, 2.
μακαριῶ: to call/consider blessed; pronounce blessed for (w. gen.)
μεγαλύνω, to praise, glorify ὀγκόω, pass. to swell (through pregancy); be
pregnant πορφύρα, ἡ, purple cloth σκιρτάω, leap up (as a sign of joy)
συγγενίς, -ίδος, ἡ, relative, kinswoman

1 I.e., Mary.

2 Gen. absol. (cf. IV, 9).

3 S.v. φέρω.

4 For opt. paradigm of εἰμί cf. table 9.13.

5 συλλήψει > συλλήψῃ.

6 S.v. γίνομαι.

7 For paradigm of εἶμι cf. table 9.14.

8 S.v. ἀναφέρω.

9 λαμβάνω χαράν, “to rejoice.”

10 Epex. ἵνα (“that”).

11 Rel. pron.
12 ποιέω (time) πρὸς, “to spend (time) with somebody.”
 1.15. Gospel of Peter: The Empty Tomb
(Gos. Pet. 8–13)

Text: Paul Foster, The Gospel of Peter: Introduction, Critical Edition and
Commentary (Leiden: Brill, 2010), 179–195; Bernhard: 56–78 (§§ 2–23); ET:
NTA, I, 185–87.
Related Texts: Gos. Pet. 2–7 (§1.9).
8:28 Συναχθέντες δὲ οἱ γραμματεῖς καὶ Φαρισαῖοι καὶ πρεσβύτεροι πρὸς
ἀλλήλους ἀκούσαντες ὅτι ὁ λαὸς ἅπας γογγύζει καὶ κόπτεται τὰ στήθη
λέγοντες ὅτι, εἰ τῷ θανάτῳ αὐτοῦ ταῦτα τὰ μέγιστα σημεῖα γέγονεν, ἴδετε
ὅτι πόσον δίκαιός ἐστιν. 29 ἐφοβήθησαν οἱ πρεσβύτεροι καὶ ἦλθον πρὸς
Πειλᾶτον δεόμενοι αὐτοῦ καὶ λέγοντες· 30 παράδος1 ἡμῖν στρατιώτας, ἵνα
φυλάξω τὸ μνῆμα αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τρεῖς ἡμέρας μήποτε ἐλθόντες οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ
κλέψωσιν αὐτὸν καὶ ὑπολάβῃ ὁ λαὸς ὅτι ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀνέστη, καὶ ποιήσωσιν
ἡμῖν κακά. 31 ὁ δὲ Πειλᾶτος παρέδωκεν αὐτοῖς Πετρώνιον2 τὸν κεντυρίωνα
μετὰ στρατιωτῶν φυλάσσειν τὸν τάφον. καὶ σὺν αὐτοῖς ἦλθον πρεσβύτεροι
καὶ γραμματεῖς ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμα. 32 καὶ κυλίσαντες λίθον μέγαν κατὰ τοῦ
κεντυρίωνος καὶ τῶν στρατιωτῶν ὁμοῦ πάντες οἱ ὄντες ἐκεῖ ἔθηκαν (it) ἐπὶ
τῇ θύρᾳ τοῦ μνήματος. 33 καὶ ἐπέχρισαν ἑπτὰ σφραγῖδας καὶ σκηνὴν ἐκεῖ
πήξαντες3 ἐφύλαξαν.
9:34 πρωΐας δὲ ἐπιφώσκοντος τοῦ σαβάτου ἦλθεν ὄχλος ἀπὸ Ἰερουσαλὴμ
καὶ τῆς περιχώρου ἵνα ἴδωσι τὸ μνημεῖον ἐσφραγισμένον. 35 τῇ δὲ νυκτὶ4 ᾗ
ἐπέφωσκεν ἡ κυριακή,5 φυλασσόντων τῶν στρατιωτῶν6 ἀνὰ δύο δύο7 κατὰ
φρουράν, μεγάλη φωνὴ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ. 36 καὶ εἶδον ἀνοιχθέντες
τοὺς οὐρανοὺς καὶ δύο ἄνδρας κατελθόντας ἐκεῖθε πολὺ φέγγος ἔχοντας καὶ
ἐγγίσαντας τῷ τάφῳ. 37 ὁ δὲ λίθος ἐκεῖνος ὁ βεβλημένος8 ἐπὶ τῇ θύρᾳ ἀ
ἑαυτοῦ9 κυλισθεὶς ἐπεχώρησε παρὰ μέρος·10 καὶ ὁ τάφος ἠνοίγη καὶ
ἀμφότεροι οἱ νεανίσκοι εἰσῆλθον.
Vocabulary

ἀμφότεροι, -αι, -α, both, all γογγύζω, complain γραμματεύς, ὁ,

 secretary (of an association, civic council, etc.); expert in the Torah, scribe
ἐπιφώσκω, become daylight, dawn ἐπιχρίω, 1aor. ἐπέχρισα: a viscous
substance, spread on, anoint ἐπιχωρέω, move over/toward; grant
somebody permission to do something θύρα, ἡ, door, doorway (of a
house); entrance (of cave/tomb); ἐπὶ θύραις, lit. “at the doors” (i.e.,
impending) κεντυρίων, -ωνος, ὁ, centurion (Lat. loanw., cf.
ἑκατοντάρχης) κόπτω, 3. ἔκοψα: to cut; mid. mourn κυλίω, roll
something up/down; mid. roll oneself upon something; pour down
κυριακός, -ή, -όν, belonging to the Lord, the Lord’s μέγιστος, -η, -ον
(superl. of μέγας, μεγάλη, μέγα): best; topmost, foremost; mighty μνῆμα, -
ματος, τό, grave, tomb μνημεῖον, τό, grave; sepulchre νεανίσκος, ὁ, a
youth, young man; servant ὁμοῦ (adv.), in the same place/time, together
πήγνυμι, 3. ἔπηξα, 1aor. ptc. πήξας, 6. ἐπάγην: pitch a tent; pass. become
stiff, congealed πόσος, -η, -ον, how great? how much/many?
πρωΐα, ἡ, early morning σημεῖον, τό, a sign, token; a marking (on
approved sacrificial animals); pl. stripes στῆθος, -ους, τό (uncontr. -εος),
breast (of both sexes) σφραγίζω, to seal (for a security), to seal by
impressing a seal with a signet ring σφραγίς, -ῖδος, ἡ, (wax) seal φέγγος, -
ους, τό, light, radiance, flash φρουρά, ἡ, guard duty, watch; κατὰ
φρουράν, “in every watch”
φυλάσσω (Att. φυλάττω), to keep; guard, protect; observe, follow; pass.
being kept

10:38 ἱδόντες οὖν οἱ στρατιῶται ἐκεῖνοι ἐξύπνισαν τὸν κεντυρίωνα καὶ

τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους· παρῆσαν γὰρ καὶ ἀυτοὶ φυλάσσοντες. 39 καὶ
ἐξηγουμένων αὐτῶν11 ἃ εἶδον πάλιν ὁρῶσιν ἐξελθόντας ἀπὸ τοῦ τάφου
τρεῖς ἄνδρας καὶ τοὺς δύο τὸν ἕνα ὑπορθοῦντας καὶ σταυρὸν ἀκολουθοῦντα
αὐτοῖς· 40 καὶ τῶν μὲν δύο τὴν κεφαλὴν χωροῦσαν μέχρι τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, τοῦ
δὲ χειραγωγουμένου ὑ αὐτῶν (τὴν κεφαλὴν) ὑπερβαίνουσαν τοὺς
12
οὐρανούς. 41 καὶ φωνῆς ἤκουον ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν λεγούσης· ἐκήρυξας τοῖς
κοιμωμένοις; 42 καὶ ὑπακοὴ ἠκούετο ἀπὸ τοῦ σταυροῦ ὅτι ναί.
11:43 συνεσκέπτοντο οὖν ἀλλήλοις ἐκεῖνοι ἀπελθεῖν καὶ ἐνφάνισαι13
ταῦτα τῷ Πειλάτῳ. 44 καὶ ἔτι διανοουμένων αὐτῶν14 φαίνονται πάλιν
ἀνοιχθέντες οἱ οὐρανοὶ καὶ ἄνθρωπός τις κατελθὼν καὶ εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὸ
μνῆμα. 45 ταῦτα ἰδόντες οἱ περὶ τὸν κεντυρίωνα νυκτὸς ἔσπευσαν πρὸς
Πειλᾶτον ἀφέντες τὸν τάφον ὃν ἐφύλασσον καὶ ἐξηγήσαντο πάντα ἅπερ
εἶδον ἀγωνιῶντες μεγάλως καὶ λέγοντες· ἀληθῶς υἱὸς ἦν θεοῦ. 46
ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Πειλᾶτος ἔφη· ἐγὼ καθαρεύω τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ
ἡμῖν δὲ τοῦτο ἔδοξεν. 47 εἶτα προσελθόντες πάντες ἐδέοντο αὐτοῦ καὶ
παρεκάλουν κελεῦσαι τῷ κεντυρίωνι καὶ τοῖς στρατιώταις μηδὲν εἰπεῖν ἃ
εἶδον· 48 συμφέρει γάρ, φάσιν, ἡμῖν ὀφλῆσαι μεγίστην ἁμαρτίαν ἔμπροσθεν
τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ μὴ ἐμπεσεῖν εἰς χεῖρας τοῦ λαοῦ τῶν Ἰουδαίων καὶ λιθασθῆναι.
49 ἐκέλευσεν οὖν ὁ Πειλᾶτος τῶν κεντυρίων καὶ τοῖς στρατιώταις μηδὲν
εἰπεῖν.
Vocabulary

ἀγωνίζομαι, to fight; struggle, strive δέομαι, 1aor. pass. ptc. δεηθείς

(dep.): ask for (w. gen.), plead for something (w. gen.), beg of somebody
ἐμπίπτω, 2aor. ἐνέπεσον, aor. inf. ἐμπεσεῖν: fall into (a state/condition);
intrude on/among ἔμπροσθεν (w. gen.), before, in front of; previously
ἐμφανίζω, inform, make a report; present evidence, show plainly
ἐξηγέομαι, tell in detail, report ἐξυπνίσω, wake up, arouse somebody
διανέομαι, consider καθάπερ, just as, in the same way; in accordance with
καθαρεύω, be pure/clean, be free from κοιμάομαι, aor. pass. ptc. κοιμηθείς
(pass. dep.): fall asleep, sleep; subst. one who has fallen asleep; (fig.) to die
λιθάζω, 1aor. ptc. λίθασας: stone somebody (as a means of execution)
μεγάλως, greatly, very much ὅσπερ, ὅνπερ (acc.) / ἥπερ (fm.) / ὅπερ
(nt.), ἅπερ (nt. pl.): the very man/woman/thing; which indeed/exactly;
ὅνπερ τρόπον, in the same way ὀφλισκάνω, 3. ὤφλησα: become liable for,
become a debtor for πάντα ἅπερ (s.v. ὅσπερ), whatever πάρειμι (fr. εἰμί),
ptc. παρών, -ούσα, -όν, impf. παρῆν, opt. παρείην: be present, be here;
impers. come to/upon, arrive; πάρειμι + inf., be possible to do something;
subst. ptc., the present, bystander σπεύδω, 3. ἔσπευσα: hurry; take an
interest somebody συμφέρω, nt. ptc. συμφέρον: help, be advantageous;
this verb is often used impersonally meaning “it is useful/good/best” (esp.
as a nt. ptc.); bring together, collect; nt. ptc. τὸ συμφέρον, welfare
συσκέπτομαι, impf. συνεσκεπτόμην: contemplate/decide together ὑπακοή,
ἡ, obedience; answer ὑπερβαίνω, go beyond, reach beyond ὑπορ όω,
assist in standing upright, support φαίνω, pres. pass. inf. φαίνεσθαι, 2.
φανῶ/οῦμαι, 6. ἐφάνην, 2aor. fm. pass. ptc. φανείσα, aor. pass. impv.
φάνηθι: shine, give light; mid. make one’s appearance; pass. appear, appear
to be, be seen, become visible; attend (a meeting) χειραγωγέω, take/lead by
the hand χωρέω, go forward, make progress; (of money) be spent; subst.
 ptc. payment; to hold, contain something (gen.)

12:50 ὀρθροῦ δὲ τῆς κυριακῆς (ἡμέρας) Μαριὰμ ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ μαθήτρια

τοῦ κυρίου φοβουμένη διὰ τοὺς Ἰουδαίους, ἐπειδὴ ἐφλέγοντο ὑπὸ τῆς ὀργῆς,
οὐκ ἐποίησεν ἐπὶ τῷ μνήματι τοῦ κυρίου ἃ εἰώθεσαν ποιεῖν αἱ γυναῖκες ἐπὶ
τοῖς ἀποθνῄσκουσι καὶ τοῖς ἀγαπωμένοις αὐταῖς. 51 λαβοῦσα με ἑαυτῆς
τὰς φίλας ἦλθεν ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον ὅπου ἦν τεθείς. 52 καὶ ἐφοβοῦντο μὴ ἴδωσιν
αὐτὰς οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι καὶ ἔλεγον· εἰ καὶ μὴ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ᾗ ἐσταυρώθη
ἐδυνήθημεν κλαῦσαι καὶ κόψασθαι, καὶ νῦν ἐπὶ τοῦ μνήματος αὐτοῦ
ποιήσωμεν ταῦτα. 53 τίς δὲ ἀποκυλίσει ἡμῖν καὶ τὸν λίθον τὸν τεθέντα ἐπὶ
τῆς θύρας τοῦ μνημείου, ἵνα εἰσελθοῦσαι παρακαθεσθῶμεν αὐτῷ καὶ
ποιήσωμεν τὰ ὀφειλόμενα; 54 μέγας γὰρ ἦν ὁ λίθος. καὶ φοβούμεθα μή τις
ἡμᾶς ἴδῃ. καὶ εἰ μὴ δυνάμεθα, κἂν15 ἐπὶ τῆς θύρας βάλωμεν16 ἃ φέρομεν εἰς
μνημοσύνην αὐτοῦ, κλαύσομεν καὶ κοψόμεθα ἕως ἔλθωμεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον
ἡμῶν.
13:55 καὶ ἀπελθοῦσαι εὗρον τὸν τάφον ἠνεῳγμένον καὶ προσελθοῦσαι
παρέκυψαν ἐκεῖ καὶ ὁρῶσιν ἐκεῖ τινα νεανίσκον καθεζόμενον μέσῳ τοῦ
τάφου ὡραῖον καὶ περιβεβλημένον στολὴν λαμπροτάτην ὅστις ἔφη αὐταῖς· 56
ὅτι ἤλθατε; τίνα ζητεῖτε; μὴ τὸν σταυρωθέντα ἐκεῖνον;17 ἀνέστη καὶ
ἀπῆλθεν· εἰ δὲ μὴ πιστεύετε, παρακύψατε καὶ ἴδατε τὸν τόπον ἔνθα ἔκει ὅτι
οὐκ ἔστιν (here): ἀνέστη γὰρ καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ἐκεῖ ὅθεν ἀπεστάλη. 57 τότε αἱ
γυναῖκες φοβηθεῖσαι ἔφυγον.
Vocabulary

ἀποκυλίω, roll away (a stone) ἔνθα (adv.), there; where λαμπρός, -ά, -όν,
bright, shining; superl. λαμπροτάτατος, -η, -ον, brightness, splendor; most
excellent (w. titulature) μαθήτρια, (female) disciple μνημοσύνη, ἡ,
memory; legacy ὄρθρος, ὁ, early morning, dawn ὅθεν, from where, from
which (adv. of place); for which reason ὀφείλω (and –έω), 2. ὀφειλήσω,
3. ὠφείλησα: owe somebody something, be indebted to; must (w. inf.);
ἁμαρτίαν ὀφείλω (w. dat.), incur sin against παρακαθέζομαι, sit beside (w.
dat.) παρακύπτω, bend over and take a look φλέγω, burn with fire; pass. be
on fire; be filled with (intense emotion) ὡραῖος, -α, -ον, beautiful; gracious
1 S.v. παραδίδωμι.

2 Petronius.

3 S.v. πήγνυμι.

4 Dat. of time.

5 S.v. ἡμέρα.

6 Gen. absol.

7 ἀνὰ δύο δύο, “two by two.”

8 S.v. βάλλω.

9 ἀ ἑαυτου, “by itself.”

10 παρὰ μέρος, “partially.”

11 Gen. absol.

12 In Classical Greek, when a gen. form follows the verb ἀκούω, it indicates
the person or source of the sound, whereas the acc. denotes the object or thing
that is heard. However, in HGr these distinctions were often not observed.

13 ἐνφ- > ἐμφ-.

14 Gen. absol.

15 κἄν > καὶ ἐάν, “if only,” “at least.”

16 Hort. subj.

17 μή w. question anticipates the answer “no” (“surely ... not …”).

 Part 2 Basic Level: The Isometric Translational
Greek of the Septuagint

Part 2 takes up the study of the “translation” Greek of the Septuagint, with three
prose readings (§§2.1–3) and three poetic readings (§§2.4–6), as well as three
additional texts online (§§2.7–9).1 Most Septuagintal translations of the Tanakh
avoid the standard literary conventions of Hellenistic Greek. Instead, they render
the original Hebrew source text in a literal, or what is termed an “isometric,”
manner in which there is an almost word-for-word correspondence between the
Hebrew parent text and the Greek translation. This “translational” Greek is
characterized by linguistic interference from the source language, Hebrew.2 On
the basis of this phenomenon, one might surmise that the translators of the
Septuagint understood their primary role to be that of conserving the formal
syntactical and lexemic properties of the Hebrew parent text rather than
rendering the Hebrew text into contemporary Hellenistic Greek. Indeed, the
original Septuagintal translators may have even understood their Greek
translation to be a kind of “interlinear” text that was dependent on, and meant to
be read in conjunction with, its Hebrew exemplar.
The Septuagint has recently been retranslated into English, with many helpful
notes, as The New English Translation of the Septuagint.3 You should use this
translation, rather than standard English translations of the Hebrew (Masoretic)
text, to check your own translation work. Each of the vocabulary lists in Part 2 is
compiled on the assumption that you have memorized the (bolded) words listed
for memorization in Part 1 (only §§1.1–10).4 But since all vocabulary for
memorization is listed in the glossary (§10), there is no need to flip back to Part
1.
 2.1. Book of Genesis: The First Sin and Its
Punishment
(Gen 3:1–24)

Text: Rahlfs/Hanhart, I, 4-5; ET: NETS, 7-8.

The Book of Genesis begins with two creation narratives, told from different
perspectives. In the first narrative (Gen 1:1–2:4a), the Lord creates male and
female human beings simultaneously (Gen 1:26–27). But in the second version,
the Lord creates man (Adam) first, with the first woman (Eve, or “Zoe” in LXX)
being created secondarily as Adam’s helper in paradise (Gen 2:4b–25, §2.7). The
narrative in this section follows this story, telling of Adam and Eve’s
disobedience and banishment from the garden of delights (Gen 3:1–24).
The style of the translational Greek of Genesis is “isometric.” It is
characterized by an almost word-for-word corresponence between the Hebrew
exemplar and the Greek translation, resulting in linguistic interference from the
source language, Hebrew. Significant instances of this interference are discussed
in the footnotes.
Related Readings: This narrative inspired the Life of Adam and Eve (§3.9–10)
and various Christian theological responses, including Rom 5 (§4.11), the story
of Maximilla in the Acts of Andrew (§5.16), not to mention 2 Cor 11:3 and 1
Tim 2:13–15.
3:1 Ὁ δὲ ὄφις1 ἦν φρονιμώτατος πάντων τῶν θηρίων τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὧν2
ἐποίησεν κύριος ὁ θεός, καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ὄφις τῇ γυναικί· τί (is it) ὅτι εἶπεν ὁ θεός
Οὐ μὴ φάγητε3 ἀπὸ παντὸς ξύλου4 τοῦ ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ; 2 Καὶ εἶπεν ἡ γυνὴ
τῷ ὄφει· ἀπὸ καρποῦ ξύλου τοῦ παραδείσου φαγόμεθα, 3 ἀπὸ δὲ καρποῦ τοῦ
ξύλου, ὅ ἐστιν ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ παραδείσου, εἶπεν ὁ θεός Οὐ φάγεσθε ἀ αὐτοῦ
οὐδὲ μὴ ἅψησθε αὐτοῦ, ἵνα μὴ ἀποθάνητε. 4 καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ὄφις τῇ γυναικί· οὐ
θανάτῳ5 ἀποθανεῖσθε, 5 ᾔδει6 γὰρ ὁ θεὸς ὅτι ἐν ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ φάγητε ἀπ᾽
αὐτοῦ, διανοιχθήσονται7 ὑμῶν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί, καὶ ἔσεσθε ὡς θεοὶ γινώσκοντες
καλὸν καὶ πονηρόν. 6 καὶ εἶδεν ἡ γυνὴ ὅτι καλὸν τὸ ξύλον εἰς βρῶσιν καὶ ὅτι
(it was) ἀρεστὸν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς ἰδεῖν καὶ ὡραῖόν ἐστιν τοῦ κατανοῆσαι,8 καὶ
λαβοῦσα τοῦ καρποῦ αὐτοῦ ἔφαγεν, καὶ ἔδωκεν καὶ τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς μετ᾽
αὐτῆς, καὶ ἔφαγον.
Vocabulary
ἅπτομαι, 3. ἡψάμην, 1aor. mid. impv. ἅψαι: touch, take hold of (w. gen.);
strike, attack ἀρεστός, -ή, -όν, pleasing to, acceptable to βρῶσις, -εως, ἡ,
eating/consumption; food διανοίγω, 6. διηνοίχθην: to open; explain, interpret
θηρίον, τό, θηρσί (dat. pl.), wild animal9
κατανοέω, come to, arrive at; contemplate παράδεισος, -ου, ὁ, a garden,
orchard (in Eden), a place of blessedness above the earth, paradise ὡραῖος, -α, -
ον, beautiful; gracious
7 καὶ διηνοίχθησαν οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ τῶν δύο, καὶ ἔγνωσαν ὅτι γυμνοὶ ἦσαν, καὶ
ἔρραψαν φύλλα συκῆς καὶ ἐποίησαν ἑαυτοῖς περιζώματα. 8 Καὶ ἤκουσαν10
τὴν φωνὴν κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ περιπατοῦντος ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ τὸ δειλινόν, καὶ
ἐκρύβησαν11 ὅ τε12 Αδαμ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ προσώπου κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ
ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ ξύλου τοῦ παραδείσου. 9 Καὶ ἐκάλεσεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς τὸν Αδαμ
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Αδαμ· ποῦ εἶ; 10 Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· τὴν φωνήν σου ἤκουσα
περιπατοῦντος ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ καὶ ἐφοβήθην, ὅτι γυμνός εἰμι, καὶ ἐκρύβην.
11 Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· τίς ἀνήγγειλέν σοι ὅτι γυμνὸς εἶ; μὴ13 ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου,
οὗ14 ἐνετειλάμην15 σοι τούτου16 μόνου μὴ φαγεῖν ἀπ ᾽ αὐτοῦ, ἔφαγες; 12 Καὶ
εἶπεν ὁ Αδαμ· ἡ γυνή, ἣν ἔδωκας (to be) μετ ᾽ ἐμοῦ, αὕτη μοι ἔδωκεν ἀπὸ
τοῦ ξύλου, καὶ ἔφαγον. 13 Καὶ εἶπεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς τῇ γυναικί· τί τοῦτο
ἐποίησας; Καὶ εἶπεν ἡ γυνή· ὁ ὄφις ἠπάτησέν με, καὶ ἔφαγον.
Vocabulary
ἀπατάω, deceive, cheat γυμνός, -ή, -όν, naked δειλινός, -ή, -όν, of the
evening; (τὸ) δειλινόν, adv. in the evening περίζωμα, -ματος, τό, apron, skirt
ποῦ, where?
ῥάπτω, 3. ἔρραψα: sew/alter (a garment) συκῆ, ἡ, fig tree

Καὶ εἶπεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς τῷ ὄφει 3:14

Ὅτι ἐποίησας τοῦτο, ἐπικατάρατος σὺ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν κτηνῶν καὶ ἀπὸ
πάντων τῶν θηρίων τῆς γῆς, ἐπὶ τῷ στήθει σου καὶ τῇ κοιλίᾳ
πορεύσῃ καὶ γῆν φάγῃ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς σου.
καὶ ἔχθραν θήσω ἀνὰ μέσον σου καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῆς γυναικὸς καὶ ἀνὰ
μέσον τοῦ σπέρματός σου καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ σπέρματος αὐτῆς,
αὐτός17 σου18 τηρήσει19 κεφαλήν, καὶ σὺ τηρήσεις αὐτοῦ
πτέρναν. 15
 Καὶ τῇ γυναικὶ εἶπεν· πληθύνων πληθυνῶ20 τὰς λύπας σου καὶ τὸν
στεναγμόν σου, ἐν λύπαις τέξῃ21 τέκνα, καὶ πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα σου ἡ
ἀποστροφή22 σου, καὶ αὐτός σου κυριεύσει. 16
23
Τῷ δὲ Αδαμ εἶπεν· ὅτι ἤκουσας τῆς φωνῆς τῆς γυναικός σου καὶ
ἔφαγες ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου, οὗ ἐνετειλάμην σοι τούτου μόνου μὴ φαγεῖν
ἀ αὐτοῦ, ἐπικατάρατος ἡ γῆ ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις σου, ἐν λύπαις φάγῃ
αὐτὴν πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς σου, 17
ἀκάνθας καὶ τριβόλους (ἡ γῆ) ἀνατελεῖ24 σοι, καὶ φάγῃ τὸν χόρτον τοῦ
ἀγροῦ. 18
ἐν ἱδρῶτι τοῦ προσώπου σου φάγῃ τὸν ἄρτον σου ἕως τοῦ ἀποστρέψαι25
σε εἰς τὴν γῆν, ἐξ ἧς ἐλήμφθης,26 ὅτι γῆ εἶ καὶ εἰς γῆν
ἀπελεύσῃ.27 19

Vocabulary
ἀγρός, ὁ, field, countryside ἄκανθα, ἡ, thorny plant ἀνά, each, apiece; ἀνὰ
μέσον, between, within (w. gen.) ἀνατέλλω, 2. ἀνατελῶ, 3. ἀνέτειλα: cause to
spring/grow up ἀπολαμβάνω, receive something; regain, recover; mid. take
away/aside; receive ἀποστρέφω, 6. ἀπεστράφην (dep.): look back at (ἐπί)
somebody; look away; revoke; refrain from, turn back from doing something
ἀποστροφή, turning back, return ἐπικατάρατος, -ον, accursed ἔχθρα, ἡ,
hatred, enmity ἱδρώς, -ῶτος, ὁ, sweat κοιλία, ἡ, belly, womb κτῆνος, -ους,
τό, domestic animal; mostly pl. τὰ κτήνεα, herds, cattle, livestock λύπη, ἡ,
sorrow; affliction; pl. pains, labor pains πτέρνα, ἡ, heal στεναγμός, ὁ, sighing,
groaning στῆθος, -ους, τό (uncontr. -εος), breast (of both sexes) τρίβολος, ὁ,
thistle χιτών, -ῶνος, ὁ, tunic χόρτος, ὁ, grass, χόρτος τοῦ ἀγροῦ, wild grass,
hay
3:20 Καὶ ἐκάλεσεν Αδαμ τὸ ὄνομα τῆς γυναικὸς αὐτοῦ Ζωή,28 ὅτι αὕτη
μήτηρ πάντων τῶν ζώντων. 21 Καὶ ἐποίησεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς τῷ Αδαμ καὶ τῇ
γυναικὶ αὐτοῦ χιτῶνας δερματίνους καὶ ἐνέδυσεν αὐτούς. 22 καὶ εἶπεν ὁ θεός·
ἰδοὺ Αδαμ γέγονεν ὡς εἷς ἐξ ἡμῶν29 τοῦ γινώσκειν30 καλὸν καὶ πονηρόν, καὶ
νῦν μήποτε ἐκτείνῃ τὴν χεῖρα (αὐτοῦ) καὶ λάβῃ τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς καὶ φάγῃ
καὶ ζήσεται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα – 31 23 καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν αὐτὸν κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἐκ
τοῦ παραδείσου τῆς τρυφῆς 32 ἐργάζεσθαι τὴν γῆν, ἐξ ἧς ἐλήμφθη. 24 καὶ
ἐξέβαλεν τὸν Αδαμ καὶ κατῴκισεν αὐτὸν ἀπέναντι τοῦ παραδείσου τῆς
τρυφῆς καὶ ἔταξεν τὰ χερουβιμ καὶ τὴν φλογίνην ῥομφαίαν τὴν στρεφομένην
φυλάσσειν τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς.
Vocabulary
ἀπέναντι, opposite δερμάτινος, -η, -ον, leather (adj.) ἐκτείνω, 1aor. inf.
ἐκτεῖναι, pf. ptc. ἐκτετακώς: stretch out, lay out, spread out; hold out
ἐξαποστέλλω, send somebody off/away; send on a mission, commission a
senator κατοικίζω, settle, establish; pass. be settled, dwell ῥομφαία, ἡ, sword
τάσσω (Att. τάττω), pf. pass. ptc. τεταγμένος: to station, post somebody before;
set; appoint; determine; undertake (a task), restore; pass. be ordained, pre-
established that (w. acc. + inf.); τὰ τεταγμένα, instructions τρυφή, ἡ, delight,
luxury φλόγινος, -η, -ον, flaming, fiery
Χερουβ, τό, pl. χερουβιν/ειν/ιμ: cherub, cherubim, winged creatures (like the
Egyptian sphynx), half human, half lion

Select Bibliography
Wevers, John William (ed.). LXX: Notes on the Greek Text of Genesis. Atlanta:
Scholars Press, 1993.

1 For a critical version of the Septuagint see Alfred Rahlfs and Robert Hanhart
(eds.), Septuaginta, ed. altera (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2006),
which is a revision of Alread Rahlfs’ original text, correcting minor errors, with
reference to Vaticanus, Sinaiticus, and Alexandrinus; Dogniez, Cécile,
Bibliography of the Septuagint (1970–1993) (Leiden: Brill, 1995).

2 Cf. Staffan Olofsson, The LXX Version: A Guide to the Translation Technique
of the Septuagint (Stockholm: Almqvist and Wiksell, 1999).

3 Albert Pietermas and Benjamin G. Wright (eds.), A New Translation of the

Septuagint: A New Translation of the Greek into Contemporary English (New
York: Oxford University Press, 2007).

4 As well as all the words occurring fifty times or more in the Greek New
Testament.
1 The cosmologies of Babylon and Egypt shed much light on the mythological
antecedents of this story. For example, in the Babylonian myth Adapa, a serpent-
god known as Ningishzida is stationed at the gates of heaven. In the Gilgamesh
story, a serpent steals the Tree of Life (which confers longevity and fertility) and
intends to consume it. In Egyptian religion, the serpent was a symbol of
immortality (signified by a snake forming a circle by biting its tail) and,
interestingly, also a symbol of both wisdom and chaos. Indeed, it is this very
“chaos” that makes the “wisdom” of the serpent so dangerous.

2 Attr. rel. (cf. IV, 3).

3 S.v. ἐσθίω; οὐ μή + aor. subj. (emph. fut. neg., cf. IV, 8).

4 ξύλου here is a collective noun (translate as pl.), cf. Gen 3:8.

5 Here the Greek translator renders literally the unexpected Heb. construction
(in which the negative precedes a free inf.) by placing θανάτῳ (“by death”)
betweeen οὐ and the verb (ἀποθανεῖσθε, s.v. ἀποθνῄσκω). θανάτῳ should be
trans. as an intensifier (“surely”).

6 S.v. οἶδα (table 9.5).

7 S.v. διανοίγω, with almost the same meaning as ἀνοίγω.

8 Art. inf. (cf. IV, 2).

9 To be more precise, θηρίον is the diminutive of θήρ (wild animal), whose

dative plural form is θηρσί. The separation presupposed in this passage between
domestic and wild animals also symbolically marks the boundary between the
civilized world and the wilderness and, by extension, the boundary between the
created world and chaos, good and evil.

10 ἀκούω can take the acc. or gen. of the thing heard. In Classical Greek, the
phrase “to hear someone (e.g., φωνῆς, βοῆς)” takes the gen., but the LXX and
NT waver between gen. and acc.

11 S.v. κρύπτω.

12 ὅ τε > ὁ τέ (= τέ ὁ) (τέ is postpos.).

13 μή…ἔφαγες; μή indicates that the anticpated answer to this question is “no”

(i.e., “surely you didn’t ... did you?”).

14 Gen. (οὗ) is used owing to the pleon. ἀ αὐτοῦ that follows.

15 S.v. ἐντέλλω/ομαι.

16 The antecedent of τούτου is ξύλου.

17 Even though σπέρμα is nt., the translator has personalized σπέρμα (here
αὐτός is a reference to the seed) as an individual (“he”), i.e., the offspring of the
woman.

18 σου…κεφαλήν.

19 τηρέω in the sense of “watch carefully.”

20 πληθύνων (s.v. πληθύνω), πληθυνῶ (fut.), ptc. (πληθύνων) mirrors the Heb.
syntax, intensifying the verbal idea: “greatly increase.”

21 S.v. τίκτω.

22 This is an unexpected translation of the Heb. term for “sexual desire.” What
the translator probably means is that, even though childbirth will be painful, she
will “return” to her husband. This interpretation makes the last clause sensible:
καὶ αὐτός σου κυριεύσει. J. N. Lohr argues that the author is trying to express in
poetic terms the idea that the curse on the woman and that on the man are the
same: they shall both return to their places of origin (“Sexual Desire, Eve, Gen
3:16,” JBL 130/2 [2011], 277–246).

23 Modified by gen. τῆς φωνῆς over against acc. of Gen 3:8, 10. Here,
however, the verb means “listen to” in the sense of “obey.”

24 Cf. ἀνατέλλω.

25 Art. inf.

26 S.v. λαμβάνω.

27 S.v. ἀπέρχομαι.

28 The woman is given the unexpected name “Zoe” (cf. Gen 4:1), not “Eve.”

29 Cf. Gen 1:26 (“let us”); it is unclear whether this is a reference to a plurality
of gods (as one finds elsewhere in ancient exemplars of this genre) or to a
heavenly court (cf. Isa 6:8).

30 Art. inf. (translate as gerund, “-ing”).

31 The sentence beginning καὶ νῦν μήποτε is an anacoluthon, lacking a

conclusion such as “let us send him away.” The next verse continues with the
narrative past (καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν).

32 Up to this point, the Heb. term edem has been treated as a proper noun,
Ἔδεμ (“Eden,” cf. Gen 2:8, 10, 4:16). But here and in Gen 3:24 it is translated
τρύφη (“delight, luxury”). Adam is banished from the “garden of delight,”
calling attention to the splendors of the garden that are no longer available to the
primeval pair. As a result, man must till the very soil from which he had been
formed.
 2.2. 1 Kingdoms: The Anointing of David as King
(1 Kgdms 16:1–13 [1 Samuel])

Text: Rahlfs/Hanhart, I, 531-32; ET: NETS 260.

The Septuagintal versions of 1–2 Samuel and 1–2 Kings are known as 1–4
Kingdoms. Thus, the Septuagintal version of 1 Sam 16:1–13 is 1 Kgdms 16:1–
13. Taken together, these four books present the reader with a privileged window
onto the Greek transmission of these texts in antiquity: some sections preserve
the so-called Old Greek version, such as found in 1 Kgdms 1–31, while other
sections preserve later revisions. “Old Greek” is a technical term for the first
Greek translations of the Hebrew Bible for books outside the Pentateuch. The
style of the Old Greek translation is not slavishly literal but is still generally
isomorphic with the Hebrew parent text.
16:1 Καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Σαμουηλ· ἕως πότε σὺ πενθεῖς ἐπὶ Σαουλ, κἀγὼ
ἐξουδένωκα αὐτὸν μὴ βασιλεύειν ἐπὶ Ισραηλ; πλῆσον1 τὸ κέρας σου ἐλαίου,
καὶ δεῦρο ἀποστείλω2 σε πρὸς Ιεσσαι ἕως εἰς Βηθλεεμ, ὅτι ἑόρακα3 ἐν τοῖς
υἱοῖς αὐτοῦ (someone) ἐμοὶ βασιλεύειν. 2 Καὶ εἶπεν Σαμουηλ· πῶς πορευθῶ;4
καὶ ἀκούσεται Σαουλ καὶ ἀποκτενεῖ με. Καὶ εἶπεν κύριος· δάμαλιν βοῶν λαβὲ
ἐν τῇ χειρί σου καὶ ἐρεῖς5 Θῦσαι τῷ κυρίῳ ἥκω, 3 καὶ καλέσεις τὸν Ιεσσαι εἰς
τὴν θυσίαν, καὶ γνωριῶ σοι ἃ ποιήσεις, καὶ χρίσεις ὃν ἐὰν εἴπω πρὸς σέ. 4 καὶ
ἐποίησεν Σαμουηλ πάντα, ἃ ἐλάλησεν αὐτῷ κύριος, καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς Βηθλεεμ.
καὶ ἐξέστησαν οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τῆς πόλεως τῇ ἀπαντήσει αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπαν ·
Εἰρήνη ἡ εἴσοδός σου, ὁ βλέπων;6 5 καὶ εἶπεν· εἰρήνη, θῦσαι τῷ κυρίῳ ἥκω,
ἁγιάσθητε καὶ εὐφράνθητε με ἐμοῦ σήμερον. καὶ (Σαμουηλ) ἡγίασεν τὸν
Ιεσσαι καὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν θυσίαν. 6 καὶ
ἐγενήθη7 ἐν τῷ αὐτοὺς εἰσιέναι8 καὶ εἶδεν τὸν Ελιαβ9 καὶ εἶπεν· ἀλλὰ καὶ10
ἐνώπιον κυρίου χριστὸς αὐτοῦ.11
Vocabulary

ἁγιάζω, make sacred, sanctify; consecrate to ἀπάντησις, -εως, ἡ,

meeting, greeting (esp. of public welcome of an official) βασιλεύω, rule,
 reign; become like a king βοῦς, βοός (gen.), ὁ/ἡ, ox, cow γνωρίζω, 2.
γνωριῶ: make known; gain knowledge of, recognize δάλαμις, -εως, ἡ,
young cow, heifer εἴσειμι (fr. εἶμι), impf. εἰσῄειν, inf. εἰσιέναι: enter;
come before, enter before εἴσοδος, -ου, ἡ, entrance, entrance door,
entrance hall; entering, access εὐφραίνω, make glad; pass. rejoice,
celebrate ἥκω, pres. inf. ἥκειν, 2nd sg. pres. impv. ἥκε, 2. ἥξω: have
come/arrived, be present θύω, to sacrifice (a victim) κέρας, -ατος, τό,
horn (of an animal); container made from the horn of an animal

16:7 καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Σαμουηλ· μὴ ἐπιβλέψῃς ἐπὶ τὴν ὄψιν αὐτοῦ
μηδὲ εἰς τὴν ἕξιν μεγέθους αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἐξουδένωκα αὐτόν, ὅτι οὐχ ὡς
ἐμβλέψεται ἄνθρωπος, ὄψεται ὁ θεός, ὅτι ἄνθρωπος ὄψεται εἰς πρόσωπον, ὁ
δὲ θεὸς ὄψεται εἰς καρδίαν. 8 καὶ ἐκάλεσεν Ιεσσαι τὸν Αμιναδαβ,12 καὶ
παρῆλθεν κατὰ13 πρόσωπον Σαμουηλ, καὶ εἶπεν· οὐδὲ τοῦτον ἐξελέξατο
κύριος. 9 καὶ παρήγαγεν Ιεσσαι τὸν Σαμα,14 καὶ εἶπεν· καὶ ἐν τούτῳ15 οὐκ
ἐξελέξατο κύριος. 10 καὶ παρήγαγεν Ιεσσαι τοὺς ἑπτὰ υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ ἐνώπιον
Σαμουηλ, καὶ εἶπεν Σαμουηλ· οὐκ ἐξελέξατο κύριος ἐν τούτοις. 11 καὶ εἶπεν
Σαμουηλ πρὸς Ιεσσαι· ἐκλελοίπασιν16 τὰ παιδάρια; Καὶ εἶπεν· ἔτι ὁ μικρὸς17
ἰδοὺ ποιμαίνει ἐν τῷ ποιμνίῳ. καὶ εἶπεν Σαμουηλ πρὸς Ιεσσαι· ἀπόστειλον (a
messenger) καὶ λαβὲ αὐτόν, ὅτι οὐ μὴ κατακλιθῶμεν18 ἕως τοῦ ἐλθεῖν
αὐτόν.19 12 καὶ ἀπέστειλεν (a messenger) καὶ εἰσήγαγεν αὐτόν, καὶ οὗτος
πυρράκης μετὰ κάλλους ὀφθαλμῶν καὶ ἀγαθὸς ὁράσει κυρίῳ, καὶ εἶπεν
κύριος πρὸς Σαμουηλ· ἀνάστα20 καὶ χρῖσον τὸν Δαυιδ, ὅτι οὗτος ἀγαθός
ἐστιν. 13 καὶ ἔλαβεν Σαμουηλ τὸ κέρας τοῦ ἐλαίου καὶ ἔχρισεν αὐτὸν ἐν
μέσῳ τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐφήλατο πνεῦμα κυρίου ἐπὶ Δαυιδ ἀπὸ τῆς
ἡμέρας ἐκείνης καὶ ἐπάνω. καὶ ἀνέστη Σαμουηλ καὶ ἀπῆλθεν εἰς Αρμαθαιμ.
Vocabulary

Ἀρμαθαιμ, Harmathaim, a city of the tribe of Benjamin, north of Jerusalem

εἰσάγω, lead in, bring in; introduce ἐκλέγω, 1aor. mid. ἐξελέξαμαι:
collect revenue (money): mid. choose, select ἐκλείπω, 3. ἐξέλιπον, 4.
ἐκλέλοιπα: forsake; remain, be left behind; pass away; abandon, quit
ἔλαιον, τό, olive oil ἐμβλέπω (w. dat.), look at/upon; consider ἕξις, -εως,
ἡ, outward appearance ἐξουδενόω (= ἐξουδενέω), despise, treat with
contempt ἐπάνω, above; on top of; onward ἐπιβλέπω, look upon (gen.)
ἐφάλλομαι, 3. ἐφηλόμην: leap/spring upon κατακλίνω, make somebody
 lay down; pass. recline at table, banquet μέγεθος, -ους, τό, size; greatness
παιδάριον, τό, young man παράγω, march by, introduce; (make) pass by
παρέρχομαι, 4. παρελήλυθα, 2pf. act. inf. παρεληλυθέναι: walk past, pass
by; pass away; (of time) be past, (of a fast) be over; disobey ποιμαίνω,
herd, tend flocks ποίμνιον, τό, flock (of sheep/goats) πυρράκης, -ου, ὁ,
red/ruddy person

1 S.v. πίμπλημι.

2 Aor. subj. for fut. ind.

3 S.v. ὁράω.

4 The verb πορεύομαι forms an aor. pass. dep. ἐπορεύθην and, by extension, a
pass. subj.

5 S.v. λέγω.

6 S.v. βλέπω, ὁ βλέπων, “seer.”

7 Semitic construction: “And it came to pass that....”

8 Art. inf.; s.v. εἴσειμι (fr. εἶμι, cf. table 9.14); art. inf. (w. ἐν), w. αὐτούς as
subj. of inf.

9 Eliab, eldest son of Jesse and David’s eldest brother.

10 ἀλλά (“certainly/surely”) + καί (“indeed”).

11 Nominal sentence (supply a form of εἰμί).

12 Abinadab, second son of Jesse.

13 “Before.”

14 Shammah, third son of Jesse.

15 ἐν τοῦτῳ, “in this case.”

16 Cf. table 9.1.1(e).

17 μικρός, -ά, -όν, here for superl., “smallest” (youngest).

18 οὐ μή + aor. subj. (emph. fut. neg.).

19 Art. inf.

20 ἀνάστα,2aor. act. impv. apoc. fr. ἀνάστηθι, cf. table 9.12.2(f).

 2.3. Book of Jeremiah: Sayings from the Book of
Consolation
(Jer 38:27–34 [MT 31:27–34])

Text: Rahlfs/Hanhard, II, 722; ET: NETS 915.

The Septuagintal Greek text of Jeremiah is based on Hebrew texts that were
substantially different from the Hebrew of the Masoretic text. Nonetheless, it is
clear that the translator followed an isomorphic translation model in terms of the
Hebrew parent text. Owing to the difference between the Hebrew text underlying
the Septuagintal translation and the Hebrew of the Masoretic text, the numbering
of chapters differs significantly. A case in point is Jer 31:27–34 of the Masoretic
text, which is Jer 38:27–34 in the Septuagint.
Jer 38:27–34 is taken from the “Book of Consolation” (Jer 37–40 [MT 30–
33]). This book, with its prophecy of the restoration of Israel and Judah, seems
to presuppose a military invasion that left the land desolated, its population
diminished, and its flocks and herds reduced. Following the invasion, the need
arose to repopulate the land, replanting it with the “seed of men” and the “seed
of beasts” (Jer 38:27).
Next, Jer 38:31–34 describes the “new covenant” that God would one day
give his people, forgiving their sins and writing the Torah in their hearts in order
that all would know him. The background to this announcement is the covenant
inaugurated between the Lord and Israel at Mount Sinai (Exod 19:1–24:11).
Such a new covenant was needed because the Israelites had broken the former
covenant. This concept of a new covenant was later taken up both by sectarians
at Qumran and by Christians. The Essenes also understood themselves to be
people of a new covenant. Similarly, Christians interpreted the fulfillment of this
prophecy in the emergence of the messianic movement associated with Jesus of
Nazareth (Luke 22:20, 1 Cor 11:15, Heb 8:8–9:28).
38:27 Διὰ τοῦτο ἰδοὺ ἡμέραι ἔρχονται, φησὶν κύριος, καὶ σπερῶ τὸν Ισραηλ
καὶ τὸν Ιουδαν σπέρμα ἀνθρώπου καὶ σπέρμα κτήνους. 28 καὶ ἔσται1 ὥσπερ
ἐγρηγόρουν2 ἐ αὐτοὺς καθαιρεῖν καὶ κακοῦν, οὕτως γρηγορήσω ἐ
αὐτοὺς τοῦ οἰκοδομεῖν καὶ καταφυτεύειν,3 φησὶν κύριος. 29 ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις
ἐκείναις οὐ μὴ εἴπωσιν

Οἱ πατέρες ἔφαγον ὄμφακα, καὶ οἱ ὀδόντες τῶν τέκνων ᾑμωδίασαν.4

30 ἀλ ἢ ἕκαστος5 ἐν τῇ ἑαυτοῦ ἁμαρτίᾳ ἀποθανεῖται, καὶ τοῦ φαγόντος

τὸν ὄμφακα αἱμωδιάσουσιν οἱ ὀδόντες αὐτοῦ.6
Vocabulary

αἱμωδιάω, become dumb or tingly; (of teeth) be set on edge γρηγορέω,

wake up, be alert, watchful; γρηγορέω ἐπί, to watch (over) καθαιρέω, pull
down, destroy; fig. pass. suffer the loss of (w. gen.) κακόω, do evil,
hurt/harm καταφυτεύω, to plant ὀδούς, -όντος, ὁ, tooth, pl. teeth ὄμφαξ, -
ακος, ἡ, sour/unripe grapes (collective)

38:31 Ἰδοὺ ἡμέραι ἔρχονται, φησὶν κύριος, καὶ διαθήσομαι τῷ οἴκῳ Ισραηλ
καὶ τῷ οἴκῳ Ιουδα διαθήκην καινήν,7 32 οὐ κατὰ τὴν διαθήκην, ἣν διεθέμην
τοῖς πατράσιν αὐτῶν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἐπιλαβομένου μου8 τῆς χειρὸς αὐτῶν
ἐξαγαγεῖν αὐτοὺς ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, ὅτι αὐτοὶ οὐκ ἐνέμειναν ἐν τῇ διαθήκῃ
μου, καὶ ἐγὼ ἠμέλησα αὐτῶν, φησὶν κύριος, 33 ὅτι αὕτη (is) ἡ διαθήκη, ἣν
διαθήσομαι τῷ οἴκῳ Ισραηλ μετὰ τὰς ἡμέρας ἐκείνας, φησὶν κύριος. Διδοὺς
δώσω9 νόμους μου εἰς τὴν διάνοιαν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπὶ καρδίας αὐτῶν γράψω
αὐτούς, καὶ ἔσομαι αὐτοῖς εἰς10 θεόν, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔσονταί μοι εἰς λαόν, 34 καὶ
οὐ μὴ διδάξωσιν11 ἕκαστος τὸν πολίτην αὐτοῦ καὶ ἕκαστος τὸν ἀδελφὸν
αὐτοῦ λέγων ‘Γνῶθι12 τὸν κύριον,’ ὅτι πάντες εἰδήσουσίν13 με ἀπὸ μικροῦ14
αὐτῶν καὶ ἕως15 μεγάλου αὐτῶν, ὅτι ἵλεως ἔσομαι ταῖς ἀδικίαις αὐτῶν καὶ
τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν οὐ μὴ μνησθῶ ἔτι.
Vocabulary

ἀδικία, ἡ, wrongdoing, unjustice Aἴγυπτος, ἡ, Egypt ἀμελέω, disregard,

neglect διαθήκη, ἡ, treaty, covenant; last will and testament διατίθημι,
mid. establish a covenant ἔμμενω, 1aor. ἐνέμεινα: abide in, persevere in;
abide by, stand by, be true to ἐπιλαμβάνω, 5. ἐπείλημμαι: take hold of
something; overtake, seize; pass. be imprisoned ἐξάγω, lead out ἵλεως,
merciful, gracious, kindly (adv.) πολίτης, ὁ, citizen, countryman
1 ἔσται, impers. “it shall be.”

2 Cust. impf. (“used to,” cf. IV, 13.2).

3 Two art. infinitives.

4 The proverb quoted in Jer 38:29–30 is also quoted in Ezek 18:2. Many Jews
felt that the nation was being punished for the sins of past generations and that
the Lord was acting unjustly. Jeremiah, and later Ezekiel, quoted this proverb in
order to deny this charge, arguing that in the future, only the one who sins will
suffer for his sins (cf. Deut 24:16). Here we find the principle of individual
responsibility enunciated.

5 ἀλ ἢ ἕκαστος, “but rather each.”

6 αὐτοῦ (functionless).

7 This is the only reference to a διαθήκη καινή in the Tanakh.

8 Gen. absol. w. μου as the subject of the participle.

9 Lit. follows Heb., meaning “I will surely give.”

10 Telic εἰς expressing purpose (“as”).

11 οὐ μή + aor. subj. (emph. fut. neg.); 3 pl. apparently because of repetition of

ἕκαστος

12 S.v. γινώσκω (cf. table 9.6).

13 S.v. οἶδα (cf. table 9.5).

14 Adj. (μικρός) for superl. (“smallest,” “least”).

15 ἕως, “up to.”

 2.4. Book of Amos: A Lament over Israel’s Sin
(Amos 5:14–27)

Provenance: The prophet Amos, of the southern kingdom of Judea, was expelled
from the royal sanctuary at Bethel (north of Jerusalem) and ordered not to
prophesy there again.
Text: Rahlfs/Hanhard, II, 507; ET: NETS 792–93.
Date: Amos lived ca. 760–750 BCE, during the peaceful reign of Jeroboam II
at the height of Israel’s territorial expansion and prosperity.
Text: Amos 3–6, from which the reading in this section is taken, recordse an
indictment of the northern kingdom of Israel, especially of Samaria and Bethel,
for sin and injustice. The Greek text of Amos is typical translation Greek.

Ἐκζητήσατε τὸ καλὸν καὶ μὴ τὸ πονηρόν, ὅπως ζήσητε, 5:14

καὶ ἔσται οὕτως με ὑμῶν κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ, ὃν τρόπον
εἴπατε·
Μεμισήκαμεν τὰ πονηρὰ καὶ ἠγαπήκαμεν τὰ καλά, 15
καὶ ἀποκαταστήσατε ἐν πύλαις κρίμα, ὅπως ἐλεήσῃ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ
παντοκράτωρ τοὺς περιλοίπους τοῦ Ιωσηφ.
διὰ τοῦτο τάδε λέγει κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ· 16
ἐν πάσαις πλατείαις κοπετός, καὶ ἐν πάσαις ὁδοῖς ῥηθήσεται1 Οὐαὶ οὐαί.
κληθήσεται γεωργὸς εἰς πένθος
καὶ κοπετὸν καὶ εἰς εἰδότας2 θρῆνον, καὶ ἐν πάσαις ὁδοῖς κοπετός, 17
διότι διελεύσομαι διὰ μέσου σου, εἶπεν κύριος.

Vocabulary

ἀπερείδω, lean/rest upon, put upon ἀποκαθίστημι, 1aor.

ἀπεκατέστησα/2aor. ἀπεκατέστην: re-establish, restore, cure γεωργός, ὁ,

farmer διότι, for, because; therefore εἰσπηδάω, rush in ἐκζητέω, seek out,
require ἐλεέω, be merciful; feel pity; pass. be shown mercy θρῆνος, ὁ,
 lamentation κοπετός, ὁ, mourning, lamentation (cf. Amos 5:17) ὅδε, ἥδε,
τάδε, this παντοκράτωρ, -ορος, ὁ, almighty πένθος, -ους, τό, mourning,
sorrow περίλοιπος, -ον, remaining, surviving; οἱ περίλοιποι, remnant (of
Joseph) πλατεῖα, ἡ, street πύλη, ἡ, gate τρόπος, ὁ, way, manner; ὃν
τρόπον, (just) as; κα ὃν τρόπον, in the manner that (cf. Amos 5:19)

Οὐαὶ οἱ ἐπιθυμοῦντες τὴν ἡμέραν κυρίου, 18

ἵνα τί3 αὕτη ὑμῖν ἡ ἡμέρα τοῦ κυρίου; καὶ αὐτή ἐστιν σκότος καὶ οὐ φῶς,
ὃν τρόπον ὅταν4 φύγῃ ἄνθρωπος ἐκ προσώπου τοῦ λέοντος 19
καὶ ἐμπέσῃ αὐτῷ ἡ ἄρκος, καὶ εἰσπηδήσῃ εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ καὶ
ἀπερείσηται τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸν τοῖχον5
καὶ δάκῃ αὐτὸν ὁ ὄφις.
οὐχὶ6 σκότος ἡ ἡμέρα τοῦ κυρίου καὶ οὐ φῶς; 20
καὶ γνόφος οὐκ ἔχων φέγγος αὐτῇ.
Μεμίσηκα, ἀπῶσμαι, ἑορτὰς ὑμῶν 21
καὶ οὐ μὴ ὀσφρανθῶ ἐν ταῖς πανηγύρεσιν ὑμῶν, διότι καὶ ἐὰν ἐνέγκητέ7
μοι ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ θυσίας ὑμῶν, 22
οὐ προσδέξομαι αὐτά, καὶ σωτηρίου ἐπιφανείας ὑμῶν οὐκ ἐπιβλέψομαι.
μετάστησον ἀ ἐμοῦ ἦχον ᾠδῶν σου, 23
καὶ ψαλμὸν ὀργάνων σου οὐκ ἀκούσομαι, καὶ κυλισθήσεται ὡς ὕδωρ
κρίμα 24
καὶ δικαιοσύνη ὡς χειμάρρους ἄβατος.
μὴ8 σφάγια καὶ θυσίας προσηνέγκατέ μοι ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τεσσαράκοντα
ἔτη, οἶκος9 Ισραηλ; 25
καὶ ἀνελάβετε τὴν σκηνὴν τοῦ Μολοχ καὶ τὸ ἄστρον τοῦ θεοῦ ὑμῶν
Ραιφαν, 26
τοὺς τύπους αὐτῶν, οὓς ἐποιήσατε ἑαυτοῖς.
καὶ μετοικιῶ ὑμᾶς ἐπέκεινα Δαμασκοῦ, 27
λέγει κύριος – ὁ θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ ὄνομα αὐτῷ.10

Vocabulary

ἄβατος, -ον, unfordable, untrodden, inaccessible ἀπωθέω, 1aor. mid.

ἀπωσάμην, pf. mid. ἀπῶσμαι: push away, reject ἄρκος, ὁ/ἡ, a bear
ἀστήρ, -έρος, ὁ, star γνόφος, ὁ, darkness, pl. storm clouds δάκνω, 1aor.
ἔδηξα/2aor. ἔδακον: bite ἐμπίπτω, 2aor. ἐνέπεσον, aor. inf. ἐμπεσεῖν: fall
 into (a state/condition); intrude into/among ἐπέκεινα (w. gen.), beyond, on
the other side ἐπιβλέπω (w. gen.), look upon ἐπιφάνεια, ἡ, appearance,
manifestation; conspicuous ἦχος, ὁ, echo, sound κυλίω, roll something
up/down; mid. roll oneself upon something; pour down μεθίστημι, 3.
μετέστησα: remove; seduce (to apostasy); shift somebody over to (a way of
life) μετοικίζω, 2. μετοικιῶ: lead settlers to another land/into exile Μολοχ,
Moloch (Heb. Sakkuth) and Ῥαιφαν, Raephan (Heb. Kaiwan) were
Assyrian deities (cf. Acts 7:42–43) ὁλοκαύτωμα, -ματος, τό, a whole burnt
offering ὄργανον, τό, musical instrument ὀσφραίνομαι (dep.), to smell,
take delight in πανήγυρις, -εως, ἡ, festival σκηνή, ἡ, tent, tabernacle
σφάγιον, τό, (mostly pl.), victims, offerings, sacrifices σωτήριον, τό,
thank offering (in LXX and Philo) τύπος, ὁ, image, form; type, archetype,
figure; pl. details χειμάρρους/ουν, -ου, ὁ, river/wadi (with abundant water
in winter) ψαλμός, ὁ, psalm, song of praise ᾠδή, ἡ, song, ode; singing

1 S.v. λέγω.

2 S.v. οἶδα, table 9.5.

3 ἵνα τί, “to what end?,” “why?”

4 ὅν τρόπον ὅταν, “(it is) as if.”

5 τοῖχον > τεῖχον.

6 οὐχί for a question anticipating the answer “yes” (“isn’t ... ?”).

7 S.v. φέρω.

8 μή signals a question anticipating the answer “no.”

9 Nom. for voc.

10 Dat. of poss.
 2.5. Book of Exodus: The Song of the Sea
(Exod 15:1–18)

Text: Rahlfs/Hanhart, II, 111–12; ET: NETS 61–62.

In Jewish prayer books, Exod 15:1–18 is known as the “Song of the Sea.” In
the Eastern Orthodox canon it is called the “Ode of Moses.”1 According to
legend, the Song of the Sea was sung by the Israelites after they crossed the “Sea
of Reeds,” or the “Red Sea” (as it is known in the LXX), in safety. This poem
celebrates the destruction of the Egyptian army during this crossing. The poem
originally existed as a separate text but was later incorporated into the Jahwist
source.
Generally speaking, the Septuagintal translation of Exodus is “expansionist”
in character, in the sense that it tends to expand the underlying text. This is also
true of the translation of this song, which not only expands but also amplifies the
miraculous character of the narrated events.

Τότε ᾖσεν Μωυσῆς καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ τὴν ᾠδὴν ταύτην τῷ θεῷ καὶ
εἶπαν λέγοντες,2 15:1
Ἄισωμεν3 τῷ κυρίῳ, ἐνδόξως γὰρ δεδόξασται,4
ἵππον καὶ ἀναβάτην ἔρριψεν εἰς θάλασσαν.
βοηθὸς καὶ σκεπαστὴς ἐγένετό μοι εἰς σωτηρίαν, 2
οὗτός (is) μου θεός, καὶ δοξάσω αὐτόν, θεὸς τοῦ πατρός μου, καὶ ὑψώσω
αὐτόν.
κύριος συντρίβων πολέμους, 3
κύριος (is) ὄνομα αὐτῷ. 5

Vocabulary

ᾄδω, 2. ᾄσω/ᾄσομαι, 3. ᾖσα, 1aor. inf. ἆσαι: sing a song ἀναβάτης, ὁ,

horseman, rider (cf. Exod 15:4) βοηθός, ὁ, helper; protector δοξάζω,
think, imagine; glorify; mid. to display one’s greatness; pass. supposed to
be; be held in honor (cf. Exod 15:6) ἔνδοξος, -ον, held in honor, of high
 repute; glorious; subst. glorious features; ἐνδόξως, gloriously ἵππος, ὁ,
horse; cavalry (collective noun); pl. ἵπποι, bouncers (in a men’s drinking
club) πόλεμος, ὁ, war, battle ῥίπτω, 3. ἔρριψα, 1aor. impv. ῥῖψον, 6.
ἐρρίφην: throw, cast away; lay/put something down σκεπαστής, -οῦ,
defender συντρίβω, crush, break to pieces, annihilate (cf. Exod 15:7) ᾠδή,
ἡ, song, ode; singing

ἅρματα Φαραω6 καὶ τὴν δύναμιν αὐτοῦ ἔρριψεν εἰς θάλασσαν, 15:4
ἐπιλέκτους ἀναβάτας, τριστάτας, κατεπόντισεν ἐν ἐρυθρᾷ θαλάσσῃ.7
πόντῳ ἐκάλυψεν αὐτούς, 5
κατέδυσαν εἰς βυθὸν ὡσεὶ λίθος.8
ἡ δεξιά σου, κύριε, δεδόξασται ἐν ἰσχύι, 6
ἡ δεξιά σου χείρ, κύριε, ἔθραυσεν ἐχθρούς.

Vocabulary

ἅρμα, -ματος, τό, chariot βυθός, ὁ, depth, deep δεξιός, -ά, -όν, on the
right; δεξιά, ἡ, right hand, authority ἐπίλεκτος, ον, chosen, choice
ἐρυθρός, -ά, -όν, red θραύω, to break, crush καταδύω, to go down, sink
into (εἰς) καταποντίζω, throw/drown into the sea πόντος, ὁ, open sea9
τριστάτης, ὁ, third-ranked officer ὡσεί, like, as if; about, approximately

καὶ τῷ πλήθει τῆς δόξης σου συνέτριψας τοὺς ὑπεναντίους, 15:7

ἀπέστειλας τὴν ὀργήν σου, καὶ κατέφαγεν αὐτοὺς ὡς καλάμην.
καὶ διὰ πνεύματος τοῦ θυμοῦ10 σου διέστη τὸ ὕδωρ, 8
11
ἐπάγη ὡσεὶ τεῖχος τὰ ὕδατα, ἐπάγη τὰ κύματα ἐν μέσῳ τῆς θαλάσσης.
εἶπεν ὁ ἐχθρός ‘Διώξας12 καταλήμψομαι,13 9
14
μεριῶ σκῦλα, ἐμπλήσω ψυχήν μου, ἀνελῶ τῇ μαχαίρῃ μου, κυριεύσει ἡ
χείρ μου.’
ἀπέστειλας τὸ πνεῦμά σου,15 ἐκάλυψεν αὐτοὺς θάλασσα, 10
ἔδυσαν ὡσεὶ μόλιβος ἐν ὕδατι σφοδρῷ.

Vocabulary

ἁγίασμα, -ματος, τό, sanctuary (cf. Exod 15:17) ἀναιρέω, 2. ἀναιρήσω/

ἀνελῶ, 3. ἀνεῖλον/ἀνεῖλα: destroy; execute, kill; mid., take up for oneself
διΐστημι, to separate διώκω, pursue, chase; persecute; strive for; recite (a
 spell) δύνω (also δύω), 1. mid. δύομαι, 2. δύσομαι, 2aor. ἔδυν: go down,
set (of the sun); sink; mid. to sink/set (of the sun) ἐμπίπλημι/ἐμπιπλάω,
pres. ptc. ἐμπιπλῶν, 2. ἐμπλήσω, 1aor. mid. impv. ἔπλησαι: fill full of (w.
gen.) ἐχθρός, -ά, -όν, enemy, hated; ὁ ἐχθρός, the enemy καλάμη, ἡ,
straw, stubble κατεσθίω, impf. κατήσθιον, 3. κατέφαγον: eat, devour
κῦμα, -ματος, τό, wave (of the sea) κυριεύω (w. gen.), have power over,
rule over; gain mastery over; control μάχαιρα, -ας, ἡ, sword, dagger
μερίζω, 2. μεριῶ, 6. ἐμερίσθην: to divide; to assign μόλιβος, ὁ, lead
(metal) ὀργή, ἡ, anger, wrath πήγνυμι, 3. ἔπηξα, 1aor. ptc. πήξας, 6.
ἐπάγην: pitch a tent; pass. become stiff, congealed πλῆθος, -ους, τό, great
number, multitude; abundance, great quantity σκῦλον, τό, pl. τὰ σκύλα,
spoils, booty σφοδρός, -ά, -όν, mighty, strong
τεῖχος, -ους, τό, city wall ὑπεναντίος, -α, -ον, opposing; subst. opponent,
enemy

Τίς ὅμοιός σοι ἐν θεοῖς, κύριε; 15:11

τίς ὅμοιός σοι, δεδοξασμένος ἐν ἁγίοις,16
θαυμαστὸς ἐν δόξαις, ποιῶν τέρατα; ἐξέτεινας τὴν δεξιάν σου, 12
κατέπιεν αὐτοὺς γῆ.
ὡδήγησας τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ σου τὸν λαόν σου τοῦτον, ὃν ἐλυτρώσω, 13
παρεκάλεσας (them) τῇ ἰσχύι σου εἰς κατάλυμα ἅγιόν σου.
ἤκουσαν ἔθνη καὶ ὠργίσθησαν, 14
ὠδῖνες ἔλαβον κατοικοῦντας (among the) Φυλιστιιμ.17
τότε ἔσπευσαν18 ἡγεμόνες Εδωμ,19 15
20
καὶ ἄρχοντες Μωαβιτῶν, ἔλαβεν αὐτοὺς τρόμος, ἐτάκησαν πάντες οἱ
κατοικοῦντες Χανααν.21

Vocabulary

ἄρχων, -οντος, ὁ, prince, ruler, leader; archon (title of a city magistrate)

ἡγεμών, -όνος, ὁ, leader; imperial governor (of a Roman province)
θαυμαστός, -ή, -όν, wonderful, marvelous ἰσχύς, -ύος, ἡ, strength, might
κατάλυμα, -ματος, τό, lodging, inn; abode καταπίνω, to swallow λυτρόω,
mid. to release by payment of a ransom, to redeem ὁδηγέω, to guide, lead;
to lead to (πρός/εἰς) σπεύδω, 3. ἔσπευσα: hurry; take an interest in
somebody τέρας, -ατος, τό, portentous sign, wonder τήκω, 3. ἐτάκησα: to
melt τρόμος, ὁ, trembling Xανααν, Canaan (indecl.) ὠδίν, -ῖνος, ἡ, pl.
 ὠδῖνες, labor pains

ἐπιπέσοι22 ἐ αὐτοὺς φόβος καὶ τρόμος, 15:16

μεγέθει βραχίονός σου ἀπολιθωθήτωσαν,23
ἕως ἂν παρέλθῃ ὁ λαός σου, κύριε, ἕως ἂν παρέλθῃ ὁ λαός σου οὗτος, ὃν
ἐκτήσω.24
εἰσαγαγὼν καταφύτευσον αὐτοὺς εἰς ὄρος κληρονομίας σου, 17
εἰς ἕτοιμον κατοικητήριόν σου, ὃ κατειργάσω, κύριε, ἁγίασμα, κύριε, ὃ
ἡτοίμασαν αἱ χεῖρές σου.
κύριος βασιλεύων τὸν αἰῶνα καὶ ἐ ἀἰῶνα καὶ ἔτι. 18

Vocabulary

ἀπολιθόω, pass. become petrified, turn into stone βασιλεύω, rule, reign;
become like a king βραχίων, -ονος, ὁ, arm; strength εἰσάγω, lead in, bring
in; introduce ἐπιπίπτω, 4. ἐπιπέπτωκα: fall on/over; happen to ἑτοιμάζω,
prepare; pass., be ready καταφυτεύω, to plant κατεργάζομαι, 3.
κατειργασάμην: bring about, accomplish; prepare; work out
κατοικητήριον, τό, dwelling place (neol.) κληρονομία, ἡ, inheritance
κτάομαι, 3. ἐκτησάμην, 1aor. mid. inf. κτήσασθαι, 4. κέκτημαι, plpf.
ἐκέκτημην: get, acquire; possess; subst. ptc. οἱ κεκτήμενοι, owners
παρέρχομαι, pf. inf. παρεληλυθέναι: walk past, pass by, pass away; (of
time) be past; (of a past) be over; disobey τρόμος, ὁ, trembling φόβος, ὁ,
fear, fright

Select Bibliography
Wevers, John William (ed.). LXX: Notes on the Greek Text of Exodus. Atlanta:
Scholars Press, 1990.

1 Not to be confused with the “Song of Moses” in Deut 32:1–43.

2 καὶ εἶπαν λέγοντες is pleonastic, representing the Hebrew direct speech

marker.
3 Hort. subj.

4 ἐνδόξως…δεδόξασται, adv. + finite mid. verb, translating free inf. absol. w.

the cognate finite verb (3 m. sg. qal. pf.) in the Heb. text. In your translation,
leave ἐνδόξως untranslated.

5 Dat. of poss.

6 Indecl., but here gen. (“Pharoh”).

7 ἐρυθρᾷ θαλάσσῃ (“Red Sea”) for the Heb. “Sea of Reeds.”

8 LXX emphasizes the divine action. Whereas the Heb. text begins with
“floods” as subject, LXX has κύριος (15:3), with πόντῳ simply the means that
the Lord used.

9 Translator reserves θάλασσα for Heb. yam.

10 MT means “by the breath (snort) of your nostrils,” the term “nostrils” being
a common figure of divine anger. But the translator has avoided this crude figure
of speech.

11 S.v. πήγνυμι; the subject of the verb is ὕδατα.

12 S.v., διώκω, instr. adv. ptc. (“by”) (cf. IV, 5).

13 καταλαμβάνω.

14 S.v. ἀναιρέω.

15 LXX avoids the anthropomorphism of MT (God “blowing”) by a neutral

“you sent (ἀπέστειλας) your πνεύμα.”
16 LXX has ἐν ἁγίοις, where MT has a sg. noun (“holiness”).

17 Φυλιστιιμ (indecl.): the translators mistakenly use the term “Philistines”

instead of the “land of the Philistines.”

18 LXX understood the corresponding Heb. term in the Late Hebrew sense of
“to hasten, hurry” rather than the original meaning “to be dismayed, terrified.”

19 Edom, indecl., here gen.

20 Moabites (gen.).

21 Indecl., here gen.

22 Opt. (2aor. verbs in non-ind. moods have the same endings as the pres. tense
of the same mood), cf. table 9.1.3.

23 Cf. table 9.3.4.

24 S.v. κτάομαι.
 2.6. Book of Isaiah: The Fourth Suffering Servant
Song
(Isa 52:13–53:12)

Text: Rahlfs/Hanhart, II, 638–39; ET: NETS 865–66.

The term “Servant Songs,” or “Songs of the Suffering Servant,” refers to four
poems written about a certain “servant of YHWH” (Isa 42:1–4, 49:1–6, 50:4–9,
52:13–53:12). In these poems, a “servant” (παῖς) is called by the Lord to lead the
nations, as a result of which the servant is horribly abused, accepting the
punishment due to others by sacrificing himself. In the Fourth Servant Song, this
servant is said to intercede for others, bearing their punishments and afflictions.
He is then posthumously vindicated by God. Whereas Jewish tradition interprets
the “servant” as a metaphor of the Jewish people, early Christians interpreted the
Servant Songs as messianic prophecies foretelling the coming of Jesus Christ.
Related Texts: Direct and indirect references to this song are found in the
passion narratives of the canonical Gospels and in the Gospel of Peter (§§1.9,
1.15). The concept of dying vicariously for the benefit of others may have
inspired the concept of the righteous martyr, who dies for the benefit of others,
in 2 Macc 6:18–7:42 (§6.2), 4 Macc 1:11 (§6.3), and elsewhere (cf. 4 Macc
6:16–23, 27–28).

Ἰδοὺ συνήσει1 ὁ παῖς μου 52:13

καὶ ὑψωθήσεται καὶ δοξασθήσεται σφόδρα.
ὃν τρόπον ἐκστήσονται2 ἐπὶ3 σὲ πολλοί — 14
οὕτως ἀδοξήσει ἀπὸ ἀνθρώπων τὸ εἶδός σου
καὶ ἡ δόξα σου (be absent) ἀπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων —
οὕτως θαυμάσονται ἔθνη πολλὰ ἐ αὐτῷ, 15
καὶ συνέξουσιν βασιλεῖς τὸ στόμα αὐτῶν, ὅτι οἷς οὐκ ἀνηγγέλη4 περὶ
αὐτοῦ, ὄψονται,5
καὶ οἳ οὐκ ἀκηκόασιν, συνήσουσιν.
κύριε, τίς ἐπίστευσεν τῇ ἀκοῇ ἡμῶν; 53:1
καὶ ὁ βραχίων κυρίου τίνι ἀπεκαλύφθη; ἀνέτειλεν μὲν ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ ὡς
 παιδίον, 2
ὡς ῥίζα ἐν γῇ διψώσῃ, οὐκ ἔστιν εἶδος αὐτῷ οὐδὲ δόξα, καὶ εἴδομεν
αὐτόν, καὶ οὐκ εἶχεν εἶδος (how) οὐδὲ κάλλος, ἀλλὰ τὸ εἶδος αὐτοῦ
ἄτιμον ἐκλεῖπον παρὰ πάντας ἀνθρώπους, 3
ἄνθρωπος ἐν πληγῇ ὢν καὶ εἰδὼς φέρειν μαλακίαν, ὅτι ἀπέστραπται6 τὸ
πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ, ἠτιμάσθη καὶ οὐκ ἐλογίσθη.

Vocabulary

ἀδοξέω, be held in no esteem, be despicable ἀκοή, ἡ, (faculty of) hearing;

act of hearing; ear; account, report; obedience; pl. αἱ ἀκοαί, ears
ἀνατέλλω, 2. ἀνατελῶ, 3. ἀνέτειλα: cause to spring/grow up
ἀποστρέφω, 6. ἀπεστράφην (dep.): look back at (ἐπί) somebody; look
away; revoke, refrain from, turn back from doing something ἀτιμάζω,
dishonor ἄτιμος, -ον, dishonored, without honor βραχίων, -ονος, ὁ, arm;
strength εἶδος, -ους, τό, form, appearance ἐκλείπω, 3. ἐξέλιπον, 4.
ἐκλέλοιπα: forsake; remain, be left; pass away (die); abandon, quit
ἐναντίος, -α, -ον (w. gen.), contrary, against, opposed; ἐναντίον (w. gen.),
before; τὸ ἐναντίον, on the other hand; subst. οἱ ἐναντίοι, τὰ ἐναντία, the
opposites λογίζομαι, to count/reckon something to somebody, have regard
for, esteem; reckon, estimate μαλακία, ἡ, sickness πληγή, ἡ, a blow,
wound; sudden calamity; plague; ἔρχομαι πληγῶν, come to blows συνέχω,
keep closed; seize, torment σφόδρα, very (much), extremely, greatly (adv.)

οὗτος τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν φέρει 53:4

καὶ περὶ ἡμῶν ὀδυνᾶται, καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐλογισάμεθα αὐτὸν εἶναι ἐν πόνῳ
καὶ ἐν πληγῇ καὶ ἐν κακώσει.
αὐτὸς δὲ ἐτραυματίσθη διὰ τὰς ἀνομίας ἡμῶν 5
καὶ μεμαλάκισται διὰ τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν, παιδεία εἰρήνης ἡμῶν (was) ἐ
αὐτόν, τῷ μώλωπι αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς ἰάθημεν.7
πάντες ὡς πρόβατα ἐπλανήθημεν, 6
ἄνθρωπος τῇ ὁδῷ αὐτοῦ ἐπλανήθη, καὶ κύριος παρέδωκεν αὐτὸν ταῖς
ἁμαρτίαις ἡμῶν.
καὶ αὐτὸς διὰ τὸ κεκακῶσθαι 7
οὐκ ἀνοίγει τὸ στόμα, ὡς πρόβατον ἐπὶ σφαγὴν ἤχθη8
καὶ ὡς ἀμνὸς ἐναντίον τοῦ κείροντος αὐτὸν ἄφωνος
οὕτως οὐκ ἀνοίγει τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ.
Vocabulary

ἀμνός, ὁ, lamb ἄφωνος, -ον, speechless, dumb κακόω, do evil, to

hurt/harm κάκωσις, -εως, ἡ, affliction, oppression κείρω, shear a sheep
μαλακίζομαι, be weakly, sick μώλωψ, -ωπος, ὁ, stripe, bruise ὀδυνάω,
suffer pain παιδεία, ἡ, teaching, education; discipline, correction πλανάω,
lead astray; pass. wander, be led astray πρόβατον, τό, sheep σφαγή, ἡ,
slaughter τραυματίζω, to wound

ἐν τῇ ταπεινώσει ἡ κρίσις αὐτοῦ ἤρθη,9 53:8

τὴν γενεὰν αὐτοῦ τίς διηγήσεται; ὅτι αἴρεται ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἡ ζωὴ αὐτοῦ,
ἀπὸ10 τῶν ἀνομιῶν τοῦ λαοῦ μου ἤχθη εἰς θάνατον.11
καὶ δώσω12 τοὺς πονηροὺς ἀντὶ τῆς ταφῆς αὐτοῦ 9
καὶ (δώσω) τοὺς πλουσίους ἀντὶ τοῦ θανάτου αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἀνομίαν οὐκ
ἐποίησεν, οὐδὲ εὑρέθη δόλος ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ.

Vocabulary

ἀντί, for, instead of, in place of γενεά, -ᾶς, ἡ (Ion. γενεή, -ῆς), race,
offspring διηγέομαι, 3. διηγησάμην: recite, relate, tell δόλος, ὁ, cunning,
deceit, treachery πλούσιος, -α, -ον, rich, wealthy; ὁ πλούσιος, rich man;
comp. πλουσιώτερος
ταπείνωσις, -εως, ἡ, humiliation, humility

καὶ κύριος βούλεται 53:10

καθαρίσαι αὐτὸν τῆς πληγῆς·
ἐὰν δῶτε περὶ ἁμαρτίας, ἡ ψυχὴ ὑμῶν ὄψεται σπέρμα μακρόβιον, καὶ
βούλεται κύριος ἀφελεῖν
ἀπὸ τοῦ πόνου τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ, 11
δεῖξαι13 αὐτῷ φῶς
καὶ πλάσαι14 τῇ συνέσει, δικαιῶσαι δίκαιον εὖ δουλεύοντα πολλοῖς, καὶ
τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν αὐτὸς ἀνοίσει.15
διὰ τοῦτο αὐτὸς κληρονομήσει πολλοὺς 12
16
καὶ τῶν ἰσχυρῶν μεριεῖ σκῦλα, ἀν ὧν παρεδόθη εἰς θάνατον ἡ ψυχὴ
αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀνόμοις ἐλογίσθη, καὶ αὐτὸς ἁμαρτίας πολλῶν
ἀνήνεγκεν
καὶ διὰ τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν παρεδόθη.
 Vocabulary

ἄνομος, -ον, lawless; subst. lawless man ἀφαιρέω, 3. ἀφεῖλον, 2aor. inf.
ἀφελεῖν, 1aor. mid. ἀφειλάμην: take away from, remove; mid. take away
something fr. somebody βούλομαι, 6. ἠβουλήθην (dep.): to will, desire;
mean something
δείκνυμι, 2. δείξω, 3. ἔδειξα, 4. δέδειχα, ―, 6. ἐδείχθην: show, point out;
reveal, explain, prove δουλεύω, be a slave to somebody (dat.); serve
somebody (dat.) εὖ (adv.), well μακρόβιος, -ον, long-lived μερίζω, 2.
μεριῶ, 6. ἐμερίσθην: to divide; to assign σύνεσις, -εως, ἡ, understanding,
discernment

1 S.v. συνίημι (cf. Isa 52:15), for paradigm of ἵημι see table 9.15.

2 S.v. ἐξίστημι.

3 ἐπί, “at.”

4 S.v. ἀναγγέλλω, 2aor. pass. ἀνηγγέλην.

5 S.v. ὁράω.

6 S.v. ἀποστρέφω.

7 S.v. ἰάομαι.

8 S.v. ἄγω.

9 S.v. αἴρω.

10 ἀπό, “on account of.”

11 LXX translated Heb. term meaning “burial mound” as θάνατος.

12 Perhaps fut. ind. for subj. (“I would ...”); though the servant’s ταφή will be
allocated (“offered”), he is not yet dead.

13 S.v. δείκνυμι.

14 S.v. πίμπλημι.

15 S.v. ἀναφέρω.

16 ἀν ὧν, “because.”
 2.7. Book of Genesis: The Second Creation Account

(Gen 2:4b–9, 15–25)

Related Texts: Gen 3:1–24 (§2.1), L.A.E. 1, 7–9, 19–21, 25, 31–32 (§§3.9–
10).
2:4b Αὕτη ἡ βίβλος γενέσεως1 οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς, ὅτε ἐγένετο, ᾗ ἡμέρᾳ
ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν2 5 καὶ πᾶν χλωρὸν ἀγροῦ πρὸ τοῦ
γενέσθαι3 (it) ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ πάντα χόρτον ἀγροῦ πρὸ τοῦ ἀνατεῖλαι,4 οὐ γὰρ
ἔβρεξεν5 ὁ θεὸς6 ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, καὶ ἄνθρωπος οὐκ ἦν ἐργάζεσθαι τὴν γῆν, 6
πηγὴ δὲ ἀνέβαινεν ἐκ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἐπότιζεν πᾶν τὸ πρόσωπον τῆς γῆς. 7 καὶ
ἔπλασεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον, χοῦν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς, καὶ ἐνεφύσησεν εἰς τὸ
πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ πνοὴν ζωῆς, καὶ ἐγένετο ὁ ἄνθρωπος εἰς ψυχὴν ζῶσαν.7 8
Καὶ ἐφύτευσεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς8 παράδεισον ἐν Εδεμ κατὰ ἀνατολὰς καὶ ἔθετο
ἐκεῖ τὸν ἄνθρωπον, ὃν ἔπλασεν. 9 καὶ ἐξανέτειλεν ὁ θεὸς ἔτι ἐκ τῆς γῆς πᾶν
ξύλον ὡραῖον εἰς ὅρασιν καὶ καλὸν εἰς9 βρῶσιν καὶ τὸ ξύλον τῆς ζωῆς ἐν
μέσῳ τῷ παραδείσῳ καὶ τὸ ξύλον τοῦ εἰδέναι10 γνωστὸν καλοῦ καὶ πονηροῦ.
(vv. 10–14 omitted)
Vocabulary

ἀγρός, ὁ, field, countryside ἀνατέλλω, 2. ἀνατελῶ, 3. ἀνέτειλα: cause to

spring/grow up βίβλος/βύβλος, ὁ, Egyptian papyrus; a scroll of papyrus
(book) βρέχω, to rain; to soak (in a liquid) βρῶσις, ἡ, eating/consumption;
food γένεσις, -εως, τό, generation, offspring; birth, beginning, origin
γνωστός, -η, -ον, known; subst. knowledge ἐμφυσάω, 3. ἐνεφύσησα:
blow in, breathe into ἐξανατέλλω, 3. ἐξανέτειλεν: cause to spring up
ὅρασις, ἡ, seeing, sight; eyes; appearance παράδεισος, -ου, ὁ, a garden,
orchard (in Eden), a place of blessedness above the earth, paradise πηγή, ἡ,
running water; a spring source, fountain; source, origin πλάσσω (Att.
πλάττω), 3. ἔπλασα, pf. pass. inf. πεπλάσθαι: to form, mold, fashion
φυτεύω, plant something χλωρός, ά, όν, greenish-yellow; subst. green
plant χοῦς, χοός (gen.), τό, dust, clay ὡραῖος, -α, -ον, beautiful; gracious
 2:15 Καὶ ἔλαβεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον, ὃν ἔπλασεν, καὶ ἔθετο αὐτὸν
ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ ἐργάζεσθαι αὐτὸν καὶ φυλάσσειν. 16 καὶ ἐνετείλατο κύριος
ὁ θεὸς τῷ Αδαμ11 λέγων12 ἀπὸ παντὸς ξύλου τοῦ ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ βρώσει
φάγῃ,1317 ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ ξύλου τοῦ γινώσκειν14 καλὸν καὶ πονηρόν, οὐ
φάγεσθε15 ἀπ᾽αὐτοῦ, ἧ δ᾽ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ φάγητε ἀπ᾽αὐτοῦ,16 θανάτῳ
ἀποθανεῖσθε.1718 Καὶ εἶπεν κύριος ὁ θεός· οὐ καλὸν εἶναι τὸν ἄνθρωπον
μόνον, ποιήσωμεν18 αὐτῷ βοηθὸν κατ᾽ αὐτόν.19 19 καὶ ἔπλασεν ὁ θεὸς ἔτι ἐκ
τῆς γῆς πάντα τὰ θηρία τοῦ ἀγροῦ καὶ πάντα τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ
ἤγαγεν αὐτὰ πρὸς τὸν Αδαμ ἰδεῖν τί καλέσει αὐτά, καὶ πᾶν, ὃ ἐὰν20
ἐκάλεσεν21 αὐτὸ Αδαμ ψυχὴν ζῶσαν, τοῦτο ὄνομα αὐτῷ.22
Vocabulary

ἀνατολή, ἡ (poet. ἀντολίη), east; κατὰ ἀνατολάς, eastward; εἰς τὴν

ἀνατολήν, πρὸς ἀνατολάς, toward the east ἀφορίζω, to separate, divide;
set apart, appoint (for a purpose) βοηθός, ὁ, helper; protector γενωστός, -
η, -ον, known; subst. knowledge γυμνός, -ή, -όν, naked ἔκστασις, ἡ,
spell; ecstasy ἐπιβάλλω, lay on, put on; board a ship ἐργάζομαι, 3.
εἰργασάμην, 1aor. mid. inf. ἐργάσασθαι: to work, labor, till (the soil);
produce an effect, be productive; bring about κτῆνος, -ους, τό, domestic
animal; mostly pl. τὰ κτήνεα, herds, cattle κυκλόω, to encircle, surround
ὀστοῦν (uncontr. ὀστέον), τό, ὀστοῦν, pl. ὀστᾶ, ὀστῶν (uncontr.
ὀστέων), bone πλευρά, -ᾶς, ἡ, side; rib πνοή, ἡ, wind, breath ὑπνόω, to
sleep φύλασσω, keep watch, guard χόρτος, ὁ, grass, χόρτος τοῦ ἀγροῦ,
wild grass, hay

2:20 Καὶ ἐκάλεσεν Αδαμ ὀνόματα πᾶσιν τοῖς κτήνεσιν καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς
πετεινοῖς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς θηρίοις τοῦ ἀγροῦ, τῷ δὲ Αδαμ οὐχ
εὑρέθη βοηθὸς ὅμοιος αὐτῷ. – 21 καὶ ἐπέβαλεν ὁ θεὸς ἔκστασιν ἐπὶ τὸν
Αδαμ, καὶ ὕπνωσεν, καὶ ἔλαβεν μίαν τῶν πλευρῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνεπλήρωσεν
σάρκα23 ἀν ἀὐτῆς. 22 καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν24 κύριος ὁ θεὸς τὴν πλευράν, ἣν
ἔλαβεν ἀπὸ τοῦ Αδαμ, εἰς γυναῖκα καὶ ἤγαγεν αὐτὴν πρὸς τὸν Αδαμ. 23 καὶ
εἶπεν Αδαμ· τοῦτο25 νῦν ὀστοῦν26 ἐκ τῶν ὀστέων μου καὶ σὰρξ ἐκ τῆς
σαρκός μου, αὕτη κληθήσεται γυνή,27 ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς ἐλήμφθη αὕτη.
24 ἕνεκεν τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα
αὐτοῦ καὶ προσκολληθήσεται πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς
σάρκα μίαν. 25 καὶ ἦσαν οἱ δύο γυμνοί, ὅ τε Αδαμ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐκ
ᾐσχύνοντο.
Vocabulary

ἀναπληρόω: fill up something προσκολλάω, glue on, pass. be stuck to,

cleave to (w. dat.)

1 The phrase ἡ βίβλος γενέσεως is borrowed from Gen 5:1. However, in the
context of LXX, this phrase refers to what immediately follows.

2 The last clause of 2:4 must be read with the next verse, i.e., “on which day
God made sky and earth + πᾶν χλωρόν....”

3 Art. inf.

4 Art. inf.

5 Here verb is causative w. ὁ θεός as subject.

6 Here and elsewhere the translator often uses only ὁ θεός for the double name
of God (‫) םי ל ה ה‬.

7 At this point in the story (before the division of the sexes in Gen 2:21–23),
ἄνθρωπος seems to be an androgyne; cf. the myth of the androgyne as it is
recorded in Plato’s Symposion 189d-e and Poimandres (§8.4).

8 κύριος ὁ θεός: for the first time, the double divine name (‫( ) םי ל ה ה‬cf.
Gen 2:16, 16, 18, 22).

9 Telic εἰς (“for”).

10 S.v. οἶδα.
11 At this point the text switches from ὁ ἄνθρωπος to ὁ Ἀδάμ, thereby
personalizing the account to make it concern Adam rather than “humankind.”

12 λέγων is a direct speech marker that introduces God’s statement, which

includes all of 2:17.

13 βρώσει φάγῃ: this construction illustrates one of the ways in which the
translator dealt with cognate free infinitive of Heb. syntax. When a Heb.
infinitive precedes a cognate finite verb, it serves to intensify the verbal idea
(e.g., “you may actually eat”). However, Greek lacks such a syntactical form. A
common way of dealing with this Heb. construction was to add a dative cognate
noun or add a semantically related, not non-cognate, noun such as we find here,
βρώσει (“you may surely eat”). The future tesne is permissive in meaning.

14 Art. inf.

15 Though woman had not yet been created, the translator uses a 2nd pers. pl.
verb and elsewhere (contrary to MT). In other words, the woman is proleptically
introduced.

16 “From it” (functionless) is from Heb. interference.

17 “Really die”: on this construction see note 13 on βρώσει φάγῃ. This

statement is contradicted by the story as it evolved, for the couple did eat but did
not die on that day.

18 Hort. subj.

19 The prepositional phrase κα αὐτόν, modifying βοηθόν, is difficult to

interpret. The phrase occurs only here and in Gen 2:20, where it is translated by
ὅμοιος αὐτῷ (“similar to him,” i.e., “like him”), which is close to the language
of Gen 2:20.

20 ὃ ἐάν > ὃ ἄν.

21 καλέω has two acc. modifiers, the one named (αὐτό) and the name given
(τοῦτο).

22 Dat. of poss.

23 σάρκα: the accusative case is unexpected, since ἀναπλησόω normally takes

a genitive. The clause means “and he filled up flesh in its place,” with μίαν
being the antecedent of αὐτῆς.

24 In this context, the verb οἰκοδομέω expresses the idea of “to

form”/”fashion.”

25 The nt. pron. agrees with ὁστοῦν (not γυναῖκα).

26 The LXX often followed the Attic practice of using the contr. form ὀστοῦν
in sg, but the uncontr. form ὀστέων in the pl.

27 The translation of the Hebrew term isha (woman) by γυνή and of ish (man)
by ἀνδρός not only destroys the pun but also changes the sense of the verse. The
Greek translation ties this verse more closely to Gen 2:24, where marriage is
described as the union of man and wife.
 2.8. The Song of Solomon: Selections
(Song 1:1–7, 2:10–17, 4:9–16)

The “Song of Solomon,” also known as “Canticles” and the “Song of Songs,”
never mentions God or alludes to any sacred Jewish traditions. Indeed, the
poems that comprise it are really love poems, stunning for their use of sensual
and erotic language. In these poems, a women and man describe the
transformation of their relationship from one of courtship to private
consummation. Commentators have noted how these poems preserve the “only
unmediated female voice in scripture”1 and confer true “subjectivity” upon
ancient women.2 But by virtue of their subsequent inclusion in the Jewish and
Christian canons, these texts were later interpreted allegorically. Nonetheless,
the poems can still be read literally for their positive representation of human
sexuality and egalitarian gender relations.3
Date: Post-Exilic period.
The translator of the Song of Songs tried to render the Hebrew text in an
interlinear, word-for-word manner. However, this task was complicated by the
many rare and obscure words in the Hebrew text.

Song 1:1–7
ᾈσμα ᾀσμάτων, ὅ ἐστιν τῷ Σαλωμων.4 1
Φιλησάτω με ἀπὸ φιλημάτων στόματος αὐτοῦ, 2
ὅτι ἀγαθοὶ μαστοί σου ὑπὲρ οἶνον, καὶ ὀσμὴ μύρων σου ὑπὲρ πάντα τὰ
ἀρώματα, 3
μύρον ἐκκενωθὲν (is) ὄνομά σου.
διὰ τοῦτο νεάνιδες ἠγάπησάν σε, εἵλκυσάν5 σε, 4
ὀπίσω σου εἰς ὀσμὴν μύρων σου δραμοῦμεν.
Εἰσήνεγκέν με ὁ βασιλεὺς εἰς τὸ ταμίειον αὐτοῦ.
Ἀγαλλιασώμεθα καὶ εὐφρανθῶμεν ἐν σοί, ἀγαπήσομεν μαστούς σου ὑπὲρ
οἶνον, εὐθύτης ἠγάπησέν σε.
Μέλαινά 6εἰμι καὶ καλή, 5
θυγατέρες Ιερουσαλημ, 7
ὡς σκηνώματα Κηδαρ,8
ὡς δέρρεις Σαλωμων.
μὴ βλέψητέ με, ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι μεμελανωμένη, 6
ὅτι παρέβλεψέν με ὁ ἥλιος, υἱοὶ μητρός μου ἐμαχέσαντο ἐν ἐμοί, ἔθεντό
με φυλάκισσαν ἐν ἀμπελῶσιν, ἀμπελῶνα ἐμὸν οὐκ ἐφύλαξα.
Ἀπάγγειλόν μοι, ὃν ἠγάπησεν ἡ ψυχή μου, 7
ποῦ ποιμαίνεις, ποῦ κοιτάζεις ἐν μεσημβρίᾳ, μήποτε γένωμαι ὡς
περιβαλλομένη
ἐ ἀγέλαις ἑταίρων σου.

Vocabulary

ἀγαλλιάομαι, rejoice exceedingly ἀγέλη, -ης, ἡ, herd, flock ἀμπελών, -

ῶνος, ὁ, vineyard ᾆσμα, -ματος, τό, song δέρρις, -εως, curtain of skin
hide, tent curtain (of goats’ hair) ἐκκενόω, empty out; pass. be poured out
εὐθύτης, -ητος, ἡ, righteousness, uprightness ἡδύς, -εῖα (fm.), -ύ (nt.),
pleasant; pleasant to the taste, sweet; superl. ἥδιστος, -η, -ον, ἥδιστα, most
gladly, most delicious (food); most pleasant to the taste; ἡδέως (adv.), with
pleasure, gladly; ἥδιστα μᾶλλον, all the more κοιτάζω, act. cause sheep to
lie down, provide a fold for μελανόομαι, be darkened (neol.) μέλας, -αινα, -
αν, black, dark μεσημβρία, midday, noon heat μύρον, τό, ointment,
perfume νεᾶνις, -ιδος, ἡ, young woman, maiden ὀσμή, ἡ, smell, fragrance
παραβλέπω, look down upon, observe σκήνωμα, -ατος, τό, tent, dwelling,
tabernacle ταμιεῖον, τό, chamber, innermost room φιλέω, to love; kiss
φίλημα, -ματος, τό, kiss φυλάκισσα, ἡ, keeper (neol.)

Song 2:10–17
Ἀποκρίνεται ἀδελφιδός μου καὶ λέγει μοι· 10
ἀνάστα ἐλθέ, ἡ πλησίον μου, καλή μου, περιστερά μου, ὅτι ἰδοὺ ὁ χειμὼν
παρῆλθεν, 11
ὁ ὑετὸς ἀπῆλθεν, ἐπορεύθη ἑαυτῷ, τὰ ἄνθη ὤφθη ἐν τῇ γῇ, 12
καιρὸς τῆς τομῆς ἔφθακεν, 9

φωνὴ τοῦ τρυγόνος

ἠκούσθη ἐν τῇ γῇ ἡμῶν, ἡ συκῆ ἐξήνεγκεν10 ὀλύνθους αὐτῆς, 13
αἱ ἄμπελοι κυπρίζουσιν, ἔδωκαν ὀσμήν.
ἀνάστα ἐλθέ, ἡ πλησίον μου, αλή μου, περιστερά μου, καὶ ἐλθὲ σύ,
περιστερά μου ἐν σκέπῃ τῆς πέτρας 14
ἐχόμενα τοῦ προτειχίσματος, δεῖξόν μοι τὴν ὄψιν σου
καὶ ἀκούτισόν με τὴν φωνήν σου, ὅτι ἡ φωνή σου ἡδεῖα, καὶ ἡ ὄψις σου
ὡραία.
Πιάσατε ἡμῖν ἀλώπεκας 15
μικροὺς ἀφανίζοντας ἀμπελῶνας – καὶ αἱ ἄμπελοι ἡμῶν κυπρίζουσιν.
Ἀδελφιδός μου ἐμοί, κἀγὼ αὐτῷ, 16
ὁ ποιμαίνων ἐν τοῖς κρίνοις, ἕως οὗ διαπνεύσῃ ἡ ἡμέρα 17
καὶ κινηθῶσιν αἱ σκιαί.
ἀπόστρεψον ὁμοιώθητι σύ, ἀδελφιδέ μου, τῷ δόρκωνι ἢ νεβρῷ ἐλάφων
ἐπὶ ὄρη κοιλωμάτων.

Vocabulary

ἀδελφιδός, ὁ, beloved one (neol.) (cf. Song 4:16–17) ἀκουτίζω, make to

hear ἀλώπηξ, -εκος, ἡ, fox ἄνθος, -ους, τό, blossom, flower ἀποστρέφω,
2aor. pass. ἀπεστράφην (dep.): look back at (ἐπί) somebody, look away;

refrain from, turn back from; revoke ἀφανίζω, remove, get rid of; destroy,
ruin; pass. vanish; be ruined, be destroyed διαπνέω, to dawn (of the sun)
(cf. Song 4:16) δόρκων, -ωνος, ὁ, deer, gazelle ἔλαφος, ὁ, deer, hart
κινέω, move, stir up; pass. be moved/resolved (of an inward disposition)
κοίλωμα, valley, lowland κρίνον, τό, lily κυπρίζω, to blossom (neol.) (cf.
Song 2:15) νεβρός, -ους, τό, a fawn ὄλυνθος, ὁ, wild fig ὁμοιόω, to make
like, become like (w. dat.) ὀσμή, ἡ, smell, fragrance πιάζω, catch (of an
animal), seize; arrest (person) προτείχισμα, τό, outer wall, fortification
σκέπη, ἡ, protection, shelter, shade σκιά, -ᾶς, ἡ, shadow τομή, ἡ, pruning
τρυγών, -όνος, turtledove ὑετός, ὁ, rain χειμών, -ῶνος, ὁ, storm; winter
ὡραῖος, -α, -ον, beautiful; gracious

Song 4:9–16
Ἐκαρδίωσας ἡμᾶς, ἀδελφή μου νύμφη, 9
ἐκαρδίωσας ἡμᾶς ἑνὶ ἀπὸ ὀφθαλμῶν σου, ἐν μιᾷ ἐνθέματι τραχήλων
σου.
τί ἐκαλλιώθησαν μαστοί σου, 10
ἀδελφή μου νύμφη, τί ἐκαλλιώθησαν μαστοί σου ἀπὸ11 οἴνου; καὶ ὀσμὴ
ἱματίων σου ὑπὲρ πάντα τὰ ἀρώματα.
κηρίον ἀποστάζουσιν χείλη σου, νύμφη, 11
μέλι καὶ γάλα ὑπὸ τὴν γλῶσσάν σου, καὶ ὀσμὴ ἱματίων σου ὡς ὀσμὴ
 Λιβάνου.12
Κῆπος κεκλεισμένος ἀδελφή μου νύμφη, 12
κῆπος κεκλεισμένος, πηγὴ ἐσφραγισμένη, ἀποστολαί σου παράδεισος
ῥοῶν 13
μετὰ καρποῦ ἀκροδρύων, κύπροι μετὰ νάρδων, νάρδος καὶ κρόκος, 14
13
κάλαμος καὶ κιννάμωμον
μετὰ πάντων ξύλων τοῦ Λιβάνου, σμύρνα αλωθ
μετὰ πάντων πρώτων μύρων, πηγὴ κήπων, φρέαρ ὕδατος, 15
14
ζῶντος καὶ ῥοιζοῦντος ἀπὸ τοῦ Λιβάνου. 15

Ἐξεγέρθητι, βορρᾶ, 16
καὶ ἔρχου, νότε, διάπνευσον κῆπόν μου, καὶ ῥευσάτωσαν ἀρώματά μου,
καταβήτω ἀδελφιδός μου εἰς κῆπον αὐτοῦ
καὶ φαγέτω καρπὸν ἀκροδρύων αὐτοῦ.

Vocabulary

ἀκρόδρυα, -ων, τά, fruit trees αλωθ, aloes

ἀποστάζω, distill ἀποστολή, ἡ, scent ἄρωμα, -ματος, τό, spice, spices
and aromatic oils (esp. those used for embalming the dead) βορέας, -ου /
βορρᾶς, -ᾶ, ὁ, north wind γάλα, -ακτος, τό, milk διαπνέω, blow through
ἔνθεμα, -ματος, τό, ornament (neol.) ἐξεγείρω, awaken; raise from the
dead; pass. be awakened, wake up ἱμάτιον, τό, outer garment, cloak, robe;
pl. clothes; pl. clothes; grave clothes, funeral shroud καλλιόω, pass. become
beautiful καρδιόω, carry away, overwhelm somebody’s heart (neol.)
κηρίον, τό, honeycomb κιννάμωνον, τό, cinnamon κρόκος, ὁ, saffron
κύπρος, ἡ, camphor, henna λίβανος, ὁ, frankincense μέλι, -ιτος, τό, honey
νάρδος, ἡ, nard, costly ointment νότος, ὁ, south wind νύμφη, ἡ, bride,
young wife μύρον, τό, perfume ὀσμή, ἡ, smell, fragrance ῥόα, ἡ,
pomegranate ῥοιζέω, to babble (of water) σμύρνα / ζμύρνα, ἡ, myrrh
σφραγίζω, to seal (for a security), to seal by impressing a seal with a signet
ring ρέω, 1aor. impv. 3rd pl. ῥευσάτωσαν: flow, stream, waft τράχηλος,
ὁ, neck φρέαρ, -ατος, τό, (artificial) well χεῖλος, -ους, τό, pl. χείλη, lips;
edge, shore (sea), bank (of river)

1 Renita Weems, “The Song of Songs: Introduction, Commentary, and

Reflections,” in The New Interpreters Bible, 156, ed. Leander Keck (Nashville:
Abingdon Press, 1994).

2 Cheryl Exum, The Song of Songs: A Commentary (Louisville: Westminster

John Knox Press, 2005), 82.

3 Marvin H. Pope, Song of Songs: A New Translation with Introduction and

Commentary, Anchor Bible (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1977).

4 Dat. of poss.

5 S.v. ἕλκω.

6 This is a reference to a woman who has been exposed to the strong rays of the
sun. Her skin color is likened to the (black) tents of Qedar and Solomon.

7 Gen. case.

8 Qedar; according to Genesis, the Qedarites were a nomadic people descended

from Qedar, the second son of Ishmael (Gen 25:13).

9 S.v. φθάνω.

10 S.v. ἐκφέρω.

11 ἀπό, “above,” “more than.”

12 Lebanon.

13 Here, an aromatic oil.

14 Here “flowing.”
15 Lebanon (ὁ Λίβανος).
 2.9. Book of Jesus, Son of Sirach: A Hymn in Honor
of the Ancestors
(Sir 44:1–15)

Provenance: Alexandria, Egypt.

The Book of Jesus (Joshua), Son of Sirach, is also known as the Wisdom of
Sirach and as Ecclesiasticus in the Vulgate. Its author was a member of the
educated aristocracy of Jerusalem and may even have been the head of a school.
This book draws upon a wide range of wisdom genres, including sayings,
didactic poems, hymns, as well as psalms of thanksgiving and lament. The
translator worked in an isomorphic way, in an attempt to reproduce the
grammatical form of the Hebrew original as closely as possible. The prologue of
this book is of great interest because it is the only book in the Septuagint in
which the translator speaks directly to the reader.
Date: The Hebrew original was written in the early second century BCE.
Around 130 BCE, the grandson of the author translated the book into Greek
while living in Alexandria.

Αἰνέσωμεν1 δὴ ἄνδρας ἐνδόξους 44:1

καὶ τοὺς πατέρας ἡμῶν τῇ γενέσει, πολλὴν δόξαν ἔκτισεν ὁ κύριος, 2
τὴν μεγαλωσύνην αὐτοῦ ἀ αἰῶνος.
κυριεύοντες ἐν ταῖς βασιλείαις αὐτῶν 3
καὶ ἄνδρες ὀνομαστοὶ ἐν δυνάμει, βουλεύοντες ἐν συνέσει αὐτῶν,
ἀπηγγελκότες ἐν προφητείαις, ἡγούμενοι λαοῦ ἐν διαβουλίοις 4
καὶ συνέσει γραμματείας λαοῦ – σοφοὶ λόγοι ἐν παιδείᾳ αὐτῶν –
ἐκζητοῦντες μέλη μουσικῶν 5
καὶ διηγούμενοι ἔπη ἐν γραφῇ, ἄνδρες πλούσιοι κεχορηγημένοι
ἰσχύι, 6
εἰρηνεύοντες ἐν κατοικίαις αὐτῶν, πάντες οὗτοι ἐν γενεαῖς
ἐδοξάσθησαν, 7
καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτῶν καύχημα.
εἰσὶν (some) αὐτῶν οἳ κατέλιπον ὄνομα 8
2
τοῦ ἐκδιηγήσασθαι ἐπαίνους, καὶ εἰσὶν (others) ὧν οὐκ ἔστιν
μνημόσυνον 9
3
καὶ ἀπώλοντο ὡς οὐχ ὑπάρξαντες
καὶ ἐγένοντο ὡς οὐ γεγονότες
καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν με αὐτούς.
ἀλ ἢ4 οὗτοι ἄνδρες ἐλέους, 10
ὧν αἱ δικαιοσύναι οὐκ ἐπελήσθησαν, μετὰ τοῦ σπέρματος αὐτῶν
διαμενεῖ, 11
ἀγαθὴ κληρονομία ἔκγονα αὐτῶν, ἐν ταῖς διαθήκαις ἔστη τὸ σπέρμα
αὐτῶν 12
καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν δἰ αὐτούς, ἕως αἰῶνος5 μενεῖ σπέρμα αὐτῶν, 13
καὶ ἡ δόξα αὐτῶν οὐκ ἐξαλειφθήσεται, τὰ σώματα αὐτῶν ἐν εἰρήνῃ
ἐτάφη,6 14
καὶ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῶν ζῇ εἰς γενεάς, σοφίαν αὐτῶν διηγήσονται λαοί, 15
καὶ τὸν ἔπαινον ἐξαγγέλλει ἐκκλησία.

Vocabulary

αἰνέω, to praise γραμματεία, ἡ, learning γραφή, ἡ, writing,

written/engraved text, scripture διαβούλιον, τό, counsel, deliberation;
debate, disposition διαμένω, persist, remain, continue unchanged; survive
εἰρηνεῦω, live peaceably ἔκγονος, -ον, born of; subst. offspring
ἐκδιηγέομαι, tell in detail ἔλεος, -ους, τό, mercy, compassion ἐξαγγέλλω,
proclaim ἐξαλείφω, wipe out utterly, destroy ἐπαίνος, ὁ, praise,
commendation of something ἐπός, ὁ, word; speech διαθήκη, ἡ, treaty,
covenant; last will and testament κατοικία, ἡ, dwelling place; territory (for
habitation) καύχημα, -ματος, τό, boast ; ground for boasting, object of
boasting μεγαλωσύνη, ἡ, greatness, majesty μέλος, -ους, τό, bodily frame
(usually pl.); melody, music μνημόσυνον, τό, memorial, remembrance,
legacy μουσικός, -ή, -όν, musical ὀνομαστός, -ή, όν, famous, renowned
πλούσιος, -α, -ον, rich, wealthy; ὁ πλούσιος, rich man; comp.
πλουσιώτερος, -ον, richer προφητεία, ἡ, prophecy σύνεσις, -εως, ἡ,
understanding, discernment ὑπάρχω, impf. ὑπῆρχον: exist, be present, to
be; belong to; possess; subst. τὰ ὑπάρχοντα, possessions, property
χορηγέω, equip, supply
1 Hort. subj.

2 Art. inf.

3 “As though.”

4 ἀλ ἤ, (“but”).

5 ἕως αἰῶνος, “forever.”

6 S.v. θάπτω.
Part 3 Intermediate Level: Jewish Recensional Greek

Like those in Part 2, the texts in Part 3 were originally composed in Hebrew. But
in contrast to the isometric translations of the former texts, the translation Greek
in this section is characterized by greater assimilation of the literary conventions
of Hellenistic Greek. I have termed this “recensional” Greek. These translations
employ typical Greek syntactical constructions more frequently, with
correspondingly less interference from the Hebrew parent text. As previously
noted, the Septuagint has recently been retranslated into English, with many
helpful notes, as The New English Translation of the Septuagint.1 You should
use this translation, rather than standard English translations of the Hebrew
(Masoretic) text, when checking your own translation work.
The vocabulary lists in Part 3 have been compiled on the assumption that you
have memorized the (bolded) words listed for memorization in Parts 1 and 2
(§§1.1–10, 2.1–6).2 But all vocabulary for memorization is listed in the final
glossary (§10).
 3.1. 1 Esdras: The Last Kings of Judah and the Fall
of Jerusalem
(1 Esdr 1:32–55 [2 Chr 36:1–21 MT])

1 Esdras is the name for the Septuagintal version of the Hebrew Book of Ezra. 1
Esdras actually begins with the last two chapters of 2 Chronicles, suggesting that
these two texts may have previously been read as one book. As a result, the
numbering of chapters in 1 Esdras (LXX) differs significantly from that in Ezra
(MT). A case in point is the reading in this section from 1 Esdr 1:32–55 (LXX),
which actually corresponds to 2 Chr 36:1–21 in the Masoretic text. The relation
between 1 Esdras and the Hebrew-Aramaic biblical tradition is unclear. The
Greek text below may actually be a translation of a text other than the Masoretic
text, or it may be a loose periphrase. In any case, the Greek of 1 Esdras is
generally of good quality.
1:32 Kαὶ ἀναλαβόντες οἱ ἐκ τοῦ ἔθνους τὸν Ιεχονιαν1 υἱὸν Ιωσιου2
ἀνέδειξαν βασιλέα ἀντὶ3 Ιωσιου τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, ὄντα ἐτῶν εἴκοσι τριῶν.
33 καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν ἐν Ιουδα καὶ Ιερουσαλημ μῆνας τρεῖς. καὶ ἀπεκατέστησεν4
αὐτὸν βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου βασιλεύειν ἐν Ιερουσαλημ 34 καὶ ἐζημίωσεν τὸ
ἔθνος ἀργυρίου ταλάντοις ἑκατὸν καὶ χρυσίου ταλάντῳ ἑνί. 35 καὶ ἀνέδειξεν
ὁ βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου βασιλέα Ιωακιμ5 τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ6 βασιλέα τῆς
Ιουδαίας καὶ Ιερουσαλημ. 36 καὶ ἔδησεν Ιωακιμ τοὺς μεγιστᾶνας, Ζαριον7 δὲ
τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ συλλαβὼν ἀνήγαγεν ἐξ Αἰγύπτου. 37 Ἐτῶν δὲ ἦν εἴκοσι
πέντε Ιωακιμ, ὅτε ἐβασίλευσεν τῆς Ιουδαίας καὶ Ιερουσαλημ, καὶ ἐποίησεν τὸ
πονηρὸν ἐνώπιον κυρίου. 38 ἐ αὐτὸν δὲ ἀνέβη Ναβουχοδονοσορ8 βασιλεὺς
Βαβυλῶνος καὶ δήσας αὐτὸν ἐν χαλκείῳ δεσμῷ ἀπήγαγεν εἰς Βαβυλῶνα. 39
καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ἱερῶν σκευῶν τοῦ κυρίου λαβὼν Ναβουχοδονοσορ καὶ
ἀπενέγκας ἀπηρείσατο ἐν τῷ ναῷ αὐτοῦ ἐν Βαβυλῶνι. 40 τὰ δὲ ἱστορηθέντα
περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ τῆς αὐτοῦ ἀκαθαρσίας καὶ δυσσεβείας ἀναγέγραπται ἐν τῇ
βίβλῳ τῶν χρόνων τῶν βασιλέων.
Vocabulary
 ἀκαθαρσία, ἡ, physical/ritual/moral impurity (cf. 1 Esd 47) ἀναγράφω,
engrave/inscribe and publicly set up; record in a public register
ἀναδείχνυμι, appoint (cf. 1 Esd 1:35, 41, 44) ἀπερείδω, to deposit
ἀργύριον, τό, silver coin (= 1 drachma); money; a fine; silver (= ἄργυρος)
ἀποκαθίστημι, 3. ἀπεκατέστησα / 2aor. ἀπεκατέστην: re-establish,
restore, cure; depose (a king) Βαβυλών, -ῶνος, ἡ, Babylon δεσμός, ὁ, pl.
δεσμά: pl. shackles, chains, sandal straps; fig. a hindrance (that deafens or
physically handicaps) δυσσέβεια, ἡ, impiety (cf. 1 Esd 1:49) εἴκοσι,
twenty (cf. 1 Esd 1:44) ἑκατόν, hundred ζημιόω, fine somebody an
amount (dat.); pass. suffer a loss, forfeit ἱστορέω, visit somebody, get to
know somebody; pass. be recorded μεγιστάν, -ᾶνος, ὁ, great man, noble
τάλαντον, τό, a talent (weight ranging from 108 to 130 pounds) χάλκεος, -
έα, -εον (later χαλκεῖος, -α, -ον), Att. contr. χαλκοῦς, -ῆ, -οῦν: of bronze
(adj.) χρυσίον, τό, gold, money; anything made of gold, a gold vessel

The Reigns of Ioakeim (Jeconiah) and Sedikias

(Zedikiah)
1:41 Καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν ἀν αὐτοῦ Ιωακιμ ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ,9 ὅτε γὰρ ἀνεδείχθη
(king), ἦν ἐτῶν δέκα ὀκτώ, 42 βασιλεύει δὲ μῆνας τρεῖς καὶ ἡμέρας δέκα ἐν
Ιερουσαλημ καὶ ἐποίησεν τὸ πονηρὸν ἔναντι κυρίου. 43 Καὶ με ἐνιαυτὸν
ἀποστείλας Ναβουχοδονοσορ μετήγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς Βαβυλῶνα ἅμα τοῖς ἱεροῖς
σκεύεσιν τοῦ κυρίου 44 καὶ ἀνέδειξε Σεδεκιαν10 βασιλέα τῆς Ιουδαίας καὶ
Ιερουσαλημ, Σεδεκιαν ὄντα ἐτῶν εἴκοσι ἑνός, βασιλεύει δὲ ἔτη ἕνδεκα. 45 καὶ
ἐποίησεν τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιον κυρίου καὶ οὐκ ἐνετράπη ἀπὸ τῶν ῥηθέντων11
λόγων ὑπὸ Ιερεμιου12 τοῦ προφήτου ἐκ στόματος τοῦ κυρίου. 46 καὶ ὁρκισθεὶς
ἀπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως Ναβουχοδονοσορ τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ κυρίου ἐπιορκήσας,
ἀπέστη13 καὶ σκληρύνας αὐτοῦ τὸν τράχηλον καὶ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ παρέβη
τὰ νόμιμα κυρίου θεοῦ Ισραηλ. 47 καὶ οἱ ἡγούμενοι δὲ τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ τῶν
ἱερέων πολλὰ ἠσέβησαν καὶ ἠνόμησαν ὑπὲρ πάσας τὰς ἀκαθαρσίας πάντων
τῶν ἐθνῶν καὶ ἐμίαναν τὸ ἱερὸν τοῦ κυρίου τὸ ἁγιαζόμενον ἐν Ιεροσολύμοις.
48 καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τῶν πατέρων αὐτῶν διὰ τοῦ ἀγγέλου αὐτοῦ
μετακαλέσαι αὐτούς, καθὸ14 ἐφείδετο15 αὐτῶν καὶ τοῦ σκηνώματος αὐτοῦ. 49
αὐτοὶ δὲ ἐξεμυκτήρισαν ἐν τοῖς ἀγγέλοις αὐτοῦ, καὶ ᾗ ἡμέρᾳ ἐλάλησεν
κύριος, ἦσαν ἐκπαίζοντες16 τοὺς προφήτας αὐτοῦ ἕως τοῦ17 θυμωθέντα αὐτὸν
ἐπὶ τῷ ἔθνει αὐτοῦ διὰ τὰ δυσσεβήματα προστάξαι ἀναβιβάσαι ἐ αὐτοὺς
τοὺς βασιλεῖς18 τῶν Χαλδαίων.
Vocabulary

ἀναβιβάζω, mount up against (ἐπί), go up against ἀσεβέω, act

profanely/wickedly against, commit sacrilege δυσσέβημα, -ματος, τό,
impious act (neol.) ἐκμυκτηρίζω, to hold in derision, to laugh at (ἐν)
ἐκπαίζω, laugh at somebody, scorn ἔναντι, in the sight of, before (+ gen.)
ἕνδεκα, eleven ἐντρέπομαι (mid. and pass. forms), reverence, feel shame
(arising from) ἐπιορκέω, break an oath θυμόω, make angry, provoke; pass.
be angry ἱερός, -ά, -όν, sacred, holy (cf. 1 Esd 1:51) μετάγω, carry in
captivity μετακαλέω, call back νόμιμος, -η/ος, -ον, conforming to the law,
legal; pl. τὰ νόμιμα, laws, statutes; customs
ὁρκίζω, make somebody swear an oath to somebody (acc.), swear by the
name (τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ) of somebody; conjure by (acc.), magically invoke
by (acc.) παραβαίνω, 3. παρέβην: transgress σκήνωμα, -ατος, τό, tent,
dwelling, tabernacle σκληρύνω, harden τράχηλος, ὁ, neck Χαλδαῖος, ὁ,
Chaldean

The Fall of Jerusalem (597 BCE)

1:50 οὗτοι ἀπέκτειναν τοὺς νεανίσκους αὐτῶν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ περικύκλῳ τοῦ
ἁγίου αὐτῶν ἱεροῦ καὶ οὐκ ἐφείσαντο νεανίσκου καὶ παρθένου καὶ πρεσβύτου
καὶ νεωτέρου, ἀλλὰ πάντας παρέδωκεν εἰς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν. 51 καὶ πάντα τὰ
ἱερὰ σκεύη τοῦ κυρίου τὰ μεγάλα καὶ τὰ μικρὰ καὶ τὰς κιβωτοὺς τοῦ κυρίου
καὶ τὰς βασιλικὰς ἀποθήκας ἀναλαβόντες ἀπήνεγκαν εἰς Βαβυλῶνα. 52 καὶ
ἐνεπύρισαν τὸν οἶκον τοῦ κυρίου καὶ ἔλυσαν τὰ τείχα Ιεροσολύμων καὶ τοὺς
πύργους αὐτῶν ἐνεπύρισαν ἐν πυρὶ 53 καὶ συνετέλεσαν πάντα τὰ ἔνδοξα
αὐτῆς ἀχρεῶσαι, καὶ τοὺς ἐπιλοίπους ἀπήγαγεν μετὰ ῥομφαίας εἰς
Βαβυλῶνα. 54 καὶ ἦσαν παῖδες αὐτῷ καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτοῦ μέχρι τοῦ
βασιλεῦσαι Πέρσας εἰς ἀναπλήρωσιν τοῦ ῥήματος τοῦ κυρίου ἐν στόματι
Ιερεμιου 55 Ἕως τοῦ εὐδοκῆσαι19 τὴν γῆν τὰ σάββατα αὐτῆς, πάντα τὸν
χρόνον τῆς ἐρημώσεως αὐτῆς, σαββατιεῖ εἰς συμπλήρωσιν ἐτῶν ἑβδομήκοντα.
Vocabulary

ἀναπλήρωσις, ἡ, fulfillment ἀποθήκη, ἡ, storeroom ἀχρειόω, to destroy

βασιλικός, -ή, -όν, royal ἑβδομήκοντα, seventy ἐμπυρίζω, set on fire
 ἐπίλοιπος, -ον, remaining; subst. οἱ ἐπίλοιποι, survivors ἐρήμωσις, -εως,
ἡ, desolation εὐδοκέω, take pleasure in, be pleased with; be pleased (to do
something); consider something good κιβωτός, ἡ, chest, treasure chest;
sacred depository, Ark (of the Covenant); boat, ark (like a barge)
νεανίσκος, ὁ, a youth, young man; servant νεώτερος, ὁ (comparative of
νέος), young man
περικύκλῳ, round about, on every side Πέρσης (irreg.), Persian
πρεσβυτής, ὁ, old man; ambassador πύργος, ὁ, tower (of a city)
συμπλήρωσις, -εως, ἡ, completion (neol.)

1 Albert Pietermas and Benjamin G. Wright (eds.), A New Translation of the

Septuagint: A New Translation of the Greek into Contemporary English (New
York: Oxford University Press, 2007).

2 As well as the words occurring fifty times or more in the Greek New
Testament.

1 Iechonias (i.e., Jehoahaz in MT, birthname “Shallum”), born 633/632 BCE.

He succeeded Josiah as king of Judah at the age of twenty-three. He reigned for
only three months.

2 Iosias (Josiah), father of Iechonias.

3 ἀντί, “in the place of.”

4 Here ἀποκαθίστημι has the special meaning “to depose (a king from ruling).”

5 Ioakeim (Heb. Jehoiakim, birthname “Eliakim”), who ruled from 608 to 598
BCE.

6 I.e., the brother of Iechonias.

7 Zarios.
8 Nebuchadnezzar II, king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire (605–562 BCE).

9 Ioakeim (Heb. Jeconiah), son of Ioakeim (Heb. Jehoiakim), who ruled from
December 9, 598 BCE to March 15/16, 597 BCE.

10 Sedikias (Zedikiah), who ruled from 597 to 587 BCE.

11 S.v. λέγω.

12 Jeremiah the prophet, who was active from the thirteenth year of King Josiah
(626 BCE) until 587 BCE, a period spanning the reigns of five kings of Judah.

13 S.v. ἀφίστημι.

14 καθό = καθώς.

15 Conat. impf.

16 Periph. impf. (cf. IV, 18).

17 ἕως τοῦ...προστάξαι, art. inf. (IV, 2).

18 τοὺς βασιλεῖς is the subject of the inf.

19 Art. inf.
 3.2. Book of Esther: Esther Saves the Jews
(Esth 7:1–8:8 OG)

Date: The story of Esther is set in the third year of King Ahasuerus of Persia,
who is identified by the Septuagint as Artaxerxes II (Ἀρταξέρξης) Mnemon, the
son of Darius II. He was the ruler of the Persian Empire from ca. 405 to 359
BCE.
Text: The Book of Esther survives in two different Greek versions, an Old
Greek (OG) version (the Septuagintal version) and a second version known as
the “Alpha-text” (AT), which is a somewhat freer translation, though neither OG
nor AT is isomorphic.
The Book of Esther tells the story of a Jewish girl named Esther (Εσθηρ),
who, following the death of her parents, was raised by her cousin Mordechai
(“Mardochaios” in Greek versions). In time, she found favor in the eyes of the
king, Ahasuerus (Artaxerxes), and was crowned queen of Persia. When Haman,
the king’s prime minister, developed a plan to kill all the Jews in the empire,
Esther revealed to the king that she was Jewish and would therefore be killed if
this plan was carried out. Through her intervention, the planned genocide against
her people was averted.
7:1 Εἰσῆλθεν δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ Αμαν1 συμπιεῖν τῇ βασιλίσσῃ. 2 εἶπεν δὲ ὁ
βασιλεὺς Εσθηρ2 τῇ δευτέρᾳ ἡμέρᾳ ἐν τῷ πότῳ· τί ἐστιν,3 Εσθηρ βασίλισσα,
καὶ τί τὸ αἴτημά σου καὶ τί τὸ ἀξίωμά σου; καὶ ἔστω σοι ἕως τοῦ ἡμίσους τῆς
βασιλείας μου. 3 Καὶ ἀποκριθεῖσα εἶπεν· εἰ εὗρον χάριν ἐνώπιον τοῦ βασιλέως,
δοθήτω ἡ ψυχή μου τῷ αἰτήματί μου καὶ ὁ λαός μου τῷ ἀξιώματί μου, 4
ἐπράθημεν γὰρ ἐγώ τε καὶ ὁ λαός μου εἰς ἀπώλειαν καὶ διαρπαγὴν καὶ
δουλείαν – ἡμεῖς καὶ τὰ τέκνα ἡμῶν εἰς4 παῖδας καὶ παιδίσκας – καὶ
παρήκουσα, οὐ γὰρ ἄξιος ὁ διάβολος τῆς αὐλῆς τοῦ βασιλέως. 5 Εἶπεν δὲ ὁ
βασιλεύς· τίς (is) οὗτος, ὅστις ἐτόλμησεν ποιῆσαι τὸ πρᾶγμα τοῦτο; 6 Εἶπεν δὲ
Εσθηρ· ἄνθρωπος (who is an) ἐχθρὸς, Αμαν ὁ πονηρὸς οὗτος. Αμαν δὲ
ἐταράχθη ἀπὸ5 τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ τῆς βασιλίσσης.
Vocabulary
 αἴτημα, -ματος, τό, request ἀξίωμα, -ματος, τό, petition ἀπώλεια, ἡ,
destruction, annihilation αὐλή, ἡ, court (of temple, palace, tabernacle)
βασιλίσσα, -ης, ἡ, queen διαρπαγή, ἡ, booty, spoils (of war) δουλεία, ἡ,
slavery ἥμισυς, -εια, -υ, half; μέχρι τοῦ ἡμίσους, up to the middle (of
one’s body) παιδίσκη, ἡ, female slave, maidservant παρακούω, ignore,
pay no attention to; disobey πότος, ὁ, drinking, drinking party συμπίνω,
drink with/together ταράσσω, pf. pass. ptc. τεταραγμένος: agitate
physically, pervert something; fig. stir up, disturb mentally, throw into
confusion; pass. be troubled, vexed; be thrown into disorder/confusion
τολμάω, dare to, be bold enough to (+ inf.); show boldness toward (ἐπί)

7:7 Ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς ἐξανέστη ἐκ τοῦ συμποσίου (and went) εἰς τὸν κῆπον, ὁ
δὲ Αμαν παρῃτεῖτο τὴν βασίλισσαν, ἑώρα6 γὰρ ἑαυτὸν ἐν κακοῖς ὄντα. 8
ἐπέστρεψεν δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐκ τοῦ κήπου, Αμαν δὲ ἐπιπεπτώκει ἐπὶ τὴν κλίνην
ἀξιῶν τὴν βασίλισσαν. εἶπεν δὲ ὁ βασιλεύς· ὥστε καὶ7 τὴν γυναῖκα βιάζῃ ἐν
τῇ οἰκίᾳ μου; Αμαν δὲ ἀκούσας διετράπη τῷ προσώπῳ. 9 εἶπεν δὲ Βουγαθαν8
εἷς τῶν εὐνούχων πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα· ἰδοὺ καὶ ξύλον9 ἡτοίμασεν Αμαν
Μαρδοχαίῳ10 τῷ λαλήσαντι περὶ τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ ὤρθωται ἐν τῇ αὐλῇ
Αμαν ξύλον πηχῶν πεντήκοντα (tall). Εἶπεν δὲ ὁ βασιλεύς· σταυρωθήτω ἐ
αὐτοῦ. 10 καὶ ἐκρεμάσθη Αμαν ἐπὶ τοῦ ξύλου, ὃ ἡτοίμασεν Μαρδοχαίῳ. καὶ
τότε ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐκόπασεν τοῦ θυμοῦ.
Vocabulary

ἀξιόω, impf. ἠξίουν: make somebody worthy of something; deem

worthy/fit, deem suitable; entreat/beseech somebody; pass. be permitted
βιάζω/ομαι, to force, use force, do something by force; lay hands upon,
violate διατρέπω, pass. be confounded ἐξανίστημι, mid. ἐξανίσταμαι:
raise up (transitive); establish; mid. arise, awake εὐνοῦχος, ὁ, eunuch
κλίνη, ἡ, couch, bed; bier κοπάζω, cease from κρεμάννυμι/κρεμάζω, 1.
pres. mid. κρέμαμαι, pres. mid. ptc. κρεμάμενος, 3. ἐκρέμασα, aor. mid.
inf. κρέμασθαι, aor. pl. ptc. κρεμάσαντες, 6. ἐκεμάσθην: hang something
from (gen.); hang (somebody as an execution); mid. hang, be suspended;
pass. be hung up, suspended παραιτέομαι, ask for, entreat, beg, request;
excuse oneself (παραιτοῦμαι, “excuse me”) πεντήκοντα, fifty πῆχυς, -εως,
ὁ, cubit (measure of length from the elbow to end of the middle finger)
συμπόσιον, τό, drinking party
 8:1 Καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἀρταξέρξης ἐδωρήσατο Εσθηρ ὅσα
ὑπῆρχεν Αμαν τῷ διαβόλῳ,11 καὶ Μαρδοχαῖος προσεκλήθη ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως,
ὑπέδειξεν γὰρ Εσθηρ ὅτι ἐνοικείωται αὐτῇ. 2 ἔλαβεν δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς τὸν
δακτύλιον, ὃν ἀφείλατο12 Αμαν, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὸν Μαρδοχαίῳ, καὶ
κατέστησεν Εσθηρ Μαρδοχαῖον ἐπὶ πάντων τῶν Αμαν. 3 Καὶ προσθεῖσα
ἐλάλησεν πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα καὶ προσέπεσεν πρὸς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ καὶ
ἠξίου13 ἀφελεῖν14 τὴν Αμαν κακίαν καὶ ὅσα ἐποίησεν τοῖς Ιουδαίοις. 4
ἐξέτεινεν δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς Εσθηρ τὴν ῥάβδον τὴν χρυσῆν, ἐξηγέρθη δὲ Εσθηρ
παρεστηκέναι τῷ βασιλεῖ.
Vocabulary

ἐνοικειόω, be related to ἐξεγείρω, awaken; raise from the dead; pass. be

awakened, wake up καθίστημι, 3. κατέστησα, 6. κατεστάθην: appoint
somebody; constitute, make κακία, ἡ, wickedness, evil παρίστημι (also
παριστάνω), pf. ptc. παρεστώς: stand before (w. dat.), approach, come
near; render, present, offer, supply; show προσπίπτω, fall upon; prostrate
oneself before, fall down before
ῥάβδος, ἡ, rod, staff ὑπάρχω, impf. ὑπῆρχον: exist, be present, to be;
belong to; possess; subst. τὰ ὑπάρχοντα, possessions, property
ὑποδείκνυμι/ὑποδεικνόω, 3. ὑπέδειξα: show, reveal, indicate χρύσεος, -
α, -ον (contr. χρυσοῦς, -ῆ, -οῦν), golden

8:5 Καὶ εἶπεν Εσθηρ· εἰ δοκεῖ σοι καὶ εὗρον χάριν, πεμφθήτω15
ἀποστραφῆναι τὰ γράμματα τὰ ἀπεσταλμένα ὑπὸ Αμαν τὰ γραφέντα
ἀπολέσθαι τοὺς Ιουδαίους, οἵ εἰσιν ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου, 6 πῶς γὰρ δυνήσομαι
ἰδεῖν τὴν κάκωσιν τοῦ λαοῦ μου καὶ πῶς δυνήσομαι σωθῆναι ἐν τῇ ἀπωλείᾳ
τῆς πατρίδος μου; 7 Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς πρὸς Εσθηρ· εἰ πάντα τὰ ὑπάρχοντα
Αμαν ἔδωκα καὶ ἐχαρισάμην σοι καὶ αὐτὸν ἐκρέμασα ἐπὶ ξύλου, ὅτι τὰς
χεῖρας ἐπήνεγκε τοῖς Ιουδαίοις, τί ἔτι ἐπιζητεῖς; 8 γράψατε καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐκ τοῦ
ὀνόματός μου16 ὡς δοκεῖ ὑμῖν καὶ σφραγίσατε τῷ δακτυλίῳ μου, ὅσα γὰρ
γράφεται τοῦ βασιλέως ἐπιτάξαντος17 καὶ σφραγισθῇ τῷ δακτυλίῳ μου, οὐκ
ἔστιν αὐτοῖς ἀντειπεῖν.
Vocabulary

ἀποστρέφω, 6. ἀπεστράφην (dep.): look back at (ἐπί) somebody, look

away; refrain from, turn back from; revoke γράμμα, τό, letter; pl. τὰ
 γράμματα, literature, learning δακτύλιος, ὁ, signet ring (cf. 1 Esd 8:8)
δωρέομαι, give as a present to ἐπιζητέω, seek (after), desire; request
ἐπιτάσσω (Att. ἐπιτάττω), pres. ptc. ἐπιτασσόμενος,1aor. inf. ἐπιτάξαι,
aor. pass. ptc. ἐπιταχθείς: instruct, order somebody to do something;
impose regulations; subst. ptc. regulations, things decreed ἐπιφέρω, 1aor
ptc. ἐπενέγκας: lay upon; hover over; carry on one’s person, bring
on/about; bring legal action (κρίσιν) against (κατά) somebody; compel;
pass. be hovering over κάκωσις, -εως, ἡ, affliction, suffering σφραγίζω, to
seal (for a security), seal up by impressing a seal with a signet ring
χαρίζομαι, impf. ἐχαριζόμην, pf. κεχάρισμαι: freely grant, give, bestow;
be pleasing, beloved; pass. be given freely

1 Haman, the prime minister of King Artaxerxes.

2 Εσθηρ (indecl.), here dat.

3 τί ἐστιν, “what is it?”

4 εἰς, “as.”

5 ἀπό, “because of,” “by reason of.”

6 ἑώρα, 3 sg. impf. of ὁράω (ἑώρα ἑαυτὸν “saw himself,” i.e., realized).

7 ὥστε καί, “so then.”

8 Bougathan (i.e., Harbonah), one of the seven eunuchs who served Ahasuerus
(Esth 1:10).

9 τὸ ξύλον, here a “pole, gallows” made of wood.

10 Mardochaios (Mordecai).
11 3rd attrib. pos. (IV, 4.3); Αμαν is dat.

12 S.v. ἀφαιρῶ.

13 Iterative impf. (cf. IV, 13.3).

14 S.v. ἀφαιρῶ.

15 S.v. πέμπω, cf. table 9.3.4(b).

16 ἐκ τοῦ ὀνόματός μου, “in my name.”

17 Gen. absol. (cf. IV, 9).

 3.3. 1 Maccabees: The Program of Hellenization of
Antiochus Epiphanes
(1 Macc. 1:10–28)

Date: The Semitic original (probably Hebrew) of 1 Maccabees was written in

the late second century BCE.
Text: The Semitic text of 1 Maccabees disappeared at an early age and was, de
facto, replaced by its Greek translation. The Greek text is the product of a single
translation, with no evidence of subsequent correction or revision. The text
preserves many signs of the Semitic original, including such biblical phrases as
“and it came to pass” and “in those days,” as well as the direct transliteration of
some proper names, the use of Jewish month names, and the deliberate use of
some archaic terminology. Thus, even though the translator’s exceptional
vocabulary displays his impressive command of Hellenistic Greek, the
preservation of the parataxis of the Hebrew original, as well as other features,
would suggest a general disdain for Hellenistic culture.
This book tells the story of how Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175–164 BCE), the
Seleucid king, attempted to suppress the observance of Torah, resulting in a
Jewish revolt. The balance of the book covers the whole of the Maccabean revolt
from 175 to 134 BCE, highlighting how the salvation of the Jewish people in
this crisis came through the sons of Mattathias. As the narrative opens,
Alexander the Great has died and his top Macedonian generals have fought over
his empire, consisting of Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Asia Minor, and mainland
Greece. Three dynasties survived: the Macedonian, the Ptolemaic, and the
Seleucid. King Antiochus IV Epiphanes was the heir to the throne of the
Seleucid Empire when his father, Antiochus III the Great, died.
1:10 Καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἐξ αὐτῶν1 ῥίζα ἁμαρτωλὸς Ἀντίοχος Ἐπιφανὴς2 υἱὸς
Ἀντιόχου3 τοῦ βασιλέως, ὃς ἦν ὅμηρα ἐν Ῥώμῃ,4 καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν ἐν ἔτει
ἑκατοστῷ καὶ τριακοστῷ καὶ ἑβδόμῳ βασιλείας Ἑλλήνων.5 11 Ἐν ταῖς
ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἐξῆλθον ἐξ Ισραηλ υἱοὶ παράνομοι καὶ ἀνέπεισαν πολλοὺς
λέγοντες· πορευθῶμεν6 καὶ διαθώμεθα διαθήκην μετὰ τῶν ἐθνῶν τῶν κύκλῳ
ἡμῶν, ὅτι ἀ ἧς7 ἐχωρίσθημεν ἀ αὐτῶν, εὗρεν ἡμᾶς κακὰ πολλά. 12 καὶ
ἠγαθύνθη ὁ λόγος8 ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτῶν, 13 καὶ προεθυμήθησάν τινες ἀπὸ
τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν
ποιῆσαι τὰ δικαιώματα τῶν ἐθνῶν.
Vocabulary

ἀγαθύνω, seem good ἁμαρτωλός, -όν, sinful; subst. a sinner ἀναπείθω,

mislead διαθήκη, ἡ, treaty, covenant; last will and testament διατίθημι,
mid. establish a covenant δικαίωμα, -ματος, τό, statute; righteous act
ἕβδομος, -η, -ον, seventh ἑκατοστός, -ή, -όν, hundredth Ἕλλην, -ηνος,
ὁ; (dat. pl.) Ἕλλησι: Greek person (here Seleucid) ἐπιφανής, -ές,
appearing, manifest (of a god); notable, distinguished κύκλῳ, in a circle,
around ὅμηρα, τά, hostages παράνομος, -ον, lawless, unlawful
προθυμέομαι, pass. (dep.), be eager τριακοστός, -ή, -όν, thirtieth χωρίζω,
divide, separate; depart, go away from

1:14 καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν γυμνάσιον ἐν Ιεροσολύμοις κατὰ τὰ νόμιμα τῶν

ἐθνῶν 15 καὶ ἐποίησαν ἑαυτοῖς ἀκροβυστίας καὶ ἀπέστησαν9 ἀπὸ διαθήκης
ἁγίας καὶ ἐζευγίσθησαν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν καὶ ἐπράθησαν10 τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ
πονηρόν. 16 Καὶ ἡτοιμάσθη ἡ βασιλεία ἐνώπιον Ἀντιόχου, καὶ ὑπέλαβεν
βασιλεῦσαι γῆς Αἰγύπτου, ὅπως βασιλεύσῃ ἐπὶ τὰς δύο βασιλείας. 17 καὶ
εἰσῆλθεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον ἐν ὄχλῳ βαρεῖ, ἐν ἅρμασιν καὶ ἐλέφασιν καὶ ἐν
ἱππεῦσιν καὶ ἐν στόλῳ μεγάλῳ 18 καὶ συνεστήσατο πόλεμον πρὸς Πτολεμαῖον
βασιλέα Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ἐνετράπη Πτολεμαῖος ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ καὶ
ἔφυγεν,11 καὶ ἔπεσον τραυματίαι πολλοί. 19 καὶ κατελάβοντο τὰς πόλεις τὰς
ὀχυρὰς ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ, καὶ ἔλαβεν τὰ σκῦλα γῆς Αἰγύπτου.
Vocabulary

Αἴγυπτος, ἡ, Egypt ἀκροβυστία, ἡ, foreskin; fig. state of being

uncircumcised βαρύς, -εῖα, -ύ, heavy γυμνάσιον, τό, gymnasium, center
for schooling in athletics and Greek culture (i.e., a school for educating
ἔφηβοι, cf. 2 Macc 4)12
ἐλέφας, -αντος, ὁ, elephant ἐντρέπω, 6. ἐνετράπην, pass., turn about
ἐτοιμάζω, prepare; pass. be ready ζευγίζω (+ dat.), unite, join to ἱππεύς, -
έως, ὁ, horseman, cavalryman (as a collective noun) νόμιμος, -η, -ον,
conform to the law, legal; pl. τὰ νόμιμα, laws, statutes ὀχυρός, -ά, -όν,
 fortified Πτολεμαῖος, ὁ, Ptolemy (VI) στόλος, ὁ, naval fleet συνίστημι/
συνιστάνω, 2. συστήσω, 2aor. act. inf. συστῆναι, 2aor. mid. inf.
συστήσασθαι, 2aor. pass. subj. συστηθῶ: demonstrate, show;
introduce/recommend somebody to somebody; be composed of (gen.); mid.
establish; join (in battle) τραυματίας, -ου, ὁ, wounded man, casualty (of
war)

1:20 Καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν Ἀντίοχος μετὰ τὸ πατάξαι Αἴγυπτον ἐν τῷ ἑκατοστῷ

καὶ τεσσαρακοστῷ καὶ τρίτῳ ἔτει13 καὶ ἀνέβη14 ἐπὶ Ισραηλ καὶ ἀνέβη εἰς
Ιεροσόλυμα ἐν ὄχλῳ βαρεῖ. 21 καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸ ἁγίασμα ἐν ὑπερηφανίᾳ
καὶ ἔλαβεν τὸ θυσιαστήριον τὸ χρυσοῦν καὶ τὴν λυχνίαν τοῦ φωτὸς καὶ πάντα
τὰ σκεύη αὐτῆς 22 καὶ τὴν τράπεζαν τῆς προθέσεως καὶ τὰ σπονδεῖα καὶ τὰς
φιάλας καὶ τὰς θυΐσκας τὰς χρυσᾶς15 καὶ τὸ καταπέτασμα καὶ τοὺς στεφάνους
καὶ τὸν κόσμον τὸν χρυσοῦν τὸν κατὰ πρόσωπον16 τοῦ ναοῦ καὶ ἐλέπισεν
πάντα, 23 καὶ ἔλαβεν τὸ ἀργύριον καὶ τὸ χρυσίον καὶ τὰ σκεύη τὰ ἐπιθυμητὰ
καὶ ἔλαβεν τοὺς θησαυροὺς τοὺς ἀποκρύφους, οὓς εὗρεν, 24 καὶ λαβὼν πάντα
ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὴν γῆν αὐτοῦ.
Vocabulary

Αἴγυπτος, ἡ, Egypt ἀργύριον, τό, silver coin (= 1 drachma); money; a

fine; silver (= ἄργυρος) ἐπιθυμητός, -ή, -όν, desirable; costly, precious
ἔτος, ἔτους, τό, year θησαυρός, ὁ, treasury, storehouse; pl. treasures
θυΐσκη, ἡ, censer θυσιαστήριον, τό, altar of burnt offerings (in the
forecourt of the Jerusalem temple) καταπέτασμα, -ματος, τό, veil/curtain
(of the Temple) λεπίζω, strip off λυχνία, ἡ, lampstand ναός, ὁ, temple,
inner part of Jewish temple, sanctuary πατάσσω, 1aor. inf. πατάξαι: strike,
slay πρόθεσις, -εως, ἡ, plan, purpose; offering, “(the Bread of) Presence”
σπονδεῖον, τό, bowl or cup from which a drink offering/libation (σπονδή)
is poured τεσσαρακοστός, -ή, -όν, fortieth τράπεζα, ἡ, table; offering
table (for a god) τρίτος, -η, -ον, third ὑπερηφανία, ἡ, arrogance, pride
φιάλη, ἡ, phial, shallow bowl (from which wine was poured onto an altar
while prayers were recited and then the remainder was consumed) χρύσεος,
-η, -ον (contr. χρυσοῦς, -ῆ, -οῦν), golden, gold χρυσίον, τό, gold, money;
anything made of gold, gold vessel

Poem καὶ ἐποίησεν φονοκτονίαν 1:24

 καὶ ἐλάλησεν ὑπερηφανίαν μεγάλην.
καὶ ἐγένετο πένθος μέγα ἐπὶ Ισραηλ ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ αὐτῶν. 25
καὶ ἐστέναξαν ἄρχοντες καὶ πρεσβύτεροι, 26
παρθένοι καὶ νεανίσκοι ἠσθένησαν, καὶ τὸ κάλλος τῶν γυναικῶν
ἠλλοιώθη.
πᾶς νυμφίος ἀνέλαβεν θρῆνον, 27
καὶ καθημένη ἐν παστῷ ἐπένθει.
καὶ ἐσείσθη ἡ γῆ ἐπὶ17 τοὺς κατοικοῦντας αὐτήν,18 28
19
καὶ πᾶς ὁ οἶκος Ιακωβ ἐνεδύσατο αἰσχύνην.

Vocabulary

αἰσχύνη, ἡ, shame, disgrace ἀλλοιόω, change/alter (for the worse)

ἀσθενέω, be weak, sick θρῆνος, ὁ, lamentation κατοικέω, settle, dwell in;
subst. inhabitants νεανίσκος, ὁ, a youth, young man; servant νυμφίος, ὁ,
bridegroom παστός, ὁ, bridal chamber (neol.) πένθος, -ους, τό, mourning,
sorrow στενάζω, groan, sigh φονοκτονία, ἡ, murder

1 I.e., the generals of Alexander the Great.

2 Antiochus IV, who took up the name “Epiphanes” (“god manifest”).

3 Antiochus III the Great, who took Palestine from the Ptolemies at the battle of
Paneas (198 BCE).

4 Antiochus IV became a political hostage of Rome following the Peace of

Apamea in 188 BCE. When the king, his brother Seleucus IV, was assassinated,
Antiochus IV seized the throne for himself by proclaiming himself co-regent for
the infant son of Seleucus IV. He had the infant murdered a few years later.

5 I.e., of the Seleucid era. The year 312 (autumn) BCE is the first year (year 1)
of the reign of Seleucus 1 and therefore of the Seleucid era (312–137 = 175
BCE).
6 Hort. subj.

7 ἀ ἧς (ἡμερας).

8 λόγος, here “proposal.”

9 S.v. ἀφίστημι.

10 S.v. πιπράσκω.

11 To avoid alarming Rome by his attack on Egypt, Antiochus allowed Ptolemy

VI to continue ruling as a puppet king. Upon Antiochus’s withdrawal, Ptolemy
VI ruled jointly with his brother, Ptolemy VIII Euergetes.

12 In essence, a gymnasium was an open court for wrestling and similar sports,
surrounded by colonnades, which opened onto a variety of rooms (e.g., anointing
room, dusting room, cold, tepid, and hot bath rooms, lecture rooms) and a
running track.

13 Cf. n. on 1:10 (“in the 143rd year” = 169 BCE).

14 ἀναβαίνω ἐπί, here “go up against.”

15 Fm. acc. pl. modifying θυΐσκας.

16 κατὰ πρόσωπον, “on the front.”

17 ἐπί (w. acc.), “because of.”

18 αὐτήν (“itself”) refers to γῆ.

19 S.v. ἐνδύω.
 3.4. Book of Job: The Adversary’s Attack on Job
(Job 1:6–2:13)

Even though most of the Hebrew text of Job (Ιωβ) is composed in poetry, three
sections, including Job 1:6–2:13, are written in Hebrew prose, even though the
text is still arranged stichometrically.
The translator has avoided Hebraisms, translating the Hebrew text more freely
in prose of high literary quality, as evident, for example, in the frequent use of
the optative mood (e.g., Job 23:3–5, 7). The general style of this text is
periphrastic rather than isometric. The translator has also substantially shortened
the Hebrew text by excising obscure passages and repetitious argument. The
symbol ς indicates translations added by Origen of Alexandria, in agreement
with the Hebrew text but missing in the LXX (2:1), or Origen’s translation of the
same verse (23:9, 15a).
Complementary Reading: Luke 4:1–15 (§1.2).
At the outset of the story, we are told that Job had seven sons and three
daughters. It was their custom to gather together on feast days to celebrate. On
one such day, the angels gathered with God in heaven.
1:6 Καὶ ὡς1 ἐγένετο ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἦλθον οἱ ἄγγελοι τοῦ θεοῦ
παραστῆναι ἐνώπιον τοῦ κυρίου, καὶ ὁ διάβολος ἦλθεν με αὐτῶν. 7 Καὶ
εἶπεν ὁ κύριος τῷ διαβόλῳ· πόθεν παραγέγονας; καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ διάβολος
τῷ κυρίῳ εἶπεν· περιελθὼν τὴν γῆν καὶ ἐμπεριπατήσας τὴν (γῆν) ὑ
οὐρανὸν πάρειμι. 8 Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ κύριος· προσέσχες τῇ διανοίᾳ σου κατὰ
τοῦ παιδός μου Ιωβ, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν2 κα αὐτὸν3 τῶν4 ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἄνθρωπος
ἄμεμπτος, ἀληθινός, θεοσεβής, ἀπεχόμενος ἀπὸ παντὸς πονηροῦ πράγματος;
Vocabulary

ἀληθινός, -ή, -όν, real, genuine, true, dependable ἄμεμπτος, -ον,

blameless, faultless ἀπέχω, receive; receive a payment; mid. stay away
from ἐμπεριπατέω, walk about upon θεοσεβής, -ές, god-fearing, pious;
subst. god fearer παραγίνομαι, be beside, present with, visit with (πρός);
 come to one’s side/aid; arrive at/in, from (εἰς/ἐν, ἐκ) (cf. 2:11) πάρειμι (1)
(fr. εἰμί), pres. ptc. παρών, -οῦσα, -όν, impf. παρῆν, opt. παρείην: be
present, be here; (impers.) come to/upon, arrive; πάρειμι + inf., be possible
to (do something); subst. ptc. the present; bystander παρίστημι (also
παριστάνω), pf. ptc. παρεστώς: stand before (+ dat.); approach, come near;
render, present oneself, offer, supply; show περιέρχομαι, go about, go
around, circle (from place to place) πόθεν (interog. adv.), from where?
how? in what way? why?
προσέχω, pay attention to, notice; take care of; mid. cling to something (+
dat.); προσέχω τὸν νούν + dat., turn one’s attention/mind to

1:9 Ἀπεκρίθη δὲ ὁ διάβολος καὶ εἶπεν ἐναντίον τοῦ κυρίου· μὴ δωρεὰν

σέβεται Ιωβ τὸν θεόν; 10 οὐ σὺ περιέφραξας τὰ ἔξω αὐτοῦ5 καὶ τὰ ἔσω τῆς
οἰκίας αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ ἔξω6 πάντων τῶν ὄντων αὐτῷ,7 κύκλῳ; τὰ ἔργα τῶν
χειρῶν αὐτοῦ εὐλόγησας καὶ τὰ κτήνη αὐτοῦ πολλὰ ἐποίησας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. 11
ἀλλὰ ἀπόστειλον8 τὴν χεῖρά σου καὶ ἅψαι9 πάντων, ὧν ἔχει· εἰ μὴν10 εἰς
(your) πρόσωπόν σε εὐλογήσει. 12 Τότε εἶπεν ὁ κύριος τῷ διαβόλῳ· ἰδοὺ
πάντα ὅσα ἔστιν αὐτῷ,11 δίδωμι ἐν τῇ χειρί σου, ἀλλὰ αὐτοῦ μὴ ἅψῃ. καὶ
ἐξῆλθεν ὁ διάβολος παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου.
Vocabulary

δωρεάν (adv.), without payment, without reason/cause ἔσω, inside, within

(adv.) κύκλῳ, in a circle, around περιφράσσω, put a fence around σέβω/
σέβομαι: worship, reverence; mid. ptc. subst. σεβόμενοι, god fearers;12 act.
θεὸν σέβων, god fearer

1:13 Καὶ ἦν ὡς13 ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη, οἱ υἱοὶ Ιωβ14 καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτοῦ
ἔπινον οἶνον ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτῶν τοῦ πρεσβυτέρου.15 14 καὶ ἰδοὺ
ἄγγελος ἦλθεν πρὸς Ιωβ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· τὰ ζεύγη τῶν βοῶν ἠροτρία, καὶ αἱ
θήλειαι ὄνοι ἐβόσκοντο ἐχόμεναι16 αὐτῶν, 15 καὶ ἐλθόντες οἱ
αἰχμαλωτεύοντες ᾐχμαλώτευσαν αὐτὰς καὶ τοὺς παῖδας ἀπέκτειναν ἐν
μαχαίραις· σωθεὶς δὲ ἐγὼ μόνος ἦλθον τοῦ ἀπαγγεῖλαί σοι.
Vocabulary

ἀροτριάω, 3rd sg. impf. ἠροτρία: to plough βόσκω, feed/tend domestic

animals, graze (cattle) ζεῦγος, -ους, τό, yoke θῆλυς, -εια, -υ, female, she- ;
 subst. woman θυγάτηρ, -τρός, ἡ, daughter; female descendant ὄνος, ὁ/ἡ,
ass, donkey πρεσβύτερος, -α, -ον, older; ὁ πρεσβύτερος, old man, elder,
official, ancestor

1:16 Ἔτι τούτου λαλοῦντος17 ἦλθεν ἕτερος ἄγγελος καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς Ιωβ· πῦρ
ἔπεσεν ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ κατέκαυσεν τὰ πρόβατα καὶ τοὺς ποιμένας
κατέφαγεν18 ὁμοίως, καὶ σωθεὶς ἐγὼ μόνος ἦλθον τοῦ ἀπαγγεῖλαί σοι. 17 ἔτι
τούτου λαλοῦντος ἦλθεν ἕτερος ἄγγελος καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς Ιωβ· οἱ ἱππεῖς
ἐποίησαν ἡμῖν κεφαλὰς19 τρεῖς καὶ ἐκύκλωσαν τὰς καμήλους καὶ
ᾐχμαλώτευσαν αὐτὰς καὶ τοὺς παῖδας ἀπέκτειναν ἐν μαχαίραις, ἐσώθην δὲ
ἐγὼ μόνος καὶ ἦλθον τοῦ ἀπαγγεῖλαί σοι. 18 Ἔτι τούτου λαλοῦντος ἄλλος
ἄγγελος ἔρχεται λέγων τῷ Ιωβ· τῶν υἱῶν σου καὶ τῶν θυγατέρων σου
ἐσθιόντων καὶ πινόντων20 παρὰ τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτῶν τῶν πρεσβυτέρῳ 19
ἐξαίφνης πνεῦμα μέγα ἐπῆλθεν ἐκ τῆς ἐρήμου καὶ ἥψατο τῶν τεσσάρων
γωνιῶν τῆς οἰκίας, καὶ ἔπεσεν ἡ οἰκία ἐπὶ τὰ παιδία σου, καὶ ἐτελεύτησαν·
ἐσώθην δὲ ἐγὼ μόνος καὶ ἦλθον τοῦ ἀπαγγεῖλαί σοι.
Vocabulary

γωνία, ἡ, corner ἐξαίφνης (adv.), suddenly ἱππεύς, -έως, ὁ, horseman,

cavalryman κάμηλος, ὁ/ἡ, camel κατακαίω (Att. κατακάω), impf.
κατέκαιον, 2. κατακαύσω: burn completely, burn up
κυκλόω, encircle, surround ὁμοίως (adv.), likewise, in the same way
ποιμήν, -ένος, ὁ, shepherd τελευτάω, pres. impv. 2nd sg. τελεύτα (-α + ε
= α): die, pass away (cf. 2:9e)

1:20 Οὕτως ἀναστὰς21 Ιωβ διέρρηξεν22 τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκείρατο τὴν
κόμην τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ πεσὼν χαμαὶ προσεκύνησεν καὶ εἶπεν· 21 αὐτὸς
γυμνὸς ἐξῆλθον ἐκ κοιλίας μητρός μου, γυμνὸς καὶ ἀπελεύσομαι ἐκεῖ· ὁ
κύριος ἔδωκεν, ὁ κύριος ἀφείλατο,23 ὡς τῷ κυρίῳ ἔδοξεν, οὕτως καὶ ἐγένετο,
εἴη24 τὸ ὄνομα κυρίου εὐλογημένον. 22 Ἔν τούτοις πᾶσιν τοῖς συμβεβηκόσιν25
αὐτῷ οὐδὲν ἥμαρτεν Ιωβ ἐναντίον τοῦ κυρίου καὶ οὐκ ἔδωκεν26 ἀφροσύνην
τῷ θεῷ.
Vocabulary

ἀφροσύνη, ἡ, foolishness ἐπέρχομαι, come upon/against; arrive at

 ἱμάτιον, τό, outer garment, cloak, robe; pl. clothes; grave clothes, funeral
shroud κείρω, mid. cut off one’s hair κόμη, ἡ, hair τέσσαρες, τέσσαρα,
(gen.) τεσσάρων: four χαμαί, on/to the ground

2:1 Ἐγένετο δὲ ὡς ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη καὶ ἦλθον οἱ ἄγγελοι τοῦ θεοῦ

παραστῆναι ἔναντι κυρίου, καὶ ὁ διάβολος ἦλθεν ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν ※
παραστῆναι ἐναντίον τοῦ κυρίου. 2 καὶ εἶπεν ὁ κύριος τῷ διαβόλῳ· πόθεν σὺ
ἔρχῃ; Τότε εἶπεν ὁ διάβολος ἐνώπιον τοῦ κυρίου· διαπορευθεὶς τὴν ὑ
οὐρανὸν (γὴν) καὶ ἐμπεριπατήσας τὴν σύμπασαν πάρειμι. 3 Εἶπεν δὲ ὁ κύριος
πρὸς τὸν διάβολον· προσέσχες οὖν τῷ θεράποντί μου Ιωβ, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν κα
αὐτὸν27 τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἄνθρωπος ἄκακος, ἀληθινός, ἄμεμπτος, θεοσεβής,
ἀπεχόμενος ἀπὸ παντὸς κακοῦ; ἔτι δὲ ἔχεται28 ἀκακίας, σὺ δὲ εἶπας τὰ
ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ διὰ κενῆς ἀπολέσαι.29
Vocabulary

ἀκακία, ἡ, innocence ἄκακος, -ον, innocent

ἀπέχω, receive; receive a payment; mid. stay away from ἀπόλλυμι, 2.
ἀπολέσω, 2aor. ἀπώλεσα/2aor. ἀπωλόμην, aor. inf. ἀπολεῖν, aor. mid. inf.
ἀπολέσθαι, 4. ἀπόλωλα, 2plpf. ἀπωλώλειν: destroy, kill; lose; mid. perish,
be ruined; die, be lost; be destroyed διαπορεύομαι, pass across/through, go
through ἐμπεριπατέω, walk about upon θεράπων, -οντος, ὁ, servant κενός,
-ή, -όν, empty, void (space); τὸ κενόν, the void; no purpose; κενῶς / διὰ
κενῆς / εἰς κενόν, in vain, to no purpose παρίστημι (also παριστάνω), pf.
ptc. παρεστώς: stand before (+ dat.); approach, come near; render, present
oneself, offer, supply; show προσέχω, pay attention to, notice; take care of;
mid. cling to something (+ dat.); προσέχω τὸν νοῦν + dat., turn one’s
attention/mind to σύμπας, σύμπασα, σύμπαν, all together (w. collective
nouns); ἡ σύμπασα, the whole (world) ὑπάρχω, impf. ὑπῆρχον: exist, be
present; belong to; possess; subst. ptc. τὰ ὑπάρχοντα, possessions, property

2:4 Ὑπολαβὼν δὲ ὁ διάβολος εἶπεν τῷ κυρίῳ· δέρμα ὑπὲρ δέρματος, ὅσα

ὑπάρχει ἀνθρώπῳ, ὑπὲρ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ ἐκτείσει, 5 οὐ μὴν δὲ ἀλλὰ30
ἀποστείλας τὴν χεῖρά σου ἅψαι τῶν ὀστῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ τῶν σαρκῶν αὐτοῦ, εἰ
μὴν31 εἰς πρόσωπόν σε εὐλογήσει. 6 Εἶπεν δὲ ὁ κύριος τῷ διαβόλῳ· ἰδοὺ
παραδίδωμί σοι αὐτόν, μόνον τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ διαφύλαξον. 7 Ἐξῆλθεν δὲ ὁ
διάβολος ἀπὸ τοῦ κυρίου καὶ ἔπαισεν τὸν Ιωβ ἕλκει πονηρῷ ἀπὸ ποδῶν ἕως
κεφαλῆς. 8 καὶ (Job) ἔλαβεν ὄστρακον, ἵνα τὸν ἰχῶρα ξύῃ, καὶ ἐκάθητο ἐπὶ
τῆς κοπρίας ἔξω τῆς πόλεως.
Vocabulary

δέρμα, -ματος, τό, skin; leather, hide διαφυλάσσω, guard carefully,

preserve ἐκτίνω, pay for ( ὕπερ) ἕλκος, -ους, τό, festering wounds, sores
ἰχώρ,-ῶρος, ὁ, discharge (fr. a wound), pus κοπρία, ἡ, dunghill, dung heap
ξύω, scrape away ὀστοῦν, τό (uncontr. ὀστέον), pl. ὀστᾶ, ὀστῶν
(uncontr. ὀστέων), bone ὄστρακον, τό, potsherd παίω, to strike, wound,
smite (with plague) ὑπάρχω, impf. ὑπῆρχον: exist, be present, to be;
belong to; possess; subst. τὰ ὑπάρχοντα, possessions, property

2:9 Χρόνου δὲ πολλοῦ προβεβηκότος32 εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ· μέχρι

τίνος (χρόνου) καρτερήσεις λέγων 9a Ἰδοὺ ἀναμένω χρόνον ἔτι μικρὸν
προσδεχόμενος τὴν ἐλπίδα τῆς σωτηρίας μου; 9b ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἠφάνισταί σου τὸ
μνημόσυνον ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς, υἱοὶ καὶ θυγατέρες, ἐμῆς κοιλίας ὠδῖνες καὶ πόνοι,
οὓς εἰς τὸ κενὸν ἐκοπίασα μετὰ μόχθων. 9c σύ τε αὐτὸς ἐν σαπρίᾳ σκωλήκων
κάθησαι διανυκτερεύων αἴθριος, 9d κἀγὼ (am) πλανῆτις καὶ λάτρις τόπον ἐκ
τόπου περιερχομένη καὶ οἰκίαν ἐξ οἰκίας προσδεχομένη τὸν ἥλιον πότε
δύσεται, ἵνα ἀναπαύσωμαι τῶν μόχθων καὶ τῶν ὀδυνῶν, αἵ με νῦν
συνέχουσιν. 9e ἀλλὰ εἰπόν33 τι ῥῆμα εἰς κύριον καὶ τελεύτα. 10 Ὁ δὲ
ἐμβλέψας εἶπεν αὐτῇ· ὥσπερ μία τῶν ἀφρόνων γυναικῶν ἐλάλησας· εἰ τὰ
ἀγαθὰ ἐδεξάμεθα ἐκ χειρὸς κυρίου, τὰ κακὰ οὐχ ὑποίσομεν;34 ἐν πᾶσιν
τούτοις τοῖς συμβεβηκόσιν35 αὐτῷ οὐδὲν ἥμαρτεν Ιωβ τοῖς χείλεσιν ἐναντίον
τοῦ θεοῦ.
Vocabulary

αἴθριος, -ον, in the open air ἀναμένω, wait, hang on ἀφανίζω, pf.
ἠφανίστμαι: remove, get rid of; destroy, ruin; pass. vanish; be ruined, be
destroyed ἄφρων, -ονος (m./fm.), -ον (nt.), foolish, unlearned (contrasting
φρόνιμος) διανυκτερεύω, pass. spend the night (hapax) δύνω, 2. δύσομαι,
2aor. ἔδυν: go down, set (of the sun); mid. sink/set (of the sun) ἐμβλέπω,

look at (dat.), gaze on; consider καρτερέω, be steadfast, persist κενός, -ή,
-όν, empty, without purpose; εἰς κενόν, in vain κοπιάω, 1aor. ἐκοπίασα:
work hard, labor λάτρις, -ιος, ἡ, hired servant μνημόσυνον, τό, memorial,
remembrance, legacy μόχθος, ὁ, hardship ὀδύνη, ἡ, grief περιέρχομαι, go
 about πλανῆτις, -ιδος, ἡ, wanderer προβαίνω, pf. act. ptc. προβεβηκώς:
advance, make progress; pass (of time) σαπρία, ἡ, decayed matter, refuse
σκώληξ, -ηκος, ὁ, worm συνέχω, to keep closed; seize, torment ὑποφέρω,
fut. ὑποίσω: bear up, endure χεῖλος, -ους, τό; pl. τὰ χείλη: lips; edge,
shore (of the sea), bank (of a river) ὥσπερ, as, just as, even as; like

2:11 Ἀκούσαντες δὲ οἱ τρεῖς φίλοι αὐτοῦ τὰ κακὰ πάντα τὰ ἐπελθόντα

αὐτῷ παρεγένοντο ἕκαστος ἐκ τῆς ἰδίας χώρας πρὸς αὐτόν, Ελιφας36 ὁ
Θαιμανων βασιλεύς, Βαλδαδ37 ὁ Σαυχαίων τύραννος, Σωφαρ38 ὁ Μιναίων
βασιλεύς, καὶ παρεγένοντο πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁμοθυμαδὸν τοῦ παρακαλέσαι καὶ
ἐπισκέψασθαι αὐτόν. 12 ἰδόντες δὲ αὐτὸν πόρρωθεν οὐκ ἐπέγνωσαν (him) καὶ
βοήσαντες φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ἔκλαυσαν39 ῥήξαντες ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ στολὴν
καὶ καταπασάμενοι γῆν. 13 παρεκάθισαν αὐτῷ ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας καὶ ἑπτὰ νύκτας,
καὶ οὐδεὶς αὐτῶν ἐλάλησεν, ἑώρων40 γὰρ τὴν πληγὴν (αὐτοῦ) δεινὴν οὖσαν
καὶ μεγάλην σφόδρα.
Vocabulary

δεινός, -ή, -όν, terrible, fearful ἐπιγινώσκω, recognize ἐπισκέπτομαι,

inspect something; visit Θαιμᾶνοι, οἱ, Thaimanites καταπάσσω, mid. to
sprinkle oneself with, strew oneself with Μιναῖοι, οἱ, Minites ὁμοθυμαδόν,
with one accord/mind παραγίνομαι, to be beside, be present with, visit with
(πρός), to come to one’s side/aid; to arrive at/in/from (εἰς/ἐν/ἐκ)
παρακαθίζω, sit down beside/with πόρρωθεν, from a distance ῥήγνυμι/
ῥήσσω, fut. ῥήξω, aor. impv. ῥῆξον, 2aor. ptc. ῥήξας, 2aor. pass. ptc.
ῥαγείς, -εῖσα, -έν, 3rd sg. aor. pass. impv. ῥαγήτω, fut. pass. ῥαγήσομαι:
tear, tear in pieces; pass. break out, burst, break in two Σαυχαῖοι, οἱ,
Sauchites τύραννος, ὁ, tyrant, king χώρα, ἡ, countryside, country; a
place; land (as opposed to sea)

1 Temp. conj. (“when”).

2 Impers. “there is.”

3 κατά (w. acc.) denoting relation: “with respect to,” “similar to,” “like.”
4 τῶν functions as a demonstrative pronoun followed by a modifier (ἐπὶ τῆς
γῆς).

5 τὰ ἔξω αὐτοῦ, “the things external to him.”

6 καὶ τὰ ἔσω ... καὶ τὰ ἔξω, “both the things internal and external to him.”

7 πάντων τῶν ὄντων αὐτῷ, “of all that belongs to him.”

8 Here “stretch out.”

9 S.v. ἅπτομαι.

10 εἰ μήν, emphatic form of μήν (“surely”).

11 Dat. of poss.

12 I.e., Gentiles who took part in synagogue services without becoming true
προσήλυτοι

13 Temp. conj., “when (it) was.”

14 Gen. (indecl.).

15 τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτῶν τοῦ πρεσβυτέρου, 2nd attrib. pos. (cf. IV, 4.2).

16 Here “keep close to,” “keep beside” (w. gen.).

17 Vv. 16, 17, and 18 all begin with gen. absol. (cf. IV, 7).

18 S.v. κατεσθίω.
19 κεφαλή, here “band,” “troop.”

20 Gen. absol.

21 S.v. ἀνίστημι.

22 S.v. διαρρήγνυμι/διαρρήσσω.

23 S.v. ἀφαιρέω (cf. principal parts of αἰρέω).

24 For opt. of εἰμί see table 9.13.

25 S.v. συμβαίνω.

26 Here, “to ascribe.”

27 See Job 1:8.

28 S.v. ἔχω, mid. “to hold onto,” “maintain.”

29 S.v. ἀπόλλυμι, 1aor. act. inf.

30 οὐ μὴν δὲ ἀλλά (“nevertheless”).

31 εἰ μήν > ἦ μήν (“surely”).

32 Gen. absol.

33 εἰπόν (2aor. impv. 2nd sg.), not εἶπον (2aor. ind.).

34 S.v. ὑποφέρω.
35 S.v. συμβαίνω.

36 Eliphaz.

37 Baldad.

38 Sophar.

39 S.v. κλαίω.

40 Impf. act. 3rd pl. (s.v. ὁράω).

 3.5. Book of Job: Job’s Complaint Before the Lord
(Job 23:1–17)

Following Job’s extended debate with his three friends, Bildad, Zophar, and
Eliphaz, about the nature of suffering, Job replies to his friends’ speeches. In the
reading of this section, taken from the first part of his reply, Job maintains that
he is innocent of wrongdoing. Nonetheless, he does not curse the Lord. In
speaking to his three friends (cf. Job 4–22), Job complains:

Ὑπολαβὼν δὲ Ιωβ λέγει· 23:1

καὶ δὴ οἶδα ὅτι ἐκ χειρός μου1 ἡ ἔλεγξίς ἐστιν, 2
καὶ ἡ χεὶρ αὐτοῦ2 βαρεῖα γέγονεν ἐ ἐμῷ στεναγμῷ.
τίς ἄρα γνοίη3 ὅτι εὕροιμι4 αὐτὸν 3
5 6
καὶ ἔλθοιμι εἰς τέλος; εἴποιμι δὲ ἐμαυτοῦ κρίμα, 4
τὸ δὲ στόμα μου ἐμπλήσαιμι7 ἐλέγχων, γνῴην8 δὲ ῥήματα, ἅ μοι
ἐρεῖ,9 5
10
αἰσθοίμην δὲ τίνα μοι ἀπαγγελεῖ.
καὶ εἰ ἐν πολλῇ ἰσχύι ἐπελεύσεταί μοι, 6
εἶτα ἐν ἀπειλῇ μοι οὐ χρήσεται,
ἀλήθεια γὰρ καὶ ἔλεγχος παρ ἀὐτοῦ,11 7
12
ἐξαγάγοι δὲ εἰς τέλος τὸ κρίμα μου.
εἰς γὰρ πρῶτα13 πορεύσομαι καὶ οὐκέτι εἰμί,14 8
τὰ δὲ ἐ ἐσχάτοις τί οἶδα; ※ἀριστερὰ ποιήσαντος αὐτοῦ16 καὶ17 οὐ
15

κατέσχον, 9
※περιβαλεῖ δεξιά, καὶ οὐκ ὄψομαι.

Vocabulary

αἰσθάνομαι, impf. ᾐσθόμην, 2aor. ᾐσθόμην: have the sense/perception of;

perceive by the senses ἀπειλή, ἡ, threat ἀριστερός, -ά, -όν, best; euphem.
for “left” (like εὐώνυμος); on the left; ἀριστερά, ἡ, left hand; τὰ ἀριστερά
(sc. μέρη), on the left side βαρύς, -εῖα, -ύ, heavy; fierce δεξιός, -ά, -όν,
 on the right; δεξιά, ἡ, right hand, authority; τὰ δεξιά (sc. μέρη), on the
right side δή, really, indeed; of course, then, therefore; now, at this point; τί
δή; what is going on?
ἔλεγξις, -εως, ἡ, refutation ἐμαυτοῦ, – ῆς, (reflexive pron.) myself; (poss.
pron.) my own ἐξάγω, lead out, bring ἐπέρχομαι, come upon, against;
arrive at οὐκέτι (adv.), no longer, no more στεναγμός, ὁ, sighing, groaning
τέλος, -ους, τό, end; outcome, resolution, conclusion χράω, pres. mid. inf.
χρῆσθαι, 1aor. mid. inf. χρήσασθαι: act. proclaim (by the gods in oracles),
direct by an oracle (+ inf.); mid. use something/somebody, make use of
(dat.); conduct a sacrifice; treat somebody with (+ dat. / ἐν); be subject to,
suffer from; w. adv. treat somebody (dat.) in a particular way (e.g.,
well/badly)

οἶδεν γὰρ ἤδη ὁδόν μου, 23.10

διέκρινεν δέ με ὥσπερ τὸ χρυσίον.
ἐξελεύσομαι δὲ ἐν ἐντάλμασιν αὐτοῦ, 11
ὁδοὺς γὰρ αὐτοῦ ἐφύλαξα καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐκκλίνω. 18
ἀπὸ19 ἐνταλμάτων αὐτοῦ καὶ20 οὐ μὴ παρέλθω, 12
ἐν δὲ κόλπῳ μου ἔκρυψα ῥήματα αὐτοῦ.
εἰ δὲ καὶ21 αὐτὸς ἔκρινεν οὕτως, τίς ἐστιν ὁ ἀντειπὼν αὐτῷ; 13
ὃ γὰρ αὐτὸς ἠθέλησεν, καὶ ἐποίησεν.
(v. 14 of MT is missing in LXX) διὰ τοῦτο ἐ αὐτῷ ἐσπούδακα, 15
νουθετούμενος δὲ ἐφρόντισα αὐτοῦ.
※ ἐπὶ τούτῳ ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ κατασπουδασθῶ, 15a ※
κατανοήσω καὶ πτοηθήσομαι ἐξ αὐτοῦ.22
κύριος δὲ ἐμαλάκυνεν τὴν καρδίαν μου, 16
ὁ δὲ παντοκράτωρ ἐσπούδασέν με.
οὐ γὰρ ᾔδειν ὅτι ἐπελεύσεταί μοι σκότος, 17
πρὸ προσώπου δέ μου ἐκάλυψεν γνόφος.

Vocabulary

ἀντιλέγω (+ dat.), 2aor. ptc. ἀντειπών: contradict somebody/something

γνόφος, ὁ, darkness διακρίνω, judge, decide; pass., bring an issue to a
decsion; doubt ἐντάλματα, -ων, commands (neol.) ἐκκλίνω, turn away,
turn aside κατασπουδάζομαι, pass. be troubled κόλπος, ὁ, arms, breast
(denoting tender physical closeness) μαλακύνω, soften (the heart)
 παντοκράτωρ, -ορος, ὁ, almighty one πτοέω, pass. tremble, be terrified
σπουδάζω, pay serious attention to; study (books); hurry; be in a hurry to
do something ὥσπερ, as, just as, even as; like

1 ἐκ χειρός μου, “out of my reach.”

2 I.e., the Lord’s.

3 S.v. γινώσκω, cf. table 9.6.

4 S.v. εὐρίσκω; 2aor. has the same opt. endings as pres. tense.

5 S.v. ἔρχομαι.

6 S.v. λέγω.

7 S.v. ἐμπίμπλημι.

8 Expect γνοίην, table 9.6.

9 S.v. λέγω.

10 S.v. αἰσθάνομαι.

11 Nominal sentence; provide some form of the verb εἰμί.

12 S.v. ἐξάγω.

13 εἰς πρῶτα = πρῶτα, “first.”

14 εἰμί, here “exist.”

15 ἐπί (w. dat.), “concerning.”

16 Gen. absol.

17 καί...καί...both of which are pleonastic (καί = Heb. we). By rendering the

parataxis of Heb. with καί, the translator has created confusion about how the
clauses are related to one another.

18 οὐ μή + aor. subj. (emph. fut. neg., cf. IV, 8).

19 ἀπό, “by reason of.”

20 Pleon. καί.

21 Adv. καί.

22 V. 15a is Origen’s trans. of the same verse.

 3.6. Book of Daniel: A Vision of the Resurrection of
the Dead
(Dan 12:1–13)

Date: Though the stories of Daniel are set in the time of the Babylonian
captivity, this book was actually written about 165 BCE. Its primary concerns
are the political events of the Maccabean era and the reign of the Seleucid king
Antiochus Epiphanes (cf. 1 Macc 1:10–28, §3.3). The Old Greek version of
Daniel was translated about 200 BCE, while the Theodotion version, also known
as the kaige (καίγε) text, dates ca. 50 BCE.
Text: The Book of Daniel consists of six court tales and four apocalyptic
visions. The reading in this section is taken from the fourth of the apocalyptic
visions, in the book’s final chapter. The Theodotion version translates the
Masoretic text in a literal word-for-word manner and exhibits a formal
equivalence to its Hebrew source text. In contrast, the Old Greek version is more
literary.

The Resurrection of the Dead, Dan 12:1–13

Old Greek Theodotion Version

12:1 Καὶ κατὰ τὴν ὥραν 12:1 Καὶ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ

ἐκείνην παρελεύσεται Μιχαηλ ὁ ἀναστήσεται Μιχαηλ ὁ ἄρχων ὁ
ἄγγελος ὁ μέγας ὁ ἑστηκὼς ἐπὶ μέγας ὁ ἑστηκὼς ἐπὶ1 τοὺς
τοὺς υἱοὺς τοῦ λαοῦ σου· ἐκείνη υἱοὺς τοῦ λαοῦ σου· καὶ ἔσται
ἡ ἡμέρα (will be) θλίψεως, οἵα καιρὸς θλίψεως, θλῖψις οἵα οὐ
οὐκ ἐγενήθη ἀ οὗ ἐγενήθησαν γέγονεν ἀ οὗ2 γεγένηται ἔθνος
ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ἐκείνης· καὶ ἐν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἕως τοῦ καιροῦ
ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ὑψωθήσεται ἐκείνου· καὶ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ
πᾶς ὁ λαός, ὃς ἂν εὑρεθῇ ἐκείνῳ σωθήσεται ὁ λαός σου,
ἐγγεγραμμένος ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ. πᾶς ὁ εὑρεθεὶς γεγραμμένος ἐν
τῇ βίβλῳ.
 τῇ βίβλῳ.

2 καὶ πολλοὶ τῶν καθευδόντων 2 καὶ πολλοὶ τῶν καθευδόντων

ἐν τῷ πλάτει τῆς γῆς ἐν γῆς χώματι ἐξεγερθήσονται,
ἀναστήσονται, οἱ μὲν εἰς ζωὴν οὗτοι εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον καὶ
αἰώνιον, οἱ δὲ εἰς ὀνειδισμόν, οἱ οὗτοι εἰς ὀνειδισμὸν καὶ εἰς
δὲ εἰς διασπορὰν καὶ αἰσχύνην αἰσχύνην αἰώνιον.
αἰώνιον.

3 καὶ οἱ συνιέντες φανοῦσιν ὡς 3 καὶ οἱ συνιέντες ἐκλάμψουσιν

φωστῆρες τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ οἱ ὡς ἡ λαμπρότης τοῦ
κατισχύοντες τοὺς λόγους μου στερεώματος καὶ ἀπὸ5 τῶν
ὡσεὶ3 τὰ ἄστρα τοῦ οὐρανοῦ δικαίων τῶν πολλῶν ὡς οἱ
εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος.4 ἀστέρες εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας καὶ
ἔτι.

4 καὶ σύ, Δανιηλ, κάλυψον τὰ 4 καὶ σύ, Δανιηλ, ἔμφραξον

προστάγματα καὶ σφράγισαι τὸ τοὺς λόγους καὶ σφράγισον τὸ
βιβλίον ἕως καιροῦ συντελείας, βιβλίον ἕως καιροῦ συντελείας,
ἕως ἂν ἀπομανῶσιν οἱ πολλοὶ ἕως διδαχθῶσιν πολλοὶ καὶ
καὶ πλησθῇ6 ἡ γῆ ἀδικίας. πληθυνθῇ ἡ γνῶσις.
Vocabulary

ἀδικία, ἡ, wrongdoing, injustice ἐκλάμπω, 2. ἐκλάμψω, 3.

αἰσχύνη, ἡ, shame, disgrace ἐξέλαμψα: blaze up; shine, beam
ἀπομαίνομαι, go mad (neol.) forth
διασπορά, ἡ, scattering, ἐμφράσσω, 3. ἐνέφραξα: bar
dispersion passage to, block up
ἐγγράφω, record ἐξεγείρω, awaken; raise from
καθεύδω, sleep; die (fig.); have the dead; pass. be awakened,
sex with (πρός) somebody wake up
κατισχύω (w. acc.), overpower, λαμπρός, -ά, -όν, bright,
prevail over, be master of shining; superl. λαμπρότατατος,
ὀνειδισμός, ὁ, reproach, -η, -ον, brightness, splendor;
contempt most excellent (w. titulature)
πλάτος, -ους, flat, breadth (of the στερέωμα, -ματος, τό,
land) firmament (sky)
πρόσταγμα, -ματος, τό, χῶμα, -ματος, τό, sepulchral
πρόσταγμα, -ματος, τό, χῶμα, -ματος, τό, sepulchral
ordinance, command mound, mound (of earth)

συντέλεια, ἡ, completion,
consummation
σφραγίζω, to seal (for a
security), to seal by impressing a
seal with a signet ring
φωστήρ, -ῆρος, ὁ, star

The Epilogue The Epilogue

5 Καὶ εἶδον ἐγὼ Δανιηλ καὶ 5 καὶ εἶδον ἐγὼ, Δανιηλ, καὶ
ἰδοὺ δύο ἕτεροι εἱστήκεισαν, εἷς ἰδοὺ δύο ἕτεροι εἱστήκεισαν,7
ἔνθεν τοῦ ποταμοῦ καὶ εἷς εἷς ἐντεῦθεν τοῦ χείλους τοῦ
ἔνθεν. ποταμοῦ καὶ εἷς ἐντεῦθεν τοῦ
χείλους τοῦ ποταμοῦ.

6 καὶ εἶπα τῷ ἑνὶ τῷ 6 καὶ εἶπεν τῷ ἀνδρὶ τῷ

περιβεβλημένῳ τὰ βύσσινα τῷ ἐνδεδυμένῳ τὰ βαδδιν, ὃς ἦν
ἐπάνω (of the river)· πότε οὖν ἐπάνω τοῦ ὕδατος τοῦ ποταμοῦ·
συντέλεια ὧν εἴρηκάς8 μοι τῶν ἕως πότε τὸ πέρας9 ὧν εἴρηκας
θαυμαστῶν καὶ ὁ καθαρισμὸς τῶν θαυμασίων;
τούτων;

7 καὶ ἤκουσα τοῦ 7 καὶ ἤκουσα τοῦ ἀνδρὸς τοῦ

περιβεβλημένου τὰ βύσσινα, ὃς ἐνδεδυμένου τὰ βαδδιν, ὃς ἦν
ἦν ἐπάνω τοῦ ὕδατος τοῦ ἐπάνω τοῦ ὕδατος τοῦ ποταμοῦ,
ποταμοῦ (say)· ἕως καιροῦ καὶ ὕψωσεν τὴν δεξιὰν αὐτοῦ
συντελείας· καὶ ὕψωσε τὴν καὶ τὴν ἀριστερὰν αὐτοῦ εἰς
δεξιὰν καὶ τὴν ἀριστερὰν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ ὤμοσεν ἐν τῷ
τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ ὤμοσε10 τὸν ζῶντι τὸν αἰῶνα ὅτι εἰς11
ζῶντα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα θεὸν ὅτι καιρὸν καιρῶν καὶ ἥμισυ
εἰς καιρὸν καὶ καιροὺς καὶ καιροῦ· ἐν τῷ συντελεσθῆναι12
ἥμισυ καιροῦ ἡ συντέλεια διασκορπισμὸν χειρὸς λαοῦ
χειρῶν ἀφέσεως λαοῦ ἁγίου, ἡγιασμένου13 γνώσονται πάντα
καὶ συντελεσθήσεται πάντα ταῦτα.
ταῦτα.
Vocabulary
ἀριστερός, -ά, -όν, best; βαδδιν, fine linen (hapax)

euphem. for “left” (like διασκορπισμός, ὁ, scattering,

εὐώνυμος); on the left; dispersion
ἀριστερά, ἡ, left hand; τὰ θαυμάσιος, -α, -ον, wonderful,
ἀριστερά (sc. μέρη), on the left excellent; superl.
side θαυμασιώτατος, -η, -ον, most
βύσσινος, -η, -ον, of fine linen; admirable/excellent/wonderful;
τὰ βύσσινα, dressings of fine τὰ θαυμάσια, marvels, wonders
linen πέρας, -ατος, τό, limit, end,
ἔνθεν... καὶ ἔνθεν..., on this side boundary; πέρας (adv.), finally,
... on that side in conclusion, as a result

ἥμισυς, -εια, -ύ, half; μέχρι τοῦ χεῖλος, -ους, τό, pl. χείλη, lips;
ἡμίσους, up to the middle (of edge, shore (sea), bank (of river)
one’s body)
καθαρισμός, ὁ, purification

8 καὶ ἐγὼ ἤκουσα καὶ οὐ 8 καὶ ἐγὼ ἤκουσα καὶ οὐ

διενοήθην παρ᾿14 αὐτὸν τὸν συνῆκα15 καὶ εἶπα· κύριε, τί (is)
καιρὸν καὶ εἶπα· κύριε, τίς ἡ τὰ ἔσχατα τούτων;
λύσις τοῦ λόγου τούτου, καὶ
τίνος αἱ παραβολαὶ αὗται;

9 καὶ εἶπέν μοι· ἀπότρεχε, 9 καὶ εἶπεν· δεῦρο, Δανιηλ, ὅτι

Δανιηλ, ὅτι κατακεκαλυμμένα ἐμπεφραγμένοι καὶ
καὶ ἐσφραγισμένα τὰ ἐσφραγισμένοι οἱ λόγοι, ἕως
προστάγματα, ἕως ἂν καιροῦ πέρας,

10 πειρασθῶσι16 καὶ ἁγιασθῶσι 10 ἐκλεγῶσιν18 καὶ

πολλοί, καὶ ἁμάρτωσιν οἱ ἐκλευκανθῶσιν καὶ πυρωθῶσιν
ἁμαρτωλοί· καὶ οὐ μὴ πολλοί, καὶ ἀνομήσωσιν
διανοηθῶσι17 πάντες οἱ ἄνομοι· καὶ οὐ συνήσουσιν
ἁμαρτωλοί, καὶ οἱ διανοούμενοι πάντες ἄνομοι, καὶ οἱ νοήμονες
προσέξουσιν. συνήσουσιν.

11 ἀ οὗ (καιροῦ ὅτι) ἂν 11 καὶ ἀπὸ (that) καιροῦ

ἀποσταθῇ19 ἡ θυσία διὰ παραλλάξεως τοῦ ἐνδελεχισμοῦ
ἀποσταθῇ19 ἡ θυσία διὰ παραλλάξεως τοῦ ἐνδελεχισμοῦ
παντὸς20 καὶ ἑτοιμασθῇ δοθῆναι καὶ τοῦ δοθῆναι21 βδέλυγμα

τὸ βδέλυγμα τῆς ἐρημώσεως ἐρημώσεως22 (as) ἡμέραι χίλιαι

(there are) ἡμέρας χιλίας διακόσιαι ἐνενήκοντα.
διακοσίας ἐνενήκοντα.

12 μακάριος ὁ ἐμμένων καὶ 12 μακάριος ὁ ὑπομένων καὶ

συνάξει εἰς ἡμέρας χιλίας φθάσας εἰς ἡμέρας χιλίας
τριακοσίας τριάκοντα πέντε. τριακοσίας τριάκοντα πέντε.

13 καὶ σὺ δεῦρο καὶ ἀναπαύου, 13 καὶ σὺ δεῦρο καὶ ἀναπαύου,

ἔτι γὰρ (there are ) ἡμέραι εἰς ἔτι γὰρ ἡμέραι εἰς ἀναπλήρωσιν
ἀναπλήρωσιν συντελείας, καὶ συντελείας, καὶ23 ἀναστήσῃ24
ἀναστήσῃ εἰς τὸν κλῆρόν σου εἰς τὸν κλῆρόν σου εἰς
εἰς συντέλειαν ἡμερῶν. συντέλειαν ἡμερῶν.
Vocabulary

ἀναπλήρσωσις, -εως, ἡ, ἐκλευκαίνω, become very white

fulfillment ἐμφράσσω, pass. ptc.
ἀποτρέχω, hurry away ἐμπεφραγμένοι, bar passage to,
βδέλυγμα, -ματος, τό, block up
abomination ἐνδελέχισμός, ὁ, perpetual/daily
διακοσίοι, -αι, -α, two hundred (sacrifice)
διανοέομαι, pass. dep. ἐρήμωσις, -εως, ἡ, desolation
comprehend λύσις, ἡ, a releasing; divorce;
ἔμμένω, 1aor. ἐνέμεινα: abide breaking (of spells);
in, persevere in; abide by, stand interpretation, solution (of a
by, be true to riddle)
ἐνενήκοντα (indecl.), ninety νοήμων, -ον, thoughtful,
ἐρήμωσις, -εως, ἡ, desolation intelligent
κατακαλύπτω, cover up, cover παράλλαξις, -εως, ἡ, change,
with removal (hapax)
κλῆρος, -ου, ὁ, that which is πυρόω, burn with fire; heat to
assigned by lot, a share, portion; red hot: pass. be set on fire, be
a legacy, inheritance, inheritable purified by fire (of metals)
estate ὑπομένω, remain, await, endure
προσέχω, pay attention to,
notice; take care of; mid. cling to
something (+ dat.); προσέχω τὸν
 something (+ dat.); προσέχω τὸν
νοῦν (+ dat.), turn one’s
attention/mind to
τριακόσιοι, -αι, -α, three
hundred

χιλιάς, -άδος, ἡ, thousand

Select Bibliography
McLay, Tim. The Old Greek and Theodotian Versions of Daniel. Septuagint and
Cognate Studies 43. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1996.

1 ἐπί (w. acc.), “over.”

2 ἀ οὗ (καιροῦ).

3 ὡσεί > ὡς εἰ, “like,” “as if.”

4 A reference to astral resurrection of departed souls (cf. afterlife theology in

Isa 26:19).

5 ἀπό, partitive use (“some”).

6 S.v. πίμπλημι.

7 S.v. ἵστημι, cf. table 9.1.1(f); this is a stative verb. Since the perfect tense is
translated as a present tense, the pluperfect should be translated as a simple past
tense.

8 S.v. λέγω.
9 Construe τὸ πέρας w. θαυμασίων.

10 S.v. ὄμνυμι.

11 εἰς + expression of time, “for (a period of).”

12 Art. inf.

13 Gen. absol.

14 παρά, “about,” “concerning.”

15 S.v. συνίημι, see paradigm of ἵημι; cf. able 9.15.

16 S.v. πειράζω.

17 ού μη + aor. subj. (emph. fut. neg., cf. IV, 8).

18 In HGr, subj. is sometimes used in place of the impv. (cf. hort. subj., cf. IV,
12).

19 S.v. ἀφίστημι.

20 I.e., διὰ παντὸς καιροῦ, i.e., a perpetual (sacrifice/offering).

21 Art. inf.

22 παραλλάξεως τοῦ ἐνδελεχισμοῦ καί...βδέλυγμα ἐρημώσεως

23 Adv. Καί.

24 Mid. voice.
Fig. 6. Relief of the archangel Michael, carved on recessed panel, Konya
(IKonya 200).
 3.7. 1 Enoch: The Book of the Watchers
(1 En. 1, 6:1–8:2)

Date: Late pre-Maccabean.

Text: The discovery at Qumran of an Aramaic version of 1 Enoch (4QEn,
4QEnastr, 1QGiants) has confirmed that 1 En. 1–36 was originally composed in
Aramaic. The Greek text in this section is that of R. H. Charles, with the
inclusion of some of the textual emendations recommended by George
Nickelsburg.1
The Book of Enoch was considered to be scripture by the author of Jude (1
En. 1:9 is quoted in Jude 14–15; cf. Deut 33:2), by the author of the Epistle of
Barnabas (Barn. 16:4), and by many of the early church fathers, including
Athenagoras, Clement of Alexandria, Irenaeus, and Tertullian.2 Even today, it
has the status of a canonical text in both the Ethiopian Orthodox and Eritrean
Orthodox Churches.
Comments: The two earliest apocalypses in the Jewish tradition are the Book
of Watchers (third century BCE) in 1 En. 6–36 and the Book of Heavenly
Luminaries (early third century BCE or before) in 1 En. 72–82. The term
“Watchers” (οἱ ἐγρήγοροι) normally designates the two hundred angels who
rebelled against the Lord after the Flood and thereafter remained on the earth,
bound in its valleys.3 The reading here expands on the myth found in Gen 6:1–2,
narrating how these same Watchers became filled with sexual desire for the
women on earth and mated with them, thereby conceiving a race of “giants”
(γίγαντες, 1 En. 7:2, T. Reu. 5:7). The Watchers then imparted to the women
forbidden knowledge.
Related Texts: The story of this mythic transgression is reinterpreted in the
Testament of Reuben 5:1–7 (§6.5), which claims that no direct sexual contact
actually occurred. Rather, the sexual desire (ἐπιθυμία) of the Watchers alone
was sufficient to impregnate the human women.

An Oracle of Judgment – 1 En. 1:3–9

1:1 Λόγος εὐλογίας Ἑνώχ, καθὼς εὐλόγησεν ἐκλεκτοὺς δικαίους οἵτινες
ἔσονται (present) εἰς ἡμέραν ἀνάγκης ἐξᾶραι πάντας τοὺς ἐχθρούς, καὶ
σωθήσονται δίκαιοι. 2 καὶ ἀναλαβὼν τὴν παραβολὴν4 αὐτοῦ (Enoch) εἶπεν·
Ἑνὼχ ἄνθρωπος δίκαιος ὅστις ἐκ θεοῦ ὅρασις αὐτοῦ ἀνεῳγμένη,5 καὶ ἑώρα6
τὴν ὅρασιν τοῦ ἁγίου7 καὶ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἣν ἔδειξέν μοι ἄγγελοι ἅγιοι. καὶ
ἀπὸ λόγων ἐγρήγορων καὶ ἁγίων ἢκουσα ἐγώ πάντα, καὶ ὡς ἤκουσα παρ
ἀὐτῶν πάντα καὶ ἔγνων ἐγὼ θεωρῶν.8 καὶ οὐκ εἰς τὴν νῦν9 γενεὰν
διενοούμην, ἀλλὰ ἐπὶ10 πόρρω οὖσαν γενεάν ἐγὼ λαλῶ. 3 καὶ περὶ τῶν
ἐκλεκτῶν νῦν λέγω, καὶ περὶ αὐτῶν ἀνέλαβον τὴν παραβολήν μου.
Vocabulary

ἀνάγκη, ἡ, necessity, obligation; tribulation, calamity; pl. calamities

ἀναλαμβάνω, 6. ἀνελήφθην: to take up, carry; to resolve; to take up (a
discourse); to take over, carry away διανοέομαι, recollect, expound
ἐγρήγοροι, οἱ, “Watchers,” rebel angels ἐκλεκτός, -ή, -όν, chosen, elect;
precious ἔλεος, -ους, τό, mercy, compassion ἐξαίρω, 3. ἐξῆρα: remove,
drive away (do not confuse w. ἐξαιρέω) εὐλογία, ἡ, blessing πόρρω
(adv.), far off, far away

A Theophany
1:3 Καὶ ἐξελεύσεται ὁ ἅγιός μου ὁ μέγας ἐκ τῆς κατοικήσεως αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὁ
θεὸς τοῦ αἰῶνος 4 ἐπὶ γῆν πατήσει ἐπὶ τὸ Σινὰ ὄρος11 καὶ φανήσεται12 ἐκ
τῆς παρεμβολῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ φανήσεται ἐν τῇ δυνάμει τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ
τοῦ οὐρανοῦ τῶν οὐρανῶν. 5 καὶ φοβηθήσονται πάντες13 καὶ πιστεύσουσιν οἱ
ἐγρήγοροι καὶ ᾄσουσιν14 ἀπόκρυφα ἐν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἄκροις τῆς γῆς καὶ
λήμψεται αὐτοὺς15 τρόμος καὶ φόβος μέγας μέχρι τῶν περάτων τῆς γῆς, 6
καὶ σεισθήσονται καὶ πεσοῦνται καὶ διαλυθήσονται ὄρη ὑψηλά, καὶ
ταπεινωθήσονται βουνοὶ ὑψηλοὶ καὶ τακήσονται ὡς κηρὸς ἀπὸ προσώπου
πυρὸς· 7 καὶ διασχισθήσεται ἡ γῆ σχίσμα, καὶ πάντα ὅσα ἐστὶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς
ἀπολεῖται16 καὶ κρίσις ἔσται κατὰ πάντων.
Vocabulary

ἄκρον, τό, high point, top (of a mountain, staff); outermost edge; end, edge
(of the earth); peel (of fruit) βουνός, ὁ, hill διαλύω, break apart διασχίζω,
 separate; pass. be separated ἰσχύς, -ύος, ἡ, strength, might κατοίκησις, -
εως, ἡ, dwelling κηρός, ὁ, beeswax μέχρι(ς), (prep. w. gen.) until, to; to
the extent; (conj.) until παρεμβολή, ἡ, army; battalion πατέω, tread/walk
on (ἐπί) πέρας, -ατος, τό, limit, end (of the earth), boundary; (adv.) πέρας,
finally, in conclusion; as a result ῥαγάς, -άδος, ἡ, fissure (in soil) σείω, to
shake Σινᾶ, indecl., Mt. Sinai σχίσμα, τό, crack, cleft, 1 En. 1:7;
dissension, schism τήκω, 2. τακήσομαι: melt, dissolve

1:8a Καὶ μετὰ τῶν δικαίων τὴν εἰρήνην ποιήσει,17 καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς
ἔσται συντήρησις, καὶ ἐ αὐτοὺς γενήσεται ἔλεος, 8b καὶ ἔσονται πάντες
τοῦ θεοῦ,18 καὶ τὴν εὐοκίαν δώσει αὐτοῖς καὶ πάντας (of them) εὐλογήσει. 8c
καὶ πάντων ἀντιλήμψεται καὶ φανήσεται αὐτοῖς φῶς καὶ ποιήσει ἐ αὐτοὺς
εἰρήνην. 9a ὅτι ἔρχεται19 σὺν ταῖς μυριάσιν αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῖς ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ
ποιῆσαι κρίσιν κατὰ πάντων, καὶ ἀπολέσαι πάντας τοὺς ἀσεβεῖς, 9b καὶ
ἐλέγξει πᾶσαν σάρκα περὶ πάντων ἔργων τῆς ἀσεβείας αὐτῶν ὧν ἠσέβησαν
καὶ σκληρῶν ὧν ἐλάλησαν λόγων20 καὶ περὶ πάντων ὧν κατελάλησαν κα
αὐτοῦ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἀσεβεῖς.21
Vocabulary

ἁμαρτωλός, -όν, sinful; subst. a sinner ἀντιλαμβάνω (+ gen.), to help,

support ἀσέβεια, ἡ, impiety, iniquity ἀσεβέω, act profanely, act wickedly
(against) ἀσεβής, -ές, irreverent, impious, ungodly βοηθέω, to help, come
to the aid of somebody (dat.), to render assistance to somebody; to defend
oneself ἐλέγχω, to reprove, reproach ἔλεος, -ους, τό, mercy, compassion
εὐδοκία, ἡ, satisfaction, approval, good pleasure καταλαλέω, speak against
μυριάς, -άδος, ἡ, ten thousand, a myriad; as adj. countless (mostly pl.)
σκληρός, -ά, -όν, hard, difficult συντήρησις, ἡ, protection

The Conspiracy
6:1 Καὶ ἐγένετο, οὗ ἂν ἐπληθύνθησαν οἱ υἱοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ἐν ἐκείναις
ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐγεννήθησαν (αὐτοῖς) θυγατέρες ὡραῖαι καὶ καλαί. 2 καὶ
ἐθεάσαντο αὐτὰς οἱ ἐγρήγοροι,22 οἱ υἱοὶ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ ἐπεθύμησαν αὐτάς,
καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς ἀλλήλους· Δεῦτε ἐκλεξώμεθα23 ἑαυτοῖς γυναῖκας ἀπὸ...τῶν
ἀνθρώπων καὶ γεννήσομεν ἑαυτοῖς τέκνα. 3 καὶ εἶπεν Σεμειαζᾶς24 πρὸς
αὐτούς, ὃς ἦν ἄρχων αὐτῶν· Φοβοῦμαι μὴ οὐ θελήσετε ποιῆσαι τὸ πρᾶγμα
τοῦτο, καὶ ἔσομαι ἐγὼ μόνος ὀφειλέτης ἁμαρτίας μεγάλης. 4 ἀπεκρίθησαν
οὖν αὐτῷ πάντες· Ὀμόσωμεν25 ὅρκῳ πάντες καὶ ἀναθεματίσωμεν πάντες
ἀλλήλους μὴ ἀποστρέψαι τὴν γνώμην ταύτην, μέχρις οὗ (χρόνου) ἂν
τελέσωμεν αὐτὴν καὶ ποιήσωμεν τὸ πρᾶγμα τοῦτο. 5 τότε ὤμοσαν πάντες
ὁμοῦ καὶ ἀνεθεμάτισαν ἀλλήλους ἐν αὐτῷ...26
(7. Here follows the names of their twenty chiefs, with Shemihazah listed as
their leader, Aretqoph, second to him, Remashel, third to him, and so forth.)
Vocabulary

ἀναθεματίζω, bind with a curse (not turn back on an oath) γνώμη, ἡ,

intention, purpose; resolution, decision; preliminary resolution (of Council);
opinion ἐγρήγοροι, οἱ, the “Watchers,” rebel angels ἐκλέγω, 1aor. mod.
ἐξελέξαμαι: to collect revenue (money); mid. to choose, select θυγάτηρ, -
τρός, ἡ, daughter; female descendant ὄμνυμι (later ὀμνύω), 2. ὀμοῦμαι,
3. ὤμοσα, aor. subj. ὀμόσω: swear/confirm an oath, swear by (ἐν or + acc.)
a god ὁμοῦ (adv.), in the same place/time, together ὅρκος, ὁ, oath
ὀφειλέτης, ὁ, debtor, one who is under obligation, one who is guilty/liable
for τελέω, 6. ἐτελέσθην, pf. pass. ptc. τετελεσμένος: finish, complete,
fulfill; to perfect; to initate (into a mystery religion), pass. be accomplished
ὡραῖος, -α, -ον, beautiful; gracious

The Deed, Its Results, and the Secrets They Revealed

7:1 Καὶ ἔλαβον ἑαυτοῖς γυναῖκας· ἕκαστος αὐτῶν ἐξελέξαντο ἑαυτοῖς
γυναῖκας, καὶ ἤρξαντο εἰσπορεύεσθαι πρὸς αὐτὰς καὶ μιαίνεσθαι ἐν αὐταῖς
καὶ ἐδίδαξαν αὐτὰς φαρμακείας καὶ ἐπαοιδὰς27 καὶ ῥιζοτομίας καὶ τὰς
βοτάνας ἐδήλωσαν αὐταῖς. 2 Αἱ δὲ ἐν γαστρὶ λαβοῦσαι28 ἐτέκοσαν29
γίγαντας μεγάλους ἐκ30 πηχῶν τρισχιλίων (in height), 3 οἵτινες κατήσθοσαν31
τοὺς κόπους τῶν ἀνθρώπων. ὡς δὲ οὐκ ἐδυνήθησαν32 αὐτοῖς οἱ ἄνθρωποι
ἐπιχορηγεῖν, 4 οἱ γίγαντες ἐτόλμησαν (to rise up) ἐ αὐτούς καὶ κατησθίοσαν
τοὺς ἀνθρώπους. 5 καὶ ἤρξαντο ἁμαρτάνειν ἐν33 τοῖς πετείνοῖς καὶ τοῖς
θηρίοις καὶ ἑρπετοῖς καὶ τοῖς ἰχθύσιν καὶ ἀλλήλων τὰς σάρκας κατεσθίειν,
καὶ τὸ αἷμα ἔπινον. 6 τότε ἡ γῆ ἐνέτυχεν κατὰ τῶν ἀνόμων.
Vocabulary

βοτάνη, ἡ, herb γαστήρ, -τρός, ἡ, belly, stomach; womb γίγαντες, οἱ

 (pl.), giants (cf. T. Reu. 5:7 [§6.5])
δηλόω, reveal; explain, make clear; pass. be announced εἰσπορεύομαι, go
in(to), enter; have sexual intercourse with ἐντυγχάνω, 3. ἐνέτυχον, 2aor.
inf. ἐντυχεῖν: bring a charge against; appeal, petition; happen to meet
with/run into somebody; happen to read ἐπιχορηγέω, provide for ἐπῳδή,
ἡ, enchantment, spell ἑρπετόν, τό, reptile κόπος, ὁ, labor, work; reward
for labor; produce/harvest μέταλλον, τό, mine (containing the metal of the
earth) πῆχυς, -εως, ὁ, cubit (measure of length from the elbow to the end of
middle finger) ῥιζοτομία, ἡ, gathering and cutting of roots τολμάω, dare
to, be bold enough to (+ inf.); show boldness toward (ἐπί) τρισχίλιοι, -αι, -
α, three thousand φαρμακεία, ἡ, sorcery

8:1 Ἐδίδαξεν τοὺς ἀνθρώπους Ἀζαὴλ34 μαχαίρας (how) ποιεῖν καὶ ὅπλα καὶ
ἀσπίδας καὶ θώρακας, καὶ ὑπέδειξεν αὐτοῖς τὰ μέταλλα καὶ τὴν ἐργασίαν
αὐτῶν καὶ (for women) ψέλια καὶ κόσμους καὶ στίβεις καὶ τὸ καλλιβλέφαρον
καὶ παντοίους λίθους ἐκλεκτοὺς καὶ τὰ βαφικά. 2 καὶ ἐγένετο ἀσέβεια πολλή,
καὶ ἐπόρνευσαν καὶ ἀπεπλανήθησαν καὶ ἠφανίσθησαν ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς
αὐτῶν.
Vocabulary

ἀποπλανάω, lead astray ἀσπίς, -ίδος, ἡ, shield; Egyptian asp, cobra

ἀφανίζω, remove, get rid of; destroy, ruin; pass. vanish; be ruined, be
destroyed βαφικόν, τό, dye ἐργασία, ἡ, production; business θώραξ, -
ακος, ὁ, (soldier’s) breastplate, coat of mail; trunk of the body
καλλιβλέφαρον, τό, paint for the eyelids and eyelashes μέταλλον, τό, mine
(containing the metal of the earth) ὅπλον, τό, tool, large shield; pl. τὰ
ὅπλα, weapons παντοῖος, -α, -ον, of all kinds πορνεύω, engage in
prohibited sexual activity, commit sexual immorality; fig. practice idolatry
στίβι, -ιος, τό, stibium, antimony, chemical used for eye painting
ὑποδείκνυμι, 3. ὑπέδειξα: show, reveal, indicate ψέλιον, τό, bracelet

1 R. H. Charles, The Book of Enoch (Oxford: Clarendon, 1912); George W. E.

Nickelsburg, A Commentary on the Book of 1 Enoch, ed. Klaus Baltzer,
Hermeneia (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2001).
2 Enoch was the great-grandson of Adam (Gen 5:3–18) and the great-
grandfather of Noah. According to Genesis, Enoch “walked with God: and he
was not; for God took him” (Gen 5:22–29), implying that he was taken up by
God while still alive.

3 Cf. Gen 6:1–2; 1 En. 1:5–7, 9, 15, 16:2; Jude 1:6.

4 παραβολήν, here “discourse.”

5 Based on emendation of Nickelsberg (p. 137, 2b).

6 S.v. ὁράω, impf.

7 “Of the Holy One.”

8 Based on the emendation of Nickelsberg (p. 137, 2g)

9 νῦν, “present.”

10 ἐπί, “concerning.”

11 ἐπὶ γῆν...ἐπὶ τὸ Σεινὰ ὄρος.

12 S.v. φαίνω.

13 The lack of subject–verb agreement probably stems from the Heb. parent
text.

14 S.v. ᾄδω.

15 I.e., the Watchers.

16 S.v. ἀπόλλυμι

17 The subject, “he,” refers to τοῦ ἁγίου in 1 En. 1:2.

18 Gen. of poss.

19 Note the three infinitives that follow this verb.

20 σκληρῶν...λόγων.

21 ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἀσεβεῖς is the subject of the verb.

22 Nickelsberg’s restoration (174, n. 2a).

23 Hort. subj. (cf. IV, 12).

24 Shemihazah is chief of the Watchers.

25 S.v. ὄμνυμι; hort. subj.

26 I.e., by the ὅρκος.

27 ἐπαοιδή > ἐπῳδή.

28 S.v. λαμβάνω, here “to conceive” (cf. συλλαμβάνω).

29 S.v. τίκτω.

30 ἐκ, “of.”

31 S.v. κατεσθίω.
32 S.v. δύναμαι (dep.).

33 I.e., victimize.

34 Ἀζαήλ, Azazel, the tenth of the leaders of the Watchers.

 3.8. 1 Enoch: The Miraculous Birth of Noah
(1 En. 106–107)

Date: Late pre-Maccabean.

Text: Chester Beatty–Michigan Papyrus (which preserves 1 En. 97:6–107:3),
as edited by Campbell Bonner (ed.), The Last Chapters of Enoch in Greek
(London: Christophers, 1937); originally written in Aramaic.
106:1 Μετὰ δὲ χρόνον ἔλαβον (for) Μαθουσάλεκ1 τῷ υἱῷ μου γυναῖκα καὶ
ἔτεκεν υἱὸν καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Λάμεχ·2 ἐταπεινώθη ἡ δικαιοσύνη
μέχρι τῆς ἡμέρας ἐκείνης. καὶ ὅτε εἰς ἡλικίαν (Lamech) ἐπῆλθεν, ἔλαβεν
αὐτῷ γυναῖκα· 2 καὶ ἔτεκεν αὐτῷ παιδίον, καὶ ὅτε ἐγεννήθη τὸ παιδίον ἦν τὸ
σῶμα (of the child) λευκότερον χιόνος3 καὶ πυρρότερον ῥόδου, τὸ τρίχωμα
πᾶν λευκὸν καὶ ὡς ἔρια λευκὰ καὶ οὖλον καὶ (he was) ἔνδοξον. καὶ ὅτε
ἀνέῳξεν τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς, ἔλαψμεν ἡ οἰκία ὡσεὶ ἥλιος. 3 καὶ ἀνέστη ἐκ τῶν
χειρῶν τῆς μαίας καὶ ἀνέῳξεν τὸ στόμα καὶ εὐλόγησεν τῷ κυρίῳ. 4 καὶ
ἐφοβήθη Λάμεχ ἀ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔφυγεν4 καὶ ἦλθεν πρὸς Μαθουσάλεκ τὸν
πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ·
Vocabulary

ἔριον, τό, wool λευκός, -ή, -όν, white; comp. –τερος

οὖλος, -η, -ον, curly πυρρός, -ά, -όν, red; comp. –τερος, redder ῥόδον, τό,
rose
τρίχωμα, -ματος, τό, hair, head of hair (cf. 106:10) χιών, -όνος, ἡ, snow
ὡσεί, like, as; about, approximately

106:5 τέκνον ἐγεννήθη μου5 ἀλλοῖον, οὐχ ὅμοιον τοῖς ἀνθρώποις ἀλλὰ
(like) τοῖς τέκνοις τῶν ἀγγέλων τοῦ οὐρανοῦ. καὶ ὁ τύπος ἀλλοιότερος, οὐχ
ὅμοιοις ἡμῖν· τὰ ὄμματά ἐστιν ὡς ἀκτῖνες τοῦ ἡλίου, καὶ (is) ἔνδοξον τὸ
πρόσωπον· 6 καὶ ὑπολαμβάνω ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἐξ ἐμοῦ ἀλλὰ ἐξ ἀγγέλου, καὶ
εὐλαβοῦμαι αὐτὸν μήποτέ τι ἔσται6 ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ γῇ. 7 καὶ
παραιτοῦμαι, πάτερ, καὶ δέομαι, βάδισον πρὸς Ἑνὼχ τὸν πατέρα ἡμῶν καὶ
ἐρώτησον ... (“the truth from him, for his dwelling is with the angels”).7
Vocabulary

ἀκτίς, -ῖνος, ἡ, ray/beam (of sun) ἀλλοῖος, -α, -ον, strange, of another kind,
comp. ἀλλοιότερος, stranger, quite strange βάδιζω, 3. βάδισα: go, walk,
proceed; go to visit at (παρά) a place δέομαι, 1aor. pass. ptc. δεηθείς
(dep.): miss, be in need of (+ gen.); mid. δέομαι, ask for (+ gen.), plead for
something (+ gen.), beg of somebody εὐλαβέομαι, be concerned, anxious
ὄμμα, -ματος, τό, eye παραιτέομαι, ask for, request; demand exemption
from τύπος, ὁ, image, form; type, prototype, pattern; pl. details

106:8 (“When Methuselah heard the words of his son,”) ἦλθεν πρὸς ἐμὲ
(Enoch) εἰς τὰ τέρματα τῆς γῆς οὗ8 εἶδεν τότε εἶναί με καὶ εἶπέν μοι· πάτερ
μου, ἐπάκουσον τῆς φωνῆς μου καὶ ἦκε πρός με. καὶ ἤκουσα τὴν φωνὴν
αὐτοῦ καὶ ἦλθον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπα· ἰδοὺ πάρειμι τέκνον· διὰ τί9
ἐλήληθας10 πρὸς ἐμέ, τέκνον; 9 καὶ ἀπεκρίθη λέγων· δἰ ἀνάγκην μεγάλην
ἦλθον ὧδε, πάτερ· 10 καὶ νῦν ἐγεννήθη τέκνον Λάμεχ11 τῷ υἱῷ μου, καὶ ὁ
τύπος αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰκὼν αὐτοῦ οὐχ ὅμοιος ἀθρώποις καὶ τὸ χρῶμα αὐτοῦ
λευκότερον χιόνος καὶ πυρρότερον ῥόδου, καὶ τὸ τρίχωμα τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ
λευκότερον ἐρίων λευκῶν, καὶ τὰ ὄμματα αυτου` (are) ἀφόμοια ταῖς τοῦ
ἡλίου ἀκτίσιν, 11 καὶ ἀνέστη ἀπὸ τῶν τῆς μαίας χειρῶν καὶ ἀνοίξας τὸ
στόμα εὐλόγησεν τὸν κύριον τοῦ αἰῶνος· 12 καὶ ἐφοβήθη ὁ υἱὸς μου Λάμεχ,
καὶ ἔφυγεν πρὸς ἐμε. καὶ οὐ πιστεύει ὅτι υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἐστιν, ἀλλὰ ὅτι (he is)
ἐξ ἀγγέλων τοῦ οὐρανοῦ....“And behold, I have come to you because from the
angels you have”)12 τὴν ἀκρίβειαν ἣν ἔχεις καὶ τὴν ἀλήθειαν. 13 Τότε
(Enoch) ἀπεκρίθην λέγων· ἀνακαινίσει ὁ κύριος πρόσταγμα ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, καὶ
τὸν αὐτὸν τρόπον, τέκνον, τεθέαμαι13 καὶ ἐσήμανά σοι· ἐν γὰρ τῇ γενεᾷ
Ἰάρεδ14 τοῦ πατρός μου παρέβησαν τὸν λόγον κυρίου ἀπὸ τῆς διαθήκης τοῦ
οὐρανοῦ.
Vocabulary

ἀνακαινίζω, renew ἀκρίβεια, ἡ, exact facts ἀφόμοιον, τό, copy (of) (dat.)
διαθήκη, ἡ, treaty, covenant; last will and testament παραβαίνω, 3.
παρέβην: transgress πυρρός, -ά, -όν, red; comp. –τερος, redder ῥόδον, τό,
rose σημαίνω, 2. σημανῶ, 3. ἐσήμανα, aor. impv. σήμανον: give a
sign/signal, indicate something (acc.) with a sign; report, make known
 τέρμα, -ματος, τό, end, limit χιών, -όνος, ἡ, snow χρῶμα, -ματος, τό,
color

106:14 καὶ ἰδοὺ ἁμαρτάνουσιν καὶ παραβαίνουσιν τὸ ἔθος, καὶ μετὰ

γυναικῶν συγγίνονται καὶ με αὐτῶν ἁμαρτάνουσιν καὶ ἔγημαν ἐξ αὐτῶν,
17a καὶ τίκτουσιν, οὐχ ὁμοίους πνεύμασι ἀλλὰ σαρκίνους. 15 καὶ ἔσται15
ὀργὴ μεγάλη ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ καταλυσμός, καὶ ἔσται ἀπώλεια μεγάλη ἐπὶ
ἐνιαυτὸν ἕνα. 16 καὶ τόδε τὸ παιδίον τὸ γεννηθὲν (to you) καταλειφθήσεται,
καὶ τρία αὐτοῦ τέκνα σωθήσεται, ἀποθανόντων16 τῶν17 ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. 17b καὶ
πραϋνεῖ τὴν γῆν ἀπὸ τῆς οὔσης ἐν αὐτῇ φθορᾶς. 18 καὶ νῦν λέγε Λάμεχ ὅτι
Τέκνον σού ἐστιν δικαίως καὶ ὁσίως, καὶ κάλεσον αὐτοῦ τὸ ὄνομα Νῶε·
αὐτὸς γὰρ ἔσται ὑμῶν κατάλειμμα ἐ οὗ ἂν καταπαύσητε καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ
ἀπὸ τῆς φθορᾶς τῆς γῆς καὶ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ ἀπὸ ἀδικιῶν
πασῶν τῶν συντελειῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς....(“And after this there will be stronger
iniquity than that which was formerly consummated upon the earth. For I know
the mysteries of the Lord that the holy ones have revealed and”)18 19 ὑπέδειξέν
μοι καὶ ἐμήνυσεν, καὶ ἐν ταῖς πλαξὶν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἀνέγνων19 αὐτά.
Vocabulary

ἀπώλεια, ἡ, destruction, annihilation γαμέω, Att. 1aor. ἔγημα, HGr 1aor.,

ἐγάμησα: marry ἔθος, -ους, τό, custom(s) κατάλειμμα, -ματος, τό,
remnant καταλυσμός, ὁ, flood, deluge καταπαύω, to rest, find rest
μηνύω, 3. ἐμήνησα, 1aor. pass. ptc. μηνυθείς: disclose a secret, reveal,
report ὁσίως, in holiness πλάξ, πλακός, ἡ, flat stone (on which an
inscription could be made), tablet (of the law) πραΰνω, tame (wild animals)
σάρκινος, -η, -ον, fleshly συγγίνομαι, mingle with, have sexual intercourse
with ὑποδείκνυμι/ὑποδεικνύω, 3. ὑπέδειξα: show φθορά, ἡ, depravity,
moral corruption; miscarriage

107:1 Τότε τεθέαμαι τὰ ἐγγεγραμμένα ἐ αὐτῶν, ὅτι γενεὰ γενᾶς20

κακίων ἔσται, καὶ εἶδον τόδε (will continue) μέχρις τοῦ ἀναστῆναι γενεὰν21
δικαιοσύνης, καὶ ἡ κακία ἀπολεῖται καὶ ἡ ἁμαρτία ἀλλάξει ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς καὶ
τὰ ἀγαθὰ ἥξει ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἐ αὐτούς. 2 καὶ νῦν ἀπότρεχε τέκνον καὶ
σήμανον Λάμεχ τῷ υἱῷ σου ὅτι τὸ παιδίον τοῦτο τὸ γεννηθὲν τέκνον αὐτοῦ
ἐστιν δικαίως καὶ οὐ ψευδῶς. 3 καὶ ὅτε ἤκουσεν Μαθουσάλεκ τοὺς λόγους
Ἑνὼχ22 τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ – μυστηριακῶς γὰρ (Enoch) ἐδήλσεν αὐτῳ –
(Methuselah) ἐπέστρεψεν καὶ ἐδήλωσεν αὐτῷ.23 καὶ ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ
Νῶε, εὐφραίνων τὴν γῆν ἀπὸ τῆς ἀπωλείας.
Vocabulary

ἀλλάσσω, 2. ἀλλάξω: change, alter; exchange one thing for another

ἀποτρέχω, hurry away ἐγγράφω, write down, inscribe μυστηριακῶς,
mysteriously, secretly ψευδῶς, falsely; οὐ ψευδῶς, without deception

1 Dat.; Methuselah, son of Enoch (Gen 5:18–25).

2 Lamech, son of Methuselah and father of Noah.

3 Gen. of comp.

4 S.v. φεύγω.

5 “Of me,” i.e., “to me.”

6 τι ἔσται, “something happens.”

7 Two lines of the Greek text have been lost.

8 οὗ, “where.”

9 διὰ τί, “why?”

10 S.v. ἔρχομαι.

11 Dat.

12 Greek text is lost.

13 S.v. θεάομαι.

14 Gen. (indecl.); Jared (Gen 5:18–20).

15 ἔσται, impers. (“there will be”).

16 Adv. temp. ptc. (“after ...”).

17 S.c. ἀνθρώπων.

18 Two lines of Greek lost.

19 S.v. ἀναγινώσκω.

20 γενεὰ γενᾶς, “generation after generation.”

21 Subject of art. inf.

22 Gen.

23 I.e., to Lamech.
 3.9. Life of Adam and Eve: God Curses Eve
(L.A.E. 19–21, 25, 31–32)

Date: 100–300 CE.

Text: Johannes Tromp, The Life of Adam and Eve in Greek: A Critical Edition
(Leiden: Brill, 2005).
Scholars disagree as to whether the origins of this text are Jewish or Christian
or “at the crossroads of ‘pagan,’ Jewish and Christian cultures.”1 This text
contains multiple cultural traditions and voices, sometimes in tension with
themselves. The resulting figure of Eve is a construct of these diverse traditions.
Related Texts: This text narrates, in much greater detail than Gen 3 (§2.1), the
first sin, with emphasis on the culpability and remorse of Eve (Εὕα); cf. 2 Cor
11:3, 1 Tim 2:13–15, Acts Andr. 5–9 (§5.16).
Related Texts: L.A.E. 1, 7–9 (§3.10) After the snake said “Come ....follow me,
” Eve replied: 19:1 Ἤνοιξα δὲ (the gate) καὶ (the snake) εἰσῆλθεν ἔσω εἰς τὸν
παράδεισον. καὶ διώδευσεν ἔμπροσθέν μου. καὶ περιπατήσας ὀλίγον ἐστράφη
καὶ λέγει μοι· μεταμεληθεὶς οὐ δώσω σοι φαγεῖν, ἐὰν μὴ ὀμόσῃς2 μοι ὅτι
δίδεις (τὸν καρπὸν) καὶ τῷ ἀνδρί σου. 2 ἐγὼ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ ὅτι οὐ γινώσκω
ποίῳ ὅρκῳ ὀμόσω σοι. πλὴν ὃ οἶδα λέγω σοι· μὰ τὸν θρόνον τοῦ δεσπότου
καὶ τὰ χερουβὶμ καὶ τὸ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς ὅτι δώσω (τὸν καρπὸν) καὶ τῷ ἀνδρί
μου (to eat). 3 ὅτε δὲ ἔλαβεν ἀ ἐμοῦ τὸν ὅρκον, τότε ἦλθεν καὶ ἔθετο3 ἐπὶ
τὸν καρπὸν ὃν ἔδωκέν μοι φαγεῖν τὸν ἰὸν τῆς κακίας αὐτοῦ, τοῦ ἐστιν τῆς
ἐπιθυμίας. ἐπιθυμία γάρ ἐστιν (the origin) πάσης ἁμαρτίας. καὶ κλίνας4 τὸν
κλάδον ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, ἔλαβον ἀπὸ τοῦ κάρπου καὶ ἔφαγον.
Vocabulary

δεσπότης, ὁ, master, lord, ruler; owner διοδεύω, pass through ἔμπροσθεν

(+ gen.), before, in front of; previously ἔσω, inside, within (adv.) θρόνος,
ὁ, chair, seat, throne κακία, ἡ, wickedness, evil κλάδος, ὁ, branch (of a
tree) μά, by (particle used in asseverations, w. acc. of the deity appealed to)
μεταμέλομαι, change one’s mind ὀλίγος, -η, -ον, little; δ᾿ ὀλίγων, in a few
 words, briefly; (πρὸς) ὀλίγον, a short while; με ὀλιγον, after a brief time
ὄμνυμι, later ὀμνύω, 2. ὀμοῦμαι, 3. ὤμοσα, aor. subj. ὀμόσω:
swear/confirm by an oath, swear by (ἐν or + acc.) a god ὅρκος, ὁ, an oath
πλήν, nevertheless; but only, except

20:1 Καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ ἠνεῴχθησαν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου, καὶ ἔγνων ὅτι
γυμνὴ ἤμην τῆς δικαιοσύνης ἧς ἤμην ἐνδεδυμένη.5 2 καὶ ἔκλαυσα6 λέγουσα·
τί τοῦτο ἐποίησας (to me), ὅτι ἀπηλλοτριώθην ἐκ τῆς δόξης μου; 3 ἔκλαιον
δὲ καὶ περὶ τοῦ ὅρκου. ἐκεῖνος7 δὲ κατῆλθεν ἐκ τοῦ φυτοῦ καὶ ἄφαντος
ἐγένετο. 4 ἐγὼ δὲ ἐζήτουν ἐν τῷ μέρει μου φύλλα ὅπως καλύψω τὴν
αἰσχύνην μου, καὶ οὐχ εὗρον (any). ἅπαντα γὰρ τὰ φυτὰ τοῦ ἐμοῦ μέρους
κατερρύη τὰ φύλλα, παρὲξ (those) τοῦ σύκου μόνου. 5 λαβοῦσα δὲ φύλλα ἀ
αὐτοῦ ἐποίησα ἐμαυτῇ περιζώματα.
Vocabulary

αἰσχύνη, ἡ, shame, disgrace ἀπαλλοτριόομαι, pass. be estranged from (cf.

21:6) ἅπας, ἅπασα, ἅπαν, alternate form of πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν
ἄφαντος, -ον, invisible καταρρέω, 3. κατερρύην: fall off κατέρχομαι, 4.
κατελήλυθα: go down; derive from, descend from; (naut.) put into port
μέρος, -ους, τό, (pl. nom./acc.) μέρη: part, piece; one’s part/role; place,
region; a separate part (in contrast to the whole) παρέξ, except περίζωμα, -
ματος, τό, apron, skirt σῦκον, τό, fig φυτόν, τό, plant, garden plant, tree

21:1 Καὶ ἐβόησα αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ λέγουσα· Ἀδάμ, Ἀδάμ, ποῦ εἶ; ἀνάστα8
ἐλθὲ πρός με, καὶ δείξω9 σοι μέγα μυστήριον. 2 ὅτε δὲ ἦλθεν ὁ πατὴρ
ὑμῶν10 εἶπον αὐτῷ λόγους (περὶ) παρανομίας οἵτινες κατήγαγον ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ
μεγάλης δόξης. 3 ἅμα γὰρ ἦλθεν, ἤνοιξα τὸ στόμα μου καὶ ὁ διάβολος
ἐλάλει (through me), καὶ ἠρξάμην νουθετεῖν αὐτὸν λέγουσα· δεῦρο κύριέ μου
Ἀδάμ, ἐπάκουσόν μου καὶ φάγε ἀπὸ τοῦ καρποῦ τοῦ δένδρου οὗ εἶπεν ἡμῖν
ὁ θεὸς τοῦ μὴ φαγεῖν11 ἀ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔσει12 ὡς θεός. 4 καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ
πατὴρ ὑμῶν εἶπεν· Φοβοῦμαι μήποτε ὀργισθῇ μοι ὁ θεός. ἐγὼ δὲ εἶπον· Μὴ
φοβοῦ, ἅμα γὰρ φάγῃς ἔσει γινώσκων καλὸν καὶ πονηρόν. 5 καὶ τότε ταχέως
πείσασα13 αὐτὸν ἔφαγεν, καὶ ἠνεῴχθησαν14 αὐτοῦ οἱ ὀφθαλμοί, καὶ ἔγνω τὴν
γύμνωσιν αὐτοῦ. 6 καὶ λέγει μοι· Ὠ γύναι πονηρά, τί κατειργάσω ἐν ἡμῖν;
ἀπηλλοτρίωσάς με ἐκ τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ.
 Vocabulary

ἀπαλλοτριόομαι, pass. be estranged from βοάω, cry, call out, shout

γύμνωσις, -εως, ἡ, nakedness δένδρον, τό, tree διάβολος, ὁ, the devil
κατάγω, 3. κατήγαγον, 6. κατήχθην: bring down; carry in procession;
pass. call in at a port, put into shore; be brought down κατεργάζομαι, 3.
κατειργασάμην: bring about, accomplish; prepare νουθετέω, instruct;
warn, admonish παρανομία, ἡ, transgression of the law, illegality ταχύς, -
εῖα, -ύ, swift, quick, soon; ταχέως (adv.), quickly; comp. θάσσων (Att.
θάττων), θᾶσσον, quicker, sooner than (ἤ); superl. τάχιστος, -η, -ον, most
quickly, as quickly as possible, as soon as

God Curses Eve (L.A.E. 25)

Then Eve said: 25:1 Στραφεὶς δὲ πρός με ὁ κύριος λέγει· ἐπειδὴ ἐπήκουσας
σὺ τοῦ ὄφεως καὶ παρήκουσας τὴν ἐντολήν μου, ἔσει ἐν καμάτοις
πολυτρόποις, καὶ ἐν πόνοις ἀφορήτοις. 2 τέξει15 τέκνα ἐν πολλοῖς τρόμοις.
καὶ ἐν μιᾷ ὥρᾳ ἔλθῃς τοῦ τεκεῖν16 καὶ ἀπολέσεις17 τὴν ζωήν σου ἐκ τῆς
ἀνάγκης σου τῆς μεγάλης καὶ τῶν ὠδίνων. 3 ἐξομολογήσει δὲ καὶ εἴπεις·
Κύριε, κύριε, σῶσόν με, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐπιστρέψω18 (again) εἰς τὴν ἁμαρτίαν τῆς
σαρκός. 4 (And the Lord said) Διὰ τοῦτο ἐκ τῶν λόγων σου κρινῶ σε διὰ τὴν
ἔχθραν ἣν ἔθετο ὁ ἐχθρὸς ἐν σοί· στραφεὶς δὲ πάλιν πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα σου καὶ
αὐτός σου κυριεύσει.
Vocabulary

ἀνάγκη, ἡ, necessity, obligation; tribulation; calamity; pl. calamities;

ἀνάγκης, by force, through compulsion ἀφόρητος, -ον, unendurable
κάματος, ὁ, toil; pl. labor pains παρακούω, ignore, pay no attention to;
disobey πολυτρόπος, -ον, turning in many ways, writhing τρόπος, ὁ, way,
manner

The Death of Adam and Eve’s Repentance (L.A.E.

31–32)
31:1 Ταῦτα δὲ (Εὕα) εἰποῦσα ἐν μέσῳ τῶν υἱῶν αὐτῆς κοιμωμένου τοῦ
Ἀδὰμ19 ἐν τῇ νόσῳ αὐτοῦ (ἄλλην δὲ εἶχεν μίαν ἡμέραν20 ἐξελθεῖν ἐκ τοῦ
σώματος αὐτοῦ). 2 καὶ λέγει τῷ Ἀδὰμ ἡ Εὕα· Διὰ τί ἀποθνῄσκεις κἀγὼ ζῶ;
ἢ πόσον χρόνον ἔχω ποιῆσαι μετὰ θάνατόν σου; ἀνάγγειλόν μοι. 3 τότε λέγει
ὁ Ἀδὰμ τῇ Εὕᾳ· μὴ θέλε φροντίζειν περὶ πραγμάτων. οὐ γὰρ βραδύνεις ἀ
ἐμοῦ, ἀλ ἴσα21 ἀποθῄσκομεν ἀμφότεροι. καὶ αὐτὴ τεθήσει εἰς τὸν τόπον
τὸν ἐμόν, κἂν ἀποθάνω κατάλειψόν με καὶ μηδείς μου ἅψηται ἕως οὗ
(χρονοῦ) ἄγγελος λαλήσῃ τι περὶ ἐμοῦ. 4 οὐ γὰρ ἐπιλήσεταί22 μου ὁ θεός,
ἀλλὰ ζητήσει τὸ ἴδιον σκεῦος ὃ ἔπλασεν. ἀνάστα μᾶλλον εὖξαι23 τῷ θεῷ
ἕως οὗ ἀποδώσω τὸ πνεῦμά μου εἰς τὰς χεῖρας τοῦ δεδωκότος24 μοι αὐτό,
διότι οὐκ οἴδαμεν πῶς ἀπαντήσωμεν τοῦ ποιήσαντος ἡμᾶς, ἢ25 ὀργισθῇ ἡμῖν
ἢ ἐπιστρέψει τοῦ ἐλεῆσαι26 ἡμᾶς.
Vocabulary

ἀμφότεροι, -αι, -α, both, all βραδύνω, be delayed διότι, for, because;
therefore ἐλεάω/έω, be merciful; feel pity; pass. be shown mercy εὔχομαι,
3. ηὐξάμην, 1aor. mid. impv. εὖξαι: pray; vow κοιμάομαι, 1aor. pass. ptc.
κοιμηθείς (dep.): fall asleep, sleep; subst. one who has fallen asleep; (fig.)
die νόσος, ἡ, disease, illness πλάσσω (Att. πλάττω), 3. ἔπλασα, pf. pass.
inf. πεπλάσθαι: to form, mold, fashion πόσος, -η, -ον, how great? how
much/many?
φροντίζω, consider, ponder; be concerned about, pay attention to

32:1 Τότε (Εὕα) ἀνέστη καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἔξω. καὶ πεσοῦσα27 ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν
ἔλεγεν· 2 ἥμαρτον ὁ θεός, ἥμαρτον ὁ πατὴρ τῶν ἁπάντων, ἥμαρτόν σοι.
ἥμαρτον εἰς τοὺς ἐκλεκτούς σου ἀγγέλους, ἥμαρτον εἰς τὰ χερουβίμ, ἥμαρτον
εἰς τὸν ἀσάλευτόν σου θρόνον, ἥμαρτον κύριε, ἥμαρτον πολλά, ἥμαρτον
ἐναντίον σου, καὶ πᾶσα ἁμαρτία δἰ ἐμὲ γέγονεν ἐν τῇ κτίσει. 3 ἔτι εὐχομένης
τῆς Εὕας,28 ἱδοὺ ἦλθεν πρὸς αὐτὴν ὁ ἄγγελος τῆς ἀνθρωπότητος, καὶ
ἀνέστησεν αὐτὴν λέγων· 4 ἀνάστα, Εὕα, ἐκ τῆς μετανοίας σου. ἰδοὺ γὰρ ὁ
Ἀδὰμ ὁ ἀνήρ σου ἐξῆλθεν ἀπὸ τοῦ σώματος αὐτοῦ. ἀνάστα καὶ ἰδὲ τὸ
πνεῦμα αὐτοῦ ἀναφερόμενον εἰς τὸν ποιήσαντα αὐτὸν τοῦ ἀπαντῆσαι29
αὐτῷ.
Vocabulary

ἀνθρωπότης, -ητος, ἡ, humanity ἀσάλευτος, -ον, unshakable, steadfast

ἄφαντος, -ον, invisible
γυμνός, -ή, -όν, naked δικαιοσύνη, -ης, ἡ, justice, uprightness,
 righteousness; honesty ἐκλεκτός, -ή, -όν, chosen, elect; precious ἰός, ὁ,
poison

Select Bibliography
Anderson, Gary. Literature on Adam and Eve: Collected Essays. Leiden: Brill,
2000.
Anderson, Gary, and Michael Stone. A Synopsis of the Books of Adam and Eve,
2nd ed. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1999.
Charlesworth, J. H. The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, 2 vols. Garden City,
NY: Doubleday, 1985, II, 249–295.
Eldridge, Michael D. Dying Adam with His Multiethnic Family: Understanding
the Greek Life of Adam and Eve. Leiden: Brill, 2001.
Jonge, Marinus de. The Life of Adam and Eve and Related Literature. Sheffield:
Sheffield Academic Press, 1997.
Knittel, Thomas. Das grieschische ‘Leben Adams und Evas’: Studien zu einer
narrative Anthropologie im frühen Judentum. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2002.

1 Vita Daphna Arbel, Forming Femininity in Antiquity: Eve, Gender, and

Ideologies in the Greek Life of Adam and Eve (New York: Oxford University
Press, 2012), 5–6.

2 S.v. ὄμνυμι.

3 Cf. table 9.10.4(b).

4 S.v. κλίνω.

5 Plpf. periphr. (cf. IV, 18, s.v. ἐνδύω).

6 S.v. κλαίω.
7 I.e., the snake.

8 S.v. ἀνίστημι, 2aor. act. impv. (cf. table 12.1).

9 S.v. δείκνυμι.

10 Eve is now telling this story to Adam’s children about their father.

11 Art. inf.

12 ἔσει > ἔσῃ.

13 S.v. πείθω.

14 S.v. ἀνοίγω.

15 τέξει > τέξῃ, s.v. τίκτω.

16 Art. inf.

17 S.v. ἀπόλλυμι.

18 οὐ μή + aor. subj. (emph. fut. neg., cf. IV, 8).

19 Gen. absol.

20 ἄλλην...μίαν ἡμέραν.

21 ἴσα, “equally,” “alike,” nt. pl. of ἴσος, -η, -ον.

22 S.v. ἐπιλανθάνομαι.
23 S.v. εὔχομαι.

24 S.v. δίδωμι.

25 ἥ...ἥ... (“whether ... or ...”).

26 Art. inf.

27 S.v. πίπτω.

28 Gen. absol.

29 Art. inf. expressing purpose.

 3.10. Life of Adam and Eve

(L.A.E. 1, 7–9)
Date: First century CE.
Text: Johannes Tromp, The Life of Adam and Eve in Greek: A Critical Edition
(Leiden: Brill, 2005).
Related Texts: L.A.E. 19–21, 25, 31–32 (§3.9).
1:1 Αὕτη ἡ διήγησις Ἀδὰμ καὶ Εὕας. Μετὰ τὸ ἐξελθεῖν1 αὐτοὺς ἐκ τοῦ
παραδείσου, 2 ἔλαβεν Ἀδὰμ Εὕαν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνῆλθεν εἰς τὴν
ἀνατολήν, καὶ ἔμεινεν ἐκεῖ ἔτη δέκα καὶ ὀκτὼ καὶ μῆνας δύο. 3 καὶ ἐν
γαστρὶ εἴληφεν2 ἡ Εὕα καὶ ἐγέννησεν δύο υἱούς, τὸν ἀδιάφωτον τὸν
καλούμενον Κάϊν καὶ τὸν αμβιλαβες τὸν καλούμενον Ἅβελ.
Vocabulary

ἀδιάφωτος, nickname for Cain meaning the “lightless one”

αμβιλαβες, exotic (probably nonsensical) 3 nickname for Abel διήγησις, -
εως, ἡ, narrative, story, account

7:1 Εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ (Seth) ὁ Ἀδάμ· Ὅτε ἐποίησεν ἡμᾶς ὁ θεὸς, ἐμέ τε καὶ
τὴν μητέρα ὑμῶν, δι᾽ ἧς καὶ ἀποθνῄσκω, ἔδωκεν ἡμῖν πᾶν φυτὸν ἐν τῷ
παραδείσῳ. περὶ ἑνὸς δὲ ἐνετείλατο ἡμῖν μὴ ἐσθίειν ἐξ αὐτοῦ, δι᾽ οὗ καὶ
ἀποθνῄσκομαι. 2 ἤγγισεν δὲ ἡ ὥρα τῶν ἀγγέλων τοὺς διατηροῦντας τὴν
μητέρα ὑμῶν τοῦ ἀναβῆναι4 καὶ προσκυνῆσαι τὸν κύριον. ἕδωκεν δὲ αὐτῇ ὁ
ἐχθρὸς καὶ ἔφαγεν ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου, ἐγνωκὼς5 ὅτι οὐκ ἤμην ἔγγιστα6 αὐτῆς,
οὔτε οἱ ἅγιοι ἄγγελοι. 3 ἔπειτα ἔδωκεν κἀμοὶ φαγεῖν, 8:1 καὶ ὠργίσθη ἡμῖν ὁ
θεὸς. καὶ ἐλθὼν ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ ὁ δεσπότης ἐκάλεσέν με φωνῇ φοβερᾷ
λέγων· Ἀδάμ, ποῦ εἶ; καὶ ἵνα τί7 κρύβεσαι ἀπὸ προσώπου μου; μὴ δυνήσηται
κρυβῆναι οἰκία τῷ οἰκοδομήσαντι αὐτήν; 2 καὶ λέγει μοι· Ἔπειδὴ
ἐγκατέλιπας τὴν διαθήκην μου καὶ τὴν ἐντολήν μου παρήκουσας, ἐπήνεγκα
τῷ σώματί σου ἑβδομήκοντα πληγάς· πρώτον νόσος πληγῆς ὁ βιασμὸς τῶν
ὀφθαλμῶν, δεύτερον πληγῆς τῆς ἀκοῆς καὶ οὕτως καθεξῆς πᾶσαι αἱ πληγαὶ
παρακολουθοῦσαι τῷ σώματι.
9:1 Ταῦτα δε λέγω ὁ Ἀδὰμ τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτοῦ ἀνεστέναξεν μέγα,8 καὶ εἶπεν·
Τί ποιήσω ὅτι ἐν μεγάλῃ λύπῃ εἰμί; 2 ἔκλαυσεν δὲ ἡ Εὕα λέγουσα· Κύριέ
μου Ἀδάμ, ἀναστὰς δός μοι τὸ ἥμισυ τῆς νόσου σου, καὶ ὑπενέγκω αὐτό, ὅτι
δι᾽ ἐμὲ τοῦτό σοι γέγονεν, δι᾽ ἐμὲ ἐν καμάτοις τυγχάνεις. 3 εἶπεν δὲ Ἀδὰμ
τῇ Εὕα· Ἄνάστα καὶ πορεύου πετὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ ἡμῶν Σὴθ πλησίον τοῦ
παραδείσου, καὶ ἐπίθετε γῆν ἐπὶ τὰς κεφαλὰς ὑμῶν καὶ κλαύσατε δεόμενοι
τοῦ θεοῦ ὅπως σπλαγχνισθῇ ἐ ἐμοὶ, καὶ ἀποστείλῃ τὸν ἄγγελον αὐτοῦ εἰς
τὸν παράδεισον, καὶ δώσῃ μοι ἐκ τοῦ δένδρου ἐν ᾧ ῥέει τὸ ἔλαιον ἐξ αὐτοῦ.
καὶ ἐνέγκῃς μοι καὶ ἀλείψωμαι καὶ ἀναπαύσομαι ἀπὸ τῆς νόσου μου.
Vocabulary

ἀλείφω, anoint (w. oil or perfume); mid. anoint oneself ἀναστενάζω, to

sigh βιασμός, ὁ, affliction γαστήρ, -τρος, ἡ, belly, stomach; womb
διαθήκη, ἡ, treaty, covenant; last will and testament διατηρέω, take care
of (w. acc.) ἑβδομήκοντα, seventy ἐγκαταλείπω, 1aor. ἐγκατέλιψα/2aor.
ἐγκατέλιπον: forsake, abandon, desert ἐπιτίθημι, 2aor. ptc. ἐπιθείς: lay/put
something (acc.) on (ἐπί) somebody/something (acc.); give something
(acc.) to somebody (dat.) ἥμισυς, -εια, -υ, τό, half, the half; μέχρι τοῦ
ἡμίσους, up to the middle (of one’s body) καθεξῆς, one after the other
καμάτος, ὁ, toil; trouble νόσος, ἡ, disease, illness παρακολουθέω, pf. ptc.
παρηκολουθηκώς: follow, accompany; follow (in a course of events);
follow in the mind, understand παρακούω, ignore, pay no attention to;
disobey ρέω, 1aor. impv. 3rd pl. ῥευσάτωσαν: to flow, stream, waft
σπλαγχνίζομαι, pass. be moved with pity/compassion τυγχάνω, pres. fm.
ptc. τυχοῦσα, 2aor. ἔτυχον, 2aor. 3rd sg. subj. τήχῃ, inf. τυχεῖν, pf. ptc.
τετ(ε)υχώς: to gain, experience; happen, turn out (as a result); happen to be;
gain/receive something (gen.), attain to (ἐπί); obtain one’s request (w.
gen.); ἔτυχεν δέ, “and it came to pass that (w. acc.)”; adj. ptc. ordinary,
everyday ὑποφέρω, fut. ὑποίσω: bear up under, endure φοβερός, -ά, -όν,
terrible, horrifying, dreadful

1 Art. inf.
2 Here λαμβάνω has the specialized meaning “to conceive” (cf. συλλαμβάνω).

3 Tromp thinks that αμβιλαβες is a corruption of τὸ αἷμα Ἃβελ.

4 Art. inf.

5 Causal adv. ptc. (“because,” cf. IV, 1.4).

6 ἔγγιστα, “very near,” superl. of ἐγγύς.

7 ἱνα τί, “why?”

8 μέγα (s.v. μέγας) functions here as an adverb (“greatly”).

 Part 4 Intermediate-Level Hellenistic Greek

Parts 4–8 of this reader are dedicated to the translation of “compositional

Greek,” which is to say, texts that were originally composed in Greek, in
contrast to the Septuagintal texts of Parts 2 and 3. As one would expect, such
texts employ a typical range of Greek syntactical constructions and vocabulary.1
Part 4 begins with the non-literary (or so-called documentary) Greek of ancient
letters. We shall begin with an introduction to the four primary types of ancient
Greek letters:

1. Letters of introduction (§4.1)

2. Letters of petition (§4.2)
3. Family letters (§4.3)
4. Memoranda (§4.4)

Knowledge of the structure of different kinds of ancient letters serves as an

informative point of departure for reading selections of the (much longer) letters
written by the apostle Paul (§§4.5–16). For the Greek text of Paul’s letters, I
have used (where possible) the Chester Beatty papyrus (PChBeatty 46), or I have
noted the distinctive readings of this papyrus in the footnotes. This papyrus,
dating ca. 200 CE, is the earliest extant manuscript of the ten Pauline letters.2
Each of the vocabulary lists in Part 4 is compiled on the assumption that you are
familiar with the (bolded) words listed in the vocabulary lists of Parts 1–3
(§§1.1–10, 2.1–6, 3.1–9).3 All of the vocabulary for memorization can also be
found in the final glossary (§10).
 4.1. Letter of Introduction to Zenon
(PMich I, 6)

Provenance: Philadelphia, Fayum, Egypt.

This letter is part of the so-called Zenon archive, which was discovered in
Philadelphia in the Fayum region of Egypt. This archive is named after Zenon
(Ζήνων), who was an employee of Apollonios, the minister of finance
(διοικητής) during the last fifteen years of the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphos
(283–246 BCE). In 256 BCE, Zenon moved to Philadelphia to serve as the
manager of Apollonios’s private estate. Since the minister of finance was the
most influential figure in the Ptolemaic administrative structure, Zenon, by
extension, was also a very powerful man. The reading here is a letter of
introduction and recommendation addressed to Zenon by Sostratos (Σώστρατος)
to introduce Aischylos (Αἴσχυλος).
Date: 24 March 257 BCE.
Text: PMich I, 6; White 11.
Structure of Letters of Introduction: 1. Opening: [Sender] to [Recipient (dat.)]
χαίρειν (“greetings”). In letters of introduction, both the sender and recipient are
usually of high social status and relative social equals, as implied by the
placement of the sender’s name before the recipient’s name. The opening or
closing may include a wish for good health (e.g., “If you are well, it would be
excellent,” “I pray to the gods always for you,” “I pray continually for your
health.” “Before anything else I wish that you are well, making obeisance on
your behalf to all the gods”).
2. Letter Body: This identifies the person delivering the letter as one
recommended by the sender. The sender states that the recipient can favor him
by showing favor to the person hand-delivering the letter.
3. Closing: ἔρρωσο (“farewell) + date.
Σώστρατος Ζήνωνι χαίρειν.1
Οὐκ οἶμαι μέν σε ἀγνοεῖν2 περὶ Αἰσχύλου ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἡμῖν ἀλλότριος,
ἀναπέπλευκεν δὲ πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἵνα συσταθῆι3 Κλεονίκωι.4 καλῶς ἂν οὖν
ποιήσαις φιλοτιμηθεὶς ὅπως ἂν συστήσηις5 αὐτὸν Κλεονίκωι. ἐὰν δ᾿ ἄρα μὴ
καταλάβηι ἐκεῖνον6 παρ᾿ ὑμῖν,7 ἐπιστολὰς8 παρὰ τῶν φίλων λαβὲ πρὸς
αὐτὸν.9 τοῦτο δὲ ποιήσας εὐχαριστήσεις ἡμῖν· σπεύδω γὰρ περὶ αὐτοῦ.
γράφε δὲ καὶ σὺ ἡμῖν τί ἄν σοι ποιοῦντες χαριζοίμεθα.
Ἔρρωσο. (Year) κη´10 (in the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus) Περιτίου κ´.
Outside Envelope: Ζήνωνι. (Year) κη´ Περιτίου κ´ . ἐ Βουβάστωι.
Vocabulary

ἀλλότριος, -ία, -ιον, belonging to another; foreign; ὁ ἀλλότριος, stranger

ἀναπλέω, 3. ἀνέπλευσα: sail up (a river) ἄρα, so, then Βούβαστις/
Βούβαστος, capital city of Bubastis, in the Nile delta of Upper Egypt
ἐπιστολή, ἡ, letter εὐχαριστέω, do a favor for somebody (dat.); give
thanks καλῶς, rightly, well; καλῶς ἂν ποιήσαις/ποιήσεις, lit. “you would
do well (to)”; fig. “please” (epistolary formula expressing a polite request);
hurrah for, bravo for (to approve the words of a speaker) οἴομαι/οἶμαι,
impf. ᾤμην: think that, suppose Περίτιος, ὁ, Peritios (on Macedonian
month names see table 9.19) ῥώννυμι, 4. ἔρρωμαι, pf. mid. inf. ἐρρῶσθαι,
pf. mid. ptc. ἐρρωμένος, pf. mid. impv. ἔρρωσο: be in good health/well;
ἔρρωσο, “farewell”; pass. be strengthened φιλέω, to love; kiss φίλος, -η, -
ον, beloved, pleasant; pleasing, popular; subst. friend φιλοτιμέομαι (pass.
dep.): strive after honor; be ambitious; make a sincere effort χαρίζομαι,
impf. ἐχαριζόμην, 5. κεχάρισμαι: show a favor/kindness to somebody;
freely grant, give, bestow favor upon somebody; be pleasing/beloved; pass.
be given freely

Select Bibliography
Rostovtzeff, M. A Large Estate in Egypt in the Third Century B.C. Madison:
University of Wisconsin, 1922 (on the Zenon correspondence).
Stowers, Stanley K. Letter Writing in Greco-Roman Antiquity. Philadelphia:
Westminster, 1986.

1 The dates for these texts have been assigned on the basis of L. Michael White,
From Jesus to Christianity: How Four Generations of Visionaries & Storytellers
Created the New Testament and Christian Faith (San Francisco:
HarperSanFrancisco, 2004).

2 As published by Andrew E. Bernhard, Other Early Christian Gospels: A

Critical Edition of the Surviving Greek Manuscripts (London: T & T Clark,
2006).

3 As well, all the words occurring fifty times or more in the Greek New
Testament.

1 S.v. χαίρω, χαῖρε, greetings (spoken address), good day (in letters).

2 οὐκ οἶμαι μέν σε ἀγνοεῖν is a standard epistolary formula expressing

confidence in the recipient’s willingness to fulfill the request.

3 συσταθῆι > συστηθῇ, s.v. συνίστημι.

4 Kleonikos (proper name).

5 συστήσηις > συστήσῃς.

6 I.e., Kleonikos.

7 παρ᾿ ὑμῖν, “with you” (i.e., in your company).

8 I.e., letters of introduction/recommendation.

9 I.e., Kleonikos.

10 For alphabetic numerals see table 9.18.

 4.2. Letter of Petition to the King with Respect to a
Burial Association
(PEnteuxeis 20)

Provenance: Alexandrou Nesos (Alexandrou Chorion), village in the

administrative unit (nome) of Fayum, Middle Egypt.
Date: 221 BCE.
Structure of Letters of Petition: Letters of petition (ἔντευξις) were written to
request assistance from a high-status official. Like letters of introduction, these
letters exhibit a tripartite structure.
1. Opening: The name of the high official (in dat.) appears first, followed by
χαίρειν (“greetings”) and the name of the sender (in nom. or gen.).
2. Body: The petitioner explains how he or she has been wronged by
somebody. After making a background statement, the petitioner requests that the
official rectify the situation, employing a verb of request such as δέομαι, ἀξιόω,
ἱκετεύω, or παρακαλέω. Next follows an expression of appreciation for any
favorable response to the request.
3. Closing: εὐτύχει (or διευτύχει in Roman era), meaning “farewell.”
Historical Background to the Letter in This Section: In the Hellenistic and
Roman periods, various kinds of voluntary associations were formed. These can
be grouped into three types: (1) professional associations or guilds (e.g., bakers,
§7.22; silversmiths, Acts 19:21–20:1, §5.13); (2) funerary societies; and (3)
voluntary religious societies, §§7.2–5, 7.7, 7.18).
In the letter of petition here, Krateia (Κράτεια), the sister of Apollodotos
(“Απολλόδοτος), writes to King Ptolemy concerning a burial association to
which her deceased brother belonged. Associations of this type are well attested
in the Ptolemaic period.1 Krateia complains not only that her brother was denied
funerary honors by his burial association, to which he had paid the burial fee
(ταφικόν), but also that the same association, having defaulted on this
obligation, had refused to reimburse her for the burial fee. This burial fee was
evidently deemed to be the property of the original contributor and could
therefore be willed to a third party if the original contributor did not use it at the
time of his death. On this basis, Krateia petitioned the king to command the local
strategos, Diophanes, to compel the burial association to comply with its own
regulations (νόμος) and to reimburse her for her brother’s burial fee.
Βασιλεῖ Πτολεμαίωι2 χαίρειν.
Κράτεια ἐκ τῆς ᾿Αλεξάνδρου Νήσου, ἀδικοῦμαι ὑπὸ Φιλίππου καὶ
Διονυσίου.3 τοῦ γὰρ ἐμοῦ ἀδελφοῦ ᾿Απολλοδότου συνθιασιτεύοντος4 (with)
αὐτοῖς, [also with So-and-so and So-and-so] Μάρωνος, ὄντες ὃ μὲν5 ἱερεύς,
(ὄντες) ὃ δὲ ἀρχιθιασίτης. Τελευτήσαντος τοῦ ᾿Απολλοδότου,6 πρὸς τῶι
(αὐτῷ) μήτε θάψαι7 μήτε 5 ἐξακολουθῆσαι αὐτῶι (to the burial site) κατὰ8
τὸν θιασιτικὸν νόμον, οὐδὲ τὸ γινόμενον αὐτῶι9 ταφικὸν ἀποδεδώκασιν.10
δέομαι οὖν σου, βασιλεῦ, εἴ σοι δοκεῖ, προστάξαι Διοφάνει11 τῶι στρατηγῶι
ἐπαναγκάσαι12 (them) ἀποδοῦναί μοι τὸ ταφικόν. τούτου γὰρ γενομένου,13
ἔσομαι διὰ σέ, βασιλεῦ, τοῦ δικαίου14 τετευχυῖα.15 Εὐτύχει.
(In a second hand):16 Ἐπισκεψάμενος τὸν θιασιτικὸν νό(μον), ἐπανάγκασον
(them) τὰ δίκαια ποιῆσαι. ἐὰν δέ τι ἀντιλέγωσιν, ἀπό(στειλον) αὐτοὺς πρὸς
ἡμᾶς. Ἔτους α´17 (in the reign of Ptolemy IV Philopater), Γορπιαίου κη´, Τῦβι
ιβ´.
(Reverse side): Ἔτους α´, Γορπιαίου κη´, Τῦβι ιβ´ Κράτεια πρ(ὸς)18
Φίλιππον καὶ Διονύσιον περὶ ταφικοῦ.
Vocabulary
ἀδικέω/έομαι, do wrong; pass. be wronged by somebody ᾿Αλεξάνδρου
Νῆσος, Alexandrou Nesos (village) ἀρχιθιασίτης, ὁ, leader of a thiasos
(θίασος) Γορπιαῖος, Gorpiaios (on Macedonian month names see table 9.19)
ἐξακολουθέω, follow/accompany (+ dat.) θιασιτικός, -ή, -όν, belonging to the
thiasos ἱερεύς, -έως, ὁ, pl. ἱερῆς (later ἱερεῖς), priest; ἐπὶ ἱρέως, during the
priesthood of so-and-so Μάρων, -ωνος, Maron (city) στρατηγός, ὁ, military
commander; Egyptian (Ptolemaic) governor of a nome (administrative unit)
συνθιασιτεύω, be a fellow member of a θίασος.
ταφικόν, τό, burial fee Τυβί, Tybi, (on Egyptian month names see table 9.19)
1 Members were obliged by the terms of the association’s regulations (νόμος)
to contribute a burial fee (ταφικόν) and participate in the funerals of its
members, with fines imposed by the association on members who failed to do
so. In some cases, the association itself paid for the funeral. In other cases, it
would reimburse the family or those who had assumed the costs of the member’s
funeral.

2 Ptolemy IV Philopater (221–205 BCE).

3 Philippos and Dionysios.

4 Gen. absol.

5 ὃ μέν...ὃ δέ (“the former ... the latter ...”).

6 Gen. absol.

7 S.v. θάπτω.

8 κατά, “in violation of.”

9 Dat. of poss.

10 Cf. table 9.8.5(a).

11 Diophanes, the local strategos (στραγηγός).

12 S.v. ἐπιφέρω.

13 Gen. absol.
14 τὸ δίκαιον, “what is right,” s.v. δίκαιος, -αία, -αιον.

15 S.v. τυγχάνω.

16 The second hand is probably that of the strategos, Diophanes, and the
addressee is probably the epistates (head of the village police).

17 For alphabetic numerals see table 9.18.

18 πρός, “versus.”
4.3. Family Letter of an Army Recruit to His Mother
(PMich VIII, 491)

Provenance: Northeast corner of the Fayum, Middle Egypt.

Date: Second century CE.
Text: PMich VIII, 491; White 104b.
Structure of Family Letters: Ancient family letters generally observe a
conventional structure and are noted for their brevity and lack of emotion. The
epistolary structure of the family letter is as follows:
1. Opening: The recipient is identified by a familial modifier (e.g., father,
mother, brother, sister). The modifiers “lady” and “lord” are terms of respect for
one’s mother and father. The expression of greetings (χαίρειν) is often modified
by πολλά or πλεῖστα (“many greetings”).
2. Thanksgiving: The thanksgiving section consists of a wish for good health
(ὑγιαίνειν) such as “If you are well, it would be excellent,” or “I pray
continually for your health.” This section may also include a supplication to the
gods, called an obeisance (προσκύνημα) formula. The use of an obeisance
formula indicates that the sender has made supplication to a god on behalf of the
recipient (gen.). A wish for good health often includes some similar sentiment.
3. Body: The body of the letter includes such subjects as requests for
information about the recipient’s welfare, requests for information about the
recipient, or complaints about the recipient’s failure to write.
4. Closing: The closing of the letter often includes greetings to or from third
parties, sometimes serving as a substitute for the traditional “farewell.”
The letter in this section is one of two surviving letters written by Apollinarios
(Ἀπολινάριος), a young army recruit, to his mother, Taesis (Ταήσεις). In the
previous letter, he had informed his mother that he had not yet received his
military assignment but would write again after he was informed of the
assignment. In the follow-up letter (the reading here), Apollinarios reports to his
mother that he has now arrived in Rome and has been assigned to the military
fleet docked at Misenum. However, he does not yet know exactly to which
century (military company) he will be assigned.
 Ἀπολινάριος Ταήσει τῇ μητρί καὶ κυρίᾳ πολλὰ χαίρειν.
πρὸ μὲν πάντων εὔχομαί σε ὑγιαίνειν, κἀγὼ αὐτὸς ὑγιαίνω καὶ τὸ
προσκύνημα σου ποιῶ παρὰ τοῖς ἐνθάδε θεοῖς.
Γεινώσκειν1 σε θέλω, μήτηρ, ὄτι ἐρρωμένος2 εἰς Ῥώμην Παχὼν μηνὶ κε´3
ἐκληρώθην εἰς Μισηνούς. οὔπω δὲ τὴν κεντυρίαν μου ἔγνων· οὐ γὰρ
ἀπέληλύθειν εἰς Μισηνοὺς ὅτε σοι τὴν ἐπιστολὴν ταύτην ἔγραφον. ἐρωτῶ
σε, οὖν, μήτηρ, σεαυτῇ πρόσεχε, μηδὲν δίσταζε περὶ ἐμοῦ· ἐγὼ γὰρ εἰς
καλὸν τόπον4 ἦλθον. Καλῶς δὲ ποιήσεις (something for me) γράψασά5 μοι
ἐπιστολὴν περὶ τῆς σωτηρίας σου καὶ τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου καὶ τῶν σῶν
πάντων. καὶ ᾿γω6 εἴ τινα ἐὰν7 εὕρω (to carry the letter then) γράφω σοι· οὐ μὴ
ὀκνήσω8 σοι γράφειν.
Ἀσπάζομαι τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου πολλὰ καὶ Ἀπολινάριον9 καὶ τὰ τέκνα
αὐτοῦ καὶ Καραλᾶν10 καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτοῦ. ἀσπάζομαι Πτολεμαῖον καὶ
Πτολεμαίδα11 καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς καὶ Ἡρακλοῦν12 καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς.
ἀσπάζομαι τοὺς φιλοῦντάς σε πάντας κα ὄνομα. ἐρρῶσθαι σε εὔχομαι.
Outside: Ἄπόδος εἰς Καρανίδα13 Ταήσει ἀπὸ Ἀπολιναρίου υἱου Μισηνάτοῦ.
Vocabulary
διστάζω, worry about (περί) ἐνθάδε, here, in this place κεντυρία, ἡ, century
(military company) Μισηνούς, Misenum, ancient port of Campania in southern
Italy ὀκνέω, 3. ὤκνησα: hesitate Παχών (indecl.), Pachon (on Egyptian month
names see table 9.19) προσκύνημα, -ματος, τό, act of obeisance to (παρά) a
god on behalf of somebody (gen.) ὑγιαίνω, be in good health

1 γεινώσκειν > γινώσκειν, θέλω γινώσκειν, epistolary disclosure formula

(signaling new information).

2 S.v. ῥώννυμι.

3 For alphabetic numerals see table 9.18.

4 Here τόπος prob. refers to a “place” as a member of the fleet at Misenum

rather than Rome.

5 Instr. adv. ptc. (“by,” IV, 1.6).

6 καὶ ᾿γω > καὶ ἐγώ.

7 ἐὰν > ἄν.

8 οὐ μή + aor. subj. (emph. fut. neg., IV, 8).

9 Another man named Apollinarios.

10 Karalas.

11 Ptolemy and Ptolemais.

12 Heraklous.

13 Karanis.
 4.4. Memorandum to Zenon
(PGL IV, 413)

Provenance: Philadelphia, Fayum (Zenon archive). Date: 259–257 BCE.

Text: PGL IV, 413; White 8.
Structure of a Memorandum: A memorandum (ὑπόμνημα) is a letter (often
couched in the language of petition) that serves to remind the recipient to attend
to a particular business matter, whether a former or future business matter. In
some cases, the memorandum is sent by a high official to a social inferior. In
other cases, such as the letter in this section, a social equal makes the request,
with the promise of repaying the favor with another favor in kind.
In the example here, Kydippos (Κύδιππος) sends a memorandum to Zenon
(Ζήνων), whose master was Apollonios, the minister of finance (διοικητής) in
the last fifteen years of the reign of Philadelphos. When this letter was written,
Zenon was employed as the personal agent of Apollonios, transacting business
on his behalf.
Ὑπόμνημα Ζήνωνι παρὰ Κυδίππου.
Εἰ μὲν ἦν τι τῶν ὑπογεγραμμένων1 πράσιμον λαβεῖν ἐκ τοὐ ἐμπορίου,
καθάπερ οἱ ἱατροὶ συντάσσουσιν, οῦκ ἂν2 ἐνωχλοῦμεν3 ὑμᾶς· νυνὶ δὲ
γεγράφαμέν σοι ὧν χρείαν ἔχομεν, καθάπερ Ἀπολλώνιος ὤιετο δεῖν.4 εἰ οὖν
παράκειταί σοι, ἀπόστειλον ἡμῖν οἴνου τε ἢ Λεσβίου ἢ Χίου κεράμιον5 ὡς
ἡδίστου, καὶ μέλιτος μάλιστα μὲν χοῦν, εἰ δὲ μή (that much), ὅσον ἂν
ἐνδέχηται· καὶ ταρίχου τὸ σταμνίον σύνταξον ἡμῖν ἐπλῆσαι.6 τούτων γὰρ
ἀμφοτέρων πλείστην χρείαν νομίζουσιν εἶναι. ἐὰγ7 γὰρ ὑγιαίνωμεν καὶ εἰς
Βυζάντιον ἀποδημήσωμεν, ἄξομεν ὑμῖν πάλιν σπουδαῖον τάριχον.
Outside: ὑπόμνημα Κυδίππου.
Vocabulary
ἀποδημέω, travel abroad Βυζάντιον, τό, Byzantion ἐμπόριον, τό, market
center, trading station ἐνδέχομαι, accept, approve; be possible ἐνοχλέω,
trouble, annoy; pass. be disturbed, troubled ἡδύς, -εῖα, -ύ, pleasant; pleasant to
the taste/sweet, welcome; comp. ἡδίων (nom.), ἡδίω (acc.); superl. ἥδιστος, -η,
-ον, pl. ἥδιστα, most gladly, most delicious (food); most pleasant to the taste;
ἥδιστα μᾶλλον, all the more; (adv.) ἡδέως, with pleasure, gladly καθάπερ (=
καθά), just as, in the same way; in accordance with κεράμιον, -ου, τό,
earthenware jar Λέσβιος, -α, -ον, of Lesbos, Lesbian (adj.) μάλιστα, most of all,
above all, especially μέλι, -ιτος, τό, honey οἶνος, ὁ, wine οἴομαι/οἶμαι, impf.
ᾤμην/ὤιμην, 3rd sg. ᾤετο/ὤιετο: think that, suppose; feel like (+ inf.)
παράκειμαι, be ready; have available, have in stock πλείστος, -η, -ον, most,
greatest, chief πράσιμος, -ον, for sale/purchase σπουδαῖος, -α, -ον, good,
excellent σταμνάριον, τό (dim. of στάμνος, wine jar), small jar συντάσσω,
arrange for something to be done, command; prescribe (a medical treatment)
τάριχος/ον, ὁ/τό, salted/pickled fish ὑγιαίνω, be in good health ὑπογράφω,
write below ὑπόμνημα, -ματος, τό, reminder, memorandum Χῖος, -α, -ον, of
Chios, Chian (adj.)
χοῦς, ὁ, χοῦν (acc.) / χῶν (gen. pl.): chous (liquid measure = 12 κοτύλαι, or 3
quarts) χρεία, ἡ, need, necessity; practical use

Select Bibliography
Rostovtzeff, M. A Large Estate in Egypt in the Third Century B.C. Madison:
University of Wisconsin, 1922 (on the Zenon correspondence).

1 Plpf. periphr. (cf. IV, 18).

2 εἰ...ἄν... + impf., contrary-to-fact statement.

3 Kydippos uses 1st pers. pl. for 1st pers. sg. (for self-address) throughout this
letter.

4 S.v. δεῖ, pres. act. inf.

5 κεράμιον...οἴνου.

6 S.v. πίμπλημι.
7 ἐάγ > ἐάν.
 4.5. Galatians: Paul Defends His Apostleship
(Gal 1:1–2:10)

Provenance: According to the “south Galatian territorial hypothesis,” Paul’s

Letter to the Galatians was addressed to Christians living in southern Galatian,
which is to say, in the Roman administrative province of Galatia (cf. Fig. 1).
These Christians were administratively “Galatians” but most were not ethnically
Galatians (Celts).1 If this theory is correct, then the “churches of Galatia” to
whom this letter is addressed (Gal 1:2) are the churches located in the Galatian
cities of Pisidian Antioch, Ikonion, Lystra, and Derbe. These four cities were all
connected by the western part of the Augustan Highway (via Sebaste), which
began in the coastal city of Attaleia and then proceeded north.2 Indeed, if one
were to set out from the port of Attaleia and travel along this highway, one
would arrive at Pisidian Antioch, then Ikonion, and next Lystra, and one could
travel to the city of Derbe, as narrated in Acts 13–14 (§§5.1, 5.12).
Date: ca. 55–57 CE.
Text: Comfort/ Barrett (PChBeatty 46).
Epistolary Structure: The reading in this section includes a salutation (Gal
1:1–5), the body opening (Gal 1:6–14), and the first part of the body middle (Gal
1:15–2:3). In contrast to Paul’s typical style, this letter lacks a “thanksgiving”
section, which is a regular feature of ancient letters. In its place, Paul has
substituted an ironic rebuke. Clearly Paul was not feeling very thankful to the
Galatians at the time of this letter’s composition!
The opening section of the letter body (Gal 1:6–14) contains four different
body-opening epistolary formulas, marking the strategic importance of this
section: an introductory formula expressing astonishment (Θαυμάζω ὅτι, Gal
1:6–7), a request formula asking for compliance (ὡς προειρήκαμεν καὶ ἄρτι
πάλιν λέγω, Gal 1:9), a disclosure formula (γνωρίζω γὰρ ὑμῖν ὅτι, Gal 1:11),
and finally the verb ἀκούω (ἠκούσατε γὰρ, 1:13, “hearing and remembrance”
language), which prepares readers for the transition to the body middle of the
letter (Gal 1:15ff.).
I. The Salutation
The salutation is one of the most stable elements in the ancient letter. In this
letter, Paul modifies the typical salutation by using it to assert his own apostolic
authority. His defense of his apostleship is part of the overall purpose of this
letter.
Senders and Recipients 1:1 Παῦλος ἀπόστολος οὐκ ἀπʼ ἀνθρώπων οὐδὲ διʼ
ἀνθρώπου ἀλλὰ διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ θεοῦ πατρὸς τοῦ ἐγείραντος αὐτὸν
ἐκ νεκρῶν, 2 καὶ οἱ σὺν ἐμοὶ πάντες ἀδελφοὶ, ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις τῆς Γαλατίας,
Greeting 1:3 χάρις3 ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ
Χριστοῦ 4 τοῦ δόντος4 αὐτὸν περὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν, ὅπως ἐξέληται ἡμᾶς
ἐκ τοῦ αἰῶνος τοῦ ἐνεστῶτος5 πονηροῦ κατὰ τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ πατρὸς
ἡμῶν, 5 ᾧ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων, ἀμήν.
Vocabulary
ἐνίστημι, 2pf. act. ptc. ἐνεστώς, ἐνεστῶσα, ἐνεστός: be present, be impending
(at the time of writing) ἐξαιρέω, 3. ἐξεῖλον (fr. √ ἐξελ-), 2aor. mid. ἐξειλόμην,
2aor. ptc. ἐξελών: remove; mid. take away, destroy, bring to naught; rescue,

deliver, save

II. Letter Body Opening: Paul’s Ironic Rebuke

1:6 Θαυμάζω ὅτι οὕτως ταχέως μετατίθεσθε ἀπὸ τοῦ καλέσαντος ὑμᾶς ἐν
χάριτι εἰς ἕτερον εὐαγγέλιον, 7 ὃ οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλο, εἰ μή6 τινές7 εἰσιν οἱ
ταράσσοντες ὑμᾶς καὶ θέλοντες μεταστρέψαι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ Χριστοῦ. 8
ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐὰν ἡμεῖς ἢ ἄγγελος ἐξ οὐρανοῦ εὐαγγελίζηται παρʼ ὃ8
εὐηγγελισάμεθα ὑμῖν, ἀνάθεμα ἔστω.9
Vocabulary
ἀνάθεμα, -ματος, τό, votive offering; object of a curse μεταστρέφω, to
change, turn (somebody’s mind) to; pervert something μετατίθημι, put in
another place, transfer; mid. change one’s mind, turn away ταράσσω, pf. pass.
ptc. τεταραγμένος: agitate physically, pervert something; (fig.) stir up, disturb
mentally, throw into confusion; pass. be troubled, vexed; be thrown into
disorder/confusion ταχέως (adv.), quickly
1:10 Ἄρτι γὰρ ἀνθρώπους πείθω ἢ τὸν θεόν; ἢ ζητῶ ἀνθρώποις ἀρέσκειν;
εἰ10 ἔτι ἀνθρώποις ἤρεσκον, Χριστοῦ δοῦλος οὐκ ἂν ἤμην. 11 Γνωρίζω γὰρ
ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τὸ εὐαγγελισθὲν11 ὑπʼ ἐμοῦ ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν
κατὰ12 ἄνθρωπον· 12 οὐδὲ 13 γὰρ ἐγὼ παρὰ ἀνθρώπου παρέλαβον αὐτὸ οὔτε
ἐδιδάχθην, ἀλλὰ διʼ ἀποκαλύψεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. 13 Ἠκούσατε γὰρ τὴν
ἐμὴν ἀναστροφήν ποτε ἐν τῷ Ἰουδαϊσμῷ, ὅτι καθʼ ὑπερβολὴν ἐδίωκον τὴν
ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἐπόρθουν αὐτήν, 14 καὶ προέκοπτον14 ἐν τῷ
Ἰουδαϊσμῷ ὑπὲρ πολλοὺς συνηλικιώτας ἐν τῷ γένει μου, περισσοτέρως
ζηλωτὴς ὑπάρχων τῶν πατρικῶν μου παραδόσεων.
Vocabulary
ἀναστροφή, ἡ, way of life, conduct, behavior ἀποκάλυψις, ἡ, revelation
ἀρέσκω, strive to please, serve; impers. it is pleasing to somebody (w. dat.)
Ἰουδαϊσμός, -ου, ὁ, Judaism ὑπερβολή, ἡ, overshooting, superiority,
surpassing; surpassing quality, greatness; κα ὑπερβολήν, to an extraordinary
degree παραδόσις, -εως, ἡ, tradition πατρικός, -ή, -όν, from one’s forefathers,
ancestral περισσοτέρως, especially, even more, far greater (adv.) πορθέω,
destroy προκόπτω, advance συνηλικιώτης, ὁ, contemporary, of the same age

III. Letter Body Middle (Gal 1:15–4:31)

1:15 Ὅτε δὲ15 εὐδόκησεν ὁ ἀφορίσας με ἐκ κοιλίας μητρός μου16 16
ἀποκαλύψαι τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐμοί,17 ἵνα εὐαγγελίζωμαι αὐτὸν ἐν τοῖς
ἔθνεσιν, εὐθέως οὐ προσανεθέμην σαρκὶ καὶ αἵματι 17 οὐδὲ ῆλθον εἰς
Ἱεροσόλυμα πρὸς τοὺς πρὸ ἐμοῦ ἀποστόλους, ἀλλὰ ἀπῆλθον εἰς Ἀραβίαν καὶ
πάλιν ὑπέστρεψα εἰς Δαμασκόν. 18 Ἔπειτα μετὰ ἔτη τρία18 ἀνῆλθον19 εἰς
Ἱεροσόλυμα ἱστορῆσαι Κηφᾶν καὶ ἐπέμεινα πρὸς αὐτὸν ἡμέρας δεκαπέντε, 19
ἕτερον δὲ τῶν ἀποστόλων οὐκ εἶδον εἰ μὴ Ἰάκωβον τὸν ἀδελφὸν τοῦ κυρίου.
20 ἃ δὲ γράφω ὑμῖν, ἰδοὺ ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ ὅτι οὐ ψεύδομαι. 21 Ἔπειτα
ἦλθον εἰς τὰ κλίματα τῆς Συρίας καὶ τῆς Κιλικίας·20 22 ἤμην δὲ
ἀγνοούμενος21 τῷ προσώπῳ ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις τῆς Ἰουδαίας ταῖς ἐν Χριστῷ.22
23 μόνον δὲ ἀκούοντες ἦσαν23 ὅτι ὁ διώκων ἡμᾶς ποτε νῦν εὐαγγελίζεται τὴν
πίστιν ἥν ποτε ἐπόρθει, 24 καὶ ἐδόξαζον24 ἐν25 ἐμοὶ τὸν θεόν.
Vocabulary
ἀποκαλύπτω, 6. ἀπεκαλύφθην: reveal, disclose Ἀραβία, ἡ, Arabia ἀφορίζω,
separate, divide; set apart, appoint (for a purpose)
δεκαπέντε, fifteen ἔπειτα/ἔπειτεν, then, next ἐπιμένω, 3. ἐπέμεινα: remain,
stay on ἐυδοκέω, take pleasure in, be pleased with; be pleased (to do
something), consider something or somebody good Κηφᾶς, ὁ, Cephas (Aramaic
equivalent of Πέτρος, cf. Gal 2:7, 9) Κιλικία, ἡ, province of Cilicia κλίμα, -
ματος, τό, region, district πορθέω, to destroy προσανατίθημ, consult with
Συρία, ἡ, Syria ψεύδομαι, to lie
2:1 Ἔπειτα διὰ26 δεκατεσσάρων ἐτῶν πάλιν ἀνέβην εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα μετὰ
Βαρναβᾶ27 συμπαραλαβὼν καὶ Τίτον· 2 ἀνέβην δὲ28 κατὰ29 ἀποκάλυψιν· καὶ
ἀνεθέμην αὐτοῖς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ὃ κηρύσσω ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, κατʼ ἰδίαν30 δὲ
τοῖς δοκοῦσιν,31 μή πως32 εἰς κενὸν τρέχω ἢ ἔδραμον. 3 ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ Τίτος,33
Ἕλλην ὤν,34 ἠναγκάσθη περιτμηθῆναι· 4 διὰ δὲ τοὺς παρεισάκτους
ψευδαδέλφους, οἵτινες παρεισῆλθον κατασκοπῆσαι τὴν ἐλευθερίαν ἡμῶν ἣν
ἔχομεν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, ἵνα35 ἡμᾶς καταδουλώσουσιν, 5 οἷς οὐδὲ πρὸς
ὥραν36 εἴξαμεν τῇ ὑποταγῇ, ἵνα ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ εὐαγγελίου διαμείνῃ πρὸς
ὑμᾶς.
Vocabulary
ἀναγκάζω, to force, compel, urge ἀνατίθημι, 3. ἀνέθηκα, aor. mid. ἀνεθέμην,
2aor. inf. ἀναθεῖναι: refer, attribute something (acc.) to something (dat.), ascribe;

set something up; dedicate (to a god); mid. confer, lay something (acc.) before
somebody (dat.) for consideration ἀποκάλυψις, ἡ, revelation
δεκατέσσαρες, -ων, fourteen διαμένω, 3. διέμεινα: persist, remain, continue
unchanged, survive δοκέω, 3. ἔδοξα, pf. mid. inf. δεδόχθαι: think, suppose,
consider; seem to (w. inf.), regard to be (something); δοκεῖ + inf., it seems (to
somebody) that, he purportedly; εἰ δοκεῖ (w. dat.), if it pleases (somebody);
ἔδοξε/δοκεῖ, it was/is resolved (by); seem good/appropriate/best; propose/make
(a request); pass. be decided; pass. mid. inf. δεδόχθαι, “be it resolved that (re a
motion)”
εἴκω, aor. act. inf., εἶξαι: yield to somebody; give way to (a passion/impulse)
ἐλευθερία, ἡ, freedom καταδουλόω, enslave κατασκοπέω, spy on, lie in wait
for παρείσακτος, -ον, adj., brought in surreptitiously παρεισέρχομαι, intrude,
slip in περιτέμνω (Dor. περιτάμνω), pf. ptc. περιτετμηκώς, -κυῖαι, -κός, pf.
pass. ptc. περιτετμημένος: cut off; circumcise πώς (encl.), somehow, in some
way συμπαραλαμβάνω, bring/take along with ὑποταγή, ἡ, obedience,
submission, subordination ψευδαδέλφος, ὁ, false brother
2:6 Ἀπὸ δὲ τῶν δοκούντων εἶναί τι, – 37 ὁποῖοί ποτε ἦσαν οὐδέν μοι
διαφέρει· πρόσωπον ὁ θεὸς ἀνθρώπου οὐ λαμβάνει38 – ἐμοὶ γὰρ οἱ δοκοῦντες
οὐδὲν προσανέθεντο, 7 ἀλλὰ τοὐναντίον39 ἰδόντες ὅτι πεπίστευμαι40 τὸ
εὐαγγέλιον τῆς ἀκροβυστίας καθὼς Πέτρος τῆς περιτομῆς, 8 ὁ γὰρ ἐνεργήσας
Πέτρῳ εἰς41 ἀποστολὴν τῆς περιτομῆς ἐνήργησεν καὶ ἐμοὶ εἰς τὰ ἔθνη, 9 καὶ
γνόντες τὴν χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι, Ἰάκωβος καὶ Κηφᾶς καὶ Ἰωάννης, οἱ
δοκοῦντες στῦλοι εἶναι, δεξιὰς (χείρ) ἔδωκαν ἐμοὶ καὶ Βαρναβᾷ κοινωνίας,
ἵνα42 ἡμεῖς (should go) εἰς τὰ ἔθνη, αὐτοὶ δὲ εἰς τὴν περιτομήν· 10 μόνον τῶν
πτωχῶν43 ἵνα μνημονεύωμεν, ὃ καὶ ἐσπούδασα αὐτὸ τοῦτο ποιῆσαι.44
Vocabulary
ἀκροβυστία, ἡ, foreskin; fig. state of being uncircumcised ἀποστολή,
apostleship διαφέρω, carry through, spread through; (impers.) διαφέρει τινί, it
matters to somebody, it makes a difference; pass. drift about in the sea ἐνεργέω/
έομαι, be at work (in something), be operative; activate κοινωνία, ἡ,
fellowship, partnership; sexual intercourse with (πρός) μνημονεύω (+ gen.),
remember, think of; make mention of (περί) ὁποῖος, -α, -ον, of what sort, such
as περιτομή, -ῆς, ἡ, circumcision προσανατίθημι, contribute/add somebody to
somebody πτωχός, -ή, -όν, poor στῦλος, ὁ, pillar; support

1 According to this view, the expression Γαλατικὴ χώρα (Acts 18:22–23, 19:1)
would refer to the Roman province of Galatia.

2 Cf. Acts 13–14 (§§5.1, 11), Acts Paul 3:1 (§5.15); Stephen Mitchell, Anatolia,
2 vols. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993), I, 7, 70, 76–78 (map), 125.

3 The usual word “greetings” in an ancient letter was χείρειν. Paul has modified
the greeting by employing the term χάρις, which preserves the same root (√
χαρ). He then adds the Heb. greeting εἰρήνη (shalom) to express a fuller
religious greeting.

4 κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ δόντος αὐτὸν, the modifying phrase (τοῦ δόντος
αὐτὸν ...) is in the 3rd pred. pos. (cf. IV, 4.3).

5 S.v. ἐνίστημι.

6 εἰ μή is sts. used with the sense of ἀλλά (cf. Gal 2:16).

7 Probably an attributive construction (cf. IV, 4): construe τίνες as a predicate
and trans. εἰσιν impersonally (“there are some”).

8 παρ᾿ ὅ, “contrary to that which.”

9 Cf. 1 Cor 12:3 “Jesus be accursed.” PChBeatty 46 omits Gal 1:9: ὡς

προειρήκαμεν καὶ ἄρτι πάλιν λέγω· εἴ τις ὑμᾶς εὐαγγελίζεται παρʼ ὃ
παρελάβετε, ἀνάθεμα ἔστω.

10 εἰ...ἄν...provides the structure of a contrary-to-fact statement.

11 τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τὸ εὐαγγελισθὲν ὑπὸ ἐμοῦ, modifier in 2nd attrib. position

(cf. IV, 4.2). Note the prolepsis of this phrase with respect to ὅτι.

12 κατὰ ἄνθρωπόν, “in a human way,” “from a human point of view.”

13 One would expect οὐδέ...οὐδε...(“neither . . nor ...”) or οὔτε...οὔτε...., but

here we have οὔτε...ἀλλά....

14 Gal 1:13–14: note the three different uses of impf.: (1) ἐδίωκον: customary
impf. (“used to”); (2) ἐπόρθουν: conat. impf. (“tried to”); (3) προέκοπτον
(PChBeatty 46 reads ἐπροέκοπτον): prog. impf. (“was continually to”) (cf. IV,
13.1–2, 4).

15 This pivotal statement is introduced by the temporal clause ὅτε δέ, which
signals a major transition in Paul’s argument.

16 Cf. Isa 49:1; PChBeatty 46 omits καὶ καλέσας διὰ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ.

17 ἐν may mean “in” (referring to an interior ecstatic experience), or it may

denote a single case, i.e., “in my case” (cf. 1 Cor 9:15, 4:6, 15:22, 7:14; Rom
15:16).
18 I.e., three years after returning from Damascus (not three years after going to
Jerusalem).

19 One always goes “up” to Jerusalem, regardless of where one is

geographically located.

20 Remember that Paul is said to be from Tarsus in Cilicia (Acts 9:11, 21:39).

21 Impf. periphr. (cf. IV, 18).

22 ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις τῆς Ἰουδαίας ταῖς ἐν Χριστῷ, modifier in 2nd attrib. pos.
(cf. IV, 4.2).

23 Impf. periph.

24 (1) ἐπόρθει (Gal 1:23), conat. impf.; (2) ἐδόξαζον (Gal 1:24), incept. impf.
(cf. IV, 13.4–5).

25 ἐν denotes a single case (“in my case”).

26 δία + gen. meaning “after” is common in HGr authors (e.g., Matt 26:61;
Acts 24:17); here, after Paul’s second visit to Jerusalem.

27 Some proper names of Heb. derivation have genitive ending in –ᾶ.

28 In this context, δέ does not mean “but,” rather “and moreover.”

29 κατά (+ acc.), “as a result of,” “because of.”

30 κατ᾿ ἰδίαν, “in private,” “privately.”

31 τοῖς δοκοῦσιν, “to the ones who purport/suppose to be (something)” (i.e.,

Cephas, James, and John).
32 μή πως, an expression of apprehension that seeks to avert an undesired result
(“in order that somehow ... not”).

33 PChBeatty 46 omits the words ὁ σὺν ἐμοί.

34 Gal 2:3 is a notorious example of the ambiguity between the concessive

(“although”) and causal (“because”) participle. Does Paul mean that “although
(Titus) was Greek” or “because (Titus) was Greek”?

35 ἵνα + fut. ind. (instead of subj.).

36 πρὸς ὥραν, “for a time,” denoting duration.

37 Anacoluthon indicated by a long dash (―).

38 λαμβάνω πρόσωπόν τινος, lit. “I receive the face of someone,” i.e., to show
partiality.

39 τοὐναντίον > τὸ ἐναντίον.

40 Pf. pass. of πιστεύω means “to be entrusted with something.”

41 Telic εἰς (“for”).

42 ἵνα takes the place of epex. (explanatory) inf. (“namely that” ).

43 Prolepsis of τῶν πτωχῶν.

44 This is Paul’s account of how he had previously agreed at the “Jerusalem

Conference” to take up a financial collection for poor Christians in Jerusalem.
When Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, the collection was still in the organizing phase
(1 Cor 16:1–4). By the time he wrote 2 Cor 8–9, the collection was well under
way and the Corinthian Christians were in need of further encouragement.
Finally, when Paul later wrote Romans, the collection was near completion and
he was planning his third trip to Jerusalem in order to deliver the funds (Rom
15:25–32) before traveling to Spain. Thus, Paul probably visited Jerusalem a
third time in order to deliver this collection (1 Cor 16:4).
 4.6. 1 Thessalonians: Concerning Recently Deceased
Christians
(1 Thess 4:13–5:11)

Provenance: Thessaloniki.
Letter Carrier: Timothy (or Silvanus).
Date: Paul probably wrote 1 Thessalonians while residing in Corinth ca. 50–
51 CE, roughly a decade after his conversion and twenty years after the
crucifixion of Jesus.
Text: Comfort/ Barrett (Papyrus 30/ POxy 1598).
Special Features: Like 1 Corinthians, 1 Thessalonians was written in response
to specific questions from the congregation that Paul founded in Thessaloniki (1
Thess 4:1–5:11). The reading here is taken from the parenetic section (1 Thess
4:1–5:22) of this letter.
4:13 Οὐ θέλομεν δὲ ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν,1 ἀδελφοί, περὶ τῶν κοιμωμένων, ἵνα μὴ
λυπῆσθε καθὼς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ οἱ μὴ ἔχοντες ἐλπίδα.2 14 εἰ γὰρ πιστεύομεν ὅτι
Ἰησοῦς ἀπέθανεν καὶ ἀνέστη, οὕτως καὶ ὁ θεὸς τοὺς κοιμηθέντας διὰ τοῦ
Ἰησοῦ ἄξει σὺν αὐτῷ. 15 Τοῦτο γὰρ ὑμῖν λέγομεν ἐν λόγῳ κυρίου,3 ὅτι ἡμεῖς
οἱ ζῶντες οἱ περιλειπόμενοι εἰς4 τὴν παρουσίαν τοῦ κυρίου οὐ μὴ φθάσωμεν5
τοὺς κοιμηθέντας· 16 ὅτι αὐτὸς ὁ κύριος ἐν κελεύσματι, ἐν φωνῇ ἀρχαγγέλου
καὶ ἐν σάλπιγγι θεοῦ, καταβήσεται ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ καὶ οἱ νεκροὶ ἐν Χριστῷ
ἀναστήσονται πρῶτον, 17 ἔπειτα ἡμεῖς οἱ ζῶντες οἱ περιλειπόμενοι ἅμα σὺν
αὐτοῖς ἁρπαγησόμεθα ἐν νεφέλαις εἰς ἀπάντησιν τοῦ κυρίου εἰς ἀέρα· καὶ
οὕτως πάντοτε σὺν κυρίῳ ἐσόμεθα. 18 Ὥστε παρακαλεῖτε ἀλλήλους ἐν τοῖς
λόγοις τούτοις.
Vocabulary

ἀγνοέω, not know (something), be ignorant of; pass. not be

known/recognized ἀήρ, ἀέρος, ὁ, air, atmosphere ἅμα, together with (w.
dat.); (adv.) at the same time, when; all at once ἁρπάζω, 2aor. pass.
 ἡρπάγην, 2aor. ptc. ἁρπαγείς, fut. pass. ἁρπαγησόμαι: seize by force, take
up (to heaven) ἀρχάγγελος, ὁ, archangel ἔπειτα/ἔπειτεν, then, next
κέλευσμα, -ματος, τό, command πάντοτε, always (adv.) παρουσία, ἡ,
coming, arrival (contrasting ἀπουσία); technical term for the second
“coming” of Christ; (personal) presence περιλείπομαι, remain, survive (cf.
1 Thess 4:17) σάλπιγξ, -ιγγος, ἡ, trumpet

5:1 Περὶ δὲ6 τῶν χρόνων καὶ τῶν καιρῶν, ἀδελφοί, οὐ χρείαν ἔχετε (for
me) ὑμῖν γράφεσθαι, 2 αὐτοὶ7 γὰρ ἀκριβῶς οἴδατε ὅτι8 ἡμέρα κυρίου9 ὡς
κλέπτης ἐν νυκτὶ10 οὕτως ἔρχεται. 3 ὅταν λέγωσιν·11 εἰρήνη καὶ ἀσφάλεια, τό
αἰφνίδιος αὐτοῖς ἐφίσταται ὄλεθρος ὥσπερ ἡ ὠδὶν τῇ ἐν γαστρὶ ἐχούσῃ,12
καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐκφύγωσιν.13 4 ὑμεῖς δέ, ἀδελφοί, οὐκ ἐστὲ ἐν σκότει,14 ἵνα15 ἡ
ἡμέρα ὑμᾶς ὡς κλέπτης καταλάβῃ· 5 πάντες γὰρ ὑμεῖς υἱοὶ φωτός16 ἐστε καὶ
υἱοὶ ἡμέρας. Οὐκ ἐσμὲν νυκτὸς οὐδὲ σκότους· 6 ἄρα οὖν μὴ καθεύδωμεν17
ὡς οἱ λοιποὶ ἀλλὰ γρηγορῶμεν καὶ νήφωμεν. 7 Οἱ γὰρ καθεύδοντες νυκτὸς18
καθεύδουσιν καὶ οἱ μεθυσκόμενοι νυκτὸς μεθύουσιν· 8 ἡμεῖς δὲ ἡμέρας19
ὄντες20 νήφωμεν ἐνδυσάμενοι θώρακα πίστεως21 καὶ ἀγάπης καὶ
περικεφαλαίαν22 ἐλπίδα σωτηρίας·23 9 ὅτι οὐκ ἔθετο24 ὁ θεὸς εἰς25 ὀργὴν
ἀλλὰ εἰς περιποίησιν σωτηρίας διὰ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ 10 τοῦ
ἀποθανόντος ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν πάντων,26 ἵνα27 εἴτε γρηγορῶμεν εἴτε28 καθεύδωμεν
ἅμα σὺν αὐτῷ ζήσωμεν. 11 Διὸ παρακαλεῖτε ἀλλήλους καὶ οἰκοδομεῖτε εἷς
τὸν ἕνα,29 καθὼς καὶ ποιεῖτε.
Vocabulary

αἰφνίδιος, sudden; adv. suddenly ἀκριβῶς, accurately, careful(ly)

ἀσφάλεια, ἡ, safety; safeguarding/security of a structure γρηγορέω, wake
up; be alert, watchful; watch over (ἐπί) ἐκφεύγω, 2aor. ἐξέφυγον: to
escape ἐφίστημι, pres. mid. ἐφίσταμαι, 3. ἐπέστησα/ἐπέστην, aor. ptc.
ἐπιστάς, -άντος, 4. ἐφέστηκα: stand on/near, stand beside (+ παρά);
approach; come upon, attack; mid. (intrans.), come upon somebody (+ dat.),
overtake somebody καθεύδω, to sleep; die; have sex with (πρός) somebody
κλέπτης, -ου, ὁ, thief μεθύσκω, 3. ἐμέθυσα: make somebody drunk; pass.
become drunk νήφω, exercise self-control (cf. 5:8) ὄλεθρος, -ου, ὁ,
destruction περικεφαλαία, ἡ, helmet περιποίησις, -εως, ἡ, acquisition,
obtaining (+ gen.) χρεία, ἡ, need, necessity; practical use
1 Οὐ θέλομεν δὲ ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν is an epistolary disclosure formula.

2 οἱ λοιπὸ οἱ μὴ ἔχοντες ἐλπίδα, note 2nd attrib. pos. of modifier (IV, 4.2).

3 I.e., as taught by the Lord.

4 Temp. εἰς (“until”).

5 οὐ μή + aor. subj. (emph. fut. neg., cf. IV, 8).

6 περὶ δέ (w. gen.) is an epistolary disclosure formula. It indicates that Paul is

telling the Thessalonians something new (i.e., information that was not part of
his original preaching to them). Paul does not actually answer the Thessalonians’
question about the precise date (“when”) of Christ’s parousia. In fact, he
actually deflects interest away from calendric time by focusing on “kairotic”
time. This redirection of the Thessalonians’ question is apparent in 1 Thess 5:2:
instead of answering their “when” question, Paul answers a “how” question. He
explains how the Thessalonian Christians should live in the days prior to Christ’s
parousia.

7 αὐτοί intensifies the implied subject of οἴδατε.

8 οἴδατε ὅτι, epistolary disclosure formula.

9 ἡμέρα κυρίου, i.e., the apocalyptic day of judgment when the Son of Man
will reveal himself (cf. 2 Thess 1:10, §4.12).

10 Dat. of time (cf. IV, 5.2).

11 Pres. subj. is durative in function.

12 I.e., ἡ ὠδὶν ἐπίσταται (“as labor pains come upon”) τῇ ἐν γαστρὶ ἐχούσῃ
(“a [women] who has them in [her] womb”); the combination of an article with a
fm. dat. ptc. (ἐχούσῃ) creates a subst.

13 οὐ μή + aor. subj. (emph. fut. neg., cf. IV, 8).

14 Gen. of quality (i.e., of the realm of evil and sin).

15 ἵνα is used here to express result instead of purpose.

16 υἱοὶ φωτός, gen. of quality; light and day are here equated with right moral
behavior.

17 Three hort. subjunctives: καθεύδωμεν, γρηγορῶμεν, νήφωμε (cf. IV, 12).

18 Gen. of time.

19 Cf. υἱὸς φωτός (Gal 5:4).

20 ὄντες is a causal adv. ptc. (“because”).

21 Epex. gen.

22 Acc. of spec. (“as,” “for”).

23 Epex. gen.

24 Aor. mid. (ἔ-θε-το), here “to appoint.”

25 Telic εἰς (“for”).

26 διὰ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ ἀποθανόντος ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν: i.e.,
ἀποθανόντος ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν is in 2nd attrib. pos. modifying κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ
Χριστοῦ.

27 ἵνα (as above) expressing result, not purpose.

28 εἴτε... εἴτε... (“whether ... or ...”).

29 εἷς τὸν ἕνα, Semitism for ἀλλήλους.

 4.7. 1 Corinthians: Potential in Weakness

(1 Cor 1:18–2:5)
Fig. 7. Temple of Apollo, ancient Corinth (photo: author).

While living in Ephesos, Paul received news from the Corinthian church in three
different forms. First, Paul received an unofficial delegation from Corinth, which
he refers to as “Chloe’s people” (1 Cor 1:11). Second, he received an official
oral report from three visitors, Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaïcus, who were
probably church leaders (1 Cor 16:15–18). Third, Stephanas presented Paul with
an official letter from the church containing many questions.
Though the pagan writer Celsus criticized the Christianity of his day for
attracting “the foolish, dishonourable and stupid, and only slaves, women and
little children,” Origen countered by quoting Paul’s words in 1 Cor 1:26. Origen
points out that Paul does not say that “none were wise according to the flesh” but
that “not many were wise according to worldly standards, not many were
powerful, not many were of noble birth.”1 Building on this insight, recent
scholarship has argued that among the first of Paul’s converts in Corinth were a
small, but influential number of Christians of high social status.2 The emerging
consensus is that the Corinthian church actually reflected a cross-section of
urban society. While the majority of members came from the urban poor, a small
group of influential members belonged to the upper classes.3
The reading in this section is taken from Paul’s response to the oral report to
Chloe’s people, which is found in 1 Cor 1–4. Chloe’s people complained to Paul
about internal discord in the Corinthian congregation (1:10–11). Thus the first
major theme that Paul takes up in this letter concerns these social divisions
(σχίσματα). The cause of these divisions seems to have had a social basis,
namely rivalry, jealousy, and strife (3:3–4). Various teachers had become
rallying points for divisions in the congregation (cf. 1 Cor 1:12).
Letter Carrier: Stephenanas.
Date: ca. 53–54 CE.
1:18 Ὁ λόγος γὰρ ὁ τοῦ σταυροῦ4 τοῖς ἀπολλυμένοις5 μωρία ἐστίν, τοῖς δὲ
σῳζομένοις ἡμῖν δύναμις θεοῦ ἐστιν. 19 γέγραπται γάρ· ἀπολῶ τὴν σοφίαν
τῶν σοφῶν καὶ τὴν σύνεσιν τῶν συνετῶν ἀθετήσω (Isa 29:14). 20 ποῦ σοφός;
ποῦ γραμματεύς; ποῦ συνζητητὴς τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου; οὐχὶ6 ἐμώρανεν ὁ θεὸς
τὴν σοφίαν τοῦ κόσμου; 21 ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ἔγνω ὁ
κόσμος διὰ τῆς σοφίας τὸν θεόν, εὐδόκησεν ὁ θεὸς διὰ τῆς μωρίας τοῦ
κηρύγματος σῶσαι τοὺς πιστεύοντας· 22 ἐπειδὴ καὶ Ἰουδαῖοι σημεῖα αἰτοῦσιν
καὶ Ἕλληνες σοφίαν ζητοῦσιν, 23 ἡμεῖς δὲ κηρύσσομεν Χριστὸν
ἐσταυρωμένον,7 Ἰουδαίοις μὲν σκάνδαλον, ἔθνεσιν δὲ μωρίαν, 24 αὐτοῖς δὲ
τοῖς κλητοῖς, Ἰουδαίοις τε8 καὶ Ἕλλησιν, Χριστὸς (is) θεοῦ δύναμις καὶ θεοῦ
σοφία· 25 ὅτι τὸ μωρὸν τοῦ θεοῦ σοφώτερον9 τῶν10 ἀνθρώπων.11
Vocabulary
ἀθετέω, reject, ignore, set aside αἰτέω/έομαι, ask, beg; make a request ἐπειδή,
since, because; after ἐυδοκέω, be pleased (to do something); consider
something or somebody good καταργέω, deactivate, render ineffective, make
powerless (contrasting ἐνεργῶ); release from, estrange from κήρυγμα, τὸ
preaching (cf. 2:4) κλητός, -ή, -όν, called (adj.) μωραίνω, 1aor. ἐμώρανα:
show that something is foolish μωρία, -ας, ἡ, foolishness
ποῦ, where?
σημεῖον, τό, sign, token; a marking (on approved sacrificial animals); pl. stripes
σκάνδαλον, -ου, τό, obstacle, that which causes one to stumble σύνεσις, -εως,
ἡ, understanding, discernment συνετός, -ή, -όν, intelligent, discerning
συνζητητής, -ου, ἡ, debater
1:26 Βλέπετε 12 γὰρ τὴν κλῆσιν13 ὑμῶν, ἀδελφοί, ὅτι οὐ πολλοὶ σοφοὶ
κατὰ σάρκα,14 οὐ πολλοὶ δυνατοί, οὐ πολλοὶ εὐγενεῖς· 27 ἀλλὰ τὰ μωρὰ15 τοῦ
κόσμου ἐξελέξατο16 ὁ θεός, ἵνα καταισχύνῃ τοὺς σοφούς, 28 καὶ τὰ ἀσθενῆ
17τοῦ κόσμου ἐξελέξατο18 ὁ θεός, ἵνα καταισχύνῃ τὰ ἰσχυρά, καὶ τὰ ἀγενῆ

τοῦ κόσμου καὶ τὰ ἐξουθενημένα ἐξελέξατο ὁ θεός, τὰ μὴ ὄντα,19 ἵνα

καταργήσῃ τὰ ὄντα, 29 ὅπως μὴ καυχήσηται πᾶσα σὰρξ ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ. 30
ἐξ αὐτοῦ20 δὲ ὑμεῖς21 ἐστε ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, ὃς ἐγενήθη σοφία ἡμῖν ἀπὸ
θεοῦ, δικαιοσύνη22 τε καὶ ἁγιασμὸς καὶ ἀπολύτρωσις, 31 ἵνα, καθὼς
γέγραπται· ὁ καυχώμενος ἐν κυρίῳ καυχάσθω (Jer 9:22–23).
Vocabulary
ἀγενής, -ές, insignificant, inferior ἁγιασμός, -οῦ, ὁ, dedication, sanctification
ἀπολύτρωσις, ἡ, setting free, deliverance, redemption, manumission ἀσθενής, -
ές, weak, helpless εὐγενής, -ές, of noble birth, high social status καταισχύνω,
humiliate, shame, disgrace καυχάομαι, boast; take pride in κλῆσις, ἡ, calling,
vocation μωρός, -ά, -όν, foolish, stupid; subst. foolish thing
2:1 Κἀγὼ ἐλθὼν23 πρὸς ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, ἦλθον οὐ καθʼ ὑπεροχὴν λόγου ἢ
σοφίας καταγγέλλων ὑμῖν τὸ μυστήριον τοῦ θεοῦ. 2 οὐ γὰρ ἔκρινά τι εἰδέναι24
ἐν ὑμῖν εἰ μὴ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν καὶ τοῦτον ἐσταυρωμένον. 3 κἀγὼ ἐν
ἀσθενείᾳ καὶ ἐν φόβῳ καὶ ἐν τρόμῳ πολλῷ ἐγενόμην πρὸς25 ὑμᾶς,26 4 καὶ ὁ
λόγος μου καὶ τὸ κήρυγμά μου (were) οὐκ ἐν πειθοῖς σοφίας λόγοις27 ἀλλʼ ἐν
ἀποδείξει πνεύματος καὶ δυνάμεως, 5 ἵνα ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν μὴ ᾖ ἐν σοφίᾳ
ἀνθρώπων ἀλλʼ ἐν δυνάμει θεοῦ.28
Vocabulary
ἀπόδειξις, -εως, ἡ, proof, demonstration ἀσθένεια, ἡ, weakness, illness
καταγγέλλω, announce, preach μυστήριον, τό, a secret, mystery πειθός, -ή, -
όν, persuasive, skillful ὑπεροχή, ἡ, pre-eminence; state of superiority, καθʼ
ὑπεροχὴν, with superior (+ gen.)

1 Origen, contra Celsus 3.44.

2 David G. Horrell, The Social Ethos of the Corinthian Correspondence:

Interests and Ideology from 1 Corinthians to 1 Clement (Edinburgh: T & T
Clark, 1996), 193, 195.
3 For example, 1 Cor 11:17–34 shows that some could afford lavish amounts of
food and drink, in contrast to the ‘have-nots’; 1 Cor 6:1–8 reveals that some
were pursuing cases of litigation, a procedure most likely to be initiated by those
with wealth and status; Paul’s description of their abundance in 2 Cor 8:14 is
contrasted with the poverty of the Macedonian believers (2 Cor 8:2); Erastus was
appointed city treasurer (quaestor, Rom 16:23) and was probably a person of
wealth and social position; this same person seems to have been promoted to the
position of aedile (Horrell, Social Ethos, 197, cf. 193).

4 ὁ λόγος ... ὁ τοῦ σταυροῦ, modifier in 2nd attrib. pos. (cf. IV, 4.2).

5 Mid. subst. ptc., τοῖς ... ἀπολλυμένοις. The double λλ occurs only in the pres.
tense of this verb. Since this is an athematic verb in the present tense, no
connecting vowel is used.

6 οὐχί introduces a question anticipating the answer “yes.”

7 Fifth principal part of σταυρόω is ἐσταύρωμαι.

8 τε is postpositive.

9 The suffixes -τερος and –τερον turn an adjective into comparative (which
takes the gen.).

10 Gen. of comp. (“than”).

11 PChBeatty 46 omits ἐστὶν καὶ τὸ ἀσθενὲς τοῦ θεοῦ ἰσχυρότερον τῶν

ἀνθρώπων.

12 βλέπετε, here “regard, consider.”

13 κλῆσις here refers to the act of calling, not to the state of being called.

14 κατὰ σάρκα, “humanly speaking,” “in human estimation.”

15 The use of the nt. for human beings emphasizes the attribute.

16 S.v. ἐκλέγω.

17 Follows the same paradigm as ἀληθής.

18 S.v. ἐκλέγω, ἐκ-becomes ἐξ-before an augment (ε).

19 τὰ μὴ ὄντα, “things regarded as nothing,” “lowly things.”

20 “From this,” (i.e., God’s act of choosing) (cf. 1 Cor 1:24, 3:23).

21 Emphatic.

22 The following three nouns are examples of metonymy (i.e., the use of an
abstract term for a term that is more concrete). Paul employs metonymy
elsewhere, describing Christ as a “curse” (Gal 3:13, §4.15) and as “sin” (Rom
8:3), and he names the Jews and Gentiles using the abstract terms
“circumcision” and “uncircumcision.”

23 When an adv. aor. ptc. is formed from the same verb as the finite verb in the
sentence (as it is here), it should be translated as simultaneous action (“when
...”).

24 Cf. table 9.5.

25 πρός, “with.”

26 This is probably a reference to Paul’s illness at the time of his founding visit.

27 πειθοῖς...λόγοις (disc. syn.).

28 Paul seems to be referring to apparent miracles and ecstatic phenomena.

 4.8. 1 Corinthians: On Slavery and Freedom,
Marriage and Celibacy
(1 Cor 7:17–31)

As previously noted, while living in Ephesos, Paul also received an official oral
report from Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaïcus (1 Cor 16:15–18). They also
presented Paul with an official letter from the Corinthian church. This letter
contained many questions. Paul attempted to answer these questions in 1 Cor
7:1–16:2. This new section of the letter begins with the phrase “now concerning”
(περὶ δὲ + gen.) (1 Cor 7:1). This is a small-scale epistolary formula, indicating
that Paul is replying to one of these written questions. The formula “now
concerning ...” occurs six times in the last ten chapters of 1Corinthians. In each
case, Paul is responding to written questions of the Corinthians. Thus 1 Cor 7:1–
40 begins with the words “Now concerning the matters about which you
wrote....” The first of these questions concerns marriage and celibacy (1 Cor
7:1–40). The reading in this section begins with Paul’s discussion of marriage
(7:1–24), which includes a discussion of the manumission of slaves (7:21–24).
Paul then turns his attention to the subject of the unmarried (“now concerning
virgins,” 7:25–38).
Related Texts: On early Christian understandings of female celibacy, see Acts
of Paul (§§5.9, 5.15), Acts of Andrew (§5.16), and Acts of Thomas (§5.10); on
redemption/manumission, see manumission inscriptions (§§7.8, 7.19).
7:17 Εἰ μὴ1 ἑκάστῳ ὡς ἐμέρισεν ὁ κύριος, ἕκαστον2 ὡς κέκληκεν ὁ θεός,
οὕτως περιπατείτω. καὶ οὕτως ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις πάσαις διατάσσομαι. 18
περιτετμημένος τις ἐκλήθη, μὴ ἐπισπάσθω· ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ κέκληταί τις, μὴ
περιτεμνέσθω. 19 ἡ περιτομὴ οὐδέν ἐστιν καὶ ἡ ἀκροβυστία οὐδέν ἐστιν,
ἀλλὰ3 τήρησις ἐντολῶν θεοῦ. 20 ἕκαστος ἐν τῇ κλήσει ᾗ ἐκλήθη, ἐν ταύτῃ
μενέτω.4 21 δοῦλος5 ἐκλήθης, μή σοι μελέτω· ἀλλʼ εἰ καὶ6 δύνασαι ἐλεύθερος
γενέσθαι, μᾶλλον7 χρῆσαι. 22 ὁ γὰρ ἐν κυρίῳ κληθεὶς δοῦλος8 ἀπελεύθερος
κυρίου ἐστίν, ὁμοίως ὁ ἐλεύθερος9 κληθεὶς δοῦλός Χριστοῦ ἐστιν. 23 τιμῆς
ἠγοράσθητε· μὴ γίνεσθε δοῦλοι ἀνθρώπων. 24 ἕκαστος ἐν ᾧ10 ἐκλήθη,
ἀδελφοί, ἐν τούτῳ11 μενέτω παρὰ12 θεῷ.
Vocabulary

ἀγοράζω (+ gen.), buy (with), ransom (with) ἀκροβυστία, ἡ, foreskin;

fig. state of being uncircumcised ἀπελεύθερος, ὁ, freedman (i.e., an
emancipated slave) διατάσσομαι, instruct, give instructions ἐλεύθερος, -
έρα, -ον, free; subst. freeman, freewoman ἐπισπάω, be responsible for
bringing something on/making something happen; pull the foreskin over the
head of the penis (in order to hide the marks of circumcision) κλῆσις, ἡ, a
calling, vocation περιτέμνω (Dor. περιτάμνω), pf. ptc. περιτετμηκώς, -
κυῖαι, -κός, pf. pass. ptc. περιτετμημένος: cut off; circumcise περιτομή, -
ῆς, ἡ, circumcision τήρησις, ἡ, observance, keeping (a law) τιμή, -ῆς, ἡ,
honor, pl. honors; price/cost, value; (gen.), at a price of

7:25 Περὶ δὲ13 τῶν παρθένων ἐπιταγὴν κυρίου οὐκ ἔχω, γνώμην δὲ δίδωμι
ὡς14 ἠλεημένος ὑπὸ κυρίου πιστὸς15 εἶναι. 26 Νομίζω οὖν τοῦτο16 καλὸν
ὑπάρχειν διὰ τὴν ἐνεστῶσαν17 ἀνάγκην,18 ὅτι καλὸν ἀνθρώπῳ τὸ οὕτως
εἶναι.19 27 δέδεσαι20 γυναικί, μὴ ζήτει λύσιν· λέλυσαι ἀπὸ γυναικός, μὴ ζήτει
γυναῖκα. 28 ἐὰν δὲ καὶ γαμήσῃς, οὐχ ἥμαρτες,21 καὶ ἐὰν γήμῃ ἡ παρθένος,
οὐχ ἥμαρτεν· θλῖψιν δὲ τῇ σαρκὶ22 ἕξουσιν οἱ τοιοῦτοι, ἐγὼ δὲ ὑμῶν
φείδομαι (this). 29 Τοῦτο δέ φημι, ἀδελφοί, ὁ καιρὸς συνεσταλμένος ἐστίν·23
τὸ λοιπόν, ἵνα καὶ οἱ ἔχοντες24 γυναῖκας ὡς μὴ25 ἔχοντες ὦσιν, 30 καὶ οἱ
κλαίοντες ὡς μὴ κλαίοντες, καὶ οἱ χαίροντες ὡς μὴ χαίροντες, οἱ ἀγοράζοντες
ὡς μὴ κατέχοντες, 31 καὶ οἱ χρώμενοι τὸν κόσμον ὡς μὴ καταχρώμενοι·
παράγει γὰρ τὸ σχῆμα τοῦ κόσμου τούτου.
Vocabulary

γνώμη, ἡ, intention, purpose; resolution, decision; preliminary resolution

(of a city council); opinion ἐλεέω, be merciful; feel pity; pass. be shown
mercy ἐνίστημι, pf. act. ptc. ἐνεστώς, ἑστῶσα, ἑστός: be present, be
impending (at the time of writing) ἐπιταγή, ἡ, command, order
καταχράομαι, make full use of something (dat.), have full ownership of
something λύσις, ἡ, a releasing; divorce; breaking (of spells);
interpretation; solution (of a riddle) συστέλλω, mid. inf. συστέλλεσθαι,
1aor. act. συνέστειλα, pf. pass. ptc. συνεσταλμένος: fold up/furl a sail;

humiliate; mid. be discouraged; pass. (of time), grow shorter

 σχῆμα, -ματος, τό, bodily form, shape; looks, outward appearance; a way
of life; the character or property of a thing; style ὑπάρχω, impf. ὑπῆρχον:
exist, be present, to be; belong to; possess; subst. τὰ ὑπάρχοντα,
possessions, property φείδομαι, spare somebody from something, refrain
from

Select Bibliography
Instone-Brewer, David. “1 Corinthians 7 in the Light of the Graeco-Roman
Marriage and Divorce Papyri.” Tyndale Bulletin 52/1 (2001), 101–115.

1 εἰ μή is sometimes used where one would expect ἀλλά (e.g., Gal 1:7, 19,
2:16; Rom 14:14; Mark 6:5; Luke 4:25–27; Rev 21:27).

2 Prolep. of ἕκαστον.

3 “But (what counts is)....”

4 Before his conversion, Paul was involved in the tent-making industry.

According to Acts 20:34, Paul was involved in a “guild” of tent makers (cf. 1
Thess 2:9; 2 Thess 3:8). When he arrived in Corinth for the first time, he
maintained this way of life, working as a tent maker within a guild of craftsmen.
This is why Paul states, “We labor, working with our own hands” (1 Cor 4: 12).

5 “You, as slave....”

6 εἰ καί (“even though/if”).

7 μᾶλλον can convey the sense of “instead”/”rather” or “by all means,” two
translations that produce very different meanings in this verse.

8 ὁ...δοῦλος.
9 The article ὁ turns the adj. ἐλεύθερος into a noun.

10 Supply “condition”/”state.”

11 ἐν ᾧ...ἐν τούτῳ, “in which (situation) ... in that (situation)....”

12 παρά, “with.”

13 περὶ δέ (+ gen.) is an epistolary disclosure formula signaling that Paul is

responding to a question in the letter he received from the Corinthians.

14 ὡς + ptc. here supplies the reason for an action (“as one who ...”).

15 The adj. πιστός refers to Paul.

16 Points forward to ὅτι.

17 For pf. act. ptc. of ἵστημι (cf. table 9.12.5).

18 ἀνάγκη is an apocalyptic term, i.e., the parousia.

19 The syntax of this sentence is unclear: prob. “(I think this [τοῦτο] ...), ὅτι
(that) τὸ οὕτως εἶναι (art. inf., either “to remain as one is” or “to remain as I
am”) (is) καλόν (predicate of art. inf.).

20 S.v. δέω (1).

21 Proleptic aor., “you will not have sinned.”

22 τῇ σαρκί, “in (the outward side of) life,” “in this earthly life.”

23 Pf. periphr. (cf. IV, 18).

24 οἱ ἔχοντες, οἱ κλαίοντες, οἱ χαίροντες, οἱ ἀγοράζοντες, οἱ χρώμενοι: subst.
use of participles (i.e., article turns ptc. into a noun).

25 Paul repeats the formula ὡς μή (“as not”) five times, by which he

emphasizes that the Christian calling revokes one’s prior way of life as an “as
not.” Paul uses the words “as not” rather than “as if.” In other words, he is not
saying that one should pretend “as if” the world is somehow different than it
really is, nor is he saying that one can ignore the facts of one’s material existence
without penalty. Indeed, for the most part, slaves remain slaves and masters
remain masters. People still have husbands and wives; they still weep and
rejoice; they still buy things and make use of them. These facts of daily life in
the world remain operative. Nonetheless, the “as not” of the Christian calling
means that one’s life does not receive its final significance in these things.
Instead, the way in which one lives out one’s calling redefines one’s relations to
the world and the significance of the world for one’s life. To treat one’s relations
to the world “as not” means that the conditions of one’s life (e.g., married or
unmarried, circumcised or uncircumcised, slave or free) no longer determine
one’s character and manner of living in the world.
 4.9. 2 Corinthians: Paul’s Ecstatic Journey to the
Third Heaven
(2 Cor 12:1–10)

Date: ca. 55–58 CE.

Text: Comfort/ Barrett (PChBeatty 46).
Special Features: 2 Corinthians is composed of at least four separate letters:

2 Cor 1–7 (excluding 2 Cor 6:14–7:1), a letter of reconcilation after Paul`s

painful visit;1
2 Cor 8–9, a letter of encouragement regarding the collection for
Jerusalem;2
2 Cor 10–13, a polemical letter against the “superative apostles”3 and
Paul’s own self-defense in terms of “weakness”; and
2 Cor 6:14–7:1.4

In the decade following the death of Paul, his letters to various churches were
collected and assembled into a kind of corpus. When these letters were recopied,
it is likely that the formulaic introductory and concluding sections of some of
them were deleted. They were then combined with other letters addressed to the
same church. Thus 2 Cor 10:1–12:13 probably preserves the body of a letter that
was originally longer, including its original saluation and thanksgiving.5
The reading in this section is take from 10:1–12:13. In the reading, Paul
describes his mystical ascent into “Paradise,” which was located in the “third
heaven,” though even Paul himself cannot decide whether this voyage took place
in his body or out of his body (cf. Gal 1:15–16, 1 Cor 15:8).6
12:1 Καυχᾶσθαι δεῖ, οὐ συμφέρον7 μέν,8 ἐλεύσομαι δὲ εἰς9 ὀπτασίας καὶ
ἀποκαλύψεις κυρίου.10 2 οἶδα ἄνθρωπον11 ἐν Χριστῷ πρὸ12 ἐτῶν
δεκατεσσάρων, εἴτε13 ἐν σώματι οὐκ οἶδα, εἴτε ἐκτὸς τοῦ σώματος οὐκ οἶδα –
ὁ θεὸς οἶδεν – ἁρπαγέντα τὸν τοιοῦτον ἕως τρίτου οὐρανοῦ.14 3 καὶ οἶδα τὸν
τοιοῦτον ἄνθρωπον, εἴτε ἐν σώματι εἴτε χωρὶς τοῦ σώματος οὐκ οἶδα – ὁ θεὸς
οἶδεν – 4 ὅτι ἡρπάγη εἰς τὸν παράδεισον καὶ ἤκουσεν ἄρρητα ῥήματα ἃ οὐκ
ἐξὸν15 ἀνθρώπῳ λαλῆσαι.
Vocabulary
ἀποκάλυψις, ἡ, revelation ἁρπάζω, 6. ἡρπάγην, 2aor. pass. ptc. ἁρπαγείς, fut.
pass. ἁρπαγησόμαι: snatch away, seize by force, take up (to heaven) ἄρρητος, -
ον, ineffable, inexpressible ἀσθένεια, ἡ, weakness, illness καυχάομαι, boast,
take pride in ὀπτασία, -ας, ἡ, ecstatic vision
συμφέρω, help, be advantageous; bring together, collect; (impers.) it is
useful/good/best; subst. nt. ptc. (τὸ) συμφέρον, what is useful/best/beneficial;
the welfare χωρίς/χωρὶς ἤ (+ gen.), except for, apart from
12:5 ὑπὲρ τοῦ τοιούτου καυχήσομαι, ὑπὲρ δὲ ἐμαυτοῦ οὐδὲν καυχήσομαι εἰ
μὴ ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαις. 6 Ἐὰν γὰρ θέλω καυχήσομαι, οὐκ ἔσομαι ἄφρων,
ἀλήθειαν γὰρ ἐρῶ·16 φείδομαι δέ, μή17 τις εἰς ἐμὲ λογίσηται ὑπὲρ ὃ βλέπει με
(to be) ἢ ἀκούει τι ἐξ ἐμοῦ 7 καὶ18 τῇ19 ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων.20 ἵνα
μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι, ἐδόθη μοι σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί, ἄγγελος σατανᾶ,21 ἵνα με
κολαφίζῃ, ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι. 8 ὑπὲρ τούτου τρὶς τὸν κύριον παρεκάλεσα ἵνα
ἀποστῇ22 ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ. 9 καὶ εἴρηκέν23 μοι· ἀρκεῖ σοι ἡ χάρις μου, ἡ γὰρ δύναμις
ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ τελεῖται. Ἤδιστα24 οὖν μᾶλλον καυχήσομαι ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαις
μου, ἵνα ἐπισκηνώσῃ ἐπʼ ἐμὲ ἡ δύναμις τοῦ Χριστοῦ. 10 διὸ εὐδοκῶ ἐν
ἀσθενείαις, ἐν ὕβρεσιν, ἐν ἀνάγκαις, ἐν διωγμοῖς καὶ στενοχωρίαις, ὑπὲρ
Χριστοῦ· ὅταν γὰρ ἀσθενῶ, τότε δυνατός εἰμι.
Vocabulary
ἀρκέω (+ dat.), be enough for; be satisfied with, be self-sufficient for ἄφρων, -
ονος (m./fm.), -ον (nt.), foolish, unlearned (contrasting φρόνιμος) ἐπισκηνόω,
come to rest upon ἡδύς, -εῖα (fm.), -ύ (nt.), pleasant; pleasant to the taste,
sweet; superl. ἥδιστος, -η, -ον, ἥδιστα, most gladly, most delicious (food); most
pleasant to the taste; ἡδέως (adv.), with pleasure, gladly; ἥδιστα μᾶλλον, all the
more κολαφίζω, to torment παρακαλέω, beg, request; urge, encourage; console,
comfort; appeal to σκόλοψ, -λοπος, ὁ, something pointed that causes an injury
(e.g. a thorn, stake)25
τελέω, 6. ἐτελέσθην, pf. pass. ptc. τετελεσμένος: finish, complete, fulfill;
perfect; initate (into a mystery religion); pass. be accomplished τρίς, three times
στενοχωρία, -ας, ἡ, difficulty, distress ὕβρις, -εως, ἡ, damage; act of insolence,
insolence; pl. insults ὑπεραίρομαι, become too elated
Select Bibliography
Callan, Terence. “Prophecy and Ecstacy in Greco-Roman Religion and in 1
Corinthians.” NovT 27 (1985), 125–140.
Tabor, James D. Things Unutterable: Paul’s Ascent to Paradise in Its Greco-
Roman, Judaic, and Early Christian Contexts. Lanham, MD, Univeristy of
America Press, 1986.

1 Following his visit to Corinth, Timothy returned to Ephesos with news of the
failure of 1 Corinthians and of growing opposition to Paul (cf. 1 Cor 16:11; cf. 2
Cor 2:5, 10). This prompted Paul to make an unplanned visit to Corinth directly
from Ephesos. This second visit was so disastrous for Paul that he later refers to
it as his “painful” visit (2 Cor 2:1–2). At this time, opposition to Paul in Corinth
was at its peak. One member of the congregation actually verbally attacked Paul
(2 Cor 2:5–11, 7:12).

2 On the “Jerusalem Collection” see Gal 2:10, n. 45 (§4.5).

3 Other apostles had arrived in Corinth who claimed to be “preeminent” or

“superlative apostles” (2 Cor 11:5). These superlative apostles identified
themselves as apostles of Christ and servants of righteousness. Paul refers to
them as “false apostles” (2 Cor 11:13) and servants of Satan (2 Cor 11:14–15).

4 Most scholars consider 2 Cor 6:14–7:1 to be an interpolation, on the following

basis: (1) it constitutes a drastic change of subject matter; (2) its deletion
produces a smoother reading; (3) it appears to be a self-contained unit that reads
like a short homily; and (4) there is evidence that 2 Corinthians as a whole is a
product of editorial compilation.

5 This hypothesis is based on many factors. For example, the tone and purpose
of 2 Cor 10–13 change dramatically in comparison with the chapters that
precede it. Paul’s tone becomes angry, and his style abrupt and hurried.
Moreover, Paul’s criticism of the so-called superlative apostles (the theme that
predominates in 2 Cor 10–13) is hardly mentioned in 2 Cor 1–9 (cf. 2:17, 3:1,
5:12).

6 Paul’s longest discussion employing the language of bodily transformation is

found in 2 Cor 3:18–4:6. Sharing in the divine nature is a common motif in
Jewish apocalypticism; cf. Alan F. Segal, “Paul and the Beginning of Jewish
Mysticiam,” in Death, Ecstasy and Other Worldly Journeys, 95–122, esp. 112,
ed. J. J. Collins and Michael Fishbane (Albany: State University of New York
Press, 1995).

7 The verb ἐστιν must be supplied (which is why the sentence is negated by οὐ
and not μή).

8 μέν...δέ....

9 εἰς = πρός (“to”).

10 Obj. gen. (cf. IV, 16).

11 Paul is speaking of himself.

12 πρό, “before”/“ago,” construe w. ἁρπαγέντα; the position of πρό is a HGr

idiom.

13 εἴτε...εἴτε... (“whether ... or ...”).

14 Here we have the concept of three levels of heaven, arranged hierarchically.

The highest of these is identified with Paradise (cf. 2 En. 7, L.A.E. 37:5). The
number of heavens in Jewish apocalyptic writings varies greatly. For example, 3
Baruch has five heavens.

15 S.v. ἔξεστιν, ἐξόν, nt. ptc.; the verb, ἐστιν, must be supplied, which is why
it is negated by οὐ.

16 S.v. λέγω.
17 μή has the sense of “lest” (i.e., “in order that [something might] not
[happen]”).

18 Adverbial καί (“even”).

19 Dat. of respect.

20 As mentioned earlier in 2 Cor 12:1–4 (cf. Gal 1:16).

21 σατανᾶ is in the gen. case (ὁ σατανᾶς, τοῦ σατανα).

22 S.v. ἀφίστημι.

23 Pf. tense indicates that God has said something and it still stands (i.e., the
reply was final).

24 S.v. ἡδύς.

25 Here, a vivid metaphor for intense pain.

 4.10. Philippians: Paul Breaks with His Past
(Phil 3:1b–16)

Philippi (Φίλιπποι) was a Roman colony that, like Thessaloniki, was located on
the great via Egnatia (Ἐγνατία ὁδός). Paul wrote his letter while under
“praetorian guard” (ὅλῳ τῷ πραιτρωρίῳ, Phil 1:13, cf. 4:22). Though the
meaning of this statement is contested, the almost casual exchange of
information implied by this letter suggests that Paul was imprisoned in a location
that was in close proximity to Philippi.
Letter Carrier: Epaphroditos.
Date: 55–56 CE.
Like 2 Corinthians, Paul’s letter to the Philippians seems to be a compilation
of several letters. Indeed, there is evidence that Paul did in fact write more than
one letter to the church in Philippi, for in Polycarp’s Letter to the Phpippians its
author writes, “Paul ... wrote you letters,” indicating that Paul wrote more than
one letter to the Philippian church. In chronological order, these letters are
referred to as Letter 1 and Letter 2. Letter 1 consists of Phil 1:1–3:1a + 4:2–7,
10–23. It is a letter of thanks, sent after Epaphroditos recovered from his
sickness. Letter 2, consisting of Phil 3:1b–4:1 + 4:8–9, is a later letter, which
was sent by Paul after he was released from prison.1
3:1b Τὰ αὐτὰ γράφειν ὑμῖν ἐμοὶ μὲν2 (is) οὐκ ὀκνηρόν, ὑμῖν δὲ (is)
ἀσφαλές. 2 βλέπετε3 τοὺς κύνας, βλέπετε τοὺς κακοὺς ἐργάτας, βλέπετε τὴν
κατατομήν. 3 ἡμεῖς γάρ ἐσμεν ἡ περιτομή, οἱ ἐν πνεύματι θεοῦ λατρεύοντες4
καὶ καυχώμενοι ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἐν σαρκὶ πεποιθότες,5 4 καίπερ ἐγὼ
ἔχων (grounds for) πεποίθησιν καὶ ἐν σαρκί. Εἴ τις δοκεῖ ἄλλος6 πεποιθέναι ἐν
σαρκί, ἐγὼ μᾶλλον· 5 περιτομῇ7 ὀκταήμερος,8 ἐκ γένους Ἰσραήλ,9 φυλῆς
Βενιαμίν,10 Ἑβραῖος ἐξ Ἑβραίων, κατὰ νόμον Φαρισαῖος, 6 κατὰ ζῆλος
διώκων11 ἐκκλησίαν, κατὰ δικαιοσύνην τὴν ἐν νόμῳ12 γενόμενος ἄμεμπτος.13
Vocabulary
 Ἑβραῖος, ὁ, Hebrew person ἐργάτης, ὁ, worker, worker in a trade ζῆλος,
ὁ, but also ζῆλος, -ους, τό: jealousy; zeal καίπερ, although (+ ptc.)
κατατομή, ἡ, a cut, incision καυχάομαι, to boast, take pride in κύων, ὁ,
κυνός (gen.), κύνα (acc.), dog ὀκνηρός, -ά, -όν, troublesome ὀκταήμερος,
-ον, on the eighth day πεποίθησις, ἡ, confidence, self-confidence
περιτομή, -ῆς, ἡ, circumcision φυλή, ἡ, the tribe

3:7 Ἄτινα ἦν μοι κέρδη, ταῦτα ἥγημαι14 διὰ τὸν Χριστὸν ζημίαν. 8 ἀλλὰ
μενοῦνγε καὶ ἡγοῦμαι πάντα ζημίαν εἶναι διὰ τὸ ὑπερέχον15 τῆς γνώσεως
Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ κυρίου μου, διʼ ὃν τὰ πάντα ἐζημιώθην, καὶ ἡγοῦμαι
(them) σκύβαλα, ἵνα Χριστὸν κερδήσω 9 καὶ εὑρεθῶ ἐν αὐτῷ, μὴ ἔχων ἐμὴν
δικαιοσύνην τὴν16 ἐκ νόμου ἀλλὰ τὴν17 διὰ πίστεως Χριστοῦ,18 τὴν ἐκ θεοῦ
δικαιοσύνην ἐπὶ19 τῇ πίστει, 10 τοῦ γνῶναι20 αὐτὸν καὶ τὴν δύναμιν τῆς
ἀναστάσεως αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν κοινωνίαν τῶν παθημάτων αὐτοῦ,
συμμορφιζόμενος τῷ θανάτῳ αὐτοῦ, 11 εἴ πως καταντήσω εἰς τὴν
ἐξανάστασιν21 τὴν ἐκ νεκρῶν.22
Vocabulary

ἀνάστασις, -εως, ἡ, resurrection (of the dead); the erection (of a building)
ἐξανάστασις, -εως, ἡ, resurrection from (ἐκ) ζημία, ἡ, loss, damage; fine,
financial penalty ζημιόω, fine somebody (dat.); pass. suffer a loss, forfeit
κερδαίνω, 3. ἐκέρδησα/ἐκέρδανα: gain, profit; spare oneself, avoid
κέρδος, -δους, τό, pl. κέρδη, gain, profit κοινωνία, ἡ, fellowship,
partnership; sexual intercourse with (πρός) μενοῦνγε, indeed παθημά, τό,
suffering
σκύβαλον, τό, dung, excrement συμμορφίζομαι (+ dat.), take on the
likeness of (+ gen.) ὑπερέχω, be of more value, better than; excel; ptc.
subst. great value; rise above; transcend

3:12 Οὐχ ὅτι ἤδη ἔλαβον ἢ ἤδη τετελείωμαι, διώκω (it) δὲ εἰ καὶ καταλάβω
(it), ἐφʼ ᾧ23 καὶ κατελήμφθην ὑπὸ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ. 13 ἀδελφοί, ἐγὼ ἐμαυτὸν
οὐ λογίζομαι κατειληφέναι (it)· ἓν δέ (I do), τὰ24 μὲν25 ὀπίσω ἐπιλανθανόμενος
τοῖς δὲ ἔμπροσθεν ἐπεκτεινόμενος,26 14 κατὰ27 σκοπὸν διώκω εἰς τὸ βραβεῖον
τῆς28 ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ θεοῦ. 15 Ὅσοι οὖν τέλειοι, τοῦτο φρονῶμεν·29 καὶ εἴ
τι ἑτέρως30 φρονεῖτε, καὶ τοῦτο ὁ θεὸς ὑμῖν ἀποκαλύψει· 16 πλὴν εἰς ὃ (ever
stage) ἐφθάσαμεν, τῷ αὐτῷ στοιχεῖν.31
 Vocabulary

ἄνω, above; upward βραβεῖον, τό, prize (awarded by an adjudicator

[βραβεύς]) ἔμπροσθεν (+ gen.), before, in front of ἐπεκτείνομαι (+ dat. ),
reach for, stretch forward κλῆσις, ἡ, calling, vocation πλήν, nevertheless;
but only, except στοιχέω, walk; fig. conduct oneself σκοπός, ὁ, aim, goal
φρονέω, think, have in mind, set one’s mind on, be concerned about

1 L. Michael White, From Jesus to Christianity: How Four Generations of

Visionaries & Storytellers Created the New Testament and Christian Faith (San
Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2004), 191.

2 μέν...δέ....

3 βλέπετε in the impv. means “look out for,” “beware of.”

4 οἱ...λατεύοντες.

5 The pf. form of πείθω has its own meaning, distinct from the pres. form,
namely “to have confidence/trust in” ( + dat.); verbal stem has changed from
πειθ-to ποιθ- .

6 τις...ἄλλος, “any other (person).”

7 Dat. of respect.

8 I.e., in conformity to Torah, in contrast to proselytes, who were circumcised

later in life.

9 Ἰσραήλ (indecl.), here gen.

10 The tribe of Benjamin was held in high regard within Judaism. It was
descended from Rachael, Jacob’s favorite wife. This tribe remained loyal to
David and, after the Exile, formed a new nation with Judah.

11 Pres. ptc. w. iterative force.

12 κατὰ δικαιοσύνην τὴν ἐν νόμῳ, modifier in 3rd attrib. pos. (cf. IV, 4.3).
HGr normally omits the definite article after prep. (here κατὰ); ἐν νόμῳ, “in the
sphere of Torah.”

13 On the basis of this passage, Krister Stendahl has argued that Paul’s
conscience was robust and untroubled both before and after his conversion. It
was not Paul’s plagued conscience that he left behind at his conversion but
rather his “glorious achievements as a righteous Jew” (cf. 2 Cor 1:12; 5:11; 1
Cor 4:4; Gal 1:13–14). It was Paul’s accomplishments that seemed worthless to
him (Paul Among Jews and Gentiles, and Other Essays [Philadelphia: Fortress,
1976], 80). Paul acknowledges his physical handicaps and sufferings, not his sin
(cf. 2 Cor 12:7, 10; Gal 4:13). Stendahl blames Augustine and Luther for
imposing their own introspective consciences onto Paul (Paul Among Jews and
Gentiles, 83–87). The troubled “I” of Rom 7:7–25 is rhetorical, designating all
non-Christians, not evidence for Paul’s guilt-ridden conscience ( Werner
Kümmel, Römer 7 und das Bild des Menschen im Neuen Testament [Munich: C.
Kaiser, 1974], 74–138).

14 ἥγημαι is athematic (i.e., ἥγη-μαι).

15 Nt. ptc. employed as an abstr. noun.

16 Modifier is in the 3rd attrib. pos.: ἐμὴν δικαιοσύνη τὴν ἐκ νόμου (cf. IV,
4.3).

17 τὴν (δικαιοσύνα) διὰ πίστεως Χριστοῦ.

18 The interpretation of the gen. case of Χριστοῦ in the phrase διὰ πίστεως
Χριστοῦ has been a matter of great debate. This same phrase also occurs twice
in Gal 2:16 (διὰ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἐκ πίστεως Χριστοῦ). In all three
cases, one must determine whether this gen. case is an objective gen. or a
subjective gen. This matter is complicated by the fact that the noun πίστις can
mean both “faith/believing” and “being faithful.” The distinction between the
objective and subjective gen. can be explained as follows. If the term that
precedes the gen. term (here Χριστοῦ) is imagined as a verbal action
(“believing”), which acts upon the gen. term (Χριστοῦ), then the gen. term is an
objective gen. cstr., and the phrase would mean “through believing/faith that is
directed towards Christ” (as the object of faith). If, however, the term that
precedes the gen. term (Χριστοῦ) implies a verbal action that is initiated by the
following gen. term, then the gen. is a subjective gen. In this case, the expression
διὰ πίστεως Χριστοῦ would mean “through the faithfulness of Christ” or
“through Christ’s faithfulness.” The subjective gen. interpretation was the
preferred interpretation prior to Martin Luther. More recently, Richard Hays has
defended the subjective gen. interpretation (“through the faithfulness of Christ”)
based on the overall plot or narrative of Galatians, namely that Jesus was
obedient (i.e., faithful) to God, as demonstrated by his willingness to die on the
cross (The Faith of Christ: The Narrative Substructure of Galatians 3:1–4:11,
2nd ed. [Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2002]). In other words, Christ
saved humanity through his faithfulness to God. Hays widened his examination
to include the entire literary context of Romans. According to his reading,
“obedience of (Christ’s) faithfulness” (ὑπαρκοὴν πίστεως, Rom 1:5) is a close
parallel to the concept of “Christ’s faithfulness” in Philippians and Galatians,
which in each case concerns Jesus’ own obedience to his Father’s will.

19 ἐπί (w. dat.), “based on.”

20 Art. inf. expressing purpose (cf. IV, 2).

21 ἐξανάστασιν = ἀνάστασιν.

22 On the theme of personal transformation see 2 Cor 12:1–10 (§4.9).

23 ἐφ᾽ ᾧ, “for which.”

24 τά and τοῖς (dat. of τά) are both nt. and function as nouns.
25 μέν and δέ (both postpos.) coordinate two closely related clauses.

26 The verb ἐπεκτείνομαι takes the dat.

27 κατά, “toward.”

28 Epex. gen., “which is,” “namely.”

29 Hort. subj. (cf. IV, 12).

30 ἕτερως, adv. of ἕτερος.

31 Imperatival inf.
 4.11. Romans: Paul’s Typological Interpretation of
Adam
(Rom 5:6–21)

Date: ca. 58 CE.

Paul wrote Romans while living in Corinth. He hoped to visit the congregation
in Rome on his way to Spain, where he planned to commence a new mission. In
connection with this trip, he sought financial support and assistance from the
church in Rome (Rom 1:10–15; 15:22–24). This letter was hand-delivered by
Phoebe, a διάκονος in the church located in the port of Cenchreae near Corinth.
By Paul’s own admission, she was “patron of many” (προστάτις πολλῶν),
including himself (Rom 16:1–2). Phoebe traveled ahead to Rome in order to
prepare the way for Paul’s arrival.
The bulk of this letter consists of Paul’s carefully reasoned and balanced
account of his gospel (Rom 1:16–15:13). This seems to be Paul`s way of
introducing himself to a church to which he was not personally known. His
forms of argumentation exhibit some degree of literary elegance, including such
figures of speech as assonance (Rom 1:29, 31), climax (5:3–5; 8:29–30; 10:14–
15), paronomasia (12:3; 14:23), parallelism (2:6–10, 21–23; 8:33–35; 12:6–8;
13:7), typology (5:6–21; cf. 1 Cor 10:1–15 [§4.13]), as well as allegory (Gal
4:21–31 [§4.16]).
The reading in this section is taken from Rom 5:1–8:39, which describes the
life promised to those who are righteous by faith. Paul makes use of typology to
establish a relation between the biblical past (Adam’s sin) and the present
(Christ’s righteousness). The climax is found in Rom 5:19 (echoing 5:12). Paul
does not actually speak of “original sin” in this passage (as St. Augustine would
later) but rather of humanity’s estrangement from God through Adam.
5:6 Ἔτι γὰρ Χριστὸς1 ὄντων2 ἡμῶν ἀσθενῶν ἔτι3 κατὰ καιρὸν4 ὑπὲρ
ἀσεβῶν ἀπέθανεν. 7 μόλις γὰρ ὑπὲρ δικαίου τις ἀποθανεῖται· ὑπὲρ γὰρ τοῦ
ἀγαθοῦ τάχα τις καὶ τολμᾷ ἀποθανεῖν· 8 συνίστησιν5 δὲ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἀγάπην
εἰς ἡμᾶς ὁ θεός, ὅτι ἔτι ἁμαρτωλῶν ὄντων ἡμῶν Χριστὸς ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν
ἀπέθανεν. 9 πολλῷ οὖν μᾶλλον6 δικαιωθέντες νῦν ἐν τῷ αἵματι αὐτοῦ
σωθησόμεθα διʼ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ὀργῆς. 10 εἰ γὰρ ἐχθροὶ ὄντες κατηλλάγημεν
τῷ θεῷ διὰ τοῦ θανάτου τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, πολλῷ μᾶλλον καταλλαγέντες
σωθησόμεθα ἐν τῇ ζωῇ αὐτοῦ· 11 οὐ μόνον (this) δέ, ἀλλὰ καὶ καυχώμενοι7
ἐν τῷ θεῷ διὰ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ διʼ οὗ νῦν τὴν καταλλαγὴν
ἐλάβομεν. 12 Διὰ τοῦτο8 ὥσπερ διʼ ἑνὸς ἀνθρώπου ἡ ἁμαρτία εἰς τὸν κόσμον
εἰσῆλθεν, καὶ διὰ τῆς ἁμαρτίας ὁ θάνατος (εἰσῆλθεν), καὶ οὕτως εἰς πάντας
ἀνθρώπους ὁ θάνατος διῆλθεν, ἐφʼ ᾧ9 πάντες ἥμαρτον· 13 ἄχρι γὰρ (the
coming of) νόμου ἁμαρτία ἦν ἐν κόσμῳ, ἁμαρτία δὲ οὐκ ἐλλογεῖται μὴ
ὄντος10 νόμου,11 14 ἀλλὰ ἐβασίλευσεν ὁ θάνατος ἀπὸ Ἀδὰμ μέχρι Μωϋσέως
καὶ12 ἐπὶ τοὺς μὴ ἁμαρτήσαντας13 ἐπὶ14 τῷ ὁμοιώματι τῆς παραβάσεως
Ἀδὰμ15 ὅς ἐστιν τύπος τοῦ μέλλοντος.16
Vocabulary

ἀσεβέω, act profanely/wickedly (against), commit sacrilege ἐλλογέω,

charge with a financial obligation; take into account καταλλάσσω, 6.
κατηλλάγην, aor. pass. ptc. καταλλαγείς: reconcile; pass. become
reconciled καυχάομαι, boast, take pride in ὁμοίωμα, -ματος, τό, likeness,
form, appearance μόλις, with difficulty; only rarely, not readily, hardly
ὁμοίωμα, τό, likeness, form, appearance
παράβασις, -εως, ἡ, disobedience, formal violation of a boundary or
precept πολλῷ μᾶλλον, much more τάχα, quickly; perhaps ὑπακοή, ἡ,
obedience; answer

5:15 Ἀλλʼ οὐχ ὡς17 τὸ παράπτωμα, οὕτως καὶ (is) τὸ χάρισμα· εἰ γὰρ τῷ18
τοῦ ἑνὸς παραπτώματι οἱ πολλοὶ ἀπέθανον, πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἡ χάρις τοῦ θεοῦ
καὶ ἡ δωρεὰ ἐν19 χάριτι τῇ τοῦ ἑνὸς ἀνθρώπου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ20 εἰς τοὺς
πολλοὺς ἐπερίσσευσεν. 16 καὶ (is) οὐχ ὡς (that which came) διʼ ἑνὸς
ἁμαρτήσαντος τὸ δώρημα· τὸ μὲν21 γὰρ κρίμα ἐξ ἑνὸς (παραπτώματος) (led)
εἰς κατάκριμα, τὸ δὲ χάρισμα (following) ἐκ πολλῶν παραπτωμάτων (leading)
εἰς δικαίωμα. 17 εἰ γὰρ τῷ τοῦ ἑνὸς παραπτώματι ὁ θάνατος ἐβασίλευσεν22
διὰ τοῦ ἑνός, πολλῷ μᾶλλον οἱ23 τὴν περισσείαν τῆς χάριτος καὶ τῆς δωρεᾶς
τῆς δικαιοσύνης λαμβάνοντες ἐν ζωῇ βασιλεύσουσιν διὰ τοῦ ἑνὸς Ἰησοῦ
Χριστοῦ.
Vocabulary
 δωρέα, -ας, ἡ, gift δώρημα, τό, gift καταλλαγή, ἡ, reconciliation (of a
broken relationship) παράπτωμα, τό, offense, wrongdoing περισσεία, ἡ,
abundance, overflow περισσεύω, be present in abundance; increase,
overflow χάρισμα, τό, gift, something freely given

5:18 Ἄρα οὖν24 ὡς διʼ ἑνὸς παραπτώματος εἰς25 πάντας ἀνθρώπους (led) εἰς
κατάκριμα, οὕτως καὶ διʼ ἑνὸς δικαιώματος εἰς πάντας ἀνθρώπους (led) εἰς
δικαίωσιν ζωῆς·26 19 ὥσπερ γὰρ διὰ τῆς παρακοῆς τοῦ ἑνὸς ἀνθρώπου
ἁμαρτωλοὶ κατεστάθησαν27 οἱ πολλοί, οὕτως καὶ διὰ τῆς ὑπακοῆς τοῦ ἑνὸς
δίκαιοι κατασταθήσονται οἱ πολλοί. 20 νόμος28 δὲ παρεισῆλθεν, ἵνα29
πλεονάσῃ τὸ παράπτωμα· οὗ30 δὲ ἐπλεόνασεν ἡ ἁμαρτία, ὑπερεπερίσσευσεν ἡ
χάρις, 21 ἵνα31 ὥσπερ ἐβασίλευσεν ἡ ἁμαρτία ἐν32 τῷ θανάτῳ, οὕτως καὶ ἡ
χάρις βασιλεύσῃ διὰ δικαιοσύνης εἰς33 ζωὴν αἰώνιον διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ
κυρίου ἡμῶν.
Vocabulary

δικαίωμα, -ματος, τό, statute; righteous act δικαίωσις, ἡ, acquittal,

vindication καθίστημι, 3. κατέστησα, 6. κατεστάθην, 1aor. pass. ptc.
καθεσθείς: appoint somebody; constitute, make κατάκριμα, τό,
condemnation, punishment παρακοή, ἡ, disobedience παρεισέρχομαι, be
introduced πλεονάζω, 1aor. ἐπλεόνασα: (trans.) increase, cause to grow,
multiply, (intrans.) become more/abundant ὑπερπερισσεύω, be present in
abundance

1 Prolep. of Χριστός, but the term belongs to the principal clause (subject of
ἀπέθανεν).

2 Gen. absol. (repeated in Rom 5:8).

3 ἔτι, “even ”

4 κατά with expression of time means “at” or “during.”

5 Cf. paradigm of ἵστημι, table 9.10.

6 S.v. μάλα (cf. Rom 5:10, 15, 17).

7 Pres. ptc. here seems to stand for the pres. ind. (“we take pride in”).

8 διὰ τοῦτο should be understood as the conclusion to Rom 5:1–11 (not just
5:11). Paul is attributing death to two causes, Adam’s sin and the sin of human
beings, who were affected by him.

9 ἐφ᾿ ᾧ = ἐπὶ τούτῳ ὅτι, “for this (reason) that.”

10 Gen. absol.

11 I.e., even though humans committed evil in this period, they did not (and
could not) transgress the law, “until the law was added” (Gal 3:19, cf. Rom
5:20).

12 καί, adv.

13 Since the 2aor. of ἁμαρτάνω is ἥμαρτον, one would have expected the 2aor.
ptc., ἁμαρτόντας, but instead Paul uses the 1aor. ptc., ἁμαρτήσαντος (cf. Rom
5:16).

14 ἐπί, “in.”

15 Ἀδάμ (indecl.), gen.

16 Ptc. of μέλλω.

17 οὐχ ὡς...οὕτως καί, “not like ... so indeed....”

18 τῷ τοῦ ἑνὸς παραπτώματι.

19 ἐν, instr. (“by”).

20 Modifier (τοῦ ἑνὸς ἀνθρώπου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ) in 3rd pred. pos. (cf. IV,
4.3). HGr normally omits the definite article (here τῇ) after a prep.

21 τὸ μέν...τὸ δέ....

22 Incept. impf. (“began to...”, cf. IV, 13.5).

23 οἱ...λαμβάνοντες.

24 ἄρα οὖν...οὕτως καὶ... (“so then ... so also ...”).

25 Telic εἰς, “for.”

26 Epex. gen., “which is life.”

27 S.v. καθίστημι.

28 νόμος, i.e., the Torah.

29 There is disagreement as to whether ἵνα expresses purpose (“in order that”),

which is the expected meaning of ἵνα, or result (“so that”).

30 οὗ, adv. of place, “where.”

31 Epex. ἵνα (“that”).

32 ἐν, instr. (“by means of”).

33 Telic εἰς, “for.”
 4.12. 2 Thessalonians: Christ’s Second Coming
(2 Thess 1:1–12)

Provenance: Thessaloniki (Θεσσαλονίκη, cf. Fig. 2).

Date: If written by Paul, canonical 2 Thessalonians actually predates 1
Thessalonians and can be dated ca. 47 CE. This would give this letter the
distinction of being the earliest Christian text in the New Testament.1 The
readings in this section demonstrate how thoroughly imbued early Christian
thought was with Jewish apocalyptic thought.

Salutation
1:1 Παῦλος καὶ Σιλουανὸς καὶ Τιμόθεος τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ Θεσσαλονικέων ἐν2 θεῷ
πατρὶ ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ, 2 χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ θεοῦ
πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.

Thanksgiving (1:3–4) and Body (1:5ff)

1:3 Εὐχαριστεῖν ὀφείλομεν τῷ θεῷ πάντοτε περὶ3 ὑμῶν, ἀδελφοί, καθὼς
ἄξιόν ἐστιν,4 ὅτι ὑπεραυξάνει ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν καὶ πλεονάζει ἡ ἀγάπη ἑνὸς
ἑκάστου5πάντων ὑμῶν εἰς ἀλλήλους, 4 ὥστε6 αὐτοὺς ἡμᾶς7 ἐν ὑμῖν
ἐγκαυχᾶσθαι ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις τοῦ θεοῦ ὑπὲρ τῆς ὑπομονῆς ὑμῶν καὶ
πίστεως ἐν πᾶσιν τοῖς διωγμοῖς ὑμῶν καὶ ταῖς θλίψεσιν αἷς8 ἀνέχεσθε, 5
(which is) ἔνδειγμα9 τῆς δικαίας κρίσεως τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς τὸ καταξιωθῆναι10 ὑμᾶς
τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ, ὑπὲρ ἧς καὶ πάσχετε, 6 εἴπερ (it is) δίκαιον παρὰ
θεῷ11 ἀνταποδοῦναι τοῖς θλίβουσιν ὑμᾶς (with) θλῖψιν 7 καὶ (to give) ὑμῖν
τοῖς θλιβομένοις ἄνεσιν μεθʼ ἡμῶν (also), ἐν12 τῇ ἀποκαλύψει τοῦ κυρίου
Ἰησοῦ ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ μετʼ ἀγγέλων δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ 8 ἐν πυρὶ φλογός, διδόντος
ἐκδίκησιν τοῖς μὴ εἰδόσιν13 θεὸν καὶ τοῖς μὴ ὑπακούουσιν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τοῦ
κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ, 9 οἵτινες δίκην τίσουσιν ὄλεθρον αἰώνιον ἀπὸ προσώπου
τοῦ κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ, 10 ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐνδοξασθῆναι
ἐν τοῖς ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ καὶ θαυμασθῆναι ἐν πᾶσιν τοῖς πιστεύσασιν – ὅτι
ἐπιστεύθη τὸ μαρτύριον ἡμῶν ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς14 – ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ. 11 Εἰς15 ὃ
(reason) καὶ προσευχόμεθα πάντοτε περὶ ὑμῶν, ἵνα ὑμᾶς ἀξιώσῃ τῆς κλήσεως
ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν καὶ πληρώσῃ πᾶσαν εὐδοκίαν ἀγαθωσύνης καὶ ἔργον πίστεως ἐν
δυνάμει, 12 ὅπως ἐνδοξασθῇ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ ἐν ὑμῖν, καὶ
ὑμεῖς ἐν αὐτῷ, κατὰ τὴν χάριν τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.
Vocabulary

ἀγαθωσύνη, ἡ, generosity, goodness ἄνεσις, -εως, ἡ, rest, relaxation,

relief ἀνέχω, hold/lift up; detain, delay something; mid. tolerate, endure
ἀνταποδίδωμι, repay to somebody (dat.) ἀποκάλυψις, ἡ, revelation δίκη,
ἡ, judgment, punishment ἐγκαυχάομαι, boast about something to
somebody (dat.) εἵπερ, since; if really/indeed ἐκδίκησις, -εως, ἡ,
punishment ἔνδειγμα, -ματος, τό, evidence, plain indication ἐνδοξάζω,
pass. be glorified εὐδοκία, ἡ, goodwill, purpose; desire εὐχαριστέω, do a
favor for somebody (dat.); give thanks Θεσσαλονικεύς, -έως, ὁ,
Thessalonian θλίβω, pf. pass. ptc. τεθλιμμένος: push; oppress, afflict; pass.
be oppressed, experience pain καταξιόω, consider somebody worthy
κλῆσις, ἡ, a calling, vocation μαρτύριον, τό, testimony, proof;
martyrdom ὄλεθρος, -ου, ὁ, destruction ὀφείλω (and –έω), 2. ὀφειλήσω,
3. ὠφείλησα: owe somebody something, be indebted to; must (w. inf.);
ἁμαρτίαν ὀφείλω (w. dat.), incur sin against πλεονάζω, 1aor. ἐπλεόνασα:
(trans.) to increase, cause to grow, multiply, (intrans.) become
more/abundant σβέννυμι, 6. ἐσβέσθην: extinguish, put out (a lamp) τίνω,
2. τίσω (also τείσω), 3. ἔτ(ε)ισα, pay a penalty, undergo something (acc.) as
a punishment (δίκη) ὑπακούω, to obey (w. dat.), be subject to
ὑπεραυξάνω, flourish, increase abundantly ὑπομονή, ἡ, endurance,
perseverance φλόξ, φλογός (gen.), ἡ, flame; πῦρ φλογός, flaming fire

1 The canonical ordering of 1 and 2 Thessalonians does not provide information

about their relative dates. The canonical sequence of Paul’s letters to his
churches is determined on the basis of letter length alone: 2 Thessalonians
follows 1 Thessalonians in the New Testament simply because it is shorter.

2 ἐν of personal relationship.
3 περί for ὑπέρ.

4 Impers. ἄξιόν ἐστιν (“it is fitting,” “proper”).

5 εἷς ἕκατος, “every one,” “each one.”

6 ὥστε + acc. + inf.

7 αὐτοὺς ἡμᾶς (“we ourselves”), subject of inf.

8 αἷς, attr. rel. (fr. ἅς or ὧν).

9 Acc. of apposition.

10 Art. inf. (expressing purpose).

11 παρὰ θεῷ, “in God’s estimation.”

12 ἐν (w. dat.) marking a point in time when something will happen.

13 S.v. οἶδα (cf. table 9.5).

14 ἐπί (w. acc.), “to.”

15 Telic εἰς (“for”).

 4.13. 1 Corinthians: A Typological Interpretation of
the Feeding in the Wilderness
(1 Cor 10:1–15)

This reading is taken from a section of 1 Corinthians introduced by the phrase

“Now concerning idol meat” (1 Cor 8:1–11:1). The Corinthians were divided on
the subject of whether it was permissible for a Christian to consume meat that
had been previously sacrificed to pagan gods (1 Cor 8–11). Paul’s typological
use of the story of Israel’s feeding in the wilderness serves as a warning against
idolatry, as his forceful conclusion demonstrates (“flee from idolatry,” 1 Cor
10:14). In 1 Cor 10:6, Paul uses the Greek term τύπος (“type,” “prototype”) and
the corresponding adverb, τυπικῶς (“typologically”). This usage reflects the
concept that a thing, or person, in the biblical past, could become a “type” or
“prototype” of something in the present.
Related Texts: typological interpretation in Rom 4:1–5:21 (§4.11) 10:1 Οὐ
θέλω γὰρ ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν,1 ἀδελφοί, ὅτι οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν πάντες ὑπὸ τὴν
νεφέλην2 ἦσαν καὶ πάντες διὰ τῆς (ἐρυθρᾶς) θαλάσσης διῆλθον 2 καὶ πάντες
εἰς τὸν Μωϋσῆν3 ἐβαπτίσθησαν ἐν τῇ νεφέλῃ καὶ ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ 3 καὶ πάντες
τὸ αὐτὸ πνευματικὸν βρῶμα ἔφαγον 4 καὶ πάντες τὸ αὐτὸ πνευματικὸν ἔπιον
πόμα·4 ἔπινον5 γὰρ ἐκ πνευματικῆς ἀκολουθούσης πέτρας,6 ἡ πέτρα δὲ ἦν ὁ
Χριστός.75 Ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐν8 τοῖς πλείοσιν9 αὐτῶν εὐδόκησεν ὁ θεός,
κατεστρώθησαν γὰρ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ.
Vocabulary

ἐρυθρός, -ή, -όν, red καταστρώννυμι, 6. κατεσρώθην: to spread (corpses)

about, kill πέτρα, -ας, ἡ, rock πνευματικός, -ή, -όν, spiritual, spirit-like
πόμα, τό, drink

10:6 Ταῦτα δὲ τύποι10 ἡμῶν11 ἐγενήθησαν,12 εἰς τὸ μὴ εἶναι13 ἡμᾶς

ἐπιθυμητὰς κακῶν, καθὼς κἀκεῖνοι14 ἐπεθύμησαν. 7 μηδὲ15 εἰδωλολάτραι
γίνεσθε καθώς τινες αὐτῶν (were), ὥσπερ γέγραπται· ἐκάθισεν ὁ λαὸς φαγεῖν
καὶ πεῖν16 καὶ ἀνέστησαν παίζειν.17 8 μηδὲ πορνεύωμεν,18 καθώς τινες αὐτῶν
ἐπόρνευσαν καὶ ἔπεσαν μιᾷ ἡμέρᾳ19 εἴκοσι τρεῖς χιλιάδες. 9 μηδὲ
ἐκπειράζωμεν20 τὸν Χριστόν, καθώς τινες αὐτῶν ἐπείρασαν καὶ ὑπὸ21 τῶν
ὄφεων ἀπώλλυντο. 22 10 μηδὲ γογγύζετε, καθάπερ τινὲς αὐτῶν ἐγόγγυσαν καὶ
ἀπώλοντο ὑπὸ τοῦ ὀλοθρευτοῦ. 11 ταῦτα δὲ τυπικῶς (for us) συνέβαινεν
ἐκείνοις, ἐγράφη δὲ πρὸς23 νουθεσίαν ἡμῶν, εἰς οὓς τὰ τέλη τῶν αἰώνων
κατήντηκεν. 12 Ὥστε ὁ δοκῶν ἑστάναι24 βλεπέτω μὴ πέσῃ.25 13 Πειρασμὸς
ὑμᾶς οὐκ εἴληφεν εἰ μὴ26 ἀνθρώπινος· πιστὸς δὲ ὁ θεός, ὃς οὐκ ἐάσει ὑμᾶς
πειρασθῆναι ὑπὲρ ὃ δύνασθε (to resist) ἀλλὰ ποιήσει σὺν τῷ πειρασμῷ καὶ
τὴν ἔκβασιν τοῦ δύνασθαι27 ὑπενεγκεῖν. 28 14 Διόπερ, ἀγαπητοί μου, φεύγετε
ἀπὸ τῆς εἰδωλολατρίας. 15 ὡς φρονίμοις λέγω· κρίνατε ὑμεῖς ὅ φημι.
Vocabulary

ἀνθρώπινος, -η, -ον, belonging/suited to humans, common to humanity,

human γογγύζω, complain διόπερ, therefore (emphatic for διό) ἐάω, pres.
mid. inf. ἐᾶσθαι, impf. εἴων, 2. ἐάσω, 3. εἴασα: allow, permit; leave, let
go; mid. be left to oneself εἰδωλολάτρης, -ου, ὁ, idolater ἔκβασις, -εως, ἡ,
result, outcome; a way out, an escape ἐπιθυμητής, ὁ, one who desires,
covets (w. gen.) καθάπερ, just as, in the same way; in accordance with
ὀλοθρευτής, -ου, ὁ, destroyer παίζω, amuse oneself, play, revel
πειρασμός, ὁ, trial, test; temptation τυπικῶς, typologically, as a
foreshadowing τύπος, -ου, ὁ, type, prototype, pattern, figure

1 οὐ θέλω γὰρ ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν is an epistolary disclosure formula that is often

used in ancient letters to introduce a new topic or new information (cf. 1 Thess
4:13).

2 Cf. Exod 13:21–22, 14:22–29, Ps 105:39.

3 The phrase εἰς τὸν Μωϋσῆν (“into Moses”) parallels Paul’s frequent use of
the phrase εἰς Χριστόν.

4 τὸ αὐτὸν πνευματικόν…πόμα (dis. syn. [Y1 hyp.])

5 ἔπιον is 2aor. but ἔπινον is impf. (iterative, cf. V, 13.3).

6 Cf. Exod 17:6, Num 20:11, Ps 78:15.

7 ὁ Χριστός, i.e., the Messiah (concept of the pre-existence of Christ); some

mss. read κύριον.

8 ἐν, “with.”

9 S.v. πλεῖων, here functioning as superl., “most.”

10 Predicate of verb.

11 ἡμῶν, “for us.”

12 ἐγενήθησαν is an alternative to ἐγενόντο.

13 εἰς τὸ μὴ εἶναι, art. inf. expressing purpose. The subject of the inf. is acc.

14 κἀκεῖνοι > καὶ ἐκεῖνοι.

15 μηδέ = μή (cf. 1 Cor 10:8, 10).

16 πεῖν, contr. of πιεῖν (s.v. πίνω).

17 Quoting Exod 32:6, where the Israelites fashioned a golden calf, offered it as
a peace offering, and then consumed it.

18 πορνεύωμεν (figutative use) ... ἐκπειράζωμεν, hort. subj.

19 Dat. of time.
20 ἐκπειράζω = πειράζω.

21 ὑπο, “by reason of.”

22 ἀπώλλυν-το is impf. but ἀπώλλ-οντο is 2aor. (cf. Num 21:6).

23 πρός (w. acc.), “for (the purpose of).”

24 S.v. ἵστημι, pf. act. inf. (cf. table 9.12.1).

25 S.v. πίπτω.

26 εἰ μή, “except.”

27 Art. inf. expressing purpose.

28 S.v. ὑποφέρω.
 4.14. Philippians: The Christ Hymn
(Phil 2:1–16 – Letter 1)

Many commentators believe that Phil 2:5–11 is a self-contained poetic hymn

that was set to music. Paul quotes this hymn in this letter to argue that Christians
should pattern their own lives after the life of Christ.
Related Texts: Phil 3:1b–16 (§4.10).
2:1 Εἴ 1 (there is) τις2 οὖν παράκλησις ἐν Χριστῷ, εἴ τι παραμύθιον ἀγάπης,3
εἴ τις κοινωνία πνεύματος,4 εἴ τις σπλάγχνα καὶ οἰκτιρμοί, 2 πληρώσατέ μου
τὴν χαρὰν ἵνα5 τὸ αὐτὸ φρονῆτε, τὴν αὐτὴν ἀγάπην ἔχοντες, σύμψυχοι, τὸ
ἓν6 φρονοῦντες, 3 (doing) μηδὲν κατʼ7 ἐριθείαν μηδὲ κατὰ κενοδοξίαν ἀλλὰ
τῇ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ ἀλλήλους προηγούμενοι ὑπερέχοντας8 ἑαυτῶν,9 4 μὴ τὰ
ἑαυτῶν10 ἕκαστος11 σκοποῦντες ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ ἑτέρων ἕκαστοι.12
Vocabulary

ἐριθεία, ἡ, selfishness, selfish ambition εὐδοκία, ἡ, goodwill, purpose;

desire κενοδοξία, ἡ, conceit, exagerated self-opinion παραμύθιον, τό,
comfort προηγέομαι, to esteem, consider better οἰκτιρμός, -οῦ, ὁ, mercy,
compassion παράκλησις, -εως, ἡ, encouragement, comfort σκοπέω, keep
one’s attention on, be concerned about σπλάγχνα, τά, inward parts, entrails
(esp. heart, lungs, liver, kidneys); fig. affection, love σύμψυχος, -ον, in
harmony of mind ταπεινοφροσύνη, ἡ, humility

Τοῦτο φρονεῖτε ἐν ὑμῖν ὃ (was) καὶ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, 2:5

ὃς ἐν μορφῇ θεοῦ ὑπάρχων 6
οὐχ ἁρπαγμὸν ἡγήσατο εἶναι ἴσα θεῷ, ἀλλὰ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν 7
μορφὴν δούλου13 λαβών,14
ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπου γενόμενος·
καὶ σχήματι15 εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος
ἐταπείνωσεν ἑαυτὸν 8
γενόμενος ὑπήκοος μέχρι θανάτου, θανάτου δὲ16 σταυροῦ.17
 Vocabulary

ἁρπαγμός, -οῦ, ὁ, a robbery, something seized by force ἴσος, -η, -ον, same,
equal, equivalent; nt. pl., on an equality; adv. ἴσως, equally κενόω, to
empty, divest oneself of privileges μορφή, ἡ, form, outward appearance,
shape ὁμοίωμα, τό, likeness, form, appearance ταπεινόω, to humble,
humiliate ὑπήκοος, -ον, obedient φρονέω, think, have in mind, set one’s
mind on, be concerned about

Διὸ καὶ18 ὁ θεὸς αὐτὸν ὑπερύψωσεν 2:9

καὶ ἐχαρίσατο αὐτῷ τὸ ὄνομα τὸ ὑπὲρ πᾶν ὄνομα,19
ἵνα ἐν20 τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ 10
πᾶν γόνυ κάμψῃ
ἐπουρανίων καὶ ἐπιγείων καὶ καταχθονίων21
καὶ πᾶσα γλῶσσα ἐξομολογήσηται ὅτι 11
κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς
εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ πατρός.

Vocabulary

ἐπίγειος, -ον, earthly ἐπουράνιος, -ον, heavenly κάμπτω, 1aor. ἔκαμψα: to

bend (the knee), to bow καταχθόνιος, -ον, under earth, connected with
Hades ὑπερυψόω, raise to the highest position

2:12 Ὥστε, ἀγαπητοί μου, καθὼς πάντοτε ὑπηκούσατε, μὴ22 ὡς23 ἐν τῇ

παρουσίᾳ μου μόνον ἀλλὰ νῦν πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἐν τῇ ἀπουσίᾳ μου, μετὰ
φόβου καὶ τρόμου τὴν ἑαυτῶν σωτηρίαν κατεργάζεσθε· 13 θεὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ
ἐνεργῶν ἐν ὑμῖν καὶ24 τὸ θέλειν καὶ τὸ ἐνεργεῖν25 ὑπὲρ26 τῆς εὐδοκίας (of
God). 14 Πάντα ποιεῖτε χωρὶς γογγυσμῶν καὶ διαλογισμῶν, 15 ἵνα ἦτε
ἄμεμπτοι καὶ ἀκέραιοι, τέκνα θεοῦ ἄμωμα27 μέσον28 γενεᾶς σκολιᾶς καὶ
διεστραμμένης, ἐν29 οἷς φαίνεσθε ὡς φωστῆρες ἐν κόσμῳ, 16 λόγον ζωῆς
ἐπέχοντες,30 εἰς31 καύχημα ἐμοὶ32 εἰς ἡμέραν Χριστοῦ, ὅτι33 οὐκ εἰς κενὸν
ἔδραμον34 οὐδὲ εἰς κενὸν ἐκοπίασα.
Vocabulary

ἄμωμος, -ον, faultless, above reproach ἀπουσία, -ας, ἡ, absence

 (contrasting παρουσία) διαλογισμός, ὁ, debate, talk; estimation,
consideration διαστρέφω, pf. pass. ptc. διεστραμμένος: turn away; pervert,
distort ἐνεργέω/-έομαι, be at work, activate, be operative (contrasting
καταργέω) ἐπέχω, hold firmly to; stay, halt, cease from; stay on (for a
period of time); offer, extend καύχημα, -ματος, τό, boast ; a ground for
boasting, object of boasting κενός, -ή, -όν, empty, without purpose; εἰς
κενόν, in vain κοπιάω, 3. ἐκοπίασα: work hard, labor σκολιός, -ά, -όν,
curved, crooked, coiled; dishonest; σκολιῶς (adv.), coiling; σκολιόν, τό,
intestine τρέχω, 3. ἔδραμον: to run ὑπακούω, obey (w. dat.), be subject to

1 εἴ…οὖν (“if then”).

2 τις modifies παράκλησις (fm.) and thus is fm. in gender.

3 Gen. of kind.

4 Gen. of origin (“in the Spirit”).

5 Trans. ἵνα w. verb as a gerund, “by ... ing”.

6 τὸ ἕν, “one thing” (i.e., the same thing).

7 κατά, “for, out of.”

8 Double acc., “considering (A) as (B).”

9 ἑαυτῶν, gen. of comp. (“than”).

10 τὰ ἐαυτῶν, “your own interests/matters”; ἑαυτῶν for ὑμῶν.

11 ἕκαστος, “each (of you)”; some mss. change to ἕκαστοι to make it agree
with the ptc.
12 ἕκαστοι (“others”); the congregation seems to have become divided by a
disagreement between Euodia and Syntyche.

13 “Slave (of God),” i.e., one who is subject to God.

14 Instr. adv. ptc. (“by,” IV, 1.6).

15 Dat. of respect.

16 δέ, intens., “and even,” “and at that.”

17 Gen. of kind.

18 διὸ καί = διό.

19 2nd attrib. pos. of modifier (cf. IV, 4.2): τὸ ὄνομα τὸ ὑπὲρ πᾶν ὄνομα (i.e.,
the name κύριος, Phil 2:11b).

20 ἐν here meaning “at” (sociative use).

21 Paul regards the world as divided into three planes. The adj. καταχθόνιος
refers to the realm of the dead dwelling in Hades/Sheol.

22 μή (not οὐ) is grammatically explained by the imperative (κατεργάζεσθε)

that follows.

23 ὡς is pleonastic (leave untranslated).

24 καί…καί… (“both ... and …”).

25 τὸ θέλειν καὶ τὸ ἐνεργεῖν, two art. inf.’s indicating purpose (cf. IV, 2).
26 ὑπέρ, “for the sake of.”

27 Adj. in 2nd pred. pos. (cf. IV, 1.6).

28 μέσον = ἔν μέσῳ.

29 ἐν (“among”) + rel. pronoun.

30 Instr. adv. ptc. (“by,” cf. V, 1.6).

31 Telic use of εἰς (“for”).

32 Dat. of poss.

33 ὅτι (“that”) explaining the content of the boast (καύχημα).

34 S.v. τρέχω.
 4.15. Galatians: Apotropaic Soteriology
(Gal 3:1–14)

In the passage in this section Paul portrays those who observe the Torah as
burdened by a “curse” (κατάρα) that prohibits their entrance into Christ’s new
creation. As a remedy, God transferred this curse from humanity to Christ, who
acted as an apotropaic victim and became a “curse” in their place. In other
words, Christ became a curse personified. This basic concept is rooted in the
familiar practice of apotropaic rituals such as the Levitical scapegoat (Lev 16)
and the Gedarene demoniac of the Synoptic Gospels.1
Related Texts: Paul’s apotropaic language bears a strong resemblance to the
typological use of the scapegoat in Barn. 7 (§5.6). See also the reference to the
god Herakles as Ἀποτρόπαιος (“one who averts evil,” Philostr. VA 8.7.9415,
§8.1); cf. the Servant of the Lord, who died vicariously for the benefit of others
(Isa 52:13–53:12, §2.6).
3:1 ῏Ω2 ἀνόητοι Γαλάται, τίς ὑμᾶς ἐβάσκανεν, οἷς κατʼ 3 ὀφθαλμοὺς Ἰησοῦς
Χριστὸς προεγράφη ἐσταυρωμένος; 2 τοῦτο μόνον θέλω μαθεῖν ἀφʼ ὑμῶν· ἐξ4
ἔργων νόμου5 τὸ πνεῦμα ἐλάβετε ἢ ἐξ ἀκοῆς πίστεως;6 3 οὕτως ἀνόητοί ἐστε,
ἐναρξάμενοι πνεύματι νῦν σαρκὶ7 ἐπιτελεῖσθε; 4 τοσαῦτα ἐπάθετε εἰκῇ; – εἴ γε
καὶ(it was) εἰκῇ. 5 ὁ οὖν ἐπιχορηγῶν ὑμῖν τὸ πνεῦμα καὶ ἐνεργῶν δυνάμεις
ἐν ὑμῖν, (do so) ἐξ ἔργων νόμου ἢ ἐξ ἀκοῆς πίστεως; 6 Καθὼς8 Ἀβραὰμ
Ἐπίστευσεν τῷ θεῷ, καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς9 δικαιοσύνην (Gen 15:6)· 7
γινώσκετε ἄρα ὅτι οἱ ἐκ πίστεως,10 οὗτοι υἱοί11 εἰσιν Ἀβραάμ.12 8 προϊδοῦσα
δὲ ἡ γραφὴ ὅτι ἐκ πίστεως δικαιοῖ 13τὰ ἔθνη ὁ θεὸς, προευηγγελίσατο τῷ
Ἀβραὰμ ὅτι Ἐνευλογηθήσονται ἐν σοὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη· 9 ὥστε οἱ ἐκ πίστεως
εὐλογοῦνται σὺν τῷ πιστῷ Ἀβραάμ. 10 Ὅσοι γὰρ ἐξ ἔργων νόμου εἰσίν, ὑπὸ
κατάραν14 εἰσίν· γέγραπται γὰρ ὅτι Ἐπικατάρατος πᾶς ὃς οὐκ ἐμμένει πᾶσιν
τοῖς γεγραμμένοις ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τοῦ νόμου τοῦ ποιῆσαι αὐτά15 (Deut 27:26),16
11 ὅτι17 δὲ ἐν νόμῳ οὐδεὶς δικαιοῦται παρὰ τῷ θεῷ δῆλον, ὅτι Ὁ δίκαιος ἐκ
πίστεως ζήσεται18 (Hab 2:7). 12 ὁ δὲ νόμος οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκ πίστεως, ἀλλʼ Ὁ
ποιήσας αὐτὰ ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς. 13 Χριστὸς ἡμᾶς ἐξηγόρασεν ἐκ τῆς
κατάρας τοῦ νόμου γενόμενος19 ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν κατάρα, ὅτι γέγραπται·
Ἐπικατάρατος πᾶς20 ὁ κρεμάμενος21 ἐπὶ ξύλου(Deut 21:23), 14 ἵνα εἰς τὰ ἔθνη
ἡ εὐλογία τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ γένηται ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, ἵνα τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ
πνεύματος22 λάβωμεν διὰ τῆς πίστεως.
Vocabulary
ἀνόητος, -ον, lacking understanding, foolish βασκαίνω, exert an evil influence
through the evil eye, bewitch Γαλάτης, ὁ, Galatian δῆλος, -η, -ον, clear, plain,
evident; s.c., ἐστί (impers.), it is plain/evident εἰκῇ, to no avail ἐνάρχομαι,
begin, make a beginning ἐνευλογέω, provide with benefits, bless ἐξαγοράζω,
purchase something, ransom ἐπιχορηγέω, give, provide κατάρα, ἡ, curse
μανθάνω, 2aor. ἔμαθον,2aor. inf. μαθεῖν, 4. μεμάθηκα, pf. ptc. μεμαθηκώς:
learn; learn something from (ἀπό / gen.) somebody προγράφω, write above; set
forth as a public notice, advertise; exhibit in a public place; register/record
(names) προευαγγελίζομαι, proclaim good news in advance προοράω, foresee

1 Mark 5:1–14/Matt 8:28–34/Luke 8:26–39; cf. B. H. McLean, The Cursed

Christ: Mediterranean Expulsion Rituals and Pauline Soteriology (Sheffield:
JSOT Press, 1996), 65–104.

2 ὦ followed by voc. betraying emotion.

3 κατά, “before (your).”

4 ἐκ, “as a result of.”

5 Paul’s portrayal of the Jewish law is strongly influenced by the theology of

the Septuagint, which displays a marked tendency to ethicize the Torah,
understanding it as moral law, disconnected and isolated from the controlling
reality of the Sinai covenant. In contrast, Palestinian Jews understood the Torah
as a gift from God, and they understood the observance of Torah as a means of
grace (Hans Joachim Schoeps, Paul: The Theology of the Apostle in the Light of
Jewish Religious History, trans. H. Knight [Philadelphia: Westminster Press,
1961], 175–177).
6 πίστεως, gen. of def. (i.e., a kind of hearing that issues from faith) (cf. Gal
3:5).

7 σάρξ, as used by Paul, often has the connotation of the physical body that is
dominated by sin.

8 Paul is quoting Gen 15:6; κάθως is frequently used in the clause “just as it has
been written” (e.g., Rom 1:17, 2:24, 3:10, 4:17, 8:36). But sometimes the
accompanying clause, “it has been written,” is omitted and must be supplied by
the translator from the context.

9 Telic εἰς indicating end or goal (“for,” “as”).

10 οἱ ἐκ: just as English uses the ending “-ist” to denote a member of a certain
class, sect, or school of thought, HGr uses the prep. ἐκ for the same purpose: ὁ
ἐκ… / οἱ ἐκ… with gen. of what is characteristic of the class in question; e.g., ὀ
ἐκ πίστεως (Gal 3:7, 9); so also with verb “be” (Gal 3:10).

11 Gen. of def.; here it refers to one who reproduces in his own way of life the
characteristics of the life of another (e.g., “sons of Abraham,” “sons of the
devil,” “sons of God”).

12 υἱοί ... Ἀβραάμ (gen.),

13 Opt.

14 The phrase “under a curse” (ὑπὸ κατάραν) is related to the expression

“under the law” (ὑπὸ νόμον, Gal 4:4, 5; 5:18; Rom 6:14), since observing the
Torah according to Paul implies bearing its curse.

15 Art. inf. expressing purpose (cf. IV, 2).

16 Paul’s citation of Deut 27:26 is taken from the closing summary of the
curses pronounced on Mount Ebal. The “laws” to which Deut 27:26 refers are
limited in number: this verse specifies “the sayings of this law,” which is to say,
the twelve statutes previously cited in Deut 27:15–26. In contrast, Paul’s version
of Deut 27:26 includes the entire Jewish law. Paul’s addition of the phrase ἐν
τῷ βιβλίῳ τοῦ νόμου (imported from Deut 29:19) allows him to generalize the
application of Deut 27:26 and to warn that the selective observance of the Torah
has no future because the transgression of a single ordinance leads to bearing a
curse.

17 ὅτι can be used causally (“since,” “because”) and for explanation (“that”),
and both of these uses are found in Gal 3:11. However, which ὅτι declares what
is clear (epex. ὅτι) and which ὅτι gives the reason why it is clear (causal ὅτι)?

18 ζάω, ζήσεται, fut. mid. In Classical Greek, many active verbs take the
middle form in the future. Paul retains the middle form of ζάω when he quotes
the LXX but employs the active form, ζήσω, in his own free composition (cf.
Rom 6:2; 2 Cor 13:4).

19 γενόμνος…κατάρα: this is an example of metonymy. Metonymy sometimes

involves a reference to something concrete (here, a person who becomes the
object of a curse) in terms of a corresponding abstraction (e.g., a curse). Thus,
the idea of Christ becoming the object of a curse is replaced by something that is
logically related to it, namely becoming a curse itself.

20 The predicate position of πᾶς means “without exception”: e.g., πᾶς ὁ νόμος,
“the entire law without exception.” (In contrast, the attributive position would
denote the whole regarded as a sum its parts, i.e., “ the whole law.”)

21 S.v. κρεμάννυμι.

22 Gen. of defn.
 4.16. Galatians: Paul’s Use of Allegory
(Gal 4:21–5:12)

In this reading Paul employs the verb ἀλληγορέω (“to speak allegorically,” Gal
4:24), a term otherwise unattested in the New Testament. But outside the New
Testament, allegorical interpretation was widely employed by Jewish
commentators in the first century CE, such as Philo of Alexandria (20 BCE–50
CE), and by Stoic philosophers before them. The practice of allegorical
interpretation rests upon the assumption that some passages of scripture have a
deeper, hidden meaning beyond their literal meaning. From this perspective, the
purpose of allegorical interpretation is to make such hidden meaning explicit.
We must keep this distinction between literal and allegorical meaning in mind
when we consider Paul’s use of allegory in this passage, for his use of the
Septuagint is anything but literal. Paul presents the Jewish inhabitants of
Jerusalem allegorically as descendants of Hagar, who (like Hagar) were “born
into slavery.” He portrays the Gentiles as descendants of Sarah, who were “born
into the promise” of Abraham. Following the notable example of Paul’s use of
allegory in Gal 4, both Origen of Alexandria (On Principles, bk. 4) and
Augustine of Hippo (On Christian Doctrine, bk. 3) made extensive use of
allegorical interpretation in their reading of the Scriptures.
4:21 Λέγετέ μοι, οἱ ὑπὸ νόμον θέλοντες εἶναι, τὸν νόμον οὐκ ἀκούετε;1 22
γέγραπται γὰρ ὅτι Ἀβραὰμ δύο υἱοὺς ἔσχεν, ἕνα ἐκ τῆς παιδίσκης καὶ ἕνα ἐκ
τῆς ἐλευθέρας. 23 ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν2 ἐκ τῆς παιδίσκης κατὰ σάρκα3 γεγέννηται, ὁ δὲ
ἐκ τῆς ἐλευθέρας διʼ ἐπαγγελίας. 24 ἅτινά4 ἐστιν ἀλληγορούμενα·5 αὗται
(women) γάρ εἰσιν δύο διαθῆκαι, μία μὲν ἀπὸ ὄρους Σινᾶ εἰς δουλείαν
γεννῶσα, ἥτις ἐστὶν Ἁγάρ. 25 τὸ δὲ Ἁγὰρ6 Σινᾶ ὄρος ἐστὶν ἐν τῇ Ἀραβίᾳ·7
συστοιχεῖ δὲ τῇ νῦν8 Ἰερουσαλήμ, δουλεύει γὰρ μετὰ τῶν τέκνων αὐτῆς. 26 ἡ
δὲ ἄνω Ἰερουσαλὴμ (ἡ) ἐλευθέρα ἐστίν, ἥτις ἐστὶν μήτηρ ἡμῶν· 4:27
γέγραπται γάρ·

Εὐφράνθητι,9 (ἡ) στεῖρα10 ἡ οὐ τίκτουσα, ῥῆξον11 καὶ βόησον, ἡ οὐκ

ὠδίνουσα·
 ὅτι πολλὰ (are) τὰ τέκνα τῆς ἐρήμου12
μᾶλλον ἢ τῆς ἐχούσης τὸν ἄνδρα. (Isa 54:1)

28 Ὑμεῖς δέ, ἀδελφοί, κατὰ13 Ἰσαὰκ ἐπαγγελίας τέκνα ἐστέ. 29 ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ
τότε ὁ κατὰ σάρκα γεννηθεὶς ἐδίωκεν τὸν κατὰ πνεῦμα (γεννηθεὶς),14 οὕτως
καὶ νῦν. 30 ἀλλὰ τί λέγει ἡ γραφή; Ἔκβαλε τὴν παιδίσκην καὶ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς·
οὐ γὰρ μὴ κληρονομήσει15 ὁ υἱὸς τῆς παιδίσκης μετὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ τῆς ἐλευθέρας
(Gen 21:10).16 31 διό, ἀδελφοί, οὐκ ἐσμὲν παιδίσκης τέκνα ἀλλὰ τῆς
ἐλευθέρας.

Closing
5:1 Τῇ ἐλευθερίᾳ ἡμᾶς Χριστὸς ἠλευθέρωσεν· στήκετε οὖν καὶ μὴ πάλιν
ζυγῷ δουλείας ἐνέχεσθε. 2 Ἴδε ἐγὼ Παῦλος λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἐὰν περιτέμνησθε,
Χριστὸς ὑμᾶς οὐδὲν ὠφελήσει. 3 μαρτύρομαι δὲ πάλιν παντὶ ἀνθρώπῳ
περιτεμνομένῳ ὅτι ὀφειλέτης ἐστὶν ὅλον τὸν νόμον ποιῆσαι. 4 κατηργήθητε
ἀπὸ Χριστοῦ, οἵτινες ἐν νόμῳ δικαιοῦσθε, τῆς χάριτος ἐξεπέσατε. 5 ἡμεῖς
γὰρ πνεύματι ἐκ πίστεως ἐλπίδα δικαιοσύνης17 ἀπεκδεχόμεθα. 6 ἐν γὰρ
Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ οὔτε περιτομή τι ἰσχύει οὔτε ἀκροβυστία ἀλλὰ πίστις διʼ
ἀγάπης ἐνεργουμένη.
Vocabulary

ἀλληγορέω, speak allegorically ἀπεκδέχομαι, await eagerly δουλεία, ἡ,

slavery ἐκπίπτω, impf. pass. ἐξεπεμπόμην, 3. ἐξέπεσον: fall off; lose,
forfeit; run off course, run aground; be issued/published (of a decree);
resolve that (w. inf.); pass. come forth from ἐλευθερόω, set free, liberate
ἐνέχω, pass. be subject to, be loaded down with (w. dat.) ζυγός, ὁ, yoke
ἰσχύω, be able/strong; defeat, overcome; prevail against (κατά); be valid,
be in force; + inf., be able to, have the power to; (subst.) something strong;
dissolution, breaking up στεῖρα, ἡ, incapable of bearing children, infertile,
barren στήκω, to stand, stand firm συστοιχέω, correspond to ὠδίνω (w.
acc.), suffer labor pains

5:7 Ἐτρέχετε18 καλῶς· τίς ὑμᾶς ἐνέκοψεν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ μὴ πείθεσθαι;19 8 ἡ

πεισμονὴ (is) οὐκ ἐκ τοῦ καλοῦντος ὑμᾶς. 9 μικρὰ ζύμη ὅλον τὸ φύραμα
ζυμοῖ. 10 ἐγὼ πέποιθα20 εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐν κυρίῳ ὅτι οὐδὲν ἄλλο φρονήσετε· ὁ δὲ
ταράσσων ὑμᾶς βαστάσει τὸ κρίμα, ὅστις ἐὰν ᾖ. 11 Ἐγὼ δέ, ἀδελφοί, εἰ
περιτομὴν ἔτι κηρύσσω, τί ἔτι διώκομαι; ἄρα κατήργηται τὸ σκάνδαλον τοῦ
σταυροῦ. 12 Ὄφελον καὶ ἀποκόψονται οἱ ἀναστατοῦντες ὑμᾶς. 13 Ὑμεῖς γὰρ
ἐπʼ ἐλευθερίᾳ ἐκλήθητε, ἀδελφοί· μόνον μὴ (use) τὴν ἐλευθερίαν εἰς
ἀφορμὴν τῇ σαρκί, ἀλλὰ διὰ τῆς ἀγάπης δουλεύετε ἀλλήλοις.
Vocabulary

ἀναστατόω, to trouble, upset ἀποκόπτω, cut off, cut away; castrate; mid.
(reflexive) cut oneself, castrate oneself ἀφορμή, ἡ, starting point;
occasion, pretext ἐγκόπτω, to block, hinder ζύμη, ἡ, yeast, leaven ζυμόω,
to ferment, leaven καλῶς, rightly, well καλῶς ἂν ποιήσαις/ποιήσεις, lit.
“you would do well [to]”; fig. “please” (epistolary formula expressing a
polite request); “hurrah for,” “bravo for” (to approve the words of a
speaker) ὄφελον, particle that introduces a wish that is unfulfilled and
perhaps unattainable (“Oh that somebody might/would …”) πεισμονή, ἡ,
persuasion φύραμα, τό, lump of dough

1 I.e., “listen to.”

2 ὁ μέν…ὁ δέ…

3 κατὰ σάρκα, “according to earthly/natural decent.”

4 S.v. ὅστις, ἥτις, ὅτι.

5 Pres. periphr. (cf. IV, 18).

6 Ἀγάρ, indecl., “Hagar,” but note that it is neuter (τὸ Ἁγάρ), not feminine.
Therefore, this phrase should probably be translated “the (term) ‘Hagar’ means
(ἐστίν)....”

7 Ἀραβίᾳ (dat.) probably means “in Arabic,” not “in Arabia.” The Arabic term
ḥadjar (“rock”) was used with reference to mountains in the area of Mount
Sinai; hence, this could be translated “the (word) ‘Hagar’ (ḥadjar) is the name in
Arabic for Mount Sinai”; cf. Gal 1:17 (§4.5), where Paul mentions his sojourn in
Arabia, where he may have learned some Arabic.

8 νῦν, “present-day.”

9 Cf. table 9.3.4(b).

10 στεῖρα, here followed by a modifier in 1st pred. pos. (cf. IV, 19). The
reference to a “barren” wife is probably an illusion to Sarah, from whom Israel
was to come.

11 S.v. ῥήγνυμι.

12 This term refers back to (ἡ) στεῖρα.

13 κατά, “together with,” “just like.”

14 This verse alludes to an unknown extra-canonical tradition concerning

Ishmael and Isaac.

15 οὐ μή + fut. instead of the expected οὐ μή + aor. subj.

16 Paul presents this order as a command of “scripture.” But in Gen 21:10 it is

actually Sarah who, in a fit of anger, commanded Abraham with these words. In
the original context, Sarah’s words do not have the same finality and authority
that they seem to have in Paul’s citation of them here.

17 Epex. (explanatory) gen.

18 Cust. impf. (cf. IV, 13.2).

19 Pass. of πείθω (w. dat.) can mean “to obey,” “pay attention to.”
20 Through the epistolary confidence formula, ἐγὼ πέποιθα ὅτι, Paul tries to
lead the Galatians to obedience by rhetorically affirming his confidence in them.
 Part 5 High-Intermediate-Level Hellenistic Greek

Like Part 4, Part 5 consists of texts that were originally composed in Greek (in
contrast to the Septuagint). These texts exhibit the high literary aspirations of
their authors. They employ a broad range of Greek syntactical constructions and
vocabulary. The vocabulary lists in Part 5 do not repeat the bolded words in the
vocabulary lists Parts 1–4 (§§1.1–10, 2.1–6, 3.1–9, 4.1–11). All bolded
vocabulary is also compiled in the final glossary (§10).
 5.1. Acts: The People of Lystra Mistake Paul and
Barnabas for Hermes and Zeus

(Acts 14:1–20)
Fig. 8. Relief of sacrificial ox head wearing a garland, Ephesos
(photo: author).

Provenance: Probably outside of Palestine. Date: 80–110 CE.

The Book of Acts is the second part of a two-part work written by the author
of the Gospel of Luke. The reading in this section continues the story, begun in
Acts 13 (§5.12), of Paul’s journey on the “Augustan Highway” (via Sebaste). As
previously explained (§4.5), this highway connected the cities of Pisidian
Antioch, Ikonion, and Lystra, among others. The churches in these cities are
probably the so-called churches of Galatia to which Paul addressed his letter by
the same name.1
14:1 Ἐγένετο2 δὲ ἐν Ἰκονίῳ κατὰ τὸ αὐτὸ3 εἰσελθεῖν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν
συναγωγὴν τῶν Ἰουδαίων καὶ λαλῆσαι οὕτως ὥστε4 πιστεῦσαι Ἰουδαίων τε5
καὶ Ἐλλήνων πολὺ πλῆθος. 2 οἱ δὲ ἀπειθήσαντες Ἰουδαῖοι ἐπήγειραν καὶ
ἐκάκωσαν τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν ἐθνῶν κατὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν. 3 ἱκανὸν μὲν οὖν6
χρόνον διέτριψαν παρρησιαζόμενοι ἐπὶ7 τῷ κυρίῳ τῷ μαρτυροῦντι ἐπὶ τῷ
λόγῳ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ, διδόντι σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα γίνεσθαι διὰ τῶν χειρῶν
αὐτῶν. 4 ἐσχίσθη δὲ τὸ πλῆθος τῆς πόλεως, καὶ οἱ μὲν8 ἦσαν σὺν τοῖς
Ἰουδαίοις, οἱ δὲ σὺν τοῖς ἀποστόλοις. 5 ὡς9 δὲ ἐγένετο ὁρμὴ τῶν10 ἐθνῶν τε
καὶ Ἰουδαίων σὺν τοῖς ἄρχουσιν αὐτῶν ὑβρίσαι καὶ λιθοβολῆσαι αὐτούς, 6
συνιδόντες κατέφυγον εἰς τὰς πόλεις τῆς Λυκαονίας (namely) Λύστραν καὶ
Δέρβην καὶ τὴν περίχωρον, 7 κἀκεῖ11 εὐαγγελιζόμενοι ἦσαν.12
Vocabulary

ἀπειθέω, 3. ἠπείθησα, 1aor. ptc. ἀπειθήσας: disobey, be disobedient

Δέρβη, ἡ, city of Derbe (cf. Acts 14:20) διατρίβω, spend time ἐπεγείρω,
awaken; excite, stir up, rise up against, assault; pass. wake up ἱκανός, -ή, -
όν, sufficient, considerable; many, a number of; (adv.) ἱκανῶς, sufficiently,
adequately ᾿Ικόνιον, τό, Ikonion (Lat. Iconium) καταφεύγω, 1aor.
κατέφυγα/2aor. κατέφυγον: flee; take refuge λιθοβολέω, stone to death
Λυκαονία, Lycaonia (a province in the interior of Asia Minor) Λύστρα, ἡ/
τά, anomalously declined, Λύστροις (dat.), Λύστραν (acc.): Lystra, city
and Roman colony in Lykaonia (north of modern Hatunsaray, Turkey)
ὁρμή, ἡ, impulse παρρησιάζομαι, speak openly/freely συνοράω, become
aware of, perceive ὑβρίζω, insult, mistreat

14:8 Καί τις ἀνὴρ ἀδύνατος ἐν Λύστροις τοῖς ποσὶν13 ἐκάθητο, χωλὸς ἐκ
κοιλίας μητρὸς αὐτοῦ ὃς οὐδέποτε περιεπάτησεν. 9 οὗτος ἤκουσεν τοῦ
Παύλου λαλοῦντος· ὃς14 ἀτενίσας αὐτῷ καὶ ἰδὼν ὅτι ἔχει πίστιν τοῦ σωθῆναι,
10 εἶπεν μεγάλῃ φωνῇ· ἀνάστηθι15 ἐπὶ τοὺς πόδας σου ὀρθός. καὶ ἥλατο καὶ
περιεπάτει. 11 οἵ τε ὄχλοι ἰδόντες ὃ ἐποίησεν Παῦλος ἐπῆραν τὴν φωνὴν
αὐτῶν Λυκαονιστὶ λέγοντες· οἱ θεοὶ ὁμοιωθέντες ἀνθρώποις κατέβησαν πρὸς
ἡμᾶς, 12 ἐκάλουν16 τε τὸν Βαρναβᾶν Δία, τὸν δὲ Παῦλον Ἑρμῆν, ἐπειδὴ
αὐτὸς ἦν ὁ ἡγούμενος17 τοῦ λόγου. 13 ὅ τε18 ἱερεὺς τοῦ Διὸς τοῦ ὄντος19 πρὸ
τῆς πόλεως ταύρους καὶ στέμματα ἐπὶ τοὺς πυλῶνας ἐνέγκας σὺν τοῖς ὄχλοις
ἤθελεν θύειν.
Vocabulary

ἀδύνατος, -ον, impossible; weak, crippled ἅλλομαι, 3. ἡλάμην: to leap

(up) ἐπαίρω, 3. ἐπῆρα, 1aor ptc. ἐπάρας: lift up something, hoist Ἑρμῆς,
-οῦ, ὁ, Hermes, the messenger of the gods; Mercury (the planet) Ζεύς, ὁ,
Διός (gen.), Διί (dat.), Δία (acc.), Ζεῦ (voc.), Zeus ἱερεύς, -έως, ὁ, priest;
 ἐπὶ ἱερέως, during the priesthood of so-and-so Λυκαονιστί, adv. in the
Lycaonian (language) ξένος, -η, -ον, strange, foreign; subst. a stranger,
foreigner; guest ὁμοιόω, make like, become like (w. dat.) ὀρθός, -ή, -όν,
upright, erect; straight, true, correct; ὀρθῶς, correctly, rightly, strictly;
normally, in good order; duly οὐδέποτε, never πυλών, -ῶνος, ὁ, city gate;
gateway, door στέμμα, garland (hung around the neck of victims for
sacrifice) ταῦρος, ὁ, bull χωλός, -ή, -όν, lame, unable to walk

14:14 Ἀκούσαντες δὲ οἱ ἀπόστολοι Βαρναβᾶς καὶ Παῦλος διαρρήξαντες τὰ

ἱμάτια αὐτῶν ἐξεπήδησαν εἰς τὸν ὄχλον κράζοντες 15 καὶ λέγοντες· ἄνδρες, τί
ταῦτα ποιεῖτε; καὶ ἡμεῖς ὁμοιοπαθεῖς ἐσμεν ὑμῖν ἄνθρωποι εὐαγγελιζόμενοι
ὑμᾶς ἀπὸ τούτων τῶν ματαίων ἐπιστρέφειν ἐπὶ θεὸν ζῶντα, ὃς ἐποίησεν τὸν
οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐν αὐτοῖς (Exod 20:11)·
16 ὃς ἐν ταῖς παρῳχημέναις γενεαῖς εἴασεν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη πορεύεσθαι ταῖς
ὁδοῖς αὐτῶν·
Vocabulary

ἐάω, pres. mid. inf. ἐᾶσθαι, impf. εἴων, 2. ἐάσω, 3. εἴασα: allow, permit;
leave, let go; mid. be left to oneself ἐκπηδάω, rush out μάταιος, -α, -ον,
empty, useless, powerless; foolish
ὁμοιοπαθής, -ές, of the same nature παροίχομαι, be past

14:17 καίτοι οὐκ ἀμάρτυρον αὐτὸν ἀφῆκεν ἀγαθουργῶν, οὐρανόθεν ὑμῖν

ὑετοὺς διδοὺς καὶ καιροὺς καρποφόρους, ἐμπιπλῶν τροφῆς καὶ εὐφροσύνης
τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν. 18 καὶ ταῦτα λέγοντες μόλις κατέπαυσαν τοὺς ὄχλους τοῦ
μὴ θύειν20 αὐτοῖς. 19 Ἐπῆλθαν δὲ ἀπὸ Ἀντιοχείας καὶ Ἰκονίου Ἰουδαῖοι καὶ
πείσαντες21 τοὺς ὄχλους καὶ λιθάσαντες τὸν Παῦλον ἔσυρον ἔξω τῆς πόλεως
νομίζοντες αὐτὸν τεθνηκέναι. 20 κυκλωσάντων δὲ τῶν μαθητῶν22 αὐτὸν
ἀναστὰς εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὴν πόλιν. Καὶ τῇ ἐπαύριον ἐξῆλθεν σὺν τῷ Βαρναβᾷ
εἰς Δέρβην.
Vocabulary

Ἀντιόχεια, ἡ, Antioch, either Syrian Antioch (on the Orontes River) or

Pisidian Antioch ἐπαύριον (adv.), the next day καίτοι, although, and yet
ἀγαθουργέω, show kindness ἀμάρτυρος, -ον, without witness
εὐφροσύνη, ἡ, joy, cheerfulness θνῄσκω, 3. ἔθανον, ptc. θανών, pf. inf.
 θνηκέναι: die, be dead; subst. the deceased καρποφόρος, -ον, fruitful
καταπαύω, restrain, dissuade λιθάζω, 1aor. ptc. λίθασας: stone somebody
(as a means of execution) οὐρανόθεν, from heaven σύρω, drag, pull ὑετός,
ὁ, rain

1 See S. Mitchell, Anatolia, 2 vols. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993), I, 7, 70,

76–78 (map), 125 (photo); II, 6.

2 ἐγένετο + inf. + acc., “it came about ... that they (αὐτούς).... ”

3 κατὰ τὸ αὐτό = “in the same way” (i.e., as they did before in Antioch).

4 οὕτως ὥστε, “in such a way that” + inf.

5 τε postpos.

6 μὲν οὖν, “so then” (postpos.)

7 ἐπί + dat. supplying ground for action (“relying on”).

8 οἱ μέν...οἱ δέ....

9 ὡς of time (“when”).

10 τῶν, “on the part of.”

11 κἀκεῖ > καὶ ἐκεῖ.

12 Impf. periph. (cf. IV, 18).

13 ἀδύνατος ... τοῖς ποσίν (s.v. πούς, dat. of respect).

14 ὅς, dem. pron. (“this man, he”) (cf. Acts 14:16); take with εἶπεν.

15 Cf. table 9.12.2(f).

16 Incept. impf. (cf. IV, 13.5).

17 ὁ ἡγούμενος τοῦ λόγου, “the chief speaker.”

18 ὅ τε = ὁ τέ (τέ is enclitic).

19 Διός τοῦ ὄντος, “of Zeus who(se temple) was” (i.e., the temple of Zeus at
the entrance of the city). The epigraphical evidence from this region
demonstrates that Zeus was often associated with Hermes. For example, a bust
of Zeus holding an eagle (the bird of Zeus) and accompanied by his personal
messenger, Hermes, has recently been unearthed, bearing the inscription
“Neikomas, son of Alexander, (fulfilled) a vow to Zeus Ampelites (i.e., protector
of vines)” (Louis Robert, “Documents d’Asie Mineure,” BCH 107 [1983], 497–
599, esp. 539–342 [fig. 17]; L. Robert, Opera minora selecta: Epigraphie et
antiquités grecque.s Amsterdam: A. M. Hakkert, 1969], II, 1357–1160). The
concentration of the evidence in the area around Lystra confirms that this
narrative is rooted in the local culture of this particular region. It is also
noteworthy that in Gal 4:14, Paul writes that he had been received as though he
were the “messenger” (i.e., Hermes) of god/God, a phrase that seems to recall
this incident. The crowd’s identification of Barnabas and Paul as the gods Zeus
and Hermes respectively and the plan of the priest of Zeus to offer a sacrifice to
them demonstrate that the townspeople understood Paul’s act of healing as a
divine benefaction.

20 Art. inf. (cf. IV, 2).

21 S.v. πείθω.

22 Gen. absol. (cf. IV, 9).

 5.2. Acts: Paul Preaches to the Epicurean and Stoic
Philosophers
(Acts 17:16–34)

17:16 Ἐν δὲ ταῖς Ἀθήναις ἐκδεχομένου αὐτοὺς1 τοῦ Παύλου2 παρωξύνετο3 τὸ

πνεῦμα αὐτοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ θεωροῦντος κατείδωλον οὖσαν τὴν πόλιν. 17 διελέγετο
μὲν οὖν ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις καὶ τοῖς σεβομένοις καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀγορᾷ
κατὰ4 πᾶσαν ἡμέραν πρὸς τοὺς παρατυγχάνοντας. 18 τινὲς δὲ καὶ τῶν
Ἐπικουρείων καὶ Στοϊκῶν φιλοσόφων συνέβαλλον αὐτῷ, καί τινες ἔλεγον· τί
ἂν θέλοι5 ὁ σπερμολόγος οὗτος λέγειν; οἱ δέ·6 ξένων δαιμονίων δοκεῖ
καταγγελεὺς εἶναι, ὅτι τὸν Ἰησοῦν καὶ τὴν ἀνάστασιν7 εὐηγγελίζετο.
Vocabulary

ἀγορά, ἡ, marketplace (of a city); Ἀθῆναι, -ῶν, αἱ, Athens δαιμόνιον,

τό, god; semi-divine go/spirit; demon, evil spirit διαλέγω, aor. pass. ptc.
(dep.) διαλεχθείς: examine, check; mid. debate with (w. dat.), converse
with, discourse, instruct, lecture ἐκδέχομαι, expect, look forward to, wait
for somebody (acc.) πικούρειος, ὁ, Epicurean philosopher (i.e., a
follower of Epicurus) καταγγελεύς, ὁ, proclaimer κατείδωλος, -ον, full of
cult images ξένος, -η, -ον, strange, foreign; subst. a stranger, foreigner;
guest παρατυγχάνω, 2aor. ptc. παρατυχών: be somewhere by chance, be
present
παροξύνω, become enraged, exasperated σέβω/ομαι, to worship,
reverence; mid. ptc. subst. σεβόμενοι, god-fearers (i.e., Gentiles who took
part in synagogue services without becoming fully-entitled members of the
Jewish religious community [προσήλυτοι]) Σοϊκός, ὁ, Stoic philosopher
σπερμολόγος, ὁ, dabbler8
συμβάλλω (w. dat.), impf. συνέβαλλον: converse with, engage in an
argument; communicate (a proposal/motion) φιλοσόφος, ὁ, philosopher;
adj. φιλοσόφος, -ον; superl. φιλοσοφώτατος, most philosophical
 17:19 ἐπιλαβόμενοί τε αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἄρειον πάγον ἤγαγον λέγοντες·
Δυνάμεθα γνῶναι τίς9 ἡ καινὴ αὕτη ἡ ὑπὸ σοῦ λαλουμένη διδαχή;10 20
ξενίζοντα γάρ τινα εἰσφέρεις εἰς τὰς ἀκοὰς ἡμῶν· βουλόμεθα οὖν γνῶναι τίνα
θέλει ταῦτα εἶναι.11 21 (Ἀθηναῖοι δὲ πάντες καὶ οἱ ἐπιδημοῦντες ξένοι εἰς
οὐδὲν ἕτερον ἠυκαίρουν ἢ λέγειν τι ἢ ἀκούειν τι καινότερον.)12
Vocabulary

θηναῖος, -α, -ον, Αthenian (adj.); subst. ὁ θηναῖος, the Athenian

ἀκοή, ἡ, (faculty of) hearing; act of hearing; ear; account, report;
obedience; pl. αἱ ἀκοαί, ears; chamber where the voice of Aklepios is heard
Ἄρειος πάγος, Areopagus13
εἰσφέρω, bring in/to (εἰς); introduce; enter into (πρός) the presence of a
high official; mid. contribute/pay, provide ἐπιδημέω, come to stay in a
city, reside temporarily in a place (i.e., resident aliens); live at home; stay at
home ἐπιλαμβάνω, 5. ἐπείλημμαι: take hold of something, overtake, seize;
pass. be imprisoned εὐρκαιρέω, have leisure/time καινός, -ή, -όν, new,
strange; comp. καινότερος
ξενίζω, entertain as a guest; to surprise, startle; nt. pl. ptc., strange
things/notions

17:22 Σταθεὶς14 δὲ ὁ Παῦλος ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ Ἀρείου πάγου ἔφη· Ἄνδρες

Ἀθηναῖοι, κατὰ πάντα ὡς δεισιδαιμονεστέρους ὑμᾶς θεωρῶ. 23 διερχόμενος
γὰρ καὶ ἀναθεωρῶν τὰ σεβάσματα ὑμῶν εὗρον καὶ βωμὸν ἐν ᾧ
ἐπεγέγραπτο· Ἀγνώστῳ θεῷ.15 ὃ οὖν ἀγνοοῦντες εὐσεβεῖτε, τοῦτο ἐγὼ
καταγγέλλω ὑμῖν. 24 ὁ θεὸς ὁ ποιήσας τὸν κόσμον καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐν αὐτῷ,
οὗτος οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς ὑπάρχων κύριος οὐκ ἐν χειροποιήτοις ναοῖς κατοικεῖ
25 οὐδὲ ὑπὸ χειρῶν ἀνθρωπίνων θεραπεύεται προσδεόμενός16 τινος, αὐτὸς
διδοὺς πᾶσι ζωὴν καὶ πνοὴν καὶ τὰ πάντα· 26 ἐποίησέν τε ἐξ ἑνὸς17 πᾶν
ἔθνος ἀνθρώπων κατοικεῖν18 ἐπὶ παντὸς προσώπου τῆς γῆς, ὁρίσας
προστεταγμένους19 καιροὺς20 καὶ τὰς ὁροθεσίας τῆς κατοικίας αὐτῶν, 27
ζητεῖν τὸν θεόν, εἰ ἄρα γε ψηλαφήσειαν21 αὐτὸν καὶ εὕροιεν,22 καί γε οὐ
μακρὰν ἀπὸ ἑνὸς ἑκάστου ἡμῶν ὑπάρχοντα.
Vocabulary

ἄγνωστος, -ον, unknown ἀναθεωρέω, examine/observe carefully

 ἀνθρώπινος, -η, -ον, belonging/suited to humans, common to humanity,
human βωμός, ὁ, altar δεισιδαίμων, -ον, religious/devout; comp.
δεισιδαιμονέστερος, exceptionally religious ἐπιγράφω, write on/in;
inscribe on ἐυσεβέω, worship/reverence (gods) κατοικία, ἡ, dwelling
place; territory (for habitation) μακράν, adv., far (away) ὁρίζω, set limits;
appoint, set; administer an oath; pass. be fixed/determined; be limited
ὁροθεσία, ἡ, fixed boundaries
προσδέομαι, have need of something (gen.) προστάσσω, pf. pass. ptc.
προστεταγμένος: command, order (w. dat.); pass. be fixed, determined
σέβασμα, τό, object of worship/religious devotion χειροποίητος, -ον, made
by hand ψηλαφάω, feel around for, grope for

17:28 ἐν αὐτῷ γὰρ ζῶμεν καὶ κινούμεθα καὶ ἐσμέν, ὡς καί τινες τῶν καθʼ23
ὑμᾶς ποιητῶν εἰρήκασιν· Τοῦ24 γὰρ καὶ γένος ἐσμέν.25 29 γένος οὖν
ὑπάρχοντες τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ὀφείλομεν νομίζειν26 χρυσῷ ἢ ἀργύρῳ ἢ λίθῳ,
χαράγματι τέχνης καὶ ἐνθυμήσεως ἀνθρώπου, τὸ θεῖον εἶναι ὅμοιον.27 30 τοὺς
μὲν οὖν χρόνους τῆς ἀγνοίας ὑπεριδὼν ὁ θεός, τὰ νῦν28 παραγγέλλει τοῖς
ἀνθρώποις (that) πάντας29 πανταχοῦ μετανοεῖν,30 31 καθότι ἔστησεν ἡμέραν ἐν
ᾗ μέλλει κρίνειν τὴν οἰκουμένην ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ, ἐν31 ἀνδρὶ ᾧ32 ὥρισεν,
πίστιν33 παρασχὼν πᾶσιν ἀναστήσας34 αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν. 32 Ἀκούσαντες δὲ
ἀνάστασιν νεκρῶν οἱ μὲν35 ἐχλεύαζον, οἱ δὲ εἶπαν· Ἀκουσόμεθά σου περὶ
τούτου καὶ πάλιν. 33 οὕτως ὁ Παῦλος ἐξῆλθεν ἐκ μέσου αὐτῶν. 34 τινὲς δὲ
ἄνδρες κολληθέντες αὐτῷ ἐπίστευσαν, ἐν οἷς καὶ Διονύσιος36 ὁ Ἀρεοπαγίτης
καὶ γυνὴ ὀνόματι Δάμαρις37 καὶ ἕτεροι σὺν αὐτοῖς.
Vocabulary

Ἀρεοπαγίτης, -ου, ὁ, Areopagite (member of the Council of the Areopagus)

ἐνθύμησις, ἡ, thought, idea θεῖος, -α, -ον, divine; τὸ θεῖον, deity, the
Divinity, divine substance; τὰ θεῖα, acts of the gods; (adv.) θείως, divinely
καθότι, to swear (an oath) that; because (= διότι) κινέω, move; stir up;
pass. be moved/resolved (of an inward personal disposition) κολλάω, join
with, associate with
ὀφείλω/έω, 2. ὀφειλήσω, 3. ὠφείλησα: owe somebody something, be
indebted to somebody; be obligated to, should/must (w. inf.); ἁμαρτίαν
ὀφείλω (w. dat.), incur sin against πανταχοῦ, everywhere παραγγέλλω,
command/instruct somebody (dat.); subst. ptc. instructions, things
 announced παρέχω, 3. παρέσχον, 2aor. ptc. παρασχών: to provide/give;
+inf., to allow/grant to somebody (dat.) to do something ποιητής, ὁ, poet
τέχνη, ἡ, trade, skill, craftsmanship ὑπεροράω, overlook χάραγμα, τό,
work of sculpture χλεύαζω, jeer, mock

1 αὐτούς, i.e., Silas and Timothy, who were traveling from Berea (Acts 17:10–
15).

2 Παύλου functions in gen. absol. constructions with both ἐκδεχομένου and

θεωροῦντος.

3 Iter. impf.

4 Distributive κατά (“every”).

5 Cf. table 9.1.3.

6 οἱ δέ, “and others (said).”

7 ἀνάστασιν, here misunderstood polytheistically as a Greek goddess named

“Anastasis” or “Resurrection” (“Ανάστασις), standing alongside Jesus.

8 This term was originally used to describe birds that pick up grain and scrap
collectors who search the marketplace for junk. It later came to be applied to
anyone who snapped up ideas of others without understanding them and then
spread the ideas about as his own.

9 τίς, fm. (“what”), agreeing with διδαχή.

10 ἡ καινὴ αὕτη ἡ...διδαχή, modifier in 2nd attri. pos.

11 τίνα θέλει ταῦτα εἶναι, lit. “what these things want to be” (i.e., what these
things mean).

12 Comp. for superl.

13 The meaning of this term is unclear (cf. Acts 17:22). The supreme Athenian
Council was named the “Areopagus” (or “Mars Hill”) because this was the
original place where the Council used to meet. However, a reference to the
Council in Acts 17:19 seems doubtful because the public was excluded from its
meetings. Moreover, the Council did not deal with questions of religious
doctrine. Of course, this term also designates the rocky summit in front of the
Athenian Acropolis. However, there would be insufficient room on this summit
to accommodate the large crowd presupposed by Acts 17.

14 Cf. table 9.12.7 (“took his stand”).

15 The most relevant piece of archaeological evidence for this cult is a

mutilated inscription from Pergamon (cf. P. W. van der Horst, “The Altar of the
‘Unknown God’ in Athens [17:23] and the Cult of ‘Unknown Gods’ in the
Hellenistic and Roman Periods,” ANRW (Berlin: W. de Gruyter, 1984), II, 18.2,
1426–1456).

16 Causal adv. ptc. (“because,” cf. IV, 1.4).

17 “From one (person)” (i.e., from Adam).

18 κατοκεῖν (inf.) depends on ἐποίησεν and is followed by inf. of purpose

(ζητεῖν, 17:27).

19 S.v. προστάσσω.

20 καιροί, either “seasons” of the year or “epochs” of history.

21 Cf. table 1.3(b).

22 Aor., cf. table 1.3 (a); 2aor verbs in non-indicative moods have the same
endings as the present tense of the same mood.

23 κατά is sometimes possesive (“your”).

24 τοῦ, “of/from him.”

25 Quoting a verse of poetry from the poet Aratus (Phaenomena 1.5).

26 νομίζειν...τὸ θεῖον εἶναι ὅμοιον.

27 ὅμοιος, -α, -ον often takes the dative (χρυσῷ ἢ ἀργύρῳ ...).

28 τὰ νῦν, “now.”

29 πάντας (acc.), subject of inf.

30 Imperatival inf.

31 ἐν, instr. (“by”).

32 ᾧ for ὅν, attr. rel. to case of the antecedent, ἀνδρί.

33 πίστις, “assurance.”

34 Adv. ptc. of means (“by”).

35 οἱ μέν...οἱ δέ....

36 Διονύσιος, Dionysios (cf. Acts 17:34).

37 Damaris (fm.).
 5.3. Acts: Burning the Handbooks of Magicians
(Acts 19:11–20) The story opens with Paul living in Ephesos:
19:11 Δυνάμεις1 τε2 οὐ τὰς τυχούσας3 ὁ θεὸς ἐποίει4 διὰ τῶν
χειρῶν Παύλου, 12 ὥστε5 καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀσθενοῦντας
ἀποφέρεσθαι6 ἀπὸ τοῦ χρωτὸς αὐτοῦ7 σουδάρια ἢ σιμικίνθια
καὶ (τοὺς ἀσθενοῦντας) ἀπαλλάσσεσθαι ἀπʼ αὐτῶν τὰς νόσους,
τά τε πνεύματα τὰ πονηρὰ ἐκπορεύεσθαι. 13 Ἐπεχείρησαν δέ
τινες καὶ τῶν περιερχομένων Ἰουδαίων ἐξορκιστῶν ὀνομάζειν
ἐπὶ τοὺς ἔχοντας τὰ πνεύματα τὰ πονηρὰ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ κυρίου
Ἰησοῦ λέγοντες· Ὁρκίζω ὑμᾶς τὸν Ἰησοῦν ὃν Παῦλος κηρύσσει.

Vocabulary

ἀπαλλάσσω, 6. dep. ἀπηλλάγην, 2aor. pass. ptc. ἀπαλλαγείς,

fut. pass. ἀπαλλαγήσομαι: make something go away; pass. be
released/separated from (ἀπό), be cured of ἐκπορεύομαι, go
away, come out (of gods/evil spirits) ἐξορκιστής, ὁ, exorcist
ἐπιχειρέω, endeavor, try νόσος, ἡ, disease, illness ὀνομάζω,
to name/call something (by a certain name); utter a name
(acc.) (for magical purposes) on (ἐπί) somebody
ὁρκίζω, make somebody swear an oath to somebody (acc.),
swear by the name (τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ) of somebody; to
solemnly command/bind somebody by magically invoking
somebody (acc.) περιέρχομαι, be itinerant; make a circuit
σιμικίνθιον, τό (Lat. loanw. semi-cinctium), apron
σπουδάριον, τό (Lat. loanw. sudarium), handkerchief
τυγχάνω, pres. fm. ptc. τυχοῦσα, 2aor. ἔτυχον, 2aor. 3rd sg.
subj. τήχῃ, inf. τυχεῖν, pf. ptc. τετ(ε)υχώς: gain, experience;
 happen, turn out (as a result); happen to be; gain/receive
something (gen.), attain to (ἐπί); obtain one’s request (w.
gen.); ἔτυχεν δέ, “and it came to pass that (w. acc.)”; adj. ptc.
ordinary, everyday χρώς, -ωτός, ὁ, skin; ἀπὸ τοῦ χρωτὸς
αὐτοῦ, from (contact with) his skin

19:14 Ἦσαν8 δέ τινος Σκευᾶ Ἰουδαίου ἀρχιερέως ἑπτὰ υἱοὶ9

τοῦτο ποιοῦντες. 15 ἀποκριθὲν δὲ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ πονηρὸν εἶπεν
αὐτοῖς· τὸν μὲν10 Ἰησοῦν γινώσκω καὶ τὸν Παῦλον ἐπίσταμαι,
ὑμεῖς δὲ τίνες ἐστέ; 16 καὶ ἐφαλόμενος11 ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐπʼ
αὐτοὺς ἐν ᾧ ἦν τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ πονηρόν, κατακυριεύσας
ἀμφοτέρων ἴσχυσεν κατʼ αὐτῶν ὥστε12 γυμνοὺς καὶ
τετραυματισμένους ἐκφυγεῖν ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου ἐκείνου. 17 τοῦτο δὲ
ἐγένετο γνωστὸν πᾶσιν Ἰουδαίοις τε καὶ Ἕλλησιν τοῖς
κατοικοῦσιν τὴν Ἔφεσον καὶ ἐπέπεσεν φόβος ἐπὶ πάντας
αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐμεγαλύνετο τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ.
Vocabulary

ἀρχιερεύς, -έως, ὁ, high priest γνωστός, -η, -ον, known;

subst. knowledge ἐπίσταμαι, know, understand ἐφάλλομαι,
leap upon (ἐπί) somebody Ἔφεσος, ἡ, Ephesos ἰσχύω, be
able/strong; defeat, overcome; prevail against (κατά); be
valid, be in force; + inf., be able to, have the power to; subst.,
something strong; dissolution, breaking up κατακυριεύω,
subdue, overpower μεγαλύνω, praise, glorify, exalt πρᾶξις, -
εως, ἡ, way of acting/conducting; action/deed; (magical)
ritual Σκευᾶ, -ᾶς, ὁ, Skeva, who was the high priest
τραυματίζω, to wound

18 Πολλοί τε τῶν πεπιστευκότων ἤρχοντο ἐξομολογούμενοι καὶ

ἀναγγέλλοντες τὰς πράξεις αὐτῶν. 19 ἱκανοὶ δὲ τῶν τὰ περίεργα
 πραξάντων συνενέγκαντες13 τὰς βίβλους κατέκαιον ἐνώπιον
πάντων, καὶ συνεψήφισαν τὰς τιμὰς αὐτῶν καὶ εὗρον (it was)
ἀργυρίου μυριάδας πέντε. 20 Οὕτως κατὰ κράτος τοῦ κυρίου ὁ
λόγος ηὔξανεν καὶ ἴσχυεν.
Vocabulary

αὐξάνω/αὐξω, 3. ηὔχανον: to make grow/increase; pass. to

grow/increase in size/numbers/strength κατακαίω (Att.
κατακάω), impf. κατέκαιον, 2. κατακαύσω: burn completely,
burn up κράτος, -ους, τό, power; κατὰ κράτος, powerfully,
mightily περίεργος, -ον, belonging to magic; τὰ περίεργα
πράσσειν, practice magic14
πράσσω (Att. πράττω), 3. ἔπραξα, 1aor. ptc. πράξας, 1aor
pass. ptc. πραχθείς: do something; commit an act; achieve,
accomplish, be busy with; τὰ περίεργα πράσσειν, practice
magic; charge somebody money for something; pass. take
place, happen συμφέρω, to help, be advantageous; bring
together, collect; (impers.) it is useful/good/best; subst. (nt.
ptc.) (τὸ) συμφέρον, what is useful/best/beneficial; the welfare
συμψυφίζω, add up, calculate the value (τιμή) of something

1 Here “works of power.”

2 Postpos.

3 (τὰς) Δυνάμεις...οὐ τὰς τυχούσας (s.v. τυγχάνω).

4 Iter. impf. (cf. IV, 13.3).

 5 ὥστε followed by three infinitives (cf. IV, 15).

6 Subj. of the inf. is σουδάρια ἢ σιμικίνθια.

7 I.e., Paul’s.

8 ἦσαν...ποιοῦντες, impf. perphr. (cf. IV, 18).

9 ἑπτὰ υἱοί, subject of sentence.

10 μέν...δέ....

11 ἐφαλόμενος...ἐ αὐτούς.

12 ὥστε + inf.

13 S.v. συμφέρω.

14 Cf. reference to ἔργα μαγικά in Acts Thom. 89:6 (§5.10).

 5.4. A Magical Handbook

(PGM XIII, 230–334)

Fig. 9. Relief of man holding a bird, Konya (IKonya 86).

Provenance: Egypt.
Date: Fourth century CE.
Text: PGM XIII, 230–334 (pp. 99–104); translated by Hans Dieter Betz (ed.),
The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation including the Demotic Spells, 2nd ed.
(Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1992), 179–182.
The Greek magical papyri are a body of papyri from Greco-Roman Egypt,
dating from the second century BCE to the fifth century CE. These papyri
include a plethora of magical spells, remedies, hymns, and rituals. These texts
are syncretistic, comprising a mixture of Egyptian, Greek Babylonian, Jewish,
and Christian elements, with the Greek god Apollo Helios being invoked most
frequently.
The text in this section is an excerpt from a magical handbook entitled the
“Eight Books of Moses.”1 This text begins with a lengthy description of
initiation ritual (not printed here). The handbook then continues with a lengthy
collection of magical spells for various occasions. Each spell is introduced with
a clause indicating the particular purpose of the spell (e.g., “If you want to do
such-and-such” or “If you want to make such-and-such happen ...”).
Throughout this handbook, one is repeatedly instructed to “say the Name” (or
“write the Name”).2 This instruction concerns the utterance of the full name of
the primary deity, which is revealed in the course of a rite previously described:
“When the god comes in, look down and write the things he says and the Name
which he gives you for himself” (l. 211). As in the case of PGM IV, 1496–1595
(§7.3), the use of capital letters indicates magical words that were probably
untranslatable even by the intended users of this manual.
Related Readings: PGM IV, 1496–1595, XXXVI, 320–332 (§7.3).
Lines 230–236
Ὑποτάξω δέ σοι, τέκνον, καὶ τὰς χρείας τῆς ἱερᾶς βίβλου, ἃς πάντες οἱ
σοφισταὶ ἐτέλησαν ἀπὸ ταύτης ἱερᾶς καὶ μακάριδος βίβλου. ὡς ἐξώρκισά
σε, τέκνον, ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ τῷ ἐν Ἱερωσολύμῳ, πλησθεὶς3 τῆς θεοσοφίας
ἀνεύρετον ποίησον τὴν βίβλον.
ἔστιν οὖν (ἡ) πρώτη (of these uses) ἡ θαυμάσιος ἀμαυρά (spell)· λαβὼν
ὠὸν ἱέρακος τὸ ἥμισυ αὐτοῦ χρύσωσον, τὸ δὲ ἄλλο ἥμισυ χρῖσον
κινναβάρει. τοῦτο φορῶν ἀθεώρητος ἔσῃ ἐπιλέγων τὸ ὄνομα.
Vocabulary

ἀθεώρητος, -ον, invisible (cf. l. 330) ἀμαυρά, ἡ, invisibility ἀνεύρετος, -

ον, undiscovered, not found; ἀνεύρετον ποίησον, lit. “make undiscovered,”
i.e., dispose of, hide μάκαρ, -άριδος (m./fm.), blessed (cf. l. 341) βίβλος/
βύβλος, ὁ, Egyptian papyrus; a scroll of papyrus (book) ἐπιλέγω, 3.
ἔπειπον: utter a spell, pronounce a magical word ἥμισυς, -εια, -υ, τό, (the)
half; μέχρι τοῦ ἡμίσους, up to the middle (of one’s body) θαυμάσιος, -α, -
ον, wonderful, excellent; superl. θαυμασιώτατος, -η, -ον, most
admirable/excellent/wonderful; τὰ θαυμάσια, marvels, wonders θεοσοφία,
ἡ, divine wisdom ἱέραξ, -ακος, ὁ, falcon κιννάβαρι, -εως, τό, cinnabar
(vermilion), a red pigment made from mercuric sulfide σοφιστής, ὁ,
master, expert ὑποτάσσω, make subject; append; pass. be subjected to
χρυσόω, make golden, gild ὠόν, τό, egg
Lines 236–245
 Ἐπὶ4 δὲ ἀγωγῆς·5 (facing) πρὸς τὸν ἥλιον εἰπὲ γ´6 τὸ ὄνομα· (This spell)
ἄγει γυναῖκα ἀνδρὶ καὶ ἄνδρα γυναικὶ (in a way) ὥστε θαυμάσαι.
ἐάν τινα θέλῃς μὴ ῥικνῶσαι (ἢ) πρὸς ἄνδρα γυναῖκα ἢ ἄνδρα πρὸς
γυναῖκα· λαβὼν ἀφόδευμα κυνὸς βάλε κατὰ τοῦ στροφέως τῆς θύρας αὐτῶν
εἰπὼν τὸ ὄνομα γ´, λέγων· Διακόπτω τὸν δεῖνα ἀπὸ τοῦ δεῖνος.7
ἐάν δαιμονιζομένῳ εἴπῃς τὸ ὄνομα προσάγων τῇ ῥινὶ αὐτοῦ8 θεῖον καὶ
ἄσφαλτον, εὐθέως (the demon) λαλήσει, καὶ ἀπελεύσεται. ἐάν εἴπῃς (τὸ
ὄνομα) ἐπὶ ἐρυσιπέλατος, χρίσας αὐτὸν κορκοδείλου ἀφοδεύματι, εὐθέως
ἀπαλλαγήσεται (the disease).
Vocabulary

ἀγωγή, ἡ, policy; love spell ἀπαλλάσσω (Att. ἀπαλλάττω), 6.

ἀπηλλάγην, 2aor. pass. ptc. ἀπαλλαγείς, fut. pass. ἀπαλλαγήσομαι: make
something go away; pass. be released/separated from (ἀπό); be cured of
ἄσφαλτος, ἡ, bitumen, asphalt ἀφόδευμα, -ματος, τό, excrement
δαιμονίζομαι, be possessed by a demon/hostile spirit δεῖνα, ὁ/ἡ, τοῦ
δεῖνος, τῷ δεῖνι, τὸν δεῖνα: so-and-so διακόπτω, sever ἐρυσιπέλας, -ατος,
τό, erysipelas (red skin);9 here “somebody suffering from erysipelas”
θεῖον, τό, sulfur (used to fumigate/purify) θύρα, ἡ, door, doorway (of a
house); entrance (of cave/tomb); ἐπὶ θύραις, lit. “at the doors” (i.e.,
impending) κορκόδειλος (> κροκόδιλος), crocodile ῥικνόω, have sexual
intercourse ῥίς, ἡ, ῥινός, nose προάγω, draw near to, approach; bring up
to; lead forward στροφίς, ὁ (= στρόφιγξ, -ιγγος), socket at the top and
bottom of a door hinge
Lines 245–253

Ἐάν εἴπῃς ἐπὶ (ἢ) σπάσματος ἢ συντρίμματος τὸ ὄνομα γ´, καταχρίσας (on
it) γῆν μετὰ ὄξους, ἀπαλλάξεις.
ἐάν ἐπείπῃς (τὸ ὄνομα) ἐπὶ παντὸς πετεινοῦ εἰς τὸ ὠτίον,10 τελευτήσει.
ἐάν ἴδῃς ἀσπίδα καὶ θέλῃς αὐτὴν στῆσαι,11 λέγε στρεφόμενος12 ὅτι Στῆθι.
λέγεται τὰ ὀνόματα,13 καὶ (ἡ ἀσπίς) στήσεται.
θυμοκάτοχον· πρὸς (the presence of) βασιλέα ἢ μεγιστᾶνα εἴσαγε, τὰς
χεῖρας ἐντὸς (your garment) ἔχων λέγε τὸ ὄνομα τὸ δίσκου, βαλὼν ἅμμα τοῦ
παλλίου σου ἢ τοῦ ἐπικαρσίου, καὶ θαυμάσεις.
 ἐάν (θέλῃς) πρὸς λύσιν φαρμάκων· εἰς ἱερατικὸν κόλλημα γράψας τὸ
ὄνομα φόρει (it).
Vocabulary

ἅμμα, -ματος, τό, knot; βάλλω ἅμμα, tie a knot in something (gen.)
δίσκος, ὁ, disk; sun disk (i.e., sun); discus event ἐπικάρσιον, τό, shawl (if
this magician were a Jew, perhaps a talith) ἐπιλέγω, 3. ἔπειπον, to utter a
spell/magical word θυμοκάτοχον, τό, spell for restraining anger ἱερατικός,
-ή, -όν, hieratic (name of a kind of papyrus) καταχρίω, to rub down, coat,
smear κόλλημα, -ματος, τό, sheet of papyrus gummed together to form a
roll μεγιστάν, -ᾶνος, ἡ, magistrate ὄξος, -ους, τό, vinegar πάλλιος, pallium
(cloak worn by people who claimed to be philosophers) σπάσμα, -ματος,
τό, muscle sprain συντρίμμα, -ματος, τό, fracture φάρμακον, τό, drug,
medicine; magic potion; spell cast using a magic potion Lines 253–261

(To bring about) Ἡλίου14 δεῖξις. λέγε πρὸς ἀνατολά Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἐπὶ τῶν
δύο χερουβείν,15 ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν δύο φύσεων, οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς, ἡλίου τε καὶ
σελήνης, φωτὸς καὶ σκότους, νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας, ποταμῶν καὶ θαλάσσης·
φάνηθι μοι, ὁ ἀρχάγγελος τῶν (ἀνθρώπων) ὑπὸ16 τὸν κόσμον, αὐθέντα
Ἥλιε, ὁ ὑ αὐτὸν τὸν ἕνα17 καὶ μόνον τεταγμένος· προστάσσει σοι ὁ Ἀεὶ
καὶ Μόνος. λέγε τὸ ὄνομα.
ἐὰν δὲ (Helios) σκυθρωπὸς φανῇ, λέγε· Δὸς18 (μοι) ἡμέραν, δὸς ὥραν, δὸς
μῆνα, δὸς ἐνιαυτόν, κύριε τῆς ζωῆς. λέγε τὸ ὄνομα.
Vocabulary

ἀνά, each, apiece; ἀνὰ μέσον, between, within (w. gen.) ἀνατολή, ἡ
(poet. ἀντολίη), east; κατὰ ἀνατολάς, eastward; εἰς τὴν ἀνατολήν, πρὸς
ἀνατολάς, toward the east αὐθέντης, ὁ, ruler δεῖξις, -εως, ἡ, calling up a
god (gen.), making a god (gen.) appear ποταμός, ὁ, river σελήνη, ἡ, moon
σκυθρωπός, -όν, angry in appearance τάσσω (Att. τάττω), pf. pass.
τέτακμαι, pf. pass. ptc. τεταγμένος: to station, post somebody before; to set,
appoint; determine; undertake (a task), restore; pass. be ordained that (w.
acc. + inf.); τὰ ταταγμένα, instructions φύσις, ἡ, circumstance; nature (of
something), natural condition; substance; natural being, creature; female
genitalia Lines 261–269
 Ἐάν θέλῃς ὄφιν ἀποκτεῖναι, λέγε· Στῆθι, ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ Ἀφυφις, καὶ λαβὼν
βάϊν χλωρὰν καὶ τῆς καρδίας19 (of it) κρατήσας σχίσον εἰς δύο ἐπιλέγων τὸ
ὄνομα (over it) ζ´(times), καὶ εὐθέως (the snake) σχισθήσεται ἢ ῥαγήσεται.20
πρόγνωσις· ἥδε τῇ προειρημένῃ πράξει γίνεται, (that is) τῇ (πράξει) διὰ τοῦ
νίτρου,21 καὶ ὡς θεῷ (ὁ θεός) διαλαλήσει σοι· σοῦ γὰρ παρόντος22 πολλάκις
ἐποίησα τὴν πρᾶξιν.
ἀβλεψίας· δὲ (λέγε) οὕτως· Δευρό μοι, τὸ πρωτοφαὲς σκότος, καὶ κρύψον
με προστάγματι τοῦ ὄντος ἐν οὐρανῷ αὐτογενέτορος, τὸν δεῖνα. λέγε τὸ
ὄνομα.
Vocabulary

ἀβλεψία, ἡ, invisibility αὐτογενέτωρ, -ορος, ὁ, self-generating Ἀφυφις,

Aphyphis (?) βάϊς, ἡ, palm branch διαλαλέω, talk with somebody (dat.)
κρατέω, attain something; conquer, master, rule over (w. gen.), subdue;
take possession of (w. gen.); take custody of; hold something (w. gen.)
νίτρον, τό, natron (used as mouthwash, antiseptic, to preserve fish and
meat, for mummification) πολλάκις, often, repeatedly πρόγνωσις, -εως,
ἡ, foreknowledge, ability to know beforehand προλέγω, 3. προεῖπον, 4.
προείρηκα: warn in advance; say beforehand/above πρωτοφαής, -ές,
appearing first Lines 269–282

Ἄλλως (say this)·23 Σὲ μόνον ἐπικαλοῦμαι, τὸν μόνον ἐν κόσμῳ διαταξαντα

θεοῖς καὶ ἀνθρώποις, τὸν ἑαυτὸν ἀλλάξαντα μορφαῖς ἁγίαις καὶ ἐκ μὴ ὄντων
εἶναι24 ποιήσαντα καὶ ἐξ ὄντων μὴ εἶναι, Θαῢθ ἅγιος, οὗ οὐδεὶς ὑποφέρει
θεῶν25 τὴν ἀληθινὴν ὄψιν ἰδεῖν τοῦ προσώπου.26 ποίησόν με γενέσθαι ἐν
ὄμμασι πάντων κτισμάτων λύκον, κύνα, λέοντα, πῦρ, δένδρον, γῦπα, τεῖχος,
ὕδωρ, (ἢ ὃ αν θέλεις), ὅτι δυνατὸς εἶ. λέγε τὸ ὄνομα.
ἔγερσις σώματος νεκροῦ Ὁρκίζω σε, πνεῦμα ἐν ἀέρι φοιτώμενον, εἴσελθε,
ἐμπνευμάτωσον, δυνάμωσον, διέγειρον τῇ δυνάμει τοῦ αἰωνίου θεοῦ τόδε τὸ
σῶμα, καὶ περιπατείτω ἐπὶ τόνδε τὸν τόπον, ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ποιῶν τῇ δυνάμει
τοῦ Θαΰθ, ἁγίου θεου. λέγε τὸ ὄνομα.
Vocabulary

γύψ, -υπός, ὁ, vulture διατάσσω, appoint, order somebody (w. dat.)

 διέγειρω, wake up, stir up
δυναμόω, put power (magically) into something ἔγερσις, -εως, ἡ,
resurrection ἐμπνευματόω, inspire Θαΰθ, god Thoth κτίσμα, τό, creature
λέων, -οντος, ὁ / λέαινα, ἡ, lion, lioness λύκος, ὁ, wolf μορφή, ἡ, form,
outward appearance φοιτάω, come into, go about Lines 282–288

Ἐάν θέλῃς (mounted) ἐπάνω κορκοδείλου διαβαίνειν (the Nile River),

καθίσας (ἐπάνω κορκοδείλου) λέγε· Ἄκουέ μου, ὁ27 ἐν τῷ ὑγρῷ τὴν
διατριβὴν ποιούμενος· ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἐν οὐρανῷ σχολὴν ἔχων φοιτώμενός τε ἐν
ὕδατι καὶ ἐν πυρὶ καὶ ἐν ἀέρι καὶ γῇ. ἀπόδος χαριστήριον τῆς ἡμέρας
ἐκείνης, ὅτε σε ἐποίησα καὶ ᾐτήσω με τὴν αἰτησίαν. διαπεράσεις (με) εἰς τὸ
πέραν, ὅτι ἐγώ τις. λέγε τὸ ὄνομα.
Vocabulary

αἰτέω/έομαι, ask, beg, make a request αἰτησία, ἡ (= αἴτησις), ἡ, request

διαπεράω, take somebody over/across διατριβή, ἡ, place of habitation
ἐπάνω, above, over; on top of; onward κορκόδειλος (> κροκόδιλος),
crocodile πέραν, on the other side, across; τὸ πέραν, the opposite side
σχολή, ἡ, leisure, ease ὑγρός, -ά, -όν, wet, moist; subst. liquid, the
wet/water φοιτάω, come in, go about χαριστήριον, τό, favor Lines 288–
297

(Spell for) Δεσμόλυτον· λέγε· Κλῦθί μοι, ὁ Χριστός, ἐν βασάνοις,

βοήθησον (με) ἐν ἀνάγκαις, (ὁ) ἐλεήμων ἐν ὥραις βιαίοις, πολὺ δυνάμενος
(to do) ἐν κόσμῳ, ὁ κτίσας τὴν ἀνάγκην καὶ τιμωρίαν καὶ τὴν βάσανον.
(λέγε) ιβ´ (times) ἡμ(έρας)28 συρίσας τρὶς ὀκτάκις. λέγε τοῦ Ἡλίου τὸ ὄνομα
ὅλον (beginning) ἀπὸ τοῦ ΑΧΕΒΥΚΡΩΜ.29 (λέγε·) Λυθήτω πᾶς δεσμός,
(λυθήτω) πᾶσα βία, ῥαγήτω30 πᾶς σίδηρος, (ῥαγήτω) πᾶν σχοινίον ἢ πᾶς
ἱμάς, πᾶν ἅμμα, πᾶσα ἅλυσις ἀνοιχθήτω, καὶ μηδείς με καταβιάσαιτο, ὅτι
ἐγώ εἰμι. λέγε τὸ ὄνομα.
Vocabulary

ἅλυσις, -εως, ἡ, chain βάσανος, ἡ, torture, torment βίαιος, -α, -ον, violent
βοηθέω, help, come to the aid of somebody (dat.), render assistance to
somebody; defend oneself δεσμόλυτον, τό, release from chains δεσμός, ὁ,
pl. δεσμά: shackles/chains (of prison), sandal straps; (fig.) a hindrance that
 deafens or physically handicaps ἱμάς, -άντος, ὁ, strap καταβιάζω, subdue
by force κλύω, aor. impv. κλῦθι: hear, attend to ὀκτάκις, eight times (cf. l.
334) σίδηρος, ὁ, iron, anything made of iron συρίζω, make a hissing sound
(like a snake) σχοινίον, τό, rope τιμωρία, ἡ, retribution, vengeance τρίς
(adv.), three times Lines 298–303

(Spell) πῦρ σβέσαι·31 Ἄκουε, πῦρ, ἔργον ἔργων εὑρήματος θεοῦ, δόξα τοῦ
ἐντίμου φωστῆρος, σβέσθητι, χιονίσθητι· αὐτὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ Αἰὼν ὁ
ἐπίβαλόμενος πῦρ ὡς 300 ἀμίαντον· ἀποσκεδασθήτω μου πᾶσα φλόξ, πᾶσα
δύναμις οὐσίας, προστάγματι Αὐτοῦ ἀεὶ ὄντος. οὐ μή μου θίγῃς, πῦρ, οὐ μή
μου λυμάνῃς σάρκα (μου),32 ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι. λέγε τὸ ὄνομα.
Vocabulary

Αἰών, ὁ, the god Aion, whose name signifies eternity (cf. l. 329) ἀμίαντος,
ὁ, asbestos ἀποσκευδάζω, get rid of; pass. be expelled
ἔντιμος, -ον, honored ἐπιβάλλω, lay on; put on something; board a ship
εὑρήμα, -ματος, τό, invention θιγγάνω, 2aor. ἔθιγον: touch (w. gen.), take
hold of; pass. be touched λυμαίνω, 1aor. ἐλύμηνα: harm, injure οὐσία, ἡ,
being, essence; substance προστάγμα, -ματος, τό, command σβέννυμι, 3.
ἔσβεσα, aor. inf. σβέσαι, aor. pass. impv. σβέσθητι: extinguish, put out (a
fire); pass. be extinguished φλόξ, (gen.) φλογός, ἡ, flame; πῦρ φλογός,
flaming fire φωστήρ, -ῆρος, ὁ, star χιονίζω, snow upon; pass. become
snow Lines 303–318

(Spell for) πῦρ μεῖναἰ Ἐξορκίζω σε, πῦρ, δαίμων ἔρωτος ἁγίου, τὸν
ἀόρατον καὶ πολυμερῆ, τὸν ἕνα καὶ πανταχῇ, ἐνμεῖναι ἐν τῷ λύχνῳ τούτῳ
ἐπὶ τόνδε τὸν χρόνον λαμπρυνόμενον καὶ μὴ μαραινόμενον, τῷ προστάγματι
τοῦ δεῖνος. λέγε τὸ ὄνομα.
(Spell for) ὀνειροπομπόν· ποίησον ἱπποπόταμον ἐκ κηροῦ πυρροῦ κοίλον
καὶ ἔνθες33 εἰς τὴν κοιλίαν αὐτοῦ τοῦ ἱπποποτάμου καὶ34 χρυσὸν καὶ ἄργυρον
καὶ τὸ καλούμενον (τὸ) βαλλαθὰ35 τὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων καὶ στόλισον αὐτὸν
λίνῳ καθαρῷ καὶ θὲς ἐπὶ θυρίδος καθαρᾶς καὶ λαβὼν χάρτην ἱερατικὸν
γράψον εἰς αὐτὸν ζμυρνομέλανι καὶ αἵματι κυνοκεφάλου, ἃ (dreams) βούλει36
πέμψαι (to somebody), καὶ εἰλήσας εἰς ἐνλύχνιον καὶ ἐνλυχνιάσας λύχνον
καθαρὸν καινὸν (with it), ἐπίθες ἐπὶ τὸν λύχνον τὸν πόδα ἱπποποταμίου καὶ
λέγε τὸ ὄνομα, καὶ πέμπει [the specified dreams].
Vocabulary

ἀόρατος, -ον, unseen, invisible βουλή, ἡ, plan, decision; τίθημι βουλήν,

reach a decision, decide; City Council (βουλή) (which was subordinate to
the ἐκκλησία [Assembly]); will (of God) δαίμων, -ονος, ὁ, lesser god,
“demon,” semi-divine being ἐνλυχνιάζω, to light (a lamp) ἐνλύχνιον, τό,
wick ἐνμένω (> ἐννένω), dwell in, inhabit
ἐντίθημι, put in ἐξορκίζω (= ἐξορκόω), make somebody swear/taken an
oath; conjure by (κατά) a god ἔρως, -ωτος, ὁ, love; Ἔρως, god of love
ζμυρνόμελαν, -ανος, mixture of ink and myrrh used in magic θυρίς, -ίδος,
ἡ, window ἱερατικός, -ή, -όν, hieratic (name of a kind of papyrus)
ἱπποπόταμος, ὁ, hippopotamus (cf. ll. 311, 317) κοιλόω, hollow out κηρός,
ὁ, beeswax κυνοκέφαλος, ὁ, baboon λαμπρύνω, make bright; pass. shine
λίνον, τό, linen cloth, linen garments μαραίνω, quench; pass. die out (of a
flame); waste/wither away ὀνειροπομπόν, τό, the sending of dreams (to
somebody) (cf. l. 339) πανταχῇ, everywhere πολυμερής, -ές, consisting of
many parts, manifold στολίζω, to dress, adorn, decorate χάρτης, -ου, ὁ, roll
of papyrus χρυσός, ὁ, gold, gold coin Lines 318–326

φίλτρον πότιμον· λαβὼν (τοὺς) σφηκαλέοντας τοὺς (caught) ἐν τῇ ἀράχνῃ,

λειώσας (them, sprinkle the powder) ἐπὶ ποτόν (καὶ) δὸς (to the appropriate
person) πεῖν.37 (Spell) ἐὰν θέλῃς γυναῖκάς (σου) μὴ σχεθῆναι38 ὑπὸ ἄλλου
ἀνδρός· λαβὼν γῆν πλάσον (a molded figure in the shape of a) κορκόδειλον
προσμείξας αὐτῷ μέλαν καὶ ζμύρναν καὶ θὲς εἰς σόριον μολιβοῦν καὶ
ἐπίγραφε (it) τὸ μέγα ὄνομα καὶ τὸ (ὄνομα) τῆς γυναικὸς (σου) καὶ
(ἐπίγραφε) ὅτι· Μὴ συγγενέσθω ἡ δεῖνα ἑτέρῳ ἀνδρὶ πλὴν ἐμοῦ, τοῦ δεῖνος.
ἔστι δὲ τὸ ὄνομα τὸ ἐπιγραφόμενον εἰς τοὺς πόδας τοῦ ζῳδίου· ΒΙΒΙΟΥ
ΟΥΗΡ ΑΨΑΒΑΡΑ ΚΑΣΟΝΝΑΚΑ ΝΕΣΕΒΑΧ ΣΦΗ ΧΦΟΥΡΙΣ.
Vocabulary

ἀράχνη, ἡ, spider’s web ζμύρνη ∕ σμύρνα, ἡ, myrrh (gum from an

Arabian tree used for embalming the dead, as incense, and as a salve)
ζῴδιον, τό, molded figure
κορκόδειλος (> κροκόδιλος), crocodile λειόω (= λεαίνω), pound in a
mortar, grind up μέλαν, -ανος, τό, ink μολιβοῦς, -ης, -οῦν (adj.), leaden,
 made of lead πότιμος, -ον, drinkable, for drinking ποτόν, τό, drink
προσμείγνυμι, mix in σόριον, τό, small coffin συγγίνομαι, pf.
συγγεγενημαι, associate with (w. dat.); mingle with, have sexual intercourse
with; be a companion σφηκαλέων, -οντος, ὁ, lion wasp φίλτρον, τό, love
potion Lines 327–333

(Spell for) ἄνοιξις (doors) διὰ τοῦ ὀνόματος· Ἄνοιγε, ἄνοιγε, τὰ δ´ μέρη39
τοῦ κόσμου, ὅτι ὁ κύριος τῆς οἰκουμένης ἐκπορεύεται. χαίρουσιν ἀρχάγγελοι
δεκανῶν, ἀγγέλων· Αὐτὸς γὰρ ὁ Αἰὼν Αἰῶνος, ὁ μόνος καὶ ὑπερέχων,
ἀθεώρητος διαπορεύεται τὸν τόπον. ἀνοίγου,40 θύρα, ἄκουε, μοχλέ, εἰς δύο
γενοῦ, κλειδών. διὰ τὸ ὄνομα ΑΙΑ ΑΙΝΡΥΧΑΘ, ἀνάβαλε, γῆ, δεσπότῃ,
πάντα, ὅσα ἔχεις ἐν σεαυτῇ· Αὐτὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ λαιλαφέτης καὶ χανοῦχος,
πυρὸς κρατύντωρ. ἄνοιξον· λέγει σοι. λέγει ΑΧΕΒΥΧΡΩΜ ὀκτάκις· (It is)
Ἡλίου ὄνομα.
Vocabulary

ἀθεώρητος, -ον, invisible ἀναβάλλω, cast up, throw up ἄνοιξις, -εως, ἡ,

opening (of gates and doors) δεκανοί, οἱ, decans, the thirty-six divinities
that preside over ten degrees of the Zodiac διαπορεύομαι, pass/go through
θύρα, ἡ, door, doorway (of a house); entrance (of cave/tomb); ἐπὶ θύραις,
lit. “at the doors” (i.e., impending) κλειδόω, lock up κρατύντωρ, -ορος, ὁ,
ruler, master λαιλαφέτης, ἡ, sender of storms μοχλός, ὁ, bar (placed across
a door to lock it) ὑπερέχω, be of more value, better than; excel; ptc. subst.
great value; rise above; transcend
χανοῦχος, ὁ, controller of the abyss Lines 333–343

Ἄλλως ὁ λόγος41 πρὸς τὸν Ἥλιον· Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἐπὶ τῶν δύο χερουβείν, ἀνὰ
μέσον τοῦ κόσμου, (between) οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς, φωτὸς καὶ σκότους, νυκτὸς
καὶ ἡμέρας, ποταμῶν καὶ θαλάσσης, φάνηθί μοι, ἀρχάγγελε τοῦ θεοῦ, ὁ ὑ
αὐτὸν τὸν ἕνα καὶ μόνον τεταγμένος.
τούτῳ δὲ τῷ λόγῳ ποίει πρὸς τὸν Ἥλιον χαριτήσια, (including) ἀγωγάς,
ὀνειροπομπά, ὀνειραιτητά, Ἡλίου δεῖξιν, ἐπιτευκτικά, νικητικά, καὶ (indeed)
πάντα ἁπλῶς. ἀπέχεις τὴν ἱεράν,42 ὦ τέκνον, καὶ μακάριδα Μονάδα βίβλον,
ἣν οὐδεὶς (until now) ἴσχυσε μεθερμηνεῦσαι ἢ πρᾶξαι. ἔρρωσο,43 τέκνον.
Vocabulary
 ἀνεύρετος, -ον, undiscovered, not found; ἀνεύρετον ποίησον, lit. “make
undiscovered,” i.e., dispose of, hide ἀπέχω, receive; receive a payment;
mid. stay away from ἁπλῶς, sincerely, with integrity; absolutely; generally
ἐπιτευκτικόν, τό, spell for securing success μεθερμηνεύω, translate
ὀνειροπομπόν, τό, the sending of dreams (to somebody) (cf. l. 339) μάκαρ,
-άριδος (m./fm.), blessed (cf. l. 341) Μονάδα > μοναδικόν, s.v. μοναδικός,
-ή, -όν, unique; here “Unique” is the name of the magical handbook
νικητικόν, τό, spell for securing victory ὀνειραιτητόν, τό, spell for
obtaining revelations in dreams χαριτήσιον, τό, spell for winning favor

1 PGM XIII, 1–334; Betz, Greek Magical Papyri, 172–182.

2 E.g., ll. 237–238, 242–246, 253, 259, 261, 264, 269, 277, 282, 288, 296, 303,
308, 317, 323

3 πλησθείς, m. sg. agreeing with σέ.

4 ἐπί (w. gen.) expresses purpose (“for”).

5 See other love spells of attraction mentioned in Acts Andr. 5.65 (§5.16), SIG3
985, l. 20 (§7.3), PGM IV, 1496–1595 (§7.3).

6 For alphabetic numbers see table 9.18 (cf. ll. 242, 246, 264, 292, 327).

7 This formula cues the reader to fill in the appropriate proper names, in this
case the name of the person who is to be “severed” from another person (cf. ll.
269, 308, 324).

8 I.e., of the demoniac.

9 A type of skin infection (cellulitis) with such symptoms as blisters, fever,

shaking. and chills.
10 τὸ ὠτίον, dim. of τὸ οὖς.

11 I.e., to fix it in its place, make it stand still.

12 Mid. voice.

13 The use of the pl. (τὰ ὀνόματα) here indicates that parts of this list of spells
did not originally belong to the preceding rite.

14 Here, the god “Helios” (cf. ll. 258, 334–335, 339).

15 This spell clearly has a Jewish background, for the magician identifies
himself with Yahweh, who “sits upon the cherubim” (1 Sam 4:4, 2 Sam 6:2).

16 “Under,” “subject to.”

17 The “One,” i.e., the supreme God.

18 It is unclear whether this is a request to “specify” a suitable time for a

magical rite or “add” to the length of one’s life.

19 I.e., the center of the triangular end of the branch.

20 S.v. ῥήγνυμι.

21 Since this ritual is not mentioned in this text, this must be a reference to a
ritual in a closely related document.

22 Gen. absol. (s.v. πάρειμι).

23 “Otherwise” (cf. l. 335).

24 εἶναι (existence)...μὴ εἶναι (non-existence).

25 οὐδεὶς...θεῶν.

26 τὴν ἀληθινὴν ὄψιν ἰδεῖν τοῦ προσώπου > ἰδεῖν τὴν ἀληθινὴν ὄψιν τοῦ
προσώπου.

27 ὁ...ποιούμενος.

28 Gen. of time (cf. IV, 5.3).

29 Referring to the full name given (cf. ll. 590–92): ΑΧΕΒΥΚΡΩΜ, whose is
the glory, ΑΑΑ ΕΕΕ ΟΟΟ ΙΙΙ ΑΑΑ ΟΟΟ ΣΑΒΑΟΘ ΑΡΒΑΘΙΑΟ ΖΑΓΟΥΡΗ,
the god, ΑΡΑΘ ΑΔΟΝΑΙ ΒΑΣΥΜΜ ΙΑΟ.

30 S.v. ῥήγνυμι.

31 S.v. σβέννυμι.

32 μου...σάρκα.

33 Cf. table 9.12.2(d).

34 καί... καί... (“both ... and ...”).

35 “Ballatha,” unknown term.

36 βούλει > βούλῃ

37 The expected benefit of this procedure is clear if φίλτρον means “love

potion.”
38 σχεθῆναι, s.v. ἔχω, aor. pass. inf. “to be (sexually) had.”

39 I.e., four quarters.

40 Cf. table 9.3.4(a).

41 λόγος, “spell” (cf. l. 339).

42 ἱεράν...καὶ μακάριδα...βίβλον.

43 S.v. ῥώννυμι.
 5.5. Book of Acts: Shipwrecked on the Island of
Malta

(Acts 27:1–28:1)
Fig. 10. Relief of a man holding the tiller of a small boat, ancient
Corinth (photo: author).

As the story begins, Paul is under house arrest in Caesarea Maritima, during
which time he appeared before King Herod Agrippa I, governor of Judea, and
Porcius Festus, procurator of Palestine.

Paul Sets Sail for Rome – Acts 27:1–28:1

27:1 Ὡς δὲ ἐκρίθη τοῦ ἀποπλεῖν1 ἡμᾶς2 εἰς τὴν Ἰταλίαν, (Agrippa and Porcius)
παρεδίδουν3 τόν τε Παῦλον καί τινας ἑτέρους δεσμώτας ἑκατοντάρχῃ ὀνόματι
Ἰουλίῳ4 σπείρης Σεβαστῆς. 2 ἐπιβάντες δὲ πλοίῳ Ἀδραμυττηνῷ μέλλοντι
πλεῖν εἰς5 τοὺς κατὰ6 τὴν Ἀσίαν τόπους, ἀνήχθημεν ὄντος7 σὺν ἡμῖν
Ἀριστάρχου8 Μακεδόνος Θεσσαλονικέως.
Vocabulary
 Ἀδραμυττηνός, -ή, -όν, of Adramyttium (adj. pertaining to the ancient city
of Adramyttium, Mysia, northwest Asia Minor (cf. Fig. 3) ἀποπλέω, sail
away
Ἀσία, ἡ, Roman province of Asia δεσμώτης, ὁ, prisoner ἑκατοντάρχης,
ὁ, centurion ἐπιβαίνω, set foot on, walk on; get upon, mount upon; embark
in a ship (dat.) Θεσσαλονικεύς, -έως, ὁ, Thessalonian κρίνω, judge, reach
a decision, decide; pass. be decided Μακεδών, -όνος, ὁ, Macedonian
person παραδίδωμι, hand over to another, transmit πλέω, inf. πλεῖν, 3.
ἐπλεύσα: sail, travel by ship Σεβαστός, -ή, -όν, Augustan (adj.);
Σεβαστός, for Lat. Augustus σπεῖρα, ἡ, cohort of soldiers (one-tenth part of
a legion, normally 600 men)

27:3 τῇ τε ἑτέρᾳ (ἡμέρᾳ)9 κατήχθημεν εἰς Σιδῶνα, φιλανθρώπως τε ὁ

Ἰούλιος τῷ Παύλῳ χρησάμενος ἐπέτρεψεν πρὸς (his) τοὺς φίλους (Παύλῳ)
πορευθέντι ἐπιμελείας τυχεῖν. 4 κἀκεῖθεν10 ἀναχθέντες ὑπεπλεύσαμεν τὴν
Κύπρον διὰ τὸ τοὺς ἀνέμους εἶναι11 ἐναντίους, 5 τό τε πέλαγος τὸ κατὰ12 τὴν
Κιλικίαν καὶ Παμφυλίαν διαπλεύσαντες κατήλθομεν εἰς Μύρα τῆς Λυκίας.
Vocabulary

διαπλέω, 3. διέπλευσα: sail through/across ἐπιμέλεια, ἡ, care, attention;

responsibility ἐπιτρέπω, allow somebody (dat.) to do something (inf.),
permit; tolerate, put up with; pass. be entrusted as a legal guarantor
κατέρχομαι, 4. κατελήλυθα: go down; derive from, descend from; put into
port Κιλικία, ἡ, province of Cilicia Κύπρος, ἡ, Cyprus Λυκία, ἡ, Lykia
Μύρα, coastal city of Lykia, Asia Minor Παμφιλία, ἡ, Pampylia, Roman
province in the south of Asia Minor πέλαγος, ὁ, open sea Σιδών, -ῶνος,
ἡ, Sidon τυγχάνω, pres. fm. ptc. τυχοῦσα, 2aor. ἔτυχον, 2aor. 3rd sg. subj.
τήχῃ, inf. τυχεῖν, pf. ptc. τετ(ε)υχώς: to gain, experience; happen, turn out
(as a result); happen to be; gain/receive something (gen.), attain to (ἐπί);
obtain one’s request (w. gen.); ἔτυχεν δέ, “and it came to pass that (w.
acc.)”; adj. ptc. ordinary, everyday ὑποπλέω, 3. ὑπέλευσα: sail under the
protective shelter of (acc.)
φιλάνθρωπος, -ον, humane; τὰ φιλάνθρωπα, humane concessions
(technical term for privileges given to ethnic communities); adv.
φιλανθρώπως, humanely, kindly φίλος, -η, -ον, beloved, pleasant;
pleasing, popular; subst. friend
 27:6 Κἀκεῖ13 εὑρὼν ὁ ἑκατοντάρχης πλοῖον Ἀλεξανδρῖνον πλέον14 εἰς τὴν
Ἰταλίαν ἐνεβίβασεν ἡμᾶς εἰς αὐτό. 7 ἐν ἱκαναῖς δὲ ἡμέραις βραδυπλοοῦντες
καὶ μόλις γενόμενοι κατὰ15 τὴν Κνίδον, μὴ προσεῶντος16 ἡμᾶς τοῦ ἀνέμου
ὑπεπλεύσαμεν τὴν Κρήτην κατὰ17 Σαλμώνην, 8 μόλις τε παραλεγόμενοι αὐτὴν
ἤλθομεν εἰς τόπον τινὰ καλούμενον Καλοὺς λιμένας ᾧ ἐγγὺς18 πόλις ἦν
Λασαία.
Vocabulary

Ἀλεξανδρῖνος, -η, -ον, Alexandrian (i.e., from the Egyptian city of

Alexandria) βραδυπλοέω, sail slowly, make little headway ἐμβιβάζω, put
(somebody/something) on board a ship Ἰταλία, ἡ, Italy Καλοὶ λιμένες,
Fair Havens, a bay on the south coast of Crete, a major bunkering spot for
ships in the southern Mediterranean Κνίδος, ἡ, Knidus, peninsular city on
the coast of Karia Κρήτη, ἡ, Crete Λασαία, ἡ, Lasea, city on the south
coast of Crete νῆσος, ἡ, island παραλέγομαι (w. acc.), sail past προσεάω,
allow to proceed Σαλαμώνη, ἡ, Salmone, a promontory on the northeast
corner of Crete ὑποπλέω, 3. ὑπέλευσα: sail under the protective shelter of
(acc.)

27:9 Ἱκανοῦ δὲ χρόνου διαγενομένου19 καὶ ὄντος20 ἤδη ἐπισφαλοῦς τοῦ

πλοὸς διὰ τὸ καὶ τὴν νηστείαν ἤδη παρεληλυθέναι21 παρῄνει22 ὁ Παῦλος 10
λέγων αὐτοῖς· ἄνδρες, θεωρῶ ὅτι23 μετὰ ὕβρεως καὶ πολλῆς ζημίας οὐ μόνον
τοῦ φορτίου καὶ τοῦ πλοίου ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν μέλλειν ἔσεσθαι24
(accompanied) τὸν πλοῦν. 11 ὁ δὲ ἑκατοντάρχης τῷ κυβερνήτῃ καὶ τῷ
ναυκλήρῳ μᾶλλον25 ἐπείθετο26 ἢ τοῖς ὑπὸ Παύλου λεγομένοις. 12 ἀνευθέτου
δὲ τοῦ λιμένος ὑπάρχοντος27 πρὸς παραχειμασίαν οἱ πλείονες ἔθεντο βουλὴν
ἀναχθῆναι ἐκεῖθεν, εἴ πως δύναιντο28 καταντήσαντες εἰς Φοίνικα παραχειμάσαι
(there) λιμένα29 τῆς Κρήτης βλέποντα κατὰ30 λίβα καὶ κατὰ χῶρον.
Vocabulary

ἀνεύθετος, -ον, unsuitable βουλή, ἡ, plan, decision; τίθημι βουλήν, reach

a decision, decide; City Council (βουλή) (which was subordinate to the
ἐκκλησία [Assembly]); will (of God) διαγίνομαι, pass, elapse (of time)
ἐπισφαλής, -ές, unsafe, dangerous κυβερνήτης, ὁ, shipmaster (who is
responsible for the crew), captain λιμήν, -μένος, ὁ, harbor λίψ, λιβός, ὁ,
 southwest ναύκληρος, ὁ, owner of a ship or one who charters a ship
νηστεία, ἡ, day of fasting, esp. the Day of Atonement παραινέω, urge
somebody (dat.) παραχειμάζω, to winter (in a place) παραχειμσία, ἡ,
wintering, harboring during the winter πλόος, (contr.) πλοῦς, ὁ, πλοός
(gen.), πλοῦν (acc.), sailing, voyage; voyage (of life) Φοῖνιξ, -ικος, ὁ,
Phoinix, a seaport on the south coast of Crete φορτίον, τό, a load, cargo;
burden χῶρος, ὁ, northwest The storm at sea

27:13 Ὑποπνεύσαντος31 δὲ νότου δόξαντες32 τῆς προθέσεως κεκρατηκέναι,

ἄραντες33 (anchor) ἆσσον παρελέγοντο τὴν Κρήτην. 14 μετʼ οὐ πολὺ (time) δὲ
ἔβαλεν κατʼ34 αὐτῆς35 ἄνεμος τυφωνικὸς ὁ καλούμενος εὐρακύλων· 15
συναρπασθέντος36 (by it) δὲ τοῦ πλοίου καὶ μὴ δυναμένου ἀντοφθαλμεῖν τῷ
ἀνέμῳ ἐπιδόντες ἐφερόμεθα37 (by it).
Vocabulary

ἄνεμος, ὁ, wind ἀντοφθαλμέω (w. dat.), to face (the wind), hold one’s
own against ἆσσον, nearer εὐφρακύλων, -ωνος, ὁ, Euraquilo, the
“NorthEaster”
νότος, ὁ, south wind παραλέγομαι (w. acc.), sail past συναρπάζω, seize
and carry off, be caught up by τυφωνικός, -ή, -όν, like a hurricane
ὑποπνέω, blow gently

27:16 Νησίον38 δέ τι ὑποδραμόντες καλούμενον Καῦδα ἰσχύσαμεν μόλις

περικρατεῖς γενέσθαι τῆς σκάφης, 17 ἣν ἄραντες, βοηθείαις ἐχρῶντο
ὑποζωννύντες τὸ πλοῖον, φοβούμενοί τε μὴ εἰς τὴν Σύρτιν ἐκπέσωσιν,
χαλάσαντες τὸ σκεῦος,39 οὕτως ἐφέροντο (by the current). 18 σφοδρῶς δὲ
χειμαζομένων40 ἡμῶν τῇ ἑξῆς (ἡμέρᾳ) ἐκβολὴν (of cargo) ἐποιοῦντο41 19
καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ (ἡμέρᾳ) αὐτόχειρες τὴν σκευὴν τοῦ πλοίου ἔρριψαν. 20 μήτε42
δὲ ἡλίου μήτε ἄστρων ἐπιφαινόντων43 ἐπὶ πλείονας44 ἡμέρας, χειμῶνός τε
οὐκ ὀλίγου ἐπικειμένου45 (us), λοιπὸν περιῃρεῖτο ἐλπὶς πᾶσα τοῦ σῴζεσθαι46
ἡμᾶς.
Vocabulary

ἄστρον, τό, constellation of stars αὐτόχειρ, -ος, with one’s own hand(s)
βοήθεια, ἡ, help; reinforcing cables (nautical)47
 ἐκβολή, ἡ, throwing overboard
ἐκπίπτω, impf. pass. ἐξεπεμπόμην, 3. ἐξέπεσον: fall off; lose, forfeit; run
off course, run aground; be issued/published (of a decree); resolve that (w.
inf.); pass. come forth from ἑξῆς (adv.), next, following; τὰ ἑξῆς, the
following things; that which follows, the consequences ἐπιφαίνω, 2aor.
pass. ptc. ἐπιφανείς: show, appear; divinely manifest (of gods in visions
and dreams) ἰσχύω, be able/strong; defeat, overcome; prevail against
(κατά); be valid, be in force; + inf., be able to, have the power to; subst.,
something strong; dissolution, breaking up Καῦδα, Cauda (Clauda), small
island off the south coast of Crete νῆσος, ἡ, island; νησίον, τό, dim., small
island περιαιρέω, aor. inf. περιελεῖν, ptc. περιελών, impf. 3rd sg.
περιῃρεῖτο: take away, remove; cut away (of anchors) περικρατής, -ές, in
control; γενέσθαι περικρατής, gain control σκάφη, ἡ (Lat. loanw. scapha),
skiff (ship’s boat for towing) Σύτρις, -εως, ἡ, Sytris, two treacherous
sandbanks in the Gulf of Sytris off the Libyan coast, greatly feared by
mariners σφοδρῶς, violently ὑποζώννυμι, undergird, brace ὑποτρέχω, run
under the protection/shelter of something χαλάω, lower, let down
χειμάζομαι, be tossed/battered by a storm χειμών, -ῶνος, ὁ, storm; winter

27:21 Πολλῆς τε ἀσιτίας ὑπαρχούσης48 τότε σταθεὶς ὁ Παῦλος ἐν μέσῳ

αὐτῶν εἶπεν· ἔδει49 (ὑμᾶς) μέν, ὦ ἄνδρες, πειθαρχήσαντάς μοι μὴ ἀνάγεσθαι
ἀπὸ τῆς Κρήτης κερδῆσαί τε τὴν ὕβριν ταύτην καὶ τὴν ζημίαν. 22 καὶ τὰ
νῦν50 παραινῶ ὑμᾶς εὐθυμεῖν· ἀποβολὴ γὰρ ψυχῆς οὐδεμία51 ἔσται ἐξ ὑμῶν
πλὴν τοῦ πλοίου. 23 παρέστη52 γάρ μοι ταύτῃ (past) τῇ νυκτὶ τοῦ θεοῦ, οὗ εἰμι
ἐγὼ ᾧ καὶ λατρεύω, ἄγγελος λέγων· 24 μὴ φοβοῦ, Παῦλε, Καίσαρί σε δεῖ
παραστῆναι, καὶ ἰδοὺ κεχάρισταί σοι ὁ θεὸς πάντας τοὺς πλέοντας μετὰ σοῦ.
25 διὸ εὐθυμεῖτε, ἄνδρες· πιστεύω γὰρ τῷ θεῷ ὅτι οὕτως ἔσται καθʼ ὃν
τρόπον λελάληταί μοι. 26 εἰς νῆσον δέ τινα δεῖ ἡμᾶς ἐκπεσεῖν.
Vocabulary

ἀποβολή, ἡ, loss ἀσιτία, ἡ, going without food (here, probably owing to

seasickness) ἐκπίπτω, impf. pass. ἐξεπεμπόμην, 3. ἐξέπεσον: fall off;
lose, forfeit; run off course, run aground; be issued/published (of a decree);
resolve that (w. inf.); pass. come forth from εὐθυμέω, cheer up, keep one’s
courage Καῖσαρ, -αρος, ὁ, Caesar, emperor παραινέω, urge somebody (w.
dat.) παρίστημι (also παριστάω), pf. ptc. παρεστώς: stand before (w. dat.);
 approach, come near; render, present, offer, supply; show πειθαρχέω, obey
somebody (dat.), follow somebody’s (dat.) advice (dat.) χαρίζομαι, impf.
ἐχαριζόμην, 5. κεχάρισμαι: show a favor/kindness to somebody; freely
grant, give, bestow favor upon somebody; be pleasing/beloved; pass. be
given freely

27:27 Ὡς δὲ τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτη νὺξ ἐγένετο διαφερομένων53 ἡμῶν ἐν τῷ

Ἀδρίᾳ (Sea), κατὰ μέσον τῆς νυκτὸς ὑπενόουν54 οἱ ναῦται προσάγειν τινὰ
αὐτοῖς χώραν.55 28 καὶ βολίσαντες εὗρον ὀργυιὰς εἴκοσι, βραχὺ δὲ
διαστήσαντες καὶ πάλιν βολίσαντες εὗρον ὀργυιὰς δεκαπέντε· 29 φοβούμενοί
τε μή που κατὰ56 τραχεῖς τόπους ἐκπέσωμεν, ἐκ πρύμνης ῥίψαντες ἀγκύρας
τέσσαρας ηὔχοντο ἡμέραν γενέσθαι. 30 Τῶν δὲ ναυτῶν ζητούντων57 φυγεῖν ἐκ
τοῦ πλοίου καὶ χαλασάντων τὴν σκάφην εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν προφάσει ὡς ἐκ
πρῴρης ἀγκύρας μελλόντων58 ἐκτείνειν, 31 εἶπεν ὁ Παῦλος τῷ ἑκατοντάρχῃ
καὶ τοῖς στρατιώταις· ἐὰν μὴ οὗτοι μείνωσιν ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ, ὑμεῖς σωθῆναι οὐ
δύνασθε. 32 τότε ἀπέκοψαν οἱ στρατιῶται τὰ σχοινία τῆς σκάφης καὶ εἴασαν
αὐτὴν ἐκπεσεῖν.
Vocabulary

Ἀδρίας, -ου, ὁ, Adriatic Sea (between Crete and Sicily) ἄγκυρα, ἡ, anchor
ἀποκόπτω, cut off/away; castrate βολίζω, lit. “to heave the lead,” take
soundings (with a lead weight to determine the depth of the water) βραχύς,
-εῖα, -ύ, farther διΐστημι, go farther
ἐάω, pres. mid. inf. ἐᾶσθαι, impf. εἴων, 2. ἐάσω, 3. εἴασα: allow, permit;
leave, let go; mid. be left to oneself ναύτης, ὁ, sailor ὀργυιά, ἡ, fathom59
πού (enclit.), somewhere; perhaps, “I suppose”
προσάγω, bring to; put in; bring forward (committee business); intrans.
come near, approach, draw near πρόφασις, -εως, ἡ, motive, pretext,
excuse; προφάσει ὡς, as a pretext, under the pretext πρύμνα, stern (of a
ship) πρῴρα, ἡ, prow of a ship (opp. of πρύμνα)60
σκάφη, ἡ (Lat. loanw. scapha), skiff (ship’s boat for towing) σχοινίον, τό,
rope τεσσαρεσκαιδέκατος, -άτη, -ατον, fourteenth στρατιώτης, ὁ, soldier
τραχύς, -εῖα, -ύ, rough, rocky ὑπονοέω, surmise, suspect

27:33 Ἄχρι δὲ οὗ (χρόνου) ἡμέρα ἤμελλεν γίνεσθαι,61 παρεκάλει ὁ Παῦλος

ἅπαντας μεταλαβεῖν τροφῆς λέγων· τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτην62 σήμερον (being)
ἡμέραν προσδοκῶντες ἄσιτοι διατελεῖτε μηθὲν προσλαβόμενοι. 34 διὸ
παρακαλῶ ὑμᾶς μεταλαβεῖν τροφῆς· τοῦτο γὰρ πρὸς63 τῆς ὑμετέρας σωτηρίας
ὑπάρχει, οὐδενὸς64 γὰρ ὑμῶν θρὶξ ἀπὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς ἀπολεῖται. 35 εἴπας δὲ
ταῦτα καὶ λαβὼν ἄρτον εὐχαρίστησεν τῷ θεῷ ἐνώπιον πάντων καὶ κλάσας
ἤρξατο ἐσθίειν. 36 εὔθυμοι δὲ γενόμενοι πάντες καὶ αὐτοὶ προσελάβοντο
τροφῆς.65 37 ἤμεθα δὲ αἱ πᾶσαι ψυχαὶ ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ66 διακόσιαι ἑβδομήκοντα
ἕξ. 38 κορεσθέντες δὲ τροφῆς ἐκούφιζον67 τὸ πλοῖον ἐκβαλλόμενοι τὸν σῖτον
εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν.
Vocabulary

ἄσιτος, -ον, without eating/good διακοσίοι, -ίαι, -ία, two hundred

διατελέω, continue to do something ἑβδομήκοντα, seventy
εὔθυμος, -ον, cheerful θρίξ, τριχός (gen.), ἡ, hair κλάω, 6. ἐκλάσθην:
break, break off; pass. be damaged κορέννυμι (w. gen.), 6. ἐκορέσθην:
pass. be satiated, have enough of κουφίζω, to lighten μεταλαμβάνω,
take/eat (some food) προσδοκάω (Ion. –έω), wait in suspense; anticipate
προλαμβάνω, take something on one’s own; anticipate σῖτος, ὁ, wheat
ὑμέτερος, -α, -ον, your Shipwrecked on the Island of Malta

27:39 Ὅτε δὲ ἡμέρα ἐγένετο, τὴν γῆν οὐκ ἐπεγίνωσκον, κόλπον δέ τινα
κατενόουν ἔχοντα αἰγιαλὸν εἰς ὃν ἐβουλεύοντο εἰ δύναιντο68 ἐξῶσαι τὸ
πλοῖον. 40 καὶ τὰς ἀγκύρας περιελόντες εἴων69 (them) εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, ἅμα
ἀνέντες τὰς ζευκτηρίας τῶν πηδαλίων καὶ ἐπάραντες70 τὸν ἀρτέμωνα τῇ
πνεούσῃ (αὔρᾳ) κατεῖχον εἰς τὸν αἰγιαλόν. 41 περιπεσόντες δὲ εἰς τόπον
διθάλασσον ἐπέκειλαν τὴν ναῦν καὶ ἡ μὲν71 πρῷρα ἐρείσασα ἔμεινεν
ἀσάλευτος, ἡ δὲ πρύμνα ἐλύετο72 ὑπὸ τῆς βίας τῶν κυμάτων.
Vocabulary

αἰγιαλός, ὁ, beach ἄγκυρα, ἡ, anchor ἀνίημι, 2aor. ἀνῆκα: loosen,

unfasten ἀρτέμων, -ωνος, ὁ, bowspritsail73
ἀσάλευτος, -ον, immovable αὔρα, ἡ, breeze βία, ἡ, strength, force
διθάλλασος, -ον, with the sea on both sides, where two seas meet ἐξωθέω,
run a boat ashore, to beach ἐπικέλλω, run a ship aground
ἐρείδω, become jammed ζευκτηρία, ἡ, pl. pennants74
κόλπος, ὁ, bay ναῦς, ἡ, ναός (gen., Att. νεώς), ναῦν (acc.), ship
 περιαιρέω, 3. περιεῖλον: slip anchor, cast off an anchor περιπίπτω, strike
(ground) πηδάλιον, τό, steering oar πρύμνα, stern (of a ship) πρῴρα, ἡ,
prow of a ship

27:42 Τῶν δὲ στρατιωτῶν βουλὴ ἐγένετο ἵνα75 τοὺς δεσμώτας

ἀποκτείνωσιν, μή τις (of them) ἐκκολυμβήσας διαφύγῃ. 43 ὁ δὲ ἑκατοντάρχης
βουλόμενος διασῶσαι τὸν Παῦλον ἐκώλυσεν αὐτοὺς τοῦ (their) βουλήματος,
ἐκέλευσέν τε τοὺς δυναμένους κολυμβᾶν ἀπορίψαντας πρώτους ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν
ἐξιέναι 44 καὶ τοὺς λοιποὺς (should follow) οὓς μὲν76 ἐπὶ σανίσιν, οὓς δὲ ἐπί
τινων (parts) τῶν ἀπὸ τοῦ πλοίου. καὶ οὕτως ἐγένετο πάντας διασωθῆναι ἐπὶ
τὴν γῆν. 28:1 καὶ διασωθέντες τότε ἐπέγνωμεν ὅτι Μελίτη ἡ νῆσος καλεῖται.
Vocabulary

ἀπορίπτω, jump overboard βούλημα, τό, intention διασῴζω, bring safely

through, convey to safety διαφεύγω, escape ἐκκολυμβάω, swim away
ἔξειμι (fr. εἶμι), inf. ἐξιέναι, ptc. ἐξιών, -οῦσα, -όν: go out, leave, depart
from a place κολυμβάω, swim Μελίτη, ἡ, Melite (mod. Malta), an island
south of Sicily σανίς, -ίδος, ἡ, plank

Select Bibliography
Casson, Lionel. Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World. Baltimore: Johns
Hopkins University Press, 1971.

1 Art. inf. (cf. IV, 2).

2 This story is told primarily in 1st pers. pl. (cf. Acts 27:1–8, 15–16, 18, 20, 26,
29, 37).

3 παρεδίδουν > παρεδίδοσαν, 3rd pl. impers.

4 Julius (cf. Acts 27:3).

5 εἰς τούς...τόπους.
6 κατὰ τὴν Ἀσιάαν, “along (the coast of) Asia.”

7 ὄντος... Ἀριστάχου..., gen. absol.

8 Aristarchus (cf. Acts 19:29).

9 τῇ ἑτέρᾳ ἡμέρᾳ, means “on the day after tomorrow,” “on the third day.”

10 κἀκεῖθεν > καὶ ἐκεῖθεν.

11 Causal art. inf. (“because,” cf. IV, 1.4).

12 κατά, “along the coast of” (cf. Acts 27:2).

13 κἀκεῖ > καὶ ἐκεῖ.

14 Ptc. of πλέω.

15 κατά, “off (the coast of).”

16 Gen. absol. (cf. IV, 9).

17 “Off of.”

18 In later Hellenistic writers ἐγγύς frequently takes dative case.

19 Gen. absol.

20 Gen. absol.

21 Art. inf. cstr; the Day of Atonement fell on 10 Tishri, which corresponds to
late September or early October. Sailing was deemed to be unsafe after 15
September and ceased altogether after 11 November.

22 Either conat. or incept. impf. (s.v. παραινέω) (cf. IV, 14.4–5).

23 θεωρῶ ὅτι + acc. + inf. (μέλλειν ἔσεσθαι).

24 Fut. inf.

25 μᾶλλον ... ἢ, “more ... [verb] ... than.”

26 S.v. πείθω.

27 Gen. absol. (causal) (cf. IV, 9).

28 table 9.2.3(b).

29 εἰς Φοίνικα...λιμένα τῆς Κρήτης.

30 βλέπω κατά, “to face.”

31 Gen. absol. (inceptive aor.).

32 S.v. δοκέω.

33 S.v. αἴρω.

34 “Down from” (i.e., from the landward side).

35 I.e., Crete.

36 Two gen. absol. constructions.

37 “Were being carried” (i.e., drifted).

38 νησίον, τό, dim. of νῆσος.

39 σκεῦος, here a “kedge” or “driving anchor,” i.e., a light anchor, dropped at a

distance from the boat used to haul (kedge) a boat into position.

40 Gen. absol.

41 Incept. impf. (cf. IV, 13.5).

42 μήτε...μήτε... (“neither ... nor ...”).

43 Gen. absol. (cf. IV, 9).

44 Comp. for positive, “many.”

45 Gen. absol.

46 Art. inf. (cf. IV, 2).

47 The nautical term βοηθείαι refers to heavy cables that were passed under the
ship’s keel during bad weather to reinforce the hull (Casson, Ships and
Seamanship, 91).

48 Gen. absol.

49 S.v. δεῖ (impf.), “(You) should have” + ptc.

50 τὰ νῦν, “now.”

51 οὐδεμία functions as a negative adj. modifying ἀποβολή.

52 The subject of the verb is ἄγγελος...τοῦ θεοῦ (disc. syn.).

53 Gen. absol.

54 Incept. impf.

55 τινὰ ... χώραν (dis. syn.), χώρα in this context means “land,” as opposed to
sea.

56 κατὰ w. acc., “onto,” “against.”

57 Gen. absol.

58 Gen. absol., taken with τῶν...ναυτῶν.

59 1 fathom = distance between an average person’s outstretched hands (ca.

1.85 meters).

60 I.e., the forwardmost part of a ship’s bow that cuts through the water.

61 I.e., “to dawn.”

62 τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτην...ἡμέραν (cf. Acts 27:27).

63 πρός (w. gen.), “for.”

64 κεφαλῆς...οὐδενός.

65 Partitive gen. (“some of ...”).

66 ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ, “on board.”

67 Incept. impf. (cf. IV, 13.5).

68 Cf. table 9.2.3(b).

69 S.v. ἐάω.

70 S.v. ἐπαίρω.

71 μέν...δέ..., “indeed ... but ... ,” “while ... yet ...”

72 Incep. impf.

73 The “bowspritsail” is so named because it is attached to the “bowsprit,” the

pole that extends forward from a boat’s prow.

74 Owing to the weight of the two “steering oars” (πηδάλιοι), so-called

pennants (ζευκτηρίαι), or rudder ropes, fitted with tackles, were used to lift the
oars when a ship was at anchor to prevent the oars from moving and banging
together. Pennants were also used to connect the two steering oars to each other,
allowing the helmsman to use both oars at the same time (Casson, Ships and
Seamanship, 228, n. 16).

75 Explanatory ἵνα (“that”).

76 οἳ μέν...οἳ δέ, “some ... others....”

 5.6. Epistle of Barnabas: A Typological
Interpretation of the Levitical Scapegoat

(Barn. 7:1–11)
Fig. 11. Panel relief on sarcophagus (Istanbul Archaeological
Museum) (photo: author).

Provenance: Syria or Alexandria.

Date: 100–120 CE.
Text: Ehrman, I, 340–409.
Typological interpretation was widely practiced in Alexandria, as well as by
Paul himself (§§4.11, 4.13). The Epistle of Barnabas also engages in typological
interpretation, drawing a direct connection between the Levitical “scapegoat”
and the death of Christ. Its author describes the corporate sin of the people as a
curse, the force of which was removed by its transfer to the scapegoat, Christ.
It is worthy of note that the account of the Levitical scapegoat in Barn. 7
passes on three points of information about the scapegoat ritual that are absent
from Lev 16:20–28 but are corroborated in the Mishnah: the mistreatment of the
goat (Yoma 6.4), the scarlet thread around the scapegoat’s horns (Yoma 6.6), and
the emphasis on the equality of the two goats (Yoma 6.1). Barnabas also passes
on the Mishnaic tradition that the purification goat (i.e., “inside” goat; Lev 16:5,
7–11, 15) was eaten by the priests (Menahoth 11.7).
Cultural Background Life in the ancient Mediterranean world was governed
by many taboos and sacred laws that were connected with issues of purity and
ritual pollution (μίασμα). In some cases, contact with such defilement was
unavoidable, as in the case of familial burial, disease, childbirth, and
menstruation. But ritual pollution could also result from the willful transgression
of sacred laws. Such ritual pollution would contaminate society as a curse unless
an apotropaic (ἀποτρόπαιος) victim or “scapegoat” was provided, upon which it
could be discharged.1 To address this need, a great variety of apotropaic victims
were employed in the ancient world, including the Levitical scapegoat (Lev 16),
the Gedarene demoniac of the Synoptic Gospels, and many others.2
Related Texts: The typological use of the scapegoat bears a strong
resemblance to Paul’s apotropaic language in Gal 3:1–14 (§4.15).
7:1 Οὐκοῦν νοεῖτε, τέκνα εὐφροσύνης, ὅτι πάντα ὁ καλὸς κύριος
προεφανέρωσεν ἡμῖν, ἵνα γνῶμεν, ᾧ κατὰ πάντα εὐχαριστοῦντες ὀφείλομεν
αἰνεῖν. 2 εἰ οὖν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ, ὢν κύριος καὶ μέλλων κρίνειν ζῶντας καὶ
νεκρούς, ἔπαθεν, ἵνα ἡ πληγὴ αὐτοῦ ζωοποιήσῃ ἡμᾶς, πιστεύσωμεν3 ὅτι ὁ
υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ἠδήνατο4 παθεῖν εἰ μὴ δἰ ἡμᾶς. 3 ἀλλὰ καὶ σταυρωθεὶς
ἐποτίζετο ὄξει καὶ χολῇ. ἀκούσατε, πῶς περὶ τούτου πεφανέρωκαν οἱ ἱερεῖς
τοῦ ναοῦ. γεγραμμένης ἐντολῆς·5 Ος ἂν μὴ νηστεύσῃ τὴν νηστείαν, θανάτῳ
ἐξολεθρευθήσεται (Lev 23:29), ἐνετείλατο κύριος, ἐπεὶ καὶ αὐτὸς ὑπὲρ τῶν
ἡμετέρων ἁμαρτιῶν ἔμελλεν τὸ σκεῦος τοῦ πνεύματος προσφέρειν θυσίαν,6
ἵνα καὶ ὁ τύπος ὁ γενόμενος ἐπὶ7 Ἰσαὰκ τοῦ προσενεχθέντος8 ἐπὶ τὸ
θυσιαστήριον τελεσθῇ.
Vocabulary

αἰνέω, to praise ἄπλυτος, -ον, unwashed ἔντερον, τό, entrails ἐξολεθρεύω,

utterly destroy, put to death εὐφροσύνη, ἡ, joy, cheerfulness ζῳοποιέω,
give life to, make alive ἡμέτερος, -α, -ον, our θυσία, ἡ, sacrifice
θυσιαστήριον, τό, altar of burnt offerings (in the forecourt of the
Jerusalem temple)
ἱερεύς, -έως, ὁ, priest νηστεία, ἡ, day of fasting, esp. the Day of
Atonement νοέω (w. acc.), aor. pass. ptc. νοηθείς: perceive, understand
 (that); mid. bear in mind, think; pass. be thought of, be perceived ὄξος, -
ους, τό, vinegar (cf. Barn. 7:4) οὐκοῦν, therefore (cf. Barn. 7:10) ὀφείλω
(and –έω), 2. ὀφειλήσω, 3. ὠφείλησα: owe somebody something, be
indebted to; must (w. inf.); ἁμαρτίαν ὀφείλω (w. dat.), incur sin against
προφανερόω, reveal beforehand φοβερός, -ά, -όν, terrible, horrifying,
dreadful χολή, ἡ, gall, bile

7:4 τί οὖν (God) λέγει ἐν τῷ προφήτῃ; Καὶ φαγέτωσαν ἐκ τοῦ τράγου τοῦ
προσφερομένου τῇ νηστείᾳ ὑπὲρ πασῶν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν. προσέχετε ἀκριβῶς·
Καὶ φαγέτωσαν οἱ ἱερεῖς μόνοι πάντες τὸ ἔντερον ἄπλυτον μετὰ ὄξους.9 5
πρὸς τί;10 ἐπειδὴ ἐμὲ ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν μέλλοντα11 τοῦ λαοῦ μου τοῦ καινοῦ12
προσφέρειν τὴν σάρκα μου μέλλετε ποτίζειν (me) χολὴν μετὰ ὄξους, φάγετε
ὑμεῖς μόνοι, τοῦ λαοῦ νηστεύοντος13 καὶ κοπτομένου14 ἐπὶ σάκκου καὶ
σποδοῦ, ἵνα δείξῃ ὅτι δεῖ αὐτὸν παθεῖν ὑ αὐτῶν. 6 ἃ ἐνετείλατο,
προσέχετε· Λάβετε δύο τράγους καλοὺς καὶ ὁμοίους καὶ προσενέγκατε
(them), καὶ λαβέτω ὁ ἱερεὺς τὸν ἕνα εἰς ὁλοκαύτωμα ὑπὲρ ἁπαρτιῶν (Lev
16:7, 9).
Vocabulary

κόπτω, 3. ἔκοψα: to cut, beat (one’s breast); strike somebody, fight; mid.
mourn ὁλοκαύτωμα, τό, whole burnt offering ὄξος, -ους, τό, vinegar
σάκκος, ὁ, sackcloth σποδός, ἡ, ashes τράγος, ὁ, goat χολή, ἡ, gall, bile

7:7 (With) τὸν δὲ ἕνα τί ποιήσουσιν; Ἐπικατάρατος, φησίν, ὁ εἷς (Lev

16:8).15 προσέχετε, πῶς ὁ τύπος τοῦ Ἰησοῦ φανεροῦται. 8 Καὶ ἐμπτύσατε
πάντες16 καὶ κατακεντήσατε καὶ περίθετε17 τὸ ἔριον τὸ κόκκινον περὶ τὴν
κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὕτως εἰς ἔρημον βληθήτω18 (Lev 16:10, 20–22). καὶ
ὅταν γένηται οὕτως, ἄγει ό βαστάζων τὸν τράγον εἰς τὴν ἔρημον καὶ ἀφαιρεῖ
τὸ ἔριον καὶ ἐπιτίθησιν αὐτὸ ἐπὶ φρύγανον τὸ λεγόμενον ῥαχήλ, οὗ καὶ τοὺς
βλαστοὺς εἰώθαμεν19 τρώγειν ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ εὑρίσκοντες. οὕτω μόνης τῆς
ῥαχῆς οἱ καρποὶ γλυκεῖς εἰσίν. 9 τί οὖν τοῦτό ἐστιν;20 προσέχετε· Τὸν μὲν
ἕνα ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον, τὸν δὲ ἕνα ἐπικατάρατον, καὶ ὅτι τὸν ἐπικατάρατον
ἐστεφανωμένον. ἐπειδὴ ὄψονται αὐτὸν τότε τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τὸν ποδήρη ἔχοντα
τὸν κόκκινον περὶ τὴν σάρκα καὶ ἐροῦσιν·21 Οὐχ οὗτός ἐστιν, ὅν ποτε ἡμεῖς
ἐσταυρώσαμεν ἐξουθενήσαντες22 καὶ κατακεντήσαντες καὶ ἐμπτύσαντες;
ἀληθῶς οὗτος ἦν, ὁ τότε λέγων ἑαυτὸν υἱὸν θεοῦ εἶναι.
 Vocabulary

βλαστός, ὁ, bud, sprout γλυκύς, -εῖα, -ύ, sweet; comp. γλυκερός, -ή, -ον
εἴωθα (pf. of obsol. pres. ἔθω; pf. w. pres. meaning): be accustomed to
ἐμπτύω, to spit (cf. Barn. 7:9) ἐπιτίθημι, 2aor. ptc. ἐπιθείς: lay/put
something (acc.) on (ἐπί) somebody/something (acc.); give something
(acc.) to somebody (dat.) κατακεντέω, stab, goad (cf. Barn. 7:9) κόκκινος,
-η, -ον, scarlet, red; τὸ κόκκινον, scarlet cloth ῥαχήλ, ἡ, blackberry
περιτίθημι, put around, wrap around ποδήρης, -ες, long robe στεφανόω,
to crown; to honor; pass. be crowned with; be honored by (ὑπό) somebody
for (some virtue [acc.]) with a crown (dat.) τρώγω, eat φρύγανον, τό, bush

7:10 πῶς γὰρ ὅμοιος ἐκείνῳ; εἰς τοῦτο ὁμοίους τοὺς τράγους, καλούς,
ἴσους, ἵνα ὅταν ἴδωσιν αὐτὸν τότε ἐρχόμενον, ἐκπλαγῶσιν23 ἐπὶ24 τῇ
ὁμοιότητι τοῦ τράγου. οὐκοῦν ἴδε τὸν τύπον τοῦ μέλλοντος πάσχειν Ἰησοῦ.
11 τί δέ, ὅτι25 τὸ ἔριον εἰς μέσον τῶν ἀκανθῶν τιθέασιν; τύπος ἐστὶν τοῦ
Ἰησοῦ τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ κείμενος, ὅτι ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ τὸ ἔριον ἆραι26 τὸ κόκκινον,27
δεῖ αὐτὸν πολλὰ παθεῖν διὰ τὸ εἶναι28 φοβερὰν τὴν ἄκανθαν, καὶ θλιβέντα
κυριεῦσαι αὐτοῦ. οὕτω, (Jesus) φησίν, οἱ θέλοντές με ἰδεῖν καὶ ἅψασθαί29 μου
τῆς βασιλείας ὀφείλουσιν θλιβέντες καὶ παθόντες λαβεῖν με.
Vocabulary

ἐκπλήσσω, impf. ἐξεπλησσόμην, 6. ἐξεπλάγην, aor. pass. ptc. πλαγείς:

amaze; pass., be amazed θλίβω, pf. pass. ptc. τεθλιμμένος: push; oppress,
afflict; pass. be oppressed, experience pain κείμαι, 2. κείσομαι: stand/be
standing; recline; lie sick; lie buried; be appointed, established; subst. (τά)
κείμενα, something established/existing ὁμοιότης, -ητος, ἡ, state of being
similar to something (gen.), likeness φοβερός, -ά, -όν, terrible, horrifying,
dreadful

1 Robert Parker, Miasmus: Pollution and Purification in Early Greek Religion

(Oxford: Clarendon, 1983), 191; cf. Ἀποτρόπαιος, “one who averts evil”
(Philostr. VA 8.7.9415 [§8.1]).
2 Mark 5:1–14/Matt 8:28–34/Luke 8:26–39; cf. B. H. McLean, The Cursed
Christ: Mediterranean Expulsion Rituals and Pauline Soteriology (Sheffield:
JSOT Press, 1996), 65–104.

3 Hort. subj. (cf. IV, 12).

4 S.v. δύναμαι, impf. ἠδηνάμην.

5 Gen. absol. (cf. IV, 9).

6 Acc. of spec.

7 “In (Isaac).”

8 S.v.προσφέρω; ἐπὶ Ἰσαὰκ τοῦ προσενεχθέντος = ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἰσαὰκ τοῦ

προσενεχθέντος.

9 Quoting an unknown source (cf. Lev 16).

10 πρὸς τί, “what is this?”, “why?”

11 ἐμέ...μέλλοντα, “when I am about to” + inf. (προσφέρειν).

12 ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν...τοῦ λαοῦ μου τοῦ καινου.

13 Gen. absol.

14 Gen. absol.

15 Tertullian likewise referred to the Levitical scapegoat as “cursed.” He

interprets both the “scapegoat” and the “purification” goat as types of Christ
(Adversus Marcionem 7.7).
16 πάντες + verb, “you all....”

17 S.v., περιτίθημι, cf. table 9.12.2(d).

18 S.v. βάλλω.

19 S.v. εἴωθα.

20 τί οὖν τοῦτό ἐστιν; (“what therefore does this mean?”).

21 S.v. λέγω.

22 ἐξουθενέω, s.v. ἐξουδενόω.

23 S.v. ἐκπλήσσω.

24 ἐπί, “at.”

25 τί δέ ὅτι, “but why (is it) that ... ?”

26 S.v. αἴρω.

27 τὸ ἔριον...τὸ κόκκινον (disc. syn. [Y2 hyp.] ).

28 Art. inf. expressing cause (IV, 2).

29 S.v. ἅπτω.
 5.7. Martyrdom of Polycarp: The Glorification of
Martyrdom
(Mart. Pol. 2, 15–18)

Polycarp (69–155 CE) was the bishop of Smyrna (mod. İzmir, Turkey). He was
martyred for refusing to “swear by the fortune of Caesar,” which is to say, for
refusing to pay homage to the emperor’s divine spirit. The following account of
his martyrdom was written by Christians in Smyrna. This text exemplifies that
glorification of martyrdom, which is evident in the second century CE.
Martyrdom was promoted as the ideal means by which to secure an eternal
reward in the heavenly kingdom.
Date: 249–251 CE, during the Decian persecution.
Text: Ehrman, II, 309–45.
2:1 Μακάρια μὲν οὖν καὶ γενναῖα (are) τὰ μαρτύρια πάντα τὰ κατὰ τὸ
θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ γεγονότα. δεῖ1 γὰρ εὐλαβεστέρους ἡμᾶς ὑπάρχοντας τῷ
θεῷ τὴν κατὰ πάντων ἐξουσία ἀνατιθέναι. 2 τὸ γὰρ γενναῖον αὐτῶν καὶ
ὑπομονητικὸν καὶ φιλοδέσποτον τίς οὐκ ἂν θαυμάσειεν;2
Vocabulary

γενναῖος, -α, -ον, high-born; noble; subst., τὸ γενναῖον, nobility

ἐπιδείκνυμι/ἐπιδεικνύω, pres. mid. inf. ἐπιδείκνυσθαι, 3. ἐπέδειξα, 1aor
mid. ἐπεδειξάμην: to show, point out; discuss; prove that (ὅτι) εὐλαβής, -
ές, prudent; reverent, pious; comp. εὐλαβέστερος; adv. εὐλαβῶς,
cautiously, piously keeping clean from μαρτυρία, ἡ, evidence; martyrdom
μαρτύριον, τό, testimony, proof; martyrdom
ὑπομένω, remain, await, endure ὑπομονητικός, -ή, -όν, showing
endurance; subst., τὸ ὑπομονητικόν, endurance φιλοδέσποτος, -ον, loving
one’s master; nt. subst. τὸ φιλοδέσποτον, love of one’s master

2:2 οἱ μάστιξιν3 μὲν4 καταξανθέντες,5 ὥστε6 μέχρι7 τῶν ἔσω φλεβῶν καὶ
ἀρτηριῶν τὴν τῆς σαρκὸς οἰκονομίαν θεωρεῖσθαι, ὑπέμειναν,8 ὡς9 καὶ τοὺς
περιεστῶτας ἐλεεῖν καὶ ὀδύρεσθαι· τοὺς δὲ10 καὶ εἰς τοσοῦτον γενναιότητος
ἐλθεῖν,11 ὥστε μήτε γρύξαι μήτε στενάξαι τινὰ αὐτῶν, ἐπιδεικνυμένους
ἅπασιν ἡμῖν, ὅτι ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρα βασανιζόμενοι12 τῆς σαρκὸς ἀπεδήμουν οἵ
μάρτυρες τοῦ Χριστοῦ, μάλλον δέ, ὅτι παρεστὼς ὁ κύριος ὡμίλει αὐτοῖς.
Vocabulary

ἀποδημέω, travel abroad ἀρτηρία, ἡ, artery γενναιότης, -τητος, ὁ,

nobility γρύζω, complain, mutter ἐλεέω, be merciful; feel pity; pass. be
shown mercy καταξαίνω, be torn to shreds μάστιξ, -ιγος, ἡ (mostly pl.),
lashes (of a whip) ὀδύρομαι, wail, lament οἰκονομία, ἡ, management of a
household; economy; administration of an office; arrangement, structure (of
parts), “anatomy”
ὀμιλέω, speak to (of Christ talking to martyrs) περιίστημι, pf. stand around;
subst. ptc. bystander τοσοῦτος, -αύτη, -οῦτον, so much/great/large, etc.;
pl. so many ὑπομένω, remain, await; endure, stand one’s ground, hold out;
bear an ordeal, put up with φλέψ, ἡ, φλεβός, vein

2:3 καὶ προσέχοντες τῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ χάριτι τῶν κοσμικῶν κατεφρόνουν

βασάνων,13 διὰ μιᾶς ὥρας τὴν αἰώνιον ζωὴν ἐξαγοραζόμενοι. καὶ τὸ πῦρ ἦν
αὐτοῖς ψυχρὸν τὸ τῶν ἀπανθρώπων βασανιστῶν·14 πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν (αὐτῶν)
γὰρ εἶχον φυγεῖν15 τὸ αἰώνιον καὶ μηδέποτε σβεννύμενον, καὶ τοῖς τῆς
καρδίας ὀφθαλμοῖς16 ἀνέβλεπον τὰ τηρούμενα τοῖς ὑπομείνασιν ἀγαθά,17 ἃ
οὔτε οὖς ἤκουσεν18 οὔτε ὀφθαλμὸς εἶδεν οὔτε ἐπὶ καρδίαν ἀνθρώπου ἀνέβη,
ἐκείνοις δὲ ὑπεδείκνυτο ὑπὸ τοῦ κυρίου, οἵπερ μηκέτι ἄνθρωποι ἀλ ἤδη
ἄγγελοι ἦσαν.
Vocabulary

ἀναβλέπω, look up/above at (w. acc.); regain sight ἀπάνθρωπος, -ον,

inhuman βασανιστής, ὁ, guard in a prison (frequently under orders to
torture prisoners) βάσανος, ἡ, torture, torment εἵπερ, since; if really/indeed
ἐξαγοράζω, purchase something, to ransom καταφρονέω, despise, treat
with contempt κοσμικός, -ή, -όν, earthly, worldly ὅσπερ, ὅνπερ (acc.) /
ἥπερ (fm.) / ὅπερ (nt.) / ἅπερ (nt. pl.): the very man/woman/thing(s);
which indeed/exactly; ὅνπερ τρόπον, in the same way σβέννυμι, 3.
ἔσβεσα, aor. inf. σβέσαι: extinguish, put out (a fire); pass. be extinguished
 ψυχρός, -ή, -όν, cold

2:4 ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ οἱ εἰς τὰ θηρία κατακριθέντες ὑπέμειναν δεινὰς

κολάσεις, κήρυκας19 μὲν ὑποστρωννύμενοι καὶ ἄλλαις ποικίλων βασάσων
ἰδέαις κολαζόμενοι, ἵνα, εἰ δυνηθείη,20 διὰ τῆς ἐπιμόνου κολάσεως εἰς
ἄρνησιν αὐτοὺς τρέψῃ.
Vocabulary

ἄνησις, ἡ, denial ἐπίμονος, -ον, continuous ἰδέα, ἡ, idea, kind, form

κατακρίνω, condemn; sentence somebody to do something κῆρυξ, -υκος,
ὁ, herald, public messenger; trumpet shell (seashell with sharp edges used
in torture) κολαφίζω, to slap κόλασις, ἡ, punishment, torture
ποικίλος, -η, -ον, various, various kinds τρέπω, 3. ἔτρεψα, aor. pass. inf.
τραπῆναι: incline/turn somebody toward (εἰς); mid. turn/take oneself to
(εἰς) ὑποστρώννυμι, stretch/spread out on something

Polycarp’s Martyrdom (15–18)

This section follows Polycarp’s prayer, which ends with an “Amen.”
15:1 Ἀναπέμψαντος δὲ αὐτοῦ21 τὸ ἀμὴν καὶ πληρώσαντος τὴν εὐχήν, οἱ
τοῦ πυρὸς ἄνθρωποι22 ἐξῆψαν τὸ πῦρ. μεγάλης δὲ ἐκλαμψάσης φλογός,23
θαῦμα εἴδομεν, οἷς ἰδεῖν ἐδόθη· οἳ καὶ24 ἐτηρήθημεν εἰς τὸ ἀναγγεῖλαι25 τοῖς
λοιποῖς τὰ γενόμενα.
Vocabulary

ἀναπέμπω, send up ἐκλάμπω, 2. ἐκλάμψω, 3. ἐξέλαμψα: blaze up; shine,

beam forth ἐξάπτω, 3. ἐξῆψα: light a fire εὐχή, ἡ, prayer; vow, oath;
εὐχῆς ἕνεκεν, in fulfillment of a vow θαῦμα, τό, a wonder, amazing event
φλόξ, ἡ, φλογός, flame

15:2 τὸ γὰρ πῦρ καμάρας εἶδος ποιῆσαν, ὥσπερ ὀθόνη πλοίου ὑπὸ
πνεύματος πληρουμένη, κύκλῳ περιετείχισεν τὸ σῶμα τοῦ μάρτυρος· καὶ ἦν
μέσον26 οὐχ ὡς σὰρξ καιομένη, ἀλ ὡς ἄρτος ὀπτώμενος ἢ ὡς χρυσὸς καὶ
ἄργυρος ἐν καμίνῳ πυρούμενος. καὶ γὰρ εὐωδίας τοσαύτης ἀντελαβόμεθα
ὡς λιβανωτοῦ πνέοντος ἢ ἄλλου τινὸς τῶν τιμίων ἀρωμάτων.
 Vocabulary

ἄργυρος, ὁ, silver ἄρωμα, -ματος, τό, spice; spices and aromatic oils
(esp. used for embalming the dead) εἶδος, -ους, τό, form, appearance
εὐωδία, ἡ, aroma, fragrance, perfume καίω (Att. κάω), ἔκαυσα: light
something, kindle a fire, to burn
καμάρα, ἡ, arch καμίνος, ἡ, furnace, oven λιβανωτός, ὁ, frankincense
ὀθόνη, ἡ, sail ὀπτάω, to bake περιτειχίζω, surround with a wall πνέω, 3.
ἔπνευσα: to blow (of wind); subst. (ptc.), wind πυρόω, burn with fire; heat
to red hot: pass. be set on fire, be purified by fire (of metals) τίμιος, -α, -ον,
precious, valuable; superl. τιμιώτερος, -α, -ον, more precious χρυσός, ὁ,
gold, gold coin

16:1 Πέρας γοὖν ἰδόντες οἱ ἄνομοι μὴ δυνάμενον αὐτοῦ τὸ σῶμα ὑπὸ τοῦ
πυρὸς δαπανηθῆναι, ἐκέλευσαν προσελθόντα αὐτῷ κομφέκτορα παραβῦσαι
ξιφίδιον. καὶ τοῦτο (αὐτοῦ) ποιήσαντος, ἐξῆλθεν περιστερὰ καὶ πλῆθος
αἵματος, ὥστε27 κατασβέσαι τὸ πῦρ καὶ θαυμάσαι πάντα τὸν ὄχλον, εἰ
τοσαύτη τις διαφορὰ μεταξὺ τῶν τε28 ἀπίστων καὶ τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν·
Vocabulary

ἄπιστος, -ον, unbelieving, faithless; unbelievable; subst. unbelievers γοῦν,

thus, then; at any rate δαπανάω, destroy, here “consume”
κατασβέννιμι, quench (a fire) κομφέκτωρ, -τορα, ὁ, executioner (Lat.
loanw.) ξιφίδιον, τό, dagger παραβύω, stab with (acc.) πέρας, -ατος, τό,
limit, end (of the earth), boundary; (adv.) πέρας, finally, in conclusion; as a
result

16:2 ὧν εἷς29 καὶ οὗτος30 γεγόνει31 ὁ θαυμασιώτατος μάρτυς Πολύκαρπος,

ἐν τοῖς κα ἡμᾶς32 χρόνοις διδάσκαλος ἀποστολικὸς καὶ προφητικὸς
γενόμενος, ἐπίσκοπός τε τῆς ἐν Σμύρνῃ καθολικῆς ἐκκλησίας. πᾶν γὰρ
ῥῆμα, ὃ ἀφῆκεν ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐτελειώθη καὶ τελειωθήσεται.
Vocabulary

ἀποστολικός, -ή, -όν, apostolic

ἐπίσκοπος, ὁ, bishop καθολικός, -ή, -όν, universal προφητικός, -ή, -όν,
prophetic Σμύρνα, -ης, Smyrna (mod. İzmir)
 17:1 Ὁ δὲ ἀντίζηλος καὶ βάσκανος καὶ πονηρός, ὁ ἀντικείμενος τῷ γένει
τῶν δικαίων, ἰδὼν τό τε μέγεθος αὐτοῦ τῆς μαρτυρίας καὶ τὴν ἀ ἀρχῆς
ἀνεπίληπτον πολιτείαν, ἐστεφανωμένον τε τὸν τῆς ἀφθαρσίας στέφανον καὶ
βραβεῖον ἀναντίρρητον ἀπενηνεγμένον,33 ἐπετήδευσεν, ὡς μηδὲ τὸ σωμάτιον
αὐτοῦ ὑ ἡμῶν ληφθῆναι, καίπερ πολλῶν ἐπιθυμούντων34 τοῦτο ποιῆσαι καὶ
κοινωνῆσαι τῷ ἁγίῳ αὐτοῦ σαρκίῳ.
Vocabulary

ἀναντίρρητος, -ον, undeniable, incontestable ἀνεπίληπτος, -ον,

irreproachable ἀντίζηλος, ὁ, jealous one ἀντίκειμαι, oppose somebody;
subst. adversary (here, the “devil”) ἀποφέρω, 2aor. inf. ἀπενεγκεῖν, aor.
mid. inf. ἀποφέρεσθαι: carry off/away; mid. win a prize; carry away from
(ἀπό) somebody to (ἐπί) somebody ἀφθαρσία, ἡ, immortality βάσκανος,
ὁ, envious one βραβεῖον, τό, prize awarded by an adjudicator (βραβεύς)
γένος, -ους, τό, family; race; nation, people; offspring, descendants; sort,
kind ἐπιτηδεύω, take care that (ὡς = ὅτι) κοινωνέω, have a share of
something (w. gen.) πολιτεία, ἡ, citizenship; way of life, conduct σαρκίον,
τό, piece of flesh (dim.) στεφανόω, crown; honor; pass. be crowned with;
be honored by (ὑπό) somebody for (some virtue [acc.]) with a crown (dat.)
σωμάτιον, τό, poor body (dim. of σῶμα)

17:2 (The adversary) ὑπέβαλεν γοῦν Νικήτην35 τὸν τοῦ Ἡρώδου36 πατέρα,
ἀδελφὸν δὲ Ἄλκης,37 ἐντυχεῖν τῷ ἄρχοντι, ὥστε38 μὴ δοῦναι αὐτοῦ τὸ
σῶμα, Μή, φησίν, ἀφέντες τὸν ἐσταυρωμένον39 τοῦτο ἄρξωνται σέβεσθαι.40
καὶ ταῦτα εἶπον ὑποβαλλόντων καὶ ἐνισχυόντων τῶν Ἰουδαίων,41 οἳ καὶ
ἐτήρησαν, μελλόντων ἡμῶν42 ἐκ τοῦ πυρὸς αὐτὸν λαμβάνειν, ἀγνοοῦντες,
ὅτι οὔτε43 τὸν Χριστόν44 ποτε καταλιπεῖν δυνησόμεθα, τὸν45 ὑπὲρ τῆς τοῦ
παντὸς κόσμου τῶν σωζομένων σωτηρίας46 παθόντα, (though) ἄμωμον ὑπὲρ
ἁμαρτωλῶν, οὔτε ἕτερόν τινα σέβεσθαι.
Vocabulary

ἄμωμος, -ον, faultless, above reproach ἐνισχύω, urge insistently

ἐντυγχάνω, 3. ἐνέτυχον, 2aor. inf. ἐντυχεῖν: bring a charge against;
appeal, petition; happen to meet with/run into somebody πάσχω, 1.
πείσομαι, 2aor. ἔπαθον, ptc. παθών, 4. πέπονθα: suffer, endure, undergo;
 experience σβέννυμι, aor. inf. σβέσαι, aor. pass. impv. σβέσθητι:
extinguish, put out (a fire); pass. be extinguished ὑποβάλλω, suggest

17:3 τοῦτον μὲν47 γὰρ υἱὸν ὄντα τοῦ θεοῦ προσκυνοῦμεν, τοὺς δὲ
μάρτυρας ὡς μαθητὰς καὶ μιμητὰς τοῦ κυρίου ἀγαπῶμεν ἀξίως ἕνεκα
εὐνοίας ἀνυπερβλῄτου τῆς48 εἰς τὸν ἴδιον βασιλέα καὶ διδάσκαλον· ὧν49
γένοιτο50 (possible for) καὶ ἡμᾶς κοινωνούς τε καὶ συμμαθητὰς γενέσθαι.
Vocabulary

ἀνυπέρβλητος, -ον, unsurpassable ἀξίως, worthily εὔνοια, ἡ, affection,

enthusiasm; goodwill κοινωνός, ὁ, companion, partner μιμητής, -ου, ὁ,
imitator συμμαθητής, fellow disciple

18:1 Ἰδὼν οὖν ὁ κεντυρίων τὴν τῶν Ἰουδαίων γενομένην φιλονεικίαν, θεὶς51
αὐτὸν52 ἐν μέσῳ, ὡς (was the) ἔθος αὐτοῖς, ἔκαυσεν53 (his body). 2 οὕτως τε
ἡμεῖς ὕστερον ἀνελόμενοι54 τὰ55 τιμιώτερα λίθων πολυτελῶν καὶ
δοκιμώτερα ὑπὲρ χρυσίον ὀστᾶ αὐτοῦ ἀπεθέμεθα, ὅπου καὶ ἀκόλουθον ἦν.
Vocabulary

ἀκόλουθος, -ον, suitable ἀποτίθημι, 2aor. mid. ἀπεθέμην: mid. lay

something down, put something away δόκιμος, -ον, genuine, fine; comp.
δοκιμώτερα, finer ἔνθα (adv.), there; where κεντυρίων, -ωνος, ὁ,
centurion (Lat. loanw., cf. ἑκατοντάρχη) πολυτελής, -ές, expensive
ὕστερος, -α, -ον, coming after; last; ὕστερον (adv.), later, after, finally
φιλονεικία, ἡ, contentiousness

18:3 ἔνθα ὡς56 δυνατὸν ἡμῖν συναγομένοις ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει καὶ χαρᾷ

παρέξει57 ὁ κύριος ἐπιτελεῖν τὴν τοῦ μαρτυρίου αὐτοῦ ἡμέραν γενέθλιον, εἴς
τε τὴν τῶν προηθληκότων58 μνήμην καὶ (εἰς τὴν) τῶν μελλόντων ἄσκησίν τε
καὶ ἑτοιμασίαν.
Vocabulary

ἀγαλλίασις, -εως, ἡ, exultation, gladness ἄσκησίς, ἡ, practice (of athletics,

here applied to martyrs) γενέθλιος, -ον, belonging to one’s birth; ἡμέρα
γενέθλιον, birthday celebration ἔνθα (adv.), here; where ἑτοιμασία, ἡ,
 preparation μνήμη, ἡ, memory of something (gen.), commemoration
παρέχω, 3. παρέσχον, ptc. παρασχών, 2aor. mid. impv. παράσχου:
provide/give; + inf., allow/grant to somebody (dat.), do something
προέρχομαι, go forward, approach; come/go before; come/go forth; go
(read) forward

1 δεῖ...ὑμᾶς...ἀνατιθέναι.

2 Cf. table 1.3(b).

3 Dat. of means.

4 μέν (postpos.) is coordinated with ὥστε and οἳ functions like a dem. pron.
(οὗτοι) or pron. (αὐτοί).

5 Concessive adv. ptc. (cf. IV, 1.5).

6 ὥστε (“so that”) w. inf. (cf. IV, 15).

7 “As far as,” “down to.”

8 Main verb of the sentence.

9 Like ὥστε, ὡς (“while”) can take the inf.

10 τοὺς δέ (fr. οἱ δέ, “but they”); here acc. as subj. of inf.

11 ἐλθεῖν...εἰς, “to come to (such nobility),” i.e., to “show, display (such

nobility).”

12 Temp. adv. ptc. (“while,” cf. IV, 1.1).

13 τῶν κοσμικῶν...βασάνων (dis. syn. [Y1 hyp.]).

14 τὸ πῦρ...τὸ τῶν ἀπανθρώπων βασανιστῶν (dis. syn. [Y2 hyp.]).

15 Gerundive inf., “escaping” (s.v. φεύγω).

16 “With the eyes of the(ir) heart(s).”

17 τὰ...ἀγαθά.

18 ἀκούω + gen. When a gen. form follows the verb ἀκούω in Classical Greek,
it often indicates the person or source of the sound, whereas the acc. case
denotes the object or thing which is heard. However, in Hellenistic Greek these
distinctions often became blurred.

19 S.v. κήρυξ.

20 Aor. pass. opt., cf. table 9.3.3(b) (“if possible”).

21 Gen. absol. (αὐτοῦ refers to Polycarp, cf. IV, 9).

22 οἱ τοῦ πυρὸς ἄνθρωποι, i.e., men in charge of the fire.

23 Gen. absol.; μεγάλης...φλογός.

24 οἳ καί (see οἳ μέν above) functions like the pronoun αὐτοί, intensifying the
implied subject of the verb (“we ourselves”).

25 Art. inf. w. εἰς (cf. IV, 2.1).

26 Adv. nt. form (s.v. μέσος), “in the midst.”

27 ὥστε w. inf. (cf. IV, 15).

28 τε (postpos.)...καί....

29 ὧν εἷς, “one of whom.”

30 οὗτος...ὁ θαυμασιώτατος Πολύκαρπος.

31 Here γίνομαι functions as a substitute for εἰμί.

32 κα ἡμᾶς (“our”).

33 S.v. ἀποφέρω.

34 Gen. absol.

35 Niketes.

36 Herod, an irenarch (εἰήναρχος) in Smyrna.

37 Alce, a woman of Smyrna.

38 ὥστε w. inf. (cf. IV, 15).

39 I.e., Jesus Christ.

40 ἄρξωνται σέβεσθαι...τοῦτο.

41 Gen. absol.

42 Gen. absol. (“when ...”).

43 οὔτε... οὔτε... (“neither ... nor ...” )

44 Prolep. of τὸν Χριστόν.

45 τὸν Χριστόν...τὸν... πανθόντα, modifier in 2nd attrib. pos. (cf. IV, 4.2).

46 ὑπὲρ τῆς...σωτηρίας.

47 μὲν...δέ....

48 εὐνοίας...τῆς (modifying phrase).

49 ὧν, “with whom.”

50 Opt., “may it happen,” “may it be.”

51 S.v. τίθημι.

52 I.e., (the body of) Polycarp.

53 S.v. κλαίω.

54 S.v. ἀναιρέω.

55 τὰ...ὀστᾶ.

56 ὡς...παρέξει ὁ κύριος.

57 παρέξει (Att.) > παρέξῃ.

58 Cf. table 9.1.6(d).

 5.8. Apocalypse of Peter: A Tour of Hell

(Apoc. Pet. 21–34)

Fig. 12. Head, Smyrna (photo: author).

Provenance: Syria-Palestine.
Date: 135–140 CE.
Text: Thomas J. Kraus, Tobias Nicklas, Das Petrusevangelium und die
Petrusapokalypse: Die griechsichen Fragment emit deutscher und englisher
Übersetzung (Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 2004); ET: Bart D. Ehrman, The New
Testament and Other Early Christian Writings: A Reader (New York: Oxford
University Press, 1998), 407–12.
The Apocalypse of Peter was discovered, along with the Gospel of Peter, in
1887 in the tomb of a Christian monk in Akhmim, north of Nag Hammadi,
Upper Egypt. This pseudonymous text was counted among the books of
canonical scripture in some places, appearing in the canonical lists of both the
Muratorian Canon and Codex Claramontanus, as well as in patristic allusions.
The Apocalypse of Peter belongs to the genre of tour apocalypses.1 However,
this text is unique for being the only tour apocalypse in which a deity or savior
(here Jesus) takes a sage (here the apostle Peter) on a descent to tour the abode
of hell before ascending for the typical apocalyptic tour of heaven.2 Thus, this
text can also be situated within the Christian tradition of Christ’s descent into
hell.3 For its detail, the author drew on Jewish and Christian traditions, with an
interest in punishment after death (e.g. 3 Baruch, Testament of Abraham, 1 En.
14, 17–36), adding fiery punishments and geographical details.
After describing the terrifying events that will accompany Christ’s second
coming, the Apocalypse of Peter narrates the apostle Peter’s tour of hell,
depicted as an anti-utopian abode of bodily torment. Hell is a place where the
condemned sit in filth and in a variety of bodily discharges such as blood, sweat,
pus, and excrement. The taxonomy of transgressions in this text maps out, in an
unsystematic way, the categories of sin, specifying an appropriate post mortem
punishment for each category. In each case, the punishment is made to fit the
crime.4
Special Features: Note the use of iota-adscripts (cf. IV, 16).
Related Texts: Narrations of sages being taken on heavenly tours is a common
feature of Jewish apocalyptic texts (e.g., 1 En. 17–36, 72–82, 3 Baruch, T. Levi,
2 Cor 11:30–12:1 [§4.9]).
While Jesus takes Peter on a tour of hell, Peter declares: 21 Εἶδον δὲ καὶ
ἕτερον τόπον καταντικρὺς ἐκείνου5 (and it was) αὐχμηρόν, καὶ ἦν τόπος
κολάσεως καὶ οἱ καλαζόμενοι ἐκεῖ καὶ οἱ κολάζοντες ἄγγελοι σκοτεινὸν εἶχον
αὐτῶν τὸ ἔνδυμα6 κατὰ τὸν ἀέρα τοῦ τόπου. 22 καί τινες ἦσαν ἐκεῖ ἐκ τῆς
γλώσσης κρεμάμενοι· οὗτοι δὲ ἦσαν οἱ βλασφημοῦντες τὴν ὁδὸν τῆς
δικαιοσύνης, καὶ ὑπέκειτο αὐτοῖς πῦρ φλεγόμενον καὶ κολάζον αὐτούς.
Vocabulary
αὐχμηρός, -ά, -όν, dry, parched καταντικρύ(ς), directly opposite (w. gen.)
κολάζω, punish, punish for (ἐπί), chastise κόλασις, ἡ, punishment, torture
κρεμάννυμι/κραμάζω, pres. mid. κρέμαμαι, pres. mid. ptc. κρεμάμενος, 3.
ἐκρέμασα, aor. mid. inf. κρέμασθαι, aor. pl. ptc. κρεμάσαντες, 6. ἐκεμάσθην:
hang up something, hang something from (gen.); hang somebody in execution;
mid. hang, be suspended; pass. be hung up, suspended σκοτεινός, -ή, -όν, dark
ὑποκείμαι, lie under, below; be subject to somebody/something φλέγω, to
burn; pass. be on fire
23 καὶ λίμνη τις ἦν μεγάλη πεπληρωμένη βοβόρου φλεγομένου, ἐν ὧι ἦσαν
ἄνθρωποί τινες ἀποστρέφοντες τὴν δικαιοσύνην, καὶ ἐπέκειντο7 αὐτοῖς
ἄγγελοι βασανισταί. 24 ἦσαν δὲ καὶ ἄλλοι, γυναῖκες τῶν πλοκάμων
ἐξηρτημέναι ἀνωτέρω τοῦ βορβόρου ἐκείνου τοῦ ἀναπαφλάζοντος. αὗται δὲ
ἦσαν αἱ πρὸς μοιχείαν κοσμηθεῖσαι. οἱ δὲ συμμιγέντες αὐτῶν τῷ μιάσματι
τῆς μοιχείας [were hanging] ἐκ τῶν ποδῶν,8 καὶ τὰς κεφαλὰς εἶχον ἐν τῶι
βορβόρωι...[and]...ἔλεγον· οὐκ ἐπιστεύομεν ἐλεύσεσθαι9 εἰς τοῦτον τὸν
τόπον.
Vocabulary
ἀναπαφλάζω, to boil/bubble up ἀνώτερος, -έρα, -ον, above (w. gen.)
βασανιστης, ὁ, guard who tortures prisoners, tormenting jailor βόβορος, ὁ, filth
(in the netherworld) ἐξαρτάω, hang ἐπίκειμαι (w. dat.), set over, set/lay upon;
adorn with; confront κοσμέω, arrange, put in order; adorn, dress λίμνη, ἡ, lake
μίασμα, -ματος, τό, defilement, pollution μοιχεία, ἡ, adultery πλόκαμος, ὁ,
braid of hair συμμείγνυμι, pf. pass. ptc. συμμεμιγμένος: mix together, mingle
with; mid. associate with; be joined sexually with (gen.)
25 Καὶ τοὺς φονεῖς ἔβλεπον καὶ τοὺς συνειδότας αὐτοῖς βεβλημένους10 ἔν
τινι τόπωι τεθλιμμένωι καὶ πεπληρωμένωι ἑρπετῶν πονηρῶν καὶ
πλησσομένους ὑπὸ τῶν θηρίων ἐκείνων καὶ οὕτω στρεφομένους ἐκεῖ ἐν τῆι
κολάσει ἐκείνῃι. ἐπέκειντο δὲ αὐτοῖς σκώληκες ὥσπερ νεφέλαι σκότους. αἱ
δε ψυχαὶ τῶν πεφονευμένων ἑστῶσαι11 καὶ ἐφορῶσαι τὴν κολάσιν ἐκείνων
τῶν φονέων ἔλεγον· ὁ θεός,12 δικαία σου ἡ κρίσις.
Vocabulary
ἑρπετόν, τό, reptile θλίβω, pf. pass. ptc. τεθλιμμένος: push; oppress, afflict;
pass. be oppressed, experience pain σκώληξ, -ηκος, ὁ, worm σύνοιδα (pf.), be
aware of information, consent to φονεύς, -εως, ὁ, φονέα (acc.), φονέας (acc.
pl.), murderer φονεύω, to murder, kill φορέω, wear (clothing/armor); bear,
suffer; here, “bear/endure somebody’s torment by looking or gazing upon those
being tormented”
26 πλησίον δὲ τοῦ τόπου ἐκείνου εἶδον ἕτερον τόπον τεθλιμμένον, ἐν ὧι ὁ
ἰχὼρ καὶ ἡ δυσωδία τῶν κολαζομένων κατέρρεε, καὶ (something) ὥσπερ
λίμνη ἐγίνετο ἐκεῖ, κἀκεῖ ἐκάθηντο13 γυναῖκες ἔχουσαι τὸν ἰχῶρα μέχρι τῶν
τραχήλων, καὶ ἀντικρὺς αὐτῶν πολλοὶ παῖδες...ἄωροι ἐτίκτοντο καθήμενοι
ἔκλαιον. καὶ προήρχοντο ἐξ αὐτῶν πυρὸς καὶ τὰς γυναῖκας ἔπλησσον κατὰ
τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν. αὗται δὲ ἦσαν αἱ [women who conceived out of wedlock] καὶ
ἐκτρώσασαι.
Vocabulary
ἀντικρύς (w. gen.), opposite ἄωρος, -ον, (aborted) prematurely δυσωδία, ἡ, foul
smell, stench ἐκτρώσκω, cause an abortion ἰχώρ,-ῶρος, ὁ, discharge (from a
wound), pus καταρρέω, impf. κατέρρεον: to stream/run down πλησίον (w.
gen.), near, nearby πλήσσω, 2aor. pass. ptc. πληγείς, pf. pass. inf. πεπλάσθαι: to
wound, strike; sting (of bees), bite προέρχομαι, go forward, approach; go (read)
forward; come/go before; come/go forth τράχηλος, ὁ, neck
27 Καὶ ἕτεροι ἄνδρες καὶ γυναῖκες φλεγόμενοι ἦσαν14 μέχρι τοῦ ἡμίσους
αὐτῶν καὶ βεβλημένοι ἐν τόπωι σκοτεινῶι καὶ μαστιζόμενοι ὑπὸ πνευμάτων
πονηρῶν καὶ ἐσθιόμενοι (their) τὰ σπλάγχνα ὑπὸ σκωλήκων ἀκοιμήτων.
οὗτοι δὲ ἦσαν οἱ διώξαντες τοὺς δικαίους καὶ παραδόντες αὐτούς, 28 καὶ
πλησίον ἐκείνων πάλιν γυναῖκες καὶ ἄνδρες μασώμενοι αὐτῶν τὰ χείλη καὶ
κολαζόμενοι καὶ πεπυρωμένον σίδηρον κατὰ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν λαμβάνοντες.
οὗτοι δὲ ἦσαν οἱ βλασφημήσαντες καὶ κακῶς εἰπόντες τὴν ὁδὸν τὴς
δικαιοσύνης. 29 καὶ καταντικρὺ τούτων ἄλλοι πάλιν ἄνδρες καὶ γυναῖκες τὰς
γλώσσας αὐτῶν μασώμενοι καὶ πῦρ φλεγόμενον ἔχοντες ἐν τῶι στόματι.
οὖτοι δὲ ἦσαν οἱ ψευδομάρτυρες.
Vocabulary
ἀκοίμητος, -ον, never-resting ἥμισυς, -εια, -υ, half; μέχρι τοῦ ἡμίσους, up to
the middle (of one’s body) κακῶς (adv.), wrongly, wickedly καταντικρύ,
directly opposite (w. gen.) μασάομαι, to bite, gnaw μαστίζω, strike with a whip,
to scourge σίδηρος, ὁ, iron, anything made of iron σκώληξ, -ηκος, ὁ, worm
σπλάγχα, τά, inward parts, entrails (esp. heart, lungs, liver, kidneys); fig.
affection, love χεῖλος, -ους, τό; pl. τὰ χείλη: lips; edge, shore (of the sea), bank
(of a river) ψευδόμαρτυς, -υρος, ὁ, false witness
30 Καὶ ἐν ἑτέρωι τινὶ τόπωι χάλικες ἦσαν ὀξύτεροι (than) ξιφῶν καὶ
παντὸς ὀβελίσκου πεπύρωμένοι, καὶ γυναῖκες καὶ ἄνδρες ῥάκη ῥυπαρὰ
ἐνδεδυμένοι ἐκυλίοντο ἐ αὐτῶν15 κολαζόμενοι.16 οὖτοι δὲ ἦσαν οἱ
πλουτοῦντες καὶ τῶι πλούτωι αὐτῶν πεποιθότες καὶ μὴ ἐλεήσαντες ὀρφανοὺς
καὶ χήρας, ἀλ ἀμελήσαντες τῆς ἐντολῆς τοῦ θεοῦ. 31 ἐν δὲ ἑτέραι λίμνηι
μεγάληι πεπληρωμένηι πύου καὶ αἵματος καὶ βορβόρου ἀναζέοντος
ἱστήκεισαν17 ἄνδρες καὶ γυναῖκες μέχρι γονάτων. οὗτοι δὲ ἦσαν οἱ δανίζοντες
καὶ ἀπαιτοῦντες τόκους τόκων.
Vocabulary
ἀμελέω, disregard, neglect ἀναζέω, to boil ἀπαιτέω, demand payment of a
loan βόβορος, ὁ, filth δανίζω, lend money ἐλεέω, be merciful; feel pity; pass.
be shown mercy κυλίω, roll something up/down; mid., roll oneself upon
something; pour down ξίφος, -εος, τό, sword ὀβελίσκος, ὁ, skewer, spit ὀξύς, -
εῖα, -ύ, sharp; swift, quick (of spirit/mind); comp. ὀξύτερος
ὀρφανός, -ή, -όν, orphaned; subst. orphan πλουτέω, be rich πύον, τό, pus
ῥάκος, -ους, τό, tattered garment, rag ῥυπαρός, -ά, -ον, filthy, dirty τόκος, ὁ,
childbirth; offspring; interest (on money owed) χάλιξ, -ικος, ὁ, sharp stones
χήρα, ἡ, widow
32 Ἄλλοι ἄνδρες καὶ γυναῖκες ἀπὸ κρημνοῦ μεγάλου καταστρεφόμενοι
ἤρχοντο κάτω καὶ πάλιν ἠλαύοντο ὑπὸ τῶν ἐπικειμένων ἀναβῆναι ἄνω ἐπὶ
τοῦ κηρμνοῦ καὶ κατεσρέφοντο ἐκεῖθεν κάτω καὶ ἡσυχίαν οὐκ εἶχον ἀπὸ
ταύτης τῆς κολάσεως. οὖτοι δὲ ἦσαν οἱ μιάναντες τὰ σώματα ἑαυτῶν ὡς
γυναῖκες ἀναστρεφόμενοι, αἱ δὲ με αὐτῶν γυναῖκες αὗται ἦσαν αἱ
συγκοιμηθεῖσαι ἀλλήλαις ὡς ἂν ἀνὴρ πρὸς γυναῖκα.
Vocabulary
ἀναστρέφω, 6. ἀνεστράφην, fut. pass. ἀναστραφήσομαι: overturn something;
pass. behave, conduct oneself; associate with ἐκεῖθεν, from there ἐλαύνω, to
drive, compel ἡσυχία, ἡ, quietness, silence; decorum; rest καταστρέφω, cast
down κρημνός, ὁ, cliff, precipice συγκοιμάομαι (w. dat.), lie/sleep with
somebody
33 καὶ παρὰ τῶι κρημνῶι ἐκείνωι τόπος ἦν πυρὸς πλείστου γέμων. κἀκεῖ
ἱστήκεισαν ἄνδρες οἵτινες ταῖς ἰδίαις χερσὶ ξόανα ἑαυτοῖς ἐποίησαν ἀντὶ18
θεοῦ. καὶ παρ᾿ ἐκείνοις ἄνδρες ἕτεροι καὶ γυναῖκες ῥάβδους πυρὸς ἔχοντες
καὶ ἀλλήλους τύπτοντες καὶ μηδέποτε παυόμενοι τῆς τοιαύτης κολάσεως, 34
καὶ ἕτεροι πάλιν ἐγγὺς ἐκείνων γυναῖκες καὶ ἄνδρες φλεγόμενοι καὶ
στρεφόμενοι καὶ τηγανιζόμενοι. οὖτοι δὲ ἦσαν οἱ ἀφέντες τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ θεοῦ.
Vocabulary
γέμω (w. gen.), nt. pres. ptc. γέμον: be full of something ἐγγύς (adv.), near,
close to; on the verge of ξόανον, τό, wooden cult image μηδέποτε, never
πλείστος, -η, -ον, most, greatest, chief ῥάβδος, ἡ, rod, staff τηγανίζω, fry,
roast τύπτω, ἔτυψα: beat, strike

Select Bibliography
Bremmer, Jan N., and István Czachesz (eds). The Apocalypse of Peter. Leuven:
Peeters, 2003.
Buchholz, Dennis D. Your Eyes Will Be Opened: A Study of Greek (Ethiopic)
 Apocalypse of Peter. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1988.
Collins, Adela Yarbro. Cosmology and Eschatology in Jewish and Christian
Apocalypticism. Leiden: Brill, 1996.
Czachesz, Istvan. “Grotesque Body in the Apocalypse of Peter.” In The
Apocalypse of Peter, 108–126. Ed. J. N. Bremmer and I. Czachesz. Leuven:
Peeters, 2003.
Stroumsa, Guy. “Mystical Descents.” In Death, Ecstasy and Other Worldly
Journeys, 137–152. Ed. J. J. Collins and Michael Fishbane. Albany: State
University of New York Press, 1995.

1 Martha Himmelfarb, Tours of Hell: An Apocalyptic Form in Jewish and

Christian Literature (Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press, 1983), 170,
cf. 169.

2 The two earliest apocalypses in the Jewish tradition are the Book of Watchers
(third century BCE) and the Book of Heavenly Luminaries (early third century
BCE or before) in 1 En. 6–36 and 72–82 respectively.

3 Cf. Acts 2:27, 31; 1 Pet 3:19, 20, 4:6, 8–10; and later in the Apostles’ Creed
(κατελθόντα εἰς τὰ κατώτατα) and Athanasian Creed. A. Dieterich has argued
that this tour apocalypse is a Christianized version of the pagan Orphic-
Pythagorean Hades and the conjuring of ghosts to learn of the future (ἡ νέκυια)
going back to archaic Greece (Nekyia: Beiträge zur Erklärung der neuentdeckten
Petrusapokalypse, 2nd ed. [Leipzig: Teubner, 1913]); cf. Orphic tendencies of
the Pythagorean tradition, which emphasized Orpheus’s ἡ κατάβασις εἰς Ἁίδου,
and Aeneas’s visit to the underworld (Virgil, Aeneid, VI).

4 D. Fiensy, “Lex talionis in the Apocalypse of Peter,” HTR 76 (1983), 255–

258, esp. 256; Lautaro R. Lanzillotta, “Does the Punishment Reward the
Righteous? The Justice Pattern Underlying the Apocalypse of Peter,” in The
Apocalypse of Peter, 127–157, ed. Bremmer and Czachesz; Alan E. Bertstein,
The Formation of Hell: Death and Retribution in the Ancient and Early
Christian worlds (London: UCL Press, 1993).
5 I.e., heaven.

6 σκοτεινόν...τὸ ἔνδυμα.

7 Athematic verb (no connecting vowel).

8 The term “feet” is a euphemism for “testicles”; cf. Saul Lieberman, “On Sins
and Their Punishment,” in his Texts and Studies (New York: Ktav, 1974), 33,
41–43, 47; Himmelfarb, Tours of Hell, 82–92. Hanging by the testicles is also a
punishment for adultery in the hell of Lucian’s True Story 2.25–26, 31 (trans.
Bryan P. Reardon, Collected Ancient Greek Novels [Berkeley: University of
California Press, 2008]); Richard Bauckham, The Fate of the Dead: Studies on
the Jewish and Christian Apocalypses (Leiden: Brill, 1998), 216.

9 S.v. ἔρχομαι.

10 S.v. βάλλω.

11 S.v. ἵστημι, pf. fm. ptc.

12 Nom. for voc.

13 S.v. κάθημαι, impf.

14 Impf. periphr. (cf. IV, 17)

15 I.e., the sharp stones.

16 Cf. Job 8:17, 41:30 (LXX).

17 S.v. ἵστημι, cf. table 1.1(f).

18 ἀντί, “instead of.”

 5.9. Acts of Paul: The Story of Thekla
(Acts Paul 30–34, 37–42)

Fig. 13. Lion charging a man, Smyrna (İzmir Archaeological

Museum) (photo: author).

Provenance: Southwest Asia Minor, perhaps in Ikonion (Iconium) or Antioch.

Date: 180–200 CE.
Genre: Hagiographic romance.1
Text: R. A. Lypsius and M. Bonnet, Acta Apostolorum Apocrypha post
Constantinum Tischendorf, 2 vols. (Leipzig: Mendelssohn, 1891–1903; reprinted
Hildesheim, 1972); ET: Bart D. Ehrman, The New Testament and Other Early
Christian Writings: A Reader (New York: Oxford University Press, 1998), 177–
82; ET: NTA, II, 361064; cf. Klauck 47–49.
Related Texts: Acts of Paul: The Mission of Paul (Acts Paul 1–8 [§5.15]);
Acts of Thomas (Acts Thom. 9:82–83, 87–88, 96–98, [§5.10]); Acts of Andrew
(Acts Andr. 5–9 [§5.16]).
The Acts of Paul was widely disseminated and read in early Christian
antiquity. It appears in the canonical list of Codex Claramontanus and is quoted
by Tertullian (De baptismo, 17:5). This text was also widely circulated by the
Eastern Orthodox Church, which commemorates Thekla’s life on 24 September.
Her cult was probably centered in Ikonion.
In this writing, Paul is portrayed both as a preacher to women of sexual
asceticism and, curiously, as a man with whom many women became infatuated,
including Thekla (Θέκλα) herself, an elite woman living in Ikonion. She became
enraptured with Paul after hearing him preach “the word of God concerning
sexual abstinence.” In contrast to 1 Cor 7:17–31 (§4.8), in which Paul expresses
some ambivalence about marriage, this text (as well as the Acts of Thomas
[§5.10] and the Acts of Andrew [§5.16]) praises the virtue of female virginity
with great extravagance. This narrator also provides a vivid description of Paul’s
physical appearance (Acts Paul 3, §5.15), which functions rhetorically to
establish the author of this text as an authority on Paul’s life and teaching.2
*
In the preceding narrative, an “influential citizen of (Syrian) Antioch” named
Alexander became enamored of Thekla. Having failed to gain access to her by
bribing Paul, he “embraced her in the street” (Acts Paul 26). By repulsing him
publically – tearing his cloak and pulling off his crown – she made him a
laughingstock in the streets. In revenge, Alexander led Thekla to the governor to
fight with wild beasts. In the days preceding Thekla’s ordeal, Queen Tryphaina
(Τρύφαινα), whose daughter Falconilla (Φαλκονίλλη) had recently died, took
Thekla under her care (Acts Paul 27–29). Tryphaina became so fond of Thekla
that she referred to her as her “second” child (Acts Paul 29).
30:1 Καὶ ὅτε ὄρθρος ἐγένετο, ἦλθεν Ἀλέξανδρος παραλαβεῖν αὐτήν,3
αὐτὸς γὰρ ἐδίδου4 τὰ κυνήγια, λέγων· Ὃ ἡγεμὼν κάθηται5 καὶ ὁ ὄχλος
θορυβεῖ ἡμᾶς· δὸς6 ἀπαγάγω (Thekla) τὴν θηριομαχίαν. 2 Ἡ δὲ Τρύφαινα
ἀνέκραξεν ὥστε φυγεῖν αὐτὸν λέγουσα· Φαλκονίλλης7 μου δεύτερον πένθος
ἐπὶ τὴν οἰκίαν γίνεται, καὶ οὐδεὶς ὁ βοηθῶν (μοῦ)· οὔτε8 (my) τέκνον (will
come to my aid), ἀπέθανεν γὰρ, οὔτε συγγενής, χήρα γάρ εἰμι. 3 ὁ θεὸς9
Θέκλης τοῦ τέκνου μου, βοήθησον Θέκλῃ.
Vocabulary

ἀνακράζω, cry out, shout βοηθέω, to help, come to the aid of somebody
(dat.), render assistance to somebody; defend oneself δεύτερος, -α, -ον,
second; secondary θηριομαχία, ἡ, fight with wild beasts (as a spectator
event) (Lat. venatio) κυνήγια, ἡ, public games with wild animals ὄρθρος,
ὁ, dawn συγγενής, -ές, related to (gen.); subst. a relative
χήρα, ἡ, widow
 31:1 Καὶ πέμπει ὁ ἡγεμὼν στρατιώτας ἵνα ἀχθῇ10 Θέκλα. 2 ἡ δὲ Τρύφαινα
οὐκ ἀπέστη11 (Thekla),12 ἀλλὰ αὐτὴ λαβομένη τῆς χειρὸς αὐτῆς ἀνήγαγεν
λέγουσα· Τὴν μὲν θυγατέρα μου Φαλκονίλλαν ἀπήγαγον εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον· σὲ
δὲ, Θέκλα, εἰς θηριομαχίαν ἀπάγω. 3 καὶ ἔκλαυσεν Θέκλα πικρῶς καὶ
ἐστέναξεν πρὸς κύριον, λέγουσα· Κύριε ὁ θεὸς, ᾧ ἐγὼ πιστεύω, ἐ ὃν ἐγὼ
κατέφυγα, ὁ ῥυσάμενός με ἐκ πυρὸς,13 ἀπόδος μισθὸν Τρυφαίνῃ τῇ εἰς τὴν
δοῦλην σου συμπαθησάσῃ, καὶ ὅτι με ἀγνὴν ἐτηρησεν.
Vocabulary

ἁγνός, -ή, -όν, pure, chaste (of women) δούλη, ἡ, female slave ἑρύω,
mid. ἐρύομαι/ῥύομαι, 2. ῥύσομαι, 3. ἐρρυσάμην: mid. rescue, save,
deliver καταφεύγω, 1aor. κατέφυγα/2aor. κατέφυγον: flee; take refuge
μισθός, ὁ, wages, pay; physician’s fee μνημεῖον, τό, tomb, sepulchre,
στρατιώτης, ὁ, soldier συμπαθέω, show sympathy for, have compassion
for

32:1 Θόρυβος οὖν ἐγένετό τε καὶ πάταγος τῶν θηρίων καὶ βοὴ τοῦ δήμου
καὶ τῶν γυναικῶν ὁμοῦ καθεσθεισῶν,14 τῶν μὲν15 λεγόντων·16 Τὴν
ἱερόσυλον εἰσάγεγε· τῶν δὲ λεγουσῶν· Ἄρθήτω17 ἡ πόλις ἐπὶ τῇ ἀνομίᾳ
ταύτῃ· 2 αἶρε πάσας ἡμᾶς, ἀνθύπατε· πικρὸν θέαμα, κακὴ κρίσις.
Vocabulary

ἀνθύπατος, ὁ, proconsul βοή, ἡ, shouting (of a crowd); outcry δῆμος, ὁ,

people, crowd; the People (i.e., the full citizen body of a Greek polis, as
represented by the ἐκκλησία) ἱερόσυλος, -ον, sacrilegious; subst. temple
robber, sacrilegious person θέαμα, -ματος, τό, spectacle, sight θόρυβος, ὁ,
uproar, public disturbance πάταγος, ὁ, roar

33:1 Ἡ δὲ Θέκλα (from) χειρὸς Τρυφαίνης ληφθεῖσα ἐξεδύθη καὶ ἔλαβεν

διαζώστραν καὶ ἐβλήθη18 εἰς τὸ στάδιον. 2 καὶ λέοντες καὶ ἄρκοι ἐβλήθησαν
ἐ αὐτὴν. 3 καὶ πικρὰ λέαινα προσδραμοῦσα εἰς τοὺς πόδας αὐτῆς
ἀνεκλίθη· ὁ δὲ ὄχλος τῶν γυναικῶν ἐβόησεν μέγα. καὶ ἔδραμεν ἐ αὐτὴν
ἄρκος. 4 ἡ δὲ λέαινα δραμοῦσα ὑπήντησεν καὶ διέρρηξεν19 τὴν ἄρκον. καὶ
πάλιν λέων δεδιδαγμένος20 (to fight) ἐ ἀνθρώπους, ὅς ἦν Ἀλεξάνδρου21
ἔδραμεν ἐ αὐτήν· καὶ ἡ λέαινα συμπλέξασα τῷ λέοντι συνανῃρέθη. 5
μειζόνως δε ἐπένθησαν αἱ γυναῖκες, ἐπειδὴ καὶ ἡ βοηθὸς αὐτῇ λέαινα
ἀπέθανεν.
Vocabulary

ἁγνός, -ή, -όν, pure, chaste (of women); holy ἀνακλίνω, 3. ἀνεκλίθην:
lay something down; pass. lie down, recline at a meal ἄρκος, ὁ/ἡ, a bear
βοηθός, ὁ, helper; protector διαζώστρα, ἡ (= διάζομα), belt, cord, or
cincture worn about the waist ἐκδύω, 6. ἐξεδύθην: strip, take off; mid.
strip/undress oneself; pass. be stripped (of one’s clothing) λέων, -οντος, ὁ,
/ λέαινα, ἡ, lion, lioness μειζόνως, yet more, all the more (adv.)
προστρέχω, 3. προσέδραμον: run up to somebody ὑπαντάω, meet
somebody στάδιον, τὸ, stadium, arena συμπλέκω, come together with (w.
dat.) συναναιρέω, 6. συνανῃρέθην: destroy; pass. be killed along with

34:1 Τὸτε εἰσβάλλουσιν πολλὰ θηρία, ἐστῶσης22 αὐτῆς καὶ ἐκτετακυίας23

τὰς χεῖρας καὶ προσευχομένης. 2 ὡς δὲ ἐτέλεσεν τὴν προσευχήν, ἐστράφη
καὶ εἶδεν ὄρυγμα μέγα πλῆρες ὕδατος, καὶ εἶπεν· Νῦν καιρὸς λούσασθαί με. 3
καὶ ἔβαλεν ἑαυτὴν λέγουσα· Ἔν τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ὑστέρᾳ ἡμέρᾳ
βαπτίζομαι.24 4 Καὶ ἰδοῦσαι αἱ γυναῖκες καὶ πᾶς ὁ ὄχλος ἔκλαυσαν λέγοντες·
Μὴ βάλῃς ἑαυτὴν εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ, ὥστε καὶ τὸν ἡγεμόνα δακρῦσαι, ὅτι
τοιοῦτον κάλλος φῶκαι ἔμελλον ἐσθίειν. 5 ἡ μὲν25 οὖν ἔβαλεν ἑαυτὴν εἰς τὸ
ὕδωρ ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ· αἱ δὲ φώκαι πυρὸς ἀστραπῆς φέγγος
ἰδοῦσαι νεκραὶ ἐπέπλευσαν.26 6 καὶ ἦν περὶ αὐτὴν νεφέλη πυρός, ὥστε27
μήτε28 τὰ θηρία ἅπτεσθει αὐτῆς, μήτε θεωρεῖσθαι αὐτὴν γυμνήν.
Vocabulary

ἀστραπή, ἡ, lightning βάλλω, 3. ἔβαλον, 4. βέβληκα: throw; put/place;

mid. lay down (as a foundation/beginning) εἰσβάλλω, put/send in ἐπιπλέω,
float on the water λούω/λόω, bathe, wash; mid. bathe oneself (the contr.
impf. mid. forms, ἐλοῦμην and ἐλοῦτο, belong to λόω), bathe (as a
baptism) ὄρυγμα, τό, pit προσευχή, ἡ, prayer τοιοῦτος, -αύτη, -οῦτον,
of such a kind, such as this; τὰ τοιαῦτα, similar/related things ὕστερος, -α,
-ον, coming after, last φέγγος, -ους, τό, light, radiance φῶκη, ἡ, seal
(phoca monarchus)

37:1 Καὶ ἐκάλεσεν ὁ ἡγεμὼν τὴν Θέκλαν ἐκ μέσου τῶν θηρίων καὶ εἶπεν
αὐτῇ· Τις εἶ συ; καὶ τίνα τὰ περὶ σέ, ὅτι29 οὐδὲ ἓν τῶν θηρίων ἥψατὸ σου; 2
ἡ δὲ` εἶπεν· Ἔγὼ μέν εἰμι θεοῦ τοῦ ζῶοντος δούλη· (With respect to) τὰ δὲ
περὶ ἐμέ, εἰς ὃν εὐδόκησεν ὁ θεὸς υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐπίστευσα·30 δι᾿ ὃν οὐδὲ ἓν
τῶν θηρίων ἥψατο μου. 3 οὗτος γὰρ μόνος σωτηρίας ὅρος καὶ ζωῆς
ἀθανάτου ὑπόστασίς ἐστιν· (τοῖς) χειμαζομένοις γὰρ (θεὸς) γίνεται
καταφυγή, (τοῖς) θλιβομένοις (γίνεται) ἄνεσις, (τοῖς) ἀπηλπισμένοις (γίνεται)
σκέπη, καὶ ἀπαξαπλῶς ὃς ἐὰν μὴ πιστεύσῃ εἰς αὐτόν, οὐ ζήσεται ἀλλὰ
ἀποθανεῖται εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας.
Vocabulary

ἀθάνατος, -ον, immortal ἄνεσις, -εως, ἡ, rest, relaxation, relief

ἀπαξαπλῶς, in brief ἀπελπίζω, to despair; pass. be despairing
καταφηγή, ἡ, place of refuge ὅρος, ὁ, boundary, landmark; standard,
measure σκέπη, ἡ, protection, shelter, shade ὑπόστασις, -εως, ἡ, basis;
frame of mind χειμάζομαι, be tossed/battered by a storm

38:1 Καὶ ταῦτα ἀκούσας ὁ ἡγεμὼν ἐκέλευσεν ἐνεχθῆναι31 ἱμάτια καὶ

εἶπεν· Ἔνδυσαι32 τὰ ἱμάτια. 2 Ἡ δὲ εἶπεν· Ὃ ἐνδύσας με (when I was) γυμνὴν
ἐν τοῖς θηρίοις, οὗτος ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κρίσεως ἐνδύσει με σωτηρίαν. 3 καὶ λαβοῦσα
τὰ ἱμάτια ἐνεδύσατο. καὶ ἐξέπεμψεν εὐθέως ὁ ἡγεμὼν ἄκτον λέγων· Θέκλαν
τὴν τοῦ θεοῦ δούλην τὴν θεοσέβῆ ἀπολύω ὑμῖν. 4 Αἱ δὲ γυναῖκες πᾶσαι
ἔκραξαν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ καὶ ὡς ἐξ ἐνὸς στόματος ἔδωκαν αἶνον τῷ θεῷ
λέγουσαι· Εἶς θεὸς ὁ θέκλαν σώσας, 5 ὥστε ἀπὸ (their one) τῆς φωνῆς
σεισθῆναι πᾶσαν τὴν πόλιν. 39:1 Καὶ τὴν Τρύφαιναν33 εὐαγγελισθεῖσαν
ἀπαντῆσαι μετὰ ὄχλου καὶ περιπλακῆναι τῇ Θέκλῇ καὶ εἰπεῖν· νῦν πιστεύω
ὅτι νεκροὶ ἐγείρονται· Νῦν πιστεύω ὅτι τὸ τέκνον μου ζῇ· δεῦρο ἔσω, καὶ τὰ
ἐμὰ πὰντα σοὶ καταγράψω. 2 ἡ μὲν Θέκλα εἰσῆλθεν με αὐτῆς καὶ
ἀνεπαύσατο εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτῆς ἡμέρας ὀκτώ, κατηχήσασα αὐτὴν τὸν λόγον
τοῦ θεοῦ, ὥστε πιστεῦσαι καὶ τῶν παιδισκῶν τὰς πλείονας, καὶ μεγάλην εἶναι
χαρὰν ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ.
Vocabulary

αἶνος, ὁ, praise ἄκτον, edict (Latin loanw. acta) ἐκπέμπω, send out; issue
an edict (ἄκτον) καταγράφω, legally transfer by deed κατηχέω, 3.
κατήχησα: teach, instruct κράζω (= κραυγάζω), to scream, screech
παιδίσκη, ἡ, female slave, maidservant περιπλέκω, pf. inf. περιπλακῆναι,
 6. περιεπλάκην: embrace; pass. be embraced σείω, shake

40:1 Ἡ δὲ Θέκλα Παῦλον ἐπεπόθει34 καὶ ἐζήτει αὐτὸν περιπέμπουσα

(messengers) πανταχοῦ· καὶ ἐμηνύθη αὐτῇ ἐν Μύροις εἶναι αὐτὸν. 2 καὶ
λαβοῦσα νεανίσκους καὶ παιδίσκας, ἀναζωσαμένη καὶ ῥάψασα35 τὸν χιτῶνα
εἰς ἐπενδύτην σχήματι ἀνδρικῷ ἀπῆλθεν ἐν Μῦροις, καὶ εὗρεν Παύλον
λαλοῦντα τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἐπέστη36 αὐτῷ. 3 ὁ δὲ ἐθαμβήθη βλέπων
αὐτὴν καὶ τὸν ὄχλον τὸν με αὐτῆς, λογισάμενος μὴ37 τις αὐτῇ πειρασμὸς
πάρεστιν ἕτερος.38 4 ἡ δέ συνιδοῦσα (what Paul was thinking) εἶπεν αὐτῷ·
Ἔλαβον τὸν λουτρόν, Παύλε· ὁ γὰρ σοὶ συνεργήσας εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον
κἀμοὶ39 συνήργησεν εἰς τὸ λούσασθαι.
Vocabulary

ἀναζώννυμι/-ύω, aor. mid. ἀναζωσάμην: gird up long robes ἀνδρικός, -ή,

-όν, masculine, manly ἐπενδύτης, -ου, ὁ, coat ἐπιποθέω, long for
somebody (acc.), earnestly desire ἐφίστημι, pres. mid. ἐφίσταμαι, 3.
ἐπέστησα/ἐπέστην, aor. ptc. ἐπιστάς, -άντος, 4. ἐφέστηκα: stand on/near,
stand beside (w. παρά); approach; come upon, attack; mid. (intrans.), come
upon somebody (w. dat.), overtake somebody θαμβέω, astound; pass. be
amazed λουτρόν, τό, bath, washing (here, of baptism) μηνύω, 3. ἐμήνησα,
1aor. pass. ptc. μηνυθείς: disclose a secret, report Μύρα, -ων, τά, Myra, on

the south coast of Lykia, Asia Minor πανταχοῦ, everywhere πειρασμός,

ὁ, trial, test; temptation περιπέμπω, to send somebody from one place to
another συνεργέω, work together with somebody (to attain something or
bring about something), assist συνοράω, become aware of χιτών, -ῶνος,
ὁ, tunic

41:1 Καὶ λαβόμενος Παῦλος τῆς χειρὸς αὐτῆς ἀπήγαγεν αὐτὴν εἰς τὸν
οἶκον Ἑρμείου40 καὶ πάντα ἀκούει παρ αὐτῆς, ὥστε ἐπὶ πολὺ41 θαυμάσαι τὸν
Παῦλον, καὶ τοὺς ἀκούοντας42 στηριχθῆναι καὶ προσεύξασθαι ὑπὲρ τῆς
Τρυφαίνης. 2 καὶ ἀναστᾶσα Θέκλα εἶπεν τῷ Παύλῳ· Πορεύομαι εἰς Ἰκόνιον.
3 Ὁ δὲ Παῦλος εἶπεν· Ὓπαγε καὶ δίδασκε τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεού. 4 ἡ μὲν οὔν
Τρύφαινα πολὺν ἱματιασμὸν καὶ χρυσὸν ἔπεμψεν αὐτῇ, ὥστε (Θέκλαν)
καταλιπεῖν (πάντα) τῷ Παύλῳ εἰς διακονίαν τῶν πτωχῶν.
Vocabulary
 διακονία, ἡ, service; aid, support, distribution κόνιον, τό, Ikonion (Lat.
Iconium)
ἱματιασμός, ὁ, clothing στηρίζω, set up, establish, strengthen

42:1 Αὐτὴ δὲ ἀπῆλθεν εἰς Ἰκόνιον. καὶ εἰσέρχεται εἰς τὸν Ὀνησιφόρου43
οἶκον, καὶ ἔπεσεν εἰς τὸ ἔδαφος ὅπου Παῦλος καθεζόμενος ἐδίδασκεν τὰ
λόγια τοῦ θεοῦ, 2 καὶ ἔκλαιεν λέγουσα· Ὁ θεός μου καὶ τοῦ οἴκου τούτου,
ὅπου μοι τὸ φῶς ἔλαψμεν, (καὶ) Χριστὲ Ἰησοῦ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ, ὁ ἐμοὶ
βοηθὸς ἐν φυλακῇ, βοηθὸς ἐπὶ ἡγεμόνων, βοηθὸς ἐν πυρί, βοηθὸς ἐν θηρίοις,
αὐς εἶ θεός, καὶ σοὶ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, ἀμήν.
Vocabulary

ἔδαφος, -ους, τό, ground λάμπω, 3. ἔλαμψα: shine forth; shine upon
somebody (dat.) λόγιον, τό, a saying, oracle; omen φυλακή, ἡ, prison

Select Bibliography
Bremmer, Jan N. The Apocryphal Acts of Paul and Thekla. Kampen: Kok
Pharos, 1996.
Brown, Peter. The Body and Society: Men, Women, and Sexual Renunciation in
Early Christianity. New York: Columbia University Press, 1988.
Burrus, Virginia. “Chastity as Autonomy: Women in the Stories of the
Apocryphal Acts.” In The Apocryphal Acts of Apostles, 101–117. Ed. Dennis
R. Macdonald. Semeia 38. 1986.
Lipsett, B. Diane. Desiring Conversion: Hermas, Thecla, Aseneth. Oxford:
Oxford University Press, 2011.
Streete, Gail P. C. Redeemed Bodies: Women Martyrs in Early Christianity.
Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009, 73–102.

1 Alison Goddard Elliot, Roads to Paradise: Reading the Lives of the Early
Saints (Hanover, NH: University Press of New England, 1987), 42–76.

2 Jan N. Bremmer, “Magic, Martyrydom and Women’s Liberation in the Acts

of Paul and Thecla,” in The Apocryphal Acts of Paul and Thecla, 36–59, esp. 38,
ed. Jan N. Bremmer (Kampen: Kok Pharos, 1996).

3 αὐτήν, i.e., Thekla.

4 δίδωμι here “provide,” “arrange for.”

5 Here “sit,” in the sense of sitting as a judge at a sporting event.

6 δός, “grant that.”

7 Tryphaina considered Thekla to be her second Falconilla.

8 οὔτε... οὔτε...(“neither ... nor ...”).

9 Nom. for voc.

10 S.v. ἄγω.

11 S.v. ἀφίστημι.

12 S.v. ἀφίστημι.

13 Previously, in Acts Paul 22, the governor tried to execute Thekla by burning
her on a pyre, but God sent a cloud to extinguish the fire with a shower of rain
and hail.

14 S.v. καθέζομαι.

15 τῶν μέν... τῶν δέ...(take with λεγόντων as part of a gen. absol.).

16 Gen. absol.
17 S.v. αἴρω.

18 S.v. βάλλω, here “to be let loose/released.”

19 S.v. διαρρήγνυμι/ διαρήσσω.

20 S.v. διδάσκω, pass. “to be trained.”

21 Gen. of poss.

22 Cf. table 12.5; three genitive absolute constructions, with αὐτῆς functioning
as subject of all three participles: ἐστωσης αὐτῆς...ἐκτετακυίας (s.v.
ἐκτείνω)...προσευχομένης.

23 S.v. ἐκτείνω.

24 βαπτίζομαι, probably middle (“baptize oneself”) rather than passive (“am

baptized”).

25 ἡ μέν...αἱ δέ...(cf. ὁ μέν...ὁ δέ ...).

26 On the use of aquatic displays in the Roman Empire see K. Coleman,

“Launching into History: Aquatic Displays in the Early Empire,” Journal of
Roman Studies 83 (1993), 48–74; on Greco-Roman ideas about seals see Marcel
Detienne and Jean-Pierre Vernant, Cunning Intelligence in Greek Culture and
Society, trans. Janet Lloyd (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1991 [1978]),
246–250; POxy 61.4096, frag. 1.

27 ὥστε w. inf. (cf. IV, 15).

28 μήτε... μήτε... (“neither ... nor ...”).

29 τίνα τὰ περὶ σέ ὅτι, lit. “what things (are there) concerning you that” (i.e.,
what is it about you that ...).

30 ἐπίστευσα, causal adv. ptc. (“because”).

31 S.v. φέρω.

32 Imperatival inf.; the infinitive often occurs in place of the 3rd pers. impv.
(esp. in official and legal language such as degrees).

33 Subject of the two infinitives that follow.

34 S.v. πείθω.

35 S.v. ῥάπτω.

36 S.v. ἐφίστημι.

37 μή as conj. following verbs of fearing, etc., “that ... not,” “lest” (usually
followed by pres. subj.).

38 τις...πειρασμὸς...ἕτερος.

39 κἀμοί, s.v. κἀγω.

40 Hermias.

41 ἐπὶ πολυ, adv., “more than once,” “often.”

42 τοὺς ἀκούοντας is the subject of the two following infinitives.

43 Cf. Onesiphoros (cf. 2:1, 4:1).

 5.10. Acts of Thomas: The Story of Mygdonia

(Acts Thom. 9:82–83, 87–88, 96–98)

Fig. 14. Funerary relief (Neapolis Archaeological Museum)
(photo: author).

Provenance: Eastern Syria. Date: 220–240 CE.

Text: Lypsius/Bonnet, II2, 197–211; ET: NTA, II, 486–93; cf. Klauck, 141–
179.
The Acts of Thomas was originally composed in Syriac. It should be
understood in the context of Eastern Christianity rather than second-century
Gnosticism. The so-called School of St. Thomas was not especially gnostic and
shared many central values and themes with “orthodox” Christianity. According
to Bentley Layton, this text would have been read along with the Odes of
Solomon and Tatian’s Harmony (Diatessaron).1 Other expressions of “Thomas
Christianity” include the Gospel of Thomas (§1.4), the Book of Thomas, and the
Acts of Thomas (cf. §5.10).2
The reading in this section concerns sexual asceticism and the glorification of
virginity, as illustrated by the life of a noblewoman named Mygdonia. Her
renunciation of married life for the sake of the gospel is reminiscent of the lives
of both Thekla (§5.9) and Maximilla (§5.16).
*
At the outset of the Acts of Thomas, the twelve apostles have divided up the
world, with “India” (i.e., the Persian Empire) allotted to the apostle Thomas. He
then sets out to travel to India on the back of a donkey. The present reading tells
the story of Mygdonia as a high-status woman and the wife of Charisios, a close
relation to King Misdaios.
As the story opens, Mygdonia is being carried in a palanquin through the town
by her slaves. She is probably quite young, since she has been married less than
a year and has no children. When she returns home, after meeting the apostle
Thomas, she is confronted by her husband for having left the house unattended
and thus exposed the family to shame. The conflict between Charisios and
Mygdonia builds to a climax over the course of the narrative.
82:1 Ἔτυχεν δὲ3 γυναῖκά τινα, Χαρισίου4 τοῦ ἔγγιστα5 τοῦ βασιλέως, ᾗ
ὄνομα Μυγδονία, ἐλθεῖν6 ἐπὶ τὸ θεάσασθαι7 καὶ ἰδεῖν ὄνομα νέον καὶ θεὸν
νέον καταγγελλόμενον καὶ νέον ἀπόστολον8 ἐπιδημήσαντα τῇ αὐτῶν χώρᾳ·
ἐφέρετο δὲ ὑπὸ τῶν ἰδίων δούλων· καὶ διὰ τὸν πολὺν ὄχλον καὶ τὴν
στενοχορίαν οὐκ ἠδύναντο αὐτὴν εἰσαγαγεῖν πρὸς αὐτόν. 2 ἔπεμψεν δὲ (a
message) πρὸς τὸν ἴδιον ἄνδρα9 ἵνα πέμψῃ αὐτῇ πλείονας τοὺς (δούλους)
αὐτῇ ἐξυπηρετουμένους· ἦλθον δὲ καὶ προσῆλθον αὐτῇ θλίβοντες καὶ
δέροντες τοὺς ἀνθρώπους.
Vocabulary

δέρω, flay the skin, whip ἐξυπηρετέω, provide special assistance

στενοχορία, ἡ, narrowness (of space)

τυγχάνω, pres. fm. ptc. τυχοῦσα, 2aor. ἔτυχον, 2aor. 3rd sg. subj. τήχῃ, inf.
τυχεῖν, pf. ptc. τετ(ε)υχώς: to gain, experience; happen, turn out (as a result);
happen to be; gain/receive something (gen.), attain to (ἐπί); obtain one’s request
(w. gen.); ἔτυχεν δέ, “and it came to pass that (w. acc.)”; adj. ptc. ordinary,
everyday 82:3 Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ ἀπόστολος (Thomas) εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Τίνος ἕνεκεν
καταστρέφετε τοὺς ἐρχομένους ἀκοῦσαι τὸν λόγον, οἳ καὶ προθυμίαν ἔχουσιν
(for it); ὑμεῖς δὲ βούλεσθε παρ᾿ ἐμοὶ μὲν εἶναι, πόρρω τυγχάνοντες· καθὼς
εἴρηται10 ἐπὶ τοῦ ὄχλου τοῦ ἐρχομένου πρὸς τὸν κύριον, ὅτι Ὀφθαλμοὺς μὲν
ἔχοντες οὐ βλέπετε, καὶ ὦτα ἔχοντες οὐκ ἀκουέτω. 11 Καὶ ἔλεγεν πρὸς τοὺς
ὄχλους· Ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουετω. Και· Δεῦτε πρός με πάντες οἱ
κοπιῶντες καὶ πεφορτισμένοι, κἀγὼ ἀναπαύσω ὑμᾶς.
Vocabulary

καταστρέφω, trample on, subdue νέος, -α, -ον, new; ὁ νεός, boy/ young
man οὖς, τό, (gen.) ὠτός, (dat.) ὠτί; pl. τὰ ὦτα
πόρρω (adv.), far away, far off προθυμία, ἡ, willingness, eagerness
φορτίζω, to load/burden

83:1 Ἀπιδὼν δὲ πρὸς τοὺς βαστάζοντας αὐτὴν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Οὗτος ὁ

μακαρισμὸς καὶ ἡ παραίνεσις ὁ ἐκείνοις12 ἐπαγγελθεὶς ὑμῖν περὶ ὑμῶν
εἴρηται, οἴτινες αὐτοῖς ἐστιν τοῖς ἐπιφορτισμένοις νῦν. 2 ὑμεῖς ἐστε οἱ τὰ
δυσβάστακτα φορτία βαστάζοντες καὶ (now) αὐτῆς κελεύσει, παραφερόμενοι·
3 καὶ ἀνθρώποις ὑμῖν οὖσιν ὥσπερ τοῖς ἀλόγοις ζῴοις ἐπιτιθέασιν ὑμῖν
φόρτους, τοῦτο νομίζοντες οἱ τὴν ἐξουσίαν κα ὑμῶν ἔχοντες (namely) ὅτι
οὐκ ἐστὲ ἄνθρωποι οἷοι καὶ αὐτοί εἰσιν, εἲτε δοῦλοι εἲτε ἐλεύθεροι·
Vocabulary

ἀλόγος, -ον, irrational ἀφοράω, look at (πρός) δυσβάστακτος, -ον,

intolerable ἐπαγγέλλω, 1aor. mid. ἐπηγγειλάμην, 1aor. ptc.
ἐπαγγειλάμενος: promise ἐπιφορτίζω, load heavily ζῷον, τό, animal,
living creature κέλευσις, ἡ, directive, order μακαρισμός, ὁ, pronouncement
of blessing, beatitude παραίνεσις, -εως, ἡ, exhortation παραφέρω, carry
forward; pass. be driven forward τοιοῦτος, -αύτη, -οῦτον, of such a kind,
such as this; τὰ τοιαῦτα, similar/related things φόρτος, ὁ, freight, heavy
load, burden

83:4 οὔτε13 γὰρ τοὺς πλουσίους ἡ κτῆσις ὀφειλήσει τι, οὔτε τοὺς πένητας ἡ
πενία ῥύσεται14 ἀπὸ τῆς δίκης· 5 οὔτε εἰλήφαμεν ἐντολὴν ἣν οὐ δυνάμεθα
ποιῆσαι· οὔτε φορτία δυσβάστακτα ἡμῖν ἐπέθηκεν ἃ οὐ δυνάμεθα βαστάσαι·
6 οὔτε (ἐπέθηκεν) οἰκοδομὴν τοιαύτην ἣν οἱ ἄνθρωποι κτίζουσιν· οὔτε λίθους
λατομῆσαι καὶ οἴκους κατασκευάσαι ὡς οἱ τεχνῖται ὑμῶν διὰ τῆς ἰδίας
ἐπιστήμης ποιοῦσιν. 7 ταύτην δὲ τὴν ἐντολὴν εἰλήφαμεν παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου
ἵνα ὃ οὐκ ἀρέσκει ἡμῖν ὑπὸ ἄλλου (person) γινόμενον τοῦτο15 ἄλλῳ τινὶ μὴ
ποιούμεν.
 Vocabulary

δίκη, ἡ, judgment, punishment δυσβάστακτος, -ον, intolerable ἐπιστήμη,

ἡ, knowledge ἑρύω, mid. ἐρύομαι/ῥύομαι, 2. ῥύσομαι, 3. ἐρρυσάμην:
mid. rescue, save, deliver κατασκευάζω, construct, build; prepare κτήσις,
-εως, ἡ, property, possessions κτίζω, found, create, make; build; pass. be
created, constructed λατομέω, quarry stone οἰκοδομή (= δομή), building
ὀφείλω (and –έω), 2. ὀφειλήσω, 3. ὠφείλησα: owe somebody something,
be indebted to; must (w. inf.); ἁμαρτίαν ὀφείλω (w. dat.), incur sin against
πένης, -ητος, ὁ, poor person πενία, ἡ, poverty πλούσιος, -α, -ον, rich,
wealthy; ὁ πλούσιος, rich man τεχνίτης, -ου, ὁ, craftsman, artisan, skilled
worker; musician φορτίον, τό, a load, cargo; burden

87:1 Ταῦτα εἰπόντος τοῦ ἀποστόλου παντὸς τοῦ ὄχλου ἀκούοντος16

ἀλλήλους συνεπάτουν θλίβοντες (them down)· 2 ἡ δὲ γυνὴ Χαρισίου τοῦ
συγγενοῦς17 τοῦ βασιλέως ἐκπηδήσασα ἐκ τοῦ δίφρου καὶ ἑαυτὴν ῥίψασα
ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ ἀποστόλου καὶ τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ ἁπτομένη καὶ
δεομένη ἔλεγεν· 3 Mαθητὰ τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ζῶντος, εἰσῆλθες εἰς χώραν ἔρημον·
ἐν ἐρημίᾳ γὰρ οἰκοῦμεν, ἐοικότες18 ζῴοις ἀλόγοις ἐν τῇ ἀναστροφῇ ἡμῶν·
Vocabulary

ἐκπηδάω, leap up δέω (2), 1aor. pass. ptc. δεηθείς (dep.): miss, be in need
of (w. gen.); mid. δέομαι, ask for (w. gen.), plead for something (w. gen.),
beg of somebody δίφρος, ὁ, palanquin, litter19
ἔοικα (pf. w. pres. sense), pf. inf. ἐοικέναι, ptc. ἐοικώς: be like, resemble
(w. dat.)
θλίβω, pf. pass. ptc. τεθλιμμένος: push; oppress, afflict; pass. be oppressed,
experience pain συμπατέω, impf. συνέπατον, trample under foot

87:4 Νῦν δὲ διὰ τῶν σῶν χειρῶν σωθησόμεθα· δέομαι οὖν σου, φρόντισόν
μου καὶ εὖξαι20 ὑπὲρ ἐμοὺ, ἵνα ἡ εὐσπλαγχνία τοῦ ὑπὸ σοῦ καταγγελλομένου
θεοῦ γένηται ἐ ἐμέ, κἀγὼ γένωμαι αὐτοῦ οἰκητήριον, καὶ καταλλαγῶ ἐν
τῇ εὐχῇ καὶ τῇ ἐλπίδι καὶ τῇ πίστει αὐτοῦ, καὶ δέξωμαι κἀγὼ σφραγῖδα, καὶ
γένωναι ναὸς ἅγιος, καὶ κατοικήσῃ ἐν ἐμοὶ αὐτός.
Vocabulary
 εὐσπλαγχνία, ἡ, compassion οἰκητήριον, τό, dwelling place σφραγίς, -
ῖδος, ἡ, (wax) seal φροντίζω, consider, ponder; be concerned about
somebody (gen.), pay attention to something (gen.)

88:1 Καὶ ὁ ἀπόστολος (Thomas) εἶπεν· Εὔχομαι καὶ δέομαι ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν
πάντων ἀδελφοὶ τῶν εἰς τὸν κύριον πιστευόντων καὶ (ὑπὲρ) ὑμῶν τῶν
ἀδελφιδῶν τῶν εἰς τὸν Χριστὸν ἐλπιζουσῶν ἵνα εἰς πάντας κατασκηνώσῃ ὁ
λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐνσκηνώσῃ· ἡμεῖς γὰρ αὐτῶν ἐξουσίαν21 οὐκ
ἔχομεν. 2 Kαὶ ἤρξατο λέγειν πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα Μυγδονία· Ἀνάστα22 ἀπὸ τῆς
γῆς καὶ ἀναπόλησον σεαυτήν· οὐδὲν γάρ σε ὠφελήσει ὁ ἐπίθετος κόσμος
οὗτος, οὐδὲ τὸ κάλλος τοῦ σώματός σου, οὐδὲ τὰ ἀμφιάσματά σου· 3 ἀλ
οὐτε ἡ φήμη τοῦ περὶ σὲ ἀξιώματος, οὔτε ἡ ἐξουσία τοῦ κόσμου τούτου,
οὔτε ἡ κοινωνία ἡ ῥυπαρὰ ἡ πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα σου αὕτη23 ὀνήσει σε
στερηθεῖσαν24 ἀπὸ τῆς κοινωνίας25 τῆς ἀληθινῆς·
Vocabulary

ἀδελφιδός, ὁ / ἀδελφιδῆ, ἡ, beloved one; fm. sister ἀμφιάσμα, τό,

garment ἀναπολέω, govern again, repeat ἀξίωμα, -ματος, τό, honor, rank
ἐνσκηνόω, dwell in ἐπίθετος, -ον, additional, acquired κατασκηνόω, rest
on ὀνίνημι, 2. ὀνήσω: profit, benefit somebody (acc.)
ῥυπαρός, -ά, -όν, filthy, dirty στερέω, deprive, rob of something; pass. be
deprived of something ὠφελέω, gain, profit, achieve (something); help,
benefit

88:4 ἡ γὰρ φαντασία τους καλλωπισμοῦ καταργεῖται, καὶ τὸ σῶμα γηράσκει

καὶ ἀλλάσσεται, καὶ τὰ ἐνδύματα παλαιοῦτα, καὶ ἡ ἐξουσία καὶ ἡ δεσποτεία
παρέρχεται με αὐτῶν καὶ ὑπόδικον εἶναι, ἐν ᾧ ἤδη πολλοὶ ἐπολιτεύσαντο.
παρέρχεται δὲ καὶ ἡ κοινωνία τῆς παιδοποιίας ὡς δὴ κατάγνωσις οὖσα. 5
Ἰησοῦς μόνος μένει ἀεὶ καὶ οἱ εἰς αὐτὸν ἐλπίζοντες. 6 Ταῦτα εἰπὼν λέγει
πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα· Ἄπελθε με εἰρήνης, καὶ ὁ κύριος τῶν ἰδίων μυστηρίων
ἀξίαν σε ποιήσει. 7 Ἡ δὲ εἶπεν· Φοβοῦμαι ἀπελθεῖν, μή με ἄρα καταλείψας
ἀπέλθῃς εἰς ἄλλο ἔθνος. 8 Ὁ δὲ ἀπόστολος εἶπεν αὐτῇ· Κἂν ἐγὼ πορευθῶ,
οὐ καταλείψω σε μόνην, ἀλλὰ Ἰησοῦς διὰ τὴν εὐσπλαγχνία αὐτοῦ (will be)
μετὰ σοῦ. 9 Ἡ δὲ πεσοῦσα προσεκύνησεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον
αὐτῆς.
Vocabulary
 ἀλλάσσω, 2. ἀλλάξω, 6. ἠλλάγην: change, alter; exchange one thing for
another ἀπάντησις, -εως, ἡ, meeting, greeting (esp. of the public welcome
of an official) γηράσκω, grow old δεσποτεία, ἡ, power of a master over
slaves εὐσπλαγχνία, ἡ, compassion καλλωπισμός, ὁ, ornamentation
κατάγνωσις, ἡ, object of contempt/moral condemnation καταργέω,
deactivate, render ineffective, make powerless (contrasting ἐνεργῶ);
release from, estrange from κοινωνία, ἡ, fellowship, partnership; sexual
intercourse with (πρός) παιδοποιία, ἡ, procreation of children παλαιόω,
wear out ὑπόδικος, -ον, liable to forfeit φαντασία, ἡ, fantasy; appearance,
presentation

89:1 Χαρίσιος δὲ ὁ συγγενὴς Μισδαίου26 τοῦ βασιλέως λουσάμενος

ἀνῆλθεν καὶ ἀνεκλίθη δειπνῆσαι. 2 ἐξήταζεν δὲ (his wife’s female slaves) περὶ
τῆς ἰδίας γαμετῆς ποῦ ἐστιν· οὐ γὰρ ἐληλύθει εἰς ἀπάντησις αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ
ἰδίου κοιτῶνος ὡς ἔθος εἶχεν·27 3 αἱ δὲ θεραπαινίδαι αὐτῆς εἶπον αὐτῷ·
Ἀνωμάλως ἔχει. 4 Ὁ δὲ εἰσπηδήσας εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν κοιτῶνα καὶ εὗρεν
αὐτὴν κατακειμένην εἰς τὴν κοίτην καὶ ἐσκεπασμένην· 5 καὶ ἀνακαλύψας
αὐτὴν κατεφίλησεν αὐτὴν λέγων· Τίνος ἕνεκεν σήμερον περίλυπος εἶ; Ἡ δὲ
εἶπεν· Ἄνωμάλως ἔχω. 6 Ὁ δὲ λέγει πρὸς αὐτήν· Διὰ τί γὰρ σχῆμα οὐκ
ἐποίησας τῆς σῆς ἐλευθερίας καὶ ἔμεινας ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου, ἀλ (instead)
ἀπελθοῦσα κατήκουσας λόγων ματαίων καὶ ἔργα μαγικὰ28 ἐθεάσω; 7 ἀλλὰ
ἀνάστα, συνδείπνησόν μοι. ἄνευ γὰρ σοῦ οὐ δύναμαι δειπνῆσαι. Ἡ δὲ εἶπεν
πρὸς αὐτόν· Σήμερον παραιτοῦμαι· πάνυ γὰρ πεφόβημαι.
Vocabulary

ἀνακαλύπτω, unveil ἀνακλίνω, 6. ἀνεκλίθην: lay down; pass. lie down,

recline at a meal ἄνευ, without (w. gen.) ἀνωμάλως ἔχω, feel unwell
γαμετή, ἡ, wife δειπνέω, dine εἰσπηδάω, burst in, rush in ἐξετάζω,
question somebody closely θεραπαινιδίς (fm. of θεράπων), female
slave/servant κατάκειμαι, lie down in/on (dat. / εἰς) κατακούω, listen to
(w. gen.) κοιτών, -ῶνος, ὁ, bed chamber μαγικός, -ή, -όν, magical; pl.
subst. works of sorcery μάταιος, -α, -ον, empty, useless, powerless πάνυ,
very, very much παραιτέομαι, ask for, entreat, beg, request; excuse oneself
(παραιτοῦμαι, “excuse me”) περίλυπος, -ον, very sad πολιτεύω∕ ομαι,
mid. inf. πολιτεύεσθαι: conduct one’s life in a particular way; live under a
certain set of laws; deal with in one’s private affairs σκεπάζω, cover; pass.
 be veiled συνδειπνέω, dine with somebody, dine together

90:1 Ταῦτα ἀκούσας ὁ Χαρίσιος παρὰ τῆς Μυγδονίας οὐκ ἠβουλήθη

ἐξελθεῖν ἐπὶ τὸ δεῖπνον, ἀλλὰ παρεκελεύσατο τοῖς οἰκείοις αὐτοῦ ἵνα
προσαγάγωσιν αὐτὴν συνδειπνῆσαι αὐτῷ· 2 εἰσαγαγόντων29 (αὐτῶν) οὖν
ἠξίουν30 αὐτὴν συνδειπνῆσαι αὐτῷ· Ἡ δὲ παρῃτεῖτο. 3 μὴ βουληθείσης οὖν
αὐτῆς31 μόνος ἐδείπνησεν λέγων αὐτῇ· Διὰ σὲ παρῃτησάμην δειπνῆσαι παρὰ
τῷ βασιλεῖ Μισδαίῳ,32 καὶ σὺ οὐκ ἠβουλήθης συνδειπνῆσαι μοι; 4 Ἡ δὲ ἔφη·
Διὰ τὸ ἀνωμάλως με ἔχειν. Ἀναστὰς οὖν ὁ Χαρίσιος κατὰ τὸ εἰωθὸς
ἐβούλετο συγκαθεύδειν αὐτῇ· ἣ δὲ ἔφη· Οὐκ εἶπόν σοι τὴν σήμερον
παραιτήσασθαι;
Vocabulary

ἀνωμάλως ἔχω, feel unwell δεῖπνον, τό, meal, dinner εἴωθα (pf. of obsol.
pres. ἔθω; pf. w. pres. meaning), 2pf. ptc. εἰωθώς, -υῖα, -ός: be accustomed
to; nt. ptc. subst., τὸ εἰωθός, custom οἰκεῖος, -α, -ον, of a household;
belonging to the same kin/family; proper to a thing, suitable; individual; οἱ
οἰκεῖοι, family members παρακελεύομαι, exhort, encourage συγκαθεύδω,
have sex with

96:1 Ἀκούσας (Charisios) δὲ ὅτι οὐ βούλεται ἐξελθεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ κοιτῶνος

(αὐτῆς), εἰσελθὼν εἶπεν αὐτῇ· Τίνος ἕνεκεν οὐ βούλει33 συνδειπνῆσαί μοι,
τάχα δὲ οὐδὲ συγκαθευδῆσαι κατὰ τὸ εἰωθός; 2 καὶ περὶ τούτου μείζονα τὴν
ὑποψίαν ἔχω· ἤκουσα γὰρ ὅτι ὁ μάγος ἐκεῖνος34 καὶ (ὁ) πλάνος τοῦτο
διδάσκει, ἵνα μή τις συνοικήσῃ γυναικὶ ἰδίᾳ, καὶ ὃ ἡ φύσις ἀπαιτεῖν οἶδεν καὶ
ἡ θεότης ἐνομοθέτησεν αὐτὸς ἀνατρέπει. 3 Tαῦτα εἰπόντος τοῦ Χαρισίου35 ἡ
Μυγδονία ἡσύχαζεν. λέγει πάλιν πρὸς αὐτήν· Κυρία μου καὶ σύμβιέ μου
Μυγδονία μὴ πλανῶ36 λόγοις ἀπατηλοῖς καὶ ματαίοις, μηδὲ τοῖς ἔργοις τῆς
μαγείας οἷς37 ἤκουσα τοῦτον διαπραττόμεν εἰς ὄνομα πατρὸς υἱοῦ καὶ ἁγίου
πνεύματος·
Vocabulary

ἀνατρέπω, overturn, reverse ἀπαιτέω, demand something ἀπατηλός, -ή, -

όν, deceptive, illusory διαπράσσω (Att. διαπράττω), accomplish something
ἡσυχάζω, keep quiet; find rest θεότης, -ητος, ἡ, divinity μαγεία, ἡ, magic,
 sorcery μάγος, ὁ, magician νομοθέτω, ordain by law πλάνος, -ον,
deceiving; subst. deceiver σύμβιος, -ον, living together; ὁ / ἡ, husband,
wife συνοικέω, cohabit with (one’s spouse) ὑποψία, ἡ, suspicion

96:4 οὐ γὰρ ἠκούσθη ποτὲ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ τούτῳ ὅτι νεκρόν τις ἤγειρεν· ὡς
δὲ ἀκούω τὰ περὶ τούτου φημιζόμενα ὅτι νεκροὺς ἐγείρει. 5 καὶ ὅτι οὐδὲ
ἐσθίει οὔτε πίνει, μὴ οὖν νομίσῃς ὅτι διὰ δικαιοσύνην οὔτε ἐσθίει οὔτε πίνει·
τοῦτο δὲ ποιεῖ διὰ τὸ μηδὲν κεκτῆσθαι38 αὐτόν· 6 τί γὰρ ἂν ποιήσειεν39 ὃς
οὐδὲ τὸν ἡμερήσιον ἄρτον ἔχει; καὶ ἓν ἔνδυμα ἔχει διὰ τὸ πένητα εἶναι
αὐτόν· 7 (As for) τὸ δὲ μὴ λαμβάνειν παρά τινός τί, (it does it)
συγγινώσκων40 ἑαυτὸν θεραπεύειν.
Vocabulary

ἡμερήσιος, -α, -ον, for a day συγγινώσκω, be conscious of something, be

aware φημίζω, spread a report

97:1 Ταῦτα δὲ τοῦ Χαρισίου εἰπόντος41 ἡ Μυγδονία ὥσπερ πέτρα τις

ἡσύχαζεν· ηὔχετο δὲ (that) πότε (night) διαφαύσει, ἵνα ἀπέλθῃ πρὸς τὸν
ἀπόστολον τοῦ Χριστοῦ· 2 (Charisios) ἀναχωρεῖ δὲ ἀ αὐτῆς, καὶ
ἀπέρχεται ἐπὶ τὸ δεῖπνον ἀθυμῶν· ἐμερίμνα γὰρ κατὰ τὸ ἔθος
συγκαθευδῆσαι αὐτῇ. 3 ἐξελθόντος42 δὲ ἐκείνου (Mygdonia) κλίνασα τὰ
γόνατα ηὔχετο λέγουσα· Κύριε θεὲ δέσποτα, πατὴρ ἐλεήμων, σωτὴρ Χριστέ,
σὺ δός μοι δύναμιν ἵνα νικήσω τὴν ἀναίδειαν Χαρισίου, καὶ παράσχου μοι
φυλάξαι τὴν ἁγιωσύνην εἰς ἣν σὺ χαίρεις, ἵνα κἀγὼ δἰ αὐτῆς εὕρω ζωὴν
αἰώνιον. 4 Ταῦτα δὲ εὐξαμένης43 αὐτῆς ἔθηκεν ἑαυτὴν ἐπὶ τὴν κλίνην
σκεπασθεῖσα.
Vocabulary

ἁγιωσύνη, ἡ, holiness, sanctity ἀθυμόω, be disheartened, saddened

ἀναίδεια, ἡ, shamelessness ἀναχωρέω, withdraw from (ἀπό) διαφαύω,
come to an end πέτρα, -ας, ἡ, rock σκεπάζω, to veil

98:1 Ὁ δὲ Χαρίσιος δειπνήσας ἐπέστη44 αὐτῇ· αὐτὴ δὲ ἐβόα45 λέγουσα·

Οὐκ ἔχεις λοιπὸν χώραν πρὸς ἐμέ· ὁ γὰρ κύριός μου Ἰησοῦς κρείττων46
σού47 ἐστιν, ὁ σὺν ἐμοὶ ὢν καὶ ἐν ἐμοὶ ἀναπαυόμενος. 2 Ὁ δὲ γελάσας
εἶπεν· Καλῶς χλευάζεις ταῦτα λέγουσα περὶ ἐκείνου τοῦ φαρμακέως, καὶ
καλῶς αὐτοῦ καταγελᾷς λέγοντος ὅτι Ζωὴν οὐκ ἔχετε παρὰ τῷ θεῷ ἐὰν μὴ
ἁγνίσητε αὐτούς. 3 Ταῦτα εἰπόντος48 αὐτοῦ ἐπεχείρει πρὸς αὐτὴν
καθευδῆσαι·49: ἡ δὲ μὴ ὑπομένουσα ἀλλὰ πικρῶς κραυγάζουσα50 ἔλεγε·
Ἔπικαλοῦμαί σε κύριε Ἰησοῦ, μὴ ἐγκαταλίπῃς με· πρὸς σὲ γὰρ τὴν
καταφυγὴν ἐποιησάμην· ὡς γὰρ ἀνέμαθον ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ ἐπιζητῶν τοὺς ἐν
ἀγνοίᾳ ἐπειλημμένους51 καὶ (ὁ) ῥυόμενος τοὺς ἐν τῇ πλάνῃ κατεχομένους·
Vocabulary

ἀγνίζω, clease with water, purify ἀναμανθάνω, learn, perceive

ἐγκαταλείπω, 1aor. ἐγκατέλιψα/2aor. ἐγκατέλιπον: forsake, abandon,
desert ἐπιζητέω, seek after, desire ἐπικαλέω, call upon; mid. to call in as
a helper; pass. be called ἐπιλαμβάνω, 5. ἐπείλημμαι: take hold of
something, to overtake, seize; pass. be imprisoned ἐπιχειρέω, make an
attempt, try

ἐφίστημι, pres. mid. ἐφίσταμαι, 3. ἐπέστησα/ἐπέστην, aor. ptc. ἐπιστάς, -

άντος, 4. ἐφέστηκα: stand on/near, stand beside (w. παρά); approach; come
upon, attack; mid. (intrans.), come upon somebody (w. dat.), overtake somebody
καλῶς, rightly, well καλῶς ἂν ποιήσαις/ποιήσεις, lit. “you would do well
[to]”; fig. “please” (epistolary formula expressing a polite request); “hurrah for,”
“bravo for” (to approve the words of a speaker) καταγελάω, laugh scornfully at
somebody (gen.), mock κράζω (= κραυγάζω), to scream, to screech φαρμακεύς,
ὁ, sorcerer χλευάζω, jest, scoff 98:4 νυνὶ δὲ ἐγὼ σοῦ δέομαι οὗ τὴν φήμην
ἤκουσα καὶ ἐπίστευσα, σὺ ἐλθὲ εἰς τὴν βοήθειάν μου, καὶ ῥῦσαί με ἀπὸ τῆς
ἀναισχυντίας Χαρισίου, ὥστε μὴ κατεξουσιάσῃ μου ἡ τούτου μιαρότης. 5 καὶ
τύψασα ἑαυτῆς τὰς χεῖρας ἔφυγεν ἀ αὐτοῦ γυμνή· 6 καὶ ἐξιοῦσα
κατέσπασεν τὸ βῆλον τοῦ κοιτῶνος, καὶ τοῦτο περιβαλομένη ἀπῄει52 πρὸς
τὴν ἑαυτῆς τροφόν, κἀκεῖ παρ ἀὐτῇ ὕπνωσεν.
Vocabulary

ἀναισχυντία, ἡ, shamelessness βῆλον, τό, covering, curtain (Lat. loanw.

velum)
ἔξειμι (fr. εἶμι), inf. ἐξιέναι, ptc. ἐξιών, -οῦσα, -όν: go out, leave, depart
from a place (for paradigm of εἶμι cf. table 9.14) κατασπάω, pull down
κατεξουσιάζω, exercise authority over μιαρότης, -ητος, ἡ, foulness νυνί,
 strengthened form of νῦν, now, at this time τροφός, ἡ, nurse (i.e., the
woman who raised her as a child) τύπτω, ἔτυψα: beat, strike ὑπνόω, sleep

Select Bibliography
Attridge, Harold W. (trans.). The Acts of Thomas. Ed. Julian V. Hills. Salem,
OR: Polebridge Press, 2010.
Bremmer, Jan N. (ed.). The Apocryphal Acts of Thomas. Leuven: Peeters, 2001.
Burrus, Virginia. “Chastity as Autonomy: Women in the Stories of the
Apocryphal Acts.” In The Apocryphal Acts of Apostles, 101–117. Ed. Dennis
R. Macdonald. Semeia 38. 1986.
Elliott, J. K. The Apocryphal New Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1999,
16–20.
Festugière, A. J. Les Actes apocryphes de Jean et de Thomas: traduction
française et notes critiques. Geneva: P. Cramer, 1983.
Klijn, A. F. J. The Acts of Thomas: Introduction, Text, and Commentary, 2nd ed.
Leiden: Brill, 2003 (Syriac edition).

1 Bentley Layton, Nag Hammadi Codex II, 2–7, together with XIII, 2*, Brit.
Lib. Or. 4926(1), and P. Oxy. 1, 654, 655, vol. 1 (Leiden: Brill, 1989), 361.

2 G. J. Riley, “Thomas Tradition and the Acts of Thomas,” in SBL 1991

Seminar Papers (Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1991), 533–542, ed. E. H. Lovering, as
summarized by Philip Sellew in “Thomas Christianity: Scholars in Quest of a
Community,” in Apocryphal Acts of Thomas, 11–35, esp. 27–35, ed. Jan N.
Bremmer (Leuven: Peeters, 2001),

3 ἔτυχεν δέ (s.v. τυγχάνω), “And it came to pass that ...” (w. acc. + inf.).

4 Gen. of poss. (Charisios is the husband of Mygdonia).

5 Superl., s.v. ἐγγύς (“akin to”), hence “closest relation/relative.”

6 ἔτυχεν...ἐλθεῖν.

7 The accusative articular infinitive following ἐπί is not very common but here
seems to be used instead of εἰς or πρός to express a purpose or goal.

8 I.e., Thomas.

9 I.e., to Charisios.

10 S.v. λέγω.

11 Combining Mark 8:18 with Mark 4:9 (passim).

12 I.e., to those originally addressed by Jesus in the earlier quotations.

13 οὔτε...οὔτε....

14 S.v. ἑρύω.

15 Resumptive dem. pron.

16 Two gen. absol. constructions.

17 Modifier of Χαρισίου in 3rd pred. pos. (cf. IV, 4.3).

18 Causal adv. ptc. (“because”).

19 I.e., an enclosed couch, carried by poles on the shoulders of four or more

bearers.

20 S.v. εὔχομαι.
21 αὐτῶν ἐξουσίαν, i.e., “authority over you.”

22 Even though the 2nd pers. 2aor. act. impv. form of ἵστημι is στῆθι, the comp.
form, ἀνίστημι, has two possible impv. forms: ἀνάστηθι and ἀνάστα.

23 ἡ κοινωνία...αὕτη = αὕτη ἡ κοινωνία.

24 Cond. adv. ptc. (“if,” cf. IV, 1.8).

25 This second use of the term κοινωνία is figurative.

26 Misdaios.

27 The verb ἔχω sometimes functions like εἰμί.

28 Cf. Acts Thom. 96:3, Acts 19:19.

29 Gen. absol.

30 Iter. impf. (cf. IV, 13.3).

31 Gen. absol.

32 Misdaios.

33 βούλει (Att.) > βούλῃ.

34 I.e., Thomas.

35 Gen. absol.

36 Cf. table 9.4.4(c).

37 οὕς → οἷς (attr. rel.).

38 Art. inf. (s.v. κτάομαι).

39 Cf. table 9.1.3(b).

40 Causal adv. ptc. (“because,” cf. IV, 1.4).

41 Gen. absol.

42 Gen. absol.

43 Gen. absol.

44 S.v. ἐφίστημι.

45 Incept. impf. (cf. IV, 13.5).

46 κρείττων (Att.) > κρείσσων.

47 Gen. of comp. (cf. IV, 10).

48 Gen. absol.

49 ἡ = ἐκείνη.

50 κραυγάζω = κράζω.

51 S.v. ἐπιλαμβάνω.

52 S.v. ἄπειμι (fr. εἶμι, cf. table 9.14).

 5.11. The Wisdom of Solomon: A Hymn to Wisdom

(Wis 8:1–15)
Provenance: Alexandria, Egypt. Date: First century BCE.
The Wisdom of Solomon was composed in Greek and, as such, displays none
of the characteristics of the “translation” or “isomorphic” Greek found in many
other books of the Septuagint. The content of this writing is grounded in the
Jewish Wisdom tradition. However, its vocabulary and rhetorical style indicate
the author’s Hellenistic education. For example, the author describes Wisdom
(σοφία) in universal terms as a fundamental human path for all people. The
author also identifies Wisdom with the Divine Mind, which is the creative
agency of the deity. In the reading here, an erotic motif is also introduced: the
supposed speaker, King Solomon, recounts his desire to court “her” (σοφία) as
his bride.

(Σοφία) διατείνει δὲ ἀπὸ πέρατος (of the world) ἐπὶ πέρας

εὐρώστως 8:1
καὶ διοικεῖ τὰ πάντα χρηστῶς.
Ταύτην ἐφίλησα1 καὶ ἐξεζήτησα ἐκ νεότητός μου 2
καὶ ἐζήτησα (as) νύμφην ἀγαγέσθαι (her) ἐμαυτῷ
καὶ ἐραστὴς ἐγενόμην τοῦ κάλλους αὐτῆς.
εὐγένειαν δοξάζει συμβίωσιν θεοῦ ἔχουσα, 3
καὶ ὁ πάντων δεσπότης ἠγάπησεν αὐτήν, 4 μύστις γάρ ἐστιν τῆς τοῦ θεοῦ
ἐπιστήμης
καὶ αἱρετὶς τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ.
εἰ δὲ πλοῦτός ἐστιν ἐπιθυμητὸν κτῆμα ἐν βίῳ, 5
τί σοφίας2 πλουσιώτερον τῆς τὰ πάντα ἐργαζομένης; εἰ δὲ φρόνησις
ἐργάζεται, 6
τίς αὐτῆς3 τῶν ὄντων μᾶλλόν ἐστιν τεχνῖτις; καὶ εἰ δικαιοσύνην ἀγαπᾷ
τις, 7
οἱ πόνοι ταύτης εἰσὶν ἀρεταί, σωφροσύνην γὰρ καὶ φρόνησιν (she)
ἐκδιδάσκει, δικαιοσύνην καὶ ἀνδρείαν, ὧν χρησιμώτερον οὐδέν
 ἐστιν ἐν βίῳ ἀνθρώποις.

Vocabulary

αἰρετίς, -ίδος, ἡ, one who chooses ἀνδρεία, ἡ, courage ἀρετή, ἡ, virtue

διατείνω, stretch out διοικέω, manage, arrange ἐκδιδάσκω, teach
thoroughly ἐπιστήμη, ἡ, knowledge ἐραστής, -ου, ὁ, admirer εὐρώστως,
with might εὐγένεια, ἡ, nobility (of birth) κτῆμα, -ματος, τό, anything
gotten; pl. possessions μύστης, ὁ / μύστις, ἡ, an initiate νεότης, -ητος,
ἡ, youth, state of youthfulness νύμφη, ἡ, bride, young wife πλούσιος, -α,
-ον, rich, wealthy; ὁ πλούσιος, rich man; comp. πλουσιώτερος, -ον, richer
συμβίωσις, -εως, ἡ, shared life, living together σωφροσύνη, ἡ, prudence,
discretion; self-control, esp. sexual self-restraint τεχνίτης, -ου, ὁ,
craftsman, artisan, skilled worker; musician ὑποτάσσω, make subject;
append; pass. be subjected to somebody φιλέω, to love; kiss φρόνησις, -
εως, ἡ, practical wisdom χρήσιμος, -η, -ον, useful; χρησιμώτερος, -ον,
more useful χρηστός, -ή, -όν, useful, good; pleasant to the taste; beloved;
(adv.) χρηστῶς, well

Εἰ δὲ καὶ πολυπειρίαν ποθεῖ τις, 8:8

(she) οἶδεν τὰ ἀρχαῖα καὶ τὰ μέλλοντα εἰκάζει, ἐπίσταται στροφὰς λόγων
καὶ λύσεις αἰνιγμάτων, σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα προγινώσκει
καὶ ἐκβάσεις καιρῶν καὶ χρόνων.
ἔκρινα τοίνυν ταύτην ἀγαγέσθαι4 πρὸς συμβίωσιν 9
εἰδὼς ὅτι ἔσται μοι σύμβουλος ἀγαθῶν
καὶ παραίνεσις φροντίδων καὶ λύπης.
ἕξω5 δι᾽ αὐτὴν δόξαν ἐν ὄχλοις 10
καὶ τιμὴν παρὰ πρεσβυτέροις (although) ὁ νέος (ἕξω), ὀξὺς εὑρεθήσομαι
ἐν κρίσει 11
καὶ ἐν ὄψει δυναστῶν θαυμασθήσομαι, σιγῶντά με περιμενοῦσιν 12
καὶ φθεγγομένῳ προσέξουσιν
καὶ λαλοῦντος6 ἐπὶ πλεῖον
χεῖρα ἐπιθήσουσιν7 ἐπὶ στόμα αὐτῶν.
ἕξω δι᾽ αὐτὴν ἀθανασίαν 13
καὶ μνήμην αἰώνιον τοῖς με ἐμὲ ἀπολείψω.
διοικήσω λαούς, 14
καὶ ἔθνη ὑποταγήσεταί μοι, φοβηθήσονταί με ἀκούσαντες τύραννοι
 φρικτοί, 15
ἐν πλήθει φανοῦμαι8 ἀγαθὸς καὶ ἐν πολέμῳ ἀνδρεῖος.

Vocabulary

ἀθανασία, ἡ, immortality αἴνιγμα, -ματος, τό, riddle ἀνδρεῖος, -α, -ον,

courageous, brave ἀπολείπω, 2. ἀπολείψω: leave behind, desert, abandon;
pass. be left behind, remain ἀρχαῖος, -α, -ον, old, ancient; τὰ ἀρχαῖα,
things of old διοικέω, govern εἰκάζω, infer ἔκβασις, -εως, ἡ, result,
outcome; a way out, an escape ἐπίσταμαι, know, understand μνήμη, ἡ,
memorial νέος, -α, -ον, new, young; ὁ νεός, young man; ἡ νέα νουμηνία,
New Year ὀξύς, -εῖα, -ύ, sharp; swift, quick (of spirit/mind) παραίνεσις, -
εως, ἡ, comforter περιμένω, wait (for) ποθέω, long for, have a great desire
to do something πολυπειρία, ἡ, wide experience προγινώσκω (Att.
προγιγνώσκω), foresee, have foreknowledge of σημεῖον, τό, a sign, token;
a marking (on approved sacrificial animals); pl. stripes στροφή, ἡ,
subtlety/literary craft (of words) συμβίωσις, -εως, ἡ, shared life, living
together σύμβουλος, ὁ, adviser, counselor τιμή, -ῆς, ἡ, honor, pl. honors;
price/cost, value; (gen.) at a price of τοίνυν, indeed, then; therefore; δὴ
τοίνυν, “I suggest/submit (that)”
φθέγγομαι, speak φροντίς, -ίδος, ἡ, care φρικτός, -ή, -όν, dreaded

Select Bibliography
Grabbe, Lester L. Wisdom of Solomon. Ed. M. A. Knibb. Sheffield: Sheffield
Academic Press, 1997.
Winston, David. The Wisdom of Solomon. Anchor Bible. Garden City, NY:
Doubleday, 1979.

1 I.e., King Solomon

2 σοφίας, gen. of comp.; (than) σοφίας ... τῆς τὰ πάντα ἐργαζομένης, modifier
in 3rd attrib. pos.
3 αὐτῆς, gen. of comp., “more (μᾶλλον) than her (αὐτῆς) is....”

4 Mid. of ἄγω, “to take somebody with oneself.”

5 S.v. ἔχω.

6 Concessive adv. ptc. (“if,” cf. IV, 1.5).

7 S.v. ἐπιτίθημι.

8 S.v. φαίνω.
 5.12. Book of Acts: Paul Visits Cyrpus and Pisidian
Antioch
(Acts 13:1–16, 42–52)

Related Texts: Acts 14:1–20 (§5.1).

Saul and Barnabas Are Commissioned and Preach in

Cyprus
13:1 ῏Ησαν1 δὲ ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ2 κατὰ3 τὴν οὖσαν ἐκκλησίαν4 προφῆται καὶ
διδάσκαλοι ὅ5 τε Βαρναβᾶς καὶ6 Συμεὼν ὁ καλούμενος7 Νίγερ8 καὶ Λούκιος9
ὁ Κυρηναῖος, Μαναήν10 τε11 Ἡρῴδου12 τοῦ τετραάρχου σύντροφος καὶ
Σαῦλος. 2 Λειτουργούντων δὲ αὐτῶν13 τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ νηστευόντων εἶπεν τὸ
πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον· ἀφορίσατε δή μοι τὸν Βαρναβᾶν καὶ Σαῦλον εἰς τὸ ἔργον ὃ
προσκέκλημαι αὐτούς. 3 τότε νηστεύσαντες καὶ προσευξάμενοι καὶ ἐπιθέντες
τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῖς ἀπέλυσαν. 4 Αὐτοὶ μὲν οὖν ἐκπεμφθέντες ὑπὸ τοῦ ἁγίου
πνεύματος κατῆλθον εἰς Σελεύκειαν, ἐκεῖθέν τε ἀπέπλευσαν εἰς Κύπρον 5 καὶ
γενόμενοι ἐν14 Σαλαμῖνι κατήγγελλον15 τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν ταῖς
συναγωγαῖς τῶν Ἰουδαίων. εἶχον δὲ καὶ Ἰωάννην ὑπηρέτην. 16
Vocabulary

ἀγάγνωσις, ἡ, reading Ἀντιόχεια, ἡ, Antioch; either Syrian Antioch (on

the Orontes River) or Pisidian Antioch ἀποπλέω, sail away, put out to sail
δή, indeed, now then, therefore ἐκπέμπω, send out; issue an edict (ἄκτον)
ἐπιτίθημι, 2aor. ptc. ἐπιθείς: lay/put something (acc.) on (ἐπί)
somebody/something (acc.); give something (acc.) to somebody (dat.)
Κύπρος, ἡ, Cyprus Κυρηναῖος, of Cyrene (a Roman coastal city in what is
now Libya) λειτουργέω, render service, serve Σαλαμίς, -ῖνος, ἡ, Salamis, a
city on the east coast of Cyprus Σελεύκεια, ἡ, Seleucia, the port of Syrian
Antioch σύντροφος, friend of some superior person (implying a
benefactor/client relationship) τετραάρχης, tetrarch (i.e., governor of one
 quarter of the territory)

13:6 Διελθόντες δὲ ὅλην τὴν νῆσον ἄχρι Πάφου εὗρον ἄνδρα τινὰ μάγον
ψευδοπροφήτην Ἰουδαῖον ᾧ ὄνομα Βαριησοῦ17 7 ὃς ἦν σὺν18 τῷ ἀνθυπάτῳ
Σεργίῳ Παύλῳ,19 ἀνδρὶ συνετῷ. οὗτος προσκαλεσάμενος Βαρναβᾶν καὶ
Σαῦλον ἐπεζήτησεν ἀκοῦσαι τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ. 8 ἀνθίστατο δὲ αὐτοῖς
Ἐλύμας ὁ μάγος, οὕτως γὰρ μεθερμηνεύεται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, ζητῶν
διαστρέψαι τὸν ἀνθύπατον ἀπὸ τῆς πίστεως. 9 Σαῦλος δέ, ὁ καὶ20 Παῦλος,
πλησθεὶς πνεύματος ἁγίου ἀτενίσας εἰς αὐτὸν 10 εἶπεν· ὧ21 πλήρης22 παντὸς
δόλου καὶ πάσης ῥᾳδιουργίας, υἱὲ διαβόλου,23 ἐχθρὲ πάσης δικαιοσύνης, οὐ
παύσῃ24 διαστρέφων τὰς ὁδοὺς τοῦ κυρίου τὰς εὐθείας; 11 καὶ νῦν ἰδοὺ χεὶρ
κυρίου ἐπὶ σὲ καὶ ἔσῃ τυφλὸς μὴ βλέπων τὸν ἥλιον ἄχρι καιροῦ.25
παραχρῆμά τε ἔπεσεν ἐπʼ αὐτὸν ἀχλὺς καὶ σκότος καὶ περιάγων ἐζήτει
χειραγωγούς. 12 τότε ἰδὼν ὁ ἀνθύπατος τὸ γεγονὸς ἐπίστευσεν
ἐκπλησσόμενος ἐπὶ τῇ διδαχῇ τοῦ κυρίου.
Vocabulary

ἀνθίστημι, mid. withstand somebody (dat.), oppose ἀνθύπατος, ὁ,

proconsul ἀχλύς, -ύος, ἡ, darkness, dimness of vision διαστρέφω, pf.
pass. ptc. διεστραμμένος: turn away; to pervert, distort ἐκπλήσσω, impf.
ἐξεπλησσόμην, 6. ἐξεπλάγην, 2aor. pass. ptc. πλαγείς: amaze; pass. be
amazed εὐθύς, εὐθεῖα, εὐθύ, straight; εὐθύς, immediately, at once (adv.
of time) μεθερμηνεύω, translate νῆσος, ἡ, island Πάφος, ἡ, Paphos, city
on the west coast of Cyprus (see Fig. 1) περιάγω, aor. ptc.: περιαγαγόντες:
go about; lead around/about ῥαδιουργία, ἡ, deceit, fraud χειραγωγός, a
guide, someone who leads by the hand ψευδοπροφήτης, ὁ, false prophet

Arrival in Pisidian Antioch

13:13 Ἀναχθέντες δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς Πάφου οἱ περὶ Παῦλον26 ἦλθον εἰς Πέργην τῆς
Παμφυλίας, Ἰωάννης δὲ ἀποχωρήσας ἀπʼ αὐτῶν ὑπέστρεψεν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα.
14 Αὐτοὶ δὲ διελθόντες ἀπὸ τῆς Πέργης παρεγένοντο εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν τὴν
Πισιδίαν, καὶ εἰσελθόντες εἰς τὴν συναγωγὴν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῶν σαββάτων27
ἐκάθισαν. 15 μετὰ δὲ τὴν ἀνάγνωσιν τοῦ νόμου καὶ τῶν προφητῶν
ἀπέστειλαν (a message) οἱ ἀρχισυνάγωγοι πρὸς αὐτοὺς λέγοντες· ἄνδρες
ἀδελφοί, εἴ τίς ἐστιν ἐν ὑμῖν (who has) λόγος παρακλήσεως πρὸς τὸν λαόν,
λέγετε. 16 Ἀναστὰς δὲ Παῦλος καὶ κατασείσας τῇ χειρὶ εἶπεν· ἄνδρες
Ἰσραηλῖται καὶ οἱ φοβούμενοι28 τὸν θεόν, ἀκούσατε.
(Here follows Paul’s sermon in vv. 17–41.)
Vocabulary

ἀποχωρέω, leave, depart ἀρχισυνάγωγος, ὁ, synagogue president

κατασείω, wave the hand, signal Παμφυλία, ἡ, Pamphylia, province
located in the southern part of Asia Minor παράκλησις, -εως, ἡ,
encouragement, comfort Πέργη, Perge, a city in Pamphylia near the south
coast of Asia Minor29 (see Fig. 2) Πισίδιος, -α, -ον, of Pisidia (i.e., Pisidian
Antioch, not Syrian Antioch)30

13:42 Ἐξιόντων δὲ αὐτῶν (the synagogue) παρεκάλουν εἰς31 τὸ μεταξὺ

σάββατον λαληθῆναι αὐτοῖς τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα. 43 λυθείσης δὲ τῆς
συναγωγῆς32 ἠκολούθησαν πολλοὶ τῶν Ἰουδαίων καὶ τῶν σεβομένων
προσηλύτων τῷ Παύλῳ καὶ τῷ Βαρναβᾷ, οἵτινες33 προσλαλοῦντες αὐτοῖς
ἔπειθον αὐτοὺς προσμένειν τῇ χάριτι τοῦ θεοῦ. 44 Τῷ δὲ ἐρχομένῳ
σαββάτῳ34 σχεδὸν πᾶσα ἡ πόλις συνήχθη ἀκοῦσαι τὸν λόγον τοῦ κυρίου. 45
ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι τοὺς ὄχλους ἐπλήσθησαν35 ζήλου καὶ ἀντέλεγον τοῖς
ὑπὸ Παύλου λαλουμένοις βλασφημοῦντες. 46 παρρησιασάμενοί τε ὁ Παῦλος
καὶ ὁ Βαρναβᾶς εἶπαν· ὑμῖν ἦν ἀναγκαῖον πρῶτον λαληθῆναι τὸν λόγον τοῦ
θεοῦ· ἐπειδὴ ἀπωθεῖσθε αὐτὸν καὶ οὐκ ἀξίους κρίνετε ἑαυτοὺς τῆς αἰωνίου
ζωῆς, ἰδοὺ στρεφόμεθα εἰς τὰ ἔθνη. 47 οὕτως γὰρ ἐντέταλται ἡμῖν ὁ κύριος·
τέθεικά σε εἰς36 φῶς ἐθνῶν τοῦ εἶναί σε37 εἰς σωτηρίαν ἕως ἐσχάτου τῆς γῆς
(Isa 49:6). 48 Ἀκούοντα δὲ τὰ ἔθνη ἔχαιρον38 καὶ ἐδόξαζον τὸν λόγον τοῦ
κυρίου καὶ ἐπίστευσαν ὅσοι ἦσαν τεταγμένοι39 εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον· 49 διεφέρετο
δὲ ὁ λόγος τοῦ κυρίου διʼ ὅλης τῆς χώρας. 50 οἱ δὲ Ἰουδαῖοι παρώτρυναν τὰς
σεβομένας γυναῖκας τὰς εὐσχήμονας καὶ τοὺς πρώτους τῆς πόλεως καὶ
ἐπήγειραν διωγμὸν ἐπὶ τὸν Παῦλον καὶ Βαρναβᾶν καὶ ἐξέβαλον αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ
τῶν ὁρίων αὐτῶν. 51 οἱ δὲ ἐκτιναξάμενοι τὸν κονιορτὸν τῶν ποδῶν ἐπʼ
αὐτοὺς40 ἦλθον εἰς Ἰκόνιον, 52 οἵ τε μαθηταὶ ἐπληροῦντο χαρᾶς καὶ
πνεύματος ἁγίου.
Vocabulary

ἀναγκαῖος, -α, -ον, necessary, indispensable, essential; (ἐστιν) ἀναγκαῖον

 + inf., it is necessary to, one must ἀπωθέομαι, reject ἐκτινάσσω, shake
out/off; mid. shake off from oneself ἔξειμι (fr. εἶμι, cf. table 9.14), inf.
ἐξιέναι, ptc. ἐξιών, -οῦσα, -όν: go out, leave, depart from a place
ἐπεγείρω, awaken; excite, stir up; rise up against, assault; pass. wake up
εὐσχήμων, -μονος, influential, of high standing ᾽Ικόνιον, τό, Ikonion
(Lat. Iconium) κονιορτός, ὁ, dust ὅριον, τό, boundary; τὰ ὅρια, region,
district παρρησιάζομαι, speak openly/freely παροτρύνω, stir up, incite
προσήλυτος, ὁ, proselyte, convert to Judaism (i.e., full members of the
Jewish religious community) προσλαλέω, speak to προσμένω, remain
faithful πρῶτοι, (Roman) magistrates of the city σχεδόν, nearly, almost
(adv.)

1 Impers. (“there was”).

2 Syrian Antioch.

3 κατά, distributive use (“in”).

4 τὴν οὖσαν ἐκκλησίαν means “the existing church” (i.e., the local church).

5 ὅ = ὁ (its accent comes from τι, which is enclitic).

6 τέ...καί = τέ...τέ (“both...and....”).

7 ὁ καλούμενος = ὁ λεγόμενος (“also called”).

8 “Niger,” Latin cognomen.

9 “Lucius,” Latin praenomen (Rom 16:21).

10 “Manaen” (indecl.), here nom.

11 τε postpos.

12 Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great.

13 Gen. absol.

14 γενόμενοι ἐν, “having arrived at.”

15 Incept. impf. (cf. IV, 13.5).

16 ἔχω w. double acc. The second acc. is a predicate acc. (“as”).

17 “Barjesus,” another example of a patronymic (“son of Jesus”) becoming a

name in itself (Acts 13:8 provides his full name, Elymas Bar-Jesus).

18 σύν, “in the retinue (of).”

19 Sergius Paullus, proconsul of Cyprus, was a native of Pisidian Antioch and a

member of the provincial elite. Paul’s decision to travel from Paphos to Pisidian
Antioch may have been influenced by the fact that Antioch was the patria
(homeland) of Sergius Paullus. The proconsul himself may have suggested to
Paul that he make Antioch his next destination and provided a letter of
introduction, giving Paul and Barnabas direct access to the social network of
which Sergius Paullus was himself a senior member.

20 ὁ καί, formula indicating a double name or surname. With the expression

“Saul, who is also known as/surnamed Paul” in Acts 13:9, he is referred to
henceforth in Acts as “Paul.” The importance of the link between Saul and L.
Sergius Paullus, his most prominent convert, is perhaps symbolized by the fact
that it is precisely from this point that Saul adopted the Roman cognomen
Paulus, to supplant his former name. Thus, just as Herod the Great honored his
friendship with Marcus Agrippa by giving the name “Agrippa” to his eldest,
Saul seems to have selected the name “Paul” out of a sense of gratitude and
sense of achievement with respect to his first major convert, L. Sergius Paullus.
21 ὦ used in exclamations expresses very strong emotion.

22 πλήρης (nom.) for -ες (voc.), as is often the case when an adj. is used alone.

23 υἱὲ διαβόλου, anarthrous subst. with gen. expressing kind or quality (i.e., the
devil’s creature).

24 οὐ + fut. ind. with almost imperatival force.

25 ἄχρι καιροῦ, “for a time.”

26 οἱ περὶ Παῦλον, “Paul and his companions.”

27 τῶν σαββάτων, pl. for sg.

28 Articular ptc., w. nom. for voc. (sc. ὑμεῖς, “you who fear God,” i.e., “God
fearers”).

29 Perge was located about eight miles upriver from the mouth of the Kestros
River. Since this river was not navigable by larger boats, the travelers probably
landed at Attaleia.

30 Pisidia was a mountainous region in central Asia Minor, west of the Taurus
mountains.

31 εἰς (w. acc.) with expressions of time either marks the limit of time or
accents the duration of time; here εἰς τὸ μεταξὺ σάββατον sets a more definite
period of time.

32 Gen. absol. (“when the congregation had broken up”).

33 ὅστις often merely has the force of ὅς.

34 Dat. of time (cf. IV, 5.2).

35 S.v. πίμπλημι.

36 εἰς w. predicate acc. (“as a light”).

37 Art. inf. expressing purpose.

38 Incept. impf. (cf. IV, 13.6).

39 Periph. plpf. (cf. IV, 18, s.v. τάσσω).

40 ἐ αὐτούς, “against them.”

 5.13. Book of Acts: Silversmiths Instigate a Riot in
Ephesos
(Acts 19:21–20:1)

In the Hellenistic and Roman periods, various kinds of voluntary associations

were formed. These can be grouped into three types: (1) trade guilds, such as
those of silversmiths (§5.13) and bakers (§7.22) of Ephesos; (2) funerary
societies (e.g., PEnteuxeis 20, §4.2); and (3) voluntary religious societies
(§§7.2–5, 7.18). From the point of view of the production of goods, trade guilds
can also be arranged in a three-tiered hierarchy.1 First and most common were
trade guilds, such as those of bakers, that produced goods for the local
population. The second tier of the economic hierarchy consisted of guilds
specializing in the production of goods for export to regional or international
markets. The third and most elite level of the economic hierarchy consisted of
guilds, such as that of the Ephesian silversmiths (ἀργυρκόποι) of Acts 19, that
produced luxury items for regional and international markets.
The silver trade was a very lucrative industry. Because the production of silver
and gold was capital intensive, the guilds involved in these industries often
benefited from investment by the social elite and had established regional and
international markets. Trade guilds with international markets for luxury goods
were much more prosperous, and members often had the wealth necessary to
better their social position. The epitaph of an Ephesian silversmith and member
of a guild of silversmiths states that he was once appointed to the high office of
neopoios (magistrate in charge of the maintenance of a temple) (IEph VI, 2212).
His lavish sarcophagus suggests that he was a man of considerable wealth.
Similarly, a goldsmith is known to have owned his own camels for transport.2 In
an inscription from Smyrna, the city silversmiths and goldsmiths are honored for
their repair of a statue of Athena (ISmyrna 721).
Related Texts: Edict Suppressing a Bakers’ Strike in Ephesos (IEph II, 215,
§7.22) 19:21 Ὡς δὲ ἐπληρώθη ταῦτα, ἔθετο3 ὁ Παῦλος ἐν τῷ πνεύματι
διελθὼν τὴν Μακεδονίαν καὶ Ἀχαΐαν πορεύεσθαι εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα εἰπὼν ὅτι
Μετὰ τὸ γενέσθαι4 με ἐκεῖ δεῖ με καὶ Ῥώμην ἰδεῖν. 22 ἀποστείλας δὲ εἰς τὴν
Μακεδονίαν δύο τῶν διακονούντων αὐτῷ, Τιμόθεον καὶ Ἔραστον,5 αὐτὸς
ἐπέσχεν χρόνον6 εἰς τὴν Ἀσίαν. 23 Ἐγένετο δὲ κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν7 ἐκεῖνον
τάραχος οὐκ ὀλίγος περὶ τῆς ὁδοῦ. 24 Δημήτριος γάρ τις ὀνόματι,
ἀργυροκόπος, ποιῶν ναοὺς8 ἀργυροῦς Ἀρτέμιδος παρείχετο τοῖς τεχνίταις οὐκ
ὀλίγην ἐργασίαν, 25 οὓς συναθροίσας καὶ τοὺς περὶ9 τὰ τοιαῦτα ἐργάτας
εἶπεν· ἄνδρες, ἐπίστασθε ὅτι ἐκ ταύτης10 τῆς ἐργασίας ἡ εὐπορία ἡμῖν ἐστιν
26 καὶ θεωρεῖτε καὶ ἀκούετε ὅτι οὐ μόνον Ἐφέσου11 ἀλλὰ σχεδὸν πάσης τῆς
Ἀσίας ὁ Παῦλος οὗτος πείσας12 μετέστησεν13 ἱκανὸν ὄχλον λέγων ὅτι οὐκ
εἰσὶν θεοὶ14 οἱ διὰ χειρῶν γινόμενοι. 27 οὐ μόνον δὲ τοῦτο κινδυνεύει15 (that)
ἡμῖν16 τὸ μέρος17 εἰς ἀπελεγμὸν ἐλθεῖν ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ τῆς μεγάλης θεᾶς
Ἀρτέμιδος ἱερὸν εἰς οὐθὲν18 λογισθῆναι, μέλλειν19 τε καὶ καθαιρεῖσθαι τῆς
μεγαλειότητος20 αὐτῆς ἣν21 ὅλη ἡ Ἀσία καὶ ἡ οἰκουμένη σέβεται.
Vocabulary
ἀργυροκόπος, ὁ, silversmith Ἄρτεμις, -ιδος, ἡ, the goddess Artemis (Roman
Diana) Ἀσία, ἡ, Asia (Minor) ἀπελεγμός, ὁ, disrepute χαΐα, ἡ, Roman
province of Achaia διακονέω (w. dat.), serve, render assistance to ἐπέχω, hold
firmly to; stay, halt, cease from; stay on (for a period of time); offer, extend
εὐπορία, ἡ, wealth, prosperity καθαιρέω, pull down, destroy; fig. pass. suffer
the loss of (w. gen.) κινδυνεύω, (impers.) there is a danger/risk that (w. inf.)
Μακεδονία, ἡ, Macedonia μεγαλειότης, -ητος, ἡ, majesty, magnificence
συναθροίζω, gather together with σχεδόν, nearly, almost (adv.) τάραχος, ὁ,
disturbance τεχνίτης, -ου, ὁ, craftsman, artisan, skilled worker; musician
τοιοῦτος, -αύτη, -οῦτον, of such a kind, such as this; τὰ τοιαῦτα,
similar/related things
19:28 Ἀκούσαντες (this) δὲ καὶ γενόμενοι πλήρεις θυμοῦ ἔκραζον λέγοντες·
μεγάλη (is) ἡ Ἄρτεμις Ἐφεσίων. 29 καὶ ἐπλήσθη ἡ πόλις τῆς συγχύσεως,
ὥρμησάν τε ὁμοθυμαδὸν εἰς τὸ θέατρον συναρπάσαντες Γάϊον καὶ
Ἀρίσταρχον22 Μακεδόνας, συνεκδήμους Παύλου. 30 Παύλου δὲ βουλομένου23
εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν δῆμον οὐκ εἴων αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταί· 31 τινὲς δὲ καὶ τῶν
Ἀσιαρχῶν, ὄντες αὐτῷ φίλοι, πέμψαντες (a message) πρὸς αὐτὸν παρεκάλουν
μὴ δοῦναι ἑαυτὸν εἰς τὸ θέατρον. 32 Ἄλλοι μὲν οὖν ἄλλο τι ἔκραζον· ἦν γὰρ
ἡ ἐκκλησία24 συγκεχυμένη καὶ οἱ πλείους25 οὐκ ᾔδεισαν τίνος ἕνεκα
συνεληλύθεισαν.26 33 ἐκ δὲ τοῦ ὄχλου27 συνεβίβασαν (him) Ἀλέξανδρον
προβαλόντων28 αὐτὸν τῶν Ἰουδαίων· ὁ δὲ Ἀλέξανδρος κατασείσας τὴν χεῖρα
ἤθελεν ἀπολογεῖσθαι τῷ δήμῳ. 34 ἐπιγνόντες δὲ ὅτι Ἰουδαῖός ἐστιν, φωνὴ
ἐγένετο μία29 ἐκ πάντων ὡς30 ἐπὶ ὥρας δύο κραζόντων· μεγάλη (is) ἡ Ἄρτεμις
Ἐφεσίων.
Vocabulary
ἀπολογέομαι, defend oneself; make a defense Ἀσιάρχης, Asiarch (equivalent to
ἀρχιερεὺς Ἀσίας) δῆμος, ὁ, people, crowd; the People (the full citizen body of
a Greek polis, as represented by the Assembly [ἐκκλησία]) ἐάω, pres. mid. inf.
ἐᾶσθαι, impf. εἴων, 2. ἐάσω, 3. εἴασα: allow, permit; leave, let go; mid. be left
to oneself θέατρον, τό, theater κατασείω, wave the hand, signal Μακεδών, -
όνος, ὁ, Macedonian person ὁμοθημαδόν, all together ὁρμάω, to rush πλήρης
(m., fm), -ες (nt.), πλήρεις (m. pl.), -ες (nt. pl.), full; solid προβάλλω, put/push
forward συγχέω, confuse; pf. pass. be in confusion σύγχυσις, -εως, ἡ, confusion
συναρπάζω, seize and carry off συνέκδημος, ὁ, traveling companion
συμβιβάζω, advise, give instructions φίλος, -η, -ον, beloved, pleasant; pleasing,
popular; subst. friend
19:35 Καταστείλας δὲ ὁ γραμματεὺς31 τὸν ὄχλον φησίν· ἄνδρες Ἐφέσιοι, τίς
γάρ ἐστιν ἀνθρώπων ὃς οὐ γινώσκει τὴν Ἐφεσίων πόλιν νεωκόρον οὖσαν τῆς
μεγάλης Ἀρτέμιδος καὶ (νεωκόρον) τοῦ (statue which) διοπετοῦς; 36
ἀναντιρρήτων οὖν ὄντων32 τούτων δέον33 ἐστὶν ὑμᾶς κατεσταλμένους
ὑπάρχειν καὶ μηδὲν προπετὲς πράσσειν. 37 ἠγάγετε γὰρ τοὺς ἄνδρας τούτους
οὔτε ἱεροσύλους οὔτε βλασφημοῦντας τὴν θεὸν ἡμῶν. 38 εἰ μὲν οὖν
Δημήτριος καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ τεχνῖται ἔχουσι πρός τινα λόγον,34 ἀγοραῖοι35
ἄγονται36 καὶ ἀνθύπατοί (available) εἰσιν,37 ἐγκαλείτωσαν ἀλλήλοις. 39 εἰ δέ
τι περαιτέρω ἐπιζητεῖτε, ἐν τῇ ἐννόμῳ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἐπιλυθήσεται. 40 καὶ γὰρ38
κινδυνεύομεν ἐγκαλεῖσθαι στάσεως περὶ τῆς σήμερον, μηδενὸς αἰτίου
ὑπάρχοντος,39 περὶ οὗ οὐ δυνησόμεθα ἀποδοῦναι λόγον περὶ τῆς συστροφῆς
ταύτης. καὶ ταῦτα εἰπὼν ἀπέλυσεν τὴν ἐκκλησίαν. 20:1 μετὰ δὲ τὸ
παύσασθαι40 τὸν θόρυβον μεταπεμψάμενος ὁ Παῦλος τοὺς μαθητὰς καὶ
παρακαλέσας (them), ἀσπασάμενος ἐξῆλθεν πορεύεσθαι εἰς Μακεδονίαν.
Vocabulary
ἀγοραῖοι, οἱ, court days/sessions αἴτιον, τό, cause, reason ἀναντίρρητος, -ον,
undeniable ἀνθύπατος, ὁ, proconsul διοπετής, -ές, fallen from heaven (re the
cult statue of Artemis) ἐγκαλέω, bring a charge/accusation against somebody
(gen.); pass. be charged with (dat.) ἔννομος, -ον, legal, lawful ἐπιλύω, resolve,
settle Ἐφέσιος, -ία, -ιον, Ephesian (adj.); subst. Ephesians θόρυβος, ὁ, uproar,
public disturbance ἱερόσυλος, -ον, sacrilegious; subst. sacrilegious person,
temple robber καταστέλλω, to calm, quiet μεταπέμπω, send for, summon;
arrest somebody νεωκόρος, ὁ, temple guardian περαιτέρω, further (adv.)
προπετής, -ές, impulsive, reckless στάσις, -εως, ἡ, standing still; riot, rioting,
uprising συστροφή, ἡ, rabble, mob

1 H. W. Pleket, “Greek Epigraphy and Comparative Ancient History: Two Case

Studies,” EpAnat 12 (1988), 25–38, esp. 25–37.

2 SEG 27.873; Joyce M. Reynolds, Mary Beard, Richard Duncan-Jones, and C.

Roueché, “Survey Article: Roman Inscriptions 1976–80,” JRS 71 (1981), 121–
143, esp. 139.

3 τίθεσθαι ἐν πνεύματι, “resolve in the spirit” + inf.

4 Art. inf. (“after,” cf. IV, 2).

5 Erastus (cf. Rom 16:23).

6 Acc. of duration of time (“for a time”).

7 κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν ἐκεῖνον (“at that time”).

8 ναός, here a portable “shrine.”

9 περί + acc., “(of being occupied) with.”

10 ἐκ ταύτης...ἐστιν, “is ... from this” (i.e., “depends ... on this”).

11 ᾽Εφέσου, gen. of place, “in Ephesos,” πάσης τῆς σίας, “in the whole of
Asia” (i.e., the entire Roman province).
12 S.v. πείθω.

13 S.v. μεθίστημι.

14 Predicate of the verb.

15 The infinitives that follow (ἐλθεῖν, λογισθῆναι, μέλλειν) depend on the verb
κινδυνεύω.

16 Dat. of poss.

17 τὸ μέρος, “branch/line (of business).”

18 εἰς οὐθέν, “as nothing.”

19 μέλλειν + inf. (for the fut. inf.) + ἥν....

20 Partitive gen. (sc. τι).

21 ἥν (acc.) is the subject of μέλλειν.

22 Gaius and Aristarchos (cf. Acts 27:2).

23 Gen. absol. (cf. IV, 9).

24 Here “assembly (of a crowd).”

25 οἱ πλείους > οἱ πλείονες (pl., s.v. πλείων), “the greater part, most.”

26 S.v. συνέρχομαι.

27 ἐκ τοῦ ὄχλου is the subject (“some of the crowd”).

28 Gen. absol.

29 φωνή...μία (dis. syn. [Y2 hyp.]).

30 ὡς with numbers/time means “about.”

31 Here “secretary of state.”

32 Gen. absol. (causal).

33 δέον (ptc. of δεῖ); δέον ἐστίν (“it is necessary” = δεῖ w. acc. + inf.).

34 λόγος, “complaint” in a legal case “against (πρός)” somebody.

35 Sc. ἡμέραι or σύνοδοι.

36 ἄγω, “to hold a court day”; pass. “to be in session.”

37 Impers. use of εἰμί (cf. IV, 14).

38 καὶ γάρ, “for,” “in fact.”

39 Gen. absol.

40 Art. inf.
 5.14. Epistle to the Hebrews: The Faith of the
Patriarchs
(Heb 11:1–31)

Provenance: Author unknown; written to Christians who had experienced

persecution.
Date: ca. 90–115 CE, about a decade after the destruction of the Temple and
the cessation of the priesthood.
Special Features: Though called an “epistle,” this text is better described as a
sermon, homily, or “word of exhortation” (Heb 13:22). Its overall message is
that the Jewish Scriptures foreshadow the coming of the Christ. Hebrews 11
takes up the subject of the heroes of Jewish faith. It begins with a definition of
faith (Heb 11:1–3) and then recounts the examples of Abel, Enoch, Noah,
Abraham, Moses, and other Israelite heroes, all of whose lives were governed by
a hope that had not yet been fulfilled.
11:1 Ἔστιν δὲ πίστις ἐλπιζομένων1 ὑπόστασις, πραγμάτων ἔλεγχος οὐ
βλεπομένων. 2 ἐν ταύτῃ γὰρ ἐμαρτυρήθησαν οἱ πρεσβύτεροι. 3 Πίστει
νοοῦμεν2 κατηρτίσθαι τοὺς αἰῶνας3 ῥήματι θεοῦ, εἰς τὸ μὴ ἐκ φαινομένων τὸ
βλεπόμενον γεγονέναι.4 4 Πίστει πλείονα θυσίαν Αβελ παρὰ5 Καιν
προσήνεγκεν τῷ θεῷ, διʼ ἧς ἐμαρτυρήθη (that) εἶναι δίκαιος, μαρτυροῦντος6
ἐπὶ τοῖς δώροις αὐτοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ διʼ αὐτῆς7 ἀποθανὼν8 ἔτι λαλεῖ. 5 Πίστει
Ενωχ μετετέθη τοῦ μὴ ἰδεῖν9(αὐτὸν) θάνατον, καὶ Οὐχ ηὑρίσκετο διότι
μετέθηκεν αὐτὸν ὁ θεός.10 πρὸ γὰρ τῆς μεταθέσεως (αὐτοῦ) μεμαρτύρηται
Εὐαρεστηκέναι τῷ θεῷ· 6 χωρὶς δὲ πίστεως ἀδύνατον εὐαρεστῆσαι (τῷ θεῷ)·
πιστεῦσαι11 γὰρ δεῖ τὸν προσερχόμενον τῷ θεῷ ὅτι ἔστιν,12 καὶ (ὅτι) τοῖς
ἐκζητοῦσιν αὐτὸν μισθαποδότης γίνεται. 7 Πίστει χρηματισθεὶς Νωε (by God)
περὶ τῶν μηδέπω βλεπομένων, εὐλαβηθεὶς κατεσκεύασεν κιβωτὸν εἰς
σωτηρίαν τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ διʼ ἧς κατέκρινεν τὸν κόσμον,13 καὶ τῆς κατὰ
πίστιν δικαιοσύνης ἐγένετο κληρονόμος.
Vocabulary
 ἀδύνατος, -ον, impossible; weak, crippled δῶρον, τό, gift εὐαρεστέω,
please; pass. be pleasing to somebody (dat.) εὐλαβέομαι (pass. dep.), be
concerned, anxious; be reverent κατακρίνω, condemn; sentence somebody
to do something καταρτίζω, prepare, put into proper order κατασκευάζω,
construct, build κληρονόμος, ὁ, heir, inheritor χρηματίζω (w. dat.),
deliberate on business; give ear to (an oracle), make known a divine
injunction/warning; issue instructions to somebody; pass. be warned
μετάθεσις, ἡ, translation, transfer μηδέπω, not yet (w. non-ind. moods)
μισθαποδότης, ὁ, rewarder ὑπόστασις, -εως, ἡ, basis; frame of mind

The Faith of Abraham

11:8 Πίστει καλούμενος (by God) Αβρααμ ὑπήκουσεν ἐξελθεῖν14 εἰς τόπον ὃν
ἤμελλεν λαμβάνειν εἰς κληρονομίαν, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν μὴ ἐπιστάμενος ποῦ ἔρχεται.
9 Πίστει παρῴκησεν εἰς γῆν τῆς ἐπαγγελίας15 ὡς ἀλλοτρίαν (γῆν) ἐν σκηναῖς
κατοικήσας16 μετὰ Ισαακ καὶ Ιακωβ τῶν συγκληρονόμων τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τῆς
αὐτῆς· 10 ἐξεδέχετο17 γὰρ (Αβρααμ) τὴν τοὺς θεμελίους ἔχουσαν πόλιν18 ἧς
τεχνίτης καὶ δημιουργὸς (is) ὁ θεός. 11 Πίστει – καὶ19 αὐτὴ Σαρρα (was)
στεῖρα – δύναμιν εἰς καταβολὴν σπέρματος (Αβρααμ) ἔλαβεν καὶ20 παρὰ21
καιρὸν ἡλικίας, ἐπεὶ (to be) πιστὸν ἡγήσατο τὸν ἐπαγγειλάμενον.22 12 διὸ καὶ
ἀφʼ ἑνὸς (man)23 ἐγεννήθησαν – καὶ ταῦτα24 νενεκρωμένου25 – (as many
descendants) καθὼς τὰ ἄστρα τοῦ οὐρανοῦ τῷ πλήθει καὶ ὡς ἡ ἄμμος26 ἡ
παρὰ τὸ χεῖλος τῆς θαλάσσης ἡ ἀναρίθμητος.
Vocabulary

ἀλλότριος, -ία, -ιον, belonging to another; foreign; ὁ ἀλλότριος, a

stranger ἄμμος, ἡ, sand ἀναρίθμητος, countless δημιουγός, ὁ, builder;
Creator, Demiurge ἐκδέχομαι, expect, look forward to, wait for somebody
(acc.); take/receive ἐπίσταμαι, know, understand θεμέλιος, ὁ, foundation
καταβολή, sowing (of seed); conceiving (of children) (usually of men)
νεκρόω, put to death; pass. have been put to death (i.e., as good as dead,
impotent) παροικέω εἰς, migrate to στεῖρα, ἡ, incapable of bearing
children, infertile, barren συγκληρονόμος, fellow heir τεχνίτης, -ου, ὁ,
craftsman, artisan, skilled worker; musician ὑπακούω, to obey (w. dat.), be
subject to
 11:13 Κατὰ πίστιν ἀπέθανον οὗτοι πάντες (saints named above), μὴ
λαβόντες τὰς ἐπαγγελίας ἀλλὰ πόρρωθεν αὐτὰς ἰδόντες καὶ ἀσπασάμενοι
(them) καὶ ὁμολογήσαντες ὅτι ξένοι καὶ παρεπίδημοί εἰσιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. 14 οἱ
γὰρ τοιαῦτα λέγοντες ἐμφανίζουσιν ὅτι πατρίδα ἐπιζητοῦσιν. 15 καὶ εἰ27 μὲν28
ἐκείνης (πατρίδος) ἐμνημόνευον ἀφʼ ἧς ἐξέβησαν,29 εἶχον ἂν καιρὸν
ἀνακάμψαι· 16 νῦν δὲ κρείττονος30 (πατρίδος) ὀρέγονται, τοῦτʼ ἔστιν31
ἐπουρανίου (πατρίδος). διὸ οὐκ ἐπαισχύνεται αὐτοὺς ὁ θεὸς θεὸς
ἐπικαλεῖσθαι αὐτῶν·32 ἡτοίμασεν γὰρ αὐτοῖς πόλιν. 17 Πίστει προσενήνοχεν
Αβρααμ τὸν Ισαακ πειραζόμενος· καὶ τὸν μονογενῆ (son) προσέφερεν33 ὁ τὰς
ἐπαγγελίας ἀναδεξάμενος,34 18 πρὸς ὃν35 ἐλαλήθη ὅτι Ἐν Ἰσαακ κληθήσεταί
σοι36 σπέρμα (Gen 21:12), 19 λογισάμενος ὅτι καὶ ἐκ νεκρῶν ἐγείρειν (people)
δυνατὸς ὁ θεός (was), ὅθεν αὐτὸν37 καὶ (speaking figuratively) ἐν παραβολῇ38
(God) ἐκομίσατο (Isaac from the dead). 20 Πίστει καὶ περὶ μελλόντων39
εὐλόγησεν Ισαακ τὸν Ιακωβ καὶ τὸν Ησαυ. 21 Πίστει Ιακωβ ἀποθνῄσκων
ἕκαστον τῶν υἱῶν Ιωσηφ40 εὐλόγησεν καὶ Προσεκύνησεν ἐπὶ41 τὸ ἄκρον τῆς
ῥάβδου αὐτοῦ (Gen 47:31). 22 Πίστει τελευτῶν περὶ τῆς ἐξόδου τῶν υἱῶν
Ἰσραὴλ ἐμνημόνευσεν καὶ περὶ τῶν ὀστέων αὐτοῦ ἐνετείλατο.
Vocabulary

ἀναδέχομαι, accept, receive, undertake ἀνακάμπτω, to return ἐμφανίζω,

inform, make a report; present evidence, show plainly ἔξοδος, ἡ, the
Exodus from Egypt) ἐπαισχύνομαι, be ashamed ἐπικαλέω, call upon;
mid. call in as a helper; pass. be called ἐπουράνιος, -ον, heavenly
κομίζομαι, get back, recover; bring into (ἐν) a place, introduce μονογενής,
-ές, only ξένος, -η, -ον, strange, foreign; subst. a stranger, foreigner; guest
ὅθεν, from where, from which; for which reason ὀρέγομαι (w. gen.), aspire
to, strive for something παρεπίδημος, ὁ, refugee πόρρωθεν, from afar

The Faith of Moses

11:23 Πίστει Μωυσῆς γεννηθεὶς ἐκρύβη τρίμηνον ὑπὸ τῶν πατέρων42 αὐτοῦ,
διότι εἶδον (he was) ἀστεῖον τὸ παιδίον καὶ οὐκ ἐφοβήθησαν τὸ διάταγμα τοῦ
βασιλέως. 24 Πίστει Μωυσῆς μέγας γενόμενος ἠρνήσατο λέγεσθαι υἱὸς
θυγατρὸς Φαραω,43 25 μᾶλλον44 ἑλόμενος45 συγκακουχεῖσθαι τῷ λαῷ τοῦ
θεοῦ ἢ πρόσκαιρον ἔχειν ἁμαρτίας ἀπόλαυσιν,46 26 (to be) μείζονα πλοῦτον
ἡγησάμενος (than) τῶν Αἰγύπτου θησαυρῶν τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ·47
ἀπέβλεπεν γὰρ εἰς τὴν μισθαποδοσίαν. 27 Πίστει κατέλιπεν Αἴγυπτον μὴ
φοβηθεὶς τὸν θυμὸν τοῦ βασιλέως· τὸν γὰρ ἀόρατον (θεὸν) ὡς (if) ὁρῶν
ἐκαρτέρησεν. 28 Πίστει πεποίηκεν τὸ πάσχα48 καὶ τὴν πρόσχυσιν τοῦ αἵματος,
ἵνα μὴ ὁ ὀλοθρεύων τὰ πρωτότοκα θίγῃ αὐτῶν. 29 Πίστει διέβησαν49 τὴν
ἐρυθρὰν θάλασσαν ὡς (they were passing) διὰ ξηρᾶς γῆς, ἧς πεῖραν λαβόντες
οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι κατεπόθησαν. 30 Πίστει τὰ τείχη Ιεριχω50 ἔπεσαν κυκλωθέντα ἐπὶ
ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας. 31 Πίστει Ρααβ ἡ πόρνη οὐ συναπώλετο τοῖς ἀπειθήσασιν
δεξαμένη τοὺς κατασκόπους μετʼ εἰρήνης.

Vocabulary
αἱρέω, pres. inf. αἱρεῖν, 1aor. ᾕρησα / εἷλον (√ ἑλ-), 2aor. mid. εἱλάμην/όμην:
take by the hand; take away, remove; entrap, take captive; mid. take for oneself,
choose; pass. be chosen ἀόρατος, -ον, unseen, invisible ἀπειθέω, 3. ἠπείθησα,
1aor. ptc. ἀπείθησας: disobey, be disobedient ἀποβλέπω, look for ἀπόλαυσις, -

εως, ἡ, enjoyment, pleasure ἀρνέομαι, refuse to do something ἀστεῖος, -α, -ον,

pleasing, beautiful; refined, honorable διατάγμα, -ματος, τό, edict, decree
ἐρυθρός, -ά, -όν, red θιγγάνω, 2aor. ἔθιγον: touch something (gen.), take hold
of; pass. be touched καταπίνω, 6. κατεπόθην: devour, swallow up something
κατάσκοπος, ὁ, spy μισθαποδοσία, ἡ, reward ὀλοθρεύω, destroy ξηρός, -ά, -
όν, dry; paralyzed πεῖρα, ἡ, an attempt πόρνη, ἡ, prostitute πρόσκαιρος, -ον,
temporary πρόσχυσις, ἡ, pouring/sprinkling (of a liquid) πρωτότοκος, -ον,
firstborn (nt. pl. of firstborn of men and animals) συγκακουχέομαι (w. dat.),
suffer/be mistreated with somebody (dat.) τρίμηνος, three months συναπόλλυμι,
2aor. mid. συναπωλόμην: destroy with; mid. be destroyed, perish along with

1 ἐλπιζομένων...βλεπομένων are both nt. pass.

2 νοέω + acc. (X) + inf. (Y), “to understand that X is Y.”
3 S.v. αἰών, here pl. “worlds” (i.e., the universe, all of time and space).
4 εἰς τὸ μή + inf. (γεγονέναι), art. inf. expressing result (“so that such-and-such
may not ...”).
5 παρά (w. acc.) following compative (“than”).
6 μαρτυροῦντος...τοῦ θεοῦ, gen. absol. (cf. IV, 10).
7 Fm. (i.e., πίστεως).
8 Concessive adv. ptc. (“though,” cf. IV, 1.5).
9 Art. inf. expressing result.
10 Quoting Gen 5:24 (LXX), cf. Sir 44:16, 1 En. 70:1–4, Wis 4:10.
11 Inf. dependent on δεῖ, which takes an acc. (τὸν προσερχόμενον).
12 “He exists.”
13 Probably concerns Noah’s own actions of shaming the world by throwing
the world’s lack of faith into relief.
14 Instr. inf. “by ... ing.”
15 γῆ τῆς ἐπαγγελίας, Hebraism for the “promised land.”
16 Here aor. ptc. specifies action that is contemporaneous with main verb., even
though it is not exactly the same verb (cf. 1 Cor 2:1).
17 S.v. ἐκδέχομαι.
18 τήν...πόλιν.
19 Adv. καί denoting contrast, “even though.”
20 Adv. καί denoting contrast, “even though.”
21 παρὰ καιρὸν ἡλικίας (“past the normal age”).
22 I.e., God.
23 I.e., Abraham.
24 καὶ ταῦτα, “and moreover.”
25 Gen. case in agreement w. ἑνός.
26 ἡ ἄμμος ἡ (modifier) ἡ (modifier) (cf. Gen 15:5, 22:17, 32:12).
27 εἰ w. past tense and ἄν in apodosis (contrary to fact condition).
28 μέν... . δέ (Heb 11:16).
29 S.v. ἐκβαίνω.
30 S.v. κρείσσων.
31 τοῦ ἔστιν, “in other words” (id est).
32 Poss. gen.; θεός...αὐτῶν.
33 Conat. impf. (cf. IV, 13.5).
34 ὁ τὰς ἐπαγγελλίας ἀναδεξάμενος (i.e., Αβρααμ), 1st attrib. (cf. IV, 4.1).
35 I.e., Abraham.
36 Dat. of poss.
37 I.e., Isaac.
38 ἐν παραβολῇ, “as a type/figure.”
39 περί μελλόντων (nt.), “concerning/in connection with things to come.”
40 Indecl. but here gen.
41 προσκυνέω + ἐπί, “to lean on.”
42 οἱ πατέρες = οἱ γονεῖς, “parents.”
43 Gen. (indecl.).
44 μᾶλλον...ἤ...(“rather ... than ...”).
45 S.v. αἱρέω.
46 πρόσκαιρον...ἀπόλαυσιν.
47 τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ → (to be) μείζονα πλοῦτον + “than” (gen.).
48 ποιῶ τὸ πάσχα, “to keep the Passover.”
49 S.v. διαβαίνω.
50 Indecl. but here gen.
 5.15. Acts of Paul: The Mission of Paul
(Acts Paul 1–8)

Related Texts: Acts Paul 30–34, 37–42 (§5.9).

As the narrative begins, Paul is traveling to Ikonion to proclaim “the word of
God about sexual abstinence and the resurrection.”
1:1 Ἀναβαίνοντος Παύλου1 εἰς Ἰκόνιον μετὰ τὴν φυγὴν τὴν ἀπὸ
Ἀντιοιχείας2 ἐγενήθησαν σύνοδοι αὐτῷ Δημᾶς3 καὶ Ἐρμογένης ὁ χαλκεύς,
ὑποκρίσεως γέμοντες, καὶ ἐξελιπάρουν τὸν Παῦλον ὡς ἀγαπῶντες αὐτόν. 2
ὁ δὲ Παῦλος ἀποβλέπων εἰς μόνην τὴν ἀγαθωσύνην τοῦ Χριστοῦ οὐδὲν
φαῦλον ἐποίει αὐτοῖς, ἀλ ἔστεργεν αὐτοὺς σφόδρα, ὥστε πάντα τὰ λόγια
κυρίου καὶ (τὰ λόγια) τῆς διδασκαλίας καὶ τῆς ἐρμηνείας τοῦ εὐαγγελίου καὶ
τῆς γεννήσεως καὶ τῆς ἀναστάσεως τοῦ ἠγαπημένου4 ἐγλύκαινεν αὐτούς, καὶ
τὰ μεγαλεῖα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, πῶς ἀπεκαλύφθη αὐτῷ,5 κατὰ ῥῆμα6 διηγεῖτο7
αὐτοῖς.8
Vocabulary

ἀγαθωσύνη, ἡ, generosity, goodness Ἀντιόχεια, ἡ, Antioch; either

Syrian Antioch (on the Orontes River) or Pisidian Antioch ἀποβλέπω, to
look, pay attention γέννησις, -εως, ἡ, birth γλυκαίνω, sweeten something,
make something seem sweet to somebody ἐκλιπαρέω, implore, flatter
᾽Ικόνιον, τό, Ikonion (Lat. Iconium) λόγιον, τό, saying, oracle; omen
μεγαλεῖος, -α, -ον, great; subst. great deed στέργω, feel affection for
somebody, show affection to somebody σύνοδος, ὁ, traveling companion
ὑπόκρισις, ἡ, hypocrisy φαῦλος, -η, -ον, evil, bad; subst. harm, injury
φυγή, ἡ, flight χαλκεύς, -έως, ὁ, coppersmith

2:1 Καὶ τις ἀνὴρ ὀνόματι Ὀνησίφόρος9 ἀκούσας τὸν Παῦλον

παραγενόμενον εἰς Ἰκόνιον, ἐξῆλθεν σὺν τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτοῦ Σιμμίᾳ10 καὶ
Ζήνωνι καὶ τῇ γυνκαικὶ αὐτοῦ Λέκτρᾳ εἰς συνάντησιν Παύλῳ, ἵνα αὐτὸν
ὑποδέξηται· 2 διηγήσατο γὰρ αὐτῷ Τίτος ποταπός (person) ἐστιν τῇ εἰδέᾳ ὁ
Παῦλος· οὐ γὰρ εἶδεν αὐτὸν σαρκὶ ἀλλὰ μόνον πνεύματι.
Vocabulary

εἰδέα, ἡ, appearance συνάντησις, ἡ, meeting; εἰς συνάντησιν, for a

meeting with somebody (dat.) ποταμός, -ή, -όν, what kind/sort of (w. dat.)
ὑποδέχομαι, entertain as a guest; submit to; provide hospitality to (a god);
undertake, promise

3:1 Καὶ ἐπορεύετο κατὰ τὴν βασιλικὴν ὁδὸν11 τὴν ἐπὶ Λύστραν, καὶ
εἰσήκει12 ἀπεκδεχόμενος αὐτόν, καὶ τοὺς ἐρχομένους ἐθεώρει κατὰ τὴν
μήνυσιν Τίτου. 2 εἶδεν δὲ τὸν Παῦλον ἐρχόμενον, ἄνδρα μικρὸν τῷ μεγέθει,
ψιλὸν τῇ κεφαλῇ,13 ἀγκύλον ταῖς κνήμαις, εὐεκτικὸν, σύνοφρυν, μικρῶς
ἐπίρρινον, χάριτος πλήρη· ποτὲ14 μὲν γὰρ ἐφαίνετο ὡς ἄνθρωπος, ποτὲ δὲ
ἀγγέλου πρόσωπον εἶχεν.
Vocabulary

ἀγκύλος, -η, -ον, crooked, curved ἀπεκδέχομαι, await eagerly ἐπίρρινος, -

ον, having a long nose εὐεκτικός, -ή, -όν, healthy κνήμη, ἡ, leg, shank
μήνυσις, ἡ, information μικρῶς, rather πλήρης (m./fm.), -ες (nt.), πλήεις
(m. pl.), -ες (nt. pl.), full; solid σύνοφρυς, -υ, with meeting eyebrows ψιλός,
-ή, όν, bald

4:1 Καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ Παῦλος τὸν Ὀνησίφορον ἐμειδίασεν, καὶ εἶπεν ὁ

Ὀνησίφορος· Χαῖρε, ὑπηρέτα τοῦ εὐλογημένου θεοῦ· Κἀκεῖνος εἶπεν· Ἣ
χάρις (be) μετὰ σοῦ καὶ τοῦ οἴκου σου. 2 Δημᾶς δὲ καὶ Ἑρμογένης ἐζήλωσαν
καὶ πλείονα τὴν ὑπόκρισιν ἐκίνησαν (in themselves), ὡς15 εἰπεῖν τὸν Δημᾶν·
Ἣμεῖς οὐκ ἐσμεν τοῦ εὐλογημένου, ὅτι ἡμᾶς οὐκ ἠσπάσω οὔτως;16 3 Καὶ
εἶπεν ὁ Ὀνησίφορος· Οὐχ ὁρῶ ἐν ὑμῖν καρπὸν δικαιοσύνης· εἰ δὲ ἔστε
τινές,17 δεῦτε καὶ ὑμεῖς εἰς τὸν οἶκόν μου καὶ ἀναπαὺσασθε.
5:1 Καὶ εἰσελθόντος Παύλου18 εἰς τὸν τοῦ Ὀνησιφόρου οἶκον ἐγένετο
χαρὰ μεγάλη, καὶ κλίσις γονάτων καὶ κλάσις ἄρτου καὶ (ἐγένετο) λόγος θεοῦ
περὶ ἐγκρατείας καὶ ἀναστάσεως, λέγοντος τοῦ Παῦλου·19 Μακάριοι οἱ
καθαροὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ τὸν θεὸν ὄψονται. 2 μαράριοι ἁγνὴν τὴν σάρκα
τηρήσαντες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ναὸς θεοῦ γενήσονται. 3 μαρκάριοι οἱ ἐγκρατεῖς, ὅτι
αὐτοῖς λαλήσει ὁ θεός. 4 μακάριοι οἱ ἀποταξάμενοι τῷ κόσμῷ τούτῷ, ὅτι
αὐτοὶ εὐαρεστήσουσιν τῷ θεῷ. 5 μακαρίοι οἱ ἔχοντες γυναῖκας ὡς μὴ
ἔχοντες (them),20 ὅτι αὐτοὶ κληρονομήσουσιν τὸν θεόν. 6 μακάριοι οἱ φόβον
ἔχοντες θεοῦ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ἄγγελοι θεοῦ γενήσονται.
Vocabulary

ἁγνός, -ή, -όν, pure, chaste (of women); holy ἀποτάσσω, renounce, give
up ἐγκρατεία, ἡ, self-control (esp. withdrawal from sexual activity), sexual
abstinence ἐγκρατής, -ές, chaste εὐαρεστέω, to be well-pleasing ζηλόω,
strive; to be filled with envy or jealousy κινέω, move, stir up; pass. be
moved/resolved (of an inward disposition) κλάσις, -εως, ἡ, breaking κλίσις,
ἡ, bending μειδιάω, to smile

6:1 Μακάριοι οἱ τρέμοντες τὰ λόγια τοῦ θεοῦ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ παρακληθήσονται.

2 μακάριοι οἱ σοφίαν λαβόντες Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ υἱοὶ ὑψίστοῦ
κληθήσονται. 3 μακάριοι οἱ τὸ βάπτισμα τηρήσαντες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ἀναπαύσονται
πρὸς τὸν πατέρα καὶ τὸν υἱόν. 4 μακάριοι οἱ σύνεσιν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ
χωρήσαντες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ἐν φωτὶ γενήσονται. 5 μακάριοι οἱ δἰ ἀγάπην θεοῦ
ἐξελθόντες τοῦ σχήματος τοῦ κοσμικοῦ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ἀγγέλους κρινοῦσιν καὶ ἐν
δεξιᾷ τοῦ πατρὸς εὐλογηθήσονται. 6 μακάριοι οἱ ἐλεήμοντες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ
ἐλεηθήσονται καὶ οὐκ ὄψονται ἡμέραν κρίσεως πικράν.21 7 μακάριοι τὸ
σώματα τῶν παρθένων,22 ὅτι αὐτὰ εὐαρεστήσουσιν τῷ θεῷ καὶ οὐκ
ἀπολέσουσιν τὸν μισθὸν τῆς ἀγνείας αὐτῶν· ὅτι ὁ λόγος τοῦ πατρὸς ἔργον
αὐτοῖς γενήσεται σωτηρίας23 εἰς ἡμέραν τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀνάπαυσιν
ἕξουσιν εἰς αἰῶνα αἰῶνος.
7:1 Καὶ ταῦτα τοῦ Παῦλου λέγοντος24 ἐν μέσῷ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἐν τῷ
Ὀνησιφόρου οἴκῳ, Θέκλα τις παρθένος Θεοκλείας25 μητρὸς μεμνηστευμένη
ἀνδρὶ Δαμύριδι,26 2 καθεσθεῖσα27 ἐπὶ τῆς σύνεγγυς θυρίδος τοῦ οἴκου ἤκουεν
νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας τὸν περὶ ἀγνείας λόγον28 λεγόμενον ὑπὸ τοῦ Παύλου· καὶ
οὐκ ἀπένευεν ἀπὸ τῆς θυρίδος, ἀλλὰ τῇ πίστει ἐπήγετο ὑπερευφραινομένη. 3
ἔτι δὲ καὶ βλέπουσα πολλὰς γυναῖκας καὶ παρθένους εἰσπορευομένας (the
house) πρὸς τὸν Παῦλον, ἐπεπόθει καὶ αὐτὴ καταξιωθῆναι κατὰ πρόσωπον29
στῆναι30 Παύλου καὶ ἀκούειν τὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ λὸγον· οὐδέπω γὰρ τὸν
χαρακτῆρα Παύλου ἐωράκει, ἀλλὰ τοῦ λόγου ἤκουεν μόνον.
Vocabulary
 ἁγνεία, ἡ, chastity, a sexually unmolested state ἀπονεύω, turn away from,
withdraw from ἐπάγω, impf. pass. ἐπηγόμην: be led on by (a
person/influence) ἐπιποθέω, long for somebody (acc.), earnestly desire
καταξιόω, consider somebody worthy οὐδέπω, not yet σύνεγγυς, near,
close by ὑπερευφραίνομαι, rejoice exceedingly χαρακτήρ, -ῆρος, ὁ,
outward appearance; distinctive features

8:1 Ὡς δὲ οὐκ ἀφίστατο31 ἀπὸ τῆς θυρίδος, πέμπει ἡ μήτηρ αὐτῆς (a

message) πρὸς τὸν Θάμυριν· ὁ δὲ ἔρχεται περιχαρής, ὡς32 ἤδη λαμβάνων
αὐτὴν πρὸς γάμον. 2 εἶπεν οὖν ὁ Θάμυρις πρὸς Θεοκλείαν· Ποῦ μού ἐστιν ἡ
Θέκλα; 3 Καὶ εἶπεν ἡ Θεοκλεία· Καινόν33 σοι ἔχω εἰπεῖν διήγημα, Θάμυρι. 4
καὶ γὰρ ἡμέρας τρεῖς καὶ νύκτας τρεῖς Θέκλα ἀπὸ τῆς θυρίδος οὐκ ἐγείρεται,
οὔτε ἐπι τὸ φαγεῖν οὔτε ἐπὶ πιεῖν, ἀλλὰ ἀτενίζουσα ὡς πρὸς εὐφρασίαν,
οὕτως πρόσκειται ἀνδρὶ ξένῳ ἀπατηλοὺς καὶ ποικίλους λόγους διδάσκοντι,
ὥστε34 με θαυμάζειν πῶς ἡ τοιαύτη αἰδὼς τῆς παρθένου χαλεπῶς ἐνοχλεῖται.
Vocabulary

αἰδώς, -οῦς, ἡ, modesty (of a woman) ἀπατηλός, -ή, -όν, guileful, wily
γάμος, ὁ, wedding; πρὸς γάμον, in marriage διήγημα, τό, tale, story
ἐνοχλέω, trouble, annoy; pass. be disturbed, troubled εὐφρασία, ἡ,
pleasant sight ξένος, -η, -ον, strange, foreign; subst. a stranger, foreigner;
guest περιχαρής, -ές, very glad; adv. gladly πρόσκειμαι, be devoted to
τοιοῦτος, -αύτη, -οῦτον, of such a kind, such as this; τὰ τοιαῦτα,
similar/related things χαλεπός, -ή, -όν, difficult; cruel, harsh; χαλεπῶς,
with difficulty, with great discomfort

1 Gen. absol.

2 Cf. Acts 13:13–52 (§5.12).

3 Demas (cf. Phlm 24, Col 4:14, 1 Tim 4:10); Hermogenes (cf. 2 Tim 1:15).

4 “Of the beloved One,” i.e., of Jesus.

5 I.e., to Paul.

6 κατὰ ῥῆμα, “word for word.”

7 Prog. impf. (cf. IV, 13.1).

8 At this point the Coptic version adds, “how that Christ was born of Mary the
virgin, and of the seed of David.”

9 Onesiphoros (cf. Acts Paul 4:1).

10 Simas, Zeno, and Lektra.

11 ἡ βασιλικὴ ὁδός, the “Royal Road,” i.e., the Augustan Highway (cf. §4.5,
§5.1); τὴν βασιλικὴν ὁδὸν τὴν ἐπὶ Λύστραν, modifier in 2nd attrib. pos. (cf.
IV, 4.2).

12 Plpf.

13 Dat. of resp.

14 ποτέ... ποτέ....

15 ὡς < ὥστε.

16 οὐκ in questions anticipates the answer “yes (of course).”

17 τινές, “such people.”

18 Gen. absol.

19 Gen. absol.
20 Cf. 1 Cor 7:29 (§4.8).

21 ἡμέραν...πικράν.

22 Cf. 1 Cor 7:25 (§4.8), cf. 1 Cor 7:1.

23 ἔργον...σωτηρίας.

24 Gen. absol.

25 Matronymic name (“daughter of Theokleia”).

26 Δάμυρις, -ιδος, ὁ, Damyris (cf. Acts Paul 8:1).

27 S.v. καθέζομαι.

28 λόγος, here “discourse.”

29 κατὰ πρόσωπον, “in the presence of.”

30 Cf. table 9.12.3.1(f).

31 Cf. table 9.10.2(c).

32 ὡς, “as if.”

33 καινόν...διήγημα.

34 ὥστε + inf. (cf. IV, 1.15).

 5.16. Acts of Andrew: The Story of Maximilla
(Acts Andr. 5–9)

Date: 200–210 CE.

Text: Roig Lautaro Lanzillotta, Acts Andreae Apocrypha: A New Perspective
on the Nature, Intention and Significance of the Primitive Text (Geneva: Patrick
Cramer éditeur, 2007).
In the passage in this section, Aegeates (Αἰγεάτης), the Roman proconsul of
Achaea, becomes “inflamed with love for Maximilla (Μαξιμίλλα).” He asks her
parents for her hand in marriage and, having obtained their permission, proposes
to her. But Maximilla refuses to marry him. Having heard the preaching of the
apostle Andrew (Ἀνδρέας), she has adopted a life of sexual abstinence and now
rejects with horror the thought of marital intercourse.
This is not to say that Maximilla rejects love altogether. In fact, she confesses
to her husband, Aegeates, that she loves another: “I am in love, Aegeates, I am
in love!” (§23). But, alas, her love is for the apostle Andrew, not for Aegeates.
Since the character of the apostle Andrew in this text is modeled on that of
Socrates (as found in Plato’s Theaetetus and Phaedo), we are not surprised that
the love that Maximilla and Andrew share is of the Platonic variety.
Theologically speaking, this writing has no Christology. The apostle Andrew
locates his life and that of Maximilla in a broad salvation-historical perspective,
as the second Adam and second Eve respectively, who together repair in their
own lives the harm done to humanity by Adam and Eve. Perhaps, building on
the logic of Paul’s typological interpretation of Adam (Rom 5:12–21, §4.11),
where Paul argues that sin came into the world through the “first” Adam and was
removed by the Christ, the “second Adam” (contrasting 1Tim 2:13–14), the Acts
of Andrew argues that Andrew and Maximilla function in tandem as the second
Adam and second Eve, the mediators of redemption.
Related Texts: Maximilla’s strict encratism is reminiscent of the lives of
Thekla (Acts of Paul, §5.9) and Mygdonia (Acts of Thomas, §5.10).
The Apostle Andrew Exhorts Maximilla to a Life of
Celibacy
After Aegeates proposes marriage to Maximilla, she goes with her friend
Iphidama (Ἰφιδάμα) to the apostle Andrew for advice.
5.54 Ἡ δὲ Μαξιμίλλα πάλιν κατὰ τὴν συνήθη ὥραν ἅμα τῇ Ἰφιδάμᾳ
παραγίνεται πρὸς τὸν Ἀνδρέαν· 55 καὶ τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ εἰς τὰς ἰδίας ὄψεις
θεῖσα1 καὶ τῷ στόματι προσφέρουσα2 ἤρξατο τὸ πᾶν τῆς ἀξιώσεως Αἰγεάτου
προσαναφέρειν αὐτῷ. καὶ ὁ Ἀνδρέας αὐτῇ ἀπεκρίνατο· Ἔπίσταμαι μέν, ὦ
Μαξιμίλλα, παιδίον μου καὶ3 αὐτὴν4 κεκινημένην σε ἀντιβαίνειν πρὸς τὸ πᾶν
τῆς συνουσίας ἐπάγγελμα, μυσαροῦ βίου καὶ ῥυπαροῦ βουλομένην
χωρίζεσθαι (yourself)· 60 καὶ τοῦτό (wish) μοι ἐκ πολλοῦ (χρονοῦ)
κεκράτυντο τῆς ἐννοίας ἤδη δὲ καὶ τὴν ἐμὴν γνώμην ἐπιμαρτυρῆσαι βούλει5
(me). ἐπιμαρτυρῶ, Μαξιμίλλα, μὴ πράξῃς τοῦτο· μὴ ἡττηθῇ6 ταῖς Αἰγεάτου
ἀπειλαῖς, μὴ κινηθῇς ἀπὸ τῆς ἐκείνου ὀμιλίας, μὴ φοβηθῆς τὰς αἰσχρὰς
αὐτοῦ συμβουλίας 65 μὴ νικηθῆς ταῖς ἐντέχνοις αὐτοῦ κολακείαις, μὴ
θελήσῃς ἐκδοῦναι ἐαυτήν σου ταῖς ῤυπαραῖς αὐτοῦ γοητείαις7 ἀλ
ὐπόμεινον πᾶσαν αὐτοῦ βάσανον ὀρῶσα8 εἰς ἥμᾶς πρὸς ὀλίγον (χρόνον),
καὶ ὅλον αὐτὸν ὄψῃ ναρκῶντα καὶ μαραινόμενον ἀπό τε σοῦ καὶ πάντων
τῶν συγγενῶν σου.
Vocabulary

αἰσχρός, -ά, -όν, shameful ἀντιβαίνω, resist, withstand ἀξίωσις, -εως, ἡ,

demand ἀπειλή, ἡ, threat γοητεία, ἡ, witchcraft; pl. incantations
ἐκδίδωμι, surrender; pay for something ἐντέχος, -ον, artificial, skilled
ἐπάγγελμα, τό, promise, obligation κολακεία, ἡ, flattery κρατύνω,
strengthen; mid. to rule/govern (w. gen.) μαραίνω, quench; pass. die out (of
a flame); waste away μυσαρός, -ά, -όν, foul, polluted ναρκάω, grow
stiff/numb ὁμιλία, ἡ, conversation προσαναφέρω, report something to
somebody (dat.) ῥυπαρός, -ά, -όν, filthy, dirty συμβουλία, ἡ, advice
συνήθης, -ες, usual, customary

5.70 ὃ γὰρ μάλιστα ἐχρῆν με εἰπεῖν πρός σε – οὐ γὰρ ἡσυχάζω (until) τὸ9
καὶ διὰ σοῦ ὁρώμενον καὶ γινόμενον πρᾶγμα ποιήσας – ὑπέδραμέν10 με· καὶ
εἰκότως ἐν σοὶ τὴν Εὕαν ὁρῶ μετανοοῦσαν καὶ ἐν ἐμοὶ τὸν Ἀδὰμ
ἐπιστρέφοντα· ὃ γὰρ ἐκείνη ἔπαθεν ἀγνοοῦσα, σὺ νῦν, πρὸς ἣν ἀποτείνομαι
ψυχήν,11 κατορθοῖς ἐπιστρέφουσα·12 75 καὶ ὅπερ ὁ13 σὺν ἐκείνῃ14 καταχθεὶς
καὶ ἀπολισθήσας ἑαυτοῦ15 νοῦς ἔπαθεν, ἐγὼ σὺν σοί, τῇ γνωριζούσῃ16
ἑαυτὴν (as) ἀναγομένην, διορθοῦμαι. τὸ γὰρ ἐκείνης17 ἐνδεὲς αὐτὴ18 ἰάσω19
μὴ τὰ ὅμοια παθοῦσα·20 καὶ τὸ ἐκείνου21 ἀτελὲς ἐγὼ τετέλεκα προσφυγὼν
θεῷ· καὶ ὃ ἐκείνη22 παρήκουσεν σὺ ἤκουσας καὶ ὃ ἐκεῖνος συνέθετο ἐγὼ
φεύγω· 80 καὶ ἃ ἐκεῖνοι ἐσφάλησαν ἡμεῖς ἐγνωρίσαμεν. τὸ γὰρ διορθῶσαι
ἑκάστου (through) τὸ ἴδιον πταῖσμα ἐπανορθοῦν τέτακται.23
Vocabulary

ἀπολισθάνω, 1aor. ἀπολίσθησα: slip away from (w. gen.), alienate from
ἀποτίνω, 2. ἀποτείσω, 3. ἀπέτεισα, 1aor. inf. ἀποτεῖσαι, impv.
ἀποτεισάτω: pay a fine, pay what is due; mid. exert oneself, strive ἀτελής,
-ές, incomplete, imperfect; nt. subst. imperfection διορθόω, correct, set
right (cf. 80) εἰκότως, reasonably, rightly ἐνδεής, -ές, lacking, defective,
nt. subst. that which is lacking, defect ἐπανορθόω, amend Εὕα, ἡ, Eve
ἡσυχάζω, keep quiet, find rest κατάγνυμι, break to pieces, weaken
(Lanxillotta); or s.v. κατάγω (contrasting κατορθόω, set right, bring to a
successful conclusion ὅσπερ, ὅνπερ (acc.) / ἥπερ (fm.) / ὅπερ (nt.) //
ἅπερ (nt. pl.): the very man/woman/thing; which indeed/exactly; ὅνπερ
τρόπον, in the same way προσφεύω, take refuge in πταῖσμα, τό, failure,
error συντίθημι, aor. mid. συνεθέμην: agree to/on, consent to σφάλλω, 6.
ἐσφάλην: cause to fall; pass. stumble/fall over something (acc.); fail,
transgress ὑποτρέχω, 2aor. ὑπέδραμον: overrun, overwhelm χρή (impers.),
impf. ἐχρῆν: it is necessary (w. acc. + inf.)

Andrew continues his discourse:

6.80 Ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν ταῦτα εἰπὼν ὡς εἶπον, εἴποιμι ἂν δὲ καὶ τὰ ἑξῆς· εὖ γε ὦ
φύσις24 σῳζομένη25 μὴ ἰσχύσασα μη ἑαυτὴν ἀποκρύψασα· εὖ γε ψυχὴ
βοῶσα ἃ ἔπαθες καὶ ἐπανιοῦσα ἐ ἑαυτήν· 85 εὖ γε ἄνθρωπε26
καταμανθάνων τὰ μὴ σὰ27 καὶ ἐπὶ τὰ σὰ ἐπειγόμενος· εὖ γὲ (you) ὁ ἀκούων
τῶν λεγομένων· ὡς μείζονά28 σε καταμανθάνω νοούμενον29 (thoughts) ἢ τὸ
λεγόμενον· ὡς δυνατώτερόν σε γνωρίζω τῶν δοξάντων30 καταδυναστεύειν
σου· (γνωρίζω σε) ὡς ἐμπρεπέστερον τῶν εἰς αἴσχη καταβαλόντων31 σε,
(ἐμπρεπέστερον) τῶν εἰς αἰχμαλωσίαν ἀπαγαγόντων σε.
Vocabulary

αἶσχος, -εος, τό, shame; deformity αἰχμαλωσία, ἡ, captivity ἐμπρεπής, -ές,

conspicuous, excellent; comp. more excellent ἐπανίημι (fr. εἶμι), go back,
return ἐπείγω, hasten on, press on; mid. hurry oneself toward (ἐπί) εὖ γε,
well done!
καταβάλλω, lead/bring down; pay, pay down; contribute to
καταδυναστεύω, oppress/get control of somebody (w. gen.) καταμανθάνω,
perceive, understand

6.90 Ταῦτα οὖν ἅπαντα καταμαθὼν ἄνθρωπε ἐν ἑαυτῷ, (namely) ὅτι ἄϋλος
ὑπάρχεις, ὅτι (ὑπάρχεις) ἅγιος, ὅτι φῶς, ὅτι συγγενὴς τοῦ ἀγεννήτου, ὅτι
νοερός, ὅτι οὐράνιος, ὅτι διαυγής, ὅτι καθαρός, ὅτι ὑπὲρ σάρκα, ὅτι ὑπὲρ
κόσμον, ὅτι ὑπὲρ ἀρχάς, ὅτι ὑπὲρ ἐξουσίας, (that you are even) ἐ 32 ὧν
ὄντως εἶ, 95 συλλαβὼν ἑαυτὸν ἐν (true) καταστάσει σου καὶ ἀπολαβὼν,
νόει33 ἐν ᾧ ὑπερέχεις· καὶ ἰδὼν τὸ σὸν πρόσωπον ἐν τῇ οὐσίᾳ σου, τὰ
πάντα διαρρήξας δεσμά34 – οὐ λέγω τὰ περὶ γενέσεως ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ ὑπὲρ
γένεσιν,35 ὧν σοι προσηγορίας ἐθέμεθα36 ὑπερμεγέθεις οὔσας37 – πόθησον
ἐκεῖνον ἰδεῖν ὃν οὐπω ὀφθέντα38 σοι, οὐ γενόμενον,39 ὃν τάχα εἷς μόνος40
γνωρίσεις θαρρῶν.41
Vocabulary

ἀγεννήτος, -ον, unbegotten, unborn ἀρχή, ἡ, beginning, origin;

magistracy/office; pl. powers, heavenly powers ἄϋλος, -ον, immaterial
διαυγής, -ές, radiant (of stars, gems) θαρσέω (Att. θαρρέω), be of good
courage καταμανθάνω, perceive, understand κατάστασις, -εως, ἡ, state,
condition νοερός, -ή, -όν, intellectual ὄντως, actually, really οὐράνιος, -
ον, heavenly, from heaven; meteorological οὐσία, ἡ, being, essence;
substance ποθέω, long for, have a great desire to do something
προσηγορία, ἡ, appellation, name (perhaps referring to the “names” of the
gnostic “Aeons,” i.e., various emanations from God) ὑπερμεγεθής, -ές, pl. -
εις: immensely great

Andrew continues ...

7.100 Ταῦτα εἶπον ἐπὶ42 σοῦ, Μαξιμίλλα· τῇ γὰρ δυνάμει (of my words) καὶ43
εἰς σὲ τείνει τὰ εἰρημένα.44 ὅνπερ τρόπον ὁ Ἀδὰμ ἐν τῇ Ἐὔᾳ ἀπέθανεν
συνθέμενος45 τῇ ἐκείνης ὁμολογίᾳ, οὕτως καὶ ἐγὼ νῦν ἐν σοὶ ζῶ
φυλασσούσῃ46 τὴν τοῦ κυρίου ἐντολὴν καὶ διαβιβαζούσῃ ἑαυτὴν πρὸς τὸ
τῆς οὐσίας σου ἀξίωμα. 105 τὰς δὲ Αἰγεάτου ἀπειλὰς ἐκπατεῖ, Μαξιμίλλα,
εἰδυῖα ὅτι θεὸν ἔχομεν τὸν ἐλεοῦντα ἡμᾶς. καὶ μή σε οἱ ἐκείνου ψόφοι
κινείτωσαν, ἀλλὰ μεῖνον ἁγνή· κἀμέ47 μὴ μόνον τιμωρεῖσθω βασάνοις ταῖς48
κατὰ49 τὰ δεσμά, ἀλλὰ καὶ θηρσὶ παραβαλέτω (me) καὶ πυρὶ φλεξάτω (me)
καὶ κατὰ κρημνοῦ ῥιψάτω: 110 καὶ τί γὰρ (then); (only) ἑνὸς ὄντος50 τούτου
τοῦ σώματος ὅπως θέλει, τούτῳ (body) καταχρησάσθω, συγγενοῦς ὄντος
αὐτοῦ.51
Vocabulary

ἁγνός, -ή, -όν, pure, chaste (of women); holy ἀξίωμα, -ματος, tov, honor,
rank ἀπειλή, ἡ, threat διαβιβάζω, to transport ἐκπατέω, reject ὁμολογία,
ἡ, concession παραβάλλω, throw to (esp. of fodder to animals); venture to
(do something) τείνω, 3. ἔτεινα: stretch, reach out, extend; apply τιμωρέω,
inflict a punishment (dat.) on somebody (acc.) φλέγω, burn with fire; pass.
be on fire; be filled w. (intense emotion) ψόφος, ὁ, noise

8.110 Πρὸς σὲ δέ μοι52 πάλιν ὁ λόγος, Μαξιμίλλα· λέγω σοι, μὴ ἐκδώῃς

ἑαυτὴν τῷ Αἰγεάτῃ· στῆθι πρὸς τὰς ἐκείνου ἐνέδρας· καὶ μάλιστα
θεασαμένου53 μου, Μαξιμίλλα, τὸν κύριόν μοι54 λέγοντά μοι· 115 Ὁ τοῦ
Αἰγεάτου πατὴρ, Ἀνδρέα, διάβολος τούτου σε τοῦ δεσμωτηρίου55 ἐκλύσει.
Σὸν (duty) οὖν ἔστω λοιπὸν φυλάξαι σεαυτὴν ἁγνὴν καὶ καθαράν, ἁγίαν,
ἄσπιλον, εἰλικρινῆ, ἀμοίχευτον, ... ἀσυμπαθῆ πρὸς τὰ τοῦ Κάϊν ἔργα.56 120
ἐὰν γὰρ μὴ ἐκδῷς ἑαυτὴν, Μαξιμίλλα, πρὸς τὰ τούτων ἐναντία, καὶ αὐτὸς
ἀναπαύσομαι οὕτως βιασθεὶς ἀναλῦσαι τοῦ βίου τούτου ὑπὲρ σοῦ, τοῦ
ἔστιν57 ὑπὲρ ἐμαυτοῦ.58 125 ει᾽ δὲ ἐγὼ ἀπελαθείην ἐντεῦθεν – τάχα καὶ
ἑτέρους συγγενεῖς μου ὠφελῆσαι δυνάμενος διὰ σέ – αὐτὴ δὲ πεισθῇς ταῖς
Αἰγεάτου ὁμιλίαις καὶ (πεισθῇς) τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ (τοῦ) ὄφεως κολακείαις,
ὥστε59 ἐπὶ τὰ πρότερά σου ἔργα τραπῆναι,60 ἴσθι με ἕνεκέν σου
κολασθησόμενον61 μέχρις ἂν αὐτὴ γνῷς ὅτι μὴ ὑπὲρ ἀξίας ψυχῆς τὸ τοῦ
βίου ζῆν62 ἀπέπτυσα.
 Vocabulary

ἀλλότριος, -ία, -ιον, belonging to another; foreign; ὁ ἀλλότριος, a

stranger ἀπελαύνω, 6. ἀπηλάθην: drive away ἀποπτύω, 3. ἀπέπτυσα: spit
out; repudiate ἀμοίχευτος, -ον, without adultery ἀναλύω, put an end to
ἄσπιλος, -ον, stainless ἀσυμπαθής, -ές, not being sympathetically disposed
to (πρός) δεσμωτήριον, τό, prison εἰλικρινής, -ές, unmixed ἐκλύω, set
free ἐνέδρα, ἡ, trickery, treachery Κάϊν, ὁ, Cain (indecl. but here gen.)
πρότερος, -α, -ον, former, earlier, past; πρότερον (ἤ) (adv.), before;
previously

9.130 Δέομαί σου οὖν τοῦ φρονίμου ἀνδρὸς63 ὅπως διαμείνῃ εὔοψις νοῦς·
δέομαί σου τοῦ μὴ φαινομένου νοῦ ὅπως αὐτὸς διαφυλαχθῇς· παρακαλῶ σε,
τὸν Ἰησοῦν φίλησον, μὴ ἡττηθῇς64 τῷ χείρονι· συλλαβοῦ κἀμοί,65 ὅν
παρακαλῶ ἄνθρωπον,66 ἵνα τέλειος γένωμαι· βοήθησον καὶ ἐμοί, ἵνα
γνωρίσῃς τὴν ἀληθῆ σου φύσιν· συμπάθησόν μου τῷ πάθει, ἵνα γνωρίσῃς ὃ
πάσχω καὶ (my) τοῦ παθεῖν67 φεύξῃ.68 ἴδε ἃ αὐτὸς ὁρῶ, καὶ ἃ σὺ ὁρᾷς
πηρώσεις. ἴδε ἃ δεῖ (σε), καὶ ἃ μὴ δεῖ (σε) οὐκ ὄψῃ· ἄκουσον ὧν λέγω, καὶ
ἅπερ ἤκουσας ῥῖψον.

Supplementary Vocabulary
διαφυλάσσω, guard carefully, carefully preserve εὔοψις, clear-sighted (neol.)
πάθος, -εος, τό, misfortune, calamity; pain; pl. τὰ πάθη, emotions, passions;
οὐράνιος πάθος, meteorological disturbance πηρόω, disable, incapacitate
συμπαθέω, sympathize with φιλέω, to love; kiss χείρων (m./fm.), χεῖρον (nt.),
-ονος: worse, inferior to something (gen.); subst. the worst

Select Bibliography
Bremmer, Jan N. The Apocryphal Acts of Andrew. Leuven: Peeters, 2000.
Burrus, Virginia. “Chastity as Autonomy: Women in the Stories of the
Apocryphal Acts,” in The Apocryphal Acts of Apostles, 101–117, ed. Dennis
R. Macdonald. Semeia 38 Atlanta: Scholars Press, (1986).
Klauck, Hans-Josef. The Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles: An Introduction.
Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2008 (2005), 111–140 (with
 bibliography).

1 S.v. τίθημι.

2 Maximilla’s gesture of taking the apostle’s hands and putting them on her
eyes and then bringing them to her mouth demonstrates both her veneration of
Andrew and her intention to receive some of the supernatural power emanating
from his person; cf. Lanzillotta, Acts Andreae Apocrypha, 146, n. 72; Érik Junod
and Jean Daniel Kaestli, Acta Johannis, 2 vols. (Turnout, Belgium: Brepols,
1983), 436–437.

3 Adverbial καί.

4 αὐτὴν...σε.

5 βούλει, Αtt. > βούληι > βούλῃ.

6 S.v. ἡσσάομαι.

7 Cf. love spell of attraction in PGM XIII, 238–240 (§5.4), PGM IV, 1496–
1595 (§7.3), SIG3 985, l. 20 (§7.3).

8 ὁράω εἰς, “to look to.”

9 τὸ...πρᾶγμα.

10 The subject of ὑπέδραμέν is ὅ.

11 = ψυχήν πρὸς (for) ἣν ἀποτείνομαι.

12 Instr. adv. ptc. (“by,” IV, 1.6).

13 ὁ...νοῦς.

14 I.e., in Eve.

15 I.e., νοῦς.

16 Agreeing with σοί.

17 I.e., of Eve.

18 Intens. pron., implied subject of ἰάσω.

19 S.v. ἰάομαι.

20 Instr. adv. ptc. (“by”).

21 I.e., of Adam.

22 I.e., Eve.

23 S.v. τάσσω.

24 Here follows a series of concentric circles beginning with the material realm
of “nature” (φύσις), then the “soul” (ψυχή), and then Anthropos (ἄνθρωπος, cf.
n. 438).

25 Middle voice indicates reflexivity.

26 The term ἄνθρωπος here and below refers to Maximilla’s “inner man” or
“human intellect” (νοῦς).

27 τὰ μὴ σά, “the things that are not yours,.”

28 μείζονα...ἤ (“greater than”).

29 Prob. mid. voice with σέ as subject.

30 Nt. (s.v. δοκέω), gen. of comp.

31 Gen. of comp. (“than”).

32 ἐπί (w. gen.), “above,” “superior to.”

33 Impv.

34 τὰ πάντα...δεσμά. Here we find the concept of human materiality as a life in

“shackles” (δεσμά).

35 The terms γένεσις and τὰ ὑπὲρ γένεσις seem to indicate a physical realm of
generation, which is to say sexual procreation, and a higher realm beyond such
physical generation.

36 See table 9.10.4(b).

37 Fm. ptc. (s.v. εἰμί).

38 S.v. ὁράω.

39 “Been generated.”

40 εἷς μόνος, “one alone,” i.e., “you alone,” with respect to the solitude of this
act of divine contemplation.

41 S.v. θαρσέω, cond. adv. ptc. (“if,” cf. IV, 1.8).

42 ἐπί (w. gen.), “for the sake of.”

43 Adverbial καί.

44 S.v. λέγω.

45 S.v. suntivqhmi.

46 Causal adv. ptc. (“because,” “since,” cf. IV, 1.4).

47 S.v. κἀγώ (“as for me”).

48 Modifier in 3rd attrib. pos. (cf. IV, 4.3).

49 κατά (w. acc.), “in accordance with,” “in line with.”

50 Causal gen. absol. (“since,” “because”); ἑνὸς... ὄντος τούτου τοῦ σώματος.

51 αὐτου, i.e., Aegeates (gen. absol.).

52 Dat. of poss.

53 Causal gen. absol. (“because”).

54 Dat. of poss.

55 τούτου...δεσμωτηρίου. Here δεσμωτήριον has a double meaning, literally

signifying a “prison” and figuratively signifying the “prison of the body.”

56 Cain, being a farmer, represents the man who is bound to the earth and
whose existence remains focused on toiling for mere physical survival (cf. Gen
4).
57 τοῦ ἔστιν, “that is” (Lat. id est).

58 A reference to Andrew’s possible martyrdom.

59 ὥστε + inf. (cf. IV, 1.15).

60 S.v. τρέπω.

61 Me ... κολασθησόμενον.

62 Art. inf. (cf. IV, 2).

63 A reference to Maximilla as a (rational) ἄνθρωπος.

64 S.v. hJssavomai.

65 S.v. κἀγώ (“with me”).

66 Here the author reverts to referring to Maximilla as an ἄνθρωπος.

67 τοῦ παθεῖν, the definite article has turned the infinitive into a substantive,
hence “suffering.”

68 Fut. for subj.

 Part 6 Advanced-Level Hellenistic Greek: Jewish
Literary Greek

Part 6 presents a number of texts that reflect what could be termed Jewish
literary Greek, such as is found in the writings of Philo of Alexandria (§6.4), 2
Maccabees (§6.1, §6.2), and 4 Maccabees (§6.3). Such Jewish compositional
Greek is highly literary, making full use of the expressive range of the
Hellenistic Greek language. Included in this part is the metrical Jewish tractate
of Ezekiel the Tragedian (§6.6), which is remarkable for having been composed
in iambic trimeter, in the poetic style of ancient Greek tragedy. The imprint of
Hellenization is also evident in the Jewish Testament of Reuben (§§6.5, 6.7),
which reflects ideas found in contemporaneous Stoic philosophical speculation.
The vocabulary lists in Part 6 do not repeat the vocabulary for memorization
in Parts 1–5 (§§1.1–10, 2.1–6, 3.1–9, 4.1–11, 5.1–10). However, all such
vocabulary is compiled in the glossary (§10).
 6.1. 2 Maccabees: Jason’s Hellenistic Reforms in
Jerusalem
(2 Macc 4:7–17)

Following the murder of his brother, Seleucus IV (175 BCE), Antiochus IV

Epiphanes (175–164 BCE) seized control of the Seleucid Empire and
reorganized its imperial administration along Roman lines. Despite this
reorganization, the central institutions of the Antiochene polity remained Greek
(Hellenistic), including the centrality of gymnasia and the ephebic system (cf. 1
Macc 1:1–28, §3.3).1 It is this aspect of the political situation that the author of 2
Maccabees focused on.
Before Antiochus Epiphanes took the throne, Onias III (Ονιος) had served as
high priest. But Onias was aligned with the pro-Ptolemaic (Egyptian) party in
Jerusalem, whereas his brother, Jason (Ἰάσων), was aligned with the pro-
Seleucid party. Jason took advantage of this political rivalry by successfully
negotiating a deal with the Seleucid king Antiochus IV in 175 BCE to purchase
the office of high priest and thereby supplant Onias (2 Macc 4:7). As the reading
in this section illustrates, Jason’s actions polarized Jewish factional interests to
such an extent that violent conflict erupted. For the author of 2 Maccabees, this
conflict was primarily a religious issue – hence his portrayal of Jason as an
impious fraud, who set in motion a Deuteronomic cycle of apostasy, punishment,
and deliverance (2 Macc 4:16).
2 Maccabees is composed in highly literate Greek, without any Hebrew
precursor. The majority of the text (2 Macc 3:1–15:36) is an abridged version of
a five-volume work composed by Jason of Cyrene.
4:7 Μεταλλάξαντος δὲ τὸν βίον Σελεύκου2 καὶ παραλαβόντος τὴν βασιλείαν
Ἀντιόχου3 τοῦ προσαγορευθέντος Ἐπιφανοῦς ὑπενόθευσεν Ἰάσων ὁ ἀδελφὸς
Ονιου τὴν ἀρχιερωσύνην 8 ἐπαγγειλάμενος4 τῷ βασιλεῖ δι’ ἐντεύξεως
ἀργυρίου τάλαντα ἑξήκοντα πρὸς5 τοῖς τριακοσίοις καὶ προσόδου τινὸς ἄλλης
τάλαντα ὀγδοήκοντα. 9 πρὸς δὲ τούτοις ὑπισχνεῖτο6 καὶ ἕτερα διαγράφειν
πεντήκοντα7 πρὸς τοῖς ἑκατόν, ἐὰν ἐπιχωρηθῇ διὰ τῆς ἐξουσίας αὐτοῦ
γυμνάσιον καὶ ἐφηβεῖον αὐτῷ συστήσασθαι8 καὶ τοὺς ἐν Ἰεροσολύμοις
Ἀντιοχεῖς ἀναγράψαι.
Vocabulary

ἀναγράφω, engrave and set up publicly Ἀντιοχεῖς, citizens of Antioch9

ἀρχιερωσύνη, high priesthood διαγράφω, to pay ἔντευξις, -εως, ἡ, petition
ἐπιφανής, -ές, appearing, manifest (of gods, and used as title by Antiochus
IV Epiphanes); notable, distinguished ἐπιχωρέω, permit/grant somebody
to do something ἐφηβεῖον, τό, ephebeion, an institution for training
ephebes (adolescents) μεταλλάσσω, 1aor ptc. μεταλλάξας: to change/alter,
die; μεταλλάξαντος τὸν βίον, euphem. “having passed away”
ὀγδοήκοντα, eighty πεντήκοντα, fifty προσαγορεύω, to call πρόσοδος,
ἡ, access, approach; revenue, public revenue τάλαντον, τό, a talent
(measure of weight ranging from 108 to 130 pounds) τριακόσιοι, -αι, -α,
three hundred ὑπισχνέομαι, to promise to do something (w. inf.)
ὑπονοθεύω, procure by corruption, gain by stealth

4:10 ἐπινεύσαντος10 δὲ τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς κρατήσας11 εὐθέως

πρὸς τὸν Ἑλληνικὸν χαρακτῆρα τοὺς ὁμοφύλους (αὐτοῦ) μετέστησε.12 11 Καὶ
τὰ κείμενα τοῖς Ιουδαίοις φιλάνθρωπα13 βασιλικὰ14 (secured) διὰ Ιωάννου15
τοῦ πατρὸς Εὐπολέμου τοῦ ποιησαμένου16 τὴν πρεσβείαν ὑπὲρ φιλίας καὶ
συμμαχίας πρὸς τοὺς Ῥωμαίους παρώσας καὶ τὰς μὲν νομίμους17 καταλύων18
πολιτείας παρανόμους ἐθισμοὺς ἐκαίνιζεν.1912 ἀσμένως γὰρ ὑ αὐτὴν20 τὴν
ἀκρόπολιν γυμνάσιον καθίδρυσεν καὶ τοὺς κρατίστους τῶν ἐφήβων
ὑποτάσσων21 ὑπὸ πέτασον ἤγαγεν.22
Vocabulary

ἀκρόπολις, -εως, ἡ, citadel, castle ἀσμένως, gladly, readily ἐθισμός, ὁ,

custom Ἑληνικός, -ή, -όν, Hellenic, Greek (adj.); τὰ Ἑλληνικά, Greek
customs ἐπινεύω, lit. to nod, grant/promise something (acc.) to somebody
(dat.) ἔφηβος, ὁ, ephebe/adolescent enrolled in an institution for educating
young men for citizenship and military service καινίζω, innovate; introduce
something strange καθιδρύω, consecrate, dedicate; found/establish
something καταλύω, destroy, abolish; eradicate κρατίστος, -η, -ον, most
excellent, noblest; most excellent; “his Excellency” (official title given to
senators and magistrates) νόμιμος, -η, -ον, conform to the law, legal; pl. τὰ
 νόμιμα, laws, statutes ὁμοφύλος, ὁ, compatriot παρωθέω, aor. ptc.
παρώσας: set aside πέτασος, petasos, a broad-brimmed hat, often worn in
combinatioin with a cape, by ephebes as a sign of their membership in the
ephebeion πρεσβεία, ἡ, embassy, mission Ῥωμαῖος, -α, -ον, of the
Romans, Roman; subst. Roman person συμμαχία, ἡ, military alliance,
confederacy (the treaty with the Romans is parenthetic; it is used to identify
Eupolemus) ὑποτάσσω, make subject; append; pass. be subjected to φιλία,
ἡ, friendship χαρακτήρ, -ῆρος, ὁ, outward appearance; distinctive
features

4:13 Ἦν δ ᾽οὕτως ἀκμή τις23 Ἑλληνισμοῦ καὶ πρόσβασις ἀλλοφυλισμοῦ διὰ

τὴν24 τοῦ ἀσεβοῦς καὶ οὐκ (a true) ἀρχιερέως Ἰάσωνος ὑπερβάλλουσαν
ἀναγνείαν 14 ὥστε25 μηκέτι26 περὶ τὰς τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου λειτουργίας
προθύμους εἶναι τοὺς ἱερεῖς, ἀλλὰ τοῦ μὲν νεὼ27 καταφρονοῦντες καὶ τῶν
θυσιῶν ἀμελοῦντες ἔσπευδον μετέχειν τῆς ἐν παλαίστρῃ παρανόμου χορηγίας
μετὰ τὴν τοῦ δίσκου πρόσκλησιν, 15 καὶ τὰς μὲν πατρῴους τιμὰς ἐν οὐδενὶ
τιθέμενοι,28 τὰς δὲ Ἑλληνικὰς δόξας καλλίστας ἡγούμενοι.
Vocabulary

ἀκμή, ἡ, highest point, culminating point ἀλλοφυλισμός, the adoption of

foreign ways (neol.) ἀναγνεία, ἡ, abominable wickedness (rare)
ἀρχιερωσύνη, high priesthood δίσκος, ὁ, disk; sun disk (i.e., sun); discus
event Ἑλληνισμός, ὁ, imitation of the Greeks, Hellenism θυσία, ἡ, sacrifice
κάλλιστος, -ον, -ον (superl. of καλός), best λειτουργία, ἡ, public service,
public liturgical service; priestly ministry μετέχω, partake of (gen.),
participate in παλαίστρα, ἡ, place for exercise, wrestling school πατρῴος,
-α, -ον, of one’s father(s), hereditary πρόθυμος, -ον, ready, eager;
προθύμως, zealously, earnestly πρόσβασις, εως, ἡ, opportunity
πρόσκλησις, ἡ, summons, here “sounding of the gong”
τιμή, -ῆς, ἡ, honor, pl. honors; price/cost, value; (gen.) at a price of
ὑπερβάλλω, exceed, surpass χορηγία, ἡ, public spectacle

4:16 ὧν καὶ χάριν περιέσχεν αὐτοὺς χαλεπὴ περίστασις, καὶ ὧν29 ἐζήλουν
τὰς ἀγωγὰς καὶ καθ᾽ ἅπαν30 ἤθελον ἐξομοιοῦσθαι, τούτους πολεμίους31 καὶ
τιμωρητὰς ἔσχον, 17 ἀσεβεῖν γὰρ εἰς τοὺς θείους νόμους οὐ ῥᾴδιον, ἀλλὰ
ταῦτα ὁ ἀκόλουθος καιρὸς32 δηλώσει.
 Vocabulary

ἀκόλουθος, -ον, following, later; (adv.) ἀκολοῦθως, following, next;

according to ἐξομοιόομαι, imitate ζηλόω, strive; be filled with envy or
jealousy περιέχω, 2aor. ptc. περίσχων, 2aor. pass. inf. περισχέσθαι:
include; encompass, surround; come upon, befall περίστασις, -εως, ἡ,
crisis, disaster πολεμίος, -α, -ον, hostile; subst. enemy; superl.
πολεμιώτατος, most bitter enemy ῥᾴδιος, -α, -ον, easy; ῥᾴδιον, a light
matter τιμωρητής, ὁ, oppressor χαλεπός, -ή, -όν, difficult; cruel, harsh;
χαλεπῶς, with difficulty, with great discomfort χάριν (w. gen.), because of,
by reason of (generally situated after the noun it modifies); ὧν χάριν, for
which

1 Jonathan A. Goldstein, II Maccabees (New York: Doubleday, 1983), 227.

2 Seleucus IV; gen. absol.

3 Antiochus IV Epiphanes; gen. absol.

4 Instr. adv. ptc. (“by,” cf. IV, 1.6).

5 πρός (w. dat.) with numbers means “plus,” “in addition” (cf. 2 Macc 4:9).

6 Impf. here conveys the idea of conniving.

7 ἕτερα...πεντήκοντα.

8 S.v. συνίστημι.

9 This was similar to becoming a Roman citizen. Leading cities formed citizen
bodies, whose members were registered as citizens of the Seleucid Republic.
10 Gen. absol.

11 Gen. absol. with Jason as the implied subject.

12 S.v. μεθίστημι.

13 τὰ...φιλάνθρωπα is the subject of the ptc. παρώσας.

14 Modifies φιλάνθρωπα (2nd pred. pos.).

15 John, father of Eupolemus; διὰ Ἰυωάννου...πρὸς τοὺς Ῥωμαίους is a

subordinate clause.

16 Gen. absol. (aor. ptc.) introduces first subordinate idea: τοῦ

ποιησαμένου...τὴν πρεσβείαν.

17 τὰς...νομίμους...πολιτείας.

18 Participle introduces the second subordinate idea.

19 Main verb of sentence.

20 αὐτήν, “itself” is emphatic, but ironically this is precisely where one would
expect a gymnasium to be located.

21 Instr. adv. ptc. (“by,” cf. IV, 1.6).

22 Here “bring up,” “educate.”

23 τις here follows the word it modifies (i.e., τις ἀκμή); it functions as an
emphatic particle.
24 διὰ τὴν...ἀναγνεία .

25 ὥστε + inf. (cf. IV, 15).

26 μηκέτι...προθύμους.

27 νεώ, gen. of νεώς, Att. of ναός, νεῴ (dat.), νεών (acc.); this term is the
usual rendition of ‫( לכיח‬the inner shrine of the Jewish temple).

28 S.v. τίθημι, here “to make something as (ἐν).”

29 Gen. of poss. (“whose, of whom”) + τὰς ἀγωγάς.

30 κα ἅπαν, “completely.”

31 Acc. of spec. (“as”).

32 Here in the sense of “event(s).”

 6.2. 2 Maccabees: The Martyrdom of Eleazar

(2 Macc 6:1–23)
Date: First century BCE.
This reading recounts the culmination of a series of ill-judged religious
reforms that were initiated by Antiochus IV Epiphanes in Jerusalem. Antiochus
probably viewed the existing Jewish cult as politically subversive and, having
witnessed the recent success of the Roman authorities in suppressing the
Bacchanalia in Rome, adopted what he considered to be a reasonable religious
policy. However, his religious reforms actually alienated a significant portion of
the population. Moreover, the brutal manner in which the reforms were
implemented prepared the way for the violent political upheaval that followed.
The text in this section describes Antiochus’s imposition of Hellenism (2
Macc 6:1–11), the author’s evaluation (2 Macc 6:12–17), and finally the well-
known story of the martyrdom of Eleazar (Ἐλεάζαρος) (2 Macc 6:18–31).
According to the author’s narration of the events leading up to the Maccabean
revolt, it was the martyrdom of observant Jews such as Eleazar that became the
pivotal political moment.
Related Texts: The concept of righteous martyr who dies for the benefit of
others is also found in 4 Macc 1:11 (§6.3) and 4 Macc 6:16–23, 27–28. This
concept may have been inspired by Isa 52:13–53:12 (§2.6).
6:1 Μετ᾽ οὐ πολὺν δὲ χρόνον ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ βασιλεὺς (Antiochus
Epiphanes) γέροντα Ἀθηναῖον ἀναγκάζειν τοὺς Ιουδαίους μεταβαίνειν ἀπὸ τῶν
πατρίων νόμων καὶ τοῖς τοῦ θεοῦ νόμοις μὴ πολιτεύεσθαι – 2 μολῦναι δὲ καὶ
τὸν ἐν Ιεροσολύμοις νεὼ1 καὶ προσονομάσαι (it) Διὸς Ὀλυμπίου καὶ τὸν
(temple) ἐν Γαριζιν, καθὼς ἐντύγχανον οἱ τὸν τόπον οἰκοῦντες, Διὸς2 Ξενίου.
Vocabulary

ἀναγκάζω, force, compel, urge ἀρχαῖος, -α, -ον, old, ancient; τὰ ἀρχαῖα,
things of old Γεριζιν, Mount Gerazin, site of the Samaritan temple γέρων, -
οντος, ὁ, old man, elder, senator (often an expert on religious matters)
 ἐξαποστέλλω, send on a mission, commission a senator Ζεύς, ὁ, Διός
(gen.), Διί (dat.), Δία (acc.), Ζεῦ (voc.), Zeus μεταβαίνω, switch from
(ἀπό) something to something else μολύνω, pollute, defile Ὀλύμπιος, -α, -
ον (adj.), Olympian, dwelling on Olympus (epithet of various gods,
including Demeter and Zeus) πάτριος, -α, -ον (= πατρικός), derived from
one’s fathers, hereditary; customary; subst. τὸ πάτριον, tradition; τά
πάτρια, ancestral customs προσονομάζω, call by name (w. acc.)

6: 3 Χαλεπὴ δὲ καὶ τοῖς ὅλοις3 ἦν δυσχερὴς (was) ἡ ἐπίτασις τῆς κακίας. 4

τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἱερὸν ἀσωτίας καὶ κώμων ὑπὸ τῶν ἐθνῶν ἐπεπληροῦτο4
ῥᾳθυμούντων μεθ᾽ ἑταιρῶν καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἱεροῖς περιβόλοις γυναιξὶ
πλησιαζόντων, ἔτι δὲ τὰ μὴ καθήκοντα ἔνδον εἰσφερόντων.
Vocabulary

ἀσωτία, ἡ, debauchery δυσχερής, -ης, -ές, grievous, serious ἔνδον, inside,

within ἐπιπληρόω, fill up with ἐπίτασις, ἡ, increase (in intensity/force),
outburst ἑταῖρος, ὁ, companion, friend; ἑταίρα, ἡ, prostitute καθῆκω, be
appropriate, suitable, proper; nt. ptc. (τὸ) καθῆκον, what is appropriate
κακία, ἡ, wickedness, evil κῶμος, ὁ, carousing, wild partying ξένιος, -α,
-ον, hospitable; epithet of Zeus, “the protector of the rights of hospitality”
περίβολος, ὁ, outer enclosure wall of a temple πλησιάζω, have sexual
intercourse with (dat.) ῥᾳθυμέω, be idle, hang around with χαλεπός, -ή, -
όν, difficult; cruel, harsh; χαλεπῶς, with difficulty, with great discomfort

6:5 τὸ δὲ θυσιαστήριον τοῖς ἀποδιεσταλμένοις ἀπὸ5 τῶν νόμων ἀθεμίτοις

ἐπεπλήρωτο. 6 ἦν6 δ᾽ οὔτε7 σαββατίζειν οὔτε πατρῴους ἑορτὰς διαφυλάττειν
οὔτε ἁπλῶς Ἰουδαῖον ὁμολογεῖν εἶναι, 7 (the Judeans) ἤγοντο8 δὲ9 μετὰ
πικρᾶς ἀνάγκης εἰς τὴν κατὰ μῆνα10 τοῦ βασιλέως γενέθλιον ἡμέραν11 ἐπὶ
σπλαγχνισμόν, γενομένης12 δὲ Διονυσίων ἑορτῆς ἠναγκάζοντο13 κισσοὺς
ἔχοντες πομπεύειν τῷ Διονύσῳ.
Vocabulary

ἀθέμιτος, -ον, against the law ἀποδιαστέλλω, divide; pass. be forbidden

διαφυλάσσω (Att. διαφυλάττω), keep/observe (a feast/festival) Διονυσία,
τά, Festival of Dionysos Διόνυσος, ὁ, god Dionysos κισσός, ὁ, ivy
leaves14
 πομπεύω, walk in a procession σπλαγχνισμός, ὁ, lit. the eating of internal
organs of a sacrificial victim (neol.); a sacrifice

6:8 Ψήφισμα δὲ ἐξέπεσεν15 εἰς τὰς ἀστυγείτονας Ἑλληνίδας πόλεις

Πτολεμαίου16 ὑποθεμένου17 τὴν αὐτὴν ἀγωγὴν κατὰ18 τῶν Ιουδαίων ἄγειν
καὶ (to require them) σπλαγχνίζειν, 9 τοὺς δὲ μὴ προαιρουμένους19 μεταβαίνειν
ἐπὶ τὰ Ἑλληνικὰ κατασφάζειν. παρῆν20 οὖν ὁρᾶν τὴν ἐνεστῶσαν
ταλαιπωρίαν.
Vocabulary

ἀστυγείτων, -ον, neighboring Ἑλληνίς, -ίδος, ἡ, Greek (in language and

culture) κατασφάζω, slaughter, murder προαιρέομαι, decide beforehand,
choose beforehand σπλαγχνίζω (= σπλαγχνεύω), eat the entrails of a
sacrificial victim21
ταλαιπωρία, distress, misery ὑποτίθημι, aor. mid. ptc. ὑποθέμενος:
suggest, advise ψήφισμα, -ματος, τό, decree

6:10 δύο γὰρ γυναῖκες ἀνήχθησαν περιτετμηκυῖαι22 τὰ τέκνα, τούτων δὲ ἐκ

τῶν μαστῶν κρεμάσαντες23 τὰ βρέφη καὶ δημοσίᾳ περιαγαγόντες αὐτὰς τὴν
πόλιν κατὰ τοῦ τείχους ἐκρήμνισαν. 11 ἕτεροι δὲ πλησίον συνδραμόντες24 εἰς
τὰ σπήλαια λεληθότως25 ἄγειν τὴν ἑβδομάδα μηνυθέντες τῷ Φιλίππῳ26
συνεφλογίσθησαν διὰ τὸ εὐλαβῶς ἔχειν27 βοηθῆσαι ἑαυτοῖς κατὰ τὴν δόξαν
τῆς σεμνοτάτης ἡμέρας.28
Vocabulary

βρέφος, -ους, τό, infant ἑβδομάς, -μάδος, ἡ, (number) 7; τὴν ἑβδομάδα,

on the seventh (day), i.e., on the Sabbath εὐλαβής, -ές, prudent; reverent,
pious; comp. εὐλαβέστερος; adv. εὐλαβῶς, cautiously, piously keeping
clean from κρημνίζω, hurl down (neol.) μαστός, ὁ, woman’s breast; man’s
breast μηνύω, 3. ἐμήνησα, 1aor. pass. ptc. μηνυθείς: disclose a secret,
report περιάγω, aor. ptc.: περιαγαγόντες: go about; lead around/about
σεμνός, -ή, -όν, solemn, reverent; honorable, above reproach; σεμνῶς,
reverently; superl. σεμνότατος, -η, -ον, most solemn/holy σπήλαιον, τό,
cave συμφλογίζω, set on fire together συντρέχω, aor. ptc. συνδραμόντες:
run together; assemble together
 6:12 Παρακαλῶ οὖν τοὺς ἐντυγχάνοντας τῇδε τῇ βίβλῳ μὴ συστέλλεσθαι
διὰ τὰς συμφοράς, λογίζεσθαι29 δὲ τὰς τιμωρίας μὴ πρὸς ὄλεθρον ἀλλὰ πρὸς
παιδείαν τοῦ γένους ἡμῶν εἶναι, 13 καὶ γὰρ τὸ μὴ πολὺν χρόνον ἐᾶσθαι τοὺς
δυσσεβοῦντας,30 ἀλλ᾽ εὐθέως περιπίπτειν ἐπιτίμοις, μεγάλης εὐεργεσίας
σημεῖόν ἐστιν.
Vocabulary

δυσσεβέω, act impiously; subst. “impious ones”

ἐντυγχάνω, 3. ἐνέτυχον, 2aor. inf. ἐντυχεῖν: bring a charge against;
appeal, petition; happen to meet with/run into somebody; happen to read
ἐπιτίμιον, τό, contractual penalty, assessment of damages εὐεργεσία, ἡ,
benefaction παιδεία, ἡ, teaching, education; discipline, correction
περιπίπτω, incur (punishment) συμφορά, ἡ, misfortune, calamity
συστέλλω, mid. inf. συστέλλεσθαι, 1aor. συνέστειλα, pf. pass. ptc.
συνεσταλμένος: humiliate; (naut.) fold up, furl a sail; mid. be discouraged;
pass. (of time), grow shorter τιμωρία, ἡ, retribution, vengeance

6:14 Οὐ31 γὰρ καθάπερ καὶ ἐπὶ32 τῶν ἄλλων ἐθνῶν ἀναμένει μακροθυμῶν
ὁ δεσπότης μέχρι τοῦ33 καταντήσαντας αὐτοὺς πρὸς ἐκπλήρωσιν ἁμαρτιῶν
κολάσαι, οὕτως καὶ ἐ ἡμῶν34 ἔκρινεν εἶναι, 15 ἵνα μὴ πρὸς τέλος
ἀφικομένων ἡμῶν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ὕστερον ἡμᾶς ἐκδικᾷ. 16 διόπερ οὐδέποτε
μὲν τὸν ἔλεον ἀ ἡμῶν ἀφίστησιν, παιδεύων δὲ μετὰ συμφορᾶς οὐκ
ἐγκαταλείπει τὸν ἑαυτοῦ λαόν. 17 πλὴν ἕως35 ὑπομνήσεως ταῦθ᾽ 36 ἡμῖν
εἰρήσθω,37 δι᾿ ὀλίγων δ᾽ ἐλευστέον ἐπὶ τὴν διήγησιν.
Vocabulary

ἀναμένω, wait for/until ἀφικνέομαι, 3. ἀφικόμην: arrive at (εἰς), come

to; reach (a certain condition) διήγησις, -εως, ἡ, narrative, story, account
διόπερ, therefore (emphatic for διό) ἐγκαταλείπω, 1aor. ἐγκατέλιψα/2aor.
ἐγκατέλιπον: forsake, abandon, desert ἐκδικέω, avenge, punish
ἐκπλήρωσις, ἡ, full measure, completion ἐλευστέον (fr. ἔρχομαι),verbal
adj. (nt. sg. form), functionally equivalent to δεῖ + inf. of ἔρχομαι, “one
must go on”
καθάπερ (= καθά), just as, in the same way, in accordance with
μακροθυμέω, be long-suffering, patient παιδεύω, teach, instruct; correct,
 discipline ὑπομνήσις, -εως, ἡ, reminder

The Story of Eleazar, the Scribe

6:18 Ἐλεάζαρός τις38 τῶν πρωτευόντων γραμματέων, ἀνὴρ ἤδη προβεβηκὼς
τὴν ἡλικίαν39 καὶ τὴν πρόσοψιν40 τοῦ προσώπου κάλλιστος, ἀναχανὼν
ἠναγκάζετο φαγεῖν ὕειον κρέας. 19 ὁ 41δὲ τὸν με εὐκλείας θάνατον μᾶλλον
ἢ τὸν μετὰ μύσους βίον ἀναδεξάμενος, αὐθαιρέτως ἐπὶ τὸ τύμπανον
προσῆγεν, 20 προπτύσας (the flesh) δὲ καθ᾽ ὃν ἔδει τρόπον προσέρχεσθαι (τὸ
τύμπανον) τοὺς ὑπομένοντας ἀμύνασθαι42 ὧν οὐ θέμις γεύσασθαι (even) διὰ
τὴν πρὸς τὸ ζῆν43 φιλοστοργίαν.
Vocabulary

ἀμύνω, defend; mid. defend oneself against; keep from, ward off from
ἀναδέχομαι, accept, receive, undertake ἀναχαίνω (= ἀναχάσκω), 2aor.
act. ptc., ἀναχανών: open the mouth αὐθαίρετος, -ον, voluntary;
αὐθαιρέτως, by free choice, voluntarily εὔκλεια, ἡ, good repute, honor
θέμις, ὁ, θέμιστος, that which is lawful κρέας, ὁ, κρέως, meat/flesh
μύσος, -εος, τό, defilement πρωτεύω, be pre-eminent, be first among
προβαίνω, pf. ptc. προβεβηκώς: advance, make progress; pass (of time)
προπτύω, spit out (neol.) πρόσοψις, -εως, ἡ, appearance τύμπανον, here
probably the “rack” as an instrument of torture ὕειος, -α, -ον, of pigs, swine
ὑπομένω, remain, await; endure, stand one’s ground, hold out; bear an
ordeal, put up with φιλοστοργία, ἡ, tender love, strong affection

6:21 Οἱ44 δὲ πρὸς45 τῷ παρανόμῳ σπλαγχνισμῷ τεταγμένοι διὰ τὴν46 ἐκ

τῶν παλαιῶν χρόνων πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα γνῶσιν ἀπολαβόντες αὐτὸν κατ᾽ ἰδίαν47
παρεκάλουν ἐνέγκαντα48 κρέα, οἷς καθῆκον αὐτῷ χρᾶσθαι, δι᾿ αὐτοῦ
παρασκευασθέντα, ὑποκριθῆναι δὲ ὡς ἐσθίοντα τὰ ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως
προστεταγμένα τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς θυσίας κρεῶν, 22 ἵνα τοῦτο πράξας ἀπολυθῇ τοῦ
θανάτου καὶ διὰ τὴν49 ἀρχαίαν πρὸς αὐτοὺς φιλίαν τύχῃ50 φιλανθρωπίας.
Vocabulary

ἀπολαμβάνω, receive something; regain, recover; mid. take away/aside;

receive ἀρχαῖος, -α, -ον, old, ancient; τὰ ἀρχαῖα, things of old
 παρασκευάζω, provide, prepare for somebody/something (dat.)
σπλαγχνισμός, ὁ (rare). probably “performing sacrifices”
ὑποκρίνομαι, aor. pass. inf. ὑποκριθῆναι: play a part; pretend, deceive
φιλανθρωπία, ἡ, clemency

6:23 ὁ δὲ λογισμὸν ἀστεῖον ἀναλαβὼν καὶ ἄξιον τῆς51 ἡλικίας καὶ τῆς τοῦ
γήρως ὑπεροχῆς καὶ τῆς52 ἐπικτήτου καὶ ἐπιφανοῦς πολιᾶς καὶ τῆς53 ἐκ
παιδὸς καλλίστης ἀναστροφῆς, μᾶλλον δὲ54 τῆς55 ἁγίας καὶ θεοκτίστου
νομοθεσίας ἀκολούθως ἀπεφήνατο ταχέως λέγων (them) προπέμπειν (him) εἰς
τὸν ᾍδην.
Vocabulary

ᾍδης, -ου, ο, (uncontr. Ἁίδης, Ἁίδαο), Hades, She’ol, the Netherworld

ἀναστροφή, ἡ, way of life, conduct, behavior
ἀποφαίνομαι, 3. ἀπέφηνα: make known; mid. declare oneself ἀστεῖος, -α,
-ον, pleasing, beautiful; refined, honorable γῆρας, τό, gen. -ραος and -ρως,
old age ἐπίκτητος, -ον, acquired (rare) θεόκτιστος, -ον, established by God
λογισμός, ὁ, deliberation, reasoning, resolve; reasoning (as a faculty of the
mind) νομοθεσία, ἡ, code of laws πολιά, ἡ, grayness of hair προπέμπω,
send somebody on one’s way ὑπεροχή, ἡ, pre-eminence, dignity; state of
superiority

1 S.v. νεώς, Att. > ναός (LXX), but νεώς (nom.) in 2 Macc. This is the usual
rendition of ‫“( חיכל‬inner shrine of the temple”). νεώς has two acc. forms, νεών,
and later form, νεώ.

2 S.v. Ζεύς.

3 τοῖς ὅλοις (“altogether,” “utterly”) ... δυσχερής.

4 The basic sentence is followed by three clauses (genitive absolutes) describing

the behavior of the Gentiles.
5 ἀπό, “by.”

6 Here εἶναι carries the sense of “to be possible,” hence ἦν... εἶναι (“it was
possible”).

7 Vv. 6–7, οὔτε...οὔτε...οὔτε ἁπλῶς...δε...δέ....

8 ἄγω (main verb), mid. “to observe (a feast),” “to partake (of a sacrifice)” (iter.
impf.).

9 Greek often uses δέ as a developmental marker, temporally, in narrative. Here

the impf. that follows signals continuous action with all the preceding action.

10 κατὰ μῆνα, “monthly.”

11 εἰς τὴν...ἡμέραν, referring to the time when something occurs (“on the
day”).

12 Gen. absol.

13 ἠναγκάζοντο...πομπεύειν (iter. impf., cf. IV, 13.3).

14 I.e., they were expected to become bacchantes by “wearing” ivy leaves on

feast days of Dionysos. Ivy leaves were deemed to be sacred to Dionysos.

15 The three infinitives that follow (ἄγειν, σπλαγχνίζειν, μεταβαίνειν) are all
dependent upon the verb ἐξέπεσεν.

16 Ptolemy, cf. 2 Macc 4:45, where Menelaus bribes a man named “Ptolemy,
son of Dorymenes,” to win over the king.

17 Gen. absol.
18 κατά, “toward,” “with respect to.”

19 τοὺς...μὴ προαιρουμενους → μεταβαίνειν ἐπί (to).

20 S.v. πάρειμι.

21 The entrails of a sacrificial victim (stomach and intestines) were deemed to

be the most desirable part of a sacrifice. These were boiled (stewed) and usually
distributed on the basis of social status, or prior arrangement, for consumption.

22 Ptc. (s.v. περιτέμνω) picks up on what the women did, functioning

adverbially and modifying pass. of ἀνάγω (“for having”).

23 The two adverbial aorist participles (κρεμάσαντες, περιαγαγόντες) are

loosely related to the main verb ἐκρήμνισαν. Aorist particles often pick out
antecedant actions in a narrative sequence of actions.

24 This verse expresses two antecedent actions, as indicated by the aorist

participles, συνδραμόντες and μηνυθέντες.

25 S.v. λανθάνω.

26 Philip, the governor of Jerusalem, appointed by Antiochus Epiphanes

elsewhere. He is described as “more barbarous” than Antiochus himself (2 Macc
5:22).

27 διὰ τὸ...ἔχειν (ἔχω with states of being often has the same meaning as εἰμί).

28 I.e., because it was the Sabbath.

29 λογίζεσθαι...εἶναι.

30 Subject of inf.
31 The main clause is οὐ γὰρ...οὕτως καὶ ἐ ἡμῶν ἔκρινεν εἶναι (“for he
decided not to be so also in our case”).

32 ἐπί, “in the case of.”

33 τό...κολάσαι, art. inf.

34 ἐ ἡμῶν, “with us,” “in our case.”

35 ἕως, expressing purpose (“for”).

36 ταῦ > ταῦτα.

37 S.v. λέγω; endings of the pf. pass. impv. are sg. –σο (2), -σθω (3); pl. –σθε
(2), -σθων (3).

38 τις in the sense of εἷς (εἷς τῶν, “one of”).

39 Acc. of spec. of character/quality (“with respect to ...”).

40 Acc. of spec.

41 ὁ...ἀναδεξάμενος.

42 ἀμύνασθαι...γεύσασθαι.

43 ζῆν, pres. act. inf.

44 οἱ...τεταγμένοι.

45 πρός (w. dat.) is often used in papyri to indicate an appointment to an office.

46 διὰ τὴν...γνῶσιν.

47 κα ἰδίαν, “on his own,” “privately.”

48 S.v. φέρω.

49 διὰ τήν...φιλίαν.

50 S.v. τυγχάνω.

51 τῆς...ὑπεροχῆς.

52 τῆς...πολιᾶς.

53 τῆς...ἀναστοφῆς.

54 μᾶλλον δέ, “and moreover.”

55 τῆς...νομοθεσίας; construe w. ἀκολούθως.

 6.3. 4 Maccabees: The Supremacy of Devout Reason
(4 Macc 1:1–17)

Date: First century CE.

4 Maccabees is composed in fluent Greek. The author has been nurtured by
Greek classical literature. He consciously employs Attic where he can, including
the middle voice.1 It begins in a rhetorically affected Greek style on the subject
of the supremacy of reason over passion. The author’s primary thesis is that
reason rules the emotions, a common theme in contemporary philosophy.
In his argument, the author draws upon the Platonic notion of the four cardinal
virtues – temperance, fortitude, justice, and prudence – which are connected with
reason. These virtues were subsequently widely popularized by Stoicism. The
author was able to affirm the specific claims of Judaism by qualifying the faculty
of “reason” as devout reason (εὐσεβὴς λογισμός) and by defining reason in
relation to education in the Torah. In so doing, he was able to resist the
assimilating powers of Greek intellectual discourse.

The Author’s Clarification of His Task

1:1 Φιλοσοφώτατον λόγον ἐπιδείκνυσθαι μέλλων,2 (namely) εἰ αὐτοδέσποτός3
ἐστιν τῶν παθῶν ὁ εὐσεβὴς λογισμός, συμβουλεύσαιμ᾽4 ἂν ὑμῖν ὀρθῶς ὅπως
προσέχητε5 προθύμως τῇ φιλοσοφίᾳ. 2 καὶ γὰρ (is) ἀναγκαῖος εἰς ἐπιστήμην
παντὶ6 ὁ λόγος καὶ ἄλλως7 τῆς μεγίστης ἀρετῆς, λέγω δὴ φρονήσεως, περιέχει
ἔπαινον.8
Vocabulary

ἀναγκαῖος, -α, -ον, necessary, indispensable, essential; (ἐστιν) ἀναγκαῖον

(w. inf.), it is necessary to, one must ἀνδρεία, ἡ, courage ἀρετή, ἡ, virtue
αὐτοδέσποτος, ὁ, absolute master (neol.) ἐπαινέω, commend somebody,
praise; approve (statutes) ἐπαίνος, ὁ, praise, commendation of something
ἐπιδείκνυμι/ἐπιδεικνύω, pres. mid. inf. ἐπιδείκνυσθαι, 3. ἐπέδειξα, 1aor
 mid. ἐπεδειξάμην: show, point out, discuss; prove that (ὅτι) λογισμός, ὁ,
deliberation, reasoning; reasoning (as a faculty of the mind) μέγιστος, -η, -
ον (superl. of μέγας, μεγάλη, μέγα): best; topmost, foremost; mighty
πάθος, -ους (uncontr. -εος), τό, misfortune, calamity; emotions, passions;
pain; pl. τὰ πάθη, feelings περιέχω, 2aor. ptc. περίσχων, 2aor. pass. inf.
περισχέσθαι: include; encompass, surround; come upon, befall πρόθυμος,
-ον, ready, eager; (adv.) πρόθυμως, zealously, earnestly συμβουλεύω,
advise, counsel φιλοσοφία, ἡ, philosophy φρόνησις, -εως, ἡ, practical
wisdom, insight

1:3 εἰ ἄρα9 τῶν σωφροσύνης κωλυτικῶν παθῶν ὁ λογισμὸς φαίνεται

ἐπικρατεῖν, γαστριμαργίας τε καὶ ἐπιθυμίας, 4 ἀλλὰ10 (then) καὶ τῶν11 τῆς
δικαιοσύνης ἐμποδιστικῶν παθῶν (reason) κυριεύειν ἀναφαίνεται, οἷον
κακοηθείας, καὶ (over) τῶν τῆς ἀνδρείας ἐμποδιστικῶν παθῶν, θυμοῦ τε καὶ
φόβου καὶ πόνου.
Vocabulary

ἀναφαίνομαι (impers.), be apparent that (w. inf.) ἀνδρεία, ἡ, courage

γαστριμαργία, ἡ, gluttony ἐμποδιστικός, -ή, -όν, hampering, impeding,
hindering (rare) ἐπικρατέω, have power/mastery over (w. gen.)
κακοήθεια, ἡ, malice κωλυτικός, -ή, -όν, hindering οἷος, -α, -ον, what
kind (of), such as; οἷόν + inf. (impling fitness, possibility), it is possible
σωφροσύνη, ἡ, prudence, discretion; self-control, esp. sexual self-restraint
φόβος, ὁ, fear, fright

1:5 πῶς οὖν (is it that), ἴσως εἴποιεν12 ἄν τινες, εἰ τῶν παθῶν ὁ λογισμὸς
κρατεῖ, λήθης καὶ ἀγνοίας οὐ δεσπόζει; (is) γελοῖον13 ἐπιχειροῦντες λέγειν
(this way). 6 οὐ γὰρ τῶν αὑτοῦ παθῶν ὁ λογισμὸς κρατεῖ, ἀλλὰ τῶν τῆς
δικαιοσύνης καὶ ἀνδρείας καὶ σωφροσύνης ἐναντίων, καὶ (κρατεῖ) τούτων οὐχ
ὥστε αὐτὰ καταλῦσαι, ἀλλ ᾽ ὥστε αὐτοῖς μὴ εἶξαι.
Vocabulary

γελοῖος, -α, -ον, ridiculous, absurd δεσπόζω, to control (w. gen.) εἴκω,
1aor. act. inf., εἶξαι: yield to somebody; give way to (a passion or impulse)

ἐπιχειρέω, make an attempt to (w. inf.) ἴσος, -η, -ον, same, equal,
equivalent; nt. pl., on an equality; adv. ἴσως, equally λήθη, ἡ, forgetfulness
 1:7 Πολλαχόθεν μὲν οὖν καὶ ἀλλαχόθεν ἔχοιμ᾽14 ἂν ὑμῖν ἐπιδεῖξαι ὅτι
αὐτοκράτωρ ἐστὶν τῶν παθῶν ὁ λογισμός, 8 πολὺ δὲ πλέον15 τοῦτο
ἀποδείξαιμι ἀπὸ τῆς ἀνδραγαθίας τῶν ὑπὲρ ἀρετῆς ἀποθανόντων,
Ἐλεαζαρου τε καὶ τῶν ἑπτὰ ἀδελφῶν καὶ τῆς τούτων μητρός. 9 ἅπαντες γὰρ
οὗτοι τοὺς ἕως θανάτου πόνους ὑπεριδόντες16 ἐπεδείξαντο ὅτι περικρατεῖ τῶν
παθῶν ὁ λογισμός. 10 (for their) τῶν μὲν οὖν ἀρετῶν ἔπεστί μοι ἐπαινεῖν
τοὺς17 κατὰ τοῦτον τὸν καιρὸν18 ὑπὲρ τῆς καλοκἀγαθίας ἀποθανόντας μετὰ
τῆς μητρὸς ἄνδρας, τῶν δὲ τιμῶν μακαρίσαιμ᾽ ἄν.
Vocabulary

ἀλλαχόθεν (rare), from other places ἀνδραγαθία, ἡ, bravery

ἀρετή, ἡ, virtue, excellence αὐτοκράτωρ, ὁ, absolute master of
somebody; emperor ἐπαινέω, commend, praise; approve (statutes) ἔπειμι
(fr. εἰμί), be upon; ἔπεστί μοι, “it is right that I should,” “it is incumbent
upon me to do something”
καλοκἀγαθία (καλος + ἀγαθος), nobility of character μακαρίζω, 2.
μακαριῶ: to call/consider blessed; pronounce blessed for (w. gen.)
περικρατέω, control something (gen.) πολλαχόθεν (rare), in many ways
τιμή, -ῆς, ἡ, honor, pl. honors; price/cost, value; (gen.) at a price of
ὑπεροράω, 2aor. ptc. ὑπεριδών: overlook, disregard

1:11 θαυμασθέντες19 γὰρ οὐ μόνον ὑπὸ πάντων ἀνθρώπων ἐπὶ τῇ ἀνδρείᾳ

καὶ ὑπομονῇ, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν αἰκισαμένων (αὐτῶν), αἴτιοι κατέστησαν20
τοῦ καταλυθῆναι21 τὴν22 κατὰ (our) τοῦ ἔθνους τυραννίδα, νικήσαντες τὸν
τύραννον τῇ ὑπομονῇ ὥστε23 καθαρισθῆναι δι᾿ αὐτῶν τὴν πατρίδα. 12 ἀλλὰ
καὶ περὶ τούτου νῦν αὐτίκα δὴ λέγειν ἐξέσται ἀρξαμένῳ τῆς ὑποθέσεως,
ὅπερ24 εἴωθα ποιεῖν, καὶ οὕτως εἰς τὸν25 περὶ αὐτῶν τρέψομαι λόγον δόξαν
διδοὺς τῷ πανσόφῳ θεῷ.
Vocabulary

αἰκίζομαι, torture; subst. torturer αἴτιος, -ία, -ιον, responsible for, guilty
of; subst. the accused, the one who is the cause αὐτίκα (adv.), at once ἔθω,
be accustomed to (pres. only in ptc.), εἴωθα (pf. oft. used in place of pres.),
be in the habit of doing something (w. inf.) νικάω, to defeat; win a court
case ὅσπερ, ὅνπερ (acc.) / ἥπερ (fm.) / ὅπερ (nt.) // ἅπερ (nt. pl.): the
 very man/woman/thing; which indeed/exactly; ὅνπερ τρόπον, in the same
way πάνσοφος, -ον, all-wise τυραννίς, -ίδος, ἡ, tyranny, despotic conduct
ὑπόθεσις, -εως, ἡ, general theory, doctrine ὑπομονή, ἡ, endurance,
perseverance

Supremacy of Reason
1:13 Ζητοῦμεν δὴ τοίνυν εἰ αὐτοκράτωρ ἐστὶν τῶν παθῶν ὁ λογισμός. 14
διακρίνομεν τί ποτέ ἐστιν λογισμὸς καὶ τί πάθος, καὶ πόσαι παθῶν ἰδέαι (there
are), καὶ εἰ πάντων26 ἐπικρατεῖ τούτων ὁ λογισμός. 15 λογισμὸς μὲν δὴ τοίνυν
ἐστὶν νοῦς μετὰ ὀρθοῦ λόγου προτιμῶν τὸν σοφίας βίον. 16 σοφία δὴ τοίνυν
ἐστὶν γνῶσις θείων καὶ ἀνθρωπίνων πραγμάτων καὶ τῶν τούτων αἰτιῶν. 17
αὕτη27 δὴ τοίνυν ἐστὶν ἡ τοῦ νόμου παιδεία, δι᾿ ἧς τὰ θεῖα σεμνῶς καὶ τὰ
ἀνθρώπινα συμφερόντως μανθάνομεν.
Vocabulary

αἴτιον, τό, cause, reason βίος, ὁ, life, mode of life διακρίνω, judge,
decide; pass., bring an issue to a decision; doubt προτιμάω, inf. προτιμᾶν:
prefer συμφερόντως, profitably (rare) τοίνυν, indeed, then; therefore; δὴ
τοίνυν, “I suggest/submit (that)”

1 In contrast, in mainstream HGr and non-literary Greek such as inscriptions

and papyri, the force of the middle voice was diminished, having become
“lexicalized” in the Hellenistic period: authors normally employed one verb to
express action and chose a different verb to express involvement or reflexivity,
rather than employ the middle voice.

2 μέλλω w. fut. means “about to.” Here it expresses intent as causal adv. ptc.,
with 1st pers. sg. suject (determined by the sentence’s finite verb,
συμβουλεύσαμι), “since I intend to ...”.

3 αὐτοδέσποτός...τῶν παθῶν.

4 Construe w. ὅπως w. subj.

5 προσεχω τὸν νούν + dat. (“turn your attention/mind to”) is a very common
idiom, even in translation Greek; here τὸν νούν is omitted.

6 παντί, “for everyone.”

7 καὶ ἄλλως, “and moreover.”

8 ἔπαινον...τῆς μεγίστης ἀρετῆς.

9 Protasis: εἰ ἄρα (“if then”); the apodosis begins with ἀλλα (which is odd).

10 ἀλλά, pleon.

11 τῶν...παθῶν ← κυριεύειν ← ἀναφαίνεται.

12 I.e., “ask.”

13 Loosely qualifying λέγειν.

14 Opt. of ἔχω + ἄν w. inf. expresses possibility (“I could ... do something”).

15 S.v. πλείων.

16 Instr. adv. ptc. (“by,” cf. IV, 1.6).

17 τοὺς...ἄνδρας.

18 “At this time/season,” perhaps referring to the anniversary of their deaths.

19 θαυμάζω, pass., “to be admired by (ὑπό) somebody for (ἐπί) something.”

20 S.v. καθίστημι.
21 Art. inf. (cf. IV, 2).

22 τὴν...τυραννίδα (subject of τοῦ καταλυθῆναι).

23 ὥστε + inf. (cf. IV, 15).

24 ὅπερ > ὅσπερ.

25 εἰς τὸν περὶ αὐτῶν...λόγον (disc. syn.).

26 πάντων...τοῦτων.

27 The antecedent of αὕτη is γνῶσις.

6.4. Philo of Alexandria, Allegories of the Sacred Laws
(Alleg. Interp. 1.1.31–42)

Philo (20 BCE–50 CE) belonged to the large Jewish community in Alexandria,
Egypt. He is well known for his scriptural interpretation, and especially for his
use of allegory. A case in point is his allegorical interpretation of Gen 2:7, which
is the reading in this section. His thought was strongly influenced by Middle
Platonism, as well as Pythagorean and Stoic philosophy.
Related Texts: Gen 2 (§2.7), L.A.E. (§3.9–10); on Eve, Acts Andr. 5–9
(§5.16); on Adam, Rom 5:6–21 (§4.11).
This reading begins with Philo’s quotation of Gen 2:7.
1.1.31 Καὶ ἔπλασεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον χοῦν λαβὼν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς, καὶ
ἐνεφύσησεν εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ πνοὴν ζωῆς, καὶ ἐγένετο ὁ ἄνθρωπος
εἰς1 ψυχὴν ζῶσαν (Gen 2:7). (There are) διττὰ2 ἀνθρώπων γένη· ὁ μὲν3 γάρ
ἐστιν οὐράνιος ἄνθρωπος, ὁ δὲ γήϊνος. ὁ μὲν οὖν οὐράνιος ἅτε κα εἰκόνα
θεοῦ γεγονὼς (is) φθαρτῆς καὶ συνόλως γεώδους οὐσίας ἀμέτοχος,4 ὁ δὲ
γήϊνος ἐκ σποράδος ὕλης, ἣν χοῦν (Moses) κέκληκεν, ἐπάγη· διὸ τὸν μὲν
οὐράνιόν (ἄνθρωπον) (Moses) φησιν οὐ πεπλάσθαι, κα εἰκόνα δὲ
τετυπῶσθαι θεοῦ, τὸν δὲ γήϊνον (ἄνθρωπον) πλάσμα, ἀλ οὐ γέννημα, εἶναι
τοῦ τεχνίτου.5
Vocabulary

ἀμέτοχος, -ον (w. gen.), not partaking of, free from (w. gen.) ἅτε, just as,
as if
γέννημα, τό, child, offspring γεώδης, -ες, earthlike γηγενής, -ές, earthly
γήϊνος, -η, -ον, earthly δισσός, -ή, -όν (Att. διττός, -ή, -όν), double,
twofold ἐμφυσάω, 3. ἐνεφύσησα: blow in, breathe into οὐράνιος, -ον,
heavenly, from heaven; meteorological οὐσία, ἡ, being, essence; substance
πήγνυμι, 6. ἐπάγην: make solid πλάσμα, τό, anything formed; a body, a
molded thing σπορά, -άδος, ὁ/ἡ, (mostly pl.), scattered συνόλως,
altogether, totally τυπόω, stamp a shape into something ὕλη, ἡ, matter
 φθαρτός, -ή, -όν, perishable χοῦς, τό, χοός (gen.), dust, clay

1.1.32 ἄνθρωπον δὲ τὸν ἐκ γῆς λογιστέον εἶναι νοῦν εἰσκρινόμενον

σώματι, οὔπω (fully) εἰσκεκριμένον (σώματι). ὁ δὲ νοῦς οὕτος γεώδης
6
ἐστὶ τῷ ὄντι καὶ φθαρτός, εἰ μὴ ὁ θεὸς ἐμπεύσειεν αὐτῷ δύναμιν ἀληθινῆς
ζωῆς· τότε γὰρ γίνεται, οὐκέτι πλάττεται7 εἰς ψυχήν, οὐκ ἀργὸν καὶ
ἀδιατύπωτον (ψυχήν), ἀλ εἰς8 νοερὰν καὶ ζῶσαν ὄντως· Εἰς ψυχὴν γάρ
(Moses) φησι, ζῶσαν ἐγένετο ὁ ἄνθρωπος.
Vocabulary

ἀδιατύπωτος, -ον, imperfectly formed ἀργός, -όν, pointless, inefficient

γεώδης, -ες, earthlike εἰσκρίνω, admit; pass., be mixed with ἐμπνέω, 3.
ἐνέπνευσα, 1aor. ptc. ἔμπνευσας, aor. pass. ptc. ἐμπνευσθείς: blow/breath
uponλογιστέον (verbal adjective governing accusative-infinitive
construction), “one must reckon/take into account”
νοερός, -ή, -όν, intellectual νοῦς ὁ, νοός, (gen.), νοΐ/νῷ (dat.), νοῦ
(gen.), νοῦν (acc.), mind, understanding; κατὰ νοῦν, in one’s mind ὄντως,
actually, really

Four Questions
1.1.33 Ζητήσαι9 ἄν τις, διὰ τί ἠξίωσεν ὁ θεὸς ὅλως τὸν γηγενῆ καὶ
φιλοσώματον νοῦν πνεύματος θείου, ἀλ οὐχὶ τὸν (νουν) κατὰ τὴν ἰδέαν
γεγονότα καὶ τὴν εἰκόνα ἑαυτοῦ· δεύτερον δέ, τί ἐστι10 τὸ ἐνεφύσησε. τρίτον,
διὰ τί εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον ἐμπνεῖται· τέταρτον, διὰ τί πνεύματος ὄνομα εἰδ ῶς,
ὅταν (Moses) λέγῃ· Καὶ πνεῦμα θεοῦ ἐπεφέρετο ἐπάνω τοῦ ὕδατος (Gen 1:2),
πνοῆς νῦν ἀλ οὐχὶ πνεύματος μέμνηται.11
Vocabulary

γηγενής, -ές, earthly φιλοσώματος, -ον, body-loving

Response to the First Question

1.1.34 Πρὸς μὲν οὖν τὸ πρῶτον (question) λεκτέον ἓν μέν, ὅτι φιλόδωρος ὢν
ὁ θεὸς χαρίζεται τὰ ἀγαθὰ πᾶσι καὶ τοῖς μὴ τελείοις, προσκαλούμενος αὐτοὺς
εἰς μετουσίαν καὶ ζῆλον ἀρετῆς, ἅμα καὶ τὸν περιττὸν12 πλοῦτον
ἐπιδεικνύμενος αὑτοῦ, ὅτι ἐξαρκεῖ καὶ τοῖς μὴ λίαν ὠφεληθησομένοις. τοῦτο
δὲ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἄλλων (ways) ἐμφαντικώτατα παρίστησιν. ὅταν γὰρ ὕῃ μὲν
κατὰ θαλάττης,13 πηγὰς δὲ ἐν τοῖς ἐρημοτάτοις14 ἀνομβρῇ, τὴν δὲ
λεπτόγεων (ground) καὶ τραχεῖαν καὶ ἄγονον γῆν ἄρδῃ ποταμοὺς ἀναχέων15
ταῖς πλημμύραις, τί ἕτερον16 παρίστησιν ἢ τὴν ὑπερβολὴν τοῦ τε πλούτου καὶ
τῆς ἀγαθότητος ἑαυτοῦ; ἥ ἐστὶν αἰτία δἰ ἣν ἄγονον οὐδεμίαν ψυχὴν
ἐδημιούργησεν ἀγαθοῦ, κἂν17 ἡ χρῆσις18 ἀδύνατος ἐνίοις (people) ᾖ αὐτοῦ.
Vocabulary

ἀγαθότης, -ητος, ἡ, goodness ἄγονος, -ον, unfruitful, barren αἰτία, τό,

cause; accusation, legal charge ἀναχέω, pour out/over ἀνομβρέω, cause to
gush out (with water)
ἄρδω, to water δημιουργέω, create ἐμφαντικός, -ή, -όν, expressive;
superl., ἐμφαντιώτατος, -η, -ον, most clearly ἔνιοι, -αι, -α, some ἐξαρκέω,
be sufficient λεκτέον (verbal adj. expressing necessity), (it) must be said
λεπτόγεως, -εων, infertile λίαν, very, exceedingly μετουσία, ἡ,
participation, partnership περισσός, -ή, -όν (Att. περιττός), abundant,
profuse πηγή, ἡ, running water; a spring source, fountain; source
πλήμμυρα, ἡ, flood, overflowing ὕω, to rain φιλόδωρος, -ον, generous,
bountiful χρῆσις, -εως, ἡ, use, employment of something

Second Response to the First Question

1.1.35 Ἕτερον δὲ λεκτέον (is) ἐκεῖνο·19 (God) βούλεται τὰ θέσει δίκαια20
εἰσαγαγεῖν. ὁ μὲν οὖν μὴ ἐμπνευσθεὶς τὴν ἀληθινὴν ζωήν, ἀλ ἄπειρος ὢν
ἀρετῆς, κολαζόμενος ἐ οἷς ἡμάρτανεν εἶπεν ἂν21 ὡς ἀδίκως κολάζεται,
ἀπειρίᾳ γὰρ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ σφάλλεσθαι περὶ αὐτό,22 (τὸ) αἴτιον δὲ εἶναι τὸν
μηδεμίαν23 ἐμπνεύσαντα ἔννοιαν αὐτοῦ (into him)· τάχα δὲ μηδὲ ἁμαρτάνειν
φήσει τὸ παράπαν, εἴ γε τὰ ἀκούσια καὶ (acts committed) κατὰ ἄγνοιαν οὐδὲ
ἀδικημάτων ἔχειν24 (as) λόγον φασί τινες.25
Vocabulary

ἀδίκημα, -ματος, τό, wrongdoing ἄδικος, -ον, unjust, adv. ἀδίκως, unjustly
ἀκούσιος, -ιον, involuntary, nt. subst. involuntary act ἄπειρος, -ον,
boundless, limitless; inexperienced θέσις, -εως, ἡ, ordinance, dat. “by
ordinance”
 λεκτέον (verbal adj. expressing necessity), (it) must be said
παρὰπαν, τό, altogether, at all σφάλλω, 6. ἐσφάλην: make fall; pass.
stumble/fall over something (acc.), transgress

Response to the Second Question

1.1.36 Τό (term) γε μὴν ἐνεφύσησεν ἴσον ἐστὶ τῷ ἐνέπνευσεν ἢ ἐψύχωσε τὰ
ἄψυχα· μὴ γὰρ τοσαύτης ἀτοπίας ἀναπλησθείημεν,26 ὥστε νομίσαι θεὸν
στόματος ἢ μυκτήρων ὀργάνοις χρῆσθαι πρὸς τὸ ἐμφυσῆσαι· ἄποιος γὰρ ὁ
θεός, οὐ μόνον οὐκ ἀνθρωπόμορφος.
Vocabulary

ἀναπίμπλημι, fill up ἀνθρωπόμορφος, -η, -ον, of human form ἄποιος, -α, -

ον, without quality or attribute ἀτοπία, ἡ, absurdity, folly ἄψυχος, ον,
lifeless, soulless ἴσος, -η, -ον, same, equal, equivalent; nt. pl., on an
equality; adv. ἴσως, equally ὀργάνον, τό, tool, bodily organ, device;
musical instrument μυκτήρ, nostril ψυχόω, give a soul to, to “be-soul”

1.1.37 ἐμφαίνει δέ τι καὶ φυσικώτερον ἡ προφορά. τρία (things) γὰρ εἶναι

δεῖ, τὸ ἐμπνέον, τὸ δεχόμενον, τὸ ἐμπνεόμενον· τὸ μὲν οὖν ἐμπνέον ἐστὶν ὁ
θεός, τὸ δὲ δεχόμενον ὁ νοῦς, τὸ δὲ ἐμπνεόμενον τὸ πνεῦμα. τί οὖν ἐκ
τούτων συνάγεται;27 ἕνωσις γίνεται τῶν τριῶν, τείναντος τοῦ θεοῦ28 τὴν ἀ
ἑαυτοῦ δύναμιν διὰ τοῦ μέσου πνεύματος ἄχρι (it reaches) τοῦ ὑποκειμένου –
(καὶ) τίνος ἕνεκα29 ἢ (τίνος) ὅπως30 ἔννοιαν αὐτοῦ λάβωμεν; Vocabulary

ἐμφαίνω, indicate ἕνωσις, -εως, ἡ, union προφορά, ἡ, expression τείνω,

3. ἔτεινα: stretch, reach out, extend; apply ὑποκείμαι, lie under, below; be
subject to somebody/something φυσικός, -ή, -όν, natural, inborn; (adv.)
φυσικῶς, naturally, physically; comp. φυσικώτερος, more natural

1.1.38 ἐπεὶ πῶς ἂν ἐνόησεν ἡ ψυχὴ θεόν, εἰ μὴ (θεὸς) ἐνέπνευσε καὶ

ἥψατο αὐτῆς κατὰ δύναμιν; οὐ γὰρ ἀπετόλμησε τοσοῦτον ἀναδραμεῖν ὁ
ἀνθρώπινος νοῦς, ὡς ἀντιλαβέσθαι θεοῦ φύσεως, εἰ μὴ αὐτὸς ὁ θεὸς
ἀνέσπασεν αὐτὸν πρὸς ἑαυτόν, ὡς (much as) ἐνῆν (for) ἀνθρώπινον νοῦν
ἀνασπασθῆναι, καὶ (θεὸς) ἐτύπωσε (it) κατὰ τὰς ἐφικτὰς νοηθῆναι δυνάμεις.
Vocabulary
 ἀνασπάω, ἀνέσπασα: pull up, draw up ἀνατρέχω, 2aor. inf. ἀναδραμεῖν:
soar up ἀποτολμάω, dare, venture to ἔνειμι (fr. εἰμί), 3rd impf. ἐνῆν: be
possible, be in one’s power ἐφικτός, -ή, -όν, accessible, attainable

Response to the Third Question

1.1.39 Εἰς δὲ τὸ πρόσωπον ἐμπνεῖ καὶ (is to be understood) φυσικῶς καὶ
ἠθικῶς· φυσικῶς μέν, ὅτι ἐν προσώπῳ τὰς αἰσθήσεις (θεὸς) ἐδημιούργει·
τοῦτο (face) γὰρ μάλιστα τοῦ σώματος (is) τὸ μέρος (that) ἐψύχωται καὶ
ἐμπέπνευσται· ἠθικῶς δὲ οὕτως· ὥσπερ σώματος ἡγεμονικόν ἐστι τὸ
πρόσωπον, οὕτως ψυχῆς ἡγεμονικόν ἐστιν ὁ νοῦς· τούτῳ μόνῳ ἐμπνεῖ ὁ
θεός, τοῖς ἄλλοις μέρεσιν οὐκ ἀξιοῖ, ταῖς τε αἰσθήσεσι καὶ τῷ λόγῳ31 καὶ
τῷ γονίμῳ· δεύτερα γάρ (these) ἐστι τῇ δυνάμει. 40 ὑπὸ τίνος οὖν καὶ ταῦτα
ἐνεπνεύσθη; ὑπὸ τοῦ νοῦ δηλονόντι· οὗ γὰρ32 μετέσχεν ὁ νοῦς παρὰ θεοῦ,
τοῦτου (ὁ νοῦς) μεταδίδωσι τῷ ἁλόγῳ μέρει τῆς ψυχῆς, ὥστε τὸν μὲν νοῦν
ἐψυχῶσθαι ὑπὸ θεοῦ, τὸ δὲ ἄλογον (μέρος) ὑπὸ τοῦ νοῦ· ὡσανεὶ γὰρ θεὸς
ἐστι τοῦ ἀλόγου ὁ νοῦς, παρὸ33 καὶ Μωυσῆν (God) οὐκ ὤκνησεν εἰπεῖν (is)
θεὸν τοῦ Φαραώ (Exod 7:1).
Vocabulary

αἴθησις, ἡ, perception, sensation; pl. (physical) senses γόνιμος, (-η), -ον,

reproductive; subst. reproductive organs δηλονότι, it is plain that, clearly,
of course ἡγεμονικός, -ή, -όν, authoritative, dominant ἠθικός, -ή, -όν,
ethical; (adv.) ἠθικῶς, ethically μεταδίδωμι, give a share, impart ὡσανεί,
so to speak

1.1.41 τῶν γὰρ γινομένων34 τὰ μὲν35 καὶ ὑπὸ (the power) θεοῦ γίνεται καὶ
δι᾿ (agency) αὐτοῦ, τὰ δὲ ὑπὸ (the power) θεοῦ μέν, οὐ δι᾿ (agency) αὐτοῦ
δέ· τὰ μὲν οὖν ἄριστα καὶ ὑπὸ θεοῦ γέγονε καὶ δι᾿ αὐτοῦ· προελθὼν γοῦν
(Moses) ἐρεῖ ὅτι Ἐφύτευσεν ὁ θεὸς παράδεισον (Gen 2:8). τούτων καὶ ὁ νοῦς
ἐστι· τὸ δὲ ἄλογον (part) ὑπὸ θεοῦ μὲν γέγονεν, οὐ διὰ θεοῦ δέ, ἀλλὰ
(rather) διὰ τοῦ λογικοῦ (part) τοῦ ἄρχοντός τε καὶ βασιλεύοντος ἐν ψυχῇ.
Vocabulary

ἄριστος, -η, -ον, best; finest λογικός, -ή, -όν, rational; τὰ λογικά, rational
beings προλέγω, 3. προεῖπον, 4. προείρηκα: warn in advance; say
 beforehand/above φυτεύω, to plant something

Response to the Fourth Question

1.1.42 Πνοὴν δέ, ἀλ οὐ πνεῦμα, (Moses) εἴρηκεν, ὡς36 διαφορᾶς οὔσης
(between these terms)· τὸ μὲν γὰρ πνεῦμα νενόηται κατὰ τὴν ἰσχὺν καὶ
εὐτονίαν καὶ δύναμιν, ἡ δὲ πνοὴ ὡς ἂν αὖρά τίς ἐστι καὶ ἀναθυμίασις
ἡρεμαία καὶ πραεῖα. ὁ37 μὲν οὖν κατὰ τὴν εἰκόνα γεγονὼς καὶ τὴν ἰδέαν
νοῦς πνεύματος ἂν λέγοιτο38 κεκοινωνηκέναι – ῥώμην γὰρ ἔχει ὁ λογισμὸς
αὐτοῦ – ὁ (νοῦς γεγονὼς) δὲ ἐκ τῆς ὕλης (κεκοινωνηκέναι) τῆς κούφης καὶ
ἐλαφροτέρας αὔρας ὡς ἂν ἀποφορᾶς τινος, ὁποῖαι γίνονται ἀπὸ τῶν
ἀρωμάτων· (ἀρωμάτων) φυλαττομένων39 γὰρ οὐδὲν ἧττον40 καὶ μὴ
ἐκθυμιωμένων εὐωδία τις γίνεται.41
Vocabulary

ἀναθυμίασις, -εως, ἡ, vapor ἀποφορά, ἡ, exhalation αὔρα, ἡ, morning air,

breeze ἐκθυμιόω, burn as incense ἐλαφρός, -ή, -όν, light (in weight);
comp. – τερος, lighter εὐτονία, ἡ, vigor ἠρεμαῖος, -α, -ον, gentle ἥσσων, -
ον (Att. ἥττων, -ον), lesser, inferior, weaker; (adv.) nt. less κούφος, -η, -ον,
light (in weight), airy λογισμός, ὁ, deliberation, reasoning, resolve;
reasoning (as a faculty of the mind); λογισμοί, financial accounts ῥώμη, ἡ,
strength, robustness

1 εἰς (w. acc.) expressing manner (“as”).

2 διττά...γένη.

3 ὁ μέν...ὁ δέ....

4 συνόλως...ἀμέτοχος.

5 τεχνίτης refers here to the “Lord.”

6 τῷ ὄντι, “in reality.”

7 πλάττεται (Att.) > πλάσσεται.

8 εἰς (w. acc.), expressing manner (“as”).

9 Cf. table 9.1.5(c).

10 τί ἐστι, “what does ... mean?”

11 S.v. μιμνήσκομαι.

12 περιττός (Att.) > περισσός.

13 θαλάττης (Att.) > θαλάσσης.

14 ἐρημοτάτοις (s.v. ἐρῆμος, -ον), superl., “in the most deserted places.”

15 Instr. adv. ptc. (“by,” cf. IV, 1.6).

16 τί ἕτερον, “what else?”

17 κἄν > καὶ ἄν, “even if.”

18 ἡ χρῆσις...αὐτοῦ (“of it”).

19 ἐκεῖνο = τοῦτο.

20 S.v. δίκαιος, -α, -ον, τὰ δίκαια, “legal standards.”

21 ἄν, here creating a hypothetical situation.

22 Agreeing with ἀγαθοῦ.

23 Agreeing with τὴν ἀληθινὴν ζωήν.

24 Here ἔχειν = εἶναι.

25 λόγον φασί τινες, “as some people say.”

26 Cf. table 9.3.3(b).

27 S.v., συνάγω, here “to infer.”

28 Gen. absol.

29 τίνος ἕνεκα, “for what purpose.”

30 ὅπως + τίνος, “in order for what?”

31 τῷ λόγῳ, “(organs) for speech.”

32 οὗ γὰρ, “for (that) of which.”

33 παρό = παῤ ὅ, “for which reason.”

34 τῶν γὰρ γινομένων, “of the things that have come into being.”

35 τὰ μὲν... τὰ δε....

36 ὡς + ptc. (here in gen. absol.) supplies the reason for or cause of an action.

37 ὁ...νοῦς.
38 Cf. table 9.9.9(a).

39 φυλαττομένων (Att.) > φυλασσομένων, gen. absol.

40 ἧττον (Att.) > ἥσσον.

41 εὐωδία τις γίνεται...οὐδὲν ἧττον (from them).

 6.5. Testament of Reuben: The Evil of Women
(T. Reu. 1:1–6, 3:9–6:4)

Date: ca. 250 BCE (with some later Christian interpolations).

Text: Marinus de Jonge, Testamenta XII Patriarcharum (Leiden: Brill, 1964).
The Testament of Reuben was originally composed in Greek, although it was
later translated into Aramaic and Hebrew, as well as other languages. This is the
first of the books of the Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, a pseudepigraphical
work that narrates the dying commands of each of the twelve sons of Jacob. The
style of these commands is modeled after Jacob’s own testament, as recounted in
Gen 49.
The primary theme of the Testament of Reuben is the admonishment of sexual
immorality or unlawful sexual practice (πορνεία), which is exemplified by
Reuben’s own sinfulness when he had sexual intercourse with Bilhah, his
father’s concubine (T. Reu. 3). The brief narration of this event in Gen 35:22 has
been expanded in the Testament of Reuben on the basis of the story of David
and Bathsheba: we are told that Reuben spied on Bilhah as she bathed in secret
and then, when she became drunk, he raped her while she remained unconscious.
In contrast to Reuben’s behavior, Joseph’s resistance to Potiphar’s wife is set up
as a model for all righteous men to follow (Gen 39:7–14).
Overall, this testament seems to illustrate the growing anxiety concerning
women in the Hellenistic age, portraying them as the cause of the downfall, first,
of the fallen angels, or “Watchers,” and, second, of men in general. The story of
the mythic sexual transgression of the Watchers (as recorded in Gen 6:1–2 and
expanded in 1 En. 1, 6–8, §3.7) is reinterpreted in T. Reu. 5:1–7, which claims
that no direct sexual contact occurred between them. Rather the Watchers’
sexual desire (ἐπιθυμία) alone was sufficient to impregnate the women, causing
them to give birth to giants.
Related Texts: T. Reu. 2:1:3:8 (§6.7); 1 En. 1, 6–8 (§3.7).
1:1 Ἀντίγραφον διαθήκης Ῥουβὴμ1 ὅσα ἐνετείλατο τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτοῦ, πρὶν
ἀποθανεῖν αὐτόν, ἐν ἑκατοστῷ εἰκοστῷ πέμπτῳ ἔτει τῆς ζωῆς αὐτοῦ. 2
μετὰ ἔτη δύο τῆς τελευτῆς Ἰωσήφ, ἀρρωστοῦντι2 συνήχθησαν ἐπισκέψασθαι
αὐτὸν οἱ υἱοὶ καὶ υἱοὶ τῶν υἱῶν αὐτοῦ. 3 καὶ (Reuben) εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Τεκνία
μου, ἐγὼ ἀποθνῄσκω καὶ πορεύομαι ὁδὸν πατέρων μου.
Vocabulary

ἀντίγραφον, τό, copy (of a text) ἀρρωστέω, be very sick εἰκοστός, -ή, -
όν, twentieth πέμπτος, -η, -ον, fifth πρίν / πρίν ἤ, before, until; formerly
τελευτή, ἡ, death

1:4 Καὶ ἰδὼν ἐκεῖ Ἰούδαν καὶ Γὰδ καὶ Ἀσήρ, τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ, εἶπεν
αὐτοῖς· Ἄναστήσατέ με, ἀδελφοί, ὅπως εἴπω τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς μου καὶ τοῖς
τέκνοις μου, ὅσα ἔχω ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ μου κρυπτά· ἐκλιπὼν γὰρ ἐγώ εἰμι ἀπὸ
τοῦ νῦν. 5 καὶ ἀναστὰς κατεφίλησεν αὐτοὺς καὶ κλαύσας εἶπεν· Ἀκούσατε,
ἀδελφοί μου, ἐνωτίσασθε Ῥουφὴμ3 τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν ὅσα ἐντέλλομαι ὑμῖν. 6
καὶ ἱδοὺ ἐπιμαρτύρομαι ὑμῖν τὸ θεὸν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ σήμερον, τοῦ μὴ
πορευθῆναι4 ἐν ἀγνοίᾳ νεότητος, καὶ πορνείᾳ, ἐν ᾗ ἐξεχύθην ἐγὼ καὶ ἐμίανα
τὴν κοίτην τοῦ πατρός μου Ἰακώβ.
Vocabulary

ἄγνοια, ἡ, ignorance ἐκχέω, 3. ἐξέχεα, 6. ἐξεχύθην: pour out; pass. be

poured out, abandon oneself ἐνωτίζομαι, listen to ἐπιμαρτυρέω, bear
witness to something; mid. call upon somebody (acc.) to witness to
somebody (dat.) κοίτη, ἡ, bed, marriage bed νεότης, -ητος, ἡ, youth, state
of youthfulness πορνεία, ἡ, unlawful sexual practice, sexual
promiscuity/immorality ὑπακούω, obey (w. dat.), be subject to

3:9 Καὶ νῦν, τέκνα, τὴν ἀλήθεια ἀγαπήσατε καὶ αὕτη φυλάξει ὑμᾶς.
Διδάσκω ὑμᾶς, ἀκούσατε Ῥουβὴμ τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν. 10 μὴ προσέχετε ἐν
ὄψει γυναικός, μηδὲ ἰδιάζετε μετὰ θηλείας ὑπάνδρου, μηδὲ περιεργάζεσθε
πρᾶξιν γυναικῶν. 11 εἰ5 μὴ γὰρ εἶδον ἐγὼ Βάλλαν λουομένην ἐν σκεπεινῷ
τόπῳ, οὐκ ἐνέπιπτον6 εἰς τὴν ἀνομίαν τὴν μεγάλην. 12 συλλαβοῦσα γὰρ ἡ
διάνοιά μου τὴν γυναικείαν γύμνωσιν, οὐκ εἴασέ με ὑπνῶσαι, ἕως οὗ
(χρόνου) ἔπραξα τὸ βδέλυγμα.
Vocabulary

Βάλλα, Bilhah, the concubine of Jacob (Gen 30:4–8)7

 βδέλυγμα, -ματος, τό, abomination γυναικεῖος, -α, -ον, of a woman,
matters pertaining to women; nt. pl. τὰ γυναικεῖα, menstruation ἰδιάζω, to
be alone περιεργάζομαι, meddle in πρᾶξις, -εως, ἡ, way of
acting/conducting; action/deed; (magical) rite σκεπεινός, -ή, -όν, sheltered

συλλαμβάνω, 3. συνέλαβον, 2aor act. inf. συλλαβεῖν, 2aor. mid. impv.

συλλαβοῦ, 6. συνελήμφθην: lay hold of, seize; comprehend; conceive a child;
mid. take part in something with somebody ὑπάνδρος, -ον, to be under the
authority of a man; subst., ἡ ὑπάνδρος, married woman 3:13 Ἀπιόντος8 γὰρ
Ἰακὼβ τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν πρὸς Ἰσαὰκ τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ, ὄντων ἡμῶν9 ἐν
Γαδέρ,10 πλησίον Ἐφραθὰ οἴκου Βηθλεέμ, Βάλλα ἦν μεθύουσα καὶ
κοιμωμένη11 ἀκάλυφος κατέκειτο ἐν τῷ κοιτῶνι. 14 κἀγὼ εἰσελθὼν καὶ
ἰδὼν τὴν γύμνωσιν αὐτῆς, ἔπραξα τὴν ἀσέβειαν, καὶ καταλειπὼν αὐτὴν
κοιμωμένην, ἐξῆλθον. 15 καὶ εὐθέως ἄγγελος τοῦ θεοῦ ἀπεκάλυψε τῷ πατρί
μου Ἰακὼβ περὶ τῆς ἀσεβείας μου· καὶ ἐλθὼν ἐπένθει ἐ ἐμοὶ, μηκέτι
ἁψάμενος αὐτῆς.
Vocabulary

ἀκάλυφος (= ἀκάλυπτος), uncovered κατάκειμαι, lie down in/on (dat. /

εἰς) κοιτών, -ῶνος, ὁ, bed chamber πράσσω (Att. πράττω), 3. ἔπραξα,
1aor. ptc. πράξας, 1aor pass. ptc. πραχθείς: do, commit an act; achieve,

accomplish; be busy with; charge somebody money for something; pass.

take place, happen

Reuben Continues His Exhortation

4:1 Μὴ οὖν προσέχετε κάλλος γυναικῶν, μηδὲ ἐννοεῖσθε τὰς πράξεις αὐτῶν·
ἀλλὰ πορεύεσθε ἐν ἁπλότητι καρδίας, ἐν φόβῳ κυρίου, καὶ μοχθῶντες ἐν
ἔργοις, καὶ ἀποπλανώμενοι ἐν γράμμασι, καὶ ἐν τοῖς ποιμνίοις ὑμῶν, ἕως ὁ
κύριος δῴη ὑμῖν σύζυγον, ἣν αὐτὸς θέλει, ἵνα μὴ πάθητε, ὡς κἀγώ. 2 ἀχρὶ
τελευτῆς τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν οὐκ εἶχον παρρησίαν ἀτενίσαι εἰς πρόσωπον
Ἰακώβ,12 ἢ λαλῆσαί τινι τῶν ἀδελφῶν, διὰ τοὺς ὀνειδισμούς. 3 καὶ ἕως νῦν
ἡ συνείδησίς μου συνέχει με περὶ τῆς ἁμαρτίας μου. 4 καίγε παρεκάλεσέ με ὁ
πατήρ μου, ὅτι ηὔξατο περὶ ἐμοῦ πρὸς κύριον, ἵνα παρέλθῃ ἀ ἐμοῦ ἡ
ὀργὴ κυρίου, (which is actually) καθὼς ἔδειξέ μοι κύριος. ἀπὸ τότε οὖν
παρεφυλαξάμην, καὶ οὐχ ἥμαρτον. 5 διὰ τοῦτο, τέκνα μου, φυλάξασθε πάντα,
ὅσα ἐντέλλομαι ὑμῖν, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἁμαρτήσητε.
Vocabulary

ἀπλότης, -ητος, ἡ, simplicity, sincerity ἀποπλανάω, lead astray; pass.

wander about γράμμα, τό, letter, pl. τά γράμματα, literature, learning
ἐννοέω, reflect on, occupy one’s mind with εὔχομαι, 3. ηὐξάμην, 1aor.
mid. impv. εὖξαι: pray; vow καίγε, and yet (cf. T. Reu. 5:3) μοχθέω, work
hard, labor παραφυλάσσω, keep watch, be on guard παρρησία, ἡ,
boldness, confidence πρᾶξις, -εως, ἡ, way of acting/conducting;
action/deed; (magical) ritual σύζυγος, ὁ, companion, mate συνείδησις, ἡ,
conscience τελευτή, ἡ, death

4:6 Ὄλεθρος γὰρ ψυχῆς ἐστίν ἡ πορνεία, χωρίζουσα (it) θεοῦ, καὶ
προσεγγίζουσα τοῖς εἰδώλοις, ὅτι αὕτη ἐστὶ πλανῶσα τὸν νοῦν καὶ τὴν
διάνοια, καὶ κατάγει νεανίσκους εἰς ᾍδην, οὐκ ἐν καιρῷ αὐτῶν. 7 καὶ γὰρ
πολλοὺς ἀπώλεσεν ἡ πορνεία· ὅτι κἂν13 ᾗ τις γέρων, ἢ εὐγενής, ὄνειδος
αὐτὸν (ἡ πορνεία) ποιεῖ καὶ γέλωτα παρὰ τῷ Βελίαρ14 καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν
ἀνθρώπων.
Vocabulary

ᾍδης, -ου, ὁ (uncontr. Ἁίδης, Ἁίδαο), Hades, She’ol, the Netherworld

γέλως, -ωτος, ὁ, object of laughter γέρων, -οντος, ὁ, old man, elder;
senator (often experts on religious matters) εἴδωλον, τό, statue/image of a
deity, idol
εὐγενής, -ές, of noble birth, high social status νεανίσκος, ὁ, a youth,
young man; servant ὄνειδος, -ους, τό, object of reproach προσεγγίζω, bring
somebody near

4:8 Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἐφύλαξεν ἑαυτὸν Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ πάσης γυναικός, καὶ τὰς
ἐννοίας ἐκαθαίρισεν ἀπὸ πάσης προνείας, εὗρεν χάριν ἐνώπιον κυρίου καὶ
ἀνθρώπων. 9 καὶ γὰρ πολλὰ ἐποίησεν αὐτῷ ἡ Αἰγυπτία,15 καὶ μάγους
παρεκάλεσε, καὶ φάρμακα16 αὐτῷ προσήνεγκε·17 καὶ οὐκ ἐδέξατο τὸ
διαβούλιον τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ ἐπιθυμίαν πονηράν. 10 διὰ τοῦτο ὁ θεὸς τῶν
πατέρων μου ἐρρύσατο αὐτὸν ἀπὸ παντὸς ὁρατοῦ καὶ κεκρυμμένου18
θανάτου. 11 ἐὰν γὰρ μὴ κατισχύσῃ ἡ πορνεία τὴν ἔννοιαν, οὐδὲ Βελίαρ
κατισχύσει ὑμῶν.
 Vocabulary

Αἰγύπτιος, -ία, -ιον, Egyptian (adj.); subst. ὁ Αἰγύπτιος, Egyptian man;

Αἰγυπτία, ἡ, Egyptian woman διαβούλιον, τό, counsel, deliberation
ἑρύω, mid. ἐρύομαι/ῥύομαι, 2. ῥύσομαι, 3. ἐρρυσάμην: mid. rescue,
save, deliver κατισχύω, overpower; prevail over (acc.), become master of
μάγος, ὁ, magician ὁρατός, -ή, -όν, visible φάρμακον, τό, drug,
medicine; magic potion; spell cast using a magic potion

5:1 Πονηραί εἰσιν αἱ γυναῖκες, τέκνα μου, ὅτι μὴ ἔχουσαι ἐξουσίαν ἢ

δύναμιν ἐπὶ τὸν ἄνθρωπον, δολιεύονται ἐν σχήμασι, πῶς αὐτὸν πρὸς αὐτὰς
ἐπισπάσονται· 2 καὶ ὃν διὰ δυνάμεως οὐχ ἰσχύει καταγωνίσασθαι, τοῦτον δι᾿
ἀπάτης καταγωνίζεται. 3 ὅτι καίγε περὶ αὐτῶν εἶπέ μοι ὁ ἄγγελος τοῦ θεοῦ,
καὶ ἐδίδαξέ με, ὅτι αἱ γυναῖκες ἡττῶνται τῷ πνεύματι τῆς πορνείας ὑπὲρ19
τὸν ἄνθρωπον, καὶ ἐν (their) καρδίᾳ μηχανώνται κατὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, καὶ
διὰ τῆς κοσμήσεως πλανῶσιν αὐτῶν πρῶτον τὰς διανοίας, καὶ διὰ τοῦ
βλέμματος τὸν ἰὸν ἐνσπείρουσιν, καὶ τότε τῷ ἔργῳ αἰχμαλωτίζουσιν·20 4 οὺ
γὰρ δύναται γυνὴ ἄνθρωπον βιάσασθαι.
Vocabulary

ἀπάτη, ἡ, deception, deceitfulness βιάζω, to force, use force, do

something by force; lay hands on, violate (a law); pass. be forced βλέμμα, -
ατος, τό, a look, glance δολιεύομαι, use trickery, deal treacherously
ἐνσπείρω, sow in ἐπισπάω, draw to oneself, attract somebody to oneself
ἡσσάομαι (Att. ἡττάομαι), 6. ἡσσήθην: overcome; pass. give way to, give
into (w. dat.), succumb to ἰσχύω, be able; defeat, overcome; be strong
καίγε, and yet (cf. T. Reu. 5:3) καταγωνίζομαι, overcome, prevail against
κοσμήσις, -εως, ἡ, adornment (of a women) μηχανάομαι, plot against,
contrive against a person

5:5 Φεύγετε οὖν τὴν πορνείαν, τέκνα μου, καὶ προστάσσετε ταῖς γυναιξὶν
ὑμῶν καὶ ταῖς θυγατράσιν, ἵνα μὴ κοσμῶνται τὰς κεφαλὰς καὶ τὰς ὄψεις
αὐτων,21 ὅτι πᾶσα γυνὴ δολιευομένη ἐν τούτοις εἰς κόλασιν τοῦ αἰῶνος
τετήρηται. 6 Οὕτως γὰρ ἔθελξαν τοὺς Ἐγρηγόρους πρὸ τοῦ καταλυσμοῦ·
κἀκεῖνοι συνεχῶς ὁρῶντες αὐτάς,22 ἐγένοντο ἐν ἐπιθυμίᾳ ἀλλήλων, καὶ
συνέλαβον τῇ διανοίᾳ τὴν πρᾶξιν καὶ μετεσχηματίζοντα εἰς ἀνθρώπους, καὶ
ἐν τῇ συνουσίᾳ τῶν ἀνδρῶν αὐτῶν συνεφαίνοντο αὐταῖς. 7 κἀκεῖνοι23
ἐπιθυμοῦσαι τῇ διανοίᾳ τὰς φαντασίας αὐτῶν, ἔτεκον γίγαντας. ἐφαίνοντο
γὰρ αὐταῖς οἱ Ἐγγρήγορες ἕως τοῦ οὐρανοῦ φθάνοντες.
Vocabulary

γίγαντες, οἱ (pl.), giants (cf. 1 En. 7:2) δολιεύομαι, use trickery, deal
treacherously Ἐγρηγόροι, Watchers (i.e., fallen angels, cf. Gen 6:1–2)24
θέλγω, 3. ἔθελξα, 1aor. inf. θέλξαι: to bewitch, enchant κοσμέω, put in
order, arrange; adorn, dress μετασχηματίζω, change form; pass. be changed
into συνεχῶς, continually συνουσία, ἡ, being with/together with; sexual
intercourse συνφαίνομαι, appear along with/together with
φαντασία, ἡ, fantasy (technical Stoic term for the impression in the soul of
what is received through the senses); appearance, presentation

6:1 Φυλάσσεσθε οὗν ἀπὸ τῆς πορνείας· καὶ εἰ θέλετε καθαρεύειν τῇ

διανοίᾳ, φυλάσσετε τὰς αἰσθήσεις ἀπὸ πάσης θηλείας. 2 κἀκείναις25 δὲ
ἐντείλασθε μὴ συνδυάζειν ἀνθρώποις, ἵνα καὶ αὐταὶ καθαρεύωσι τῇ διανοίᾳ.
3 αἱ γὰρ συνεχεῖς συντυχίαι, κἂν μὴ πραχθῇ26 τὸ ἀσέβημα, αὐταῖς μέν ἐστι
νόσος ἀνίατος, ἡμῖν δὲ ὄνειδος τοῦ Βελίαρ αἰώνιον· 4 ὅτι ἡ πορνεία οὔτε
σύνεσιν οὔτε εὐσέβειαν ἔχει ἐν ἑαυτῇ καὶ πᾶς ζῆλος κατοικεῖ ἐν τῇ ἐπιθυμίᾳ
αὐτῆς.
Vocabulary

αἴθησις, ἡ, perception; pl. (physical) senses ἀνίατος, -ον, incurable

ἀσέβημα, -ματος, τό, profane act εὐσέβεια, ἡ, reverence toward the gods,
piety καθαρεύω, be pure, clean; be free from νόσος, ἡ, disease, illness
ὄνειδος, -ους, τό, disgrace, object of reproach συνδυάζω, associate with,
join oneself with συνεχής, -ές, successive, recurrent συντυχία, ἡ, chance
meeting

Select Bibliography
Hollander, H. W., and M. de Jonge. The Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs: A
Commentary. Leiden: Brill, 1985.
Kee, Howard C. “The Ethical Dimension of the Teaching of the XII as a Clue to
the Provenance.” NTS 24 (1978), 259–270.
1 Ῥουβήμ and Ἰωσήφ are both indecl., but here gen.

2 Dat. of time, “when he (Reuben) ...” (cf. IV, 5.2).

3 Indecl. (gen.).

4 Art. inf. expressing purpose (cf. IV, 2).

5 Contrary-to-fact cond. statement.

6 S.v. ἐμπίπτω.

7 Cf. Gen 35:22; this story has been expanded on the basis of the story of David
and Bathsheba.

8 S.v. ἄπειμι (fr. εἶμι, cf. table 9.14), gen. absol.

9 Gen. absol.

10 Gader, near Ephratah.

11 Impf. perphr. (cf. IV, 17).

12 Indecl. (gen.).

13 κἄν > καὶ ἐάν.

14 Cf. T. Reu. 2:2.

15 When Pharaoh appointed Joseph as his chancellor, he gave him a beautiful

Egyptian woman as his wife.
16 Cf. PGM IV, 1496–1595 (§7.3), love spell of attraction; cf. also SIG3 985, l.
18 (§7.3); spell, PGM XIII, 230–334 (§5.4).

17 S.v. προσφέρω.

18 S.v. κρύπτω.

19 ὑπέρ, “more than.”

20 S.v. αἰχμαλωτίζω = αἰχμαλοτεύω.

21 Cf. Rev 17:4 (§1.10), Apoc. Pet. 24 (§5.8), 1 Pet 3:1–3, 1 Tim 2:9–15.

22 I.e., the women.

23 κἀκεῖνοι > κἀκεῖναι.

24 For an explanation of this term, see 1 En. 1:2 (§3.7).

25 I.e., the women.

26 S.v. πράσσω.
 6.6. Ezekiel the Tragedian
(Ezek. Trag. 68–119)

Provenance: Alexandria, Egypt Date: Second century BCE.

Ezekiel the Tragedian, also known as Ezekiel the Dramatist, wrote in the
second century BCE in Alexandria, Egypt. Though only fragments of this text
have survived, its extensive quotation in the writings of Eusebius, Clement of
Alexandria, and Pseudo-Eustathios has made its reconstruction possible.1
Over the course of its five parts, this poem retells the story of the Exodus in
the style of Greek tragedy, which heightens the dramatic and tragic elements.
The text is written in the poetic iambic trimeter of Greek tragic drama. A metron
is the basic unit of a line of verse.2 An iambic metron is defined as x – ˇ –,
where:

x represents an anceps (a doubtful syllable whose quantity can be

either long or short)

– represents a long syllable

ˇ represents a short syllable

An iambic trimeter is composed of three iambic metra, with each metron

consisting of two “feet”:

1 2 3 4 5 6 (feet)

x– ˇ– x|– ˇ|– x– ˇx

In order to determine the meter of an epigram, the quantity of each syllable

must be determined as to whether it is long or short. A syllable may count as
short for prosodic purposes, despite the fact that it is long by nature, and vice
versa.3 A caesura (a break between two words in the middle of a metron),
indicated by a vertical bar ( | ), occurs after the first syllable of the third or fourth
foot. No word can end after a long anceps, except at a caesura in the middle of a
line.
*

MosesἜδο 4 ὄρους κα 5 ἄκρα Σιναίου6 θρόνον

μέγαν τι 7 εἶναι (reaching) μέχρι᾿ ς8 οὐρανοῦ πτύχας, ἐν τῷ (θρόνῳ)
καθῆσθαι φῶτα γενναῖόν τινα 70
διάδη ἔχοντα καὶ μέγα σκῆπτρον χερί9
εὐωνύμῳ μάλιστα. δεξιᾷ (χειρί) δέ μοι
ἔνευσε, κἀγὼ πρόσθεν ἐστάθην10 θρόνου.11
σκῆπτρον δέ μοι πάρδωκε καὶ εἰς θρόνον μέγαν
εἶπεν (μοι) καθῆσαι· βασιλικὸν12 ἔδωκέ μοι 75
διάδημα καὶ αὐτὸς ἐκ θρόνων χωρίζεται.

Vocabulary

ἄκρος, -α, -ον, end, extremity; subst. top γενναῖος, -α, -ον, high-born;
noble; subst., τὸ γενναῖον, nobility διάδημα, τό, crown εὐώνυμος, -α, -ον,
honored; euphem. for “left” (cf. ἀριστερός) νεύω, nod, beckon with the
hand πρόσθεν, (τό), before, in front of; earlier, formerly πτύξ, ἡ, pl.
πτύχες (nom.), πτύχας (acc.), layer, fold (of a garment) Σίναιον ὄρος,
Mount Sinai σκῆπτρον, τό, scepter (of a king) φώς, φωτός, ὁ, man

ἐγὼ ἐσεῖδον γῆν ἅπασαν ἔγκυκλον 77

καὶ (saw) ἔνερθε γαίας καὶ ἐξύπερθεν οὐρανοῦ, καὶ μοί τι πλῆθος
ἀστέρων πρὸς13 γούνατα
ἔπιπ ,14 ἐγὼ δὲ πάντας ἠριθμησάμην, 80
15
κἀμοῦ παρῆγεν ὡς παρεμβολὴ βροτῶν.
εἶ ἐμφοβηθεὶς ἐξανίστα ἐξ ὕπνου.

Vocabulary
 ἀριθμέω, 1aor. mid. ἠριθμησάμην: count, number ἀστήρ, -έρος, ὁ, star
βροτός, ὁ, man (poet.) γαῖα, ἡ, earth (poet.) γόνυ, -νατος, τό (Ep. and
Ion. γούνατος; nt. pl. γούνατα); pl. γόνατα: knee ἔγκυκλος, -ον, around
εἰσοράω/ἐσοράω, pres. ptc. εἰσορῶν, εἰσορῶντος: look upon (w.
admiration), gaze toward (πρός) ἔνερθε(ν), beneath ἐξανίστημι, mid.
ἐξανίσταμαι: raise up; establish; arise, get up, awake ἐξύπερθεν (=
ὕπερθεν), above ἐμφοβέω, terrify; pass. be alarmed παράγω, march by
παρεμβολή, ἡ, army; battalion ὕπνος, ὁ, sleep

Raguel Ὦ ξένε, καλόν σοι τοῦ ἐσήμηνεν θεός·

ζῴην16 , ὅταν σοι ταῦτα συμβαίνῃ ποτέ.
ἆρά γε μέγαν17 τι ἐξαναστήσεις θρόνου 85
καὶ αὐτὸς βραβεύσεις καὶ καθηγήσῃ βροτῶν; τὸ εἰσθεᾶσθαι18 γῆν
ὅλην οἰκουμένην
καὶ τὰ ὑπένερθε καὶ ὑπὲρ οὐρανὸν θεοῦ·
ὄψει τά 19 ὄντα τά τε πρὸ τοῦ τά 20 ὕστερον.

Vocabulary

ἆρα, interrogative particle expecting negative response βραβεύω, act as

judge εἰσθεάομαι, gaze upon καθηγέομαι, lead, command (w. gen.)
σημαίνω, 2. σημανῶ, 3. ἐσήμηνα, aor. impv. σήμανον: give a sign/signal,
indicate something (acc.) with a sign; report, make known ὑπένερθε(ν),
below

Moses Ἔα· τί μοι σημεῖον ἐκ βάτου τόδε, 90

τεράστιόν τε καὶ βροτοῖς ἀπιστία; ἄφνω βάτος μὲν καίεται πολλῷ πυρί,
αὐτοῦ δὲ χλωρὸν πᾶν21 μένει τὸ βλαστάνον.
τί δή; προελθὼν ὄψομαι τεράστιον
μέγιστον· οὐ γὰρ πίστιν ἀνθρώποις φέρει. 95

Vocabulary

ἀπιστία, ἡ, unbelief, incredibility ἄφνω, suddenly βάτος, ἡ, bramble

bush, prickly shrub βλαστάνω, to sprout, shoot forth; nt. subst. ptc., foliage
ἔα (exclamation), ha!, oh!
καίω (Att. κάω), 3. ἔκαυσα: light something, kindle a fire, burn τεράστιος,
 -ον, astonishing (of portents) χλωρός, -ά, -όν, greenish-yellow; subst. a
green plant

GodἘπίσχες, ὦ φέριστε, μὴ προσεγγίσῃς, Μωσῆ, πρὶν ἢ τῶν σῶν

ποδῶν λῦσαι δέσιν·
ἁγία γὰρ ἧς σὺ γῆς22 ἐφέστηκας23 πέλει, ὁ ἐκ βάτου σοι θεῖος24
ἐκλάμπει λόγος.
θάρσησον, ὦ παῖ, καὶ λόγων ἄκοὐ ἐμῶν·25 100
ἰδεῖν γὰρ ὄψιν τὴν ἐμὴν ἀμήχανον
θνητὸν γεγῶτα, τῶν λόγων26 ἔξεστί σοι
ἐμῶν ἀκούειν, τῶν ἑκά 27 ἐλήλυθα.

Vocabulary

ἀμήχανος, -ον, unmanageable; impossible δέσις, ἡ (= ὑπόδημα), sandal

ἐπέχω, 2aor. act. impv. ἐπίσχες: hold firmly to; stay, halt; stay on (for a
period of time); to offer, extend ἐφίστημι, pres. mid. ἐφίσταμα, 3.
ἐπέστησα/ἐπέστην, aor. ptc. ἐπιστάς, -άντος, 4. ἐφέστηκα: stand on;
stand near, stand beside (w. παρά); approach somebody (w. dat.); come
upon, attack; mid. (intrans.), come upon somebody (w. dat.), overtake
somebody θαρσέω (Att. θαρρέω), be of good courage θνητός, -ή, -όν,
mortal; subst. a mortal; stillbirth; τά θνητά, things affecting mortals πέλω,
become, have become πρίν / πρίν ἤ, before, until προσεγγίζω, to approach,
come near φέριστος, bravest; mostly voc. φέριστε, Oh brave one

ἐγὼ θεὸς σῶν, ὧν λέγεις, γεννητόρων, 104

Ἀβραάμ τε καὶ Ἰσαὰκ καὶ Ἰακώβου τρίτου.
μνησθεὶς ἐκείνων καὶ ἔ ἐμῶν δωρημάτων
πάρειμι σῶσαι λαὸν Ἑβραίων ἐμόν, ἰδὼν κάκωσιν καὶ πόνον δούλων
ἐμῶν.
ἀλ ἕρπε καὶ σήμαινε τοῖς ἐμοῖς λόγοις
πρῶτον μὲν αὐτοῖς πᾶσιν Ἑβραίοις ὁμοῦ, 110
ἔπειτα βασιλεῖ τὰ ὑ ἐμοῦ ταταγμένα,28
ὅπως σὺ λαὸν τὸν ἐμὸν ἐξάγοις χθονός.
 Vocabulary

γεννήτωρ, ὁ > γενέτωρ > γενέτης, ὁ, ancestor, patriarch ἐξάγω, lead out,
bring ἕρπω, go/come κάκωσις, -εως, ill-treatment, suffering μιμνήσκομαι
(w. gen.) (also μνήσκομαι), 3. ἐμνήσθην, 4. μέμνημαι, 6. ἐμνήσθην:
remember somebody, recollect; make mention of (w. gen.); pass. (dep.)
remembered/be remembered χθών, -ονός, ἡ (poet.), land, country

Moses Οὐκ εὔλογος πέφυκα, γλῶσσα ἐστί μοι

δύσφραστος, ἰσχνόφωνος, ὥστε μὴ λόγους
ἐμοὺς γενέσθαι βασιλέως ἐναντίον.29 115
God Ἀάρωνα πέμψω σὸν κασίγνητον ταχύ, ᾧ πάντα λέξεις τἀξ30 ἐμοῦ
λελεγμένα, 117
καὶ αὐτὸς λαλήσει βασιλέως ἐναντίον, σὺ μὲν πρὸς ἡμᾶς, ὁ δὲ λαβὼν31
σέθεν32 πάρα.

Vocabulary

Ααρων, Aaron
δύσφραστος, -ον, speaking with difficulty εὔλογος, -ον, reasonable;
suitable; eloquent ἰσχνόφωνος, -ον, weak-voiced, having a speech
impediment κασίγνητος, ὁ, brother; κασιγνήτη, ἡ, sister φύω, 4. πέφυκα:
bring forward, produce/form; create, put forth

Select Bibliography
Jacobson, Howard. The Exagoge of Ezekiel. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 1983.
Lanfranchi, Pierluigi. L’exagoge d’Ezéchiel le tragique. Leiden: Brill, 2006.
Robertson, R. G. “Ezekiel the Tragedian.” In The Old Testament
Pseudepigrapha, II, 803ff. Ed. J. H. Charlesworth. Garden City, NY:
Doubleday, 1985.
Strugnell, John. “Notes on the Text and Metre of Ezekiel the Tragedian’s
Exagôgê.” HTR 60 (1967), 449–457.
1 For a collated, edited edition see Jacobson, The Exagoge of Ezekiel.

2 For a more detailed explanation of the rules of Greek prosody see: M. L.

West, Introduction to Greek Metre (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1987); Paul Maas,
Greek Metre, trans. Hugh Lloyd-Jones (Oxford: Clarendon, 1962); D. S. Raven,
Greek Metre: An Introduction (London: Faber and Faber, 1962).

3 A “metron” is the basic unit of a line of verse. The determination of vowel

quantity can be summarized by the following rules: Rule 1 (epic correption):
Syllables containing η, ω, or double vowels (diphthongs) are long by nature. A
vowel that is long by nature is short by position, if in hiatus (a final vowel of a
word is said to be in hiatus if it is followed by a word beginning with a vowel
and is unelided). Rule 2: The quantity of the vowels α, ι, and υ may be either
long or short and must be determined by the requirements of the meter. Rule 3:
Syllables containing ε and ο are short by nature; but any vowel that is short by
nature becomes long by position when followed by two or more consonants or
by a double consonant (e.g., ζ, ξ, ψ). For example, the vowels ε and ο in
ἔρχονται are short by nature but count as long for the purpose of scansion
because they are each followed by double consonants. Similarly, when a short
vowel–consonant combination occurs at the end of a word, followed by a word
beginning with a consonant, the short vowel becomes long by position (e.g.,
πένθος τῆς). Rule 4 (Attic correption): This is a major exception to Rule 3. A
naturally short vowel that is followed by two consonants can remain short if the
consonants are a combination of a mute (π, τ, κ, φ, θ, χ, β, δ, γ) followed by a
liquid consonant (λ, μ, ν, ρ). This phenomenon is known as “Attic correption.”
For example, the vowel α in πατρός can be treated as either long or short
because it is followed by a mute–liquid combination (-τρ). Similarly, a final
short vowel followed by a word beginning with a mute–liquid combination can
be treated as either long or short (e.g., ποτε βρέφος). However, when the mute
and liquid belong to different words (e.g., ἐκ λόγων) or belong to different parts
of a compound word (e.g., ἐκλέγω), the vowel must be long.

4 ἔδο > ἔδοξα.

5 κατά (w. acc.), “upon.”

6 ὄρους...Σιναίου.

7 τι > τινα.

8 μέχρι᾿ ς > μέχρι εἰς.

9 χερί > χειρί.

10 Cf. table 9.11.4(c).

11 πρόσθεν...θρόνου.

12 βασιλικὸν...διάδημα.

13 πρός (w. acc.), “before.”

14 ἔπιπ > ἔπιπτον.

15 κἀμου > καὶ ἐμου (ablative gen. signifying movement away from).

16 ζῴην (s.v. ζάω), 1st pers. sg. pres. act. opt. (-α + -οίμην), cf. table 9.2.3(a).

17 μέγαν...θρόνου.

18 Art. inf.

19 > τε (postpos.).

20 > τε.

21 πᾶν...τὸ βλαστάνον.
22 γῆς...πέλει... ἁγία.

23 S.v. ἐφίστημι.

24 θεῖος...λόγος.

25 λόγων...ἐμῶν (dis. syn. [Y2 hyp.]).

26 τῶν λόγων...ἐμῶν.

27 ἑκά > ἑκάτων.

28 S.v. τάσσω.

29 βασιλέως ἐναντίον = ἐναντίον βασιλέως.

30 τἀξ > ταχύ.

31 I.e., Aaron.

32 σέθεν (s.v. σύ), variant of σου; σέθεν πάρα = πάρα σέθεν.

6.7. Testament of Reuben: The Seven Spirits of Deceit

(T. Reu. 2:1–3:8)

This passage introduces the seven “spirits” (πνεῦματα), or “functions,” that
were given man at creation, namely the five physical senses, along with sexual
reproduction and speech. These functions are likely related to the divisions of
the Stoic soul. Next follow the seven evil “spirits,” or weaknesses, that dominate
the lives of youths (T. Reu. 3:3–6), the first of which is sexual immorality
(πορνεῖα), which creates a link to the spirit of sexual reproduction in the
previous list.
Related Texts: Testament of Reuben: The Evil of Women (T. Reu. 1:1–6, 3:9–
6:4, §6.5) 2:1 Καὶ νῦν ἀκούσατέ μου, τέκνα, ἃ εἶδον περὶ τῶν ἑπτὰ
πνευμάτων τῆς πλάνης1 ἐν τῇ μετανοίᾳ μου. 2 ἑπτὰ πνεύματα ἐδόθη κατὰ2
τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀπὸ τοῦ Βελίαρ καὶ αὐτά3 εἰσι κεφαλὴ4 τῶν ἔργων τοῦ
νεωτερισμοῦ· 3 καὶ ἑπτὰ (other) πνεύματα ἐδόθη αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τῆς κτίσεως, τοῦ
εἶναι5 (done) ἐν αὐτοῖς πᾶν ἔργον ἀνθρώπου. 4 πρῶτον πνεῦμα ζωῆς, με ἧς
ἡ σύστασις κτίζεται. δεύτερον πνεῦμα ὁράσεως, με ἧς γίνεται ἐπιθυμία. 5
τρίτον πνεῦμα ἀκοῆς, με ἧς γίνεται διδασκαλία. τέταρτον πνεῦμα
ὀσφρήσεως, με ἧς ἐστὶ γεῦσις δεδομένη εἰς συνολκὴν ἀέρος καὶ πνοῆς. 6
πέμπτον πνεῦμα λαλιᾶς, με ἧς γίνεται γνῶσις. 7 ἓκτον πνεῦμα γεύσεως με
ἧς βρῶσις βρωτῶν καὶ ποτῶν, καὶ ἰσχὺς ἐν αὐτοῖς κτίζεται· ὅτι ἐν βρώμασίν
ἐστιν ἡ ὑπόστασις τῆς ἰσχύος. 8 ἕβδομον πνεῦμα σπορᾶς καὶ συνουσίας, με
ἧς συνεισέρχεται διὰ τῆς φιληδονίας ἡ ἁμαρτία. 9 διὰ τοῦτο ἔσχατόν ἐστι (in
order) τῆς κτίσεως καὶ πρῶτον (in order) τῆς νεότητος, ὅτι ἀγνοίας
πεπλήρωται, καὶ αὕτη τὸν νεώτερον ὁδηγεῖ ῶς τυφλὸν ἐπὶ βόθρον καὶ ῶς
κτῆνος ἐπὶ κρημνόν.
Vocabulary

Βελίαρ, Beliar (cf. T. Reu. 4:11, 6:3), also “Belial,” the demonic prince of
the sons of darkness6
βρωτόν, τό, food λαλιά, ἡ, speech, (faculty of) speech ὀσφρήσις, -εως,
ἡ, (sense of) smell σπορά, ἡ, sowing (seed), procreation σύστασις, -εως,
 ἡ, (human) constitution/nature συνεισέρχομαι, come together/along
συνολκή, ἡ, inhaling, drawing in ὑπόστασις, -εως, ἡ, basis; frame of
mind

3:1 Ἐπὶ πᾶσι τούτοις ὄγδοον πνεῦμα τοῦ ὕπνου ἐστί, με οὗ ἐκτίσθη
ἔκστασις (human) φύσεως, καὶ εἰκὼν τοῦ θανάτου. 2 τούτοις τοῖς πνεύμασι
συμμίγνυται τὰ πνεύματα τῆς πλάνης. 3 πρῶτον τὸ τῆς πορνείας7 (πνεῦμα) ἐν
τῇ φύσει καὶ ταῖς αἰσθήσεσιν ἔγκειται. δεύτερον πνεῦμα ἀπληστίας ἐν τῇ
γαστρί. 4 τρίτον πνεῦμα μάχης ἐν τῷ ἥπατι καὶ τῇ χολῇ. τέταρτον πνεῦμα
ἀρεσκείας καὶ μαγγανείας, ἵνα διὰ περιεργείας ὡραῖος ὠφθῇ. 5 πέμπτον
πνεῦμα ὑπερηφανείας, ἵνα κινῆται καὶ μεγαλοφρονῇ. ἕκτον πνεῦμα ψεύδους,
ἐν ἀπωλείᾳ καὶ ζήλῳ τοῦ πλάττειν8 λόγους αὐτοῦ (concealing one’s
intentions) ἀπὸ γένους καὶ οἰκείων.
Vocabulary

ἀπληστία, insatiable desire, greediness ἀρεσκεία, ἡ, flattery ἔγκειμαι, be

involved with (ἐν) ἧπαρ, -ατος, τό, liver (connected with θυμός in T.
Naph. 2:8) μαγγανεία, ἡ, trickery μεγαλοφρονέω, be haughty περιεργεία,
ἡ, meddling (in the affairs of others) οἰκεῖοι, οἱ, members of a household,
family relations χολή, ἡ, gall; gallbladder (connected with πικρία [bitter
temper] in T. Naph. 2:8)

3:6 ἕβδομον πνεῦμα ἀδικίας, με ἧς (come) κλοπὴ καὶ γρυπίσματα, ἵνα

ἐμπλήσῃ9 φιληδονία καρδίας αὐτοῦ. ἡ γὰρ ἀδικία συνεργεῖ τοῖς λοιποῖς
πνεῦμασιν διὰ τῆς δολοληψίας. 7 ἐπὶ πᾶσι δὲ τούτοις τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ ὕπνου,
τὸ ὄγδοον πνεῦμα, συνάπτεται πλάνῃ καὶ φαντασίᾳ. 8 καὶ οὕτως ἀπόλλυται
πᾶς νεώτερος, σκοτίζων τὸν νοῦν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀληθείας, καὶ μὴ συνιεὶς10
ἐν τῷ νόμῳ τοῦ θεοῦ, μήτε ὑπακούων νουθεσίας πατέρων αὐτοῦ· ὥσπερ
κἀγὼ ἔπαθον ἐν τῷ νεωτερισμῷ μου.
Vocabulary

γρυπίσμα, τό, crooked dealings δοσοληψία, ἡ, exchange, give-and-take

κλοπή, ἡ, theft νεωτερισμός, ὁ, youth σκοτίζω, darken συνάπτομαι, be
connected with
1 The concept of seven spirits of deceit can be related to the seven basic human
functions or weaknesses (akin to the Stoic notion of spirits). They are contrasted
to the seven spirits given at Creation.

2 κατά, “against.”

3 Agreeing with πνευμάτων.

4 κεφαλή, “head” (i.e., “source”).

5 Art. inf. expressing purpose (cf. IV, 1.2).

6 Cf. T. Levi 18:12, T. Dan. 5:10–11, T. Jud. 25:3, Mart. Isa. 1:8, 3:11; 2 Cor
6:15.

7 This first spirit of deceit is clearly related to the seventh spirit of creation (T.
Reu. 2:8b–9).

8 πλάττειν (Att.) > πλάσσειν (here, “to invent”/“fabricate”), art. inf. expressing
purpose.

9 S.v. ἐμπίμπλημι.

10 S.v. συνίημι (fr. ἵημι); συνίημι ἐν is a Hebraizing construction (“to have

understanding of”); for paradigm of ἵημι cf. table 9.15.
 Part 7 Inscriptions

Epigraphic monuments are especially valuable in reconstructing the social and

religious background of Hellenistic Judaism and early Christianity. They are
primary witnesses to society’s laws and institutions, its social structures, public
cults, and private associations, its thoughts and values, and, of course, its
language.1 Part 7 surveys a representative sample of some of the primary types
of Greek inscriptions, including decrees (§§7.1, 7.12), honorary decrees (§7.13),
sacred laws (§§7.2–4, 7.14–17), foundation inscriptions (§§7.5–6, 7.18), healing
testimonials (§§7.9, 7.21), manumission inscriptions (§§7.8, 7.19), oracles
(§§7.10, 7.23), building inscriptions (§7.20), and metrical funerary inscriptions
(§§7.11, 7.24).
Epigraphical texts can be challenging to translate owing to their particular
grammatical constructions, specific functions, and dialectical features. Indeed,
included in Part 7 are seven inscriptions that reflect the lingering influence in the
Hellenistic period of some of the Greek dialects: for example, texts influenced
by Doric (§§7.7), Lesbian (§7.16), Ionic/Attic (§7.17), Northwest Greek (§7.18),
Phokean (§7.8). and Argolic (§7.9).2 The assumption that Hellenistic Greek was
uniformly a “common language” (ἡ κοινὴ διάλεκτος) is false: dialectical Greek,
or what is more properly termed “epichoric” Greek, did not suddenly vanish at
the onset of the so-called Hellenistic age but continued to exercise an influence
on Hellenistic Greek for several centuries. For this reason, dialectical Greek
texts should not be excluded from a Hellenistic Greek reader such as this on
purely chronological grounds. Indeed, from a practical standpoint, the serious
student of the social and religious background of early Christianity and
Hellenistic Judaism cannot afford to ignore dialectical texts simply because they
do not conform to his or her notion of “pure” Hellenistic Greek.
 7.1. Gospel of the Savior, Caesar Augustus, Son of
God
(IPriene 105)

Provenance: Priene, Ionia (cf. Fig. 2). Date: 9 CE.

Text: IPriene 105, OGI 458, SEG IV, 490, XV, 815, MAMA VI, 174–175; R.
K. Sherk, Roman Documents from the Greek East (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins
Press, 1969), no. 65; V. Ehrenberg and A. H. M. Jones (eds.), Documents
Illustrating the Reigns of Augustus and Tiberius (Oxford: Oxford University
Press, 1949), no. 98; PHI (McCabe 5).
The beginning of this inscription (ll. 1–30) records a letter from the proconsul
of Asia, Paulus Fabius Maximus (Παῦλλος Φάβιος Μάξιμος), to the Asian
provincial assembly (Ἀσίας Ἕλλησιν). According to the letter of Fabius
Maximus, the birthday of Caesar Augustus (23 September 63 BCE) represents a
new beginning for all of humanity.1 He then proceeds to commemorate the many
benefactions that have been realized through the reign of Augustus. He declares
that Augustus is a savior (σωτήρ) sent by divine providence and that he has
brought peace to the world. The proclamation of the life and benefactions of
Augustus is termed the “gospel” (εὐανγέλια, ll. 37, 40). On this basis, Fabius
Maximus argues that it would be appropriate to adopt the birthday (γενέθλιος
ἡμέρα) of Augustus as the first day of the civil calendar of the Province of Asia,
according to which all future events and provincial appointments would be
dated.
In response to this letter, the provincial assembly passed two decrees (ll. 30–
76, 77–84). The first of these (cited here) gives fulsome praise to Augustus, their
“god” and “savior,” for his many benefactions (“salvation”).

The Cult of the Emperors

Augustus’s father, Julius Caesar, provides the point of departure for
understanding the phenomenon of the deification of emperors such as Augustus.
For example, an inscription from Ephesos (49 BCE) describes Julius Caesar,
while he was still living, as the “descendant of (the gods) Ares and Aphrodite,
the god who has appeared visibly (θεὸν ἐπιφανῆ) and the universal savior of the
life of human beings” (SIG3 760). After his death, Julius Caesar was formally
enrolled among the gods of the state by the Senate. This act constituted the
beginning of the cult of the emperors.
Octavian (Augustus) was Caesar’s adopted son. The deification of Julius
Caesar provided the rationale for calling Augustus divi filius, a title that could be
translated into Greek only as υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ (“son of god”): if Julius Caesar was
a god, then Augustus must be the “son of (a) god.” Though Augustus himself
stopped short of proclaiming himself a god (for the apotheosis of an emperor
required the approval of the Roman Senate), he did allow others to address him
as the “son of deified (divi filius) Caesar.” Indeed, in the Eastern empire, even a
reigning emperor could be called a god (θεός). Thus in numerous Egyptian texts
the relationship between Octavius and Julius Caesar is described as θεὸς ἐκ
θεοῦ (“god from god”).2
Note: For an explanation of the process of passing Greek decrees, see §7.12–
13 (and table 9.22).

First Decree of the Asian Provincial Assembly (Lines

30–40)
30 Ἔδοξεν τοῖς ἐπὶ τῆς Ἀσίας Ἕλλησιν, γνώμῃ τοῦ ἀρχιερέως Ἀπολλωνίου3
τοῦ Μηνοφίλου Ἀζανίτου·

1. Preamble
The preamble is a clause that provides an explanation, sometimes very brief, of
the background of the decree, setting forth the reasons the decree should be
given serious attention. The preamble often begins with ἐπειδή
(“whereas”/“inasmuch as”) or ἐπεί (“since”).
Ἐπειδὴ ἡ4 θείως διατάξασα τὸν βίον ἡμῶν πρόνοια σπουδὴν
εἰσενενκαμένη5 καὶ φιλοτιμίαν τὸ6 τεληότατον7 τῶι βίωι διεκόσμησεν ἀγαθὸν
εἰσενενκαμένη (us) τὸν Σεβαστόν, ὃν εἰς8 εὐεργεσίαν ἀνθρώπων9 (she)
ἐπλήρωσεν ἀρετῆς, ὥσπερ (ἡ πρόνοια) ἡμεῖν10 καὶ τοῖς (who come) μεθ’
ἡμᾶς σωτῆρα11 χαρισαμένη τὸν12 παύσαντα μὲν πόλεμον, κοσμήσοντα13 δὲ
εἰρήνην, (ἐπειδὴ) ἐπιφανεὶς14 δὲ ὁ Καῖσαρ (Augustus) τὰς ἐλπίδας τῶν
προλαβόντων εὐανγέλια15 πάντων16 ὑπερέθηκεν, οὐ μόνον17 τοὺς18 πρὸ
αὐτοῦ γεγονότας εὐεργέτας ὑπερβαλόμενος, ἀλλ’ οὐδ’ ἐν τοῖς ἐσομένοις19
ἐλπίδα20 ὑπολιπὼν ὑπερβολῆς (him), 40 (with the result that) ἤρξεν δὲ τῶι
κόσμωι τῶν δι’ αὐτὸν εὐανγελίων ἡ γενέθλιος ἡμέρα τοῦ (our) θεοῦ.21
Vocabulary

ἀρχιερεύς, -έως, ὁ, high priest διακοσμέω, adorn somebody/something

(dat.) with something (acc.) διατάσσω, direct, appoint; put in order
ἐπιφαίνω, 2aor. pass. ptc. ἐπιφανείς: show, appear; divinely manifest (a
standard term for expressing the manifestation of a deity) εὐεργεσία, ἡ,
benefaction Ἀσία, ἡ, Asia (Minor) προλαμβάνω, take something on one’s
own; anticipate πρόνοια, ἡ, Providence
Σεβαστός, -ή, -όν, Augustan (adj.); Σεβαστός for Lat. Augustus σπουδή,
ἡ, diligence, concern, attention; haste, hurry; ἐν σπουδῇ, in concern
ὑπερβάλλω, exceed, surpass ὑπερτίθημι, surpass, exceed ὑπολείπω, leave
(behind) φιλοτιμία, ἡ, love of honor, generosity (Lines 40–49)

(Ἐπειδὴ δὲ) τῆς δὲ Ἀσίας ἐψηφισμένης22 ἐν Σμύρνῃ ἐπὶ ἀνθυπάτου

Λευκίου23 Οὐολκακίου Τύλλου, γραμματεύοντος Παπίωνος Διοσιεριτοῦ24
(that) τῶι25 μεγίστας26 γ’27 εἰς28 τὸν θεὸν καθευρόντι τιμὰς εἶναι στέφανον,29
(ἐπειδὴ δὲ) Παῦλλος Φάβιος Μάξιμος ὁ ἀνθύπατος τῆς ἐπαρχήας30
εὐεργέτης ἀπὸ τῆς ἐκείνου31 δεξιᾶς καὶ γνώμης ἀπεσταλμένος ‒ ξὺν32 τοῖς
ἄλλοις (benefactions) ‒ οἷς εὐεργέτησεν τὴν ἐπαρχήαν, ὧν εὐεργεσιῶν τὰ
μεγέθη λόγος33 εἰπεῖν οὐδεὶς ἂν ἐφίκοιτο, καὶ (so) τὸ (way) μέχρι νῦν
ἀγνοηθὲν ὑπὸ τῶν Ἑλλήνων εἰς τὴν τοῦ Σεβαστοῦ τιμὴν εὕρετο,34 (namely)
τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ἐκείνου γενέσεως ἄρχειν35 (reckoning) τῷ βίῳ τὸν (calendric)
χρόνον·
Vocabulary

ἀνθύπατος, ὁ, proconsul γένεσις, -εως, τό, generation, offspring, birth;

beginning, origin γνώμη, ἡ, intention, purpose; resolution, decision;
preliminary resolution (of a city council); opinion γραμματεύω, serve as
secretary/clerk (of Assembly/Council) ἐπαρχία, ἡ, province (Lat.
provincia) εὐεργετέω, confer benefits εὐεργέτης, ὁ, benefactor
 ἐφικνέομαι, 2aor. ἐφικόμην: reach (to); attain (to)
καθευρίσκω (cf. εὑρίσκω), think up something μέγιστος, -η, -ον (superl. of
μέγας, μεγάλη, μέγα): best; topmost, foremost; mighty Σμύρνα, -ης, ἡ,
Smyrna (mod. İzmir) ψηφίζω, freq. mid. ψηφίζομαι (for citation of formal
motion), aor. mid. inf. ἐψήφισθαι, aor. mid. inf. ἐψήφισθαι: approve a
motion, to decree; aor. mid. inf. “be it resolved that”

2. Citation of Formal Motion (Lines 49–60)

Διὸ τύχῃ ἀγαθῇ36 καὶ ἐπὶ σωτηρίᾳ δεδόχθαι37 τοῖς ἐπὶ τῆς Ἀσίας Ἕλλησι,
ἄρχειν τὴν νέαν νουμηνίαν πάσαις ταῖς πόλεσιν τῇ (ἡμέρᾳ) πρὸ ἐννέα
καλανδῶν Ὀκτωβρίων, ἥτις ἐστὶν γενέθλιος ἡμέρα τοῦ Σεβαστοῦ. ὅπως38 δὲ
ἀεὶ ἡ (first) ἡμέρα (of the year) στοιχῇ καθ’39 ἑκάστην πόλιν, συνχρηματίζειν
τῇ Ῥωμαϊκῇ καὶ τὴν Ἑλληνικὴν ἡμέραν. ἄγεσθαι40 δὲ τὸν πρῶτον μῆνα
Καίσαρα,41 καθὰ42 καὶ (was) προεψήφισται, ἀρχόμενον ἀπὸ πρὸ ἐννέα μὲν
καλανδῶν Ὀκτωβρίων, (that is from) γενεθλίου δὲ ἡμέρας Καίσαρος, τὸν δὲ
ἐψηφισμένον στέφανον τῷ τὰς μεγίστας43 εὑρόντι τιμὰς ὑπὲρ Καίσαρος
δεδόσθαι Μαξίμωι τῶι ἀνθυπάτωι, ὃν καὶ ἀεὶ ἀναγορεύεσθαι ἐν τῷ γυμνικῷ
ἀγῶνι τῶι ἐν Περγάμωι (in honor) τῶν Ῥωμαίων Σεβαστῶν, ὅτι στεφανοῖ ἡ
Ἀσία Παῦλον Φάβιον Μάξιμον (for his) εὐσεβέστατα παρευρόντα τὰς εἰς
Καίσαρα τιμάς.
Vocabulary

ἀναγορεύω, publicly proclaim ἄρχω, begin, mark the beginning of

something (gen.) for somebody (dat.), rule γυμνικός, -ή, -όν, gymnastic,
athletic (adj.) ἐννέα, nine (indecl.) εὐσεβής, -ές, discharging sacred
duties; pious, devout; superl. εὐσεβέστατα, most pious
Καῖσαρ, -αρος, ὁ, Emperor, Caesar; Caesar (a name of a month in the
Province of Asia) καλάνδαι, -ῶν, calends44 (Lat. loanw. calendae) μήν,
μηνός, ὁ, month νέος, -α, -ον, new, young; ὁ νεός, young man; ἡ νέα
νουμηνία, New Year νουμηνία, ἡ, new moon; first day of the lunar month;
ἡ νέα νουμηνία, New Year Ὀκτώβριος, -α, -ον, belonging to October
παρευρίσκω, propose Πέργαμος, ἡ, Pergamon (Mysia) προψηφίζομαι, mid.
be previously decreed Ῥωμαϊκός, -ή, -όν, Roman/Latin στεφανόω, crown;
honor; pass. be crowned with; be honored by (ὑπό) somebody for (some
virtue [acc.]) with a crown (dat.) στοιχέω, correspond to, coincide
 συνχρηματίζειν > συγχρηματίζειν, s.v. συγχρηματίζω, correspond with
(dat.) τύχη, ἡ, luck; ἀγαθῇ τύχῃ, for good fortune; Τύχη ᾿Αγαθή, Agathe
Tyche (goddess)

Select Bibliography
Danker, F. W. Benefactor: Epigraphic Study of a Graeco-Roman and New
Testament Semantic Field. MO, Clayton Publ. House, 1982, no. 33, cf. 38–39.
Harrison, J. R. Paul’s Language of Grace in Its Graeco-Roman Context.
Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2003, 226–234.
Horsley, R.A. “The Gospel of the Saviour’s Birth.” In Christmas Unwrapped:
Consumerism, Christ and Culture, 113–138. Edited by R. A. Horsley and J.
Tracy. Harrisburg, PA: Trinity Press International, 2001.
Judge, E. A. The First Christians in the Roman World: Augustan and New
Testament Essays. Ed. J. R. Harrison. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2008, 52–58.
Price, S. R. F. Rituals and Power: The Roman Imperial Cult in Asia Minor. New
York: Cambridge University Press, 1984.

1 B. H. McLean, An Introduction to the Study of Greek Epigraphy of the

Hellenistic and Roman Periods from Alexander the Great Down to the Reign of
Constantine (323 BCE–337 CE) (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press,
2002).

2 Doric was spoken in many parts of the Peloponnese (except Arcadia and Elis),
on the islands of Crete, Kos, Melos, Thera, and Rhodes, and in parts of Sicily
and southern Italy. The Aeolic group of dialects were spoken in Aeolia, as well
as in Lesbos as the Lesbian dialect. Ionic was spoken in Ionia (Magnesia on the
Meander) and in most of the islands of the Aegean, including Delos (central
Ionic). The Northwest dialect was spoken in Lokris (Opous), as well as in Phokis
as the Phokean dialect (Delphi). The Argolic dialect (West Greek) was spoken in
Epidauros.

1 Augustus reigned as emperor from 27 BCE to 14 CE. Gaius Octavius was

adopted (post mortem) by Julius Caesar and was then renamed Gaius Iulius
Caesar Octavianus. He became the first emperor (imperator) of the Roman
Empire. The title of “Augustus” was conferred upon him when he became
emperor in 27 BCE.

2 POxy 1453, l. 11; OGI 655, l. 2.

3 Apollonios, son of Menophilos, (native) of (the city of) Aizanoi (mod.

Çavdarhisar).

4 ἡ...πρόνοια.

5 ἐνενκαμένη > ἐνεγκαμένη, instr. adv. ptc. (“by,” cf. IV, 1.6) (s.v. φέρω, 3.
ἤνεγκα, √ ἐνεγκ-).

6 τὸ τεληότατον τῶι βίωι...ἀγαθόν (disc. syn.).

7 τεληότατον > τελειότατον.

8 Telic εἰς (“for”).

9 Here, “humanity.”

10 ἡμεῖν > ἡμῖν.

11 On the certainty of this restoration see Paul Wendland, “ΣΩΤΗΡ,” ZNTW 5

(1904), 335–353; cf. IG III, 719, ll. 3–5, which describes Augustus as
“benefactor and savior of the entire world.”

12 Introduces a modifier of σωτῆρα (3rd attrib. pos.).

13 Fut. ptc.

14 Temp. adv. ptc. (cf. IV, 1.1–2).

15 εὐανγέλια > εὐαγγέλια (s.v. εὐαγγέλιον). In Attic this term is always used
in the pl. (cf. 40); cf. A. Dieterich, “Euaggelistes,” ZNTW 1 (1900), 336–338; O.
Michel, “Evangelium,” RAC 6 (1966), 1107–1160, esp. 1110.

16 προλαβόντων ... πάντων.

17 οὐ μόνον...οὐδ(έ) (“not only ... nor ...”).

18 τοὺς...εὐεργέτας.

19 I.e., who will come after him.

20 ἐλπίδα ... ὑπερβολῆς (disc. syn.). The theme of Augustus’s unsurpassable

benefactions may have led to the declaration in Acts 4:12 that salvation cannot
be associated with any other benefactor who has appeared in human form except
Jesus Christ. For a detailed comparison of the Augustus legend and NT themes
see W. Deonna, “La Légende d’Octave-Auguste: Dieu, Sauveur et Maitre du
Monde,” RHR 83 (1921), 32–58, 163–195; RHR 84 (1921), 77–107.

21 I.e., Caesar Augustus.

22 Gen. absol.

23 Lucius Volcacius Tullus.

24 Papion, son of Diosierites.

25 τῶι...καθευρόντι.

26 μεγίστας...τιμάς.

27 < γέ.
28 Telic εἰς (“for”).

29 εἶναι στέφανον is grammatically dependent on ἐψηφισμένης.

30 ἐπαρχήας > ἐπαρχίας.

31 I.e., Caesar Augustus.

32 ξύν > σύν (“besides”).

33 λόγος...οὐδείς (subject of the finite verb) + inf.

34 The implied subject is Paulus Fabius Maximus.

35 Art. inf. (cf. IV, 2).

36 The formula ἀγαθῆι τύχηι (“for good fortune”) seems to indicate that the
prescribed religious observances had been performed before the decree was
passed.

37 Coming after the preamble and enactment formulae, the exact wording of the
preliminary resolution (which was voted upon by the Council and Assembly) is
cited. The formal motion often begins with a middle infinitival form of ψήφιζω
or δοκέω: ἐψήφισθαι/δεδόχθαι (“be it resolved that ...”) and an infinitival
construction.

38 The second part of the preamble may begin with ὅπως ἄν (οὖν) (“in order
that [therefore]).”

39 Distributive use of κατά (“in each”).

40 Imperatival inf. (“let ... observed be”).

41 “Caesar,” the name of a month (which had thirty-one days).

42 καθά > καθάπερ.

43 τὰς μεγίστας...τιμάς (disc. syn.).

44 Each Roman month was divided into three parts with respect to three
particular dates: the “calends” (καλάνδαι, -ῶν, Lat. calendae) was the first day
of each month; “nones” was the ninth day before the ides (εἰδοί/ ἰδοί, Lat. idus);
and the “ides” was the middle day of each month. Days were not numbered from
the “calends,” but rather were counted backward from the next nones, ides, or
calends, as the case may be. The days were counted inclusively (i.e., including
the final day itself). Thus to calculate τῇ πρὸ ἐννέα καλανδῶν (“the ninth [day]
before the calends of October”) one must count backward nine days from 1
October (counting 1 October), which is to say, 23 September (which was the
birthday of Augustus).
 7.2. Sacred Laws of a Silver Miners’ Association
Dedicated to the Lunar God

(IG II2 1366)

Fig. 15. Sacred laws of Men Tyrannos, Laurion, Attica (IG II2
1366).

Provenance: Laurion, southern Attica (cf. Fig. 2). Date: First century CE.
Text: IG II2 1366, CMRDM I, 9–10, no. 13 (pl. X), NewDocs III, 20–31, no.
6; GRA §53.
Voluntary associations of the Hellenistic and Roman periods can be grouped
into three types: (1) professional associations or guilds (e.g., bakers [§7.22],
silversmiths [§5.13]); (2) funerary societies (e.g., §4.2); and (3) voluntary
religious societies or cults (§§7.2–5, 7.18). Voluntary religious associations
prescribed sacred laws concerning many aspects of their communal cultic life
and membership, including laws concerning the nature, time, and cost of
sacrifices, the duties of membership, and the appointment of functionaries.
These laws were often publicly displayed on a stele (a stone pillar or monument)
at the entrance of temple precincts.
 The inscription in this section concerns a Lykian slave named Xanthos. He
probably worked in the silver mines for his Roman master, Gaius Orbius, in
eastern Achaia. While Xanthos was sleeping, the god of his homeland, Men
Tyrannos, directed him to found a religious association dedicated in Laurion.
This event and the sacred laws of this association were then inscribed on a stone
stele.
The attestation of the cult of the moon god, Men Tyrannos, in Achaia is
striking given the fact that Men was a Phrygian god, whose cult was
concentrated in Pisidian Antioch and around Maionia (east of Sardis) in
northeastern Lydia. The importation of slaves from Phrygia to work in the silver
mines around Laurion resulted in the introduction of many Eastern cults as well,
including that of Men Tyrannos. Men Tyrannos was popular among miners by
virtue of his chthonic character and owing to his association with water springs
(which were used for the washing of mined ore and the extraction of precious
metals). Hence, it is probable that Xanthos, the founder of this religious
association, was also imported from Phrygia to labor in some aspect of the
Laurion mining industry. He subsequently founded an association and shrine on
the hill overlooking the harbor so that he and his fellow Phrygian slaves might
worship the god of their homeland. The cult of Men Tyrannos was characterized
by (1) a total submission of humans to Men (as is implied by the epithets
“Tyrannos” and “Kyrios”); (2) fear of unwittingly offending Men; (3) Men as
punisher of wrongdoers; (4) the notion that one could be in bondage to Men
because of one’s misdeeds and thus in need of a ransom (λύτρον).1

Lines 1–6
ξάνθος2 Λύκιος Γαίου Ὀρβίου3 καθειδρύσατο ἱερὸν4 τοῦ Μηνὸς Τυράννου,
αἱρετίσαντος5 τοῦ θεοῦ, ἐ ἀγαθῇ τύχη. καὶ μηθένα6 ἀκάθαρτον
προσάγειν·7 καθαριζέστω δὲ ἀπὸ σκόρδων καὶ χοιρέων καὶ γυναικός.8
λουσαμένους δὲ κατακέφαλα αὐθημερὸν εἰσπορεύεσθαι· καὶ (a woman) ἐκ
τῶν γυναικέων διὰ ἑπτὰ ἡμερῶν9 λουσαμένην κατακέφαλα εἰσπορεύεσθαι
αὐθήμερον.
Vocabulary

αἱρετίζω, choose somebody (acc.) αὐθημερόν, on the same day

κατακέφαλα, from head to foot Λύκιος, ethnic (ethnic),10 in this case of
 Λυκία, in southwestern Anatolia Μὴν Τυράννος, the god Men Tyrannos
(cf. ll. 15, 21) σκόρδον, τό, garlic τύχη, ἡ, luck; ἀγαθῇ τύχῃ, “for good
fortune”; Τύχη ᾿Αγαθή, Agathe Tyche (goddess) χοίρειος, ὁ, swine

Lines 6–14
καὶ (likewise) ἀπὸ (contact with) νεκροῦ11 διὰ ἡμερῶν δέκα καὶ ἀπὸ φθορᾶς
ἡμερῶν τετταράκοντα, καὶ μηθένα θυσιάζειν12 ἄνευ τοῦ καθειδρυσαμένου
(being present) τὸ ἱερόν· ἐὰν δέ τις βιάσηται (these provisions), ἀπρόσδεκτος
ἡ θυσία (αὐτοῦ) παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ· παρέχειν δὲ τῶι θεῶι τὸ καθῆκον, (namely)
δεξιὸν σκέλος καὶ δορὰν καὶ κεφαλὴν καὶ πόδας καὶ στηθύνιον καὶ ἔλαιον ἐπὶ
βωμὸν καὶ λύχνον καὶ σχίζας καὶ σπονδήν, καὶ εὐείλατος γένοιτο ὁ θεὸς τοῖς
θεραπεύουσιν ἁπλῇ τῇ ψυχῇ· ἐὰν (the founder) δέ τινα ἀνθρώπινα (ailment)
πάσχῃ13 ἢ ἀσθενήσῃ ἢ ἀποδημήσῃ που, μηθένα ἀνθρώπων ἐξουσίαν ἔχειν,
ἐὰν μὴ ὧι ἂν αὐτὸς παραδῶι·
Vocabulary

ἁπλή, ἡ, simplicity ἀπρόσδεκτος, -ον, unacceptable δέκα, ten δορά, ἡ,

hide εὐίλατος, -ον (var. εὐείλατος), very merciful θυσιάζω, offer a
sacrifice (τὸ ἱερόν) καθῆκω, be appropriate, suitable, proper; nt. ptc. (τὸ)
καθῆκον, what is appropriate καθιδρύω, consecrate, dedicate;
found/establish something λύχνος, ὁ, lamp (of metal or clay) σκέλος, -εος,
τό, leg (fr. the hip downward) σπονδή, ἡ, drink offering, libation; donation
of wine στηθύνιον, τό, chest σχίζα, -ης, ἡ, wood, kindling φθορά, ἡ,
depravity, moral corruption; miscarriage

Lines 14–20
ὃς ἂν δὲ πολυπραγμονήσῃ τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ14 ἢ περιεργάσηται, ἁμαρτίαν
ὀφειλέτω Μηνὶ Τυράννωι, ἣν οὐ μὴ δύνηται15 ἐξειλάσασθαι· ὁ δὲ θυσιάζων
τῇ ἑβδόμῃ (day of the month) τὰ καθήκοντα πάντα ποιείτω τῶι θεῶι·
λαμβανέτω δὲ τῆς θυσίας ἧς ἂν φέρῃ σκέλος καὶ ὦμον, τὰ δὲ λοιπὰ
κατακοπτέτω (ἐν τῶι) ἱερῶι· εἰ δέ τις προσφέρει θυσίαν τῶι θεῶι, ἐγ16
νουμηνίας μέχρι πεντεκαιδεκάτης (day)·
Vocabulary
 δορά, ἡ, animal hide ἐξιλάσκομαι, expiate θυσιάζω, offer sacrifice
κατακόπτω, cut up in pieces νουμηνία, ἡ, new moon; first day of the lunar
month; ἡ νέα νουμηνία
πεντεκαιδεκάτος, -η, -ον, fifteenth περιεργάζομαι, meddle in
πολυπραμονέω, interfere with ὦμος, ὁ, shoulder with upper arm

Lines 20–26
ἐὰν δέ τις τράπεζαν πληρῶι τῶι θεῶι, λαμβανέτω τὸ ἥμισυ (its contents).
τοὺς δὲ βουλομένους ἔρανον συνάγειν Μηνὶ Τυράννωι ἐ ἀγαθῆι τύχηι·17
ὁμοίως δὲ παρέξουσιν οἱ ἐρανισταὶ τὰ καθήκοντα τῶι θεῶι, δεξιὸν σκέλος
καὶ δορὰν καὶ κοτύλην ἐλαίου καὶ χοῦν οἴνου καὶ ναστὸν χοινικιαῖον καὶ
ἐφίερα τρία καὶ κολλύβων χοίνικες δύο καὶ ἀκρόδρυα, (καὶ) ἐὰν
κατακλιθῶσιν οἱ ἐρανισταὶ, καὶ (they shall also provide) στέφανον καὶ
λημνίσκον·18 καὶ εὐείλατος γένοιτο ὁ θεὸς τοῖς ἁπλῶς προσπορευομένοις.
Vocabulary

ἀκρόδρυα, τά, hard-shelled ἁπλῶς, sincerely, with integrity; absolutely;

generally; οὔτε ἀπλῶς, not at all, nor so much as ἐρανισταί, οἱ, club
member (cf. l. 25) ἔρανος, ὁ, club, association εὐίλατος, -ον (var.
εὐείλατος), very merciful ἐφίερα, τά, sacred cakes κόλλυβοι, οἱ, small
cakes κοτύλη, ἡ, kotyle, pl. kotylai (liquid measure = 6 κύαθοι / half a pint)
λημνίσκος, ὁ, woolen fillet/ribbon by which a hat, wreath, or garland is
fastened to the head ναστός,-ή, -όν, well-kneaded; subst. cake χοινικιαῖος,
-α, -ον, made from one choenix measure of flour (cf. l. 24) χοῖνιξ, choenix
(measure of flour); person’s daily allowance χοῦς,19 ὁ, χοῦν (acc.), χῶν
(gen. pl.): chous (liquid measure = 12 κοτύλαι, or 3 quarts)

1 Cf. CMRDM, I, nos. 57, 61, 90.

2 Xanthos, a Lykian slave.

3 Gaius Orbius, the master of Xanthos. Gaius Orbius’s duo nomina indicates
that he was a Roman citizen. The mention of Xanthos’s master is striking
because it was omitted in the first version of this inscription (IG II2 1365). This
omission may explain why the inscription was reinscribed.

4 This ἱερόν is a private sanctuary dedicated to Men Tyrannos. Xanthos was to

have taken over an abandoned heroon, previously built on the same site. The fact
that Xanthos was a slave, with presumably limited financial resources, makes it
all the more likely that he took over an existing structure.

5 Gen. absol.

6 μηθένα > μηδένα, cf. ll. 7, 13.

7 Imperatival infinitives in ll. 4, 6–7, 9, 14 (infinitive often occurs in place of

the 3rd pers. impv., esp. in official and legal language).

8 I.e., from sexual intercourse (συνουσία) with a woman.

9 Gen. of time, cf. ll. 6, 7.

10 “Ethnic” is a technical term indicating the place, region, or nation of origin.

Ethnics often occur in an adjectival form.

11 I.e., a corpse.

12 Imperatival inf.

13 The implied subject of the verbs πάσχῃ, ἀσθενήσῃ, and ἀποδημήσῃ is the
founder ξάνθος.

14 τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, the god’s possessions.

15 οὐ μή + aor. subj. (emph. fut. neg.).

16 ἐγ > ἐν.

17 This implies that numerous religious associations with different demographic

characteristics may have met in the same sanctuary.

18 The reference to a wreath and woolen fillet suggests that the statue of Men
Tyrannos was crowned and adorned as a way of signifying his participation in
the banquet (NewDocs III, 21).

19 Contr. of χοός.
7.3. Sacred Laws of a Religious Association Dedicated
to Zeus Savior and Two Magical Spells

(SIG3 985 / PGM IV, 1496–1595, XXXVI, 320–332)

Provenance: Philadelphia, Lydia, Asia Minor (cf. Fig. 2) Date: First century
BCE.
Text: SIG3 985; Stephen Barton, G. H. R. Horsley, “A Hellenistic Cult Group
and the New Testament Churches,” JAC 24 (1981), 7–41.
In the first part of this inscription (ll. 1–11), the founder of this religious
association is identified as Dionysios. The god Zeus had communicated to him,
through a dream, the sacred laws that his association should observe. Dionysios
then opened up an οἶκος (his private house doubling as a sanctuary)1 for cultic
fellowship dedicated to Zeus and his consort, Agdistis, to like-minded men and
women, slaves and free, living in the neighborhood. Subsequently, through some
sort of “modernization,” Agdistis was superseded by a pantheon of Greco-
Roman gods, for whom new cultic images and altars had recently been set up.
At the beginning of Part 2 (ll. 12–49), Dionysios is instructed that all members
must take an oath before participating in the cultic membership. This section
also specifies religious laws and various moral offenses, including a variety of
sexual misdemeanors. The reader of this inscription is told that the gods love
those who are obedient (ll. 46–48). During the meeting, those who had a good
conscience were required to place a hand on the stele to demonstrate that they
were following the commandments, with the founder being the first to touch the
stele and swear by it. In Part 3 (ll. 50–60), further laws are stipulated with
respect to the original household goddess, Agdistis, who (we are told) inspires a
good attitude in men and women. Good thoughts, as well as correct actions, are
required of all members of this association. The inscription concludes with
Dionysios’s prayer to Zeus Savior requesting his favor (ll. 60–65).
Special Feature: Frequent use of the iota-adscript (cf. IV, 16).
Part 1: The Founder (Lines 1–11)
Ἀγαθῆι Τύχηι· ἀνεγράφησαν ἐ ὑγιείαι καὶ κοινῆι σωτηρίαι καὶ δόξηι2 τῆι
ἀρίστηι3 τὰ δοθέντα παραγγέλματα Διονυσίωι4 κα ὕπνον πρόσοδον διδόν
εἰς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ οἶκον ἀνδράσι καὶ γυναιξὶν ἐλευθέροις καὶ οἰκέταις. Διὸς5
γὰρ ἐν τούτωι (οἶκῳ) τοῦ Εὐμενοῦς6 καὶ Ἑστίας τῆς παρέδρου αὐτοῦ καὶ
τῶν ἄλλων θεῶν Σωτήρων7 καὶ Εὐδαιμονίας καὶ Πλούτου καὶ ᾿Αρετῆς καὶ
῾Υγιείας, 10 καὶ Τύχης ᾿Αγαθῆς καὶ ᾿Αγαθοῦ Δαίμονος καὶ Μνήμης καὶ
Χαρίτων καὶ Νίκης εἰσὶν ἱδρυμένοι8 βωμοί.
Vocabulary
᾿Αγαθός Δαίμων, Agathos Daimon (god) ἀναγράφω, engrave and publicly set
up; record in a public register ᾿Αρετή, Arete (goddess) ἄριστος, -η, -ον, best;
finest ἐλεύθερος, -έρα, -ον, free; subst. freeman/freewoman Ἐστίας, Hestia
(goddess) Εὐδαιμονία, Eudaimonia (goddess) Εὐμενής, kindly disposed,
benevolent (epithet of Zeus) ἱδρύω, 2. ἱδρύσομαι, 3. ἵδρυσα / ἱδρυσάμην, 5.
ἵδρυμαι: found, dedicate; set up something (altar, statue); mid. establish (a
temple); dedicate κοινός, -ή, -όν, common, shared; public; κοινῇ σωτηρίᾳ, for
common safety νίκη, ἡ, victory; Νίκη, goddess Nike οἰκέτης, ὁ, household
slave παραγγέλμα, τό, commandment παρέδρος, -ον, sitting beside, coadjutor
(of Zeus) Μνήμη, Mneme (goddess) Πλούτων, -ωνος, Pluto, god of the
underworld τύχη, ἡ, luck; ἀγαθῇ τύχῃ, “for good fortune”; Τύχη ᾿Αγαθή,
Agathe Tyche (goddess) ὑγίεια, ἡ, health; Ὑγίεια, goddess Hygeia, daughter of
Asklepios ξάριτες, the Graces

Part 2: The Sacred Laws (Lines 11–25)

Τούτωι9 δέδωκεν ὁ Ζεὺς παραγγέλματα τούς τε ἁγνισμοὺς καὶ τοὺς
καθαρμοὺς καὶ τὰ μυστήρια ἐπιτελεῖν κατά τε τὰ πάτρια καὶ ὡς νῦν
γέγραπται· πορευόμενοι εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦτον ἄνδρες καὶ γυναῖκες ἐλεύθεροι
καὶ οἰκέται τοὺς θεοὺς πάντας ὁρκούσθωσαν δόλον μηθένα μήτε ἀνδρὶ μήτε
γυναικὶ εἰδότες,10 μὴ φάρμακον πονηρὸν πρὸς ἀνθρώπους, μὴ ἐπωιδὰς11
πονηρὰς μήτε γινώσκειν12 μήτε ἐπιτελεῖν, μὴ φίλτρον,13 μὴ φθορεῖον, μὴ
ἀτοκεῖον, μὴ ἄλλο τι παιδοφόνον, μήτε αὐτοὺς ἐπιτελεῖν μήτε ἑτέρωι
συμβουλεύειν μηδὲ συνιστορεῖν, ἀποστεροῦντες δὲ μηδὲν εὐνοεῖν τῶι οἴκωι
τῶιδε, καὶ ἐάν τις τούτων τι ποιῆι ἢ ἐπιβουλεύῃ, (members) μήτε
ἐπιτρέψειν14 μήτε παρασιωπήσειν, ἀλ ἐμφανιεῖν καὶ ἀμυνεῖσθαι.
 Vocabulary
ἁγνισμοί, οἱ, purifications (i.e., rituals to avoid defilement) ἀμύνω, defend;
mid. defend oneself against, keep from, ward off from ἀποστερέω, refrain from
doing something (inf.) ἀτοκεῖον, τό, contraceptive drug15
ἐμφανίζω, explain; inform, make a report; present evidence, show plainly
ἐπιβουλεύω, to plot, plan ἐπιτρέπω, allow somebody (dat.) to do something
(inf.); permit somebody to do something; tolerate, put up with; pass. be entrusted
as a legal guarantor ἐπῳδή, ἡ, enchantment, spell εὐνοέω, to be well-
intentioned καθαρμός, ὁ, cleansing, ritual to remove defilement (once it has
been contracted) ὁκόω, make somebody swear an oath to a god (acc.); pass. be
bound by an oath to a god (acc.) παιδοφόνος, -ον, fatal to children; subst. drug
that is fatal to children παρασιωπάω, keep silence πάτριος, -α, -ον (=
πατρικός), derived from one’s fathers, hereditary; customary; subst. τὸ πάτριον,
tradition; τά πάτρια, ancestral customs συμβουλεύω, recommend συνιστορέω,
conspire with somebody φάρμακον, τό, drug, medicine; magic potion; spell
cast using a magic potion
φθορεῖον, τό, abortifacient (drug for inducing an abortion) φίλτρον, τό, love
potion

(Lines 25–36)
Ἄνδρα παρὰ16 τὴν ἑαυτοῦ (wife) γυναῖκα ἀλλοτρίαν ἢ ἐλευθέραν ἢ δούλην
ἄνδρα ἔχουσαν μὴ φθερεῖν μηδὲ παῖδα μηδὲ παρθένον μηδὲ ἑτέρωι
συμβουλεύσειν (its), ἄλ ἂν τινι συνιστορήσηι (with another), τὸν τοιοῦτον
φανερὸν ποιήσειν,17 καὶ τὸν ἄνδρα καὶ τὴν γυναῖκα καὶ μὴ ἀποκρύψειν μηδὲ
παρασιωπήσειν· γυνὴ καὶ ἀνήρ, ὃς ἂν ποιῆι τι τῶν προγεγραμμένων, εἰς τὸν
οἶκον τοῦτον μὴ εἰσπορευέσθω· θεοὶ γὰρ ἐν αὐτῶι ἵδρυνται (are) μεγάλοι καὶ
ταῦτα ἐπισκοποῦσιν καὶ τοὺς παραβαίνοντας τὰ παραγγέλματα οὐκ
ἀνέξονται· γυναῖκα ἐλευθέραν ἁγνὴν εἶναι18 καὶ μὴ γινώσκειν19 ἄλλου
ἀνδρὸς πλὴν τοῦ ἰδίου εὐνὴν ἢ (have) συνουσίαν (with him)·
Vocabulary
ἀλλότριος, -ία, -ιον, belonging to another; foreign; ὁ ἀλλότριος, stranger
ἀνέχω, hold/lift up, hold up, detain, delay something; mid. tolerate, endure
ἀποκρύπτω, conceal something ἐπισκοπέω, watch over, inspect, observe εὐνή,
ἡ, bed, bedding Μεγάλοι Θεοί, the Great Gods παρασιωπάω, keep silence
προγράφω, write above; set forth as a public notice, advertise; exhibit in a
public place; register/record (names) συνουσία, ἡ, being with/together with;
sexual intercourse φθείρω, fut. pass. φθαρήσομαι: sexually seduce; pass. be
dissolved

(Lines 36–50)
ἐὰν δὲ γνῶι, τὴν τοιαύτην μὴ εἶναι ἁγνήν, ἀλλὰ μεμιασμένην20 καὶ μύσους
ἐμφυλίου πλήρη καὶ σέβεσθαι ἀναξίαν τὸν θεὸν τοῦτον οὗ ταῦτα τὰ ἱερὰ
ἵδρυται, μηδὲ θυσίαις παρατυγχάνειν μηδὲ τοῖς ἁγνισμοῖς καὶ καθαρμοῖς
προσκόπτειν21 μηδὲ ὁρᾶν ἐπιτελούμενα τὰ μυστηρία· ἐὰν δὲ ποιῆι τι τούτων,
ἀ οὗ (time) τὰ παραγγέλματα εἰς τήνδε τὴν ἀναγραφὴν ἥκουσιν, κακὰς
ἀρὰς παρὰ τῶν θεῶν ἕξει (for) τὰ παραγγέλματα ταῦτα παρορῶσα· ὁ θεὸς
γὰρ ταῦτα οὔτε βούλεται γίνεσθαι μηθαμῶς, οὔτε θέλει, ἀλλὰ κατακολουθεῖν.
οἱ θεοὶ τοῖς μὲν ἀκολουθοῦσιν (the laws) ἔσονται ἵλεως καὶ δώσουσιν αὐτοῖς
ἀὲι πάντα τἀγαθά, ὅσα θεοὶ ἀνθρώποις, οὓς φιλοῦσιν, διδόασιν· ἐὰν δέ τινες
παραβαίνωσιν, τοὺς τοιούτους μισήσουσι καὶ μεγάλας22 αὐτοῖς τιμωρίας
περιθήσουσιν.
Vocabulary
ἀναγραφή, ἡ, inscription; inventory ἀρά, ἡ, curse, imprecation ἀνάξιος, -ία, -
ιον, unworthy ἐμφύλιος, among the people, endemic ἵλεως, merciful, gracious,
kindly (adv.) κατακολουθέω (w. dat.), obey commandments μηθαμῶς, not at
all μισέω, to hate, despise μύσος, -εος, τό, pollution, defilement περιτίθημι,
put around, wrap around παροράω, disregard τιμωρία, ἡ, retribution,
vengeance

Part 3: Agdistis, the Original Goddess of the House

(Lines 50–60)
Τὰ παραγγέλματα ταῦτα ἐτέθησαν παρὰ Ἄγγδιστιν τὴν ἁγιωτάτην23 φύλακα
καὶ οἰκοδέσποιναν τοῦδε τοῦ οἴκου, ἥτις ἀγαθὰς διανοίας24 ποιείτω ἀνδράσι
καὶ γυναιξὶν ἐλευθέροις καὶ δούλοις, ἵνα κατακολουθῶσιν τοῖς ὧδε
γεγραμμένοις, καὶ ἐν ταῖς θυσίαις ταῖς τε ἐμμήνοις καὶ ταῖς κατὰ ἐνιαυτὸν
ἁπτέσθωσαν,25 ὅσοι πιστεύουσιν ἑαυτοῖς ἄνδρες τε καὶ γυναῖκες τῆς γραφῆς
ταύτης, ἐν ἧι τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ παραγγέλματά εἰσιν γεγραμμένα ἵνα φανεροὶ
γίνωνται οἱ κατακολουθοῦντες τοῖς παραγγέλμασιν καὶ οἱ μὴ
κατακολουθοῦντες.
 Vocabulary
Ἁγγδιστις, Agdistis, divine patroness of the oikos γραφή, ἡ, writing,
written/engraved text, scripture ἔμμηνος, -ον, monthly οἰκοδέσπποινα, mistress
of a family (rare) φύλαξ, -ακος, ἡ, guard, guardian, protector

A Prayer to Zeus (Lines 60–64)

Ζεῦ Σωτήρ, τὴν ἁφὴν τοῦ Διονυσίου ἵλεως καὶ εὐμενῶς προσδέχου καὶ (be)
προσηνὴς αὐτῶι καὶ τῶι γένει. πάρεχε ἀγαθὰς ἀμοιβάς, ὑγίειαν, σωτηρίαν,
εἰρήνην, ἀσφάλειαν ἐπὶ γῆς καὶ ἐπὶ θαλάσσης ἀσφάλειαν [ .... .... ] μένοις
ὁμοίως [ – - – - ]
Vocabulary
ἀμοιβή, ἡ, repayment, recompense ἁφή, ἡ, touch εὐμενῶς (adv.), with
goodwill, favorably ἵλεως (adv.), merciful, gracious, kindly προσηνής, -ές,
well-disposed

A Love Spell of Attraction over Myrrh

(PGM IV, 1496–1595)
The sacred laws of Zeus Savior (SIG3 985) include a prohibition of the use of
love potions (φίλτροι).26 The spell given here provides a concrete example of
such a love potion. The use of capital letters in this text (ll. 1536–1540, 1555–
1557, 1662–1690) indicates magical words. Though such words were deemed to
be powerful, they were probably semiologically meaningless to the intended
readers of this spell (cf. Mark 7:34, §1.12).27
Lines 1496–1504
Ἀγωγὴ ἐπὶ ζμύρνας28 ἐπιθυομένης· ἐπιθύων ἐπὶ ἀνθράκων δίωκε τὸν
λόγον.29
λόγος· Σὺ εἶ ἡ Ζμύρνα, ἡ πικρά, ἡ χαλεπή, ἡ καταλλάσσουσα τοὺς
μαχομένους, ἡ φρύγουσα καὶ ἀναγκάζουσα φιλεῖν τοὺς μὴ προσποιουμένους
τὸν Ἔρωτα.
Vocabulary
ἔρως, -ωτος, ὁ, love; Ἔρως, god of love ζμύρνα / σμύρνα, ἡ, myrrh; Ζμύρνα,
the deity Myrrh μάχομαι, quarrel, dispute; fight; μάχομαι ἐν, fight with
(ἐν/dat.), be in conflict with; οἱ μαχόμενοι, those who fight, combatants
προσποιέομαι, acknowledge σαρκοφάγος, -ον, flesh-eating; subst. sarcophagus
(coffin); flesh eater φιλέω, to love; kiss φρύγω, to roast

Lines 1505–1510
Πάντες σε λέγουσιν30 Ζμύρναν, ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω σε σαρκοφάγον καὶ φλογικὴν
τῆς καρδίας. οὐ πέμπω σε μαρκὰν εἰς τὴν Ἀραβίαν, οὐ πέμπω σε εἰς
Βαβυλών, ἀλλὰ πέμπω σε πρὸς τὴν δεῖνα τῆς δεῖνα,31 ἵνα μοι διακονήσῃς
πρὸς αὐτήν, ἴνα μοι ἄξῃς32 αὐτήν.
Vocabulary
Βαβυλών, -ῶνος, ἡ, Babylon δεῖνα, ὁ/ἡ, τοῦ δεῖνος, τῷ δεῖνι, τὸν δεῖνα: so-
and-so διακονέω (w. dat./gen.), serve, render assistance to μακράν (adv.), far
(away) φλογικός, -ήν, -όν, apt to scorch; subst. one who inflames (the heart)

Lines 1510–1522
Εἰ κάθηται, μὴ καθήσθω, εἰ λαλεῖ πρός τινα, μὴ λαλείτω, εἰ ἐμβλέπει τινί, μὴ
ἐμβλεπέτω, εἰ προσέρχεταί τινι, μὴ προσερχέσθω, εἰ περιπατεῖ, μὴ
περιπατείτω, εἰ πίνει, μὴ πινέτω, εἰ ἐσθίει, μὴ ἐσθιέτω, εἰ καταφιλεῖ τινα, μὴ
καταφιλείτω, εἰ τέρπεταί τινι ἡδονῇ, μὴ τερπέσθω, εἰ κοιμᾶται, μὴ κοιμάσθω,
ἀλ ἐμὲ μόνον, τὸν δεῖνα, κατὰ νοῦν ἐχέτω, ἐμοῦ μόνου ἐπιθυμείτω, ἐμὲ
μόνον στεργέτω, τὰ ἐμὰ θελήματα πάντα ποιείτω.
Vocabulary
ἡδονή, ἡ, enjoyment, pleasure στέργω, feel affection for somebody, show
affection to τέρπω, enjoy

Lines 1522–1545
Μὴ εἰσέλθῃς αὐτῆς διὰ τῶν ὀμμάτων, μὴ διὰ τῶν πλευρῶν, μὴ διὰ τῶν
ὀνύχων μηδὲ ὀμφαλοῦ μηδὲ διὰ τῶν μελῶν, ἀλλὰ διὰ τῆς ψυχῆς, καὶ
ἔμμεινον αὐτῆς33 ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ καὶ καῦσον34 αὐτῆς τὰ σπλάγχνα, τὸ στῆθος,
τὸ ἧπαρ, τὸ πνεῦμα, τὰ ὀστᾶ, τοὺς μυελούς, ἕως ἕλθῃ πρὸς ἐμέ, τὸν δεῖνα,
φιλοῦσά με καὶ ποιήσῃ πάντα τὰ θελήματά μου, ὅτι ἐξορκίζω σε, Ζμύρνα,
κατὰ τῶν τριῶν ὀνομάτων35AΝΟΧΩ, AΒΡΑΣΑξ, ΤΡΩ καὶ (κατὰ) τῶν
ἐπακολουθοτέρων καὶ τῶν ἰσχυροτέρων (ὀνομάτων) ΚΟΡΜΕΙΩΘ, ΙΑΟ,
ΣΑΒΑΟΘ, ΑΔΩΝΑΙ, ἴνα μοι τὰς ἐντολὰς ἐπιτελέσῇ, Ζμύρνα· ὡς ˒γώ σε
κατακαίω καὶ δυνατὴ εἶ, οὕτω36 ἧς φιλῶ, τῆς δεῖνα, κατάκαυσον τὸν
ἔγκέφαλον, ἔκκαυσον καὶ ἔκστρεψον αὐτῆς τὰ σπλάγχνα, ἔκσταξον αὐτῆς τὸ
αἷμα, ὥς ἔλθῃ πρὸς ἐμέ, τὸν δεῖνα τῆς δεῖνα.
Vocabulary
ἔγκέφαλος, ὁ, brain ἐκκαίω, inflame ἐκστάζω, drain out ἐκστρέφω, turn inside
out ἐξορκίζω (= ἐξορκόω), make somebody swear/take an oath; conjure by
(κατά) a god ἐπακολουθός, -όν, coercive; (comp.) more coercive ἧπαρ, -ατος,
τό, liver κατακαίω (Att. κατακάω), impf. κατέκαιον, 2. κατακαύσω: burn
completely, burn up μέλος, -ους, τό, bodily frame (usually pl.); melody, music
μυελός, ὁ, marrow ὀμφαλός, ὁ, navel ὄνυξ, -υχος, ὁ, fingernail πλευρά, -ᾶς,
ἡ, ribs, side (of a person) στέργω, feel affection for somebody, show affection
to somebody

Lines 1546–1595
Ὁρκίζω σε κατὰ37 τοῦ ΜΑΡΠΑΡΚΟΥΡΙΘ, ΝΑΣΑΑΡΙ, ΝΑΙΕΜΑΡΕ ΠΑΙΠΑΡΙ
ΝΕΚΟΥΡΙ. βάλλω σε εἰς τὸ πῦρ τὸ καιόμενον καὶ ὁρκίζω σε κατὰ τοῦ
παντοκράτορος θεοῦ ζῶντες ἀεί· Ὁρκίσας σε νῦν ὁρκίζω σε ΑΔΩΝΑΙ,
ΒΑΡΒΑΡ, ΙΑΩ, ΖΑΓΟΥΡΗ, ΑΡΣΑΜΩΣΙ, ΑΛΑΟΥΣ, καὶ ΣΑΛΑΩΣ· ὁρκίζω
σε τὸν στηρίζοντα ἄνθρωπον εἰς ζωήν· ἄκουε, ἄκουε, ὁ μέγας θεός,
ΑΔΩΝΑΙΕ, ΕθΥΙΑ, αὐτογενέτωρ, ἀείζων θεέ, ΕΙΩΗ ΙΑΩ ΑΙΩ ΑΙΩ ΦΝΕΩΣ
ΣΦΙΝΤΗΣ ΑΡΒΑΘΙΑΩ ΙΑΩ ΙΑΗ ΙΩΑ ΑΙ, ὁ ὢν ὈΥΕΡ ΓΟΝΘΙΑΩΡ ῬΑΡΑΗΛ
ΑΒΡΑ ΒΡΑΧΑ ΣΟΡΟΟΡΜΕΡΦΕΡΓΑΡ ΜΑΡΒΑΦΡΙΟΥ ΡΥΓξ ΙΑΟ ΣΑΒΑΩΘ
ΜΑΣΚΕΛΛΙ ΜΑΣΚΕΛΛΩ (the formula) ΑΜΟΝΣΩΕ· ΑΝΟΧ· ΡΙΓΧ·
ΦΝΟΥΚΕΝΤΑΒΑΩΘ· ΣΟΥΣΑΕ ΦΙΝΦΕΣΗΧ ΜΑΦΙΡΑΡ ΑΝΟΥΡΙΝ
IΒΑΝΑΩΘ ΑΡΟΥΗΡ ΧΝΟΥΦ ΑΝΟΧ ΒΑΘΙ ΟΥΧ IΑΡΒΑΣ ΒΑΒΑΥΒΑΡ
EΛΩΑΙ· ἄγε μοι τὴν δεῖνα τῆς δεῖνα πρὸς ἐμέ, τὸν δεῖνα τῆς δεῖνα, ἐν τῇ
σήμερον ἡμέρᾳ38 ἐν τῂ νυκτὶ ταύτῃ, ἐν τῇ ἄρτι ὥρᾳ, ΜΟΥΛΩΘΦΩΥΘ
ΦΟΦΙΘ ΦΘΩΙΘ ΦΘΩΥΘ ΠΕΝΙΩΝ· ἐπικαλοῦμαι καὶ σέ, τὸν πῦρ κρατοῦντα,
ΦΘΑΝ ΑΝΟΧ· Εἰσάκουσόν μου, ὁ εἷς, μονογενὴς, ΜΑΝΕΒΙΑ ΒΑΙΒΑΙ
ΧΥΡΙΡΩΟΥ ΘΑΝΔΕΙΝ, ΑΔΩΝΑΙ ἘΡΟΥ ΝΟΥΝΙ ΜΙΩΩΝΧ· ΧΟΥΤΙΑΙ
ΜΑΡΜΑΡΑΥΩΘ· Ἄξον τὴν δεῖνα τῆς δεῖνα πρὸς ἐμέ, τὸν δεῖνα τῆς δεῖνα,
ἄρτι, ἄρτι, ἄρτι, ἤδη, ἤδη, ταχύ, ταχύ. Λέγε δὲ καὶ τὸν κατὰ πάντων
(occasions) λόγον.
Vocabulary
αὐτογενέτωρ, -ορος, ὁ, self-generating ἀείζων, -ονος, everlasting εἰσακούω
(w. gen.), hear, obey μονογενής, -ές, only, unique ὁρκίζω: make somebody
swear an oath to somebody (acc.), swear by the name (τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ) of
somebody; conjure by (acc.), magically invoke by (acc.) ταχύς, -εία, -ύ, swift,
quick, soon

A Contraceptive Spell (PGM XXXVI, 320–332)

The sacred laws of Zeus Savior (SIG3 985) also include a prohibition of
contraceptive potions (ἀτοκεῖον). The spell in this section provides an example
of a contraceptive spell.
Lines 320–326
Ἀσύνλημπτον, τὸ μόνον (such spell) ἐν κόσμῳ. λαβὼν ὀρόβους, ὅσους
ἐὰν39 θέλῃς πρὸς τὰ (number of) βούλει ἔτη,40 ἵνα μένῃς ἀσύνλημπτος,
βρέξον αὐτὰ41 εἰς τὰ καταμήνια τῆς γυναικὸς οὔσης ἐν ἀφέδρῳ, βρεξάτω
αὐτὰ εἰς τὴν φύσιν42 ἑαυτῆς. καὶ λαβὼν βάτραχον ζῶντα βάλε εἰς τὸ στόμα
αὐτοῦ τοὺς ὀρόβους ἵνα καταπίῃ αὐτούς, καὶ ἀπόλυσον τὸν βάτραχον ζῶντα,
ὅθεν αὐτὸν ἔλαβας.
Vocabulary
ἀσύνλημπτος, -ον, τό, sterile, infertile (i.e., contraceptive spell) ἄφέδρος, ἡ,
menstrual flow;43 ἐν ἀφέδρῳ, in menstruation, menstruating βάτραχος, ὁ, frog
βρέχω, to rain; soak (in a liquid) καταμήνιος, -ον, monthly; pl. subst. τὰ
καταμήνια, menstrual flow (menses) of women καταπίνω, swallow something
ὅθεν (adv. of place), from where, from which; for which reason ὄροβος, ὁ,
bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia); pl. bitter vetch seeds Lines 326–332
καὶ λαβὼν σπέρμα ὑοσκυέμου βρέξον αὐτὸ γάλακτος ἱππίου, καὶ λαβὼν
ἀπομύξης ἀπὸ βοὸς μετὰ κριθῶν βάλε (these) εἰς (a piece of) δέρμα ἐλάφιον
καὶ ἔξωθεν δῆσον δέρματι βουρδῶνος καὶ περίαψον ἀποκρουστικῆς οὔσης
τῆς σελήνης44 (which is) ἐν θηλυκῷ ζωδίῳ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ Κρόνου ἢ Ἑρμοῦ.
μῖξον45 δὲ καὶ ταῖς κριθεῖς καὶ ῥύπον ἀπὸ ὠτίου μούλας.
Vocabulary
ἀποκρουστικός, -ή, -όν, waning (of the moon) ἀπομύξη (= ἀπομυξία), nose
mucus βουρδών, -ῶνος, ὁ, mule γάλα, τό, γάλακτος, milk δέω, 3. ἔδησα:
bind/tie, put in chains; imprison ἐλάφιον, fawn (dim. of ἔλαφος, deer) ἔξωθεν,
on the outside ζῴδιον, τό, sign of the Zodiac θηλυκός, -ή, -όν, female,
woman-like, feminine (gram. gender) ἵππιος, -α, -ον, of a horse (m.), of a mare
(fm.) κριθή, ἡ, pl. barley grains Κρόνος, Chronos (god); the planet Saturn
μ(ε)ίγνημι, 3. ἔμ(ε)ιξα, 1aor impv. μῖξον,1aor. pass. ἐμ(ε)ίχθην, more oft. 2aor.
pass. ἐμ(ε)ίγην: to mix; bring together; pass. be brought into contact with, be
intermingled μοῦλος (m.) / μοῦλα (fm.), mule περιάπτω, fasten, put around
oneself ῥύπος, ὁ, earwax ὑοσκυέμος, ὁ, henbane, Hyoscyamus niger

Select Bibliography
Betz, Hans Dieter (ed). The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation Including the
Demotic Spells, 2nd ed, vol. 1: Texts. Chicago: University of Chicago Press,
1992.
Bonner, C. “Liturgical Fragments on Gnostic Amulets.” HTR 25 (1932), 362–
367.
Bonner, C. “The Transparency of Divine Attributes.” HTR 37 (1944), 338–339.

1 The term οἶκος (cf. ll. 5–6) probably designates the actual house of Dionysios.
But subsequently (cf. ll. 15, 23, 32, 52) it designates the voluntary association
itself. The main verb of this sentence (periphr. cstr.) can be found in l. 11.

2 δόξα, here “reputation.”

3 δόξηι τῆι ἀρίστηι, modifier in 3rd attrib. pos.

4 Dionysios, the founder of this religious association.

5 S.v. Ζεύς.

6 Διὸς...τοῦ Εὐμενοῦς (dis. syn. [Y2 hyp.]).

7 “Savior gods.”

8 εἰσὶν ἱδρυμένοι, primary verb (pf. periph., cf. IV, 18).

9 I.e., to Dionysios (cf. l. 60).

10 “Knowing of ” δόλον (acc) + (directed) “at”/”toward” (dat.) somebody.

11 ἐπωιδάς > ἐπῳδάς.

12 γινώσκω, “to know of” something.

13 Cf. other love spells of attraction mentioned in Acts Andr. 5.65 (§5.16),
PGM IV, 1496–1595 (presented later), PGM XIII, 238–240 (§5.4).

14 Imperatival inf.

15 Cf. contraceptive spell (PGM XXXVI, 320–332), presented later.

16 παρά, “apart from, besides.”

17 Imperatival inf.; ποιέω φανερόν, “to expose (somebody).”

18 Imperatival inf.

19 γινώσκειν...εὐνήν.

20 S.v. μιαίνω.

21 The meaning of this verb in this context is unclear.

22 μεγάλας...τιμωρίας (dis. syn. [Y1 hyp.]).

23 Superl. of ἅγιος, -α, -ον.

24 Note the tendency to look at the inner person as well as the outer body,
which is typical of cults of the Hellenstic age.

25 ἀπτέσθωσαν...τῆς γραφῆς ταύτης.

26 Cf. Acts Andr. 5.65 (§5.16).

27 On nomina barbara see NewDocs I, no. 8.

28 ζμύρνας > σμύρνας.

29 λόγος, here “spell,” “formula.”

30 “Call,” cf. l. 1504.

31 τὴν δεῖνα τὴς δεῖνα (i.e., so-and-so, mother of so-and-so); in other words,
this is where the reciter of the spell is cued to fill in the name of the woman who
is the object of the spell (cf. ll. 1520, 1532, 1543, 1547, 1579–1580, 1591–
1592).

32 S.v. ἄγω, here “to attract.”

33 αὐτῆς...τῇ καρδίᾳ.

34 S.v. καίω.

35 See Bonner,“Liturgical Fragments on Gnostic Amulets”; Bonner, “The

Transparency of Divine Attributes.”

36 οὕτω > οὕτως.

37 κατά, “by.”
38 ἐν τῇ σήμερον ἡμέρᾳ, “on this very day.”

39 ἐάν > ἄν.

40 πρὸς τὰ βούλει ἔτη, i.e., πρὸς (for) τα... ἔτη (“for ... the years ...”).

41 I.e., the seeds.

42 φύσις here “(female) genitals.”

43 Cf. Lev 15:18, 19.

44 Temporal gen. absol. (“when,” “during,” cf. IV, 1.1).

45 S.v. μ(ε)ίγνημι.
 7.4. Sacred Laws of an Athenian Men’s Drinking
Club

(IG II2 1368)

Fig. 16. Larnax with relief depicting funeral banquet,
Çatmakaya, Turkey (IKonya 190).

The best-known men’s drinking club in ancient Greece was that of the Iobakchoi
in Athens. The name ἰόβακχος is derived from the Dionysian invocation, ἰώ,
combined with the alternate name for Dionysos, Bakchos.1 The inscription in
this section was discovered in the banqueting hall (ἑστιατόρειον) of this club,
which was located between the Pnyx and the Areopagos, just west of the
Acropolis. This same building also contained an altar decorated with Dionysian
frescos.
Date: 175–176 CE.
Text: IG II2 1368, SIG3 1109, LSCG 51; GRA 51; cf. Marcus N. Tod,
Sidelights on Greek History (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1932), 71–93.
The inscription is engraved in two columns on a stone pillar. The variety of
functionaries attested in this Dionysian association is extensive, numbering ten
in total: these include a priest (ἱερεύς), deputy priest (ἀνθιερεύς), chief bakchos
(ἀρχίβακχος), president (προστάτης), cowherd (βουκολικός), treasurer (ταμίας),
secretary (γραμματεύς), eukosmos (εὔκοσμος), bouncers (ἵπποι), and sacred
servants (ἱεροὶ παῖδες).2 This inscription also alludes to a sacred drama, which is
to say, the enactment of a religious myth (cf. ll. 65–66, 123–126). The symbol V
denotes denarius currency (cf. ll. 38, 40, 55, 90) and the symbol δρ. denotes the
“light drachma” (cf. ll. 80, 82, 99, 110).3 For the interpretation of numbers see
the table of alphabetic numerals (table 9.18).
Related Texts: Other Dionysian religions include IMagn-Mai 215 (§7.10),
IMilet VI, 22 (§7.14), IG IX/12 670 (§7.15), and MAMA VI, 239 (§7.20).

Lines 1–10
᾿Αγαθῇ τύχῃ· ἐπὶ ἄρχοντος ᾿Αρ(ρίου) ᾿Επαφροδείτου,4 μηνὸς
᾿Ελαφηβολιῶνος η´ ἑσταμένου,5 ἀγορὰν συνήγαγεν πρώτως ὁ ἀποδειχθεὶς
ἱερεὺς ὑπὸ Αὐρ(ηλίου) Νεικομάχου6 τοῦ ἀνθιερασαμένου ἔτη ιζ´ καὶ
ἱερασαμένου ἔτη κγ´ καὶ παραχωρήσαντος ζῶντος εἰς κόσμον καὶ δόξαν τοῦ
Βακχείου τῷ κρατίστῳ Κλα(υδίῳ) Ἡρώδῃ,7 ὑ οὗ (as) ἀνθιερεὺς
ἀποδειχθεὶς·
Vocabulary
ἀγορά, ἡ, marketplace (of a city); meeting, assembly; ἀγορὰν ἄγω/συνάγω,
convene a meeting ἀνθιεράομαι, serve as vice-priest ἀνθιερεύς, ὁ, vice-priest
(cf. ll. 27, 85, 104, 109, 122) ἀποδείκυνμι, nominate somebody; reserve for
somebody; demonstrate; mark out an area (of asylum, market, etc.) Βακχεῖον,
τό, a Bacchic society ᾿Ελαφηβολιών, Elaphebolion (cf. l. 120; see table 19)
ἱερατεύω, 1aor mid. ἱερασάμενος: serve as priest/priestess (cf. ll. 11, 116)
κρατίστος, -η, -ον, most excellent, noblest; his excellency (official title given to
senators and magistrates) παραχωρέω, resign

Lines 10–17
(The vice-priest) ἀνέγνω δόγματα (drawn up by the former) τῶν ἱερασαμένων
Χρυσίππου καὶ Διονυσίου,8 καὶ ἐπαινέσαντος9 τοῦ ἱερέως καὶ τοῦ
ἀρχιβάχχου καὶ τοῦ προστάτου (and they all) ἐξεβόησαν· τούτοις (δόγμασι)
ἀεὶ χρώμεθα,10 καλῶς ὁ ἱερεύς, ἀνάκτησαι τὰ δόγματα· σοὶ πρέπει (to do so),
εὐστάθειαν τῷ Βακχείῳ καὶ εὐκοσμίαν, (inscribe) ἐν στήλῃ τὰ δόγματα,
ἐπερώτα.
Vocabulary
ἀνακτάομαι, reinstate, revive ἀρχιβάχχου > ἀρχιβάκχου, s.v. ἀρχιβάκχος,
chief bakchos11 (cf. l. 67) δόγμα, -ματος, τό, statute ἐκβοάω, call out, shout
out εὐκοσμία, ἡ, good order (cf. l. 65) εὐστάθεια, ἡ, good health καλῶς,
rightly, well καλῶς ἂν ποιήσαις/ποιήσεις, lit. “you would do well [to]”; fig.
“please” (epistolary formula expressing a polite request); “hurrah for,” “bravo
for” (approve the words of a speaker) πρέπω, be fitting (here impers.)
προστάτης, president στήλη, ἡ, stele, stone slab (upon which an inscription is
engraved) ταμίας, ὁ, treasurer

Lines 17–31
Ὁ ἱερεὺς εἶπεν· ἐπεὶ καὶ ἐμοὶ καὶ τοῖς συνιερεῦσί μου καὶ ὑμεῖν12 πᾶσιν (it)
ἀρέσκει, ὡς ἀξιοῦτε ἐπερωτήσομεν. καὶ ἐπηρώτησεν ὁ πρόεδρος Ῥοῦφος
Ἀφροδεισίου·13 ὅτῳ14 δοκεῖ κύρια εἶναι τὰ ἀνεγνωσμένα δόγματα καὶ ἐν
στήλῃ (ought) ἀναγραφῆναι, ἀράτω15 τὴν χεῖρα. πάντες ἐπῆραν (their hands).
ἐξεβόησαν· πολλοῖς ἔτεσι (we wish) τὸν κράτιστον ἱερέα Ἡρώδην. Νῦν
εὐτυχεῖς. Νῦν (we are) πάντων πρῶτοι τῶν Βακχείων,16 καλῶς ὁ ἀνθιερεύς,
ἡ στήλη γενέστω.17 ὁ ἀνθιερεὺς εἶπε· ἔσται ἡ στήλη18 (set) ἐπὶ τοῦ κείονος,
καὶ (the statutes) ἀναγραφήσονται· εὐτονήσουσι γὰρ οἱ προεστῶτες τοῦ μηδὲν
αὐτῶν19 λυθῆναι.20
Vocabulary
ἐπαίρω, 3. ἐπῆρα, 1aor ptc. ἐπάρας: lift up something, hoist εὐτονίξω, be
empowered (cf. l. 49) εὐτυχέω, be prosperous, have good fortune; εὐτύχει freq.
employed at the close of letters to express “farewell”
κείονος > κίωνονος, s.v. κίων, ἡ, column κύριος, -α, -ον, valid/good (re law
and statutes); ἀγορά κυρία, regular meeting/assembly πρόεδρος, ὁ, chair of the
meeting προΐστημι, be a leader; subst. οἱ προεστωτες, presiding officers
συνιερεύς, -έως, ὁ, fellow priest

Α Record of the Ratified Statutes Lines 31–46

Μηδενὶ ἐξέστω ἰόβακχον εἶναι, ἐὰν μὴ πρῶτον ἀπογράψηται παρὰ τῷ ἱερεῖ
τὴν νενομισμένην ἀπογραφὴν καὶ δοκιμασθῇ ὑπὸ τῶν ἰοβάκχων ψήφῳ, εἰ
ἄξιος φαίνοιτο καὶ ἐπιτήδειος τῷ Βακχείῳ· Ἔστω δὲ τὸ ἰσηλύσιον τῷ
(applicant) μὴ ἀπὸ πατρὸς21 δηνάρια ν´ καὶ σπονδή·22 ὁμοίως καὶ οἱ
(applicants) ἀπὸ πατρὸς23 ἀπογραφέσθωσαν, ἐπὶ δηνάρια κε´ διδόντες,24
(which is) ἡμιφόριον μέχρις ὅτου25 (time) πρὸς γυναῖκας ὦσιν·26 συνίτωσαν
δὲ οἱ ἰόβακχοι τάς τε ἐνάτας (day of each month) καὶ τὰς ἀμφιετηρίδας καὶ
Βακχεῖα, καὶ εἴ τις πρόσκαιρος ἑορτὴ τοῦ θεοῦ, ἕκαστος (member shall) ἢ
λέγων ἢ ποιῶν ἢ φιλοτειμούμενος27 (for this Bacchic society), καταβάλλων
μηνιαίαν τὴν28 ὁρισθεῖσαν εἰς τὸν οἶνον φοράν·
Vocabulary
ἀμφιετηρίς -ίδος, ἡ, annual festival (cf. ll. 70, 112, 152) ἀπογραφή, notice (of
intention), application ἀπογράφω, register; file a report Βακχεῖα, Bacchic days
δοκιμάζω, approve for (membership) ἐπιτήδειος, -α, -ον, suitable for (w. dat.)
ἰόβακχος, ὁ, Iobakchos, a member of this Bakcheion ἰσηλύσιον > τὸ
εἰσηλύσιον, entrance fee (cf. ll. 61, 103) καταβάλλω, lead/bring down;
contribute something to ἡμιφόριον, τό, half-subscription (i.e., half the usual
rate) μηνιαῖος, -α, -ον, monthly πρόσκαιρος, -ον, occasional σπονδή, ἡ, drink
offering, libation; donation of wine φιλοτιμέομαι (pass. dep.): strive after
honor, be ambitious; make a sincere effort φορά, ἡ, payment, (membership)
dues; tribute; rapid motion

Lines 47–58
ἐὰν (someone) δὲ μὴ πληροῖ (these obligations), εἰργέσθω τῆς στιβάδος, καὶ
εὐτονείτωσαν (to enforce this) οἱ τῷ ψηφίσματι ἐνγεγραμμένοι, χωρὶς ἢ (in the
cases of persons who are) ἀποδημίας ἢ πένθους ἢ νόσου ἢ (εἰ) σφόδρα
ἀνανκαῖός τις ἦν ὁ προσδεχθησόμενος ἰς29 τὴν στιβάδα, κρεινάντων30 τῶν
ἱερέων (this situation)· ἐὰν δὲ ἰοβάκχου ἀδελφὸς ἰσέρχηται ψήφῳ
δοκιμασθεὶς, διδότω δηνάρια ν´· ἐὰν δὲ ἱερὸς παῖς31 ἐξωτικὸς καθεσθεὶς
ἀναλώσῃ τὰ (fee) πρὸς τοὺς θεοὺς καὶ τὸ Βακχεῖον, (and) ἔστω μετὰ τοῦ
πατρὸς ἰόβακχος ἐπί32 μιᾷ σπονδῇ τοῦ πατρὸς·
Vocabulary
ἀναλόω / ἀναλίσκω, use up; spend, pay a fee; pass. be used, consumed
ἀποδημία, ἡ, being out of town, abroad ἐνγ- > ἐγγ-, s.v. ἐγγράφω, to record;
pass. be recorded/named (cf. l. 61) ἐξωτικός, -η, -ον, uninitiated ἔργω / εἴργω,
shut out; pass. be shut out of (gen.) εὐτονέω, be empowered (to do something)
στιβάς, -άδος, ἡ, (lit.) straw couch; 33 (fig.) gathering (cf. ll. 51, 63, 70, 112,
114, 152)
χωρίς / χωρίς ἤ (w. gen.), except, apart from; without ψήφισμα, -ματος, τό,
decree

Lines 58–83
τῷ δὲ (everyone) ἀπογραψαμένῳ καὶ ψηφοφορηθέντι διδότω ὁ ἱερεὺς
ἐπιστολὴν (verifying) ὅτι ἐστὶν ἰόβακχος, (but only) ἐὰν (the member)
πρῶτον δοῖ34 τῷ ἱερεῖ τὸ ἰσηλύσιον, ἐνγραφομένου τῇ ἐπιστολῇ τὰ
χωρήσαντα εἰς τόδε τι·35 οὐδενὶ δὲ ἐξέσται ἐν τῇ στιβάδι οὔτε ᾆσαι36 οὔτε
θορυβῆσαι οὔτε κροτῆσαι, μετὰ δὲ πάσης εὐκοσμίας καὶ ἡσυχίας τοὺς
μερισμοὺς λέγειν37 καὶ ποιεῖν, προστάσσοντος38 τοῦ ἱερέως ἢ τοῦ
ἀρχιβάκχου· μηδενὶ39 ἐξέστω τῶν ἰοβάκχων τῶν μὴ συντελεσάντων (the
contributions) εἴς τε (meetings on) τὰς ἐνάτας (of the month) καὶ ἀμφιετηρίδας
εἰσέρχεσθαι ἰς τὴν στιβάδα μέχρις ἂν ἐπικριθῇ αὐτῷ ὑπὸ τῶν ἱερέων ἢ40
ἀποδοῦναι αὐτὸν ἢ (be allowed) ἰσέρχεσθαι (anyway)· μάχης δὲ ἐάν τις
ἄρξηται ἢ εὑρεθῇ τις ἀκοσμῶν ἢ ἐ ἀλλοτρίαν κλισίαν ἐρχόμενος ἢ
ὑβρίζων ἢ λοιδορῶν τινα, ὁ μὲν λοιδορηθεὶς ἢ ὑβρισθεὶς παραστανέτω41 δύο
(witnesses) ἐκ τῶν ἰοβάκχων ἐνόρκους, (testifying) ὅτι ἤκουσαν ὑβριζόμενον
ἢ λοιδορούμενον, καὶ ὁ ὑβρίσας ἢ λοιδορήσας ἀποτιννύτω τῷ κοινῷ λεπτοῦ
δρ(αχμὰς)42 κε´, ἢ ὁ αἴτιος γενόμενος τῆς μάχης ἀποτιννύτω τὰς αὐτὰς
δρ(αχμὰς) κε´, ἢ μὴ συνίτωσαν ἰς τοὺς ἰοβάκχους μέχρις ἂν ἀποδῶσιν·
Vocabulary
ἀκοσμέω, be disorderly; pl. subst. disorderly people ἀποτιννύω, to pay (cf. l.
81) δραχμή, ἡ, drachma (abbrev. δρ.), light drachma ἐνγ- > ἐγγ-, s.v.
ἐγγράφω, pass. be written/indicated (in a letter) ἐνόρκος, -ον, having sworn,
bound by oath ἐπικρίνω, approve (cf. l. 139) ἐπιστολή, ἡ, letter κλισία, ἡ, seat
κοινός, -ή, -όν, common, shared; public; κοινῇ σωτηρίᾳ, for common
security/safety; subst. κοινόν, τό, treasury; religious association; τὰ κοινά,
common funds, public money; κοινῇ (adv.), in common, as a group, in public
κροτέω, applaud λεπτός, -ή, -όν, light (in weight); light (diet); thin; fine,
delicate, subtle; superl. λεπτότητος; τὸ λεπτόν δρ., “light drachma” (= 1 obol)
λοιδορέω, rebuke, abuse somebody μάχη, ἡ, fight/fighting, quarrel, dispute;
battle μερισμός, ὁ, part in a theatrical (sacred) play σύνειμι (fr. εἶμι), ptc.
συνιών, συνιοῦσα, συνιόν, 3rd pl. pres. impv. συνίτωισαν: meet together (on),
assemble συντελέω, 1aor. pass. ptc. συντελεσθείς: bring to an end, finish, carry
out, accomplish; arrange, agree upon; pay (toward common expenses); pass. be
brought to perfection

Lines 84–99
Ἐὰν δέ τις ἄχρι πληγῶν ἔλθῃ, ἀπογραφέστω ὁ πληγεὶς43 πρὸς τὸν ἱερέα ἢ
τὸν ἀνθιερέα, ὁ (ἱερεύς) δὲ ἐπάνανκες ἀγορὰν ἀγέτω, καὶ ψήφῳ οἱ ἰόβακχοι
κρεινέτωσαν44 προηγουμένου45 τοῦ ἱερέως, καὶ (the offender) προστειμάσθω
πρὸς χρόνον46 μὴ εἰσελθεῖν (the Bacchic society) – ὅσον (time) ἂν δόξῃ – καὶ
(by paying) ἀργυρίου μέχρι δηνάρια κε´· ἔστω δὲ τὰ αὐτὰ ἐπιτείμια47 καὶ τῷ
δαρέντι καὶ μὴ ἐπεξελθόντι48 παρὰ τῷ ἱερεῖ ἢ τῷ ἀρχιβάκχῳ, ἀλλὰ (instead)
δημοσίᾳ ἐνκαλέσαντι.49 (τὰ) ἐπιτείμια δὲ ἔστω τὰ αὐτὰ τῷ εὐκόσμῳ μὴ
ἐκβαλόντι50 τοὺς μαχομένους. εἰ δέ τις τῶν ἰοβάκχων εἰδὼς ἐπὶ τοῦτου
(purpose) ἀγορὰν ὀφείλουσαν51 ἀχθῆναι μὴ ἀπαντήσῃ, ἀποτεισάτω τῷ
κοινῷ λεπτοῦ δρ(αχμὰς) ν´·
Vocabulary
ἀποτίνω, 2. ἀποτείσω, 3. ἀπέτεισα, 1aor. inf. ἀποτεῖσαι, 1aor. impv.
ἀποτεισάτω: pay a fine, pay what is due; mid. exert oneself, strive δέρω, 1aor.
pass. ptc. δερθείς: beat somebody δημόσιον, -α, -ον, public; nt. subt. τὸ
δημόσιον, the state; ἡ δημοσία, public court; (adv.) δημοσίᾳ, publicly
ἐγκαλέω, bring a charge against somebody (dat.); pass. be charged with (w.
gen.)
ἐπάνανκες > ἐπάναγκες (adv.), without fail ἐπεξέρχομαι, report a crime to
(παρά) somebody ἐνκαλέσαντιν > ἐγκαλέσαντιν, s.v. ἐγκαλέω, charge
something against somebody; take a fellow member to court (within a larger
spectrum, this verb belongs to other forms of agonistic behavior such as attempts
to assume somebody’s place at a banquet and physical insults).
ἐπιτίμιον, τό, assessment of damages, penalty; punishment εὐκόσμος, ὁ,
eukosmos (the officer in charge of good order) (cf. l. 136) κοινός, -ή, -όν,
common, shared; public; κοινῇ σωτηρίᾳ, for common safety; subst. τὸ κοινόν,
treasury; religious association; τὰ κοινά, common funds, public money; κοινῇ
(adv.), in common, as a group; in public μάχομαι, to quarrel, dispute; fight;
μάχομαι ἐν, fight with (ἐν/dat.), be in conflict with; οἱ μαχόμενοι, those who
fight, combatants προηγέομαι, preside προστειμάσθω > προστιμάσθω, s.v.
προστιμάω, penalize (cf. l. 145) ψῆφος, ἡ, vote
Lines 99–117
ἐὰν δε ἀπειθῆι πρασσόμενος (this), ἐξέστω τῷ ταμίᾳ κωλῦσαι αὐτὸν τῆς
εἰσόδου τῆς εἰς τὸ Βακχεῖον μέχρις ἂν ἀποδοῖ·52 ἐὰν δέ τις τῶν
εἰσερχομένων τὸ ἰσηλύσιον μὴ διδοῖ τῷ ἱερεῖ ἢ τῷ ἀνθιερεῖ, εἰργέσθω τῆς
ἑστιάσεως μέχρις ἂν ἀποδοῖ, καὶ πρασσέσθω (payment) ὅτῳ ἂν τρόπῳ ὁ
ἱερεὺς κελεύσῃ. μηδεὶς ἔπος φωνείτω μὴ ἐπιτρέψαντος53 τοῦ ἱερέως ἢ τοῦ
ἀνθιερέως ἢ ὑπεύθυνος (to pay) ἔστω τῷ κοινῷῖ λεπτοῦ δρ(αχμῶν) λ´· ὁ
ἱερεὺς δὲ ἐπιτελείτω τὰς ἐθίμους λιτουργίας54 στιβάδος καὶ ἀμφιετηρίδος
εὐπρεπῶς καὶ τιθέτω55 τὴν56 τῶν καταγωγίων σπονδὴν στιβάδι μίαν καὶ
(recite) (τὰ) θεολογίαν, ἣν ἤρξατο ἐκ φιλοτειμίας57 ποιεῖν ὁ ἱερασάμενος
Νεικόμαχος·58
Vocabulary
ἐθίμος, -ον, usual, customary (cf. l. 153) ἐπός, ὁ, a word; speech ἐστίασις, ἡ,
banquet εὐπρεπῶς, in a fitting manner θεολογία, τά, discourse about the god
(Dionysos), sermon καταγώγια, τά, Katagogia (the Festival of Return): a
festival celebrating the epiphany of Dionysos, celebrated on the tenth day of the
month of Elaphebolion, when the absence and subsequent return of Dionysos
were celebrated symbolically in the cycle of sowing and reaping λειτουργία, ἡ,
public service, public liturgical service, priestly ministry ταμίας, ὁ, treasurer
ὑπεύθυνος, -ον (w. gen.), liable to/for (cf. l. 144) φωνέω, speak, give (a speech)
Lines 117–141
ὁ δὲ ἀρχίβακχος θυέτω τὴν θυσίαν τῷ θεῷ καὶ τὴν σπονδὴν τιθέτω κατὰ
δεκάτην (day) τοῦ ᾿Ελαφηβολιῶνος μηνός· μερῶν (of the sacrificial victims)
δὲ γεινομένων αἰρέτω ἱερεύς, ἀνθιερεύς, ἀρχίβακχος, ταμίας, (those playing
the roles of):
βουκολικός
Διόνυσος
Κόρη
Παλαίμων
᾿Αφροδείτη
Πρωτεύρυθμος
Vocabulary
δέκατος, -η, -ον, tenth γείνομαι, bring into life, bring forth (cf. l. 160)
The following is a list of the dramatic parts in the sacred play (cf. l. 66):
 βουκολικός, ὁ, “cowherd,” specifying one who plays a part in the
Dionysian drama
Κόρη (Kore/Persephone, daughter of Demeter)
Παλαίμων (Palaimon)
᾿Αφροδείτη (Aphrodite, goddess of fruitfulness)
Πρωτεύρυθμος (Proteurythmos)

τὰ δὲ ὀνόματα59 αὐτῶν συνκληρούσθω πᾶσι· ὃς ἂν τῶν ἰοβάκχων

λάχῃ60 κλῆρον ἢ τειμὴν61 ἢ τάξιν, τιθέτω τοῖς ἰοβάκχοις σπονδὴν ἀξίαν τῆς
τάξεως, (such as)

γάμων62
γενήσεως
Χοῶν
ἐφηβείας
(a grant of) πολειτείας,63
(being honored as) ῥαβδοφορίας
(member of) βουλείας
(being chosen as) ἀθλοθεσίας
Πανέλληνος
γερουσίας
θεσμοθεσίας

Vocabulary
ἀθλοθεσία, ἡ, office of president of the games βουλεία, ἡ, office of council
member γάμος, ὁ (oft. in pl. with no difference in meaning), wedding γένεσις, -
εως, τό, generation, offspring, birth; beginning, origin γερουσία, ἡ, Council of
Elders ἐφηβεία, ἡ, coming-of-age celebration θεσμοθεσία, ἡ, office of
Themothetes (legislator) κλῆρος, ου, ὁ, that which is assigned by lot, a share,
portion; inheritance, inheritable estate λαγχάνω, 2aor. ἔλαχον, subj. λάχῃν, ptc.
λαχών: receive (an inheritance/honor), obtain an office; choose by lot
Πανέλληνος, Panhellene, councilor of the League of All Hellenesῥαβδοφορίας,
ὁ, rod bearer, an official responsible for policing order τάξις, -εως, ἡ,
arrangement; official appointment; position, order Χόες, οἱ, Pitcher Festival:
festival of ritual wine drinking, celebrated in connection with the transition of a
boy from infancy to childhood64
 (or any) ἀρχῆς ἧσδηποτεοῦν, (such as) συνθυσίας, εἰρηναρχίας, ἱερονείκου,
καὶ εἴ τις ἐπὶ τὸ κρεῖσσον ἰόβακχος ὢν τύχοιτο· εὔκοσμος δὲ κληρούσθω ἢ
καθιστάσθω ὑπὸ τοῦ ἱερέως, ἐπιφέρων τῷ ἀκοσμοῦντι ἢ θορυβοῦντι τὸν
θύρσον τοῦ θεοῦ· ᾧ δὲ ἂν παρατεθῇ ὁ θύρσος, (and) ἐπικρείναντος65 τοῦ
ἱερέως ἢ τοῦ ἀρχιβάκχου, ἐξερχέσθω τοῦ ἑστιατορείου·
Vocabulary
εἰρηναρχία > εἰρηναρχεῖον, office of Eirenarch (εἰρηνάρχης) ἑστιατόρειον >
ἑστιατόριον, τό (> ἑστιατήριον), banqueting hall ἧσδηποτεοῦν > ἡς δή ποτε
οὖν, whatsoever θύρσος, ὁ, thyrsus, a staff wreathed in ivy and vine leaves with
a pinecone on top ἱερονείκου > ἱερονίκης, s.v. ἱερονίκη, ἡ, sacred victor (in the
games) παρατίθημι, place beside somebody (dat.) συνκληρούσθω >
συγκληρούσθω, s.v. συνκληρόω, be apportioned together by lot συνθυσία, ἡ,
office of fellow sacrificer (συνθηύτης)

Lines 141–163
ἐὰν δὲ ἀπειθῇ, αἰρέτωσαν αὐτὸν ἔξω τοῦ πυλῶνος οἱ κατασταθησόμενοι66
ὑπὸ τῶν ἱερέων ἵπποι,67 καὶ ἔστω ὑπεύθυνος τοῖς περὶ τῶν μαχομένων
προστείμοις·68 ταμίαν δὲ αἱρείσθωσαν οἱ ἰόβακχοι ψήφῳ εἰς διετίαν, καὶ
παραλαμβανέτω πρὸς ἀναγραφὴν τὰ τοῦ Βακχείου πάντα, καὶ παραδώσει
ὁμοίως τῷ με αὐτὸν ἐσομένῳ69 ταμίᾳ· παρεχέτω δὲ οἴκοθεν τὸ
θερμόλυχνον τάς70 τε (meetings) ἐνάτας (day of the month) καὶ ἀμφιετηρίδα
καὶ στιβάδα, καὶ ὅσαι ἔθιμοι τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμέραι καὶ τὰς71 ἀπὸ κλήρων ἢ
τειμῶν ἢ τάξεων (celebrating) ἡμέρας· αἱρείσθω δὲ γραμματέα, ἐὰν
βούληται, τῷ ἰδίῳ κινδύνῳ, συνκεχωρήσθω δὲ αὐτῷ ἡ ταμιευτικὴ σπονδὴ
καὶ ἔστω ἀνείσφορος τὴν διετίαν· ἐὰν δέ τις τελευτήσῃ ἰόβακχος, γεινέσθω72
στέφανος αὐτῷ μέχρί (a cost of) δηνάρια ε´, καὶ τοῖς ἐπιταφήσασι τιθέσθω
οἴνου κεράμιον ἕν, ὁ δὲ μὴ ἐπιταφήσας εἰργέσθω τοῦ οἴνου.
Vocabulary
αἱρέω, pres. inf. αἱρεῖν, 1aor. ᾕρησα / εἷλον (√ ἑλ-), 2aor. mid. εἱλάμην/όμην:
take by the hand; take away, remove; entrap, take captive; mid. take for oneself,
choose; pass. be chosen ἀνείσφορος, -ον, exempt from membership fees
διετία, ἡ (= διετηρίς), for two years; εἰς διετίαν, for a term of two years (cf. l.
159) ἐθίμος, -ον, usual, customary (cf. l. 153) ἐπιταφέω, attend a funeral (cf. l.
163) θερμόλυχνον, τό, lamp oil κεράμιον, τό, earthenware jar κίνδινος, ὁ, risk
οἴκοθεν, lit. from one’s house; fig. at one’s own expense πυλών, -ῶνος, ὁ, city
gate; gateway, door συνχορέω > συγχορέω (w. acc.), pass. give something up
ταμιευτικός, -ή, -όν, belonging to the treasurer (cf. l. 159)

1 Cf. Eur. Bacchae, 576–85; Dionysos, later known as Bakchos, was perhaps
the best loved of all the Greek gods, even though he was not numbered among
the original twelve gods of the Olympian pantheon. Nevertheless, his cult was
ubiquitous in the Hellenistic world, partly owing to its remarkable ability to
assimilate local religious beliefs and practices. Dionysos was first and foremost
the god of wine and the grapevine was sacred to him. By the Hellenistic period,
he was even credited as the founder of viticulture.

2 On this terminology see B. H. McLean, “The Agrippinilla Inscription:

Religious Associations and Early Church Formation,” in Origins and Method:
Towards a New Understanding of Judaism and Christianity, 239–70, esp. 244,
ed. B. H. McLean (Sheffield: University Press, 1993).

3 The light drachma was instituted in the time of Hadrian (117–138 CE); when
the denarius superseded the old Attic drachma, the name “drachma” was retained
to signify the old obol (= 1/6 dr.), here called λεπτόν (νόμισμα).

4 Ar(rios) or A(u)r(elios) Epaphroditos; the archonship of Ar. Epaphroditos can

be dated to 175/176 CE. Most decrees are dated by specifying the name of the
eponymous magistrate presiding at the time. The eponymous magistrate in
Athens was the (chief) “Archon” (ὁ ἄρχων), which is to say, the head of the
board of magistrates known as the “Archons” (ἄρχοντες). The chief Archon was
the formal head of state, with all civic decrees being dated with his name. The
dating formula begins with ἐπί followed by the term ἄρχων and the name of the
Archon in the genitive case: ἐπὶ ἄρχοντος τοῦ δεῖνος (“[In the year] when so-
and-so was Archon”). In Athens, the name of the prytanizing tribe, the ordinal
sequence of the prytany and the day of the month were also specified: e.g., ἐπὶ
τῆς (the tribe of) Αἰγεΐδος πρώτης πρυτανείας (“in the first day prytaneis of the
tribe of Aigeis”).

5 ἑσταμένου > ἱσταμένου (on this formula see IV, 6); on alphabetic numerals
see table 9.18.
6 Τhe previous priest, Aurelius Nikomachos, had the right to nominate his
successor.

7 Claudius Herodes (Atticus), 101–179 CE, distinguished Athenian orator and

philanthropist (cf. l. 25).

8 Chrysippos and Dionysios, who were priests prior to Nikomachos.

9 Gen. absol.

10 Hort. subj.

11 Since Dionysos was known as the “bull god” and his devotees were called
“cowherds,” their leader is called the “chief bakchos” (cf. ll. 68, 93, 117, 123,
140).

12 ὑμεῖν > ὑμῖν.

13 Rufus, son of Aphrodisios.

14 ὅτῳ, Att. (m. dat., s.v. ὅστις).

15 S.v. αἴρω.

16 πάντων...τῶν Βακχείων.

17 γενέστω > γενέσθω.

18 This inscription itself, with its frame and pediment, is actually inscribed on a
marble column (even though it is carved to resemble a stele).
19 I.e., the statutes.

20 Art. inf. expressing purpose; s.v. λύω, (pass. here “to be violated”).

21 I.e., whose father was not a member.

22 New members were required to donate a quantity of wine for communal

consumption (cf. ll. 57–58, 113–114, 127–129). These donations are piously
termed “libations” (σπονδαί). Additional donations of wine were required on a
monthly basis, as well as on important occasions in a member’s life. Moreover,
certain functionaries (e.g., priest, chief bakchos, and treasurer) were also
required to provide extra donations of wine on festival occasions. In the case of
daily consumption and ritual libations (pour out to the gods), the wine was
diluted with water. But on Dionysian festivals (such as Choes), wine was not
mixed with water.

23 I.e., those applicants whose fathers were members.

24 δίδωμι ἐπί, “to pay in addition.”

25 ὅτου, Att. gen., s.v. ὅστις.

26 I.e., until puberty.

27 φιλοτειμούμενος > φιλοτιμούμενος.

28 τὴν...φοράν.

29 ἰς, Att. > εἰς (cf. ll. 70, 82); cf. ἰσέρχηται (l. 54); ἰσέρχεσθαι (l. 72).

30 κρεινάντων > κρινάντων, s.v. κρίνω; gen. absol. (“with ...”).

31 ἱερὸς παῖς, i.e., an acolyte (i.e., one who participates in the sacred services).
32 ἐπί, “on the basis of.”

33 Such straw couches were used at the feasts. The name stibas was
subsequently applied to the gathering of the Iobakchoi at such feasts.

34 δοῖ > δῷ, cf. table 9.12.1(a).

35 εἰς τόδε τι, “for what purpose.”

36 S.v. ᾄδω.

37 Note the two imperatival infinitives.

38 Gen. absol.

39 μηδενὶ...τῶν ἰοβάκχων τῶν μὴ συντελεσάντων.

40 ἤ...ἤ... (“whether ... or ...”).

41 Fr. παριστάω, s.v. παρίστημι.

42 This term refers here (and in ll. 82, 99, 110) to the so-called light drachma
(cf. n. 3).

43 S.v. πλήσσω.

44 κρεινέτωσαν > κρινέτωσαν, s.v. κρίνω (cf. l. 53).

45 Gen. absol.

46 πρὸς χρόνον, “for a time.”

47 ἐπιτείμια > ἐπιτίμια (cf. l. 94).

48 Cond. adv. ptc. (“if,” cf. IV, 1.8).

49 ἐνκαλέσαντι > ἐγκαλέσαντι (cf. 1 Cor 6:1–8).

50 Cond. adv. ptc. (“if”).

51 Modifying ἀγοράν.

52 ἀποδοῖ > ἀποδῷ (cf. l. 105), cf. διδοῖ (l. 104).

53 Cond. gen. absol. (“unless”).

54 λιτουργία > λειτουργία.

55 τιθέτω...στιβάδι (disc. syn.).

56 τὴν...σπονδὴν...μίαν.

57 φιλοτειμίας > φιλοτιμία.

58 Nichomachos, a former priest.

59 “Names,” i.e., their dramatic roles.

60 S.v. λαγχάνω.

61 τειμήν > τιμήν (cf. l. 154).

62 γάμος oft. used in pl. with no difference in meaning.

63 πολειτείας > πολιτείας.

64 Chloes was celebrated on the second day of the Anthesteria, when a wine-
drinking contest was held. Participation was limited to male Athenians more
than three years of age and to people on the fringe of society such as slaves and
prostitutes. Special pitchers (χοές) were designed for this ceremony, with a
capacity of about 3¼ liters. Young boys were issued miniature pitchers. The
prize to the winner was a skin full of wine. At the end of the day, the contestants
removed their garlands, wound them around their pitchers, and presented them
to the priestess of the sanctuary of Dionysos (ἐν Λίμναις). The remainder of the
wine was poured out as an offering to Dionysos.

65 ἐπικρείναντος > ἐπικρίναντος, gen. absol. (cf. l. 71).

66 S.v. καθίστημι.

67 οἱ...ἵπποι, “bouncers” (lit. “horses”), prob. related to Silenus and Satyrs, who
are often represented as half horse.

68 προστείμοις > προστίμοις.

69 S.v. εἰμί, 2. ἔσομαι, cf. table 9.13.1(c).

70 Acc. of time (cf. IV, 5.1).

71 τὰς...ἡμέρας.

72 γεινέσθω > γενέσθω.

7.5. Founding a Voluntary Religious Association: The
God Sarapis Arrives on the Island of Delos
(IG XI/4, 1299)

Delos, situated in the center of the Cyclades, is one of the smallest islands in that
group. But despite its size, Delos’s renown as the birthplace of Apollo and
Artemis led to the founding of more than fifteen temple cults there. Alongside
these cults were numerous voluntary associations, comprising people of many
nationalities, including freemen, freedmen, and slaves. The epigraphical
evidence from Delos documents more than twenty-four voluntary associations
that existed more or less concurrently.1 Thus this island is a microcosm of the
religious and social pluralism of Greco-Roman antiquity.
The situation on Delos demonstrates the possible diversity of voluntary
associations in a single locale. This diversity can be described from many
perspectives, including social, religious, linguistic, national, and cultural. A case
in point is the Egyptian voluntary association dedicated to the god Sarapis,
which gathered in a sanctuary known today (by archaeologists) as “Sarapeion
A.” This association began as an Egyptian cult but later attracted followers of
many nationalities. Sarapeion A, the oldest of these (ca. 220 BCE), served as the
center of a private cult of Sarapis for the Egyptian residents. It consisted of a
small temple, two meeting halls, a portico, and a courtyard. The inscription in
this section was discovered in the temple courtyard of Sarapeion A. It tells the
story of the introduction of the cult of Sarapis to Delos. At its height, Delos
actually boasted three Sarapeia (temples) of Sarapis.
Date: ca. late third to early second century BCE.
Text: IG XI/4, 1299; SIG3 663; Helmut Engelmann, The Delian Aretalogy of
Sarapis, trans. Ewald Osers (Leiden: Brill, 1964 [1975]).
The primary purpose of foundation inscriptions, such as this one, is to explain
the circumstances whereby a religious cult came to be founded in a particular
place. This typically entails naming its (human) founder, narrating the
circumstances by which the god commanded him to establish the cult (thereby
vesting him with divine authority), and the authorization of his successors. The
inscription here can be divided into two sections, a prose aretalogy (ll. 1–28) and
a metrical hymn (ll. 29–94). Only the prose section is given.
In this inscription, we are told that an Egyptian priest, named Apollonios I,
immigrated from Memphis (Egypt) to Delos bearing a small statue of Sarapis.
Upon his arrival, he rented accommodations and conducted the worship of
Sarapis in his own home. Apollonios I was succeeded by his son Demetrios and
later by his grandson Apollonios II, who relates the story of how Sarapis
appeared to him one night in a dream and announced his desire to have a
permanent sanctuary built in his honor. The god gave detailed instructions on
how and where the sanctuary was to be built. The resulting sanctuary (Sarapeion
A) was completed within six months. But upon its completion, evil men
organized opposition to the cult, which culminated in a legal trial. As the story
goes, when the moment came for the prosecution to present its case, Sarapis
struck the opponents dumb, and the trial came to an abrupt end.

Part 1. The Foundation of the Cult of Sarapis on

Delos (Lines 1–11)
Ὁ ἱερεὺς ᾿Απολλώνιος ἀνέγραψεν (this stele) κατὰ πρόσταγμα τοῦ θεοῦ·2 ὁ
γὰρ πάππος ἡμῶν ˒Aπολλώνιος, ὢν Αἰγύπτιος ἐκ τῶν ἱερέων,3 τὸν θεὸν
ἔχων4 παρεγένετο ἐξ Αἰγύπτου5 θεραπεύων6 (Sarapis) τε διετέλει καθὼς
πάτριον ἦνζῶσαί τε δοκεῖ ἔτη ἐνενήκοντα καὶ ἑπτά.7 διαδεξαμένου8 δὲ τοῦ
πατρός μου Δημητρίου ἀκολούθως τε (likewise) θεραπεύοντος τοὺς θεούς,9
δία δὲ τὴν εὐσέβειαν ἐστεφανώθη ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ10 εἰκόνι χαλκεῖ ἣ ἀνάκειται
ἐν τῶι ναῶι τοῦ θεοῦ·11 ἔτη δὲ ἐβίωσεν ἑξήκοντα καὶ ἕν.
Vocabulary

ἀκόλουθος, -ον, following, later; ἀκολοῦθως (adv.), following, next,

according to ἀνάκειμαι, be set up (in a place) βιόω, live (for a period of
time), pass one’s life διαδέχομαι, succeed somebody in office διατελέω,
continue to do something πάππος, ὁ, grandfather πάτριος, -α, -ον (=
πατρικός), derived from one’s fathers, hereditary; πάτριον, customary;
subst. τὸ πάτριν, tradition προστάγμα, -ματος, τό, command χάλκεος, -
έα, -εον (later form, χαλείος, -α, -ον; Att. contr. χαλκοῦς, -ῆ, -οῦν), (of)
bronze
Part 2. The Building of the Temple (Lines 12–23)
Παραλαβόντος δέ μου12 τὰ ἱερὰ13 καὶ προσκαθημένου ταῖς θεραπείαις
ἐπιμελῶς, ὁ θεός (Sarapis) μοι ἐχρημάτισεν κατὰ τὸν ὕπνον ὅτι Σαραπιεῖον14
δεῖ αὐτῶι ἀναδειχθῆναι ἴδιον καὶ μὴ εἶναι ἐν μισθωτοῖς (rooms) καθὼς
πρότερον,15 εὑρήσειν16 τε τόπον (Sarapis) αὐτὸς οὗ δεῖ ἑδρασθῆναι (the
Sarapeion) σημανεῖν τε τὸν τόπον, ὃ καὶ ἐγένετο. ὁ γὰρ τόπος17 οὖτος ἦν
κόπρου μεστὸς ὃς προεγέγραπτο πωλούμενος ἐν βιβλιδίωι ἐν τεῖ18 διόδωι τῆς
ἀγορᾶς·19 τοῦ δὲ θεοῦ βουλομένου20 (this plot) συνετελέσθη ἡ ὠνὴ
κατεσκευάσθη τε τὸ ἱρὸν21 συντόμως ἐν μησὶν ἕξ.
Vocabulary

ἀναδείκνυμι, dedicate, consecrate βιβλίδιον, τό, placard δίοδος, ἡ,

pathway ἑδράζω, establish, situate ἐπιμελής, -ές, careful, attentive;
ἐπιμελῶς, diligently κόπρος, ὁ, excrement, dung μεστός, -ή, -όν, filled
with, full of (gen.); subst. something that is full/filled μισθωτός, -ή, -όν,
hired, rented προγράφω, write above; set forth as a public notice, advertise;
exhibit in a public place; register/record (names) προσκάθημαι (w. dat.),
pres. mid. ptc. προσκαθήμενος: attend to πρότερος, -α, -ον, former, earlier,
past; πρότερον (ἤ) (adv.), before; previously πωλέω, sell, offer for sale;
pass. be for sale; subst. ptc. vendor Σαραπιεῖον, τό, Sarapeion, temple of
Sarapis συντόμως, quickly χρηματίζω (w. dat.), deliberate on (committee
business); give ear to (an oracle), make known a divine injunction/warning;
issue instructions to somebody; pass. be warned ὠνή, ἡ, contract for
purchase, price

Part 3. The Lawsuit (Lines 23–28)

᾿Ανθρώπων δέ τινων ἐπισυνστάντων22 ἡμῖν τε καὶ (our) τῶι θεῶι καὶ
ἐπενεγκάντων κρίσιν κατὰ τοῦ ἱερου καὶ ἐμοῦ (εἰς) δημοσίαν, τί χρὴ παθεῖν ἢ
ἀποτεῖσαι,23 ἐπηνγείλατο24 ἐμοὶ ὁ θεὸς κατὰ τὸν ὕπνον ὅτι νικήσομεν. τοῦ
ἀγῶνος συντελεσθέντος25 καὶ νικησάντων ἡμῶν ἀξίως τοῦ θεοῦ,
ἐπαινοῦμεν τοὺς θεοὺς ἀξίαν χάριν26 ἀποδιδόντες.
Vocabulary

ἀποτίνω, 2. ἀποτείσω, 3. ἀπέτεισα, 1aor. inf. ἀποτεῖσαι, impv.

 ἀποτεισάτω: pay a fine, pay what is due; mid. exert oneself, strive
ἐπισυνίστημι, conspire against somebody (w. dat.) χρή (impers.), impf.
ἐχρῆν: it is necessary (w. acc. + inf.)

Select Bibliography
Platt, Verity. Facing the Gods: Epiphany and Representation in Graeco-Roman
Art, Literature and Religion. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011,
124–169.

1 B. H. McLean, “The Place of Cult in Voluntary Associations and Christian

Churches on Delos,” in Voluntary Associations in the Graeco-Roman World,
186–225, ed. Steven Wilson and John S. Kloppenborg (London: Routledge
Press, 1996).

2 τοῦ θεοῦ, i.e., of Sarapis. Apollonius seems reluctant to utter the actual name
of his god (cf. ll. 4, 10–11, 13, 21, 24, 26, 28).

3 I.e., of a sacerdotal/priestly class.

4 τὸν θεὸν ἔχων, i.e., having a statue of the god (Sarapis) with him.

5 ἐξ Αἰγύπτου, Apollonios came from Memphis, Egypt (cf. ll. 37–38).

6 Τhe inscription mentions offerings of incense (ll. 40, 63), praising of miracles
(l. 49), and a ritual meal (l. 65).

7 Apollonios I lived from ca. 312 to 215 BCE. His son, Demetrios, was priest
from 215 to 210 BCE, at which time Apollonios II assumed priestly office (ca.
210–205 BCE).

8 Gen. absol. with two gen. participles.

9 τοὺς θεούς, presumably the statues of Sarapis, Isis, Anubis, and Harpocrates,
which are the deities most often mentioned in Delian inscriptions of Sarapis.

10 In contrast to Greek associations, the god Sarapis decided that he himself

would honor the devout priest. In line 43, we are told that the statue is erected
according to instructions received in a dream. Demetrios had been hoping for
this distinction, but neither he nor his community could fulfill this wish. Just as
Apollonios II could not embark on the construction of a temple without a
specific divine directive (ll. 14–15), Sarapis must give the command for the
erection of the statue of himself.

11 Previously, this statue had been set up in a rented room, which served as a
temporary sanctuary (l. 15).

12 Two participles in gen. absol. cstr.

13 τὰ ἱερά, “sacred rites,” cf. IG X/2, 255, l. 22 (§7.18), IMilet VI, 22, l. 1
(§7.14).

14 ἴδιον...Σαραπιεῖον.

15 The god had previously been worshipped in a rented room from the time that
Apollonios I came to Delos (cf. ll. 39, 51–52).

16 Here fut. inf. in indirect discourse = fut. ind.

17 The plot of land (τόπος) for the Sarapeion was in a residential area of the
Inopus valley.

18 τεῖ, Att. > τῆι > τῇ.

19 The placard was displayed at the passageway through which one entered the
agora from the portico adjoining it from the south (cf. ll. 56–57).
20 Causal gen. absol. (“because,” cf. IV, 1.4).

21 ἱρόν, Ion. > ἱερόν.

22 Gen. absol. with two gen. participles.

23 τί χρὴ παθεῖν ἢ ἀποτεῖσαι is an Attic legal formula meaning “with a penalty

of a corporal punishment or a fine.”

24 ἐπηνγείλαμην > ἐπηγγείλαμην.

25 Two gen. absol. constructions.

26 χάριν, “thanks.”
 7.6. The Sacred Laws of the Civic Mysteries of
Andania
(IG V/1, 1390) Provenance: Andania in Messenia (southwestern
Peloponnese).

Date: 92/91 BCE.

The venerable Greek traveler and geographer Pausanias
(second century CE) regarded the mysteries of Andania as almost
as venerable as the famed Eleusinian Mysteries (Paus. Periegesis
IV). The principal goddess of these mysteries was Hagna.
The inscription in this section records the sacred laws of the
Eleusinian Mysteries, enacted at the time of the reinstatement of
these mysteries in 92/91 BCE, when Mnasistratos held the office
of Hierophant (cf. ll. 12, 28, 85, 92, 97). The text is subdivided into
many sections. (The headings of each section have been
underlined for clarity.) Text: IG V/1, 1390, GDI 4689, DGE 74;
LSCG 65; SIG3 736; Nadine Deshours, Les mystères d’Andania:
Étude d’épigraphie et d’histoire religieuses (Paris: Ausonius, 2006);
J. and L. Robert, BE (1941), 61, (1960), 198.
Dialect: Doric; ποτί > πρός, κα > ἄν, εἶμεν > εἶναι, - ι > -ῃ.

Lines 1–5
Ὅρκος ἱερῶν καὶ ἱερᾶν· ὁ γραμματεὺς τῶν συνέδρων τοὺς
γενηθέντας ἱεροὺς ὁρκιξάτω παραχρῆμα, ἂμ1 μή τις ἀρρωσστ
ι, ἱερῶν καιομένων, αἷμα καὶ οἶνον σπένδοντες, τὸν ὅρκον τὸν
ὑπογεγραμμένον· Ὀμνύω τοὺς θεούς, οἷς τὰ μυστήρια
 ἐπιτελεῖται, ἐπιμέλειαν ἕξειν,2 ὅπως γίνηται τὰ κατὰ τὰν
τελετὰν θεοπρεπῶς καὶ ἀπὸ παντὸς τοῦ δικαίου,3 καὶ μήτε
αὐτὸς μηθὲν ἄσχημον μηδὲ ἄδικον ποιήσειν ἐπὶ καταλύσει4
τῶν μυστηρίων μηδὲ ἄλλωι ἐπιτρέψειν5 (to do so), ἀλλὰ
κατακολουθήσειν τοῖς γεγραμμένοις, ἐξορσκίσειν δὲ καὶ τὰς
ἱερὰς καὶ τὸν ἱερῆ κατὰ τὸ διάγραμμα· εὐορκοῦντι μέν μοι εἴη
ἃ τοῖς εὐσεβέοις, ἐφιορσκοῦντι δὲ τἀναντία6 ·
Vocabulary
ἀρρωστέω, be very sick ἄσχημος, unseemly διάγραμμα, τό,
instructions, ordinances (containing specific directions or
schedules rather than general legislation) εὐορκέω, swear truly,
be faithful to one’s oath ἐξορκίζω (= ἐξορκόω), make somebody
swear/take an oath; conjure by (κατά) a god ἐφιορκέω >
ἐπιορκέω, swear falsely θεοπρεπῶς, solemnly ἱερός / ἱερά, male
and female officers (not priests or initiates) in charge of
organizing and directing the mysteries (cf. ll. 5, 7, 10, 12, 19–20,
23, 26, 31, 34) κατάλυσις, ἡ, disruption παραχρῆμα, immediately,
instantly; recently σπένδω, pour a drink offering (σπονδή)
τελετή, initiation rite ὑπογράφω, write below

Lines 5–8
ἂν δέ τις μὴ θέλει ὀμνύειν, ζαμιούτω7 δραχμαῖς χιλίαις καὶ (then) ἄλλον ἀντὶ
τούτου κλαρωσάτω8 ἐκ τᾶς αὐτᾶς φυλᾶς·9 τὰς δὲ ἱερὰς ὁρκιζέτω ὁ ἱερεὺς
καὶ οἱ ἱεροὶ ἐν τῶι ἱερῶι τοῦ ( Ἀπόλλωνος) Καρνείου10 τᾶι πρότερον
ἁμέραι11 τῶν μυστηρίων τὸν αὐτὸν ὅρκον, καὶ ποτεξορσκιζόντω·
Vocabulary
Ἀπόλλων, -ωνος, ὁ, Apollo δραχμή, ἡ, drachma (abbrev. δρ.) ζημιόω, fine
somebody (dat.) ποτεξορκίζω > προσεξορκίζω, swear yet again χίλιοι, -αι, -α,
thousand
Lines 8–11
Πεποίημαι12 δὲ καὶ ποτὶ τὸν ἄνδρα τὰν συμβίωσιν ὁσίως καὶ δικαίως· τὰν δὲ
μὴ θέλουσαν ὀμνύειν ζαμιούντω οἱ ἱεροὶ δραχμαῖς χιλίαις καὶ μὴ
ἐπιτρεπόντω ἐπιτελεῖν τὰ κατὰ τὰς θυσίας μηδὲ μετέχειν τῶν μυστηρίων, αἱ
δὲ ὀμόσασαι13 ἐπιτελούντω (it)· οἱ δὲ γεγενημένοι ἱεροὶ καὶ ἱεραὶ ἐν τῶι
πέμπτωι καὶ πεντηκοστῶι ἔτει14 ὀμοσάντω τὸν αὐτὸν ὅρκον ἐν τῶι
ἑνδεκάτωι μηνὶ πρὸ τῶν μυστηρίων.
Vocabulary
ἑνδέκατος, -η, -ον, eleventh μετέχω, partake of (gen.), participate in (cf. ll. 44,
85) πεντηκοστός, -ή, -όν, fiftieth συμβιωσις, ἡ, living with

Lines 11–13
Παραδόσιος· τὰν δὲ κάμπτραν καὶ τὰ βιβλία, ἃ δέδωκε Μνασίστρατος,15
παραδιδόντω οἱ ἱεροὶ τοῖς ἐπικατασταθέντοις, παραδιδόντω δὲ καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ
ὅσα ἂν κατασκευασθ ι χάριν τῶν μυστηρίων.
Vocabulary
ἐπικαθίστημι, appoint κάμπτρα, ἡ, chest παραδίδωμι, hand over to another,
transmit παραδόσιος, ὁ, endowments

Lines 13–15
Στεφάνων· στεφάνους δὲ ἐχόντω οἱ μὲν ἱεροὶ καὶ αἱ ἱεραὶ πῖλον λευκόν, τῶν
δὲ τελουμένων οἱ πρωτομύσται (shall wear) στλεγγίδα· ὅταν δὲ οἱ ἱεροὶ
παραγγείλωντι, τὰμ16 μὲν στλεγγίδα ἀποθέσθωσαν, 15 στεφανούσθωσαν δὲ
πάντες δάφναι.
Vocabulary
ἀποτίθημι, put/stow away δάφνη, ἡ, bay leaf (laurel) πῖλον, felt (Phrygian) cap
(cf. l. 23) πρωτομύστης, ὁ, new initiate (cf. ll. 50, 68) στλεγγίς, ἡ, tiara overlaid
with metal

Lines 15–19
(Περὶ) εἱματισμοῦ· 17 οἱ τελούμενοι τὰ μυστήρια ἀνυπόδετοι ἔστωσαν καὶ
ἐχόντω τὸν εἱματισμὸν λευκόν, αἱ δὲ γυναῖκες μὴ διαφανῆ μηδὲ τὰ σαμεῖα18
ἐν (border of their) τοῖς εἱματίοις19 πλατύτερα ἡμισδακτυλίου, καὶ αἱ μὲν
ἰδιώτιες ἐχόντω χιτῶνα λίνεον καὶ εἱμάτιον μὴ πλείονος ἄξια20 δραχμᾶν
ἑκατόν, αἱ δὲ παῖδες καλάσηριν ἢ σινδονίταν καὶ εἱμάτιον μὴ πλείονος ἄξια
μνᾶς, αἱ δὲ δοῦλαι καλάσηριν ἢ σινδονίταν καὶ εἱμάτιον μὴ πλείονος ἄξια
δραχμᾶν πεντήκοντα·
Vocabulary
ἀνυπόδετος, -ον, barefoot διαφανής, -ές, shear, transparent ἡμιδακτύλιον, τό,
half-finger’s breadth ἰδιῶτις, pl. -τιες, uninstructed ἱματισμός, ὁ, clothing
καλάσηρις, ἡ, long Persian garment with a fringe or tassels at bottom (cf. ll. 18–
19, 20–21) λίνεος, -α, -ον, linen μνᾶ, ἡ, μνᾶς (gen.), μνῆν, pl. μναῖ, μνέων
(gen. pl. > NW μνᾶν): mina (see table 9.21) πλατύς, -εῖα, -ύ, wide σινδονίτης,
ὁ, fine linen garment

Lines 19–26
αἱ δὲ ἱεραὶ αἱ μὲν γυναῖκες καλάσηριν ἢ ὑπόδυμα μὴ ἔχον σκιὰς καὶ εἱμάτιον
μὴ πλέονος ἄξια δύο μνᾶν, αἱ δὲ παῖδες καλάσηριν ἢ εἱμάτιον μὴ πλείονος
ἄξια δραχμᾶν ἑκατόν· ἐν δὲ τᾶι πομπᾶι21 αἱ μὲν ἱεραὶ γυναῖκες ὑποδύταν καὶ
εἱμάτιον γυναικεῖον οὖλον, σαμεῖα ἔχον μὴ πλατύτερα ἡμιδακτυλίου, αἱ δὲ
παῖδες καλάσηριν καὶ εἱμάτιον μὴ διαφανές· μὴ ἐχέτω δὲ (women) μηδεμία
χρυσία μηδὲ φῦκος μηδὲ ψιμίθιον μηδὲ ἀνάδεμα μηδὲ τὰς τρίχας
ἀνπεπλεγμένας μηδὲ ὑποδήματα εἰ μὴ πίλινα ἢ δερμάτινα ἱερόθυτα· δίφρους
δὲ ἐχόντω αἱ ἱεραὶ εὐσυΐνους στρογγύλους καὶ ἐ αὐτῶν ποτικεφάλαια ἢ
σπῖραν λευκά, μὴ ἔχοντα μήτε σκιὰν μήτε πορφύραν· ὅσα δὲ δεῖ
διασκευάζεσθαι εἰς θεῶν διάθεσιν, ἐχόντω τὸν εἱματισμὸν κα ὃ ἂν οἱ ἱεροὶ
διατάξωντι· ἂν δέ τις ἄλλως ἔχει τὸν εἱματισμὸν παρὰ τὸ διάγραμμα ἢ ἄλλο
τι τῶν κεκωλυμένων, μὴ ἐπιτρεπέτω ὁ γυναικονόμος καὶ ἐξουσίαν ἐχέτω
λυμαίνεσθαι (their garments), καὶ ἔστω ἱερὰ τῶν θεῶν.
Vocabulary
ἀνάδημα, (woman’s) hair band ἀναπλέκομαι, to braid/plait hair γυναικονόμος,
supervisor of women at gymnasium διάθεσις, ἡ, placing in order, arrangement
διασκευάζω, prepare διαφανής, -ές, shear, transparent δίφος, ὁ, couch εὐσυΐνος
> οὐσυΐνος, -η, -ον, of wickerwork, wicker ἡμιδακτύλιον, τό, half-finger’s
breadth ἱερόθυτος, -ον, made from (the skins) of sacrificial animals λυμαίνομαι,
tear/ruin (garments) οὖλος, -η, -ον, wooly, of thick wool, of ewe’s wool πομπή,
ἡ, solemn procession
πορφύρα, ἡ, purpose dye; purple cloth; purple stripe προσκεφάλαιον (NW
ποτικεφάλαιον ), pillow, head cushion σκιά, -ᾶς, ἡ, colored border (on a
garment) στρόβιλος, -η, -ον, twisted, interlaced ὑποδήμα, τό, pl. -ματα, sandal,
shoe ὑπόδυμα, -ματος, τό, undergarment for a khiton (cf. ll. 20–21) φῦκος, -εος,
τό, orchil (violet colored) used by Greek women for rouge ψιμίθιον, τό, white
lead used as face makeup

Lines 26–28
Ὅρκος γυναικονόμου· οἱ δὲ ἱεροὶ ὅταν καὶ αὐτοὶ ὀμόσωντι, ὁρκιζόντω τὸν
γυναικονόμον ἐπὶ22 τῶν αὐτῶν ἱερῶν, εἶ μὰν ἕξειν ἐπιμέλειαν περί τε τοῦ
εἱματισμοῦ καὶ τῶν λοιπῶν τῶν ἐπιτεταγμένων μοι ἐν τῶι διαγράμματι.

Lines 28–34
Πομπᾶς· ἐν δὲ τᾶι πομπᾶι ἁγείστω Μνασίστρατος, ἔπειτεν ὁ ἱερεὺς τῶν θεῶν
οἷς τὰ μυστήρια γίνεται μετὰ τᾶς ἱερέας,23 ἔπειτα ἀγωνοθέτας, ἱεροθύται, οἱ
αὐληταί· μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα αἱ παρθένοι αἱ ἱεραὶ καθὼς ἂν λάχωντι, ἄγουσαι τὰ
ἅρματα ἐπικειμένας24 κίστας ἐχούσας ἱερὰ μυστικά· εἶτεν ἁ θοιναρμόστρια ἁ
εἰς Δάματρος25 καὶ αἱ ὑποθοιναρμόστριαι αἱ ἐμβεβακυῖαι, εἶτεν ἁ ἱέρεια τᾶς
Δάματρος τᾶς ἐ ἱπποδρόμωι, εἶτεν ἁ τᾶς (sanctuary) ἐν Αἰγίλᾳ· ἔπειτεν αἱ
ἱεραὶ κατὰ μίαν καθὼς κα λάχωντι, ἔπειτεν οἱ ἱεροὶ καθώς κα οἱ δέκα
διατάξωντι· ὁ δὲ γυναικονόμος κλαρούτω τάς τε ἱερὰς καὶ παρθένους καὶ
ἐπιμέλειαν ἐχέτω ὅπως πομπεύωντι, καθώς κα λάχωντι· ἀγέσθω δὲ ἐν τᾶι
πομπᾶι καὶ τὰ θύματα, καὶ θυσάντω τᾶι μὲν Δάματρι σῦν ἐπίτοκα, Ἑρμᾶι26
κριόν, Μεγάλοις θεοῖς27 δάμαλιν σῦν, ᾿Απόλλωνι Καρνείωι κάπρον, Ἅγναι
οἶν.
Vocabulary
Ἅγναι > Ἅγνηι> Ἅγνῃ, Hagna (goddess) (cf. ll. 69, 84) Αἰγίλα, Aigila
αὐλητης, ὁ, flute player γυναικονόμος, supervisor of women at gymnasium
δάμαλις, -εως, ἡ, young cow, heifer (cf. l. 69); but here “young,” modifying σῦν
Δημήτηρ, -τερος/-τρος, ἡ (Dor. Δαμάτηρ): Demeter εἶτεν, then, next (cf. l. 31)
ἐμβαίνω, 4. ἐμβέβηκα, pf. ptc. ἐμβεβηκώς: embark (in a boat); plunge into
water; to march/process ἐμβάλλω, throw in/against ἐπίτοκος, -ον, pregnant (cf.
l. 68) θοιναρμόστρια, ἡ, mistress of the banquet (cultic title)28
θῦμα, -ματος, τό, sacrificial victim, sacrifice ἱέρεια, ἡ, priestess ἱεροθύται >
ἱεροθύτηι > ἱεροθύτῃ, s.v. ἱεροθύτης, sacrificing priest ἱπποδρόμος,
hippodrome κάπρος, ὁ, wild boar (cf. l. 69) κίστη, ἡ, basket κριός, ὁ, ram (cf.
ll. 67, 69) ὄϊς, ὁ/ἡ, οἶν (acc.), sheep (= πρόβατον) (cf. l. 69) πομπεύω, walk in
a solemn procession σῦς, συός (gen.), ὁ/ἡ, hog/sow (cf. l. 69)
ὑποθοιναρμόστρια, assistant to mistress of the banquet

Lines 34–37
(Περὶ) σκανᾶν·29 σκανὰν δὲ μὴ ἐπιτρεπόντω οἱ ἱεροὶ μηθένα ἔχειν ἐν
τετραγώνωι μείζω ποδῶν τριάκοντα, μηδὲ περιτιθέμεν ταῖς σκαναῖς μήτε
δέρρεις μήτε αὐλείας, μηδὲ ἐν ὧι ἂν τόπωι περιστεμματώσωντι οἱ ἱεροὶ
μηθένα τῶν μὴ ὄντων ἱερῶν ἔχειν σκανάν· μηδὲ παρερπέτω μηθεὶς ἀμύητος
εἰς τὸν τόπον ὅν κα περιστεμματώσωντι· χωραξάντω δὲ καὶ ὑδράνας·
ἀναγραψάντω δὲ καὶ ἀ ὧν δεῖ καθαρίζειν (oneself) καὶ ἃ μὴ δεῖ ἔχοντας
εἰσπορεύεσθαι.
Vocabulary
ἀμυητος, -ον, uninitiated ἀυλαία, ἡ, curtain, curtain partitions δέρρις, -εως, ἡ,
leather covering παρέρπω, Dor. > πάρειμι (fr. εἶμι), enter περιστεμματόω =
περιστέφω, put round in a circle (cf. l. 36) τετράγωνος, -ον, square, here square
(feet) ὑδράνα, ἡ, vase for water for ritual purification χωράζω, set up; build (cf.
l. 91)

Lines 37–39
Ἅ μὴ δεῖ ἔχειν ἐν ταῖς σκαναῖς· μηθεὶς κλίνας ἐχέτω ἐν τᾶι σκανᾶι (αὐτοῦ)
μηδὲ ἀργυρώματα πλείονος ἄξια δραχμᾶν τριακοσιᾶν. εἰ δὲ μή, μὴ
ἐπιτρεπόντω (it) οἱ ἱεροί, καὶ τὰ πλειονάζοντα ἱερὰ ἔστω τῶν θεῶν.
Vocabulary
ἀργυρώμα, τό, pl. silver jewelry πλειονάζω, to be worth more (than)

Lines 39–41
Ἀκοσμούντων· ὅταν δὲ αἱ θυσίαι καὶ τὰ μυστήρια συντελεῖται, εὐφαμεῖν
πάντας καὶ ἀκούειν τῶν παραγγελλομένων· τὸν δὲ ἀπειθοῦντα ἢ ἀπρεπῶς
ἀναστρεφόμενον εἰς τὸ θεῖον μαστιγούντω οἱ ἱεροὶ καὶ ἀποκωλυόντω τῶν
μυστηρίων.
Vocabulary
ἀπρεπῶς, disreputably, indecently (cf. l. 43) εὐφημέω, keep a religious silence

Lines 41–44
(Περὶ) ῥαβδοφόρων· ῥαβδοφόροι δὲ ἔστωσαν ἐκ τῶν ἱερῶν εἴκοσι, καὶ
πειθαρχούντω τοῖς ἐπιτελούντοις τὰ μυστήρια, καὶ ἐπιμέλειαν ἐχόντω, ὅπως
εὐσχημόνως καὶ εὐτάκτως ὑπὸ τῶν παραγεγενημένων πάντα γίνηται, καθὼς
ἂν παραγγέλλωντι οἱ ἐπὶ τούτων τεταγμένοι· τοὺς δὲ ἀπειθοῦντας ἢ ἀπρεπῶς
ἀναστρεφομένους μαστιγούντω· ἂν δέ τις τῶν ῥαβδοφόρων μὴ ποιεῖ καθὼς
γέγραπται ἢ ἄλλο τι ἀδικοῖ ἢ ποιοῖ ἐπὶ καταλύσει τῶν μυστηρίων, κριθεὶς ἐπὶ
τῶν ἱερῶν ἂν κατακριθ ι30 μὴ μετεχέτω τῶν μυστηρίων.
Vocabulary
εὐσχημόνως, in a dignified manner εὐτάκτως, in an orderly manner μαστιγόω,
to whip, flog (cf. ll. 76, 79, 102, 105, 110, 156) πειθαρχέω, be obedient (to) (cf.
l. 58) ῥαβδοφόροι, οἱ, rod bearers (cf. ll. 43, 147, 165)

Lines 45–64
Περὶ τῶν διαφόρων· τὰ δὲ πίπτοντα διάφορα ἐκ τῶν μυστηρίων ἐγλεγόντω31
οἱ κατασταθέντες ὑπὸ τοῦ δάμου32 πέντε, εἰσφερόντω δὲ οἱ ἄρχοντες
ἀνάνκαι33 πάντες, μὴ δὶς τοὺς αὐτούς, τίμαμα ἔχοντα ἕκαστον (archon) μὴ
ἔλασσον ταλάντου (of silver), καὶ (τὸ) (payment) τῶν κατασταθέντων
παραγραψάτω ἁ γερουσία τὸ τίμαμα, ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ τὸ (payment) τῶν
εἰσενεγκάντων·34
Vocabulary
δίς, twice ἐκδίδωμι, surrender; pay for something ἐλάσσων, -ονος (m./fm.),
ἔλασσον (nt.), smaller, less παραγράφω, to record (a payment) συνέδρος, ὁ,
member of the council (συνέδριον) τίμαμα > τίμημα, payment (cf. l. 47)
ὡσαύτως, in like manner

Lines 64–74
(Περὶ) θυμάτων παροχᾶς· οἱ ἱεροὶ μετὰ τὸ κατασταθῆμεν προκαρύξαντες
ἐγδόντω35 τὰν παροχὰν τῶν θυμάτων ὧν δεῖ θύεσθαι καὶ παρίστασθαι ἐν τοῖς
μυστηρίοις καὶ τὰ εἰς τοὺς καθαρμούς, ἐγδιδόντες ἄν τε δοκ ι συνφέρον
εἶμεν36 ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ πάντα τὰ θύματα, ἄν τε κατὰ μέρος, τῶι τὸ ἐλάχιστον
ὑφισταμένωι λάμψεσθαι διάφορον· ἔστι δὲ ἃ δεῖ παρέχειν πρὸ τοῦ ἄρχεσθαι
τῶν μυστηρίων· ἄρνας δύο λευκούς, ἐπὶ τοῦ καθαρμοῦ κριὸν εὔχρουν, καὶ
ὅταν ἐν τῶι θεάτρωι καθαίρει, χοιρίσκους τρεῖς, ὑπὲρ τοὺς πρωτομύστας
ἄρνας ἑκατόν, ἐν δὲ τᾶι πομπᾶι Δάματρι σῦν ἐπίτοκα, τοῖς δὲ Μεγάλοις
θεοῖς δάμαλιν διετῆ σῦν, ‘Ερμᾶνι κριόν, ᾿Απόλλωνι Καρνείωι κάπρον, Ἅγναι
οἶν·37
Vocabulary
ἄρνας, ἀρνός (gen.); pl. ἄρνας (acc.): sheep (cf. l. 68) διαφόρον, τό, money;
pl. revenues διετής, -ές, two years old ἐλάχιστος, -ον, the lowest/least (price)
εὔθετος, -ον, fit, suitable, qualified (cf. ll. 148, 154–155)
εὔχροος, -ον, healthy (animal) καθαίρω, 1aor. ἐκάθηρα: wash, clean; purge,
perform a purification ritual κιθαριστής, ὁ, kithara player λειτουργέω, provide
service (during sacrifices) (cf. ll. 97–98) παρίστημι, set before, present παροχή,
ἡ, supply (of something) προκηρύσσω, make a public declaration πρωτομύστης,
ὁ, one who has just been initiated ὑφίστημι, to offer χοιρίσκος, piglet

Lines 73–74
(Περὶ) τεχνιτᾶν38 εἰς τὰς χορείας· οἱ ἱεροὶ προγραφόντω κα ἐνιαυτὸν τοὺς
λειτουργήσοντας ἔν τε ταῖς θυσίαις καὶ μυστηρίοις αὐλητὰς καὶ κιθαριστάς,
ὅσους κα εὑρίσκωντι εὐθέτους ὑπάρχοντας, καὶ οἱ προγραφέντες
λειτουργούντω τοῖς θεοῖς.
Vocabulary
προγράφω, write above; set forth as a public notice, advertise; exhibit in a
public place; register/record (names) (cf. ll. 145, 152, 160) χορεία, ἡ, choral
dance with music (cf. l. 98)

Lines 75–78
(Περὶ) ἀδικημάτων· ἂν δέ τις ἐν ταῖς ἁμέραις ἐν αἷς αἵ τε θυσίαι καὶ τὰ
μυστήρια γίνονται, ἁλῶι39 εἴτε κεκλεβὼς40 εἴτε ἄλλο τι ἀδίκημα πεποιηκώς,
ἀγέσθω ἐπὶ τοὺς ἱερούς, καὶ ὁ μὲν ἐλεύθερος ἂν κατακριθ ι ἀποτινέτω
διπλοῦν, ὁ δὲ δοῦλος μαστιγούσθω καὶ ἀποτεισάτω διπλοῦν (the value of) τὸ
κλέμμα, τῶν δὲ ἄλλων ἀδικημάτων ἐπιτίμιον δραχμὰς εἴκοσι· ἂν δὲ μὴ
ἐκτίνει παραχρῆμα, παραδότω ὁ κύριος τὸν οἰκέταν τῶι ἀδικηθέντι εἰς
ἀπεργασίαν, εἰ δὲ μή, ὑπόδικος ἔστω ποτὶ διπλοῦν.
Vocabulary
ἀδίκημα, -ματος, τό, wrongdoing, offense (cf. ll. 111, 113) ἀπεργασία, ἡ, εἰς
ἀπεργασίαν, settle/work off (a debt)
ἀποτίνω, 2. ἀποτείσω, 3. ἀπέτεισα, 1aor. inf. ἀποτεῖσαι, impv. ἀποτεισάτω:
pay a fine, pay what is due; mid. exert oneself, strive διπλόος, -η, -ον, double,
twofold ἐκτίνω, pay in full κλέμμα, τό, theft, stolen item ὑπόδικος, liable (for
the amount of a debt), accountable to (cf. l. 82)

Lines 78–80
Περὶ τῶν κοπτόντων ἐν τῶι ἱερῶι· μηθεὶς κοπτέτω (any other person) ἐκ τοῦ
ἱεροῦ τόπου· ἂν δέ τις ἁλῶι (doing so), (if a slave) ὁ μὲν δοῦλος μαστιγούσθω
ὑπὸ τῶν ἱερῶν, (if a freeman) ὁ δὲ ἐλεύθερος ἀποτεισάτω ὅσον κα οἱ ἱεροὶ
ἐπικρίνωντι· ὁ δὲ ἐπιτυχὼν ἀγέτω αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τοὺς ἱεροὺς καὶ λαμβανέτω τὸ
ἥμισυ.
Vocabulary
ἀλίσκομαι (defective pass., act. supplied by αἱρέω), subj. ἁλῶ, -ῶς (2nd), -ῷ
(3rd): be caught doing something ἐπικρίνω, decide (on the amount of a fine) (cf.
l. 82) ἐπιτυγχάνω, to chance to catch/meet somebody

Lines 80–84
Φύγιμον εἶμεν τοῖς δούλοις· τοῖς δούλοις φύγιμον ἔστω τὸ ἱερόν, καθὼς ἂν
οἱ ἱεροὶ ἀποδείξωντι τὸν τόπον, καὶ μηθεὶς ὑποδεχέσθω τοὺς δραπέτας μηδὲ
σιτοδοτείτω μηδὲ ἔργα παρεχέτω· ὁ δὲ ποιῶν παρὰ τὰ γεγραμμένα ὑπόδικος
ἔστω τῶι κυρίωι τᾶς τοῦ σώματος41 ἀξίας διπλασίας καὶ ἐπιτιμίου δραχμᾶν
πεντακοσιᾶν, ὁ δὲ ἱερεὺς ἐπικρινέτω (the fate) περὶ τῶν δραπετικῶν, ὅσοι κα
εἴσαν42 ἐκ τᾶς ἁμετέρας43 πόλεος,44 καὶ ὅσους κα κατακρίνει, παραδότω
(them) τοῖς κυρίοις·45
Vocabulary
διπλασίος, -α, -ον, double δραπέτης, ὁ, runaway slave
δραπετικός, ὁ, runaway slave ὀνομάζω, name/call something (by a certain
name); utter a name (acc.) (for magical purposes) on (ἐπι) somebody
πεντακόσιοι, -αι, -α, five hundred σιτοδοτέω, provide somebody with food
ὑποδέχομαι, entertain as a guest; submit to; provide hospitality for (a god);
undertake, promise φύγιμον, τό, place of asylum

Lines 84–90
Περὶ τᾶς κράνας· τᾶς δὲ κράνας τᾶς ὠνομασμένας διὰ τῶν ἀρχαίων
ἐγγράφων Ἀγνᾶς46 καὶ τοῦ γεγενημένου ποτὶ47 τᾶι κράναι ἀγάλματος τὰν
ἐπιμέλειαν ἐχέτω Μνασίστρατος ἕως ἂν ζ ι,48 καὶ μετεχέτω μετὰ τῶν ἱερῶν
τᾶν τε θυσιᾶν καὶ τῶν μυστηρίων, καὶ ὅσα κα οἱ θύοντες ποτὶ τᾶι κράναι
τραπεζῶντι καὶ τῶν θυμάτων τὰ δέρματα λαμβανέτω Μνασίστρατος· τῶν δὲ
διαφόρων ὅσα κα οἱ θύοντες ποτὶ τᾶι κράναι προτιθῆντι ἢ εἰς τὸν θησαυρόν,
ὅταν κατασκευασθ ι (ποτὶ τᾶι κράναι), ἐμβάλωντι (ποτὶ τᾶι κράναι),
λαμβανέτω Μνασίστρατος τὸ τρίτον μέρος·49 τὰ δὲ (remaining) δύο μέρη καὶ
ἄν τι ἀνάθεμα ὑπὸ τῶν θυσιαζόντων ἀνατιθῆται, ἱερὰ ἔστω τῶν θεῶν·50
Vocabulary
ἀγάλμα, -ματος, τό, statue dedicated to a god ἔγγράφος, -ον, written; τὰ
ἔγγραφα, documents θυμιάζω, offer sacrifice κράνα > κρήνη, well (cf. ll. 86,
87, 90, 92) λίθινος, -α, -ον, made of stone προτίθημι, hand over, deliver
something τραπέζόω, offer to a god

Lines 90–95
(Περὶ) θησαυρῶν κατασκευᾶς· οἱ ἱεροὶ οἱ κατεσταμένοι ἐν τῶι πέμπτωι καὶ
πεντηκοστῶι ἔτει ἐπιμέλειαν ἐχόντω μετὰ τοῦ ἀρχιτέκτονος ὅπως
κατασκευασθῆντι θησαυροὶ λίθινοι δύο κλαιστοί, καὶ χωραξάντω τὸν μὲν ἕνα
εἰς τὸν ναὸν τῶν Μεγάλων θεῶν, τὸν ἄλλον ποτὶ τᾶι κράναι ἐν ὧι ἂν
τόπωι δοκεῖ αὐτοῖς ἀσφαλῶς ἕξειν· καὶ ἐπιθέντω κλαῖδας, καὶ τοῦ μὲν παρὰ
τᾶι κράναι ἐχέτω τὰν ἁτέραν51 κλαῖδα Μνασίστρατος, (ἐχέτωσαν) τὰν δὲ
ἄλλαν (κλαῖδα) οἱ ἱεροί.52
Vocabulary
ἀρχιτέχτων, -ονος, ὁ, master builder (cf. l. 115) κλαῖδας > κλεῖδας, s.v. κλείς,
ἡ, κλειδός (gen.), key κλαιστοί > κλειστοί, s.v. κλειστός, -ή, -όν, that can be
locked χωράζω, set up; build
Lines 95–98
(Περὶ) ἱεροῦ δείπνου· οἱ ἱεροὶ ἀπὸ τῶν θυμάτων τῶν ἀγομένων ἐν τᾶι
πομπᾶι ἀφελόντες53 ἀ ἑκάστου τὰ νόμιμα (apportionment) τοῖς θεοῖς τὰ
λοιπὰ κρέα καταχρησάσθωσαν εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν δεῖπνον μετὰ τᾶν ἱερᾶν καὶ
παρθένων καὶ παραλαβόντω τόν τε ἱερῆ καὶ τὰν ἱέρειαν καὶ συνιέρειαν τοῦ
(Ἀπόλλωνος) Καρνείου καὶ Μνασίστρατον καὶ τὰν γυναῖκά (αὐτοῦ) τε καὶ τὰς
γενεὰς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῶν τεχνιτᾶν τοὺς λειτουργήσαντας ἐν ταῖς χορείαις καὶ τᾶν
ὑπηρεσιᾶν τοὺς (domestic) λειτουργοῦντας αὐτοῖς·54
Vocabulary
συνιέρεια, associate priestess

Lines 98–101
(Περὶ) ἀγορᾶς· οἱ ἱεροὶ τόπον ἀποδειξάντω ἐν ὧι πριαθήσεται πάντα· ὁ δὲ
ἀγορανόμος ὁ ἐπὶ πόλεος 100 ἐπιμέλειαν ἐχέτω, ὅπως οἱ πωλοῦντες (τὰ)
ἄδολα καὶ καθαρὰ (articles) πωλοῦντι καὶ χρῶνται σταθμοῖς καὶ μέτροις
συμφώνοις ποτὶ τὰ δαμόσια55 (standards), καὶ μὴ τασσέτω μήτε πόσου δεῖ
πωλεῖν, μηδὲ καιρὸν (for selling) τασσέτω μηδὲ πρασσέτω μηθεὶς τοὺς
πωλοῦντας τοῦ τόπου μηθέν·
Vocabulary
ἀγορανόμος, ὁ, clerk of the market (responsible for regulating the buying and
selling of goods) ἄδολος, -ον, genuine πριάμαι, buy, purchase στραθμὰ καὶ
μέτρα, weights and measures σύμφωνος, -ον, harmonious, in agreement

Lines 103–105
(Περὶ) ὕδατος· ἐχέτω δὲ ἐπιμέλειαν ὁ ἀγορανόμος καὶ περὶ τοῦ ὕδατος, ὅπως
κατὰ τὸν τᾶς παναγύριος χρόνον μηθεὶς κακοποι ι (the water) μήτε (κακοποι
ι) τὸ βήλημα μήτε τοὺς ὀχετοὺς μήτε ἄν τι ἄλλο κατασκευασθ ι ἐν τῶι ἱερῶι
χάριν τοῦ ὕδατος, καὶ ὅπως, καθὼς ἂν μερισθ ι, ῥ ι τὸ ὕδωρ καὶ μηθεὶς
ἀποκωλύει τοὺς χρωμένους·56
Vocabulary
ἀποκωλύω, hinder, prevent βήλημα, -ματος, τό, water control system
κακοποιέω, harm, here “to poison” and “damage”
ὀχετός, ὁ, water conduits/channel ρέω, 1aor. impv. 3rd pl. ῥευσάτωσαν: to
flow, stream, waft τᾶς παναγύριος > τῆς πανήγυρεως, s.v. πανήρυρις, -εως, ἡ,
festal assembly in honor of the civic god (cf. l. 112)

Lines 106–111
(Περὶ) ἀλείμματος καὶ λουτροῦ· ὁ ἀγορανόμος ἐπιμέλειαν ἐχέτω, ὅπως οἱ
θέλοντες βαλανεύειν57 ἐν τῶι ἱερῶι μὴ πλεῖον58 πράσσωντι τοὺς λουομένους
δύο χαλκῶν καὶ παρέχωντι πῦρ καὶ μάκραν εὔκρατον καὶ τοῖς
κατακλυζομένοις ὕδωρ εὔκρατον,59 καὶ ὅπως ὁ ἐγδεξάμενος60 τῶν ξύλων τὰν
παροχὰν εἰς τὸ ἀλειπτήριον παρέχει ξύλα ξηρὰ (with which to heat the oil) καὶ
ἱκανὰ τοῖς ἀλειφομένοις κα ἁμέραν ἀπὸ τετάρτας ὥρας ἕως ἑβδόμας·
δοῦλος δὲ μηθεὶς ἀλειφέσθω· οἱ δὲ ἱεροὶ ἐγδιδόντω τὰν παροχὰν τῶν ξύλων
τῶν εἰς τὸ ἀλειπτήριον· ἂν δέ τις τῶν ἐγδεξαμένων (ξύλα) ἢ τῶν βαλανέων
μὴ ποι ι καθὼς γέγραπται, (if a slave) τὸν μὲν δοῦλον μαστιγούτω ὁ
ἀγορανόμος, (if a freeman) τὸν δὲ ἐλεύθερον ζαμιούτω κα ἕκαστον ἀδίκημα
εἴκοσι δραχμαῖς, καὶ τὸ κρίμα ἔστω ἐπὶ61 τῶν ἱερῶν.
Vocabulary
ἀλείμα, -ματος, τό, anointing oil ἀλειπτήριον, τό, anointing room (cf. ll. 110)
ἀλειφω, anoint with oil; be rubbed down with oil (cf. l. 109) βαλανεύς, ὁ, bath
attendant (responsible for heating the bathwater) βαλανεύω, heat bathwater
εὔκρατος, temperate (water) (cf. ll. 108) κατακλύζω, wash somebody down (in a
bath) λουτρόν, τό, bathwater μάκρα, ἡ, bathtub ξηρός, -ά, -όν, dry; paralyzed
χαλκός, bronze; anything made of metal; χαλκός, chalkos (copper coin; 8
chalkos = 1 obol)

Lines 112–194 omitted

1 ἄμ > ἀνά (before labials).

2 S.v. ἔχω (fut. act. inf.).

3 ἀπὸ παντὸς τοῦ δικαίου, “of all that is prescribed.”

4 Cf. l. 44.

5 Cf. ll. 38–39.

6 τἀναντια > τὰ ἐναντία.

7 ζαμιούτω > ζημιούτω.

8 κλαρωσάτω > κληρωσάτω.

9 αὐτᾶς φυλᾶς > αὐτῆς φυλῆς.

10 Temple of Karneios: “Karneios” is the title of Apollo in the Peloponnesos

(cf. ll. 34, 69). The title of the priestess, συνιέρεα τοῦ Καρνείου (l. 97) indicates
that at the time of the domination of Sparta, these mysteries were united with the
cult of Karneios and that the priestess of the mysteries was also the priestess of
Apollo Karneios.

11 τᾶι...ἁμέραι > τῆι...ἁμέρηι.

12 S.v. πείθω.

13 S.v. ὄμνυμι.

14 I.e., the fifty-fifth year since the creation of the province of Achaia in 146
BCE. In this year, the oath was taken before the ceremonies, followed by an
election, all in accordance with the reforms of Mnasistratos.

15 Mnasistratos.

16 τάμ > τήν.

17 εἱματισμου > ἱματισμου (cf. ll. 16, 24–25, 27).

18 σαμεῖα > σημεῖα.

19 εἱματίοις > ἱματίοις (cf. ll. 17–19).

20 πλείονος ἄξια, “worth more (than)” (cf. ll. 18–19, 38, 82).

21 τᾶι πομπᾶι > τῆι πομπῆι (cf. ll. 28, 33, 68).

22 ἐπί, “in the presence of.”

23 One priest and one priestess, subordinate only to the Hierophant,

Mnasistratos (cf. ll. 96–97).

24 Gen. absol.

25 Δάματρος > Δήμητρος (cf. l. 31).

26 Ἑρμᾶι > Ἑρμῆι (cf. l. 69).

27 Μεγάλοι θεοί, “Great Gods,” namely Hagna, Demeter, and Kore (cf. ll. 34,
68–69, 91).

28 The mistress and her assistant presided at the banquet of the initiates.

29 σκανᾶν > σκηνῶν.

30 κατακριθ ι > κατακριθῆι > κατακριθῇ.

31 ἐγλεγόντω > ἐκλεγόντω (cf. l. 47).

32 δάμου > δήμου.

33 ἀνάνκαι > ἀνάγκηι> ἀνάγκῃ.

34 Ll. 48–63 omitted.

35 ἐγδόντω > ἐκδόντω (cf. l. 66).

36 εἶμεν > εἶναι (cf. l. 80).

37 Ll. 69b–73 omitted.

38 τεχνιτᾶν > τεχνιτῶν.

39 S.v. ἀλίσκομαι.

40 S.v. κλέπτω.

41 σῶμα, i.e., “slave.”

42 Opt. εἰμί (cf. paradigm, table 9.13.3).

43 ἁμετέρας > ἡμετέρας.

44 πόλεος > πόλεως (cf. l. 99).

45 L. 84a omitted.

46 Gen. of poss.

47 ποτί > πρός (“near”), cf. ll. 86–87, 91.

48 ζ ι > ζῆι > ζῇ.

49 τὸ τρίτον μέρος...τὰ δύο μέρη, “one third of a share ... two shares.”

50 Ll. 88b–89 omitted.

51 τὰν ἁτέραν > τὴν ἑτέραν.

52 Ll. 93b–95a omitted.

53 S.v. ἀφαιρέω.

54 L. 98b omitted.

55 δαμόσια > δημόσια.

56 Ll. 105b–106a omitted.

57 I.e., the βαλανεύς.

58 πλεῖον...δύο χαλκῶν.

59 Cf. PEnteuxeis 82 (221 BCE), which reads: “I had stepped out (of the baths)
to soap myself, he being bath-attendant in the women’s rotunda and having
brought in the jugs of hot water, emptied one over me and scalded my belly and
my left thigh down to the knee, so that my life was in danger ” (Roger S. Bagnall
and Peter Derow, Greek Historical Documents: The Hellenistic Period [Chico,
CA: Scholars Press, 1981], 195–196).

60 ἐγδεξάμενος > ἐκδεξάμενος.

61 ἐπί, “at the discretion of.”

 7.7. Circumcising the High Priestess of Demeter
(LSCG 154)

Provenance: Inscribed in the Asklepieion located on the island of Kos in the

Dodecanese (cf. Fig. 2).
Date: ca. 270–260 BCE.
Text: R. Herzog, Heilige Gesetze von Kos, Abhandlungen der preussischen
Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin (Berlin, 1928), no. 8; LSCG 154.
The text here is the second part of an inscription that was carved in two
columns (A and B) and three sections. The first section is a decree concerning
the publication of these regulations (A 1–20). The second section records the
regulations themselves. These concern the purification of the priestesses of the
cult of Demeter of Olympia (A, ll. 21–35) and of the cult of Demeter of Isthmia
(A, ll. 36–45). In the event that a priestess becomes ritually unclean, various
purifications are prescribed, including the requirement that the priestess in
question be circumcised (A, ll. 28, 43). The third section records a discussion of
particular cultic issues (B, ll. 1–45, not included here).
The dialect of the inscription is Doric. In contrast to Attic and Ionic (H-
dialects), the Doric dialect retained the proto-Greek long ᾶ.1 The 3rd declension
gen. pl. ending is -ιος (e.g., πόλιος > πόλεως); κα is used in place of Attic ἄν.
Note also the use of the iota-adscript throughout (e.g., αἷ > ᾇ, ὁποίαι > ὁποίᾳ,
συμβᾶι > συμβᾷ > συμβῇ, cf. IV, 16).2

A Lines 21–27 (H IερεIα) ΔαμAτρος ΟλυμΠIας τᾶς

Eμ πOλι
Ἁγνεύεσθαι3 τὰν4 ἱερείαν τῶνδε· μυσαρῶι μὴ συμμείγνυσθαι μηδενὶ μηδαμῶς
μηδὲ παρ᾿ ἥρῶνα ἔσθεν5 μηδὲ ἐπιβαίνειν ἐ ἡρῶιον μηδὲ ἐς6 οἰκίαν
ἐσέρπεν7 ἐν αἷ8 κα γυνὰ τέκηι9 ἢ ἐκτρῶι ἁμερᾶν10 τριῶν ἀ ἇς11 κα
ἁμέρας12 τέκηι ἢ ἐκτρῶι, μηδὲ ἐς13 οἰκίαν ἐσέρπεν ἐν ὁποίαι κα ἄνθρωπος
ἀποθάνηι ἁμερᾶν τριῶν ἀ ἇς (day) κα ἁμέρας ὁ νεκρὸς ἐξενιιχθῆι,14 μηδὲ
τῶν θνασιδίων μηδενὸς ἅπτεσθαι, μηδὲ τῶν σφιγκτῶν μηδενὸς ἔσθεν·
Vocabulary
ἀγνεύω (w. gen.), keep pure from; mid. keep oneself pure from Δημήτηρ, -
τερος/-τρος, ἡ (Dor. Δαμάτηρ): Demeter, goddess of grain and the harvest
εἰσέρπω, go into, enter ἔκτρωσις, -εως, ἡ, miscarriage (cf. l. 38) ἥρων, -ονος,
ὁ, meal dedicated to a hero, ἡρῷον, τό, (uncontr. ἡρῶιον), grave or shrine of a
hero (ἥρως) θνασιδίων > θνησείδιον, carcass of an animal (cf. l. 41) ἱέρεια, ἡ,
priestess κα, Dor. > Att. ἄν (cf. ll. 25, 29) μηδαμῶς, by no means, not at all
᾿Ολύμπιος, -α, -ον, Olympia (adj.) σφιγκτός, -ή, -όν, strangled (cf. l. 41)

Lines 27–35
τούτων τῶν μυσαρῶν αἴ τί15 κα16 τᾶι ἱερεία συμβᾶι17 ποιεῖν ὥστε
παραμαρτεῖν ὅτι μέγ18 κα μυσαρὸν ἔσθηι, (her) περιταμέσθω19 χοίρωι θηλείαι
καὶ ἀπὸ χρυσίου καὶ προσπερμείας καθαράσθω καὶ περιρανάσθω· αἰ δέ τί κα
τῶν ἄλλων συμβᾶι, ἀπὸ χρυσίου (cup) προσπερμείας περιρανάσθω καὶ
καθαρὰ ἔστω. τὰ δὲ τέλεια ἅ κα ἀναλωθῆι ἐς τὰν τελετὰν τᾶς ἱερείας,
ἀποδιδωτι ἁ πόλις ἅπαντα χωρὶς ἢ ἃ γέγραπται τὰν ἱέρειαν παρέχεν· ἁ δὲ
ἱέρεια ξενίζει τὸν μόναρχον καὶ τὸς20 ἱεροποιὸς καὶ κάρυκας·21 τὰν δὲ ἐπὶ
τᾶι τελετᾶι22 θυσίαν θύει ἁ ἱέρεια ἁ ἱερωσύνα ταύτα ἔστω τριακάδος [ – - – -
] πεντηκοστύος Πολλωνδᾶν· τὰν ἱέρειαν τελέζει ἁ πόλις.
Vocabulary
αἰ, Dor. for Att. εἰ (cf. l. 29) ἀναλόω / ἀναλίσκω, use up; spend, pay a fee;
pass. be used, consumed ἱεροποιός, ὁ, magistrate who oversees the temples and
sacred rites ἱερωσύνη, ἡ, priesthood μόναρχος, ὁ, monarch, the chief magistrate
of Kos μυσαρός, -ά, -όν, foul, dirty; subst. polluted thing παραμαρτάνω, 3.
παρήμαρτον: transgress a law (cf. ll. 42) πεντηκοστύς, -ύος, fifty, group of fifty
περιρραίνω, purify (cf. ll. 44–45) προσπερμεία, ἡ, (ritual of) sprinkling with
grain23 (cf. ll. 30, 44–45) τελετή, ἡ, initiation rite (into the mysteries) τριακάς,
-άδος, thirty, group of thirty χοῖρος, ὁ, young pig; genital organs of a woman
(pudenda)

Lines 36–45 (H IερεIα) ΔAμAτρος τᾶς Eν Ισθμῶι

Ἁγνεύεσθαι δὲ τὰν ἱέρειαν τῶνδε· μυσαρῶι μὴ συμμείγνυσθαι μηδενὶ μηδὲ
ἐπιβαίνειν ἐ ἡρῶιον μηδὲ ἐς οἰκίαν ἐσέρπεν ἐν ἇι κα γυνὰ τέκηι ἢ ἐκτρῶι
ἁμερᾶν τριῶν ἀ ἇς κα ἁμέρας τέκηι ἢ ἐκτρῶι, μηδὲ ἐς οἰκίαν ἐσέρπεν ἐν
ὁποίαι κα ἄνθρωπος ἀποθάνηι ἁμερᾶν τριῶν ἀ ἇς κα ἁμέρας ὁ νεκρὸς
ἐξενιχθῆι, μηδὲ τῶν θνασιδίων μηδενὸς ἅπτεσθαι, μηδὲ τῶν σφιγκτῶν
μηδενὸς ἔσθεν· τούτων τῶν μυσαρῶν αἴ τι κα τᾶι ἱερεία συμβᾶι, ὥστε
παραμαρτεῖν, αἰ μέγ κά τι τῶμ μυσαρῶν ἔσθηι, περιταμέσθω χοίρωι θηλείαι
καὶ ἀπὸ χρυσίου (cup) προσπερμείας καθαράσθω καὶ περιρανάσθω· αἰ δέ τί
κα τῶν ἄλλων τῶγ γεγραμμένων παραμάρτηι, ἀπὸ χρυσίου καὶ προσπερμείας
περιρανάσθω [ – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - ]
Vocabulary
᾿Ισθμός, ὁ, Isthmos

Select Bibliography
Nilsson, M. P. Geschichte der Griechischen Religion, 3rd ed., 2 vols. Munich: C.
H. Beck, 1955–1967, I, 91–110; II 70–71.
Wächter, Theodor. Reinheitsvorschriften im griechischen Kult. Giessen: A.
Töpelmann, 1910, 33, 46, 49, 60, 116.

1 Smythe §30; Buck, §242ff.

2 Cf. IV, 16.

3 Imperatival inf. here and below.

4 τάν > τήν (Dor. retention of proto-Greek long ᾶ) (cf. l. 37).

5 ἔσθεν Dor. inf. > Att. ἔσθειν (s.v. ἔσθω, poet. form of ἐσθίω, cf. ll. 27, 42).

6 ἐς > εἰς.

7 Dor. inf. for Att. –ειν, s.v. εἰσέρπω.

8 ἇι > ἧι > ᾑ (retention of proto-Greek long ᾶ).

9 S.v. τίκτω.

10 ἁμερᾶν > ἁμερῶν, Dor. 1st decl. gen. pl. –ᾶν > –ῶν.

11 ἇς > ἧς (cf. l. 39).

12 ἁμέρας > ἁμέρης.

13 ἐς > εἰς (cf. l. 31).

14 ἐξενίχθηι > ἐξενέχθηι, s.v. ἐκφέρω (cf. l. 40).

15 τί...τούτων τῶμ μυσαρῶν (cf. l. 42).

16 αἴ...κα (cf. l. 42).

17 συμβᾶι > συμβῆι + inf. (cf. ll. 30, 42).

18 Assim. (ν before κ becomes γ).

19 περιταμέσθω > περιτεμέσθω.

20 τός > ὁς.

21 κάρυκας > κήρυκας.

22 τᾶι τελετᾶι > τῇ τελετῇ.

23 Prior to the slaying of the animal, the priest and each of the participants
would take a handful of oats from a reed basket (in which lay concealed the
sacrificial knife) and raise their arms in the air. The priest would then recite a
prayer, invocation, petition, and vow, and all who looked on would signify their
“Amen” by hurling the grain at the animal (Dionysios of Halicarnassus, Roman
Antiquities, 7.72.15). Thus, while only one person wielded the knife, this ritual
of assent made the slaying a corporate act.
7.8. The Sacred Redemption (Manumission) of Slaves
to Apollo in Delphi
(GDI II/2, 2171, 2170)

The redemption, or “manumission,” of slaves was one of the most important

social and legal institutions of the Greco-Roman world. One of the mechanisms
for formally freeing a slave was to dedicate the slave to a god. This method was
notably practiced at Delphi, where the manumissions took place in the Temple
of Pythian Apollo. Sacred manumission provided a safeguard to the liberty of
manumitted slaves by giving the process a public forum and by investing the
transaction with a sacred authority, since the slave, in effect, became consecrated
by the process to Apollo himself.
The original document was written on papyrus or a wooden tablet. It was then
deposited in the temple archives and copies were given to a citizen of Delphi or
to a citizen from the slave’s hometown, his name being cited on the document. A
copy of this document was engraved on the polygonal wall of the sanctuary.
Delphic manumission contracts were inscribed to publicize the freed slave’s new
legal status. In fact, more than one thousand Delphic manumission inscriptions
have survived dating from 200 BCE to 74 CE. These inscriptions are engraved
on the polygonal stones lining the road of a 90-meter retaining wall leading up to
the Temple of Apollo.
The slave transacted his manumission through the god Apollo, who contracted
the sale of the slave through the mediation of his priests. The money for the
ransom was actually provided by the slave himself. Upon completion of the sale,
the slave was deemed to be the property of Apollo, even though he was in fact a
freedman. The fictive character of this sale is made explicit by the formula “just
as the slave entrusts the god with the purchase price (καθὼς ἐπίστευσε ὁ δεῖνα
τῶι θεῶι τὰν ὠνάν).”

Conditional Manumission
The granting of full manumission was often a two-stage process. Many slaves
were permitted to purchase their freedom on the condition that they would
remain under obligation to work for their original masters until the death of the
master. In legal terms, this was termed a paramone (παραμονή) clause. Though
the master retained the right to punish the slave, he could not sell the slave
because the slave was legally no longer his property. In most cases, this
paramone contract remained in effect until the death of the master.
Other conditions could also be connected with the paramone clause, such as
responsibility for arranging the master’s funeral and annual commemorative
rites. The premature release from this paramone clause was possible, either at
the discretion of the master or by the payment of a second ransom, the amount of
which was sometimes agreed upon in the original manumission contract. If this
amount was not specified in the original contract, a second contract could be
drawn up that superseded the previous agreement.
The Structure of Delphic Manumission Inscriptions: The Delphic
manumission records are very formulaic and often include the following
information:
(1) The date, the name of the eponymous Archon of Delphi in the genitive case
(ἄρχοντος τοῦ δεῖνος), and the month are specified, along with the names of
town councilors in office at the time (βουλευόντων τοῦ δεῖνος, κ.τ.λ.). The
name of the secretary or treasurer might also be added. If the slave’s master was
not from Delphi, the inscription is also dated according to the eponymous
official of the master’s hometown.
(2) The text continues with the verb ἀπέδοτο (“to hand over”), followed by the
name of the master (nom.) of the slave, a reference to Pythian Apollo (dat.) as
recipient (τῶι Ἀπόλλωνι τῶι Πυθίωι), and then an identification of the slave in
terms of gender, age, name, and descriptor of background (γένος, race/sort/kind
of slave). Male and female slaves are referred to as a σῶμα ἀνδρεῖον (“male
body”) and σῶμα γυναικεῖον (“female body”) respectively.
(3) Next follows the ransom price (τιμή) for manumitting the slave. The
average price for manumitting a male slave (between the years 80 and 30 BCE)
was about 4 silver minas (400 drachmae). Sometimes the additional phrase
καθὼς ἐπίστευσε ὁ δεῖνα τὰν ὠνὰν τῶι θεῶι (“just as so-and-so entrusted
contract for purchase to the god”) is added.
(4) Following the price is a statement confirming that the master had received
the ransom in full and naming the slave and the god as his intermediary in the
sale: καὶ τὰν τιμὰν ἀπέχει/ἔχει πᾶσαν (“and he has received the entire
payment”).
(5) The guarantor(s) (βεβαιωτήρ, βεβαιωτῆρες) of the purchase is then named.
The guarantor was liable for the freedom of the slave. If the master was not from
Delphi, there were normally two guarantors; the first was a native of Delphi and
the second was from the hometown of the master.
(6) If the manumission is deferred (παραμένω), this condition is inserted at this
point (paramone clause).
(7) Next follows a statement of the legal obligation of the owner and guarantor
to protect the slave against anyone attempting to take away his freedom: εἰ δέ τις
(ἐφ)άπτοιτο τοῦ δεῖνος (slave) ἐπὶ καταδουλισμῶι (“if anyone should claim as
his property So-and-so [slave] with a view to enslavement ...”). The master
(κύριος), being present (παρατυχών) at the time, should rescue (συλάω) the
slave, “on the grounds that he is free” (ὡς ἐλεύθερον ὄντα) and is “not
deserving of punishment” (ἀζήμιος) and “not liable to further punishment and
penalty” (ἀνυπόδικος δίκας καὶ ζαμίας).
(8) Next may follow a statement concerning the slave’s new legal status: ἐ
ὧιτε (> ᾧτε > ὥστε) ἐλεύθερος εἶμεν (> εἶναι) (“on the condition that he be
free”).
(9) Finally, various witnesses are listed, beginning with the priest(s) of Apollo,
followed by private citizens.
Dialect: The dialect of these texts is Phokean of the NW group (cf. IG X/2,
255, §7.18). In contrast to Ionic and Attic (Η-dialects), North West is an Â-
dialect, which is to say, it has retained (like Doric) the proto-Greek long ᾶ (e.g.,
ἁ > ἡ, τᾶς > τῆς, τάν > τήν, αὐτάς > αὐτής). The 3rd declension gen. pl.
ending is -ιος (e.g., πόλιος > πόλεως), and κα is used in place of Attic ἄν. Note
also the use of iota-adscript (e.g., τᾶι οἰκίαι > τῇ οἰκίᾳ, cf. IV, 16).

(a) The Conditional Manumission of a Female Slave

(GDI II/2, 2171)
Provenance: Delphi (cf. Fig. 2).
Date: Second to first century BCE.1

Lines 1–7
(Ἐπί) ἄρχοντος Φιλονίκου,2 μηνὸς Θεοξενίου, βουλευόντων Πάτρωνος,3
Δάμωνος, Εὐκλείδα, Στράτωνος, ἀπέδοτο Φίλαγρος4 Ἀρχύτα τῶι Ἀπόλλωνι
τῶι Πυθίωι σῶμα γυναικεῖον ἇι5 ὄνομα Διόκλεια6 τὸ γένος7 οἰκογενές,
τιμᾶς8 ἀργυρίου μνᾶν9 τριῶν, καὶ τὰν τιμὰν ἀπέχει πᾶσαν,10 βεβαιωτὴρ κατὰ
τοὺς νόμους τᾶς πόλιος·11 Βαβύλος.12
Vocabulary

ἀπέχω, receive; receive a payment βεβαιωτήρ, -ῆρος, ὁ, guarantor

βουλεύομαι, plan, resolve, decide; be a member of the City Council
(βουλή) γυναικεῖος, -α, -ον, of a woman, female ἐφάπτω, mid. claim
somebody (w. gen.) as one’s property Θεοξένιος, Theoxenios13
μνᾶ, ἡ, μνᾶς (gen.), μνῆν (acc.); pl. μναῖ, μνέων (gen. pl. > NW μνᾶν),
mina (= 100 drachmae) οἰκογενής, -ές, born in the house, homebred (slave)
Πύθιος, -α, -ον, Pythian (i.e., of Delphi), epithet of Apollo τιμή, ἡ, price

Lines 7–11
παραμεινάτω δὲ Διόκλεια παρὰ14 Κλεοπάτραι15 τῆι ματρὶ Φιλάγρου ποιοῦσα
τὸ ἐπιτασσόμενον πᾶν τὸ δυνατόν, ἐξουσίαν δὲ (Kleopatra) ἐχέτω
ἐπιτιμοῦσα καὶ διδέουσα (commands) τρόπωι ὧι κα θέληι πλὰν16 μὴ
πωλέουσα (her).
Vocabulary

ἐπιτάσσω, instruct/order somebody to do something ἐπιτιμάω, warn,

speak seriously; rebuke παραμένω, remain (in a place); remain/stay (of
slaves whose manumission was deferred)
Lines 11–16

ἐπεί κά17 τι πάθοι18 Κλεοπάτρα, ἐλευθέρα ἔστω Διόκλεα καὶ ὑπαγέτω πᾶι
κα θέληι. εἰ δέ τις ἐφάπτοιτο Διοκλέας ἐπὶ καταδουλισμῶι, κύριος ἔστω ὁ
παρατυχὼν19 συλέων (her) ὡς20 ἐλευθέραν οὖσαν 15 ἀζάμιος ὢν καὶ
ἀνυπόδικος πάσας δίκας21 καὶ ζαμίας22 καὶ ὁ βεβαιωτὴρ βεβαιούτω.
Vocabulary

ἀζάμιος > ἀζήμιος, -ον, not deserving of punishment ἀνυπόδικος, -ον, not
liable to (w. gen.) ἐφάπτω, mid. claim somebody (w. gen.) as one’s
property καταδουλισμός, ὁ, enslavement πᾶι (Dor.) > πῆι > πῇ, anywhere
συλέω > συλάω, to rescue ὑπάγω, bring under one’s power, induce
 somebody to do something; bring before a court of law; go away, depart

Lines 11–23
εἰ δέ τι23 γένοιτο ἐγ24 Διοκλέας τέκνον ἐν τῶι τᾶς παραμονᾶς χρόνωι, εἴ κα
μὲν θέληι ἀποπνεῖξαι (it) Διόκλεα, ἐξουσίαν ἐχέτω, εἰ δὲ θέλοι τρέφειν, ἔστω
τὸ τρεφόμενον ἐλεύθερον. εἴ κα μὴ αὐτὸ θέληι, πωλῆσαι δὲ τὸ γενηθέν,25 μὴ
ἐχέτω ἐξουσίαν Διόκλεα μηδὲ ἄλλος μηθείς.26 μάρτυροι·27 ὁ ἱερεὺς τοῦ
Ἀπόλλωνος, Ἐμενίδας, Εὐάγγελος, Λαιάδας, Δάμων, Καλλίας.
Vocabulary

ἀποπνεῖξαι > ἀποπνίξαι, s.v. ἀπογνίγω, to choke, throttle παραμονή, ἡ,

the obligation (of a slave) to continue to serve (i.e., a deferment of
manumission)

(b) The Manumission of a Young Man in Delphi

(GDI II/2, 2170)
Provenance: Delphi.
Date: Second to first century BCE.
Lines 1–6
(Ἐπί) ἄρχοντος Φιλονίκου,28 μηνὸς Ἡρακλείου, βουλευόντων29 Πάτρωνος,
Δάμωνος, Στράτωνος, Εὐκλίδα, ἀπέδοντο Πάσων καὶ Διόδωρος30 οἱ Ὀρέστα
τῶι Ἀπόλλωνι τῶι Πυθίωι (for) παιδάριον ὧι ὄνομα Ἀλέξιππος31 ἐ
ἐλευθερίαι, τιμᾶς ἀργυρίου μνᾶν δύο, καὶ τὰν τιμὰν ἔχοντι32 πᾶσαν,33 καθὼς
ἐπίστευσε34 Ἀλέξιππος τὰν ὠνὰν35 τῶι θεῶι,5 ἐ ὧιτε36 ἐλεύθερος εἶμεν37
καὶ ἀνέφαπτος ἀπὸ πάντων τὸν πάντα βίον. βεβαιωτὴρ κατὰ τοὺς νόμους·
Καλλίας38 Εὐκλίδα.
Vocabulary

ἀνέφαπτος, -ον, not to be claimed as a slave ὠνή, ἡ, contract for purchase,

price

Lines 6–11
εἰ δέ τις ἐφάπτοιτο Ἀλεξίππου ἐπὶ καταδουλισμῶι, βέβαιον παρεχέτωσαν τῶι
θεῶι τὰν ὠνὰν οἵ τε ἀποδόμενοι καὶ ὁ βεβαιωτὴρ βεβαιούτω. ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ
ὁ παρατυχὼν κύριος ἔστω συλέων Ἀλέξιππον ὡς ἐλεύθερον ἀνυπόδικος ὢν
καὶ ἀζάμιος πάσας δίκας καὶ ζαμίας.39 μάρτυροὶ·10 Ἀμύντας, Πάτρων,
Εὐκλίδας, Βαβύλος, [ – - – ], Πρωτογένης.
Vocabulary

ἀζάμιος > ἀζήμιος, -ον, not deserving of punishment ἀνυπόδικος, -ον, not
liable to (w. gen.)
βέβαιος, -ον, steady, secure, reliable; subst. security, guarantee, βέβαιον
παρέχειν τὴν ὠνήν, confirm/guarantee the contract for purchase; superl.
βεβαιότατος, most reliable; βεβαίως, with certainty Ἡράκλειος, Herakleios
(month name, cf. table 9.19) καταδουλισμός, ὁ, enslavement συλέω >
συλάω, to rescue

Select Bibliography
Fitzgerald, William. Slavery and the Roman Literary Imagination. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 2000.
Tucker, C. Wayne. “Women in the Manumission Inscriptions at Delphi.”
Transactions of the American Philological Association 112 (1982), 225–236.

1 The standard work on the dating of these inscriptions is that of Georges Daux,
Chronologie delphique (Paris: E. de Boccard, 1943).

2 Philonikos.

3 Here follows the names (gen.) of the city councilors at the time of the
manumission: Patron, Damon, Efkleidas, and Straton.

4 Philagros (name of the master), followed by ethnic (place of origin),

5 ἇι > ἧι > ᾑ (dat. of poss.).

6 Διόκλεια (fm.), name of the slave.

7 τὸ γένος, “kind/type.”

8 τιμᾶς > τιμῆς.

9 μνᾶν, NW > μνέων.

10 τιμὰν...πᾶσαν.

11 τᾶς πόλιος > τῆς πόλεως.

12 Babulos.

13 The names of the Delphic months are as follows: (1) Ἀπελλαῖος, (2)
Βουκάτιος, (3) Βοάθοος, (4) Ἡραῖος, (5) Δαιδαφόριος, (6) Ποιτρόπιος, (7)
Ἀμάλιος, (8) Βύσιος, (9) Θεοξένιος, (10) Ἐνδυσποιτρόπιος, (11) Ἡράκλειος,
(12) Ἰλαῖος.

14 παρά (w. dat.), “with,” “at the house of.”

15 Kleopatra.

16 πλάν, NW > πλήν.

17 κα, NW > Att. ἄν.

18 S.v. πάσχω, i.e., when she dies.

19 S.v. παρατυγχάνω.

20 ὡς, “on the grounds that.”

21 πάσας δίκας > πάσης δίκης.

22 ζαμίας > ζημίας.

23 τι...τέκνον.

24 ἐγ > ἐν.

25 S.v. γίνομαι.

26 μηθείς > μηδείς.

27 μάρτυρος = μάρτυς.

28 Philonikos.

29 Here follow the names of city councilors.

30 Πάσων and Διόδωρος (names of the masters); οἱ Ὀρέστα, ethnic.

31 Alexippos (slave’s name) (cf. ll. 5–6).

32 ἔχοντι > ἔχουσι.

33 τιμὰν...πᾶσαν.

34 Here “entrusted.”

35 ὠνάν > ὠνήν.

36 ὧιτε > ᾧτε > ὥστε.

37 εἶμεν, NW > εἶναι.

38 Kallias (name of guarantor) + ethnic.

39 ζαμίας > ζημίας.

 7.9. The Hellenistic Healing Testimonials of
Epidauros
(LiDonnici A1–5, 8, B12, C21)

Provenance: Epidauros (Epidavros, see Fig. 2), located on the Saronic Gulf of
the Peloponnese. This city was the site of the most renowned Asklepieion
(healing center) of Asklepios, the god of healing.
Date: ca. 300–250 BCE.
Text: Lynn R. LiDonnici, The Epidaurian Miracle Inscriptions: Text,
Translation and Commentary (Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1995), 84–93, A1–5,
A18, B12, C21.
The gods of Greco-Roman antiquity were often associated with specific
places. Asklepios was linked with healing shrines (Asklepieia), which were
dedicated to him throughout the ancient world in places such as Pergamon,
Athens, and Thelpoussa (Arkadia) and on the islands of Kos and Chios. The
most famous of these healing shrines was the Asklepieion in Epidauros. The sick
and injured from far and wide would make a pilgrimage to Epidauros to sleep, or
“incubate,” in the sanctuary’s abaton (the innermost room of the temple),
located near the Temple of Asklepios. During the night, the god Asklepios
would communicate with the patient, either through a direct epiphany or
indirectly through a dream or by an intermediary such as a snake or dog.
Archaeologists have discovered six columns inscribed with “healing
testimonials” (iamata), dating to the early Hellenistic period. These testimonials
attest to the intervention of Asklepios, who would cure people by performing
various kinds of medical procedures (cf. Paus. Graec. Descr. 2.27.3). The
healing testimonial inscriptions are quite concise and formulaic (though not
every testimonial includes every element of the general structure): (1) they begin
with a citation of the name of the suppliant, sometimes followed by his or her
place of origin; (2) the testimonials then diagnose the medical condition
(sometimes followed by a remark about the suppliant’s lack of faith, skepticism,
or even mocking attitude); (3) next the testimonials tell of the act of divine
healing of Asklepios in the abaton, which he performed either by appearing to
the suppliant in a vision or dream and giving instructions or by acting directly;
(4) the testimonials cite the demonstration of a successful cure; (5) finally, they
sometimes narrate the thanksgiving and praise given by the suppliant to
Asklepios and the offering or payment given in appreciation for the divine
healing. These events are later recorded on a votive plaque. The votive plaques
themselves were subsequently inscribed on stone columns as tokens of
thanksgiving to the god.
Dialect: The dialect of the testimonials is Argolic, in the family of West
Greek (see footnotes).1 Note also the use of iota-adscript and the frequent use of
infinitives (cf. IV, 16).
Related Texts: The healing testimonial of Marcus Julius Apellas (§7.21); the
healings of Jesus as recorded in the Synoptic Gospels (cf. §1.12).2

ΘΕΟΣ ΤΥΧΑ ΑΓΑΘΑ3

ΙΑΜΑΤΑ ΤΟΥ ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝΟΣ4 ΚΑΙ ΤΟΥ

ΑΣΚΛΑΠΙΟΥ
A1 (Lines 3–9)
Κλεὼ5 πέν 6 ἔτη ἐκύησε. Αὕτα πέν ἔνιαυτοὺς ἤδη κυοῦσα ποὶ7 τὸν θεὸν
(as) ἱκέτις ἀφίκετο καὶ ἐνεκάθευδε ἐν τῶι ἀβάτωι· ὡς δὲ τάχιστα8 ἐξῆλθε ἐξ
αὐτοῦ9 καὶ ἐκ10 τοῦ ἱαροῦ11 ἐγένετο, κόρον ἔτεκε, ὅς εὐθὺς γενόμενος αὐτὸς
ἀπὸ τᾶς κράνας ἐλοῦτο12 καὶ ἅμα τᾶι ματρὶ περιῆρπε. τυχοῦσα δὲ τούτων
ἐπὶ τὸ ἄνθεμα13 ἐπεγράψατό· οὐ μέγεθος πίνακος θαυμαστέον, ἀλλὰ τõ
θεῖον, πέν ἔτη ὡς ἐκύησε ἐγ14 γαστρι Κλεὼ βάρος, ἔστε ἐγκατεκοιμάθη
(her) καὶ μιν (the god) ἔθηκε ὑγιῆ.
Vocabulary
ἄβατον, τό, abaton (sleeping chamber of the sanctuary of Asklepios) βάρος, -
ους, τό, a weight, load, burden ἐγκατακοιμάομαι (= ἐγκοιμάομαι), aor. pass.
(dep.) ἐγκατεκοιμάθην, aor. fem. ptc. ἐγκατακοιμαθεῖσα: sleep in a
enkoimeteria (sleeping hall) seeking prophetic dreams to obtain a cure from a
disease, “to incubate”
ἔστε, until (cf. 2.14) θαυμαστέος, -α, -ον, be wondered at ἱκέτης, -ου, ὁ /
ἱκέτις, -ιδος, ἡ, suppliant, one who comes seeking help or protection κόρος, ὁ,
boy; κόρα, ἡ, a girl; pl. pupils (of the eyes) κράνας > κρήνης, s.v. κρήνη, ἡ,
spring, fountain κυέω, aor. inf. κυῆσαι: be pregnant; conceive a child μιν, him,
her, it, 3rd pers. pron. (acc. sg.) in Ep. and Ion.
περιέρπω, walk about πίναξ, πίνακος, ὁ, flat wooden plaque (plastered or
primed, then painted and inscribed) ὑγιής, -ές, healthy; τίθημι ὑγιή, make well

A2 (Lines 9–22)
Τριέτης φορά... Ἰθμονίκα15 Πελλανὶς ἀφίκετο εἰς τὸ ἱαρὸν ὑπὲρ γενεᾶς.16
ἐγκατακοιμαθεῖσα δὲ ὄψιν εἶδε· ἐδόκει αἰτεῖσθαι τὸν θεὸν κυῆσαι κόραν, τὸν
Ἀσκλαπιὸν φάμεν17 ἔγκυον ἐσσεῖσθαί18 νιν,19 καὶ εἴ τι ἄλλο (else)
αἰτοῖτο,20 καὶ τοῦτο οἱ ἐπιτελεῖν, αὐτὰ οὐθενὸς φάμεν21 ἔτι ποιδεῖσθαι.
ἔγκυος δὲ γενομένα ἐγ γαστρὶ ἐφόρει τρία ἔτη, ἔστε παρέβαλε ποὶ τὸν θεὸν
ἱκέτις22 ὑπὲρ τοῦ τόκου· ἐγκατακοιμαθεῖσα δὲ ὄψιν εἶδε· ἐδόκει ἐπερωτῆν23
νιν τὸν θεόν, εἰ οὐ γένοιτο αὐτᾶι24 πάντα ὅσσα25 αἰτήσαιτο καὶ ἔγκυος εἴη·26
ὑπὲρ δὲ τόκου ποιθέμεν27νιν οὐθέν, καὶ ταῦτα πυνθανομένου αὐτοῦ,28 εἴ
τινος καὶ ἄλλου δέοιτο, λέγειν, ὡς29 ποιησοῦντος καὶ τοῦτο. ἐπεὶ δὲ νῦν ὑπὲρ
τούτου παρείη30 πο 31 αὐτὸν ἱκέτις, καὶ τοῦτό οἱ φάμεν ἐπιτελεῖν. μετὰ δὲ
τοῦτο σπουδᾶι32 ἐκ τοῦ ἀβάτου ἐξελθοῦσα, ὡς ἔξω τοῦ ἱαροῦ ἦς,33 ἔτεκε
κόραν.
Vocabulary
αἰτέω/έομαι, ask, beg; make a request ἔστε, until μιν, him, her, it, 3rd pers.
pron. (acc. sg.) in Ep. and Ion.
νιν (encl.), Dor. acc. of 3rd pers. for αὐτός, αὐτήν
οὗ (encl. οὑ), him, her (acc.); οἷ (dat., encl. οἱ) παραβάλλω, throw to (esp. of
fodder to animals); venture to (do something) ποιδέομαι > προσδέομαι (cf. ποί,
Dor. > πρός), be in need of something in addition πυνθάνομαι (older form
πεύθομαι), 3. ἐπυθόμην, 2aor. mid. ptc. πυθόμενος: learn something from
somebody (gen.), inquire concerning something; subst. a question σπουδή, ἡ,
diligence, concern, attention; haste, hurry; ἐν σπουδῇ, in concern τόκος, ὁ,
birth; offspring; interest (on money owed) τριέτης, -ες, lasting three years
φορά, ἡ, pregnancy

A3 (Lines 22–33)
Ἀνὴρ τοὺς τᾶς34 ξηρὸς δακτύλους ἀκρατεῖς35 ἔχων πλὰν36 ἑνὸς ἀφίκετο ποὶ
τὸν θεὸν ἱκέτας· θεωρῶν δὲ τοὺς ἐν τῶι ἱαρῶι37 πίνακας (was) ἀπίστει τοῖς
ἰάμασιν καὶ ὑποδιέσυρε τὰ ἐπιγράμματα. ἐγκαθεύδων δὲ ὄψιν εἶδε· ἐδόκει
ὑπὸ τῶι ναῶι ἀστραγαλίζοντος38 αὐτοῦ καὶ μέλλοντος βάλλειν τῷ
ἀστραγάλωι,39 ἐπιφανέντα τὸν θεὸν ἐφαλέσθαι ἐπὶ τὰν χῆρα40 καὶ ἐκτεῖναί
οὑ τοὺς δακτύλους· ὡς ἀποβαίη,41 δοκεῖν συγκάμψας τὰν χῆρα κα ἕνα42
ἐκτείνειν τῶν δακτύλων· ἐπεὶ δὲ πάντας (fingers) ἐξευθύναι, ἐπερωτῆν νιν
τὸν θεόν, εἰ ἔτι ἀπιστησοῖ τοῖς ἐπιγράμμασι τοῖς ἐπὶ τῶμ43 πινάκων τῶν
κατὰ44 τὸ ἱερόν, αὐτὸς οὐ φάμεν·45 Ὅτι τοίνυν ἔμπροσθεν ἀπίστεις αὐτοῖς
οὐκ ἐοῦσιν46 ἀπίστοις, τὸ λοιπὸν ἔστω τοι,47 φάμεν, Ἀπιστος ὄνομα. ἁμέρας
δὲ γενομένας48 ὑγιὴς ἐξῆλθε.
Vocabulary
ἀκρατής, -ές, powerless ἀπιστέω, disbelieve ἀποβαίνω, alight, move off
ἀστραγαλίζω, play with knucklebones (ἀστράγαλοι) as dice49
ἀστράγαλος, knucklebone ἐξευθύνω, straighten ἐπίγραμα, -ματος, τό,
inscription ἐφάλλομαι, ἐφηλόμην: to leap/spring upon ἴαμα, -ματος, τό,
healing, cure νιν (encl.), Dor. acc. of 3rd pers. for αὐτός, αὐτἦ
οὗ (encl. οὑ), him, her (acc.); οἷ (dat., encl. οἱ) ξηρός, -ά, -όν, dry; paralyzed
οὗ (encl. οὑ), him, her (acc.) πλήν, nevertheless; but only, except συγκάμπτω,
to bend τοίνυν, indeed, then; therefore; δὴ τοίνυν, “I suggest/submit (that)”
ὑποδιασύρω, sneer, disparage

A4 (Lines 33–41)
Ἀμβροσία50 ἐξ51 Ἀθανᾶν52 ἁτερόπτιλλος. αὕτα ἰκέτις ἦλθε ποὶ τὸν θεόν·
περιέρπουσα δὲ κατὰ τὸ ἱαρὸν τῶν ἱαμάτων τινὰ διεγέλα ὡς (being) ἀπίθανα
καὶ ἀδύνατα ἐόντα,53 χωλοὺς καὶ τυφλοὺς ὑγιεῖς γίνεσθε ἐνύπνιον ἰδόντας
μόνον. ἐγκαθεύδουσα δὲ ὄψιν εἶδε· ἐδόκει οἱ ὁ θεὸς ἐπιστὰς54 εἰπεῖν, ὅτι
ὑγιῆ μέν νιν ποιησοῖ, μισθὸμ55 μάντοι56 νιν δέοι57 ἀναθέμεν58 εἰς τὸ ἱαρὸν ὗν
ἀργύρεον59 ὑπόμναμα60 τᾶς ἀμαθίας. εἴπαντα δὲ ταῦτα ἀνσχίσαι οὑ τὸν
ὄπτιλλον61 τὸν νοσοῦντα καὶ φάρμακόν τι ἐγχέαι· ἁμέρας δὲ γενομένας62
ὑγιὴς ἐξῆλθε.
Vocabulary
ἀδυύατος, -ον, impossible; weak, crippled ἀμαθία, ἡ, stupidity ἀνασχίζω, aor.
inf. ἀν(α)σχίσαι, open up, cut open ἀπίθανος, -ον, incredible, unbelievable
ἁτερόπτιλλος, -ον, Dor. > ἑτερόφθαλμος, one-eyed (i.e., blind in one eye)
διαγελάω, ridicule something/somebody ἐγχέω, pour in/over ἐγκαθεύδω, sleep
in temple in order to seek prophetic dreams and obtain a cure from a disease, i.e.,
“incubate”
ἐνύπνιον, τό, a dream μέντοι, Dor. μάντοι, yet, nevertheless νοσέω, be ill, sick
ὑπόμνημα, -ματος, τό, reminder; memorandum ὗς, ὑός, ὁ/ἡ, pig (known for
their reputed stupidity)

A5 (Lines 41–48)
Παῖς ἄφωνος. οὗτος ἀφίκετο εἰς τὸ ἱαρὸν ὑπὲρ φωνᾶς·63 ὡς δὲ προεθύσατο
καὶ ἐποίησε τὰ νομιζόμενα, μετὰ τοῦτο ὁ παῖς ὁ τῶι θεῶι πυρφορῶν ἐκέλετο
(him), ποὶ τὸμ64 πατέρα τὸν τοῦ παιδὸς ποτιβλέψας, ὑποδέκεσθαι65 ἐντὸς
ἐνιαυτοῦ,66 τυχόντα ἐ ἃ πάρεστι, ἀποθυσεῖν τὰ ἴατρα.67 ὁ δὲ παῖς
ἐξαπίνας·68 Ὑποδέκομαι, ἔφα·69 ὁ δὲ πατὴρ ἐκπλαγεὶς πάλιν ἐκέλετο αὐτὸν
εἰπεῖν· ὁ δὲ ἔλεγε πάλιν· καὶ ἐκ τούτου ὑγιὴς ἐγένετο.
Vocabulary
ἀποθύω, offer up a votive sacrifice ἄφωνος, -ον, voiceless, mute ἴατρα, τά,
thank offering for a cure κέλομαι, command, bid ποτιβλέψας > προσβλέψας,
s.v. προσβλέπω, look at προθύω, sacrifice on somebody’s behalf; perform an
opening sacrifice πυρφορέω, carry a sacrificial fire; subst. ptc., somebody
appointed to bear the fire for Asklepios ὑποδέχομαι, entertain as a guest,
provide hospitality for; to promise

A18 (Lines 120–122)

Ἀλκέτας70 Ἁλικός. οὗτος τυφλὸς ἐὼν71 ἐνύπνιον εἶδε· ἐδόκει οἱ ὁ θεὸς
ποτελθὼν72 τοῖς δακτύλοις διάλεγειν τὰ ὄμματα καὶ (the man) ἰδεῖν τὰ
δένδρη73 πρᾶτον74 τὰ ἐν τῶι ἱαρῶι.75 ἁμέρας δὲ γενομένας76 ὑγιὴς ἐξῆλθε.
Vocabulary
ἐνύπνιον, τό, a dream

B12 (Lines 63–68)

Ἀντικράτης77 Κνίδιος ὀφθαλμούς. οὗτος ἔν τινι μάχαι78 ὑπὸ δόρατος
πλαγεὶς79 δἰ ἀμφοτέρων τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν τυφλὸς ἐγένετο καὶ τὰν λόγχαν
παροῦσαν ἐν τῶι προσώπωι περιέφερε· ἐγκαθεύδων δὲ ὄψιν εἶδε· ἐδόκει οὑ
τὸν θεὸν ἐξελκύσαντα τὸ βέλος εἰς τὰ βλέφαρα τὰς καλουμένας80 κόρας
πάλιν ἐναρμόξαι· ἁμέρας δὲ γενομένας ὑγιὴς ἐξῆλθε.
Vocabulary
βέλος, -εος, τό, missile (esp. arrow, dart) βλέφαρα, τά, eyelids δόρυ, -ατος,
τό, spear ἐναρμόζω, fit back into (εἰς) ἐξέλκω, 1aor. ptc. ἐξελκύσας: pull out
λόγχη, ἡ, spearhead περιφέρω, carry around

C21(Lines 123–129)
Δαμοσθένης81 [from (ethnic)], ἀκρατὴς τῶν σκελέων. οὗτος ἀφίκετο εἰς τὸ
ἱαρὸν ἐπὶ κλίνας82 καὶ ἐπὶ βακτηρίας ἀπερειδόμενος περιεπορεύετο·
ἐγκοιμαθεὶς δὲ ὄψιν εἶδε· ἐδόκει οἱ ὁν θεὸς ποιτάξαι83 τετράμηνον ἐν τῶι
ἱαρῶι παραμένειν, ὅτι ἐν τῶι χρόνωι τούτωι ὑγιὴς ἐσσοῖτο·84 μετὰ τοῦτο
ἐντος τετραμήνου ἐν ταῖς τελευταίαις ἁμέραις εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὸ ἄβατον μετὰ
δύο βακτηριᾶν ὑγιὴς ἐξῆλθε.
Vocabulary
ἀπερείδω, to support βακτηρία, ἡ, staff, cane ἔγκυος, -ον, pregnant παραμένω,
remain (in a place); remain/stay (of slaves whose manumission was deferred)
περιπορεύομαι, walk about τελευταίος, -α, -ον, last (esp. of time) τετράμηνος, -
ον, for four months

Select Bibliography
Burford, Alison. The Greek Temple Builders at Epidauros. Liverpool: Liverpool
University Press, 1969.
Edelstein, E. J., and L. Edelstein (eds.). Asclepios: Testimonies. Baltimore: Johns
Hopkins University Press, 1945.
Petsalis-Diomidis, Alexia. “The Body in Space: Visual Dynamics in Graeco-
Roman Healing Pilgrimage.” In Jaś Elsner and Ian Rutherford Pilgrimage in
Graeco-Roman & Early Christian Antiquity: Seeing the Gods, 183–218.
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.
Wells, Louise. The Greek Language of Healing from Homer to New Testament
Times. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1998, 276 (app. 2.4).

1 Cf. Buck 154–155, 162–64 (§§223–225, 249–251).

2 On similarities in structure see Martin Debelius, From Tradition to Gospel
(London: I. Nicholson and Watson, 1934), 164–172.

3 Literally “God. Good Luck.”

4 Epidauros was also the site of the hilltop sanctuary of the god Apollo
Maleatas. In point of fact, only Asklepios accomplished the works of healing,
but according to myth, Apollo was his father.

5 Kleo.

6 πέν > πέντε.

7 ποί, Dor. > πρός, cf. 2.15, 4.34, 5.44 (Buck §135.6).

8 τάχιστα (superl. of ταχύς), “as soon as.”

9 I.e., the abaton.

10 “Outside.”

11 ἱαρόν > ἱερόν (cf. 2.10, 21, 4.35, 39, 5.42, 8.124).

12 Contr. impf. mid. forms of λούω such as ἐλοῦμην and ἐλοῦτο belong to
λόω.

13 ἄνθεμα > ἀνάθεμα.

14 Assim.: ν before γ becomes γ.

15 Ithomika of Pellene.
16 “For a family.”

17 φάμεν, inf. > φάναι, s.v. φημί (cf. 2.20, 3.31–32).

18 ἐσσεῖσθαι, Dor. fut. inf. of εἰμί.

19 Subj. of inf. (ἐσσεῖσθαί).

20 Opt. cf. table 9.3.3.

21 φάμεν, inf. > φάναι (s.v. φημί).

22 Acc. of spec. (“as”).

23 ἐπερωτῆν > ἐπερωτᾶν (cf. 3.39).

24 αὐτᾶι > αὐτῆι > αὐτῇ.

25 ὅσσος > ὅσος.

26 Cf. opt. of εἰμί, cf. table 9.13.3.

27 ποιθέμεν Dor. > 2aor. inf. προσθεῖναι (s.v. προστίθημι) (Buck §154.3).

28 Gen. absol.

29 ὡς + ptc. in gen. here expresses purpose or intention.

30 Cf. εἴη in 2.17.

31 πο > ποτί > πρός.

32 σπουδᾶι > σπουδῆι > σπουδῇ.

33 ἦς (Dor.) > 3rd sg. impf. of εἰμί.

34 τᾶς > τῆς.

35 ἀκρατεῖς is in 2nd pred. pos. (cf. IV, 19).

36 πλάν > πλήν.

37 ἱαρῶι > ἱερῶι > ἱερῷ.

38 Gen. absol.

39 Instr. dat.

40 τὰν χῆρα > τὴν χεῖρα (acc.) (cf. 3.28).

41 3rd sg. opt.

42 κα ἕνα, distributive κατά, “one by one.”

43 Assim.: ν before μ becomes μ (τῶμ πινάκων, 3.30).

44 “Around.”

45 φάμεν inf. (poet.) > φάναι, s.v. φημί.

46 ἐοῦσιν, Dor. > οὖσιν; here concessive adv. ptc. (“although”).

47 τοι> σοι (dat. of poss.).

48 Gen. absol.

49 Dice were typically used for divination at oracular shrines.

50 Ambrosia (fm. proper name).

51 Prep. ἐκ freq. used with the names of women to indicate their hometown.

52 Ἀθανᾶν, Dor. 1st decl. gen. pl. > Ἀθηνῶν.

53 ἐόντα, Dor. > ὄντα.

54 S.v. ἐφίστημι.

55 μισθὸμ νιν, assim. (ν before μ becomes μ).

56 μάντοι, Dor. > μέντοι.

57 S.v. δεῖ, opt. δέοι.

58 ἀναθέμεν, Dor. > 2aor. inf. ἀναθεῖναι (s.v. ἀνατίθημι).

59 ἀργύρεον > ἀργύριον.

60 ὑπόμναμα > ὑπόμνημα, acc. of spec. (“as”).

61 ὄπτιλλον = ὀφθαλμόν.

62 Gen. absol.

63 φωνᾶς > φωνῆς.

64 Assim. (ν before π, β. φ, ψ, becomes μ), cf. τὸμ πατέρα, 5.44.

65 ὑποδέκεσθαι > ὑποδέχεσθαι + inf. (ἀποθυσεῖν).

66 Gen. of time.

67 Acc. of spec. (“as”).

68 ἐξαπίνας, Dor. > ἐξαίφνης.

69 ἔφα > ἔφη.

70 Alketas of Halieis.

71 ἐών, Dor. > ὤν.

72 ποτελθών > προσελθών.

73 δένδρεον, τό, older form of δένδρον.

74 πρᾶτον > πρῶτον.

75 τὰ δένδρη...τὰ ἐν τῷ ἱαρῶι ( > ἱερῳ), 2nd attrib. pos. (cf. IV, 4.2).

76 Gen. absol.

77 Antikrates of Knidos.

78 μάχαι > μάχηι> μάχῃ.

79 πλαγείς > πληγείς.

80 καλουμένας, “so-called,” used by medical writers to introduce a new
medical term such as “girls.” According to LSJ, the pupils of the eyes were
termed “girls” because a little image appears in them.

81 Damosthenes.

82 κλίνας > κλίνης.

83 ποιτάξαι > προστάξαι.

84 ἐσσοῖτο > εἴη, 3rd sg. opt. (cf. table 9.13.3).

7.10. The Delphic Oracle Commands the Importation
of Maenads
(IMagnMai 215)

Provenance: Magnesia on the Meander, Karia (cf. Fig. 2); inscribed on a stele,
which was originally attached to a supporting base (βωμός).
Date: This inscription is a Roman copy (ca. 150 CE) of a (now lost)
Hellenistic inscription, which quoted a Delphic oracle in twelve dactylic
hexameters.1 The events recounted in the text occurred in the mid-third century
BCE.
Text: IMagnMai 215; H.W. Parke and D. E. Wormell, The Delphic Oracle,
vol. 2: The Oracular Responses (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1956), 137–138;
Albert Henrichs, “Greek Maenadism from Olympias to Messalina,” HSCP 82
(1978), 121–160.
The inscription in this section tells of how the Magnesians consulted the
Delphic oracle on the occasion of a miracle: a plane tree was struck by lightning,
and a cloven tree had grown up in its place, in the midst of which appeared an
image of the god Dionysos!2
The Magnesians sent messengers to the Delphic oracle to inquire about the
meaning of this miracle. The oracle explained that Dionysos was displeased with
them for not having built him a sanctuary when they founded the city. To avoid
future punishment, the Magnesians were directed to build a temple for Dionysos
and to import three maenads from Thebes, who would bring the “maenadic rites”
(τὰ ὄργια) and establish three Dionysian associations (θίασοι).3 The Magnesians
did as they were instructed and imported the maenads and charged them to
establish and oversee three Dionysian associations. The membership of these
associations consisted of both men and women. This inscription is of particular
interest because it demonstrates the interrelation between the civic
administration, maenads (which Euripides’ Bacchae would suggest were beyond
the control of the city), and mixed private Dionysian associations.
Dialect: Ionic (see footnotes).
 Dactylic Hexameter: Greek epigrams are of the “stichic” type of verse, which
is to say, the lines of verse are short, of uniform length, and repeat themselves in
a regular fashion (e.g., repeating hexameters). Each line consists of an orderly
sequence of syllables, with each syllable counting long or short for the purpose
of meter. By definition a dactylic hexameter is made up of six metra. A metron
is the basic unit of a line of verse, with each metron consisting of two “feet.” The
first five metra may be either dactyl (a metron consisting of a long–short–short
pattern, – ˇ ˇ) or spondee (a metron consisting of a long–long pattern, – – ),
though a spondee is rare in the third and fifth metra. The sixth metron is a
spondee, or in the case of a final anceps (i.e., a doubtful syllable whose quantity
can be either long or short), a trochee (a metron consisting of a long–short
pattern) is permitted. There must be a caesura (i.e., a break between two words
in the middle of a metron), indicated by | either after the first or second syllable
of the third metron or after the first syllable of the fourth metron.4

Related Texts: Dionysian associations, IG II2 1368 (§7.4), IMilet VI, 22 (§7.14),
IG IX/12 670 (§7.15), MAMA VI, 239 (§7.20).

Lines 1–11
᾿Αγαθῇ τύχῃ. ἐπὶ πρυτάνεως5 ᾿Ακροδήμου6 τοῦ Διοτείμου ὁ δῆμος ὁ
Μαγνήτων ἐπερωτᾷ τὸν θεὸν7 περὶ τοῦ σημείου τοῦ γεγονότος (namely) ὅτι
πλατάνου κατὰ8 τὴν πόλιν κλασθείσης9 ὑπὸ ἀνέμου εὑρέθη ἐν αὐτῇ10
ἀφείδρυμα Διονύσου. τί αὐτῷ σημαίνει ἢ τί ἂν ποιήσας ἀδεως11 διατελοίη·12
δἰ ὃν θεοπρόποι ἐπέμφθησαν13 ἰς Δελφοὺς Ἑρμῶναξ14 ᾿Επικράτους,
᾿Αρίσταρχος15 Διοδώρου.
Vocabulary
ἀφείδρυμα > ἀφίδρυμα, something that is set up, a statue Διόνυσος, ὁ, god
Dionysos θεοπρόπος, ὁ, public messenger sent to inquire of an oracle Μάγνης,
-ητος, ὁ, Magnesian, citizen of Magnesia on the Meander (cf. ll. 14, 39)
πλάτανος, ἡ, plane tree (Platanus orientalis) πρύτανις, -εως, ὁ, member of the
tribe presiding in the Council or Assembly; pl. πρυτάνεις, οἱ, prytaneis, one of
the ten (or twelve) rotating executive committees of the Council and Assembly16

The Delphic Oracle (Lines 12–30) Θεὸς ἔχρησεν·

Μαιάνδροιο λαχόντες17 ἐ ὕδασιν18
ἱερὸν ἄστυ, Μάγνητες κτεάνοις19
ἐπαμύντορες ἡμετέροισιν, 15
ἤλθετε πευσόμενοι20 στομάτων21 ἀ ἐ-
μεῖο,22 τίς (means) ὑμεῖν23 μῦθος,24 ἐπεὶ Βάκ-
χος θάμνῳ ἔνι κείμενος ὤφθη.

Vocabulary
ἄστυ, -εως, τό, pl. ἄστη, city, town Βάκχος, ὁ, Bacchus (an alternate name for
the god Dionysos) γενεά, -ᾶς, ἡ (Ion. γενεή, -ῆς), race, offspring Δελφοί, -ῶν,
οἱ, Delphi ἐπαμύντωρ, -ορος, ὁ, defender ἐκφάινω, 6. ἐξεφάνην: bring light,
reveal; pass. show oneself ἐσθός, -ή, -όν, good, morally good, faithful θάμνος,
ὁ, bush, shrub Θῆβαι, αἱ, Thebes (var. Θήβη) in Boeotia κτῆμα, -ματος, τό,
anything gotten; pl. possessions λαγχάνω, 2aor. ἔλαχον, subj. λάχῃν: receive
(an inheritance); obtain something (e.g., an office) by lot; be chosen by lot
Μαιάνδροιο, gen. sg. (Ionic) > Μαιανδροίου, s.v. Μαίανδρος, ὁ, Meander river
μῦθος, ὁ, story, narrative ὄφρα, in order that πέδον, τό, plain

ἐξεφάνη δὲ ἔτι κοῦρος,25 ἐπεὶ πτολί-

αιθρα τιθέντες, νηοὺς26 οὐκ ῷκίσ- 20
σα ἐϋτμήτους27 Διονύσῳ. ἀλλὰ
καὶ ὥς,28 ὦ δῆμε μεγάσθενες, ἵδρυε
νηοὺς θυρσοχαροῦς· ἱερῆα29 τίθει30
δὲ εὐ ἄρτιον ἁγνόν. ἐλθέτε δὲ
ἐς31 Θήβης ἱερὸν πέδον, ὄφρα λάβετε 25
Μαινάδας, αἳ (are) γενεῆς Εἰνοῦς ἄπο Κα-
δμηείης, αἳ ὑμεῖν32 δώσουσι καὶ
ὄργια καὶ νόμιμα ἐσθλὰ, καὶ θιά-
σους Βάκχοιο33 καθειδρύσουσιν34
ἐν ἄστει. 30

Vocabulary
ἄρτιος, -α, -ον, suitable, suited Εἰνοῦς > Ἰνόος, s.v. Ἰνώ, Ἰνόος (gen.) (contr.
Εἰνοῦς), Ino, Queen of Thebes, who was worshipped as a goddess following her
death and transfiguration; she was one of the nurses of the infant Dionysos35
εὔτμητος (Ep. ἐΰτμητος,), -ον, well-built, well-hewn θίασος, ὁ, private
religious association θυρσοχαρής, -ές, delighting in the thyrsos36
ἱδρύω, 2. ἱδρύσομαι, 3. ἵδρυσα/ἱδρυσάμην, 5. ἵδρυμαι: found, dedicate; mid.
establish (a temple); dedicate; set up something (e.g., altar, statue) Καδμηείη <
Καδμείη, s.v. Καδμεῖος, -η, -ον, Kadmean, of Kadmos (Κάδμος, the legendary
founder of Thebes) μαινάς, -άδος, ἡ, maenad, female bacchante37
μεγάσθενης > μεγαλοσθενής, -ές, of great strength
ὄργια, -ίων, τά, secret religious rites, religious mysteries πτολίαιθρα >
πτολίεθρα, s.v. πτολίεθρον, τό (Ep.), lengthened form of πόλις
Postscript (Lines 31–41)
Κατὰ τὸν χρησμὸν διὰ τῶν θεοπρόπων ἐδόθησαν ἐκ Θηβῶν Μαινάδες
τρεῖς, Κοσκώ, Βαυβώ, Θετταλή·38 καὶ ἡ μὲν Κοσκὼ συνήγαγεν θίασον τὸν
Πλατανιστηνῶν, ἡ δὲ Βαυβὼ (συνήγαγεν τὸν θίασον) πρὸ πόλεως, ἡ δὲ
Θετταλὴ (συνήγαγεν) τὸν (θίασον) τῶν Καταιβατῶν· θανοῦσαι39 δὲ αὗται
ἐτάφησαν40 ὑπὸ Μαγνήτων, καὶ ἡ μὲν Κοσκὼ40 κεῖται ἐν Κοσκωβούνῳ, ἡ
δὲ βαυβὼ ἐν Ταβάρνει,41 ἡ δὲ Θετταλή πρὸς42 τῷ θεάτρῳ.
Altar
Θεῷ Διονυσῳ ᾿Απολλώνιος Μοκόλλης43 ἀρχαῖος μύστης44 ἀρχαῖον
χρησμὸν ἐπὶ στήλης ἀναγράψας σὺν τῷ βωμῷ ἀνέθηκεν (this).
Vocabulary
μύστης, ὁ / μύστις, ἡ, initiant πλατανίστηνος, ἡ, earlier name for a “plane
tree” (πλάτανος) Καταιβάται, οἱ, Kataibatai, name of a thiasos dedicated to
Dionysos45
Κοσκώβουνος, Hill of Kosko

1 For other examples of dactylic hexameters see the metrical epigram of Bishop
Aberkios (§7.11) and “the Klarian Oracle on Pagan Monotheism” (§7.23).

2 Cf. the epiphany of Artemis and a Delphis oracle in IMagnMai 16, ll. 24ff.
3 See Albert Henrichs’s discussion and defense of the historical reliability of
this oracle (“Greek Maenadism from Olympias to Messalina,” 126–130).

4 x represents an anceps (a doubtful syllable whose quantity can be either long

or short), – represents a long syllable, and ˇ represents a short syllable. For a
summary of the rules for the determination of vowel quantity see Ezekiel the
Tragedian (§6.6, n. 184). For a detailed explanation of the rules of Greek
prosody see M. L. West, Introduction to Greek Metre (Oxford: Clarendon Press,
1987); Paul Maas, Greek Metre, trans. Hugh Lloyd-Jones (Oxford: Clarendon,
1962); D. S. Raven, Greek Metre: An Introduction (London: Faber and Faber,
1962).

5 On dating by means of prytany see note 19

6 Akrodemos, son of Dioteimos.

7 I.e., Pythian Apollo of Delphi.

8 κατά (w. acc.), “opposite.”

9 Gen. absol. (s.v. κλάω.)

10 I.e., in the city.

11 ἁδέως > ἡδέως, s.v. ἡδύς.

12 διατελοίη > διατέλοι, cf. table 9.1.3(a).

13 S.v. πέμπω.

14 Hermonax, son of Epikrates.

15 Aristarchos, son of Diodoros.

16 The term ὁ πρύτανις specifies one member of a tribe presiding in the
Council. The corresponding plural term, οἱ πρυτάνεις, specifies one of the ten
(later twelve) rotating executive committees of the Council. In Athens, there
were as many executive committees as there were “tribes,” with each executive
committee consisting of fifty councilors selected from the same tribe. The civil
year was divided into a corresponding number of equal periods, with each period
being known as one “prytany” (πρυτανεία) or “presidency period.” Each
prytaneis took a turn as the governing committee, serving in rotation for the
period of one prytany. The days within each prytany (πρυτανεία) were numbered
in succession using ordinal numbers (first day, second day, third day, etc.).
Before each meeting of the Council, the president of the prytaneis would chose
by lot one member from each of the non-prytanizing tribes to serve as “presiding
officers” (πρόεδροι), one of whom served as a “president of the presiding
officers” (ἐπιστάτης τῶν προέδρων). The presiding officers presided in the
Council and were responsible for putting forth motions.

17 Gen. absol. (s.v. λαγχάνω).

18 S.v. ὕδωρ (i.e., river); ἐ ὕδασιν...Μαιάνδροιο.

19 κτεάνοις (> κτῆμασι)...ἡμετέροισιν (> ἡμετέροις); the cryptic meaning of

ll. 14–15 is explained by IMagnMai 46, ll. 8–10 (SIG3 560), which refers to a
Celtic raid on Delphi in 279/278 BCE.

20 S.v. πυνθάνομαι.

21 Pl. of στόμα is sometimes used for sg.

22 ἐμεῖο, gen. sg. (Ion.) > ἐμοῦ.

23 ὑμεῖν > ὑμῖν.

24 τίς...μῦθος.
25 κοῦρος > κόρος.

26 νηούς > ναούς (cf. l. 23).

27 νηοὺς...ἐϋδμήτους.

28 ὥς = οὕτως, καὶ ὥς, “even so,” “nevertheless.”

29 ἱερῆα > ἱερέα (s.v. ἱερεύς); ἱερῆα...εὐάρτιον ἁγνόν

30 Cf. table 9.12.2(c).

31 ἐς > εἰς.

32 ὑμεῖν > ὑμῖν.

33 Βάκχοιο, gen. sg. (Ionic) > Βάκχου.

34 καθειδρύσουσιν > καθιδρύσουσιν.

35 Ino was a primordial Dionysian maenad and nurse to the god Dionysos (cf.
Karl Kerenyi, Dionysus: Archetypal Image of Indestructible Life [Princeton, NJ:
Bollingen, 1976], 246).

36 A thrysos is staff of giant fennel, covered with ivy vines and leaves, carried
by Dionysos and his followers.

37 “Maenads” (literally “mad women”) is essentially a poetic term that alludes

to the ecstasy or wild possession that “mad” Dionysos (Homer, Il. 6.132) incited
in his female followers (Hymnus Homericus ad Cererem, 386; Aesch., fr. 382;
Soph., Oedipus Tyrannus, 212; Eur., Ion, 552; Ar., Lysistrata, 1283). In the
Bacchae, the term is generally used pejoratively (cf. G. S. Kirk, The Bacchae of
Euripides, 2d ed. [Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1979], note on
1295). According to Philo of Alexandria, the term “maenads” was a
discriminatory designation for bakchai, alluding to the fact that wine makes
women “mad” (De plantatione, 148). It is on account of the literary provenance
of the term “maenads” that it rarely occurs in epigraphical sources. Albert
Henrichs thinks that the occasional use of “maenad” in inscriptions reflects an
attempt either to emulate poetic usage or to archaize the language. In
epigraphical sources, the customary term for these devotees is Βάχαι (bacchants)
for women and βουκολικός (cowherd) for men, appropriately named after the
bull god, Βάκχος (“Greek Maenadism from Olympias to Messalina,” 155– 156).

38 Kosko, Baubo, Thettale.

39 S.v. θνᾑσκω.

40 S.v. θάπτω.

41 Tabarnis (fm.).

42 πρός (ω. dat.), “near.”

43 Apollonios Mokolles.

44 Thus the title ἀρχαῖος μύστης may be the rhetorical equivalent to

ἀρχιμύστης, a common title for a high-ranking functionary of a Dionysian
thiasos.

45 Cf. Καταιβάτης, epithet of a god, who leads souls to the Netherworld.

7.11. The Metrical Epigram of Bishop Aberkios: The
Earliest Christian Epigram

(SEG 30.1479)
Fig. 17. Carved relief of a fish in incised panel, Apa, Turkey
(IKonya 141).

Provenance: Hieropolis (Koçhisar) in the Phrygian Pentapolis. Aberkios

(Ἀβέρκιος) was the bishop of Hieropolis ( Ἱερόπολις). After visiting Rome, he
traveled along the Syrian coast, and then perhaps to Antioch, and then went to
the Syrian city of Nisibis. He died before returning to his homeland.
Date: ca. 200 CE.
Text: SEG 30.1479; R. A. Kearsley, NewDocs VI, 177–181.
In 1882 William Ramsay discovered in Phrygia a sepulchre cippus with a
Greek inscription concerning a Christian named “Alexander” and bearing the
date 216 CE (300 Phrygian era). The inscription was made in imitation of the
Aberkios inscription. Ramsay made a second visit to Phrygia in search of the
original inscription and found a large portion of the second of three faces of the
original text, not in Hierapolis, but rather in the neighboring town of Hieropolis,
near Synnada. He reported that the inscription was found “in the interior of the
passage leading to the men’s bath-room of the hot springs near Hieropolis, on a
small fragment of a marble bomos, complete at top and left, broken at right and
bottom.”1
This inscription is widely recognized as the earliest datable Christian
inscription that communicates Christian belief.2 The language of the inscription
is couched in mystical and symbolic language, which served to conceal the
mysteries of the Christian faith from those who were uninitiated. The text
employs conventional phraseology, formulae, topoi, and vocabulary of
traditional texts and epigrams but reapplies them to convey Christian ideas in a
cryptic fashion.3 The inscription is written in twenty-two dactylic hexameters
(though some are flawed).4 The inscription here concludes (ll. 17–22) with a
dictation formula, a request for prayer, and finally an imprecation against
disturbing the bishop’s grave (ll. 20–22). These concluding verses have no
poetic structure.

Ἐκλεκτῆς πόλεως ὁ πολείτης5 τοῦ ἐποίησα

ζῶν ἵ 6 ἔχω φανερὴν σώματος ἔνθα θέσιν,7
οὔνο 8 Ἀβέρκιος ὤν ὁ μαθητὴς ποιμένος ἁγνοῦ, ὃς βόσκει προβάτων
ἀγέλας (both) ὄρεσιν πεδίοις τε, ὀφθαλμοὺς9 ὃς ἔχει μεγάλους
πάντῃ καθορῶντας· 5
Οὗτος (shepherd) γὰρ 10 ἐδίδαξε [ ˇ / – – ] γράμματα πιστά.

Vocabulary
ἀγέλη, -ης, ἡ, herd, flock βόσκω, feed/tend domestic animals, to graze (of
cattle) θέσις, -εως, ἡ, position, setting down, resting-place καθοράω, look
down upon πεδίον, τό, plain πολίτης, ὁ, citizen, countryman

εἰς Ῥώμην ὃς ἔπεμψεν ἐμὲν11 βασιλι ἀναθρῆσαι. 7

καὶ βασίλισσαν ἰδεῖν χρυσόστολον χρυσοπέδιλον.
Λαὸν εἶδον ἐκεῖ λαμπρὰν σφραγεῖδαν12 ἔχοντα
καὶ Συρίης13 πέδον εἶδα καὶ (its) ἄστεα14 πάντα, Νισῖβιν 10
Εὐφράτην διαβάς· πάντῃ ἔσχον συνομαίμους, Παῦλον15 ἔχων ἐ
ὄχῳ· Πίστις πάντῃ δὲ προῆγε
καὶ παρέθηκε τροφὴν16 πάντῃ ἰχθὺν ἀπὸ πηγῆς
πανμεγέθη καθαρόν, οὗ ἐδράξατο παρθένος ἁγνή, καὶ τοῦτον (faith)
 ἐπέδωκε φίλίοις ἐσθεῖν διὰ παντός,17 15
(also) οἶνον χρηστὸν ἔχουσα, κέρασμα διδοῦσα με ἄρτου.

Vocabulary
ἀναθρέω, look at/upon ἄστυ, -εως, τό, pl. ἄστη, city, town βασιλι >
βασιλιδα, s.v. βασιλιδίς, -ίδος, ἡ, imperial city δράσσομαι, lay hold of (gen.),
catch Εὐφράτης, Euphrates River κέρασμα, -ματος, τό, mixture; here “mixed
wine” (i.e., wine diluted with water) Νισῖβις, ἡ, Syrian city of Nisibis (mod.
Nusaybin, Turkey) ὄχος, ὁ, carriage πανμεγέθης, -ες, immense πάντῃ (adv.), in
every way, on every side παρατίθημι, serve up (food), provide συνομαίμων, -
ονος, ὁ / ἡ, brother, sister φίλιος, -α, -ον, friendly; subst. friend χρηστός, -ή, -
όν, useful, good; pleasant to the taste; beloved; (adv.) χρηστῶς, well
χρυσοπέδιλος, -ον, wearing golden sandals χρυσόστολος, -ον, wearing a golden
robe

Ταῦτα παρεστὼς εἶπον (to them) Ἀβέρκιος ὧδε γραφῆναι. 17

ἑβδομηκοστὸν ἔτος καὶ δεύτερον ἦγον ἀληθῶς.
Ταῦ ὁ νοῶν εὔξαιτο18 ὑπὲρ Ἀβερκίου πᾶς ὁ συνῳδός.19
Οὐ μέντοι τύμβῳ20 τις ἐμῷ ἕτερόν τινα θήσει. 20
Εἰ (somebody does) οὖν, Ῥωμαίων ταμείῳ θήσει δισχείλια χρυσᾶ
καὶ χρηστῇ πατρίδι Ἱεροπόλει χείλια21 χρυσᾶ.

Vocabulary
ἀληθῶς, truly, actually, surely δισχείλια > δισχίλια, s.v. δισχίλιοι, -αι, -α, two
thousand ἑβδομηκοστός, -ή, -όν, seventieth σύνοδος, ἡ, civic meeting (at
which motions are deliberated); community ταμίας, ὁ, treasurer ταμεῖον,
treasury τύμβος, ὁ, burial mound, grave

1 The account of this can be found in Wm. Ramsay, “The Cities and Bishoprics
of Phyrgia,” JHS (1882), 424ff.; cf. W. M. Ramsay, “Les trois villes
phrygiennes, Brouzos, Hierapolis et Otrous,” JHS 6 (1882), 503–520. Ramsay
argues that Hierapolis was frequently mistaken for Hieropolis. It was clear that
the epitaph of Alexander had been copied from that of Aberkios.
2 See M. Guarducci’s defense of its Christian provenance (Epigrafia greca
[Rome, 1967–1978], 4.380–386; cf. Guarducci, “L’iscrizione di Abercio e
Roma,” Ancient Society, 2 [1971], 174–203).

3 W. K. Wischmeyer, “Die Aberkiosinschrift als Grabepigramm,” JbAC 23

(1980), 22–47; ed.pr. W. M. Ramsay, “The Cities and Bishoprics of Phyrgia,”
JHS 4 (1883), 424–427 (only ll. 7–15).

4 On the rules of dactylic hexameters see the Delphic oracle inscription (§7.10;
cf. “The Klarian Oracle on Pagan Monotheism,” §7.23); for a summary of the
rules for the determination of vowel quantity see Ezekiel the Tragedian (§6.6, n.
3).

5 πολείτης > πολίτης.

6 ἵ > ἵνα.

7 φανερὴν...θέσιν.

8 οὔνο > ὄνομα.

9 ὀφθαλμοὺς...μεγάλους.

10 > με.

11 ἐμέν > ἐμέ.

12 σφραγεῖδαν > σφραγῖδαν.

13 Συρίης > Συρίας.

14 ἄστεα > ἄστη.

15 This reference to Paul may imply that Aberkios saw himself as following in
Paul’s footsteps (as recorded in Acts 18:23–21:16), on his way back to his
country (namely visiting Issos, Tarsos, Derbe, Ikonion, Pisidian Antioch, and
Apamea Kibotos).

16 Acc. of spec.

17 διὰ παντός, “continually.”

18 Cf. table 9.2.3 (b).

19 σύνῳδος > σύνοδος; ὁ νοῶν...πᾶς ὁ συνῳδός.

20 τύμβῳ...ἐμῷ.

21 χείλια > χίλια.

 7.12. Decree Concerning Merchants’ Request to
Build a Temple of Aphrodite, Piraeus

(IG II2 337)

Provenance: As the port city of Athens, Piraeus was a natural point of entry for
many foreign cults (cf. Fig. 2). The resident aliens, or “metics” (μέτοικοι), who
arrived in Piraeus were normally prohibited by law from leasing land in Attica.
In fact, prior to the arrival of the “Kitian” merchants from Cyprus, it would seem
that only three groups of resident aliens had previously obtained permission to
do so. In the decree in this section, the Kitian merchants from Cyprus also seek
permission to lease land for the construction of a temple to their goddess
Aphrodite.
Date: 333–332 BCE.
Text: IG II2 337, LSCG 34, SIRIS I, 3–4; GRA 26, no. 3.

The Passage of Decrees

A decree (ψήφισμα) is a legal enactment of the state. In the Greek system of
state government, most decrees were enacted by the Assembly (ἐκκκλησία,
often named simply ὁ δῆμος),1 in coordination with the Council (βουλή).2 The
Council was subdivided into “executive committees,” each known as a prytaneis
(πρυτάνεις).3
In Athens, no decree could be enacted by the Assembly without having first
been brought before the Council for its approval. Only councillors (βουλευταί),
presiding officers (πρόεδροι), and other principal magistrates possessed the right
to bring forward proposals for discussion in the Council. Private citizens,
envoys, and foreign merchants (such as the Kitian merchants) were not allowed
to propose motions directly, which explains why the Kitian merchants had to
make their formal application to lease a plot of land through a councillor, namely
through Antidotos. Before a formal motion could be put to a vote, a fixed
sequence of events had to be followed. First, someone introduced (προσαγαγεῖν)
the proposal to the Council for general discussion, following which another
person moved that the proposal be put to a vote. If the vote then carried, the
proposal was put to a vote (ἐπιψηφίζειν) as a formal motion. In the Hellenistic
period, only a councillor, principal magistrate, or a board of magistrates could
move such a formal motion, regardless of who originally introduced the
proposal. Thus the formal mover of motions was often different from the persons
who originally introduced them before the Council. Once the formal motion was
passed by the Council, it became a “preliminary resolution” (γνώμη) and was
then formally entered on the agenda of the next regular meeting of the
Assembly. Only when a preliminary resolution had received the approval of both
the Council and the People (through the Assembly) did it become a formal
decree (ψήφισμα). This two-tiered act of passage is often communicated in the
enactment formula ἔδοξε τῇ βουλῆ καὶ τῷ δήμῳ (“resolved by the Council and
the People,” i.e., by the Assembly).

The Structure of Athenian Decrees

Most decrees share a similar, though variable, structure, which normally exhibits
some combination of the following features: invocation, eponymous dating
formula, name of formal mover, preamble, enactment formula, citation formula,
and instructions for engraving and public exhibition.

(1) Invocation
Though the practice was not universal, many decrees begin with the word ΘΕΟΙ,
as a heading. This cryptic dedicatory formula seems to indicate that the
prescribed religious observances were conducted prior to the passing of the
decree.

(2) Eponymous Dating Formula

Most decrees are dated by specifying the name of the eponymous magistrate
presiding at the time. The eponymous magistrate in Athens was the (chief)
“Archon” (ὁ ἄρχων), which is to say, the head of the board of magistrates
known as the “Archons” (ἄρχοντες). The chief Archon was the formal head of
state, with all civic decrees being dated with his name. The dating formula
begins with ἐπί followed by the term ἄρχων and the name of the Archon in the
genitive case: ἐπὶ ἄρχοντος τοῦ δεῖνος4 (“[In the year] when so-and-so was
Archon”). In Athens, the name of the prytanizing tribe, the ordinal sequence of
the prytany, and the day of the month were also specified: e.g., ἐπὶ τῆς (the tribe
of) Αἰγεΐδος πρώτης πρυτανείας (“in the first day prytaneis of the tribe of
Aigeis”).

(3) Formal Mover of the Motion

The name of the mover of the formal motion is often specified in conjunction
with a verb of proposing, εἶπεν, and the verb ἐπεψήφιζεν (“put [a motion] to a
vote”). The decree that follows grammatically depends upon the verb (εἶπεν) of
proposing. Such “motions/proposals” are usually termed a γνώμη (“preliminary
resolution”). For example, the phrase γνώμη πρυτάνεων indicates that the
original motion was moved by the board of prytaneis in the Council.

(4) Preamble
The preamble is a clause that provides an explanation, sometimes very briefly, of
the background to the decree, setting forth the reasons why the decree should be
given serious attention. The preamble often begins with ἐπειδή
(“whereas”/“inasmuch as”) or ἐπεί (“since”). The second part of the preamble
may begin with ὅπως ἄν (οὖν) (“in order that [therefore]”).

(5) Enactment Formula

In many decrees, the enactment formula comes at the very beginning of the
decree, while in others it follows the dating formula. There are several types of
enactment formulae, suggesting the use of different procedures. A decree that
records its ratification by both the Council and the Assembly is called a
“probouleumatic” decree. This information is succinctly contained in the
common formula ἔδοξε τῇ βουλῇ καὶ τῷ δήμῳ (“it was resolved by the
Council and Assembly”). This formula specifies that a proposal, having first
been introduced, formally moved as a motion, and then passed by Council,
became a “preliminary resolution” (γνώμη), which was then passed on to the
Assembly (ὁ δῆμος), where it was subsequently ratified.

(6) Citation of Formal Motion

After the preamble and enactment formulae, the exact wording of the
preliminary resolution (which was voted upon by the Council and Assembly) is
cited.5 The formal motion often begins with a middle infinitival form of ψήφιζω
or δοκέω: ἐψήφισθαι/δεδόχθαι (“be it resolved that ...”) and an infinitival
construction.
In the decree presented here, the preliminary proposal was made by a man
named Antidotos, son of Apollodoros, of the township (δῆμος) of Sypalettos.6
This proposal was introduced in the Council by Theophilos of Phegaea, chair of
the presiding officers. Once approved, it became a preliminary resolution
(γνώμη). The intent of Antidotos’s original proposal was not that the matter
(concerning the leasing of land) be approved by the Council, but simply that the
matter should be handed over to the Assembly so that they might “decide
whatever seems best to them” (βουλεύσασθαι ὅ τι ἂν αὐτῶι δοκεῖ ἄριστον
εἶναι). This process suggests that the proposal may have been controversial.
In terms of process, the Council approved a motion stating that the presiding
officers, who would be chosen by lots to preside at the first meeting of the
Assembly, should present the proposal (previously presented by the Kitian
people regarding the leasing of land for the construction of a sanctuary). The
approval by the Council of the proposal of Antidotos allowed it to be
subsequently introduced as a preliminary resolution to the Assembly by
Lykourgos and then formally moved for final approval by Phanastratos, another
one of the presiding officers. The Assembly then approved (ἔδοξαν) the
preliminary resolution (γνώμη).
Lines 1–6
ΘΕΟΙ
᾽Επὶ Νικοκράτους7 ἄρχοντος, ἐπὶ τῆς (the tribe of) Αἰγεΐδος8 πρώτης
πρυτανείας· (chair) τῶν προέδρων ἐπεψήφιζεν Θεόφιλος Φηγούσιος:9
I. Proposal of Antidotos, introduced by Theophilos, one of the presiding
officers in the Council10
(Lines 6–25) ἔδοξεν τῆι βουλεῖ·11 (the motion that) ντίδοτος
πολλοδώρου12 Συπαλήττιος13 (deme) εἶπεν·14 περὶ ὧν λέγουσιν15 οἱ Κιτιεῖς
περὶ τῆς ἱδρύσειως τῆι φροδίτηι τοῦ ἱεροῦ, ἐψήφισθαι τεῖ βουλεῖ (that)
τοὺς προέδρους οἳ ἂν λάχωσι προεδρεύειν εἰς τὴν πρώτην ἐκκλησίαν
προσαγαγεῖν16 αὐτοὺς καὶ χρηματίσαι, γνώμην17 δὲ ξυνβάλλεσθαι18 τῆς
βουλῆς εἰς τὸν δῆμον (namely) ὅτι δοκεῖ τῆι βουλεῖ ἀκούσαντα τὸν δῆμον
τῶν Κιτιείων περὶ τῆς ἱδρύσειως τοῦ ἱεροῦ καὶ (ἀκούσαντα) ἄλλου
θηναίων τοῦ βουλομένου (to speak), (δῆμον) βουλεύσασθαι ὅ τι ἂν 25 αὐτῶι
δοκεῖ ἄριστον εἶναι.
Vocabulary
ἄριστος, -η, -ον, best; finest φροδίτη, ἡ, goddess Aphrodite δῆμος, ὁ,
people, crowd; the People (i.e., the full citizen body of a Greek polis, as
represented by the Assembly [ἐκκλησία]) ἐπιψηφίζω, 1aor. ἐπεψήφιζεν: put (a
motion) to a vote ἱδρύσειως < ἱδρύσεως, s.v. ἱδρύσις, the
establishment/founding (of a sanctuary) (cf. l. 21) Κιτεῖς, -τείων, οἱ, Kitian
merchants from Cyprus (cf. ll. 21, 33–34, 40)19
λαγχάνω, 2aor. ἔλαχον, subj. λάχῃν: receive (an inheritance); obtain something
(e.g., an office) by lot; be chosen by lot προεδρεύω, preside at (εἰς) πρόεδροι,
οἱ, presiding officers πρυτανεία, ἡ, period during which the prytaneis
(πρυτάνεις) of a given tribe (φυλή) would preside in the Council and Assembly
χρηματίζω (w. dat.), deliberate on business; give ear to (an oracle), make
known a divine injunction/warning; issue instructions to somebody; pass. be
warned ψηφίζω, freq. mid. ψηφίζομαι (for citation of formal motion), aor. mid.
inf. ἐψήφισθαι: approve a motion, decree; inf. “it was resolved that”

II. The following “preliminary resolution” was then

introduced to the Assembly by Lykourgos and formally
moved by Phanostratos, one of the presiding officers
Lines 26–45
᾽Επὶ Νικοκράτους20 ἄρχοντος, ἐπὶ τῆς (the tribe of) Πανδιονίδος21 δευτέρας
πρυτανείας· (the chair) τῶν προέδρων (the motion) ἐπεψήφιζεν Φανόστρατος22
Φιλαΐδης· ἔδοξεν τῶι δήμωι (the motion that)· Λύκõργος23 Λυκόφρονος
Βουτάδης εἶπεν· περὶ ὧν οἱ ἔμποροι οἱ Κιτιεῖς ἔδοξαν24 ἔννομα (τὸ)
ἱκετεύειν35 αἰτοῦντες τὸν δῆμον χωρίου ἔνκτησιν ἐν ὧι ἱδρύσονται ἱερὸν
φροδίτης, δεδόχθαι τῶι δήμωι, δοῦναι τοῖς ἐμπόροις τῶν Κιτιέων ἔνκτησιν
χωρίου ἐν ὧι ἱδρύσονται τὸ ἱερὸν τῆς φροδίτης, καθάπερ καὶ οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι
τὸ τῆς Ἴσιδος ἱερὸν ἵδρυνται.
Vocabulary
ἔμπορος, ὁ, merchant (cf. l. 39) ἔνκ- > ἔγν-, s.v. ἔνκτησις, ἡ, right to hold a
lease of a plot of land/property (χωρίου) (cf. l. 40) ἔννομος, -ον, legitimate
ἱδρύω, 2. ἱδρύσομαι, 3. ἵδρυσα/ἱδρυσάμην, 5. ἵδρυμαι: found, dedicate; mid.
establish (a temple); dedicate; set up something (e.g., altar, statue) ἱκετεύω, to
petition Ἴσις, ἡ, LΙσιδος (gen.), goddess Isis χωρίον, τό, plot of land, site;
space, place

1 The two primary bodies of a democratic Greek city-state were the Assembly
(ἐκκκλησία) and the Council (βουλή), with ultimate authority being vested in
the Assembly. The Assembly represented the people (δῆμος) and constituted the
fundamental body of democratic government. Its membership consisted of the
full citizen body (i.e., all adult male citizens). This helps explain why the
Assembly is often referred to in decrees simply as ὁ δῆμος.

2 The Council (βουλή) was a smaller body, which was subordinate to the
Assembly (ἐκκλησία). It was charged with the supervision of the state’s
magisterial boards, finances, public religious festivals, and the maintenance of
public buildings. No proposal could be discussed or put to a vote in the
Assembly until it had first been considered by the Council.

3 On the term πρυτάνεις and dating by “prytany” see IMagn-Mai 215 (§7.10).

4 ὁ δεῖνα (“So-and-so”), τοῦ δεῖνος, τῷ δεῖνι, τὸν δεῖνα

5 In actual practice, many decrees omit either the enactment formula or the
citation of the motion formula.

6 The citizens of Athens were enrolled in ten tribes (φυλαί), each tribe being
composed of three τριττύες, and each τριττύς being composed of a number of
demes (δῆμοι) or “townships.” The so-called demotic name is an adjectival form
of the name of the deme in which each citizen was registered. Demotics are
often given in an adjectival form of the deme name, ending in –ευς or –ιος (e.g.,
Συπαλήττιος). The full name of an Athenian citizen consistently included a
personal name, patronymic (father’s name), and demotic.
7 Nikokrates (mentioned again in l. 26) was Archon 333–332 BCE.

8 Aigeis (tribe name),

9 “Theophilos of Phegaea”: an “ethnic” is a technical term indicating the place,

region, or nation of origin. Ethnics often occur in an adjectival form (e.g.,
Φηγούσιος, “Phrygian”). Foreigners and resident aliens (μέτοικοι) in particular
are often cited with an ethnic, or the place name may be introduced with the
phrase οἰκῶν ἐν.

10 Antidotos’s motion was simply to put the matter before the entire Assembly
for a vote. Perhaps the Council was not in favor of the recommendation.

11 βουλεῖ (Att.) > βουληῖ > βουλῇ.

12 “Son of Apollodoros” (patronymic).

13 “Of the township (deme) of Sypalettos.”

14 εἶπεν in decrees usually has the special meaning “proposed (the following
motion)”.

15 λέγω, here “to propose.”

16 This infinitive, and all the infinitives that follow, grammatically depend on
the verb εἶπεν (l. 8).

17 Γνώμην ... τῆς βουλῆς.

18 ξυν- > συν- (s.v. συμβάλλω).

19 The engraver is inconsistent in spelling: Κιτιέων in l. 40, but Κιτιείων in l.

21.
20 Nikokrates.

21 Pandionis.

22 Phanostratos, of (the deme of) Philaidae, who was chair of τῶν προέδρων.

23 Lykourgos, son of Lykophron, of (the deme of) Boutadai.

24 Here “proposed/made (a request).”

 7.13. Honorary Decree Voting Honors for the
Secretary of a Religious Association, Piraeus

(IG II2 1263)

Provenance: Piraeus, Attica (cf. Fig. 2) Date: 300/299 BCE.

Text: Michel 976, IG II2 1263, GRA I, 11.
Honorary Decrees: Acts of generosity by individuals toward a city or group
exemplified the Greek ideal of rivalry for honor (φιλοτιμία). Wealthy members
of society would often compete with one another in displays of munificence. In
the Roman period the local aristocracy knew that they could improve their
chances of gaining Imperial appointments by means of ostentatious displays of
public generosity. Notably, women were conspicuous in the role of patroness; an
example is the high priestess of the Imperial cult, Julia Severa of Akmonia, who
erected a synagogue (MAMA VI, 264, §7.20b ).
Honorific inscriptions record the honors bestowed upon persons who acted as
benefactors (εὐεργέται, ἄνδρες φιλότιμοι) or performed some kind of
exemplary service. Such honorific inscriptions can be divided into three groups:
private inscriptions, such as a client would set up in honor of his patron; public
inscriptions set up by cities; and semi-private inscriptions set up by groups, such
as the inscription presented here. They routinely praise benefactors for such
virtues as ἀρετή (“excellence”), εὐνοία (“goodwill”), and generosity (ἀθαθός).

The General Structure of Honorific Decrees

1. Eponymous Dating (ἐπὶ τοῦ δεῖνος) 2. Formal Mover of the Motion 3.
Preamble Explaining Motives for Bestowing Honors: The preamble,
setting forth the motives that gave rise to the honors, is usually quite
formulaic and can be exceedingly verbose. A full preamble falls into
two parts. The first part begins with ἐπειδή (“whereas”) or ἐπεί
(“since”).1 This may take the form of a general statement such as
 ἐπειδή/ἐπεί ὁ δεῖνος ἀνὴρ ἀγαθός ἐστιν περὶ τὸν δῆμον/τὴν πόλιν
(“inasmuch as so-and-so is a generous man with respect to the
people/city”).2 The second part begins with the hortatory formula ὅπως
ἂν (οὖν) (“in order that [therefore]”) and sometimes forms part of the
formal citation.
4. Enactment Formula (ἔδοξεν + dat.): Missing in the inscription
presented here.3
5. Citation of the Formal Motion: The formal motion often begins with a
wish, ἀγαθῆι τύχηι, that all will go well for the group that passed the
decree, followed by ἐψήφισθαι/δεδόχθαι (“be it resolved that”) and an
infinitival construction: ejpainevsai (“to commend/praise”) ὁ δεῖνος
ἕνεκα, and so on. In some cases, the instruction is given to crown the
honorand (στεφανῶσαι δὲ αὐτόν). Inexpensive crowns were woven
from young branches (θαλλοῦ στέφανος), ivy (κιττοῦ στέφανος), laurel
(δάφνης στέφανος), and flowers (ἄθινος στέφανος). There are also
references to fillets (λημνίσκος).4 Of course, the most prized crowns
were those made of gold (χρυσὸς στέφανος). These were woven with
golden branches and golden leaves made of thinly beaten sheets of gold
so as to resemble their natural counterpart.
6. Hortatory Intention: Inscriptions often state explicitly that such honors
are bestowed upon the benefactor in order to encourage the benefaction
from others in the future. The giving of honors acted as a kind of
display of how the group in question would reward all benefactors,
“replaying favors” (χάριτας ἀπολήψονται).
7. Stipulation of Penalty: Honorary decrees sometimes end with the
stipulation of a fine or curse against anyone who does not follow
through on its provisions.
8. Directions Concerning Engraving

Lines 1–19
᾽Επὶ Ἡγεμάχου5 ἄρχοντος, μηνὸς Πυανοψιῶνος πέμπτει6 (ἡμέραι)
ἱσταμένου (μηνός), ἀγορὰ κυρία τῶν θιασωτῶν, (this motion) ἔδοξεν τοῖς
θιασώταις· Κλέων7 Λεωκράτου Σαλαμίνιος5 εἶπεν· ἐπειδὴ Δημήτριος8
γραμματεὺς αἱρεθεὶς ὑπὸ τῶν θιασωτῶν ἐπὶ Κλεάρχου9 ἄρχοντος, καλῶς καὶ
δικαίως ἐπεμελήθη τῶν κοινῶν πάντων καὶ τοὺς λογισμοὺς ἀπέδωκεν ὀρθῶς
καὶ δικαίως καὶ εὐθύνας ἔδωκεν ὧν τε αὐτὸς ἐκυρίευσεν καὶ τὰ πρὸς τοὺς
ἄλλους ἐξελογίσατο, ὅσοι τε τῶν κοινῶν διεχείρισαν, καὶ νῦν διατελεῖ τὰ
συνφέροντα10 πράττων11 καὶ λέγων ὑπὲρ τῶν θιασωτῶν, καὶ12 κοινῆι καὶ
ἰδίαι ὑπὲρ ἑκάστου (θιασῶτου), καὶ ψηφισμένων τῶν θιασωτῶν13 (motion)
μισθὸν αὐτῶι δίδοσθαι ἐκ τοῦ κοινοῦ καὶ τοῦτον (μισθόν) ἐπέδωκε τοῖς
θιασώταις·
Vocabulary

αἱρέω, pres. inf. αἱρεῖν, 1aor. ᾕρησα / εἷλον (√ ἑλ-), 2aor. mid. εἱλάμην/
όμην: take by the hand; take away, remove; entrap, take captive; mid. take
for oneself, choose; pass. be chosen διαχειρίζω, manage, administer
ἐκλογίζομαι, to delegate ἐπιμελέομαι (pass. dep.): take care of something
(gen.) εὔθυνα, ἡ, public accounting (of financial records) θιασῶτης, ὁ,
member of a religious association (θιασός) ἰδίᾳ (adv. of ἴδιος, -α, -ον),
privately ἱσταμένου (sc. μηνός), the days of the month from 2 to 10 were
counted as the “rising” (ἱσταμένου) of the month, using ordinal numbers
(e.g., δευτέρα ἱσταμένου, τρίτη ἱσταμένου, τετρὰς ἱσταμένου, πέμπτη
ἱσταμένου, etc.) (cf. IV, 6) κοινός, -ή, -όν, common, shared; public; κοινῇ
σωτηρίᾳ, for common security/safety; subst. κοινόν, τό, treasury; religious
association; τὰ κοινά, common funds, public money; κοινῇ (adv.), in
common, as a group, in public κύριος, -α, -ον, valid/good (re law and
statutes); ἀγορά κυρία, regular meeting/assembly λογισμός, ὁ,
deliberation, reasoning, resolve; reasoning (as a faculty of the mind);
λογισμοί, financial accounts Πυανοψιών, -ῶνος, ὁ, Pyanopsion (for Attic
month names see table 9.19) ψηφίζω, freq. mid. ψηφίζομαι (for citation of
formal motion), aor. mid. inf. ἐψήφισθαι: approve a motion, decree; inf. “it
was resolved that”
Lines 19–46

ἀγαθῆι τύχηι, 20 δεδόχθαι τοῖς θιασώταις ἐπαινέσαι Δημήτριον14

Σωσάνδρου ᾽Ολύνθιον ἀρετῆς ἕνεκα καὶ δικαιοσύνης ἧς ἔχων διατελεῖ πρὸς
τὸ κοινὸν τῶν θιασωτῶν καὶ στεφανῶσαι αὐτὸν ἀναθήματι ἀπὸ15 ν´
δραχμῶν·16 τὸ δὲ ἀνάθημα ἀναθεῖναι ἐν τῶι ἱερῶι, οὗ ἂν βούληται, αἰτήσας
τοὺς θιασώτας, ὅπως ἂν καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι φιλοτιμῶνται εἰς τοὺς θιασώτας,
εἰδότας ὅτι χάριτας ἀπολήψονται παρὰ τῶν θιασωτῶν ἀξίας17 τῶν
εὐεργετημάτων· τὸν δὲ ταμίαν τὸν (elected) ἐπὶ Ἡγεμάχου18 ἄρχοντος19
δοῦναι20 τὸ ἀργύριον εἰς21 τὸ ἀνάθημα καὶ ἐπιμεληθῆναι τοῦ ἀναθήματος
ὅπως ἂν τὴν ταχίστην συντελεσθεῖ· (and it is resolved) στεφανῶσαι δὲ αὐτὸν
θαλλοῦ (with) στεφάνωι ἤδη,22 ἀναγορεύειν23 δὲ τόνδε24 τὸν στέφανον τοὺς
ἱεροποιοὺς τοὺς ἀεὶ λανχάνοντας ἱεροποεῖν25 μετὰ τὰς σπονδὰς,26 ὅτι
στεφανοῖ τὸ κοινὸν τῶιδε τῶι στεφάνωι Δημήτριον ἀρετῆς ἕνεκα καὶ
εὐνοίας, ἧς ἔχων διατελεῖ εἰς τοὺς θιασώτας· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀναγορεύσωσι (this),
ἀποτινέτωσαν τῶι κοινωι ν´ δραχμάς· (And it is resolved) ἀναγράψαι δὲ τόδε
τὸ ψήφισμα πρὸς27 τῶι ἀναθήματι.
(engraved in a crown): οἱ θιασῶται (honored) Δημήτριον ᾽Ολύνθιον.
Vocabulary

αἰτέω/έομαι, ask, beg, make a request ἀνάθημα, -ματος, τό, votive

plaque ἀπολαμβάνω, receive something; regain, recover; mid. take
away/aside; receive ἀποτίνω, 2. ἀποτείσω, 3. ἀπέτεισα, 1aor. inf.
ἀποτεῖσαι, impv. ἀποτεισάτω: pay a fine, pay what is due; mid. exert
oneself, strive δραχμή, ἡ, drachma (abbrev. δρ.) εὐεργέτημα, -ματος, τό,
benefaction θαλλός, ὁ, young olive branches ἱεροποέω, serve as an
ἱεροποιός
ἱεροποιός, overseer of sacred rites (official) λαγχάνω, 2aor. ἔλαχον, subj.
λάχῃν: receive (an inheritance); obtain something (e.g., an office) by lot; be
chosen by lot σπονδή, ἡ, drink offering, libation; donation of wine
στεφανόω, crown; honor; pass. be crowned with; be honored by (ὑπό)
somebody for (some virtue [acc.]) with a crown (dat.) ταμίας, ὁ, treasurer
φιλοτιμέομαι (pass. dep.): strive after honor, be ambitious; make a sincere
effort ψήφισμα, -ματος, τό, decree

1 Or περὶ ὧν (“concerning what”).

2 The term ἀνὴρ ἀγαθός often expresses the same quality as ἀνδραγαθία and
frequently implies financial generosity rather than bravery or courage in war.

3 In actual practice, many decrees omit either the enactment formula or the
citation of the formal motion.
4 I.e., a woolen fillet or ribbon by which a hat, wreath, or garland is fastened to
the head.

5 Hegemachos was the Archon for the year 300 BCE.

6 πέμπτει (Att.) > πέμπτηι.

7 Kleon, son of Leokrates, from Salamis.

8 Demetrios (full name of Demetrios is cited in ll. 21–22, 40, 46–47).

9 Klearchos (301–300 BCE), the predecessor of Hegemachos.

10 συν- > συμ-.

11 πράττων (Att.) > πράσσων.

12 καί...καί... (“both ... and ...”).

13 Gen. absol.

14 Demetrios, son of Sosandros, of Olynthos.

15 ἀπό, “in the amount of, worth.”

16 For alphabetic numerals see table 9.18.

17 ἀξίας modifies χάριτας.

18 Hegemachos.

19 τὸν...ταμίαν τὸν ἐπὶ Ἡγεμάχου ἄρχοντος, 2nd attrib. pos.

20 Imperatival inf.

21 Telic εἰς (“for”).

22 ἤδη, “immediately.”

23 Imperatival inf.

24 S.v. ὅδε, cf. ll. 40, 45.

25 τοὺς ἱεροποιοὺς τοὺς ἀεὶ λανχάνοντας ἱεροποεῖν, 2nd attrib. pos.

26 I.e., ἀναγορεύειν...μετὰ τὰς σπονδάς. The act of performing a libation

consisted of two steps: first, wine mixed with watter was taken from the mixing
bowl (κρατήρ), with a dipping vessel and poured into a shallow bowl (φιάλη);
next, some of this wine was then poured from the shallow bowl onto a stone altar
and prayers were recited. In the second step, the remaining wine in the shallow
bowl was consumed.

27 “Next to ”
 7.14. Sacred Laws of a Dionysian Thiasos in Miletos
(IMilet VI, 22)

Provenance: Miletos, Ionia (cf. Fig. 2) Date: 276–275 BCE.

Text: IMilet VI, 22; LSAM 48; IPriene 175.
The city of Miletos had a civic cult of Dionysos Bacchios, with which was
affiliated a private Dionysian association (θίασος) for women. To join this
private association, a membership fee was required, namely 1 stater each
triennial festival, which was paid directly to the priestess of the civic cult. It was
forbidden for this private association to meet prior to the public gathering of the
civic cult. The regulations in this section also provide rules for the appointment
of a new priest and a priestess to the civic cult.
Our modern conception of Dionysian religion is largely informed by
Euripides’ famous Bacchae, which describes the biennial flight of maenads,
crowned with ivy and clothed in fawn skin,1 to the slopes of Mount Parnassus.
According to Euripides, these maenads would dance themselves into a wild
“delirium” (μανία) to the tunes of auloi and the beat of tympana, brandishing a
thyrsos and drinking cups.2 According to legend, these frenzied women would
tear apart and devour the raw flesh of any animal or human that crossed their
path. When the madness finally left them, they would return to their homes and
resume their domestic responsibilities as wives and mothers.
No doubt the most shocking and sensational aspect of the maenadic myth is
the ritual dismemberment (σπαράγμος) of live animals and humans and the
consumption of their raw flesh, known as omophagy (ὠμοφάγιον).3 However,
Euripides’ myth has sensationalized the historical ritual. This inscription
provides historical evidence for the survival of omophagy, albeit in a much
attenuated form: the raw meat was not procured by ritual savagery but was cut
from a sacrificial victim and then thrown to the bakchai.
Related Texts: Texts concerning other Dionysian associations include IG II2
1368 (§7.4), IMagn-Mai 215 (§7.10), IG IX/12 670 (§7.15), MAMA VI, 239
(§7.20).
 Lines 1–11
[ – - – - ] ὅταν δὲ ἡ ἱέρεια ἐπιτελέσηι τὰ ἱερὰ4 ὑπὲρ τῆς πόλεως [ ..... ] μὴ
ἐξεῖναι ὠμοφάγιον ἐμβαλεῖν μηθενὶ5 πρότερον ἢ ἡ ἱέρεια ὑπὲρ τῆς πόλεως
ἐμβάληι. μὴ ἐξεῖναι δὲ μηδὲ συναγαγεῖν τὸν θίασον μηθενὶ πρότερον τοῦ
δημοσίου (convenes a meeting)· ἐὰν δέ τις ἀνὴρ ἢ γυνὴ βούληται θύειν τῶι
Διονύσωι, προϊεράσθω ὁπότερον ἂν βούληται ὁ (civic) θύων καὶ λαμβανέτω
τὰ γέρη ὁ προϊερώμενος· τὴν δὲ τιμὴν (of the office) καταβάλλειν6 (priestess)
ἐν ἔτεσιν δέκα, δέκατομ7 μέρος (being paid) ἔτους ἑκάστου, τὴμ8 μὲν
πρώτην καταβολὴν ἐμ9 μηνὶ πατουριῶνι τῶι ἐπὶ τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ μετὰ
Ποσείδιππον10 τῆι τετράδι ἱσταμένου,11 τὰς δὲ λοιπὰς (payments) ἐν τοῖς
ἐχομένοις12 ἔτεσιν μηνὸς ρτεμισιῶνος τετράδι ἱσταμένου.
Vocabulary
πατουριώνι, -ῶνος, ὁ, Apaturion (month) ρτεμισιών, -ῶνος, ὁ,
Artemision (month) γέρας, -αος, τό; pl. τὰ γέρη, the perquisite (share) of a
sacrificial victim allotted to the priests and priestesses at sacrifices (cf. l. 16)
ἐμβάλλω, throw (food) to somebody (dat.) (cf. l. 3) θίασος, ὁ, private religious
association ἱέρεια, ἡ, priestess καταβάλλω, lead/bring down; pay, pay down;
contribute to καταβολή, ἡ, (installment) payment ὁπότερον ἄν, which ever
προϊεράομαι, to sacrifice (in place of another) πρότερος, -α, -ον, former,
earlier, past; πρότερον (ἤ) (adv.), before; previously ὠμοφάγιον, τό, raw flesh
of a sacrificial victim Lines 12–24
[ – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - ] δὲ τὴν ἱέρειαν13
γυναῖκας διδόναι [ – - – - – - – - ] καὶ τὰ δὲ τέλεστρα παρέχειν ταῖς γυναιξὶν ἐν
τοῖς ὀργίοις πᾶσιν· ἐὰν δέ τις14 θύειν βούληται τῶι Διονύσωι γυνή, διδότω
γέρη τῆι ἱερείαι σπλάγχνα,15 (namely) νεφρόν, σκολιόν, ἱερὰμ16 μοῖραν,
γλῶσσαν, σκέλος εἰς κοτυληδόνα ἐκτετιμημένον· καὶ ἐάν τις γυνὴ βούληται
τελεῖν (people) τῶι Διονύσωι τῶι Βακχίωι17 (either) ἐν τῆι πόλει ἢ ἐν τῆι
χώραι ἢ ἐν ταῖς νήσοις, ἀποδιδότω τῆι ἱερείαι στατῆρα κα ἐκάστην
18
τριετηρίδα· τοῖς δὲ Καταγωγίοις κατάγειν (statue of) τὸν Διόνυσον τοὺς
ἱερεῖς καὶ τὰς ἱερείας τοῦ Διονύσου τοῦ Βακχίου μετὰ τοῦ (chief) ἱερέως καὶ
τῆς ἱερείας πρὸ τῆς ἡμέρας19 μέχρι τῆς ἡλίου δύσεως πρὸ τῆς πόλεως.
Vocabulary
Διονύσος Βακχίος, Dionysos Bacchios δύσις, -εως, ἡ, setting (of the sun)
ἐκτιμάω, pf. ptc. ἐκτετιμημένος: to estimate Καταγώγια, τὰ, Festival of the
Return, celebrating the epiphany of Dionysos in the spring (cf. IG II2 1368 l.
114, §7.4 ) κοτυληδών, -όνος, ἡ, hip joint μοῖρα, ἡ, portion, share; ἱερὰ μοῖρα,
sacred share (i.e., what is rightfully due) νεφρός, ὁ, kidneys ὄργια, -ίων, τά,
secret religious rites, religious mysteries σκολιός, -ά, -όν, curved, crooked,
coiled; dishonest; σκολιῶς (adv.), coiling; σκολιόν, τό, intestine σπλάγχνα, τά,
inward parts, entrails (esp. heart, lungs, liver, kidneys); fig. affection, love
στατήρ, -ῆρος, ἡ, stater (coin) (= ¾ denarius) τέλεστρα, τά, things needed for
the initiation ceremony τριετηρίς, -ίδος, ἡ, triennial festival

1 The fawn skin (nebris) was ritual bacchic apparel because the mountain
dancing was thought to emulate the speed and freedom of the fawn.

2 A thyrsos was a staff wreathed in ivy and vine leaves with a pinecone on top
(cf. IG II2 1368, l. 138 [§7.4]). Euripides distinguishes between the roles of
married women and the young and unmarried (Bacchae, 694).

3 Cf. Eur., Bacchae, 138–139, 734–776; on omophagion as a contradiction of

normal diet see Marcel Detienne, Dionysos Slain, trans. Leonard Muellner
(Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1979), 62–63, 90–91.

4 τὰ ἱερά, sacred rituals.

5 μηθενί > μηδενί.

6 Imperatival inf.; the office of priestess was purchased at a cost.

7 δέκατομ > δέκατον, assim. (ν before μ becomes μ) (cf. ll. 9, 17).

8 τήμ > τήν.

9 ἐμ > ἐν.
10 Posidippos was the Stephanophoros (eponymous official) in Miletos in the
year 276/275 BCE.

11 On this formula see IG II2 1263, l. 2 (§7.13).

12 ἐχομένοις,“in the following.”

13 ἱέρειαν is the subject of the two following imperatival infinitives, διδόναι

and παρέχειν.

14 τις...γυνή.

15 γέρη...σπλάγχνα.

16 ἱεράμ > ἱεράν.

17 Dionysos Bacchios (cf. l. 22).

18 Imperatival inf.

19 πρὸ τῆς ἡμέρας, i.e., “in the very early morning.”

 7.15. Sacred Laws of a Dionysian Thiasos in Physkos

(IG IX/12 670)

Provenance: Physcos, Lokris (see Fig. 2).

Date: Second century CE.
Text: IG IX/12, 670, LSCG 181.
These are the statutes of a Dionysian thiasos of Amandos, with women
(maenads) and men (cowherds) as members. Men as well as women participated
in the mountain dancing (ὀρειβασία). The association laws were concerned
exclusively with the financial contributions that members were required to make,
including an entrance fee, and fines for raucous behavior, fighting among
members, failure to attend meetings, and failure to carry sacred objects in
procession. Participation in the mountain dancing seems to have become so
irregular that attendance had to be enforced by the imposition of a fine.1
Related Texts: IG II2 1368 (§7.4), IMagn-Mai 215 (§7.10), IMilet VI, 22
(§7.14).
γαθῇ τύχη· νόμος θιάσου μάνδου2 κατὰ3 συνόδους δύω
κατατετέλεσται· τοὺς (members) σ(ὺν) τῷ κοινῳ δαπανᾶν4 δεκατέσσαρες
ὀβολοὺς κὲ5 μὴ ἔλασσõν (than this amount)· τὸ κοινὸν παρέχεσθαι λύχνους
τρῖς (at meetings)· μαινάδα μαινάδι μὴ ἐπεγερθῆνε6 μηδὲ λοιδορῆσε7 (her)·
ὁσαύτως μήτε βουκόλον ἐπεγερθῆναι μήτε λοιδορῆσε· ἐὰν δέ τις (does so),
δώσι8 τῷ κοινῷ κα ἓν ῥῆμα9 προστίμου δρ(αχμὰς) δ´·10 τὸν δὲ κατὰ
σύνοδον μὴ συνελθόντα (but instead) ἐπειδημοῦντα,11 (shall pay) ὁμοίως· ὁ δὲ
12 εἰς ὄρος13 μὴ συνελθὼν ἀποτίσι14 τῷ κοινῷ δρ(αχμὰς) ε´· μαινὰς ἐὰν

μὴ ἐνένκῇ15 τῇ εἱερᾷ16 νυκτὶ [her sacred object]17 δρ(αχμὰς) ιε´ ἀποτίσι τῷ

κοινῷ δρ(αχμὰς) ε´· ὁμοίως δὲ κὲ βουκόλος ἐὰν μὴ ἐγένκῃ [ – - – - – - – - – -
–-]
Vocabulary
ἀποτίνω, 2. ἀποτείσω, 3. ἀπέτεισα, 1aor. inf. ἀποτεῖσαι, impv. ἀποτεισάτω:
pay a fine, pay what is due; mid. exert oneself, strive βουκόλος, cowherd18
(male counterpart to a maenad) (cf. l. 21, IG II2 1368, l.123) δαπανάω, to spend
upon a thing, to pay δραχμή, ἡ, drachma (abbrev. δρ.) ἐλάσσων, -ονος
(m./fm.), ἔλασσον (nt.), smaller, less θίασος, ὁ, private religious association
κατατελέω (= κατακυρόω), consider, ratify (a motion) μαινάς, -άδος, ἡ,
maenad, female Bacchante19
ὀβολός, ὁ, pl. ὀβολοι, obol20
ὁσαύτως > ὡσαύτως, similarly σύνοδος, ἡ, civic meeting (durinig which
motions are deliberated); community

Select Bibliography
Henrichs, Albert. “Greek Maenadism from Olympias to Messalina.” Harvard
Studies in Classical Philology 82 (1978), 121–160, esp. 155–157.
Kraemer, Ross S. (ed.). Maenads, Martyrs, Matrons, Monastics: A Sourcebook
of Women’s Religions in the Greco-Roman World. Philadelphia: Fortress,
1988.
Nilsson, M. P. The Dionysiac Mysteries of the Hellenistic and Roman Age.
Lund: C. W. K. Gleerup, 1957, 38–42.

1 Another example of the interrelation of maenads and the polis is an inscription

(third to second century BCE) from Miletos, which marks the tomb of a local
maenad who was also appointed as a civic priestess of Dionysos. The inscription
states that she had officiated at both civic and private ceremonies. As a maenad,
she would lead the local Dionysian association of bakchai into the mountains for
the mountain dancing (ὀρειβασία), probably every other year. She would carry
the sacred objects (ὄργια) and implements (ἱερά), “marching in procession
before the whole city.” At her funeral, the other maenads would hail her,
shouting, “Farewell, holy priestess.... She knows her share of the blessings”; cf.
Bernard Haussoullier, “Bacchantes Milésiennes,” REG 32 (1919), 256–267, esp.
256; Henrichs, “Greek Maenadism from Olympias to Messalina,” 148–149.

2 Amandos (gen. of poss.).

3 κατά, “at” (cf. ll. 13–14).

4 All the infinitives are imperatival.

5 κέ > καί.

6 ἐπεγερθῆνε > ἐπεγερθῆναι, s.v. ἐπεγείρω.

7 λοιδορῆσε > λοιδορῆσαι.

8 δώσι > δώσει.

9 κα ἓν ῥῆμα, “according to this directive (of).”

10 For alphabetic numerals see table 9.18.

11 τὸν...μὴ συνελθόντα ἐπειδημοῦντα, substantive participles.

12 > κέ > καί.

13 This is a reference to mountain dancing (ὀρειβασία), which seems to have

been performed jointly with men.

14 ἀποτίσι > ἀποτείσει.

15 ἐνένκῃ > ἐνέγκῃ, cf. l. 21.

16 εἱερᾷ > ἱερᾷ.

17 The Dionysiac procession recounted in the Agrippinilla inscription (IGUR

160) includes many functionaries who carried sacred objects, including an altar
bearer (βωμοφόρος), fennel staff bearer (ναρθηκοφόρος), mystic-chest bearer
(κισταφόρος), bearer of the likna (λικναφόρος), a woman carrying a large
sculpted phallus (φαλλοφόρος), and women carrying firepots to light the
sacrificial fire (πυρφόροι).

18 The men are called βουκόλοι (herdsmen) because they worshipped the bull
god Dionysos Tauros.

19 The term “maenads,” literally “mad women,” is essentially a poetic term that
alludes to the ecstasy or wild possession that “mad” Dionysos (Homer, Il. 6.132)
incited in his female followers (Hymnus Homericus ad Cererem, 386; Aesch., fr.
382; Soph., Oedipus Tyrannus, 212; Eur., Ion, 552; Ar. Lysistrata, 1283). In the
Bacchae, the term is generally used pejoratively. Similarly, Philo of Alexandria
states that the term “maenads” was a discriminatory designation for bakchai,
alluding to the fact that wine makes women “mad” (De plantatione, 148). It is
because of the literary provenance of the term “maenads” that it rarely occurs in
cultic lists and epigraphical sources.

20 On currency equivalents see table 9.20.

 7.16. Purification Laws of the Civic Sanctuary in
Lesbos
(IG XII Suppl. 126)

Provenance: Eresos, Lesbos (cf. Fig. 2).

Date: Second century BCE.
Text: IG XII Suppl. 126; LSCG Suppl. 124; W. R. Paton, CR 16 (1902), 290–
292; DGE 633.
Special Features: The dialect is Lesbian, of the Aeolic group (see footnotes).
Like Doric, Aeolic retained the primitive ᾶ: for example, ἀμέραις > ἠμέραις (l.
5); κᾶδος > κῆδος (l. 4); αὔταν (recessive accent) > αὐτήν (l. 6); θνατός >
θνητός (l. 6); αὐταμερόν > αὐτημερόν (l. 10); τάν > τήν (l. 6); σίδαρον >
σίδηρον (l. 16); πλάν > πλήν (ll. 17, 20).
Lines 1–15
[- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - ] (It is lawful) εἰστείχην1 (the sanctuary with)
εὐσεβέας2 ἀπὸ3 μὲν κάδεος ἰδίῳ (relative) ἀγνεύσαντας ἀμέραις εἴκοσι· ἀπὸ
δὲ (relative) 5 ἀλλοτρίῳ (one may enter) ἀμέραις τρεῖς λοεσσάμενον4 ἀπὸ δὲ
(contact with) θνατῷ ἀμέραις δέκα, αὔταν5 δὲ τὰν τετόκοισαν6 ἀμέραις
τεσσαράκοντα ἀπὸ δὲ (contact with) βιωτῷ ἀμέραις τρεῖς, αὔταν δὲ τὰν
τετόκοισαν ἀμέραις δέκα ἀπὸ (intercourse with) δὲ γυναικὸς αὐταμερὸν
λοεσσάμενον φονέας δὲ μὴ εἰστείχην μηδὲ προδόταις μη εἰστείχην δὲ μηδὲ
γάλλοις μηδὲ γυναῖκες γαλλάζην ἐν τῶι τεμένει μὴ εἰσφέρην7 δὲ μηδὲ ὅπλα
πολεμιστήρια μηδὲ θνασίδιον·
Vocabulary
αὐταμερόν (adv.), on the same day βιωτός, ὁ, life; live birth γαλλάζη (?),
perhaps a female devotee of Kybele γάλλος, ὁ, priest of Kybele εἰστείχω =
εἰσέρχομαι
θνασίδιον (Aeol.) > θνησείδιον, τό, carcass of an animal κῆδος (Aeol. κᾶδος),
-εος, τό, performing funeral rites for the dead πολεμιστήριος, -α, -ον (adj.), of
war προδότης, ὁ, traitor; one who betrays an oath τέμενος, -εος, τό, sacred
precincts of a temple Lines 16–23
μηδὲ εἰς τὸν ναυὸν8 εἰσφέρην σίδαρον μηδὲ χαλκὸν πλὰν νομίσματος,
μηδὲ (wear) ὑπόδεσιν μηδὲ ἄλλο δέρμα μηδὲν μὴ εἰστείχην δὲ μηδὲ γυναῖκα
εἰς τὸν ναυὸν πλὰν τᾶς ἱερέας9 καὶ τᾶς προφητίδος. μη λωτίζην10 δὲ μηδὲ
κτήνεα μηδὲ βοσκήματα ἐν τῷ τεμένει.
Vocabulary
βόσκημα, τά, fatted cattle ἱέρεια, ἡ, priestess λωτίζω, cull the best animals
νομίσμα, τό, that which is sanctioned by custom προφῆτις, -ιδος, ἡ, prophetess
(fm. of προφήτης) ὑπόδεσις, ἡ, shoe (= τὰ ὑποδήματα) χαλκός, ὁ, bronze;
anything made of metal; χαλκός, chalkos (copper coin; 8 chalkos = 1 obol)

1 εἰστείχην Aeol. act. inf. > εἰστείχειν, (cf. ll. 11, 12, 19).

2 εὐσεβέας > εὐσεβείας.

3 ἀπό in Aeol. takes the dat.

4 λοεσσάμενον > λουσσάμενον (cf. l. 10).

5 αὔταν (recessive accent) > αὐτήν (cf. l. 8).

6 τετόκοισαν (Aeol. pf. fm. ptc.) > τετοκυῖαν (s.v. τίκτω), cf. l. 9.

7 -ην, Aeol. act. inf. ending > –ειν.

8 ναυόν, Aeol. > ναόν (cf. l. 20).

9 ἱερέας > ἱερείας.

10 -ην (Aeol.) > –ειν, act. inf.

 7.17. Funerary Laws for the Valiant Dead on the
Island of Thasos
(LSCG Suppl. 64)

Provenance: Thasos, Aegean Islands (see Fig. 2) Date: ca. 350 BCE.
Text: LSCG Suppl. 64; F. Courby, Nouveau choix d’inscriptions grecques:
textes, traductions, commentaires (Paris: Les Belles Lettres, 1971), 105–109, no.
19; H. W. Pleket and R. S. Stroud, Recherches: Thasos (2008), I, 371–379, no.
141; Jean Pouilloux and Christiane Dunant, Recherches sur l’histoire et les
cultes de Thasos (Paris: E. de Boccard, 1954–1958), I, 371–380, no. 141 (plate
XXXIX, 6); SEG 35.959.
The inscription begins by imposing limits on the period of mourning to five
days for those who had died in war (3–5). This limitation was even more
restrictive than the laws of Sparta, where the period of mourning was limited to
eleven days,1 and even more limited than the thirty days permitted in Athens.
Since the war dead were deemed to be the protectors of the island, it was not
thought to be appropriate to mourn for them as one would normally mourn the
dead.2 This inscription goes on to prescribe the inscription of the names of the
valorous dead on a plaque and requires that their fathers and children be invited
to all civic sacrifices and be provided their own bench at the civic games. They
should also be paid an indemnity based on the salary of the deceased officer in
question. When their male children come of age, they are to be given a soldier’s
equipment (leggings, breastplate, dagger, helmet, shield and spear), whereas
female children are given a dowry.
The dialect is a mixture of Ionic and Attic: η for ᾶ (e.g., ἀγορηνόμος, l. 1;
ἡμέρηι, l. 2; προεδρίην, l. 14; ἡλικίην, l. 17; θώρηκα, l. 18) and ω for ου
(τιμώχων, l. 12; ἔωσιν, l. 18). There are also Attic influences; for example Attic
ἐάν / ἄν (ll. 2, 16, 21) is used instead of the Ionic ἤν, and θωή (l. 7) is used
instead of the Ionic θωϊή, in spite of the fact that the verbal form θωϊῶντες is
Ionic. Note also the use of iota-adscript (l. 18, cf. IV, 16).
Lines 1–11
 [ – - – - – ] μηδὲν ὁ ἀγορηνόμος περιοράτω τῆι ἠμέρηι ἧι ἂν ἐχφέρωνται3
πρὶν τὴν ἐχφορὰν γενέσθαι· πενθικὸν δὲ μηδὲν ποιείτω μηδεὶς ἐπὶ τοῖς
ἀγαθοῖς ἀνδράσιν4 πλέον ἢ ἐν πέντε ἡμέραις· κηδεύειν (privately) δὲ μὴ
ἐξέστω· εἰ δὲ μή (somebody does), 5 ἐνθυμιστὸν αὐτῶι ἔστω καὶ οἱ
γυναικονόμοι καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες καὶ οἱ πολέμαρχοι μὴ περιορώντων (anything)
καὶ θωϊῶντες καρτεροὶ ἔστων5 ἕκαστοι ταῖς θωαῖς ταῖς ἐκ τῶν νόμων·
ἀναγράφειν δὲ αὐτῶν τὰ ὀνόματα πατρόθεν6 εἰς (list of) τοὺς Ἀγαθοὺς
(ἄνδρες) τοὺς πολεμάρχους καὶ τὸν γραμματέα τῆς βουλῆς καὶ καλεῖσθαι
αὐτῶν τοὺς πατέρας καὶ τοὺς παῖδας ὅταν ἡ πόλις ἐντέμνηι τοῖς γαθοῖς
(ἄνδρες)·7
Vocabulary
ἀγορανόμος, ὁ, clerk of the market (responsible for regulating the buying and
selling of goods) γυναικονόμος, ὁ, supervisor of women (city magistrate)
ἐνθυμιστόν, -ή, -όν, polluted, in a state of impurity ἐντέμνω, to sacrifice8
ἐχφορά, ἡ, funeral procession, cortège θωή, ἡ, penalty θωιάω > θωάω (Att.),
punish, impose a penalty καρτερός, -ή, -όν, strong, empowered κηδεύω, bury a
corpse πατρόθεν, from/after the father (i.e., with patronymic) πενθικός, -ή, -όν,
in mourning; ποίειν πενθικόν, perform mourning περιοράω, overlook, neglect
πολέμαρχος, polemarch (eponymous magistrate of Thasos) (cf. ll. 11, 17) Lines
11–22
διδόναι (indemnity) ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν ἑκάστου τὸν ἀποδέκτην ὅσον ὑπὲρ
τιμώχων λαμβάνουσι· καλεῖσθαι αὐτῶν τοὺς πατέρας καὶ τοὺς παῖδας καὶ
ἐς9 προεδρίην ἐς τοὺς ἀγῶνας· χωρίον δὲ ἀποδεικνύειν αὐτοῖς καὶ βάθρον
τιθέναι τούτοις τὸν τιθέντα τοὺς ἀγῶνας·10 ὁπόσοι ἂν αὐτῶν παῖδας
11 12
καταλίπωσιν, ὅταν ἐς τὴν ἡλικίην ἀφίκωνται, διδότωσαν αὐτοῖς οἱ
πολέμαρχοι, ἂμ13 μὲν ἄρσενες ἔωσιν,14 ἑκάστωι κνημῖδας, θώρηκα,
ἐγχειρίδιον, κράνος, ἀσπίδα, δόρυ, μὴ ἐλάσσονος ἄξια τριῶν μνῶν, (at)
Ἡρακλείοις ἐν τῶι ἀγῶνι καὶ ἄναγγειλάτωσαν (their) τὰ ὀνόματα· ἂν15 δὲ
θυγατέρες ὦσιν, εἰς πενθέριον [ – - – - – - – - ] ὅταν τεσσέρων καὶ δέκα ἐτῶν
γένωνται [ – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – ]
Vocabulary
ἀνά, each, apiece; ἀνὰ μέσον, between, within (w. gen.) ἀποδέκτης, ὁ,
(financial) controller of the city ἄρσην, ὁ, ἄρσενος, male, masculine (gender)
βάθρον, τό, bench, seat δόρυ, -ατος, τό, spear ἐγχειρίδιον, τό, dagger
ἐλάσσων, -ονος (m./fm.), ἔλασσον (nt.), smaller, less Ἡρακλεία, τά, Festival of
Herakles (Lat. Hercules) κνημίς, -ίδος, ἡ, pl. greaves (armor for the leg below
the knee) κράνος, -ους, τό, helmet μνᾶ, ἡ, μνᾶς (gen.), μνῆν, pl. μναῖ, μνέων
(gen. pl. > NW μνᾶν): mina (see table 9.21) πενθέριον, τό, dowry προέδρια, ἡ,
front seat (i.e., seat of honor) τιμοῦχος, ὁ, timouchos (title of a city magistrate )
χωρίον, τό, plot of land, site; space, place

Select Bibliography
Bruit, Louise, Zaidman Pantel, and Pauline Schmitt Pantel. Religion in the
Ancient Greek City. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992, 76.
Loraux, Nicole. The Invention of Athens: The Funeral Oration in the Classical
City. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1986, 17–50.

1 Plut., Lycougos, 27.1–3; Herod. 6.58.1.

2 Pl., Rep. 468E–469A.

3 ἐχφέρωνται > ἐκφέρωνται.

4 ἀγαθοῖς ἀνδράσιν, “for the valiant men (dead).” The phrase οἱ ἀγαθοί,
meaning “the valiant,” is Homeric usage (Il. 1.131) and is also attested in Herod.
(5.109). In this inscription and in Dem. (De Corona 208), the phrase refers to
those who have died in battle.

5 ἔστων > ἔστωσαν.

6 Public lists of the war dead were organized by patronymic. In Thasos, this list
was periodically updated with the addition of more names of men fallen in
battle.

7 The fathers and children of soldiers who had died in battle are invited to the
sacrifices not merely to observe the ritual but probably to participate in the
banquet that followed. The animal sacrifices relating to cults of heroes were
normally consumed almost entirely by the participants.

8 This verb is normally reserved for sacrifices to the heroes and chthonic
deities.

9 ἐς > εἰς (“at”), cf. ll. 14, 16.

10 τὸν τιθέντα τοὺς ἀγῶνας, i.e., “the organizer of the games.”

11 καταλίπωσιν > καταλείπωσιν.

12 ἡλικίην > ἡλικίαν.

13 ἄμ > ἀνά (before words beginning with β, π, φ, μ.) + acc., distributive,

“each, apiece.”

14 ἔωσιν > οὖσιν.

15 ἄν > ἐάν.
 7.18. Founding a Religious Association: The God
Sarapis Arrives in the City of Opous
(IG X/2, 255)

Provenance: Discovered in the sanctuary of Sarapis in Thessaloniki; this is

probably a copy of an earlier text, which originated in the Lokrian city of Opous
(see Fig. 2).
Date: This is a copy of an inscription (first century BCE) that was probably
based on an original inscription dating from the third to the second century BCE.
Text: IG X/2, 255; Merkelbach, ZPE 10 (1973), 49–54; Horsley, NewDocs 1
(1981), 29–32; cf. SIRIS, no. 107–126.
Though the beginning of this inscription is lost, it can be surmised that it
began with an account of the circumstances by which the founder, Xenainetos
(Ξεναίνετος), was divinely authorized by the god Sarapis to establish his cult in
Thessaloniki. Xenainetos received another divine vision in his sleep in which
Sarapis gave specific instructions concerning the founding of his cult in the city
of Opous. The miraculous character of this dream was subsequently confirmed
by a letter from the god, which Xenainetos discovered under his pillow the next
morning. As instructed by Sarapis, he traveled to Opous to meet with his
political rival, Eurynomos (Εὐρύνομος), to explain his vision and show him the
letter. It would seem that Eurynomos experienced a conversion of sorts, as
implied by his acceptance of Sarapis’s instructions and by his setting up the
same cult in Opous, which was then continued by others. This text provides
evidence for the use of religious propaganda in the dissemination of religious
cults.
Dialect: The dialect is North West. In contrast to Ionic and Attic (Η-dialects),
North West is an Â-dialect, which is to say, it has retained (like Doric) the proto-
Greek long ᾶ (e.g., ἁ > ἡ, τᾶς > τῆς, τάν > τήν, αὐτάς > αὐτής, ἀδελφάν >
ἀδελφήν, ἐπιστολάν > ἐπιστολήν). The 3rd declension gen. pl. ending is -ιος
(e.g., πόλιος > πόλεως) and κα is used in place of Att. ἄν; note also the use of
iota-adscript (e.g., τᾶι οἰκίαι).
 Lines 1–11
[- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – ] κομίζεσθαι ἐν οἶκον,1
ἔδοξε κα ὕπνον ἐπιστάντα2 παρ᾽ αὐτὸν3 Σάραπιν ἐπιτάξαι (Xenainetos)
ὅπως παραγενόμενος ἐν ᾽Οποῦντα ἀνανγείλῃ4 Ἐὐρυνόμῳ τῷ5 Τειμασιθέου
ὑποδέξασθαι αὐτόν6 τε καὶ τὰν ἀδελφὰν αὐτοῦ Εἶσιν, 7 τάν τε ἐπιστολὰν τὰν
οὖσαν ὑπὸ (his) τῶι ποτικεφαλαίῳ ἀναδῷ αὐτῷ·8 τὸν δὲ ἐγερθέντα
θαυμάξαι9 (αὐτὸν) τε τὸν ὄνειρον καὶ διαπορεῖν τί ποιητέον ἐστὶν διὰ τὸ
ὑπάρχειν10 αὐτῷ11 ἀντιπολειτείαν ποτί12 Εὐρύνομον· καθυπνώσας δὲ πάλιν
καὶ τὰ αὐτὰ ἰδών, καὶ ἐπεγερθεὶς τάν τε ἐπιστολὰν εὗρε ὑπὸ τῷ
ποτικεφαλαίῳ καθὼς αὐτῷ ἐτεκμάρθη·13
Vocabulary
ἀναδίδωμι, deliver (a letter) (cf. l. 11) ἀντιπολειτείαν > ἀντιπολιτείαν, s.v.
ἀντιπολιτεία, ἡ, political hostility δεκυείροις > δεκυίροις, s.v., δεκουρίων (Lat.
loanw. decurio), member of a local council or senate διαπορέω, be perplexed
about (something) Ἴσις, ἡ, Ἴσιδος (gen.), goddess Isis καθυπνόω, fall fast
asleep κομίζομαι, get back, recover; bring into (ἐν) a place, introduce ᾽Οποῦς,
Opous, chief city of eastern Locris (west of Boiotia) ποιητέος, -α, -ον, to be
done προσκεφάλαιον (NW ποτικεφάλαιον ), pillow, head cushion
τεκμαίρομαι, 3. ἐτεκμηράμην, 6. ἐτεκμήρθην: conjecture/guess; pass. be
indicated Lines 11–23
Ἐπανελθὼν (to Opous) δὲ ἀνέδωκε τὰν ἐπιστολὰν Εὐρύνομωι καὶ
ἀνήνγειλε14 τὰ ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπιταχθέντα· Εὐρύνομος δὲ τὰν ἐπιστολὰν
λαβὼν15 καὶ ἀκούσας τὰ ὑπὸ Ξεναινέτου λεγόμενα παρ᾽ αὐτὸν μὲν τὸν
καιρὸν16 ἀπόρως εἶχε17 διὰ τὸ καθὼς ἐπάνωι 15 διασαφεῖται εἶμεν18 αὐτοῖς
ἀντιπολειτείαν πο 19 αὐσωτούς· ἀναγνοὺς δὲ τὰν ἐπιστολὰν καὶ ἰδὼν (that)
τὰ γεγραμμένα (were) σύμφωνα τοῖς πρότερον ὑ αὐτοῦ εἰρημένοις20
(Εὐρύνομος) ὑπεδέξατο τὸν Σάραπιν καὶ τὰν Εἶσιν καὶ μετὰ (providing) τὸν
ξενισμὸν (for the gods) ἐν τᾶι οἰκίαι τᾶι Σωσινείκας21 ἐν22 τοὺς οἰκουροὺς
θεοὺς παραλαβοῦσα (them) ἔθυε23 Σωσινείκα τὰς θεσίας χρόνον τινά· 20 μετὰ
δὲ τὸν αὐτᾶς24 θάνατον Εὐνόστα25 ἁ Σωσιβίου26 θυγατριδᾶ παρεδίδου (the
cult) καὶ διεξᾶγε27 τὰ μυστήρια τῶν θεῶν ἐν28 τοὺς καὶ 29ἀμετόχους τῶν
ἱερῶν·30 Εὐνόστας δὲ ὕστερον ἐν ἀρρωστίαν ἐμπεσούσας (So-and-so)
προέθυε31 ὑπὲρ αὐτᾶς τὰς θυσίας [ – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - ]
Vocabulary
ἀμέτοχος, -ον, not participating (i.e., not initiated) ἀπόρος, -ον, difficult;
ἀπόρως (adv.), with difficulty ἀρρωστία, ἡ, sickness αὐσωτούς (s.v.
αὐσαυτοῦ), Dor. > ἑαυτούς
διασαφέω, make clear, show plainly διεξάγω, manage, administer ἐπανέρχομαι,
return to (a place) θυγατριδᾶ > θυγατριδῆ, granddaughter or daughter ξενισμός,
ὁ, hospitality (provided to a guest or stranger), here for Sarapis and Isis
οἰκουρός, -όν, (keeping watch over the) household παραδίδωμι, hand over to
another, transmit προθύω, sacrifice on somebody’s behalf; perform an opening
sacrifice πρότερος, -α, -ον, former, earlier, past; πρότερον (ἤ) (adv.), before;
previously Σάραπις, ὁ, god Sarapis σύμφωνος, -ον, harmonious, in agreement

Select Bibliography
Hanson, J. S. “Dreams and Visions in the Graeco-Roman World and Early
Christianity.” ANRW II, 23.2 (1980), 1402–1403.
Sokolowski, F. “Propagation of the Cult of Sarapis and Isis in Greece.” GRBS 15
(1974), 441–448.

1 “... to come into the shrine” (cf. l. 18).

2 S.v. ἐφίστημι.

3 I.e., Xenainetos.

4 ἀνανγείλῃ > ἀναγγείλῃ (cf. l. 12).

5 Article introduced modifier (son of Timasitheos) in 3rd attrib. pos.

6 I.e., Sarapis.

7 Εἶσιν > Ἴσιν (cf. l. 17).

8 I.e., to Eurynomos.
9 θαυμάξαι > θαυμάσαι; note the two infinitives for indicative.

10 Art. inf.

11 Gen. of poss., “his” (Eurynomos’s).

12 ποτί, Dor. > πρός (cf. l. 15).

13 ἐτεκμάρθη > ἐτεκμήρθη.

14 ἀνήνγειλε > ἀνήγγειλε.

15 λαβὼν...παῤ (“from”) αὐτὸν.

16 παρ᾽ αὐτὸν...τὸν καιρόν (“at the time/occasion itself”).

17 I.e., was perplexed.

18 εἶμεν, Dor. > εἶναι; διὰ τό...εἶμεν, art. inf. (καθὼς ἐπάνω διασαφεῖται is a
parenthetical comment).

19 πο > ποτί > πρός.

20 S.v. λέγω.

21 Sosinike (fm. personal name); τᾶι (> τῇ) οἰκίαι (> οἰκιᾳ) τᾶι Σωσινείκας,
modifier in 2nd attrib. pos.

22 ἐν, “among” (cf. l. 21).

23 Iter. impf. (cf. IV, 13.3).

24 I.e., of Sosinike.

25 Eunosta (personal name).

26 Sosibios (personal name).

27 Incept. impf. (cf. IV, 13.5).

28 ἐν, “among.”

29 Adv. καί.

30 τὰ ἱερά, “sacred rites”; it seems that this family cult was open to others who
were not relatives.

31 Incept. impf. (cf. IV, 13.5).

 7.19. Redemption (Manumission) of Slaves to a
Jewish Prayer House
(JMIB 161; CIJ I, 683; CIJ I, 690)

Jewish communities in the Borporus Kingdom allowed for the manumission of

slaves. These manumission contracts include a variation of the paramone clause
(introduced by χωρίς), a common feature of many manumisison inscriptions (see
GDI II/2, 2170–2071 [§7.8]) requiring that manumitted slaves participate in the
ongoing religious life of the synagogue. These inscriptions suggest that the wider
Bosporan community respected the legitimacy of the local Jewish community.

(a) Manumission to a Jewish Prayer House (JMIB

161)
Provenance: Pantikapaion, Pontus Euxinus (north shore of the Black Sea).
Date: Second century CE.
Text: CIRB 71; JMIB 161.
[I, so-and-so, son of so-and-so] ἀφίημι ἐπὶ τῆς προσευχῆς ᾽Ελπίαν1 ἐμαυτῆς
θρεπτης ὅπως ἐστὶν ἀπαρενόχλητος καὶ ἀνεπίληπτος ἀπὸ παντὸς κληρονόμου
χωρὶς τοῦ προσκαρτερεῖν τῇ προσευχῇ ἐπιτροπευούσης2 τῆς συναγωγῆς τῶν
᾽Ιουδαίων καὶ θεὸν σεβῶν.
Vocabulary

ἀνεπίληπτος, -ον, free from seizure ἀπαρενόχλητος, -ον, undisturbed

θρεπτός, ὁ / θρεπτή, ἡ, house slave κληρονόμος, ὁ, heir, inheritor
προσκαρτερέω, provide service to (dat.)

(b) Manumission to a Jewish Prayer House (CIJ I,

683)
Provenance: Pantikapaion, Pontus Euxinus. Date: 80 CE.
Text: IGRR I, 881, CIRB 70, CIJ I, 683, JMIB 100, 160.
Βασιλιεύοντος3 βασιλέως Τιβερίου Ἰουλίοὐ Ρησκουπόριδος4 φιλοκαίσαρος
καὶ φιλορωμαίου, εὐσεβοῦς· ἔτους ζοτ´5 μνηὸς Περιτίου ιβ´, Χρήστη6 γυνὴ
πρότερον Δρούσου7 ἀφίημι ἐπὶ τῆς προσευχῆς θρεπτόν μου Ἡρακλᾶν8
ἐλεύθερον καθάπαξ κατὰ εὐχήν μου (to be) ἀνεπίληπτον καὶ ἀπαρενόχλητον
10 ἀπὸ παντὸς κληρονόμου τρέπεσθαι αὐτὸν ὅπου ἂν βούληται

ἀνεπικωλύτως καθὼς ηὐξάμην, χωρὶς ἴς9 τὴν προσευχὴν θωπείας τε καὶ

προσκαρτερήσεως, συνεπινευσάντων10 δὲ καὶ τῶν κληρονόμων μου
Ἡρακλείδου11 καὶ Ἐλικωνιάδος, συνεπιτροπευούσης δὲ καὶ τῆς συναγωγῆς
τῶν ᾽Ιουδαίων.
Vocabulary

ἀπαρενόχλητος, -ον, undisturbed ἀνεπικωλύτως, without restraint θωπεία,

ἡ, submissiveness καθάπαξ, once and for all Περίτιος, Peritios (on
Macedonian month names see table 9.19) προσκαρτέρησις, -εως, ἡ, service
συνεπινεύω, join in assenting συνεπιτροπεύω, be a joint guardian over
φιλοκαίσαρ, -αρος, ὁ, loyal to the emperor φιλορώμαιος, -α, -ον, friend of
the Romans

(c) Manumission to a Jewish Prayer House (CIJ I,

690)
Provenance: Gorgippia, Pontus Euxinus.
Date: 41 CE.
Text: CIRB 1123, CIJ I 690, Irina A. Levinskaya, “Inscriptions from the
Bosporan Kingdom (Appendix 3),” in The Book of Acts in Its Diaspora Setting,
vol. 5, 227–28, esp. 239–240 (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1996);
JMIB 166.
Θεῶι ὑψίστωι παντοκράτορι εὐλογητῷ, βασιλεύοντος12 βασιλέως
Μιθριδάτου13 φιλογερμανικοῦ καὶ φιλοπάτριδος, ἔτους ηλτ´,14 μηνὸς Δίου,
Πόθος15 Στράτωνος ἀνέθηκεν (ἐν) τῆι προσευχῆι κα εὐχὴν θρεπτὴν
16
ἑαυτοῦ, ᾗ ὄνομα Χρύσα, ἐ ᾧ ᾖ ἀνέπαφος καὶ ἀνεπηρέαστος ἀπὸ παντὸς
κληρονόμου ὑπὸ Δία, Γῆν, Ἥλιον.
Vocabulary

ἀνέπαφος, -ον, not liable to seizure ἀνεπηρέαστος, -ον, free of injury,

unmolested Γῆ, ἡ, Ge (goddness) Δίος, Dios (on Macedonian month names
see table 9.19) Ἥλιος, ὁ, Helios, the sun god ὕψιστος, -η, -ον, highest; ὁ
ὕψιστος, the Most High (God) φιλογερμανικός, ὁ, loyal to Germanicus
φιλόπατρις, -ιδος, ὁ / ἡ, patriotic

Select Bibliography
Nadel, Benjamin. “Slavery and Related Forms of Labor on the North Shore of
the Euxine in Antiquity.” Actes du colloque 1973 sur l’esclavage, 214–215.
Paris: Belles Lettres, 1976.

1 Elpis (fm.).

2 ἐπιτροπέω > ἐπιτρέπω, gen. absol.

3 Eponymous dating formula.

4 Tiberius Julius Rhescuporis.

5 On alphabetic numerals cf. table 9.18.

6 Chreste (fm.).

7 Drusus.

8 Heraclas.

9 ἐς > εἰς.
10 Gen. absol.

11 Herkleides and Helikonias.

12 Eponymous dating formula.

13 Mithridates.

14 On alphabetic numerals cf. table 9.18.

15 Pothos, son of Strabo.

16 Chrusa.
 7.20. Dedicating Religious Buildings: Four Building
Inscriptions
(MAMA VI, 263, 264, 239, IJudDonateurs 10)

Throughout the Hellenistic and Roman periods there was an increasing tendency
to engrave the names of benefactors on both public and private edifices. These
inscriptions might be engraved on an integral part of the building structure, such
as an architrave, portico, column, or mosaic. Other building inscriptions, such as
those inscribed on wall panels, stelae, or blocks erected near a building, were not
an integral part of the overall architectural design.
The Structure of Building Inscriptions: The most detailed building inscriptions
typically record a number of points of information, such as the following:
(1) renovated. The identity of the building or structure may also be given.
However, many inscriptions do not record the name of the structure, this fact
being self-evident when it was originally located in situ.
(2) The name of the person who had the structure built or restored. If the patron
happened to be a god, the cost of construction was paid out of the temple
treasury. The verb of construction or dedication (e.g., κατασκεύσαεν, ἐποίησεν)
is often omitted. However, verbs expressing the rebuilding or renovation of a
monument (e.g., ἐπεσκεύασαν, ἀποκατέστησεν) are normally expressed. The
specification of the year of the structure’s completion (or restoration) may also
be included.
(3) An acknowledgment of the generosity of the patron.

(a) Council of Elders Honors Julia Severa, High

Priestess of the Augustan Gods (MAMA VI, 263)
Provenance: Akmonia, Phrygia (cf. Fig. 2). Date: 50–70 CE.
Julia Severa was a woman of high status in Akmonia. She was active in the
50s and 60s CE, having been appointed high priestess of the Imperial cult for at
least three terms of office during the reign of Nero. She was also appointed
“president of the games” (ἀγωνοθέτης). Her first husband, Lucius Sevenius
Capito, was a member of a Roman family of great distinction.
Ἡ γερουσία ἐτεί μησεν1 ᾽Ιουλίαν2 Γαΐου θυγατέρα3 Σεουήραν, ἀρχιέρειαν
καὶ ἀγωνοθέτιν τοῦ σύνπαντος4 τῶν θεῶν Σεβαστῶν οἴκου, πάσης ἀρετῆς
χάριν καὶ τῆς εἰς αὐτὴν εὐεργεσίας· τὴν ἀνάστασιν ποιησαμένου [ – - – ]
Vocabulary

ἀγωνοθέτης, -ου, ὁ, president of the games ἀρχιέρεια, ἡ, chief priestess

θεοὶ Σεβαστοί, Augustan gods (of the Imperial cult)5
χάριν (w. gen.), because of, by reason of (generally situated after the noun
it modifies); ὧν χάριν, for which

(b) Honors for Those Who Renovated a Synagogue

(MAMA VI, 264)
Provenance: Akmonia, Phrygia.
Date: 80–100 CE.
Text: MAMA VI, 264, CIJ I, 766; Paul Trebilco, Jewish Communities in Asia
Minor (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991), 58–59.
Despite her donation of this Jewish synagogue, there is no evidence that Julia
Severa was Jewish.6 Moreover, the fact that she was appointed chief priestess of
a pagan cult of the Augustan gods (cf. MAMA VI, 263) suggests that she was
not Jewish. Nonetheless, Julia Severa was obviously sympathetic to the Jews of
Akmonia.7 Given her close association with the Imperial cult, it is noteworthy
that the synagogue was willing to accept her gift. As the inscription here
indicates, the same synagogue was restored some twenty years later.
Τὸν κατασκευασθέντα οἶκον8 ὑπὸ ᾽Ιουλίας Σεουήρας, Π(όπλιος)
Τυρρώνιος Κλάδος9 ὁ διὰ βίου ἀρχισυνάγωγος καὶ Λούκιος10 Λουκίου
ἀρχισυνάγωγος καὶ Ποπίλιος Ζωτικός11 ἄρχων ἐπεσκεύασαν (it) ἔκ τε τῶν
ἰδίων (ἀναλωμάτων) καὶ τῶν12 συνκαταθεμένων καὶ ἔγραψαν13 τοὺς
τοίχους14 καὶ τὴν ὀροφὴν καὶ ἐποίησαν τὴν τῶν θυρίδων ἀσφάλειαν καὶ τὸν
λυπὸν15 πάντα κόσμον οὕστινας16 καὶ ἡ συναγωγὴ ἐτείμησεν17 ὅπλῳ
ἐπιχρύσῳ διά τε τὴν ἐνάρετον αὐτῶν διάθεσιν καὶ τὴν πρὸς τὴν
συναγωγὴν18 εὔνοιάν19 τε καὶ σπουδήν.
 Vocabulary

ἀνάλωμα, -ματος, τό (often pl.), cost, expense ἀρχισυνάγωγος, ὁ,

synagogue president διάθεσις, -εως, ἡ, disposition ἐνάρετος, -ον, virtuous,
excellent ἐπισκευάζω, repair, restore (a building) ἐπίχρυσος, -ον, gilded
ὀροφή, ἡ, ceiling of a room συνκατατίθημι (neol.?), to deposit along with
(cf. κατατίθημι, to deposit)

(c) Dedication of a Hall to Dionysos (MAMA VI, 239)

Provenance: Akmonia, Phrygia.
Date: First century CE.
Text: MAMA VI, 239.
This inscription speaks of the “mystai of the holy first thiasos,” who dedicated
at their own expense an assembly hall to Dionysos Kathegemon. This reference
to “first” thiasos suggests that it was one of several in the city.20
Related Texts: Other Dionysian associations, IG II2 1368 (§7.4), IMagn-Mai
215 (§7.10), IMilet VI, 22 (§7.14), IG IX/12, 670 (§7.15), MAMA VI, 239
(§7.20), γαθῇ τύχῃ· Διονύσῳ Καθηγεμόνι οἱ μύσται τοῦ ἱεροῦ α´ θιάσου21
ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων (ἀναλωμάτων) καθιέρωσαν εἰς τὴν ἑαυτῶν χρῆσιν τήν τε
ἐξέδραν καὶ τὴν προσκειμένην διαίτην.
Vocabulary

διαίτην > δίαιταν, s.v. δίαιτα, ἡ, buildings, quarters ἐξέδρα, ἡ, hall

furnished with seats Καθηγεμών, Kathegemon (lit. “guide,” “chief (god)”),
title of the god Dionysos, who was the chief of the gods in Akmonia
καθιερόω, dedicate μύστης, ὁ / μύστις, ἡ, an initiate πρόσκειμαι, be
attached to χρῆσις, -εως, ἡ, use, employment of something

(d) Dedication of a Synagogue (IJudDonateurs 10)

Provenance: Stobi, Macedonia (cf. Fig. 2). This building inscription is located
on the lower part of a marble column that once stood in the synagogue.
Date: Second to third century CE.
 Text: IJudDonateurs 10, IJO I/1, GRA 73, Trebilco, Jewish Communities, 58–
60; PHI [ – - – - – - – - – - – -] Κλ. Τιβέριος Πολύχαρμος22 ὁ καὶ23 Ἀχύριος24 ὁ
πατὴρ τῆς ἐν Στόβοις συναγωγῆς,25 ὃς πολειτευσάμενος πᾶσαν πολειτείαν
κατὰ τὸν Ἰουδαϊσμὸν εὐχῆς ἕνεκεν (donated) τοὺς μὲν οἴκους26 τῷ ἁγίῳ
τόπῳ καὶ τὸ τρίκλειον σὺν τῷ τετραστόῳ ἐκ τῶν οἰκείων χρημάτων μηδὲν
ὅλως παραψάμενος τῶν ἁγίων (χρημάτων),27 τὴν δὲ ἐξουσίαν (over) τῶν
ὑπερώων πάντων πᾶσαν καὶ τὴν δεσποτείαν ἔχειν28 ἐμὲ τὸν Κλ. Τιβέριον
Πολύχαρμον καὶ τοὺς κληρονόμους τοὺς ἐμοὺς διὰ πάντος βίου, ὃς ἂν δὲ
βουληθῇ τι καινοτομῆσαι παρὰ τὰ ὑ ἐμοῦ δοχθέντα, δώσει τῷ
29
πατριάρχῃ δημαρίων μυριάδας εἴκοσι πέντε· οὕτω γὰρ μοι συνέδοξεν, τὴν
δὲ ἐπισκευὴν τῆς κεράμου τῶν ὑπερώων ποιεῖσθαι30 ἐμὲ καὶ κληρονόμους
ἐμούς.
Supplementary Vocabulary δεσποτεία, ἡ, ownership δηνάριον, τό, denarius
(Lat. loanw.) ἐπισκευή, ἡ, repair, restoration καινοτομέω, make changes,
innovations κέραμος, ὁ, clay tiles παράπτομαι, touch in a passing way, touch
slightly πατριάρχης, ὁ, (Jewish) patriarch πολειτείαν > πολειτίαν, s.v. πολειτία,
daily life συνδοκέω, seem good also Στόβοι, οἱ, city of Stobi τετραστόον, τό,
tetrastoon (colonnade w. four porticoes), perhaps for study and learning
τρίκλειον, triclinium (dining room) ὑπερῷον, τό, upper part of a house, upper
portico χρῆμα, -ματος, τό, funds
1 ἐτείμησεν > ἐτίμησεν.
2 ᾽Ιουλίαν...Σεουήραν (Julia Severa). “Severus,” a Latin cognomen, is given
here in its feminine form, “Severa.”
3 Women’s names in inscriptions are usually accompanied by a term of family
relation such as θυγάτηρ (as here), μήτηρ, ἀδελφή, γυνή, or σύμβιος. Hence
᾽Ιουλίαν Γαΐου θυγατέρα means “Julia, daughter of Gaius.”
4 σύν- > σύμ-.
5 I.e., gods who operated within the sphere of the Imperial family and Imperial
cult.
6 A large Jewish community is well attested in Akmonia (A. R. R. Shephard,
“RECAM Notes and Studies No. 6: Jews, Christians and Heretics in Acmonia
and Eumeneia,” AnatSt 29 [1979], 169–180). For example, a Jewish man
bequeaths a plot of land as a bequest to a particular group on the condition that
they perform the rosalia at the tomb of his wife each year (W. M. Ramsay,
Cities and Bishoprics of Phrygia, 2 vols. [Oxford, 1895–1897]; rpt. New York,
1975, 2 vols. in 1, nos. 455–457). This arrangement is equivalent to the well-
attested phenomenon of land being given to trade guilds on the condition that
they perform commemorative rites see §8. The rosalia is actually a pagan rite, in
which torches were lit and flowers, especially roses (representing the transitory
nature of life), were strewn on the grave or tomb, followed by a solemn banquet
and sometimes a sacrifice (M. P. Nilsson, “Rosalia,” RE [1920], 1111–1115, esp.
1111).
7 Cf. the Roman centurion recorded in Luke 7:1–5 who donated a synagogue.
8 οἶκος, here designating the “assembly hall” of a synagogue.
9 P(ublius) Tyrronios Klados.
10 Lucius son of Lucius (patronymic).
11 Publius Zotikos.
12 Modifier is in 2nd attrib. pos.
13 Here “to inscribe.”
14 τοίχους > τείχους.
15 λυπόν > λοιπόν.
16 S.v. ὅστις, “such persons.”
17 ἐτείμησεν > ἐτίμησεν.
18 “Synagogue congregation.”
19 τὴν...εὔνοιάν.
20 Ramsay, Cities and Bishoprics of Phrygia, no. 546. Though Ramsay thinks
that the “first” thiasos of mystes suggests a higher organization of two or more
thiasoi, it is more likely that it designates the first founded thiasos of several.
21 α´ (= πρῶτος) θίασος, perhaps designating the first founded thiasos of
several in Stobi.
22 Cl(audius) Tiberius Polycharmos.
23 “Also called,” “also known as.”
24 Achyrios.
25 The title πατὴρ τῆς ἐν συναγωγῆς prob. refers to his role as patron and
donor.
26 In the pl., οἴκους, indicates large rooms or halls (not buildings).
27 τῶν ἁγίων indicates the synagogue has a treasury.
28 Imperatival inf.
29 Prob. a provincial representative of the Palestinian patriarch, who was
resident in Stobi.
30 Imperatival inf.
 7.21. The Healing Testimonial of Marcus Julius
Apellas, Epidauros

(IG IV2/1, 126)

Provenance: Epidauros. Date: ca. 160 CE.

Text: IG IV2/1, 126; Emma Edelstein and Ludwig Edelstein, Asclepius: A
Collection and Interpretation of the Testimonies, 2 vols. (Baltimore: Johns
Hopkins University Press, 1945), no. 432.
Special Features: In contrast to the early Hellenistic testimonial inscriptions
(cf. §7.9), the later healing testimonials of the middle to late second century CE
indicate that, instead of the treatments coming from the dreams or epiphanies of
the god Asklepios, followed by the sudden cure of a single ailment, these
treatments were largely self-administered, taking such forms as baths, strolls,
and special foods, and they were generally administered over an extended period
of time. Nevertheless, it is clear that Asklepios was still ultimately responsible
for accomplishing these cures. Despite these differences, this inscription
preserves the same structure as the earlier testimonials: (1) name of the suppliant
and place of origin (l. 2); (2) diagnosis (ll. 3–6); (3) detailed prescription
regarding diet (ll. 7–12); (4, 5) cure, expression of thanksgiving, and payment of
a fee (ll. 20, 32).
Related Texts: Hellenistic healing testimonials (LiDonnici, §7.9).
Lines 1–16
Ἐπὶ ἱερέως Πο(πλίου) Αἰλ(ίου) Ἀντιόχου,1 Μ(ᾶρκος) Ἰούλιος Ἀπελλᾶς2
Ἰδριεὺς Μυλασεὺς3 μετεπέμφθην ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ,4 πολλάκις εἰς νόσους
ἐνπίπτων5 καὶ ἀπεψίαις χρώμενος. κατὰ δὴ τὸν πλοῦν ἐν Αἰγείνῃ ἐκέλευσέν
5 με μὴ πολλὰ ὀργίζεσθαι. ἐπεὶ δὲ ἐγενόμην ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ, ἐκέλευσεν ἐπὶ δύο

ἡμέρας συνκαλύψασθαι τὴν κεφαλήν, ἐν αἷς ὄμβροι ἐγένοντο, τυρὸν καὶ

ἄρτον προλαβεῖν, σέλεινα μετὰ θρίδακος, αὐτὸν δι’ αὑτοῦ6 λοῦσθαι, δρόμῳ
γυμνάζεσθαι, κιτρίου προλαμβάνειν τὰ ἄκρα,7 εἰς ὕδωρ ἀποβρέξαι, πρὸς8
ταῖς ἀκοαῖς ἐν βαλανείῳ προστρίβεσθαι τῷ τοίχωι,9 περιπάτῳ χρῆ σθαι
ὑπερῴῳ, (χρῆσθαι) αἰώραις, ἁφῇ πηλώσασθαι, ἀνυπόδητον περι πατεῖν, πρὶν
ἐνβῆναι10 ἐν τῶι βαλανείῳ εἰς τὸ θερμὸν ὕδωρ οἶνον περιχέασθαι, μόνον
λούσασθαι καὶ Ἀττικὴν δοῦναι τῶι βαλανεῖ, κοινῇ θῦσαι Ἀσκληπιῷ, Ἠπιόνῃ,
Ἐλευσεινίαις, 15 γάλα μετὰ μέλιτος προλαβεῖν· μιᾷ δὲ ἡμέρᾳ πιόντός μου11
γάλα μόνον, (Asklepios) εἶπεν· Μέλι ἔμβαλλε εἰς τὸ γάλα, ἵνα δύνηται
διακόπτειν.
Vocabulary
Αἰγείνη, ἡ, Aigina, island in the Saronic Gulf αἰώρησις, -εως, ἡ, passive
exercise ἀνυπόδητος, -ον, barefoot ἀπεψία, ἡ, impaired digestion (dyspepsia)
ἀποβρέχω, to soak Ἀσκληπιός, ὁ, Asklepios, god of healing Ἀττική, ἡ, Attic
drachma ἁφή, ἡ, sand βαλανεῖον, τό, bathhouse γάλα, -ακτος, τό, milk
γυμνάζω, mid. exercise oneself, to train διακόπτω, have a decisive effect (re a
remedy) Ἐλευσεινίαις > Ἐλευσινίαις, s.v. Ἐλευσίνιος, -α, -ον (adj.), of Eleusis;
fm. subst. the Eleusinian goddesses ἐμβαίνω, 4. ἐμβέβηκα, pf. ptc. ἐμβεβηκώς:
embark (in a boat); plunge into water; march/process ἐμβάλλω, put in Ἠπιόνη,
ἡ, Epione, the consort of Asklepios θερμός, -ή, -όν, hot; τὸ θερμός (=
θερμότης), heat θρίδαξ, ἡ, lettuce κίτριον, τό, lemon κοινός, -ή, -όν, common,
shared; public; κοινῇ σωτηρίᾳ, for common security/safety; subst. κοινόν, τό,
treasury; religious association; τὰ κοινά, common funds, public money; κοινῇ
(adv.), in common, as a group, in public μέλι, -ιτος, τό, honey μεταπέμπω,
send for, summon; arrest somebody ὄμβρος, ὁ, rainstorm περιπάτος, ὁ,
walking, a walk περιχέω, mid. pour something over oneself πηλόω, mid.
sprinkle oneself with something πολλάκις, often, repeatedly προστρίβω, rub
on/against (w. dat.) σέλινον, τό, celery συνκαλύπτω, to cover τυρός, ὁ, cheese
ὑπερῷον, τό, upper part of a house, upper portico Lines 17–25
ἐπεὶ δὲ ἐδεήθην τοῦ θεοῦ θᾶττόν12 με ἀπολῦσαι, ᾤμην νάπυϊ καὶ ἁλσὶν
κεχρειμένος13 ὅλος, ἐξιέναι κατὰ14 τὰς ἀκοὰς ἐκ τοῦ ἀβάτου,15 παιδάριον δὲ
ἡγεῖσθαι θυμιατήριον ἔχον ἀτμίζον16 καὶ τὸν ἱερέα λέγειν· Τεθεράπευσαι,
χρὴ δὲ ἀποδιδόναι τὰ ἴατρα. καὶ ἐποίησα, ἃ εἶδον,17 καὶ χρείμενος μὲν18 τοῖς
ἁλσὶ καὶ τῶι νάπυϊ ὑγρῶι ἤλγησα, λούμενος δὲ οὐκ ἤλγησα. ταῦτα ἐν ἐννέα
ἡμέραις ἀφ’ οὗ ἦλθον. ἥψατο δέ μου καὶ τῆς δεξιᾶς χειρὸς καὶ τοῦ μαστοῦ,
τῇ δὲ ἑξῆς ἡμέρᾳ ἐπιθύοντός μου19 φλὸξ ἀναδραμοῦσα 25 ἐπέφλευσε τὴν
χεῖρα, ὡς καὶ φλυκταίνας ἐξανθῆσαι·
Vocabulary
ἀλγέω, feel bodily pain, suffer from (w. acc.) (cf. l. 27) ἅλς, ἁλος, ὁ, salt
ἀνατρέχω, jump up, leap up ἀτμίζω, emit smoke ἐννέα, nine (indecl.)
ἐξανθέω, break out (of ulcers, blisters, etc.) ἐπιφλεύω, to scorch θυμιατήριον,
censer ἴατρα, τὰ, doctor’s fee, thank offering for a cure νᾶπυ, τό, mustard (cf. l.
21) ὑγρός, -ά, -όν, wet, moist; subst. liquid, the wet φλύκταινα, ἡ, blister χρή
(impers.), impf. ἐχρῆν: it is necessary (w. acc. + inf.) Lines 26–33
μετ’ ὀλίγον (χρόνον) δὲ ὑγιὴς ἡ χεὶρ ἐγένετο. ἐπιμείναντί μοι20 ἄνηθον
μετ’ ἐλαίου χρήσασθαι πρὸς21 τὴν κεφαλαλγίαν (Asklepios) εἶπεν. οὐ μὴν
ἤλγουν22 τὴν κεφαλήν. συνέβη οὖν φιλολογήσαντί μοι συνπληρωθῆναι·
χρησάμενος τῷ ἐλαίῳ ἀπηλάγην τῆς κεφαλαλγίας. ἀναγαργαρίζεσθαι ψυχρῷ
(ὕδατι) πρὸς τὴν σταφυλὴν – καὶ γὰρ περὶ τούτου παρεκάλεσα τὸν θεὸν – (he
ordered) τὸ αὐτὸ (treatment) καὶ πρὸς παρίσθμια. ἐκέλευσεν δὲ καὶ
ἀναγράψαι ταῦτα. χάριν23 εἰδὼς καὶ ὑγιὴς γενόμενος24 ἀπηλλάγην.
Vocabulary
ὑγιής, -ές, healthy; τίθημι ὑγιή, make well ἄνηθον, τό, dill κεφαλαλγία, ἡ,
headache (cf. l. 29) φιλολογέω, to study, pursue learning συμπληρόω, fill up;
pass. suffer from congestion ἀπαλγέω (w. gen.), no longer suffer from
ἀναγαργαρίζομαι, to gargle σταφυλή, ἡ, swollen glands παρίσθμια, τά, tonsils

1 Publius Aelius Antiochus.

2 Marcus Julius Apellas.

3 Idrian, from Mylasa.

4 I.e., by Asklepios.

5 ἐνπίπτων > ἐμπίπτων.

6 δι᾽ αὐτοῦ, “by myself” (i.e., without assistance).

7 τὰ ἄκρα...κιτρίου.
8 πρός, “near (the spot of).”

9 τοῖχωι > τεῖχωι > τεῖχῳ.

10 ἐνβῆναι> ἐμβῆναι.

11 Gen. absol.

12 θάττων (Att.) > θάσσων (s.v. ταχύς).

13 κεχρειμένος > κεχριμένος (cf. l. 21).

14 κατά, “near.”

15 ἐξιέναι...ἐκ τοῦ ἀβάτου.

16 θυμιατήριον...ἀτμίζον (dis. syn. [Y2 hyp.]).

17 I.e., “saw (in the vision).”

18 μέν...δέ....

19 Gen. absol.

20 Dat. of time.

21 “For,” “against.”

22 Cust. impf. (cf. IV, 13.2).

23 χάρις, here “thankfulness,” “gratitude.”

24 Gen. absol.
 7.22. Edict Suppressing a Bakers’ Strike in Ephesos
(IEph II, 215)

Provenance: Ephesos (cf. Fig. 2). Date: Late second century CE.
Text: W. H. Buckler, “Labour Disputes in the Province of Asia,” in Anatolian
Studies Presented to Sir William Mitchell Ramsay, 27–50, esp. 33–36, ed. W. H.
Buckler and W. M. Calder (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1923);
IEph II, 215.
Many Greek cities came into being through the amalgamation of local tribes.
This process, so common in the Greek world, underwent an interesting
modification in many cities of Lydia and Phrygia. In many cities of these
regions, the native population was grouped not on the basis of tribal
membership, but on the basis of membership in trade guilds (ἑταιρία). In fact, a
number of local towns actually began as groupings of trade guilds.
Subsequently, when these towns were formally constituted as Greek cities, the
population of the city continued to be divided on the basis of guild membership.
While it is true that the Romans sometimes banned such guilds from meeting
and having a common treasury, it is clear that, in the East, private guilds of
ancient origin, such as those of the bakers (ἀρτοκόποι) and silversmiths
(ἀργυρκόποι) of Ephesos (Acts 19:21–20:1, §5.13), were tolerated by the state.
Rome’s leniency toward trade guilds in Asia Minor on such a major scale might
have been because of their ancient tradition and the danger of tampering with
long-standing local custom. Rather than banning guilds, the government chose to
Romanize them and bring them within the category of collegia legitima.
According to Marcus Tod, “The trade-guilds of antiquity were primarily, or
even exclusively, religious and social, and did not normally seek to regulate or
modify the conditions under which industry was carried on.”1 Nevertheless, it is
clear that some trade guilds did on occasion engage in political activity. Though
it was not their principal function, guilds of tradesmen did sometimes enter into
contractual agreements on behalf of their members, and might even organize
public disturbances and strikes.2 In the case of the guild (ἑταιρία) of the city
bakers (ἀρτοκόποι) in Ephesos, this involved ceasing to make bread for the city
and the instigation of public riots.3 Similar disruptions of the work of tradesmen
have been documented in Pergamon and Miletos,4 though the latter examples are
not identical, since the workers were engaged individually by an employer.
Nonetheless, if unaligned workers could organize themselves to strike when
provoked, it is all the more likely that workers who were organized into a guild
could also strike when their common interests were threatened.5 In response to
the bakers of Ephesos, the Roman governor ordered them to resume their work
or face severe penalties. He also banned future meetings of the guild.6
Related Texts: Silversmiths Instigate a Riot in Ephesos (Acts 19:21–20:1,
§5.13) Lines 1–9
[ – - – - ] δὲ καὶ κατὰ συνθήκην πα[ – - – ]άντων [- – - – ] ὥστε7
συμβαίνειν8 ἐνίοτε τὸν δῆμον ἰς9 ταραχὴν καὶ θορύβους ἐνπίπτειν10 διὰ τὴν
σύλλογην καὶ ἀθρασίαν τῶν ἀρτοκόπων ἐπὶ τῇ ἀγορᾷ στάσεων, ἐ οἷς
ἐχρῆν11 αὐτοὺς μεταπεμφθέντας ἤδη δίκην ὑποσχεῖν· ἐπεὶ δὲ τὸ τῇ πόλει
συμφέρον χρὴ12 τῆς τούτων τιμωρίας μᾶλλον προτιμᾶν, ἀναγκαῖον ἡγησάμην
διατάγματι αὐτοὺς σωφρονίσαι· ὅθεν ἀπαγορεύω μήτε13 συνέρχεσθαι τοὺς
ἀρτοκόπους κα ἑταιρίαν μήτε (its) προεστηκότας θρασύνεσθαι, (order them)
πειθαρχεῖν δὲ παντως τοῖς ὑπὲρ τοῦ κοινῇ συμφέροντος ἐπιταττομένοις14 καὶ
τὴν ἀναγκαίαν τοῦ ἄρτου ἐργασίαν ἀνενδεῆ παρέχειν τῇ πόλει·
Vocabulary
ἀθρασία, ἡ, rebellious talk ἀνενδεής, -ές, in want of nothing; nt. (adv.),
unfailingly ἀπαγορεύω, forbid ἀρτοκόπος, ὁ, baker δῆμος, ὁ, people, crowd;
the People (i.e., the full citizen body of a Greek polis, as represented by the
Assembly [ἐκκλησία]) διατάγμα, -ματος, τό, edict, decree ἐνίοτε (adv.), at
times, sometimes ἑταιρία, ἡ, trade guild; κα ἑταιρίαν, as a guild θρασύνω (w.
acc.), boast of κοινός, -ή, -όν, common, shared; public; κοινῇ σωτηρίᾳ, for
common security/safety; subst. κοινόν, τό, treasury; religious association; τὰ
κοινά, common funds, public money; κοινῇ (adv.), in common, as a group, in
public μεταπέμπω, send for, summon; arrest somebody ὅθεν, from where, from
which (adv. of place); for which reason πειθαρχέω, obey προΐστημι, pf. act. ptc.
προεστηκώς, 6. προύστην: set over, choose as one’s leader; pass. be leader of,
preside over something (gen.); subst. ptc. leader προτιμάω, inf. προτιμᾶν:
prefer στάσις, -εως, ἡ, standing still; riot, rioting, uprising σύλλογη, ἡ,
assembly, gathering συνθήκη, ἡ, agreement σωφρονίζω, call somebody to his or
her senses ταραχή, ἡ, disturbance of social order ὑπέχω, 3. ὑπέσχον: undergo,
suffer (a penalty/punishment) χρή (impers.), impf. ἐχρῆν: it is necessary (w.
acc. + inf.) Lines 10–22
ὡς ἂν ἁλῷ τις αὐτῶν τὸ ἀπὸ τοῦδε (χρόνου) ἢ συνιὼν15 παρὰ16 τὰ
διηγορευμένα ἢ θορύβου τινὸς καὶ στάσεως ἐξάρχων, μεταπεμφθεὶς τῇ
προσηκούῃ τειμωρίᾳ κολασθήσεται· ἐὰν δέ τις τολμή’ τὴν πόλιν ἐνεδρεύων
ἀποκρύψαι αὑτόν, (the word) δεκυείροις ἐπὶ ποδὸς προσσειμιωθήσεται· καὶ ὁ
τὸν τοιοῦτον δὲ ὑποδεξάμενος τῇ 15 αὐτῇ τιμωρίᾳ ὑπεύθυνος γενήσεται. Ἐπὶ
πρυτάνεως Κλ(αυδίου) Μοδέστου,17 μηνὸς Κλαρεῶνος δ´ ἱσ(ταμένου),18
βουλῆς ἀγομένης19 ἄλλο μέρος·20 Μαρκελλεῖνος21 εἶπεν·22 τῆς δὲ ἀπονοίας
τῶν ἐργαστηριαρχῶν (gave) μέγιστον δεῖγμα χθὲς Ἑρμείας23 ὁ πρὸς τῇ ταμίᾳ
ᾧ μετ [- – - -]αντη·
Vocabulary
ἀποκρύπτω, hide from, keep hidden ἀπονοία, ἡ, rebellion δεῖγμα, -ματος, τό,
example δεκυείροις > δεκυίροις, s.v., δεκουρίων (Lat. loanw. decurio), a
member of a local council or senate διηγορεύω, pass. ptc. διηγορευμένα:
declare; subst. pass. ptc. orders ἐνεδρεύω, plot against ἐξάρχω (w. gen.), to
lead, initiate ἐργαστηριαρχής, -οῦ, ὁ, workshop foreman Κλαρεῶν, Klareon
(month name) προσακούω, hear besides προσσειμιόω, to brand in addition
ταμίας, ὁ, treasurer ὑπεύθυνος, -ον, liable to ὑποδέχομαι, entertain as a guest;
submit to; provide hospitality for (a god); undertake, promise χθές, yesterday

Select Bibliography
Baldwin, B. H. “Strikes in the Roman Empire.” CJ 59 (1964), 75–76.
MacMullen, Ramsay. “A Note on Roman Strikes.” CJ 48 (1962–1963), 269–
271.

1 M. N. Tod, Sidelights on Greek History (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1932), 82.

2 Cf. A. Guardina, Opus 1 (1982), 115–146, esp. 117–126.

3 Cf. trade guild of bakers in Thyratira (TAM V/2, 966).

4 Buckler, “Labour Disputes,” 33–36; A. Conze, and C. Schuchhardt, “Die
Arbeiten zu Pergamon 1886–1898,” MA 24 (1899), 97–240, esp. 198, no. 62.

5 A letter from the city of Mylassa to the emperor Semptimus Severus cites a
decree that regulates the activity of the city bankers (OGI 515). Dio also refers to
the disturbances and riots caused by the Tarsian linen workers (M. Rostovtzeff,
Social and Economic History of the Roman Empire, 2 vols., 2nd ed. [Oxford:
Clarendon, 1998], 179).

6 Guilds might also defend the collective interests of their members, over
against their employers, by negotiating labor contracts. Consider, for example,
the labor contract of Sardian tradesmen, which formed the basis of all
employment between the tradesmen in the construction trade and their
employers (CIG 3467). This contract represents an attempt to avert future labor
stoppages. On the failure of building contractors to fulfill the terms of their
agreement with the polis see SEG 34.354.

7 ὥστε + inf. (cf. IV, 15).

8 τὸν δῆμον is the subject of συμβαίνειν + ἐνπίπτειν.

9 ἰς > εἰς.

10 ἐνπίπτειν > ἐμπίπτειν.

11 Construe w. ὑποσχεῖν.

12 Construe w. inf. προτιμᾶν.

13 Μήτε ... μήτε....

14 ἐπιταττομένοις, Att. > ἐπιτασσομένοις; subst. ptc. τοῖς...ἐπιταττομένοις.

15 S.v. σύνειμι (fr. εἶμι). The participial forms of εἶμι are ἰών, ἰοῦσα, ἰόν (not
to be confused with σύνειμι fr. εἰμί or with συνίημι (fr. ἵημι, cf. table 9.15).

16 παρά, “contrary to.”

17 Claudius Modestus.

18 On this formula see IV, 6; for alphabetic numerals see table 9.18.

19 Gen. absol.; ἄγω, “to hold a meeting.”

20 ἄλλο μέρος, i.e., “apart from the regularly appointed meetings.”

21 Marcellinus.

22 On the technical language of decrees see IG II2 337 (§7.12).

23 Hermeias.
 7.23. The Klarian Oracle on Pagan Monotheism
(NewDocs II, 39)

Provenance: Oinoanda, northern Lykia (cf. Fig. 2). Date: Late third century CE.
Text: G. E. Bean, Journeys in Northern Lycia, 1965–1967, Denkschriften der
Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Philologisch-historische Klasse
104 (Vienna 1971), 20–22, no. 37; G. H. R. Horsely, NewDocs II, 39; Stephen
Mitchell, “The Cult of Theos Hypsistos between Pagans, Jews, and Christians,”
in Pagan Monotheism in Late Antiquity, 81–92, ed. P. Athanassiadi and M.
Frede (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1999).
This inscription is written in fine dactylic hexameter verse.1 It is an oracular
response from Klarian Apollo, the oracular sanctuary of Apollo at Klaros. It was
delivered to a citizen of the city of Oinoanda. The oracle purports to tell about
the very nature of God, conceived of monotheistically. The change of speaker
between lines 1–3 and lines 4–6, combining a first-person quotation with a third-
person summary of the text, suggests that the original form of the oracle was
lengthier than the inscribed version.

The speaker of this oracle is Apollo himself: Αὐτοφυὴς ἀδίδακτος ἀμήτωρ

ἀστυφέλικτος, οὔνομα2 μὴ χωρῶν, πολυώνυμος, ἐν πυρὶ ναίων,
τοῦτο (is) θεός· (are) μεικρὰ3 δὲ θεοῦ μερὶς (his) ἄνγελοι4 ἡμεῖς.
τοῦτο (question) πευθομένοισι θεοῦ περί,5 ὅστις ὑπάρχει, Αἰθέρα
πανδερκῆ (is) θεὸν (Apollo) ἔννεπεν, εἰς ὃν ὁρῶντας 5
εὔχεσ ἠῶους6 πρὸς ἀντολίην7 ἐσορῶντας.8

Vocabulary
ἀδίδακτος, -ον, untaught αἰθήρ, -έρος, ὁ/ἡ, ether, the divine element in the
human soul; Αἰθήρ, personified ether ἀμήτωρ, -ορος, motherless
ἀστυφέλικτος, -ον, undisturbed, unshakable αὐτοφυής, -ές, self-grown, born of
him-/itself εἰσοράω (also ἐσοράω), pres. ptc. εἰσορῶν, εἰσορῶντος: look upon
(w. admiration), gaze at (πρός) ἐν(ν)έπω, impf. ἔννεπον: pronounce that (acc.)
ἠώς, ἠῶους (gen.), ἡ, dawn ναίω, dwell in, inhabit πανδερκής, -ές, all-seeing
πολυώνυμος, -ον, having many names

1 On the rules of dactylic hexameter see the Delphic oracle inscription (§7.10,
cf. §7.11). For a summary of the rules for determining vowel quantity see
Ezekiel the Tragedian (§6.6, n. 184).

2 οὔνομα > ὄνομα.

3 μεικρά > μικρά.

4 ἄνγελοι > ἄγγελοι; probably refers to gods who, as messengers, constituted

part of the one ultimate God.

5 θεοῦ περί = περί θεοῦ.

6 Gen. of time.

7 ἀντολίην (poet.) > ἀνατολην.

8 ἐσορῶνταίς > εἰσορῶνταίς.

 7.24. The Metrical Epigram of the Pectorius, A
Christian from Autun
(IG XIV, 2525)

Provenance: Discovered in 1839 in an old cemetery at Augustodunum (Autun)

in southern France.
Date: Late second to early third century CE.
Text: IG XIV, 2525; SEG 29.825.
The text consists of three elegiac distichs (ll. 1–6) followed by five
hexameters (ll. 7–11).1 The first letter lines 1–5 form an acrostic of ΙΧΘΥΣE.
The form ἰχθύσε is apparently a 2nd decl. masc. voc. (-ε) (instead of the
expected voc. form, ἴχθύ).2 The term ἰχθύς also opens the first verse and appears
in lines 6, 7, and 11. Lines 7–11 constitute a funerary inscription commissioned
by Pectorius for his mother.

The Elegiac Distich

The hexameter is frequently combined with a second metrical form. The
combined form is known as an “elegy.” An elegiac distich consists of two lines:
the first line is a dactylic hexameter; the second line consists of the first two and
a half metra of a hexameter, known as a “hemiepes,” repeated once and
separated by a caesura ( | ). The first two metra of the first hemiepes may be
either dactyl or spondee, but the first two metra of the second hemiepes must be
dactyls. The last syllable of the second hemiepes is an anceps (x). This repeated
hemiepes pattern can be summarized as follows: 1 2 ½ 1 2 ½
– ˇ ˇ – ˇ ˇ – | – ˇ ˇ – ˇ ˇ x or or
–– ––

Didactic acrostic poem Ἰχθύος οὐρανίου, θεῖον γένος, ἤτορι σεμνῷ

Χρῆσε3 λαβὼν πηγὴν4 ἄμβροστον ἐν5 βροτέοις.
 Θεσπεσίων ὑδάτων, τὴν σην,6 φίλε, θάλπετο (your) ψυχὴν
Ὕδασιν ἀεινάοις7 πλουτοδότου σοφίης.8
Σωτῆρος ἁγίων μελιηδέα9 λάμβανε βρῶσιν. 5
Ἔσθιε πινάξων ἰχθὺν ἔχων παλάμαις. 10

Vocabulary
ἀένναος, -ον, ever-flowing, everlasting ἄμβροστος, -ον, immortal βροτέοις >
βροτείοις, s.v. βρότειος, -ον, mortal; subst. a mortal εὕδω, sleep, rest ἦτορ,
ἤτορι (dat.), τό, heart, mind θάλπω, keep warm, enflame (of passions), comfort
θεσπέσιος, -α, -ον, divine, oracular μελιηδής, -ές, honey-sweet παλάμη, ἡ,
palm of the hand πεινάω, to be hungry πλουτοδότης, -ου, ὁ, giver of riches
(epith. of various gods)

Funerary inscription Ἰχ ῦβο , ἄρα λιλαιῶ, δέσποτα, σῶτερ, εὖ εὕδοι

μητὴρ σε λιτάζομει, φῶς τὸ θανόντων,11
Ἀσχάνδιε12 πάτερ, τὠμῷ13 κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ, σὺν μητρὶ γλυκερῇ
κάδελφειοῖσιν ἐμοῖσιν14 10
ἰχθύος εἰρήνῃ σοῦ μνήσεο Πεκτορίοιο.16
15

Vocabulary
Ἰχθῦβο > Ἰχθύβοτε (voc.), s.v. Ἰχθυβότης, the fish who feeds17 (term related
to ἰχθύβοτος, -ον, “fed on by fish”) λιτάζομει > λιτάζομαι, s.v. λιλαίω, long for,
pray, beg

1 On the rules of dactylic hexameter see the Delphic oracle inscription (§7.10,
cf. §7.11). For a summary of the rules for determining vowel quantity see
Ezekiel the Tragedian (§6.6, n. 184).

2 ΙΧΘΥΣ (“fish”) is an acronym for Ἰησοῦς, Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ.

3 χρῆσε > χρῆσαι.

4 πηγὴν...θεσπεσίων ὑδάτων.
5 ἐν, “among.”

6 σὴν...ψυχήν.

7 ἀεινάοις > ἀένναοις, s.v. ἀένναος.

8 σοφίης > σοφίας.

9 μελιηδέα...βρῶσιν.

10 A reference to Eucharistic practice.

11 S.v. θνῄσκω.

12 Aschandius.

13 τὠμῷ > τῷ ἐμῷ (dat. of poss.); τὠμῷ...θυμῷ.

14 κάδελφειοῖσιν ἐμοῖσιν (poet.) > καὶ ἀδελφειοῖς ἐμοῖ.

15 μνήσεο > μνήσθου, s.v. μιμνήσκομαι.

16 σοῦ...Πεκτορίοιο > σοῦ Πεκτορίου.

17 I.e., Christ is the mystic fish who sacrifices himself as food to be fed to the
faithful.
 Part 8 Advanced-Level Hellenistic Greek: Atticizing
and Literary Greek

Part 8 brings together a small selection of readings composed in literary

Hellenistic Greek. Flavius Philostratus’s Life of Apollonios of Tyana (§§8.1, 8.5)
provides an example of “Atticizing” Greek, a style of Hellenistic Greek modeled
on the standards of the Classical Greek of the great Attic authors of the fourth
and fifth centuries BCE. This section also includes two samples of philosophical
Greek, namely, excepts from Epicurus’s Letter to Menoeceus (§8.2) and his
Letter to Herodotus (§8.6) and an excerpt from the Stoic philosopher Epictetus
(§8.3). The style and vocabulary of Epictetus are remarkably close to the Greek
found in the New Testament. The final reading is taken from Poimandres, the
first tractate of the well-known Hermetic Corpus (§8.4). The vocabulary lists of
Part 8 have been compiled on the assumption that you have memorized all the
(bolded) words listed for memorization in Parts 1–7 (excluding the online
material).1 But all vocabulary for memorization can also be found in the glossary
(§10).
 8.1. Flavius Philostratus, Life of Apollonios of Tyana
(VA 8.7.7–9)

Lucius Flavius Philostratus (172–250 CE) was a Greek Sophist. After studying
in Athens, he settled in Rome. His earliest work tells the story of the life of
Apollonios (ca. 40–120 CE), a wandering Neopythagorean religious teacher and
miracle worker from Tyana (modern southwest Turkey). Apollonios was the
subject of several biographies.
However, the only surviving account of his life is that of Flavius Philostratus,
who worked with these other biographies in writing his own work.
Apollonios of Tyana is one of many so-called divine men (θεῖοι ἄνδρες), who
were worshipped as “gods,” or “sons” of god, owing to their reputation for
performing miracles, healing the sick, raising individuals from the dead, and
even appearing to their followers after death.1 According to his biography,
Apollonios was born from the union of Apollo and a mortal virgin, named
Karinus. At the end of his life, he was miraculously translated to heaven and, in
a manner evocative of Christ’s appearance to Paul on the road to Damascus
(Acts 9:1–9), appeared to one of his disciples who had not accepted his teacher’s
instruction on the immortality of the soul.
Date: 217–238 CE.
Text: F. C. Conybeare, Philostratus: Life of Apollonius of Tyana, 2 vols. LCL
16–17 (Cambridge, MA, 1912); cf. Klauck, 168–177.
Related Texts: Philostratus: Life of Apollonios of Tyana (VA 4.17–18) (§8.5);
like Jesus of Nazareth, Apollonios was charged with being a sorcerer and in
league with demons (cf. Mark 3:20–30, §1.5).

8.7.7
Toward the end of his life, Apollonios was charged with being a sorcerer,
someone who dealt with demons, and with falsely pretending to be a god. He
defended himself before the emperor against these charges as follows: 265 (My
accuser) Φησὶ γὰρ τοὺς ἀνθρώπους θεὸν2 ἡγεῖσθαί με καὶ δημοσίᾳ τοῦ
ἐκφέρειν ἐμβεβροντημένους ὑ ἐμοῦ· καίτοι καὶ πρὸ τῆς αἰτίας ἐκεῖνα
διδάσκειν (αὐτὸν) ἔδει, (namely) τί διαλεχθεὶς3 ἐγώ, τί4 οὕτω5 θαυμάσιον
εἰπὼν ἢ πράξας ὑπηγαγόμην τοὺς ἀνθρώπους προσεύχεσθαί μοι; 270 οὔτε6
γάρ, ἐς ὅ τι7 ἢ ἐξ ὅτου8 μετέβαλον ἢ μεταβαλεῖ μοι9 ἡ ψυχή, (this) διελέχθην
ἐν Ἕλλησι, καίτοι γιγνώσκων, οὔτε δόξας10 περὶ ἐμαυτοῦ τοιαύτας
ἀπέστειλα, οὔ ἐς λόγια καὶ χρησμῶν ᾠδὰς ἐξῆλθον, οἷα τῶν
θεοκλυτούντων φορά, οὐ οἶδα (any) πόλιν οὐδε μίαν, 275 ἐν ᾗ ἔδοξε11
ξυνιόντας12 Ἀπολλωνίῳ θύειν. καίτοι πολλοῦ ἄξιος ἑκάστοις13 ἐγενόμην,
ὁπόσα ἐδέοντο μου, ἐδέοντο δὲ τοιαῦτα· (that) μὴ νοσεῖν οἱ νοσοῦντες,
(might be) ὁσιώτεροι μύειν, (might be) ὁσιώτεροι θύειν, ὕβριν ἐκτετμῆσθαι
νόμους ἐρρῶσθαι.14 μισθὸς ἐμοὺ μὲν τούτων (benefactions) ὑπῆρχε (that)
τὸ βελτίους αὐτοὺς αὑτῶν φαίνεσθαι,15 σοὶ δὲ ἐχαριζόμην ταῦτα·
Vocabulary

βελτίων, -ίον (comp. of ἀγαθός), better, better than (w. gen.);

βελτίους...αὑτῶν (> ἑαυτῶν) (i.e., better than they were before) ἐκτέμνω,
4. ἐκτέτμηκα, pf. pass. inf. ἐκτετμῆσθαι: cut out (of a diseased part),
eliminate ἐμβροντάω, pass. (lit.), be struck by lightning; be made
insane/raving mad θεοκλυτέω, call upon/invoke the gods λόγιον, τό, a
saying, oracle; omen μεταβάλλω, to change; to turn/transform into
something
μυέω, initiate somebody (into the mysteries); pass. to have performed
mysteries, to be initiated (into the mysteries) ὁπόσος, -ον, as many as, as
much as (like ὅσος) χρησμός, -ον, oracular; subst. oracle

280 Ὥσπερ γὰρ οἱ τῶν βοῶν ἐπιστάται τὸ μὴ ἀτακτεῖν16 αὐτὰς

χαρίζονται17 τοῖς κεκτημένοις τὰς βοῦς καὶ (ὥσπερ) οἱ τῶν ποιμνίων
ἐπιμεληταὶ πιαίνουσιν αὐτὰ ἐς18 τὸ τῶν πεπαμένων κέρδος νόσους τε 285
ἀφαιροῦσι μελιττῶν οἱ νομεῖς αὐτῶν, ὡς μὴ ἀπόλοιτο τῷ δεσπότῃ τὸ
σμῆνος, οὕτως που καὶ ἐγὼ τὰ πολιτικὰ παύων19 ἐλαττώματα20 σοὶ
διωρθούμην τὰς πόλεις, ὥσ εἰ καὶ θεὸν21 ἡγοῦντό με, σοὶ κέρδος ἡ ἀπάτη
εἶχε, ξὺν22 προθυμίᾳ γάρ που ἠκροῶντό μου, δεδιότες23 πράττειν,24 ἃ μὴ
δοκεῖ θεῷ. 290 ἀλ οὐχὶ τοῦτο ᾤοντο, ὅτι ἐστί25 τις26 ἀνθρώπῳ πρὸς
θεὸν ξυγγένεια,27 δἰ ἣν μόνον ζῴων θεοὺς οἶδε, φιλοσοφεῖ δὲ καὶ ὑπὲρ τῆς
ἑαυτοῦ φύσεως καὶ ὅπῃ μετέχει τοῦ θείου. φησὶ μὲν οὖν καὶ (his) τὸ εἶδος
αὐτὸ θεῷ ἐοικέναι, 295 ὡς ἀγαλματοποιΐα ἑρμηνεύει (it) καὶ χρώματα (of
painters), τάς τε ἀρετὰς θεόθεν ἥκειν ἐ αὐτὸν πέπεισται28 καὶ τοὺς
μετέχοντας αὐτῶν ἀγχιθέους τε εἶναι καὶ θείους.
Vocabulary

ἀγαλματοποιΐα, ἡ, sculpture ἀγχιθεός, -όν, near to the gods ἀκροάομαι,

listen to, obey (+ gen.) ἀτακτέω, neglect one’s duties, neglect (animals)
δείδω, 2pf. inf. δεδιέναι, 2pf. ptc. δεδιώς: fear διωρθόομαι, correct,
improve ἐλασσώμα (Att. ἐλαττώμα), -ματος, τό, defect ἐπιστάτης, ὁ,
overseer, manager; ἐπιστάτης τῶν βοῶν, cowherd, ἐπιστάτης τῶν
ποιμνίων, shepherd ἑρμηνεύω, interpret θεόθεν, from the gods
μέλισσα (Att. μέλιττα), bee νομεύς, ὁ, herdsman; νομεύς μελισσῶν,
beekeeper ὅπῃ, by which; ὅπῃ ἢ ὅπως, a way by which πάομαι, to
get/acquire; pl. subst. οἱ πεπάμενοι, owners πιαίνω, fatten (animals)
πολιτικός, -ή, -όν, relating to citizens, civic σμῆνος, -εος, τό, hive, swarm
(of bees) συγγένεια, ἡ, kinship, relationship with (πρός) φιλοσοφέω,
study philosophy, speculate about (ὑπέρ); subst. ptc. student of philosophy

8.7.8
Later in the narrative, Apollonios addresses the legal charge made against him
by an Egyptian man and gives an account of how he really averted a plague from
the city of Ephesos: 345 Ἔστω (me), βασιλεῦ, (address the) κατηγορία καὶ ὑπὲρ
τῆς Ἐφέσου, ἐπειδὴ ἐσώθη, καὶ κρινέτω με ὁ Αἰγυπτιος, ὡς ἔστιν πρόσφορον
τῇ γραφῇ29 (αὐτοῦ). ἔστι γὰρ δήπου ἡ κατηγορία τοιαύτη· 350 (Let us
suppose that) περὶ Σκύθας ἢ Κελτούς, οἳ (on) ποταμὸν Ἴστρον ἢ Ῥῆνον
οἰκοῦσι, πόλις ᾤκισται μείων οὐδὲν Ἐφέσου τῆς ἐν Ἰωνίᾳ· ταύτην (πόλιν)
ὁρμητήριον βαρβάρων οὖσαν,30 οἳ μὴ ἀκροῶνταί σου, λοιμὸς μέν τις
ἀπολεῖν ἔμελλεν, Ἀπολώνιος δὲ ἰάσατο (it). ἔστι μὲν γάρ τις καὶ πρὸς ταῦτα
ἀπολογία31 σοφῷ ἀνδρί, 355 ἢν32 ὁ βασιλεὺς33 (has) τὸ ἀντίξοον ὅπλοις,
ἀλλὰ μὴ νόσοις αἱρεῖν (his enemies) βούληται, μὴ γὰρ ἐξαλειφθείη34 πόλις
μηδεμία, μήτε σοί, βασιλεῦ, μήτε ἐμοί, μήτε ἴδοιμι35 πρὸς ἱεροῖς36 νόσον, δἰ
ἣν37 οἱ νοσοῦντες ἐν38 αὐτοῖς κείσονται, ἀλλὰ μὴ ἔστω ἐν (our) σπουδῇ τὰ
(affairs) βαρβάρων, 360 μηδὲ τάττωμεν39 (to restore) αὐτοὺς ἐς τὸ ὑγιαῖνον
(our) πολεμιωτάτους ὄντας καὶ οὐκ ἐνσπόνδους τῷ περὶ40 ἡμᾶς γένει. τὴν δὲ
Ἔφεσον τίς ἀφαιρήσεται τὸ σώζεσθαι βεβλημένην μὲν τὰς41 ἀρχὰς τοῦ
γένους ἐκ τῆς καθαρωτάτης Ἀτθίδος, (ἣ) ἐπιδεδωκυῖαν δὲ παρὰ πάσας
(πόλεις), ὁπόσαι Ἰωνικαί τε καὶ Λύδιοι, 365 (ἣ) προβεβηκυῖαν δὲ ἐπὶ τὴν
θάλατταν διὰ τὸ ὑπερήκειν τῆς γῆς, ἐ ἧς ᾠκίσθη, (ἣ) μεστὴν δὲ
φροντισμάτων οὖσαν φιλοσόφων τε καὶ ῥητορικῶν, ὑ ὧν ἡ πόλις42 οὐχ
ἵππῳ μυριάσι δὲ ἀνθρώπων ἰσχύει, (whose) σοφίαν (ἡ πόλιν) ἐπαινοῦσα; 370
τίς ἂν43 σοφὸς ἐκλιπεῖν σοι δοκεῖ τὸν44 ὑπὲρ πόλεως τοιαύτης ἀγῶνα
ἐνθυμηθεὶς μὲν (ὅτι) Δημόκριτον45 ἐλευθερώσαντα λοιμοῦ ποτε Ἀβδηρίτας,
ἐννοήσας δὲ Σοφοκλέα46 τὸν Ἀθηναῖον, ὃς λέγεται καὶ ἀνέμους θέλξαι τῆς
ὥρας πέρα πνεύσαντας, ἀκηκοὼς δὲ τὰ Ἐμπεδοκλέους,47 ὃς νεφέλης ἀνέσχε
φορὰν48 ἐ Ἀκραγαντίνους ῥαγείσης;49
Vocabulary

Ἀβδηρίται, οἱ, people of Abdera, Thrace αἱρέω, pres. inf. αἱρεῖν, 1aor.
ᾕρησα / εἷλον (√ ἑλ-), 2aor. mid. εἱλάμην/όμην: take by the hand; take
away, remove; entrap, take captive; mid. take for oneself, choose; pass. be
chosen Ἀκραγάντινοι, people of Agrigentum, Sicily ἀντίξοον, τό,
opposition ἀπολογία, ἡ, defense Ἀτθίς, -ίδος, ἡ, Attic (i.e., of Attica)
βάρβαρος, -ον, barbarous (i.e., non-Greek-speaking, foreign); subst.
barbarian δήπου, doubtless; “I presume”
ἐλευθερόω, set free, liberate ἐνθυμέομαι, 6. ἐνεθυμήθην, reflect; pass.
(dep.), to have reflected ἔνσπονδος, -ον, under treaty (i.e., at peace) with (+
dat.) ἐξαλείφω, wipe out, obliterate Ἐφέσιος, -ία, -ίον, Ephesian (adj.);
subst. Ephesians Ἔφεσος, ἡ, Ephesos Ἴστρος, ὁ, Ister River (Danube)
Ἰωνικός, -η, -ον, of Ionia, Ionian; pl. subst., Ionian cities κατηγορία, ἡ,
accusation Κελτοί, οἱ, Celts λοιμός, ὁ, plague
Λύδιος, -α, -ον, of Lydia, Lydian; pl. subst. Lydian cities μείων (m.), μείον
(nt.), of lesser importance (than) (+ gen.) οἰκίζω, aor. ᾤκισα, poet. ᾤκισσα,
4. ᾤκικα, pf. pass. ᾤκισμαι: found a city/colony; build ὁρμητήριον, τό,
military base of operations πέρα, beyond (+ gen.); πέρα τῆς ὥρας, beyond
the season (i.e., unseasonably) προσφορός, όν, suitable, proper Ῥῆνος, ὁ,
Rhine River ῥητορικός, -ή, -όν, oratorical, rhetorical; subt. rhetorician
Σκύθαι, οἱ, Scythians (people of the northeast of western Europe) ὑγιαῖνος,
-ον, relating to good health; subst. health ὑπερήκω, to have outgrown (+
gen.) φροντισμά, -ματος, τό, thought, idea
8.7.9
375 Ἐπικόπτει με ὁ κατήγορος· ἀκούεις (him) γάρ που καὶ σύ, ὦ βασιλεῦ, καί
φησιν, οὐκ ἐπειδὴ σωτηρίας αἴτιος Ἐφεσίοις ἐγενόμην, γράφεσθαί50 με, ἀλ
ἐπειδὴ προεῖπον (ὅτι) ἐμπεσεῖσθαι σφισι τὴν νόσον, τουτὶ51 γὰρ ὑπὲρ (the
powers of) σοφίαν εἶναι καὶ (is) τερατῶδες, 380 τῆς52 ἐπὶ τοσόνδε ἀληθείας
οὐκ ἂν ἐφικέσθαι με, εἰ μὴ γόης τε ἦν καὶ ἀπόρρητος. τί οὖν ἐνταῦθα ἐρεῖ
Σωκράτης53 ὑπὲρ ὧν ἔφασκε τοῦ δαιμονίου μανθάνειν; τί δὲ Θαλῆς54 τε καὶ
Ἀναξαγόρας, τὼ55 Ἴωνε, ὁ μὲν τὴν εὐφορίαν τὴν τῶν ἐλαιῶν (προεῖπεν), 385
ὁ δὲ πολλὰ τῶν οὐρανίων παθῶν προεῖπεν; ἦ γοητεύοντε προειπεῖν ταῦτα;
καὶ μὴν καὶ ὑπήχθησαν οὗτοι δικαστηρίοις ἐ ἑτέραις αἰτίαις, καὶ οὐδαμοῦ
τῶν αἰτιῶν εἴρηται56 γόητας εἶναι σφᾶς, ἐπειδὴ προγιγνώσκουσι. 390
καταγέλαστον γὰρ τοῦτο ἐδόκει καὶ οὐ ἐν Θετταλίᾳ (would it be) πιθανὸν
κα ἀνδρῶν57 λέγεσθαι58 σοφῶν, οὖ τὰ γύναια κακῶς ἤκουεν ἐπὶ59 τῇ τῆς
σελήνης ἕλξει.
Vocabulary

ἀπόρρητος, -ον, unfit to be spoken, abominable; subst. detestable person

γόης, -ητος, ὁ, sorcerer γοητεύω, be a sorcerer γύναιον, τό, weak woman
(term of contempt) δικαστήριον, τό, court of justice ἐλαία, ἡ, olive ἕλξις,
-εως, ἡ, attraction, attractive power ἐνταῦθα, here, there; then ἐπικόπτω,
reprove, censure εὐφορία, ἡ, abundant crop ἦ, is it the truth that ... ?
Θεσσαλία, ἡ (Att. Θετταλία), Thessaly Ἴων, -ωνος, pl. Ἴωνες, dual Ἴωνε
(nom., acc., cf. table 9.16): Ionian καταγέλαστος, -ον, ridiculous, absurd
κατήγορος, ὁ, accuser (cf. 390) μανθάνω, 2aor. ἔμαθον,2aor. inf. μαθεῖν,
4. μεμάθηκα, pf. ptc. μεμαθηκώς: learn; learn something from (ἀπό / gen.)
somebody οὐδαμός, -ή, -όν, not anyone, not any; οὐδαμοῦ, nowhere
πάθος, -εος, τό, misfortune, calamity; pain; pl. τὰ πάθη, emotions,
passions; οὐράνιος πάθος, meteorological disturbance πιθανός, -ή, -όν,
plausible προγινώσκω (Att. προγιγνώσκω), foresee, have foreknowledge
of σφεῖς, σφέων (gen.), σφίσι(ν) (dat.), σφᾶς (acc.), they, them (pron.)
τερατῶδης, -ες, miraculous τοσόσδε, τοσήδε, τοσόνδε, so great, so many;
ἐπὶ τοσόνδε, to such a degree φάσκω, declare, assert

390 πόθεν οὖν τοῦ περὶ τὴν Ἔφεσον πάθους ᾐσθόμην; ἤκουσας μὲν καὶ
τοῦ κατηγόρου εἰπόντος, ὅτι μὴ κατὰ60 τοὺς ἄλλους διαιτῶμαι, 395 κἀμοὶ61
δὲ ὑπὲρ τῶν ἐμαυτοῦ σιτίων, ὡς λεπτὰ καὶ ἡδίω62 τῆς ἑτέρων συβάριδος,
(as) ἐν ἀρχῇ εἴρηται· τοῦτό (diet) μοι, ὦ βασιλεῦ, τὰς αἰσθήσεις (μου) ἐν
αἰθρίᾳ τινὶ ἀπορρήτῳ φυλάττει κοὐκ63 ἐᾷ θολερὸν περὶ αὐτὰς64 οὐδὲν εἶναι,
(καὶ ἐᾷ με) διορᾶν τε, ὥσπερ ἐν κατόπτρου αὐγῇ, πάντα γιγνόμενα τε καὶ
ἐσόμενα.
Vocabulary

αἰθρία, ἡ (= ἄθρη), pure air, ether ἀπόρρητος, -ον, indescribable

αὐγή, ἡ, light of the sun; pl. (reflected) rays of the sun διαιτάω, mid.
lead/live one’s life διοράω, distinguish, discern θολερός, -ον, foul; subst.
foul thing κάτοπτρον, τό, mirror σιτίον, τό, food made from wheat, food;
pl. diet, eating habits σύβαρις, -εως, ἡ, luxury

400 οὐ γὰρ περιμενεῖ γε ὁ σοφὸς τὴν γῆν ἀναθυμιῶσαν ἢ τὸν ἀέρα

διεφθορότα, ἢν65 τὸ δεινὸν ἄνωθεν ῥέῃ, ἀλλὰ ξυνήσει66 αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπὶ
θύραις ὄντων67 ὕστερον μὲν ἢ οἱ θεοί, θᾶττον68 δὲ ἢ οἱ πολλοί, 405 θεοὶ μὲν
γὰρ μελλόντων,69 ἄνθρωποι δὲ γιγνομένων, σοφοὶ δὲ προσιόντων
αἰσθάνονται. λοιμῶν αἰτίας ἰδίᾳ,70 βασιλεῦ, ἐρώτα,71 (they are)
σοφώτεραι72 γὰρ ἢ ἐς τοὺς πολλοὺς λέγεσθαι· ἆῤ οὖν (my) τὸ οὕτως
διαιτᾶσθαι λεπτότητα73 μόνον ἐργάζεται τῶν αἰσθήσεων ἢ ἰσχὺν ἐπὶ74
(perceiving) τὰ μέγιστά τε καὶ θαυμασιώτατα; Vocabulary

αἰτία, τό, cause; accusation, legal charge ἀναθυμιάω, send forth vapor
ἄνωθεν, from above ἆρα, then (marker of impatience when asking a
question) διαιτάσσω, lead one’s life, live in a certain way διαφθορέω (=
διαφθείρω), ruin; pass. be corrupted, ruined Ἰωνία, ἡ, Ionia (coastal region
of west Anatolia) περιμένω, wait (for) πρόσειμι (fr. εἶμι, cf. table 9.14),
approach

410 θεωρεῖν ἔξεστιν, ὃ λέγω, καὶ ἀ ἄλλων μέν, οὐχ ἥκιστα δὲ κἀκ75
τῶν76 ἐν Ἐφέσῳ περὶ τὴν νόσον ἐκείνην πραχθέντων·77 τὸ γὰρ τοῦ λοιμοῦ
εἶδος – πτωχῷ δὲ γέροντι εἴκαστο – καὶ εἶδον καὶ ἰδὼν εἷλον78 (it), οὐ παύσας
νόσον, ἀλ ἐξελών,79 (the god) ὅτῳ80 εὐξάμενος, 415 δηλοῖ τὸ ἱερόν, ὃ
ἐν Ἐφέσῳ ὑπὲρ τούτου (event) ἱδρυσάμην, (τὸ ἱερόν) Ἡρακλέους μὲν γὰρ
Ἀποτροπαίου ἐστί, ξυνεργὸν81 (with me) αὐτὸν εἱλόμην, ἐπειδὴ (he is)
σοφός τε καὶ ἀνδρεῖος ὢν ἐκάθηρε82 ποτε λοιμοῦ τὴν Ἦλιν τὰς ἀναθυμιάσεις
ἀποκλύσας, ἃς παρεῖχεν ἡ γῆ κα Αὐγέαν83 τυραννεύοντα.84
Vocabulary

ἀναθυμίασις, -εως, ἡ, foul exhalation ἀνδρεῖος, -α, -ον, courageous, brave

ἀποκλύζω, wash off/clean ἀποτρόπαιος, -ον, averting evil; subst.
Ἀποτρόπαιος, one who averts evil εἰκάζω, 1aor. inf. εἰκάσαι, 5. εἴκασμαι:
represent by a likeness; liken; perceive something as something else; pass.,
take the form of ἥκιστα (adv.), least; οὐχ ἥκιστα, not in the least, not only
Ἦλις, ἡ, city of Elis Ἡρακλῆς, -έους, ὁ, Herakles (Lat. Hercules) (cf. 425)
συνεργός, -ον, working together, ὁ/ἡ συνεργός, helper τυραννεύω, be an
absolute ruler

420 τίς ἂν οὖν σοι, βασιλεῦ, δοκεῖ (as) φιλοτιμούμενος γόης φαίνεσθαι85
θεῷ ἀναθεῖναι, ὃ αὐτὸς εἴργαστο; τίνας86 ἂν κτήσασθαι θαυμαστὰς τῆς
τέχνης (αὐτοῦ) θεῷ παρεὶς τὸ θαυμάζεσθαι; τίς ἂν Ἡρακλεῖ εὔξασθαι γόης
ὤν; 425 τὰ γὰρ τοιαῦτα (wonders) οἱ κακοδαίμονες βόθροις (they dig)
ἀνατιθέασι καὶ χθονίοις θεοῖς, ὧν τὸν Ἡρακλέα ἀποτακτέον, καθαρὸς γὰρ
(he is) καὶ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις εὔους. ηὐξάμην αὐτῷ καὶ ἐν Πελοποννήσῳ ποτέ,
λαμίας γάρ τι φάσμα κἀκεῖ,87 περὶ τὴν Κόρινθον ἤλυε σιτούμενον τῶν νέων
τοὺς καλούς, 430 καὶ (Heracles) ξυνήρατό μοι τοῦ ἀγῶνος (with her) οὐ
θαυμασίων88 δεηθεὶς δώρων, ἀλλὰ (only asking for) μελιττούτης καὶ
λιβανωτοῦ καὶ τοῦ ὑπὲρ σωτηρίας τι ἀνθρώπων ἐργάσασθαι.89
Vocabulary

ἀλύω, wander, roam about (περί) ἀποτακτέον, one must exclude δῶρον,
τό, gift εὔοος (Att. contr. εὔους), -ον, well-disposed, kindly θαυμαστής, ὁ,
admirer κακοδαίμων, -ονος, ὁ, poor devil, poor wretch χθόνιος, -α, -ον,
under the earth; χθόνιοι θεοί, gods of the underworld/Hades Κόρινθος, ἡ,
Corinth λάμια, ἡ, evil spirit in the shape of a woman, which feeds on the
flesh of men λιβανωτός, ὁ, frankincense (gum of the λίβανος tree)
μελιττούτη, ἡ, honey cake (esp. used as a sacred offering) ξυνήρατο >
συνήρατο, s.v. συναίρω, 3. συνηράμην, provide assistance to somebody
(dat.) with (gen.) some task παρίημι, 2aor. ptc. παρείς, give up something to
somebody else, give credit for something to somebody (cf. paradigm of
ἵημι, table 9.15) Πελοππόννησος, ὁ, Peloponnese σιτέομαι, feed upon (+
 acc.) φάσμα, -ματος, τό, apparition, phantom

Select Bibliography
Bowie, Ewen. Philostratus. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009.

1 §§1.1–10, 2.1–6, 3.1–9, 4.1–11, 5.1–10, 6.1–6, 7.1–11.

1 Adela Y. Collins, “Mark and His Readers: The Son of God among Greeks and
Romans,” HTR 93:2 (2000), 85–100; Charles Talbert, What Is a Gospel?
(Philadelphia: Fortress, 1982); Barry Blackburn, Theios Aner and the Markan
Miracle Traditions (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 1991), 10–11, 229–230, 265.

2 Acc. of spec. (“as”).

3 Note the three adverbial instrumental participles in a row (“by”)

(διαλεχθείς...εἰπών...πράξας ...).

4 τί...θαυμάσιον, “what (sort of) marvel/miracle.”

5 οὕτω...εἰπών.

6 οὔτε...οὔτε...οὔ ...οὐ ...οὐδε....

7 ἐς ὅ τι (= εἰς ὅτι, s.v. ὅστις), referring to that into which his soul will
transform in the future.

8 ὅτου (nt. gen. sg.), s.v. ὅστις, referring to an origin from which his soul
transformed.

9 Dat. of poss.
10 δόξας (opinions)...τοιαύτας.

11 As in a decree structure, the infinitivess that follow (e.g., νοσεῖν) are all
dependent on this verb.

12 ξυν- > συν-, s.v. σύνειμι (fr. εἶμι. cf. table 9.14).

13 Though the pl. of ἕκαστος is rare in the GNT, it is elsewhere commonly

attested, meaning “all and each,” “in every case.”

14 S.v. ῥώννυμι.

15 Art. inf.

16 Cond. art. inf. (“if,” cf. IV, 1.8).

17 Pass. (not mid.).

18 Telic ἐς > εἰς.

19 Instr. adv. ptc. (“by,” cf. IV, 1.6).

20 τὰ πολιτικὰ...ἐλαττώματα.

21 Acc. of spec. (“as”).

22 ξύν > σύν.

23 S.v. δείδω, causal adv. ptc. (“because,” cf. IV, 1.4).

24 πράττειν > πράσσειν.

25 Impers.

26 τις...ξυγγένεια.

27 ξυγγένεια > συγγένεια.

28 S.v. πείθω.

29 I.e., in a written accusation.

30 ταύτην (πόλιν) is the direct object of ἔμελλεν.

31 τις...ἀπολογία (i.e., with respect to having adverted a plague that would have
destroyed one’s enemies).

32 ἤν (contr.) > εἰ ἄν (“unless”).

33 ὁ βασιλεὺς...αἱρεῖν βούληται.

34 Cf. table 9.3.3(b).

35 S.v. ὁράω, table 9.1.3(a).

36 πρὸς ἱεροῖς, “in temples.”

37 Antecedent is νόσον (fm.).

38 “By.”

39 Hort. subj., τάττωμεν > τάσσωμεν.

40 περί (+ acc.), “with respect to.”

41 Acc. of spec. (“as”).

42 πόλις...ἰσχύει.

43 τίς ἂν > τίς δὲ ἂν.

44 τὸν...ἀγῶνα.

45 Demokritos, pre-Socratic philosopher born in Abdera.

46 Sophokles, one of three great tragedians.

47 Empedokles, pre-Socratic philosopher and a citizen of Agrigentum, Sicily.

48 νεφέλης...φοράν.

49 S.v. ῥήγνυμι.

50 Pass. (s.v. γράφω), “to be indicted.”

51 In Attic, οὑτό, αὕτη, and τοῦτο are often strengthened by the addition of ι to
form οὑτοσί, αὑτηί, τουτί.

52 τῆς...ἀληθείας.

53 Socrates (469–399 BCE).

54 Thales of Miletos (624–546 BCE) and Anaxagoras (500–428 BCE), pre-

Socratic philosophers.

55 Here five dual forms appear in a row: τώ, Ἴωνε, προειπόντε, γοητεύοντε,
γοητεύοντε (for dual paradigm see table 9.16.2).
56 S.v. λέγω.

57 ἀνδρῶν...σοφῶν.

58 “To bring a charge against” (+ gen.).

59 ἠκούω ἐπί, “to obey.”

60 κατά + acc., “in accordance with,” “like.”

61 κἀμοι > καὶ ἐμοί (“and in my case”).

62 Cf. ἡδύς.

63 κοὐκ > καὶ οὐκ.

64 I.e., his senses.

65 ἤν > εἰ ἄν (“if,” “in case”).

66 ξυν- > συν-, s.v. συνίημι.

67 Gen. absol. (“when”).

68 S.v. ταχύς.

69 Ptc. of μέλλω, “(in the) future,” “to come.”

70 ἰδίᾳ, “privately” (adv.).

71 Cf. table 9.4.3(b).

72 S.v. σοφός, comp. (“more clever,” “subtle”).

73 λεπτότητα (subtleties) ...τῶν αἰσθήσεων.

74 ἐπί (+ acc.), “regarding.”

75 κἀκ > καὶ ἐκ.

76 τῶν...πραχθέντων.

77 S.v. πράσσω.

78 S.v. αἱρέω.

79 S.v. ἐξαιρέω.

80 ὅτῳ, Att. dat. (s.v. ὅστις).

81 ξυν- > συν- ; acc. of spec. (“as”).

82 S.v. καθαίρω.

83 Augeas, King of Elis/Eleia (on the Peloponnese).

84 The fifth labor of Herakles was to clean the Augean stables, the horses of
which produced an enormous quantity of dung. King Augeas had not had the
stables cleaned for more than thirty years. Herakles accomplished this feat by
rerouting the two rivers, the Alpheus and Peneus, to wash the filth from the
stables.

85 φαίνεσθαι...σοι.
86 τίνας...θαυμαστάς.

87 κἀκει > καὶ ἐκεῖ (“there also”).

88 θαυμασίων...δώρων.

89 τοῦ ὑπὲρ... ἐργάσασθαι, art. inf. (expressing purpose).

 8.2. Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus
(Men. 125–127)

Provenance: Athens. Date: 341–270 BCE.

Epicurus founded the eponymous “Epicurean” school of philosophy, which
was the most important school of naturalism in Hellenistic and Roman times. He
was born on the Aegean island of Samos and later completed military service in
Athens. He then moved to Kolophon, where he studied philosophy with
Democritus. In 306 BCE Epicurus returned to Athens and founded his own
philosophical school. This school was quaintly known as “the Garden,” named
after the garden of his house where he met with his students.
Among his surviving writings are three letters, the extracts of two of which
are provided in this reader. The Letter to Menoeceus provides a summary of his
ethical teachings, including his instruction on the nature of the gods, on the
needless fear of death, and on the rational control of emotions and human
appetites. His Letter to Herodotus summarizes his key teachings on nature
(§8.6).
Text: Rainer Nickel, Epikur: Wege zum Gluck (Düsseldorf: Artemis &
Winkler, 2003).
Related Texts: Epicurus, Herodotos, 38–42, 63–68 (§8.6).

On Death (§§ 125–127)

125 Οὐθὲν γάρ ἐστιν ἐν τῷ ζῆν δεινὸν τῷ κατειληφότι1 γνησίως (that) τὸ
μηδὲν ὑπάρχειν ἐν τῷ μὴ ζῆν δεινόν. ὥστε μάταιος ὁ λέγων δεδιέναι τὸν
θάνατον οὐχ ὅτι λυπήσει παρών,2 ἀλ ὅτι λυπεῖ μέλλων.3 ὃ γὰρ παρὸν4 οὐκ
ἐνοχλεῖ, προσδοκώμενον κενῶς λυπεῖ. τὸ φρικωδέστατον οὖν τῶν κακῶν
(namely) ὁ θάνατος (is) οὐθὲν πρὸς ἡμᾶς, ἐπειδήπερ5 ὅταν μὲν ἡμεῖς ὦμεν,
ὁ θάνατος οὐ πάρεστιν, ὅταν δὲ ὁ θάνατος παρῇ, τό 6 ἡμεῖς οὐκ ἐσμέν.7
οὔτε οὖν πρὸς τοὺς ζῶντάς (death) ἐστιν οὔτε πρὸς τοὺς τετελευτηκότας,
ἐπειδήπερ περὶ οὓς μὲν8 οὐκ ἔστιν, οἳ οὐκέτι εἰσίν. Ἀλ οἱ πολλοὶ τὸν
θάνατον ὁτὲ μὲν9 ὡς μέγιστον τῶν κακῶν φεύγουσιν, ὁτὲ δὲ ὡς ἀνάπαυσιν
τῶν ἐν τῷ ζῇν κακῶν αἱροῦνται. 126 ὁ δὲ σοφὸς οὔτε παραιτεῖται τὸ ζῆν
οὔτε φοβεῖται τὸ μὴ ζῆν· οὔτε γὰρ αὐτῷ προσίσταται τὸ ζῆν οὔτε δοξάζεται
κακόν εἶναί τι τὸ μὴ ζῆν. ὥσπερ δὲ τὸ σιτίον οὐ τὸ πλεῖστον πάντως ἀλλὰ τὸ
ἥδιστον αἱρεῖται, οὕτω καὶ χρόνον10 οὐ τὸν μήκιστον ἀλλὰ τὸν ἥδιστον
καρπίζεται. Ὁ δὲ παραγγέλλων τὸν μὲν νέον καλῶς ζῆν, τὸν δὲ γέροντα
καλῶς καταστρέφειν, εὐήθης ἐστὶν οὐ μόνον διὰ τὸ τῆς ζωῆς ἀσπαστόν,
ἀλλὰ καὶ διὰ τὸ τὴν αὐτὴν11 εἶναι12 (τὴν) μελέτην τοῦ καλῶς ζῆν καὶ τοῦ
καλῶς ἀποθνῄσκειν. πολὺ δὲ χείρων καὶ ὁ λέγων· (It is) καλὸν μὴ φῦναι,
φῦντα13 ὅπως14 ὤκιστα πύλας Ἀίδαο15 περῆσαι.16
Vocabulary

αἱρέω, pres. inf. αἱρεῖν, 1aor. ᾕρησα / εἷλον (√ ἑλ-), 2aor. mid. εἱλάμην/
όμην: take by the hand; take away, remove; entrap, take captive; mid. take
for oneself, choose; pass. be chosen ἀπελπίζω, despair ἀσπαστός, -όν,
gladly welcomed, desirable; τὸ ἀσπαστός, desirability γνησίως, genuinely
δείδω, 2pf. inf. δεδιέναι, 2pf. ptc. δεδιώς: fear εὐήθης, -ες, simple-minded,
foolish καρπίζω, enjoy the fruits (of something)
καταστρέφω, come to an end (i.e., die) μελέτη, ἡ, care μήκιστος, -η, -ον,
longest (time) περάω, 1aor inf. περῆσαι: pass through (a space)
προσίστημι, pass. προσίσταμαι: set against; pass. set oneself against
something, encounter φρικώδης, -ον, horrible, awful; superl.
φρικωδέστατος, most horrible φύω, 1aor. inf. φῦναι: bring forth, be born
χείρων (m./fm.), χεῖρον (nt.), -ονος: worse, inferior to something (gen.);
subst. the worst ὠκύς, ὠκεῖα, ὠκύ, quick; superl. ὤκιστος, as quickly as
possible

127 εἰ μὲν γὰρ πεποιθὼς τοῦτό φησιν, πῶς οὐκ ἀπέρχεται ἐκ τοῦ ζῆν; ἐν
ἑτοίμῳ17 γὰρ αὐτῷ τοῦ (option) ἐστίν, εἴπερ ἦν βεβουλευμένον18 αὐτῷ
βεβαίως· εἰ δὲ μωκώμενος, (he is considered) μάταιος ἐν τοῖς οὐκ
ἐπιδεχομένοις (his words). Μνημονευτέον δὲ ὡς τὸ μέλλον19 οὔτε πάντως
ἡμέτερον οὔτε πάντως οὐχ ἡμέτερον, ἵνα μήτε πάντως προσμένωμεν ὡς
ἐσόμενον μήτε ἀπελπίζωμεν ὡς πάντως οὐκ ἐσόμενον. (continues ...)
Vocabulary

ἐπιδέχομαι, receive, welcome μνημονευτέον (verbal adj. expressing

 necessity), “it must be remembered ... that (ὡς )”
μωκάομαι, speak in jest προσμένω, expect

1 S.v. καταλαμβάνω, cf. table 9.1.6(d).

2 Temp. adv. ptc. (“when,” cf. IV, 1.1); s.v. πάρειμι.

3 Causal adv. ptc. (“because,” cf. IV, 1.4).

4 Temp. adv. ptc. (“when”).

5 ἐπειδήπερ, intens. form of ἐπεί.

6 τό > τότε.

7 According to Epicurus, the body and soul (which are both compounds
consisting of atoms) are born together and die together. Thus, when the soul
separates from the body, it also dies. Likewise, when the body loses its soul, it
decays.

8 μέν...δέ... (“the former ... the latter ...”).

9 ὁτε μέν...ὁτε δέ... (“sometimes ... sometimes ...”).

10 Acc. of time.

11 τὴν αὐτήν, “the same.”

12 Art. inf., w. τὴν...μελέτην functioning as the subj. of inf.

13 Temp. adv. ptc. (cf. IV, 1).

14 ὅπως + inf.

15 Ἀίδαο > ᾌδου.

16 S.v. περάω.

17 ἐν ἑτοίμῳ, “at the ready,” “at hand.”

18 Plpf. periphr. (cf. IV, 17).

19 τὸ μέλλον (s.v. μέλλω), nt. subst. ptc., “the future.”

 8.3. Epictetus, Discourses
(Diatr. 1.9.1–24)

Epictetus was one of the most influential philosophers of the Roman Stoics. He
was born in Hierapolis (modern Pamukkale, Turkey) but was taken to Rome at
an early age, as the slave of Epaphroditos, a wealthy freedman and secretary to
Emperor Nero. While living in Rome he became an enthusiastic student of
Stoicism under the tutelage of Musonius Rufus. When Domitian banished all
philosophers from Rome in 93 CE, Epictetus fled to Nicopolis in southern
Epiros, where he spent the remainder of his life teaching the Stoic way of life.
The style and vocabulary of his discourses, including a discussion of the
fatherhood of God and what it means to be a “son of God,” are remarkably close
to the Greek of the Christian New Testament. Though he wrote nothing, his
discourses were later compiled from his lecture notes and published by his most
renowned pupil, Flavius Arrian, in 108 CE.
Date: Epictetus lived from 55 to 135 CE.
Text: Epictetus, Dissertationes ab Arriani Digestae, ed. Henricus Schenkl
(Stuttgart: B. G. Teubner, 1965).

Πῶς AπO τοῦ συγγενεῖς Hμᾶς εIναι1 τΩ θεΩ

EπEλθοι Aν τις EπI τA eξῆς
1.9.1 Εἰ ταῦτά ἐστιν ἀληθῆ τὰ2 περὶ τῆς συγγενείας τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἀνθρώπων
λεγόμενα ὑπὸ τῶν φιλοσόφων, τί ἄλλο ἀπολείπεται τοῖς ἀνθρώποις (to do) ἢ
τὸ τοῦ Σωκράτους (did), μηδέποτε πρὸς τὸν πυθόμενον3 ποδαπός ἐστιν εἰπεῖν
ὅτι (you are) Ἀθηναῖος ἢ Κορίνθιος, 2 ἀλ (say) ὅτι (you are) κόσμιος; διὰ τί
γὰρ λέγεις Ἀθηναῖον εἶναι σεαυτόν, οὐχὶ (say) ἐξ ἐκείνης μόνον τῆς
4
γωνίας, εἰς ἣν ἐρρίφη γεννηθέν σου τὸ σωμάτιον; 3 ἢ (it is) δῆλον ὅτι ἀπὸ
(place) τοῦ κυριωτέρου καὶ περιέχοντος οὐ μόνον αὐτὴν ἐκείνην τὴν γωνίαν,
(ἀλλὰ) καὶ ὅλην σου τὴν οἰκίαν5 καὶ ἁπλῶς ὅθεν σου τὸ γένος τῶν
προγόνων εἰς σὲ κατελήλυθεν ἐντεῦθέν ποθεν καλεῖς σεαυτὸν Ἀθηναῖον καὶ
Κορίνθιον; Vocabulary

ἀπολείπω, 2. ἀπολείψω: leave behind, desert, abandon; pass. be left

behind, remain γωνία, ἡ, corner δῆλος, -η, -ον, clear, plain, evident; s.c.,
ἐστί (impers.), it is plain/evident Κορίνθιος, -α, -ον, Corinthian (adj.);
subst. a Corinthian person κόσμιος (= κοσμοπολίτης), ὁ, citizen of the
world (cf. 1.9.6) κυρίως, with full authority; comp. κυριώτερος, greater
authority; superl. κυριώτατος, supreme authority ποδαπός, -ή, -όν, from
what country?
πρόγονος, ὁ, forefather συγγένεια, ἡ, kinship/relationship with/to (πρός),

1.9.4 ὁ τοίνυν τῇ διοικήσει6 τοῦ κόσμου παρηκολουθηκὼς καὶ μεμαθηκώς,7

ὅτι Τὸ μέγιστον καὶ κυριώτατον καὶ περιεκτικώτατον πάντων τοῦτό ἐστι τὸ
σύστημα τὸ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων καὶ θεοῦ, ἀ ἐκείνου δὲ τὰ σπέρματα
καταπέπτωκεν οὐκ εἰς τὸν πατέρα τὸν ἐμὸν μόνον οὐ εἰς τὸν πάππον, ἀλ
εἰς ἅπαντα μὲν τὰ ἐπὶ γῆς γεννώμενά τε καὶ φυόμενα, 5 προηγουμένως εἰς
τὰ λογικά, ὅτι κοινωνεῖν μόνον ταῦτα πέφυκεν τῷ θεῷ τῆς συναναστροφῆς
κατὰ τὸν λόγον ἐπιπεπλεγμένα, 6 διὰ τί μὴ εἴπῃ τις αὑτὸν κόσμιον; διὰ τί μὴ
υἱὸν τοῦ θεοῦ; διὰ τί δὲ φοβηθήσεταί τι τῶν γιγνομένων ἐν ἀνθρώποις; 7
ἀλλὰ πρὸς μὲν τὸν Καίσαρα ἡ συγγένεια ἢ (πρὸς) ἄλλον τινὰ μέγα τῶν
δυναμένων ἐν Ῥώμῃ ἱκανὴ παρέχειν ἐν ἀσφαλείᾳ διάγοντας καὶ
ἀκαταφρονήτους καὶ δεδοικότας8 μη ὁτιοῦν,9 8 τὸ δὲ τὸν θεὸν ποιητὴν10
ἔχειν καὶ πατέρα καὶ κηδεμόνα οὐκέτι ἡμᾶς ἐξαιρήσεται λυπῶν καὶ φόβων;
Vocabulary

ἀκαταφρόνητος, -ον, not despised, above contempt διάγω, to cause to

continue διοίκησις, ἡ, administration, government ἐπιπλέκω, interweave,
combine, conjoin καταπίπτω, pf. καταπέπτωκα: to fall, drop; descend
κηδεμών, -όνος, protector, guardian παρακολουθέω, pf. ptc.
παρηκολουθηκώς: follow, accompany; follow (in a course of events);
follow in the mind, understand περιεκτικός, -ή, -όν, containing; superl.
περιεκτικώτατον, most comprehensive ποιητής, ὁ, author, maker
προηγουμένως, particularly συναναστροφή, ἡ, living with συστήμα, -
ματος, τό, composite whole, whole compounded of parts

1.9.8 Καὶ πόθεν φάγω, (Someone may) φησίν, μηδὲν ἔχων; Καὶ πῶς οἱ
δοῦλοι, πῶς οἱ δραπέται, τίνα πεποιθότες11 ἐκεῖνοι ἀπαλλάττονται12 τῶν
δεσποτῶν; (Do they rely) τοῖς ἀγροῖς. ἢ τοῖς οἰκέταις ἢ τοῖς ἀργυρώμασιν;
(They rely) Οὐδενί, ἀλ ἑαυτοῖς· καὶ ὅμως οὐκ ἐπιλείπουσιν αὐτοὺς τροφαί.
9 τὸν δὲ φιλόσοφον ἡμῖν δεήσει13 ἄλλοις θαρροῦντα14 καὶ ἐπαναπαυόμενον
ἀποδημεῖν καὶ μὴ ἐπιμελεῖσθαι αὐτὸν αὑτοῦ καὶ τῶν θηρίων15 τῶν ἀλόγων
εἶναι χείρονα καὶ δειλότερον, ὧν ἕκαστον αὐτὸ αὑτῷ ἀρκούμενον οὔτε
τροφῆς ἀπορεῖ τῆς οἰκείας16 οὔτε διεξαγωγῆς τῆς καταλλήλους καὶ κατὰ (its)
φύσιν; Vocabulary

ἀπορέω, be without something (gen.) ἀργυρώματα, τά, silver vessels

δειλός, -ή, -όν, cowardly; comp. δειλότερος, more cowardly διεξαγωγή, ἡ,
way of living ἐπαναπαύομαι, rely on somebody (+ dat.) ἐπιλείπω, (of
things) to fail one (acc.) (i.e., to run out) ἐπιμελέομαι (w. gen.), pass. dep.:
take care of something (gen.) κατάλληλος, -ον, appropriate to (κατά),
suitable for ὅμως, nevertheless χείρων (m./fm.), χεῖρον (nt.), -ονος: worse,
inferior to something (gen.); subst. the worst

1.9.10 Ἐγὼ μὲν οἶμαι, ὅτι ἔδει καθῆσθαι τὸν πρεσβύτερον17 ἐνταῦθα οὐ
τοῦτο μηχανώμενον, ὅπως μὴ ταπεινοφρονήσητε μηδὲ ταπεινοὺς μη
ἀγεννεῖς τινας διαλογισμοὺς διαλογεῖσθε αὐτοὶ περὶ ἑαυτῶν, 11 ἀλλὰ μή
τινες18 ἐμπίπτωσιν τοιοῦτοι νέοι, οἳ ἐπιγνόντες τὴν πρὸς τοὺς θεοὺς
συγγένειαν καὶ (ἐπιγνόντες) ὅτι δεσμά τινα ταῦτα ‒ (which is to say)
προσηρτήμεθα τὸ σῶμα καὶ τὴν κτῆσιν αὐτοῦ καὶ ὅσα τούτων ἕνεκα
ἀναγκαῖα ἡμῖν γίνεται εἰς οἰκονομίαν καὶ ἀναστροφὴν τὴν ἐν τῷ βίῳ ‒ ὡς
βάρη τινὰ καὶ ἀνιαρὰ καὶ ἄχρηστα ἀπορρῖψαι θέλωσιν καὶ ἀπελθεῖν πρὸς
τοὺς συγγενεῖς.
Vocabulary

ἀγεννής, -ές, base, sordid ἀνιαρός, -ά, -όν, painful ἀπορρίπτω, throw
away, cast off ἄχρηστος, -ον, useless, unprofitable διαλογισμός, ὁ, debate,
talk; estimation, consideration πηδάω, leap προσερωτάω, ask about in
addition ταπεινοφρονέω, be humble in mind, think of oneself as lowly

1.9.12 Καὶ τοῦτον19 ἔδει τὸν ἀγῶνα ἀγωνίζεσθαι τὸν διδάσκαλον ὑμῶν
καὶ παιδευτήν, εἴ τις20 ἄρα ἦν· ὑμᾶς μὲν ἔρχεσθαι21 λέγοντας· Ἐπίκτητε,22
οὐκέτι ἀνεχόμεθα μετὰ τοῦ σωματίου τούτου δεδεμένοι καὶ τοῦτο τρέφοντες
καὶ ποτίζοντες καὶ ἀναπαύοντες καὶ καθαίροντες, 13 εἶτα δι᾿ αὐτὸ
συμπεριφερόμενοι τοῖσδε23 καὶ τοῖσδε. οὐκ ἀδιάφορα ταῦτα καὶ οὐδὲν πρὸς
ἡμᾶς καὶ ὁ θάνατος οὐ κακόν; καὶ συγγενεῖς τινες τοῦ θεοῦ ἐσμεν κἀκεῖθεν24
ἐληλύθαμεν; 14 ἄφες ἡμᾶς ἀπελθεῖν ὅθεν ἐληλύθαμεν, ἄφες λυθῆναί ποτε
τῶν δεσμῶν τούτων τῶν ἐξηρτημένων καὶ βαρούντων. 15 ἐνταῦθα λησταὶ
καὶ κλέπται καὶ δικαστήρια καὶ οἱ καλούμενοι τύραννοι δοκοῦντες ἔχειν τινὰ
ἐ ἡμῖν ἐξουσίαν διὰ τὸ σωμάτιον καὶ τὰ τούτου κτήματα. ἄφες δείξωμεν
αὐτοῖς, ὅτι οὐδενὸς ἔχουσιν ἐξουσίαν·
Vocabulary

ἀγωνίζομαι, to fight; struggle, strive ἀδιάφορος, -ον, indifferent

βαρέω, pf. pass. ptc. βεβαρημένος: weigh down ἐξαρτάω, pass. be
furnished with, equipped with ληστής, ὁ, robber, pirate παιδευτής, ὁ,
instructor of youths συμπεριφέρω, pass. accommodate/adapt oneself to

1.9.16 Ἐμὲ ἐν τῷδε λέγειν ὅτι Ἄνθρωποι, ἐκδέξασθε τὸν θεόν. ὅταν
ἐκεῖνος σημήνῃ καὶ ἀπολύσῃ ὑμᾶς ταύτης τῆς ὑπηρεσίας, τό ἀπολύεσθε
πρὸς αὐτόν· ἐπὶ δὲ τοῦ παρόντος ἀνάσχεσθε ἐνοικοῦντες ταύτην τὴν χώραν,
εἰς ἣν ἐκεῖνος ὑμᾶς ἔταξεν. 17 ὀλίγος ἄρα χρόνος οὗτος ὁ τῆς οἰκήσεως καὶ
ῥᾴδιος τοῖς οὕτω διακειμένοις. ποῖος γὰρ ἔτι τύραννος ἢ ποῖος κλέπτης ἢ
ποῖα δικαστήρια φοβερὰ τοῖς οὕτως παρ᾿ οὐδὲν25 πεποιημένοις τὸ σῶμα καὶ
τὰ τούτου κτήματα; μείνατε, μὴ ἀλογίστως ἀπέλθητε.
Vocabulary

ἀλογίστως, without reason διακείμαι, be disposed in a certain manner, be

well-disposed (cf. 1.9.21) ἐνοικέω, dwell in θηλυκός, -ή, -όν, female,
woman-like, of feminine gender οἴκησις, -εως, ἡ, dwelling ὑπηρεσία, ἡ,
service, labor

1.9.18 Τοιοῦτόν τι ἔδει γίνεσθαι26 παρὰ27 τοῦ παιδευτοῦ πρὸς τοὺς εὐφυεῖς
τῶν νέων. 19 νῦν δὲ τί γίνεται; νεκρὸς μὲν ὁ παιδευτής, νεκροὶ ὑμεῖς. 20
ὅταν χορτασθῆτε σήμερον, κάθησθε κλάοντες περὶ τῆς αὔριον, πόθεν φάγητε.
ἀνδράποδον, ἂν σχῇς28 (it), ἕξεις (it): ἂν μὴ σχῇς (it), ἐξελεύσῃ (from life)·
ἤνοικται29 ἡ θύρα. τί πενθεῖς; ποῦ ἔτι τόπος δακρύοις; τίς ἔτι (has) κολακείας
ἀφορμή; διὰ τί ἄλλος ἄλλῳ φθονήσει; διὰ τί πολλὰ κεκτημένους θαυμάσει ἢ
τοὺς ἐν δυνάμει τεταγμένους, 21 μάλισ ἂν καὶ ἰσχυροὶ ὦσιν καὶ ὀργίλοι; τί
γὰρ ἡμῖν ποιήσουσιν; ἃ δύνανται ποιῆσαι, τούτων οὐκ ἐπιστρεψόμεθα· ὧν
ἡμῖν μέλει, ταῦτα οὐ δύνανται (to do). 22 τίς οὖν ἔτι ἄρξει τοῦ οὕτως
διακειμένου; Vocabulary

ἀνδράποδον, τό, slave, wretched creature αὔριον (adv.), tomorrow

ἀφορμή, ἡ, starting point; occasion, pretext
διάκειμαι, be well-disposed (in mind/attitude) εὐφυής, -ές, naturally clever
κολακεία, ἡ, flattery ποῦ, where?
φθονέω, be envious of somebody (dat.), be jealous χορτάζω, feed/fatten
(cattle); pass. eat one’s fill

1.9.22 Πῶς Σωκράτης εἶχεν30 πρὸς ταῦτα; πῶς γὰρ ἄλλως ἢ ὡς ἔδει τὸν
πεπεισμένον31 ὅτι ἐστὶ τῶν θεῶν συγγενής; 23 Ἄν μοι λέγητε, φησίν, νῦν ὅτι
Ἀφίεμέν32 σε ἐπὶ τούτοις, ὅπως μηκέτι διαλέξῃ τούτους τοὺς λόγους οὓς
μέχρι νῦν διελέγου μηδὲ παρενοχλήσεις ἡμῶν τοῖς νέοις μηδὲ τοῖς γέρουσιν,
24 (and) ἀποκρινοῦμαι ὅτι Γελοῖοί ἐστε, οἵτινες ἀξιοῦτε, εἰ μέν με ὁ
στρατηγὸς ὁ ὑμέτερος ἔταξεν εἴς τινα τάξιν, ὅτι ἔδει με τηρεῖν αὐτὴν καὶ
φυλάττειν καὶ μυριάκις πρότερον αἱρεῖσθαι ἀποθνῄσκειν ἢ ἐγκαταλιπεῖν
αὐτήν, εἰ ὁ θεὸς ἔν τινι χώρᾳ καὶ ἀναστροφῇ κατατέταχεν, ταύτην
ἐγκαταλιπεῖν δεῖ ἡμᾶς. 25 τοῦ 33 ἔστιν ἄνθρωπος ταῖς ἀληθείαις34 συγγενὴς
τῶν θεῶν.
Vocabulary

αἱρέω, pres. inf. αἱρεῖν, 1aor. ᾕρησα / εἷλον (√ ἑλ-), 2aor. mid. εἱλάμην/
όμην: take by the hand; take away, remove; entrap, take captive; mid. take
for oneself, choose; pass. be chosen κατατάσσω, place in μυριάκις (adv.),
ten thousand times παρενοχλέω, annoy

1 Art. inf. (cf. IV, 2).

2 τα...λεγόμενα.

3 S.v. πυνθάνομαι.
4 S.v. ῥίπτω.

5 Here “family.”

6 Dat. of resp.

7 S.v. μανθάνω.

8 S.v. δείδω.

9 S.v. ὅστις, ὅτι → ὁστισοοῦν, ὁτιοῦν, “anybody,” “anything whatsoever.”

10 Acc. of spec.

11 Instr. adv. ptc. (“by,” cf. IV, 1.6).

12 ἀπαλλάττονται (Att.) > ἀπαλλάσσονται.

13 S.v. δεῖ.

14 θαρροῦντα (Att.) > θαρσοῦντα.

15 Gen. of comp.

16 τροφῆς...οἰκείας.

17 Epictetus here describes himself to Arrian as an old man (cf. 1.6.20, 2.6.23).

18 τινες...τοιοῦτοι νέοι.

19 τοῦτον...τὸν ἀγῶνα.
20 εἴ τις, “whomever.”

21 Imperatival inf.

22 Epictetus (voc.).

23 S.v. ὅδε, ἥδε, τάδε.

24 κἀκεῖθεν > καὶ ἐκεῖθεν.

25 παρ᾿ οὐδέν, “as nothing,” “of no value.”

26 γίνεσθαι, i.e., “to be said.”

27 παρά, “by.”

28 S.v. ἔχω.

29 ἤνοικται > ἤνοιγται.

30 S.v. ἔχω, here “to understand.”

31 S.v. πείθω.

32 For paradigm of ἵημι see table 9.15.

33 I.e., Socrates.

34 ταῖς ἀληθείαις (adv.), “in very truth.”

 8.4. Poimandres: Hermetic Corpus
(Poim. 1–26)

Poimandres (Ποιμάνδρης) is the first tractate of the gnosticCorpus Hermeticum,

a collection of fourteen to eighteen ancient Greek texts written in Egypt during
the Greco-Roman period. The Corpus Hermeticum represents a form of pre-
Christian gnosticism that shaped the religious, cultural, and philosophical
milieus in which various forms of early Christianity emerged. But in contrast to
the theology of Christian proto-orthodoxy, the creator god of hermetic
gnosticism was believed to be distinct from, and an agent of, the highest God.
Hermetic gnosticism was also radically dualistic, understanding the universe to
be constituted by two irreducible elements, immateriality and materiality. The
dualism of creation was also believed to be mirrored in both human beings and
the godhead.
Date: First to third century CE.
Text: Paolo Scarpi (ed.), Poimandres (Venice: Masilio Editori, 1988).

Summary of the Myth

In order to facilitate the translation of this complex text, an overview of the story
is warranted. Poimandres is essentially a myth of creation, which is set within
another story, the story of the quest for salvation. The text begins with the
narrator rejecting the material world in favor of a higher world (Poim.1). This
narrator is evidently unfamiliar with the god who appears to him, for he must ask
his name. The god’s name is “Poimandres,” who is also the god Hermes
Trigmegistus. Having agreed to reveal the nature of reality to the narrator,
Poimandres transforms himself into pure “Light” (φῶς), which is closely
associated with the impersonal principle, the “Mind” (Νοῦς), which is also
identical to the immaterial God. But Darkness (σκότος) is also present. It
changes “into a kind of moist Nature” (εἰς ὑγρᾶν τινα φύσιν), or raw matter,
from which the evil material world is formed (Poim. 4). Thus, Nature is opposed
to Light, the former being described as “indescribably agitated” (ἀφάτως
ταράσσω), “gloomy” (στυγνός), and “dreadful” (φοβερός) but the latter
characterized as “serene” (εὔδιος) and happy (ἱλαρός, Poim. 4).
Divine “Light” (God) emanates the Logos (Λόγος), which is also the “Son of
God” (ὑιὸς θεοῦ, Poim. 6, cf. John 1:1–18) and the Son of the “Father” (who is
also the “Mind,” Poim. 6). In response to the Logos, Nature groans with an
“inarticulate cry” (βοὴ ἀσυνάρθρως). Somehow the Logos enables Nature to
release, or give birth to, the four elements: the first two of these elements, “Fire”
(πῦρ) and “Air” (πνεῦμα), immediately ascend above the Logos and constitute a
supra-lunar, material realm (Poim. 5). The remaining two elements, “Earth” (γῆ)
and “Water” (ὕδωρ) – being too heavy to ascend – constitute a sub-lunar realm,
being intermingled (συμμίγνυμι) until they are differentiated (Poim. 5, 11).
Next, Poimandres reveals that human beings share in both the heavenly Mind
and the Logos. As such, they were originally not only closely associated with
God, but actually in union with God (Poim. 16). By implication, the fall of
humanity was the fall of God, and the salvation of humanity is an act of God
saving God-self. Next, the narrator perceives Light becoming differentiated into
“countless powers” (δύναμις ἀναρίθμητη, Poim. 7), each being an “archetypal
form” (ἀρχέτυπον εἶδος) constituting the immaterial pattern of the material
world (Poim. 8). The narrator also sees fire being subdued by a “great power”
(δύναμις μεγίστος) (Poim. 7).
The “Will of God” (βουλὴ θεοῦ) – a feminine principle – sexually receives
(λαμβάνει) the Logos (Poim. 22) and is thereby transformed into an active
creator, bearing offspring. These offspring are probably the immaterial “souls”
(ψυχαί) of human beings (Poim. 8). In contrast, the supreme God is
hermaphroditic (i.e., both masculine and feminine) and sexually complete. The
sexual union of masculine Logos with the feminine Will of God actually
originates within God’s very being (Poim. 24).
Following upon the emanation of the masculine Logos, God emanates the
“Demiurge” (Δημιουργός, Poim. 9, cf. Heb. 11:10), who takes Fire and Air
(which had previously ascended above the Logos) and fashions them into the
seven “Governors” (διοικητεῖς), which is to say, the seven (known) planets, and
places them in their spheres.1 These planetary Governors encircle the material
world and control it through their motion (Poim. 9, 11). The seven planets, being
fixed at the boundary of the material world (which is the eighth sphere), also
mark the beginning of the realm of God’s immaterial world and the archetypal
forms. It is the “government” (διοίκησις) of the earth by these Governors that
constitutes human “Fate” (εἱμαρμένη). Moreover, their revolving motion
“brings forth” (φέρει) a variety of “irrational” (ἄλογα) living beings (ζῶα),
including birds, fish, and animals (Poim. 11, 37).
Notably, the text characterizes the Demiurge as “another Mind” (ἕτερος νοῦς)
alongside God (Poim. 9). The Demiurge acts as the Mind of the material world,
just as God acts as the Mind of the immaterial world. This Demiurge also
functions as God’s dutiful instrument on earth (Poim. 31). Following its birth,
the Demiurge descends toward the material world and, in contrast to the Logos,
subsists under Fire and Air. When the Demiurge descends, the Logos – owing to
its “consubstantiality” with the Demiurge (Poim. 10) – “leaps up” (πηδᾷ) to
unite with it (Poim. 10). Thus the Logos, which had been previously trapped,
becomes freed through its attraction to the Demiurge (Poim. 33) and is now able
to assist in creating the rest of the material world.
Next follows the creation of the “Primal Human” (Ἄνθρωπος, Poim. 12), who,
being like God, is androgynous and sexually complete (Poim. 38). The Primal
Human is created directly by God, not by the Demiurge. Like the Logos, the
Primal Human is the “son of God” (υἱὸς θεοῦ) and is equal (ἴσος) to God in a
way that the Demiurge is not (Poim. 12). At best, the Demiurge is the “brother”
(ἀδελφός) of the Primal Human (Poim. 13) and “consubstantial” (ὁμοούσιος)
with the Logos (Poim. 10). Thus, while God brought forth (ἀποκυέω) both the
Demiurge and the Primal Human (Poim. 9), only the Primal Human “bears the
image of the Father” (τὴν τοῦ πατρὸς εἴκονα ἔχων, Poim. 12, 40) and the
“form” of God (μορφή), which is why God “loves” the Primal Human “as his
own son” (ἠράσθη ὡς ἰδίου τόκου, Poim. 12, cf. Phil 2:1–16 [§4.14]). That
which the Primal Human, Logos, and Demiurge have in common is that they are
all (being emanations of God) inferior to God.
Next, God hands over (παραδίδωμι) all of creation to the Primal Human
(Poim.13), who supplants the Demiurge. In order to take on this responsibility,
the Primal Human must descend through several levels of the cosmos, beginning
with the eighth sphere (the outer rim of the material world, where the Demiurge
resides), through the remaining seven spheres (where the planets reside), finally
arriving at the material world. When this happens, the seven Governors “fall in
love” (ἔραμαι) with the Primal Human and, out of this love, grant the Primal
Human a portion of their “position” (τάξις, Poim. 13). Having just “broken
through” (ἀναρρήγνυμι) the “harmony” (ἁρμονία) of the spheres, the Primal
Human “shows” (δείκνυμι) itself to Nature, who also falls in love with the
Primal Human. We are told that Nature actually “smiles in love” (μειδιάω
ἔρωτι), being attracted to Primal Human’s “beauty” (κάλλος) and “power”
(ἐνέργεια), as an expression of being attracted to “the beautiful form (μορφή) of
God” (Poim. 14).
This brings us to the direct cause of the fall: the Primal Human “falls in love”
(φιλῶ) with its own image. But it was incapable of fulfilling its own narcissism
by having sexual intercourse with itself. But seeing its own beauty reflected in
Nature, it decided to have sexual intercourse with Nature (Poim. 14). It is by
virtue of this sexual union that the descendants of the Primal Human possess
both a material “body” (σῶμα), which is “mortal” (θνητός), and an “essential”
(οὐσιώδης) self, which is “immortal” (ἀθάνατος, Poim. 15). Thus, whereas
these human bodies, being material, are subject to sexual desire and subject to
Fate (ὑποκείμενος τῆ εἱμαρμένη),2 their “essential” selves are beyond Fate and
free of death, because they are “androgynous” (ἀρρενόθηλυς) and free of sexual
desire (ἔρως) (Poim. 15). It is this “twofold” (διπλοῦς) nature of human beings
that makes them “distinct from all (other) living beings on earth” (Poim. 15).3
After a period of time, the “bond” (σύνδεσμος) among all things “is loosened”
and “all living beings,” including human beings, become divided into males and
females (Poim. 15). At this point, God orders all living creatures to “increase”
(αὐξάνω, πληθύνω, Poim. 18), while at the same time (ironically) condemning
the act of sexual intercourse (Poim. 18). Indeed, sexual intercourse is portrayed
as both the cause and the consequence of mortality (Poim. 15). Human beings
engage in sex because they are ignorant (Poim. 19–20), but when “thoughtful”
(ἔννους), they “recognize” (ἀναγνωρίζω) that sexual intercourse is evil (Poim.
18–19, 21).
Conversely, human beings, being also immortal and divine through the Primal
Human (Poim. 21, 26), possess the innate capacity to cultivate their unified-
gender immateriality (Poim. 15) through sexual asceticism in life and then
through separation from the body after death. By so doing, they gain the ability
to actually reverse the fall of humanity in themselves (Poim. 24, cf. Acts Andr.
5–9 [§5.16]). The process of salvation of humanity consists of a kind of
“stripping” (γυμνόω) off of the material somatic casings of human beings in
order to liberate their immaterial selves (Poim. 26). Upon reaching the eighth
sphere, which separates the immaterial from the material realm, these liberated
human beings are transformed into one of the immaterial “beings” (τὸ ὄν), who
praise God (Poim. 26). In essence, they become archetypal “powers” (δυνάμεις)
of the primordial Light, and thus equal to God. Since human being are all
descendants of the Primal Human, who originally emanated from God, this latter
union is actually a re-union, a restoration of their former state, rendering the
material world worthless.

A Vision of Poimandres
The narrative begins with the awakened narrator’s reflections on the nature of
the world. Such reflections have been achieved by curbing the senses and
rejecting the material world in favor of the immaterial world.
1 Ἐννοίας μοί ποτε γενομένης4 περὶ τῶν ὄντων καὶ μετεωρισθείσης5 μοι6
τῆς διανοίας σφόδρα, κατασχεθεισῶν7 μου τῶν σωματικῶν αἰσθήσεων,
καθάπερ οἱ ὕπνῳ βεβαρημένοι ἐκ κόρου τροφῆς ἢ ἐκ κόπου σώματος, ἔδοξά
τινα ὑπερμεγέθη μέτρῳ ἀπεριορίστῳ τυγχάνοντα καλεῖν μου τὸ ὄνομα καὶ
λέγοντά μοι· Τί βούλει ἀκοῦσαι καὶ θεάσασθαι, καὶ νοήσας μαθεῖν καὶ
γνῶναι; 2 Φημὶ ἐγώ· Σὺ γὰρ τίς εἶ; Ἐγὼ μέν, φησίν, εἰμὶ ὁ Ποιμάνδρης, ὁ
τῆς αὐθεντίας νοῦς· οἶδα ὃ βούλει,8 καὶ σύνειμί σοι πανταχοῦ. 3 Φημὶ ἐγώ·
Μαθεῖν θέλω τὰ ὄντα καὶ νοῆσαι τὴν τούτων φύσιν καὶ γνῶναι τὸν θεόν·
τοῦτο, ἔφην, ἀκοῦσαι βούλομαι. Φησὶν ἐμοὶ πάλιν· Ἔχε νῷ σῷ ὅσα θέλεις
μαθεῖν, κἀγώ σε διδάξω.
Vocabulary

ἀπεριόριστος, -ον, unlimited, infinite αὐθεντίης, ὁ, master, absolute

authority βαρέω, pf. pass. ptc. βεβαρημένος: weigh down κόρος, ὁ, one’s
fill of food; overeating μετεωρίζω, to raise/soar to a height μέτρον, τό,
measure, size σύνειμι (fr. εἰμί), 2. συνέσομαι, fut. inf. συνέσεσθαι: be
with; join, catch up with somebody (dat.) σωματικός, -ή, -όν, bodily, of
the body ὑπέρμεγας, -άλη, -α, immensely great/large

The Above and the Below

4 τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἠλλάγη9 τῇ ἰδέᾳ, καὶ εὐθέως πάντα μοι ἤνοικτο10 ῥοπῃ, καὶ
ὁρῶ θέαν ἀόριστον, φῶς δὲ πάντα γεγενημένα, εὔδιόν τε καὶ ἱλαρόν, καὶ
ἠράσθην ἰδών. καὶ με ὀλίγον σκότος κατωφερὲς ἦν, ἐν μέρει (of the light)
γεγενημένον, φοβερόν τε καὶ στυγνόν, σκολιῶς ἐσπειραμένον, ὡς εἰκάσαι με·
εἶτα μεταβαλλόμενον τὸ σκότος εἰς ὑγρᾶν τινα φύσιν, ἀφάτως
τεταραγμένην11 καὶ καπνὸν ἀποδιδοῦσαν, ὡς ἀπὸ πυρός, καί τινα ἦχον
ἀποτελοῦσαν ἀνεκλάλητον γοώδη· εἶτα βοὴ ἐξ αὐτῆς ἀσυνάρθρως
ἐξεπέμπετο, ὡς εἰκάσαι φωνῇ πυρός.
Vocabulary

ἀνεκλάλητος, -ον, unutterable ἀόριστος, -ον, limitless ἀσυνάρθρως,

inarticulately ἀφάτος, -ον, unutterable; (adv.) ἀφάτως, indescribably
γοώδης, -ές, mournful εὔδιος, -ον, clear, serene θέα, ἡ, a vision (cf. Poim.
6) ἱλαρός, -ον, joyful καπνός, ὁ, smoke κατωφερής, -ές, descending,
downward (cf. Poim. 10–11, 14) ῥοπή, ἡ, moment; (dat.), at once σκολιός,
-ά, -όν, curved, crooked, coiled; dishonest; σκολιῶς (adv.), coiling;
σκολιόν, τό, intestine στυγνός, -ή, -όν, gloomy, sullen (cf. Poim. 20)
ὑγρός, -ά, -όν, wet, moist; subst. liquid, the wet

5 ἐκ δὲ φωτὸς....λόγος ἅγιος ἐπέβη τῇ φύσει, καὶ πῦρ ἄκρατον ἐξεπήδησεν

ἐκ τῆς ὑγρᾶς φύσεως ἄνω εἰς ὕψος· κοῦφον δὲ (the fire) ἦν καὶ ὀξύ,
δραστικὸν δὲ ἅμα, καὶ ὁ ἀὴρ ἐλαφρὸς ὢν ἠκολούθησε τῷ πνεύματι,
ἀναβαίνοντος12 αὐτοῦ μέχρι τοῦ πυρὸς ἀπὸ γῆς καὶ ὕδατος, ὡς δοκεῖν
κρέμασθαι αὐτὸν ἀ αὐτοῦ· γῆ δὲ καὶ ὕδωρ ἔμενε κα ἑαυτὰ
συμμεμιγμένα, ὡς μὴ θεωρεῖσθαι τὴν γῆν (apart) ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕδατος· κινούμενα
δὲ ἦν13 διὰ τὸν ἐπιφερόμενον πνευματικὸν λόγον εἰς ἀκοήν. 6 ὁ δὲ
Ποιμάνδρης ἐμοί· Ἔνόησας, φησί, τὴν θέαν ταύτην ὅ τι καὶ βούλεται; καὶ,
Γνώσομαι, ἔφην ἐγώ. Τὸ φῶς ἐκεῖνο, ἔφη, ἐγὼ Νοῦς ὁ σὸς θεός, ὁ πρὸ
φύσεως ὑγρᾶς τῆς ἐκ σκότους φανείσης. ὁ δὲ ἐκ Νοὸς φωτεινὸς Λόγος (is)
υἱὸς θεοῦ. Τί οὖν; φημί. Οὕτω γνῶθι· τὸ ἐν σοὶ βλέπον καὶ ἀκοῦον, λόγος
κυρίου, ὁ δὲ Νοῦς (is) πατὴρ θεός. οὐ γὰρ διίστανται14 ἀ ἀλλήλων· ἕνωσις
γὰρ τούτων ἐστὶν ἡ ζωή. Εὐχαριστῶ σοι, ἔφην ἔγω. (And he replied) Ἀλλὰ δὴ
νόει τὸ φῶς καὶ γνώριζε τοῦτο.
Vocabulary

ἄκρατος, -ον, pure δραστικός, -ον, active

ἐκπηδάω, leap out ἐλαφρός, -ά, -όν, light (in weight) πνευματικός, -ή, -
όν, spiritual, spirit-like ὕψος, -ους, τό, height φωτεινός, -ή, -όν, shining,
bright

7 εἰπόντος ταῦτα ἐπὶ πλείονα χρόνον ἀντώπησέ μοι, ὥστε με τρέμειν

αὐτοῦ τὴν ἰδέαν· ἀνανεύσαντος δέ, θεωρῶ ἐν τῷ νοΐ μου τὸ φῶς (now was
divided) ἐν δυνάμεσιν ἀναριθμήτοις ὄν, καὶ κόσμον ἀπεριόριστον
γεγενημένον, καὶ περιίσχέσθαι15 τὸ πῦρ δυνάμει μεγίστῃ, καὶ στάσιν
ἐσχηκέναι16 κρατούμενον· ταῦτα δὲ ἐγὼ διενοήθην ὁρῶν διὰ τὸν τοῦ
Ποιμάνδρου λόγον. 8 ὡς δὲ ἐν ἐκπλήξει μου ὄντος,17 φησὶ πάλιν ἐμοί· Εἶδες
ἐν τῷ νῷ τὸ ἀρχέτυπον εἶδος, τὸ προάρχον τῆς ἀρχῆς τῆς ἀπεράντου·
Vocabulary

ἀνανεύω, raise one’s head ἀναρίθμητος, -ον, countless ἀντωπέω (=

ἀντοφθαλμέω), gaze at (dat.) ἀπέραντος, -ον, infinite (cf. Poim. 11)
ἀπεριόριστος, -ον, limitless ἀρχέτυπος, -ον, archetypal διανοέω, have in
mind; pass. understand ἐκπλήξις, ἡ, great astonishment προάρχω, begin
first στάσις, -εως, ἡ, standing still; riot, rioting, uprising

The First Emanation: The Descent of the Logos

8 ταῦτα ὁ Ποιμάδρης (said) ἐμοι· Τὰ οὖν, ἐγώ φημι, στοιχεῖα τῆς φύσεως
πόθεν ὑπέστη; Πάλιν ἐκεῖνος πρὸς ταῦτα· Ἔκ βουλῆς θεοῦ, ἥτις λαβοῦσα
τὸν Λόγον καὶ ἰδοῦσα τὸν καλὸν (archtypal) κόσμον ἐμιμήσατο (it),
κοσμοποιηθεῖσα διὰ τῶν ἑαυτῆς στοιχείων καὶ (out of her) γεννημάτων
ψυχῶν. 9 ὁ δὲ Νοῦς ὁ θεός, ἀρρενόθηλυς ὤν, ζωὴν καὶ φῶς ὑπάρχων,
ἀπεκύησε λόγῳ ἕτερον Νοῦν δημιουργόν, ὃς θεὸς τοῦ πυρὸς καὶ πνεύματος
ὤν, ἐδημιούργησε διοικητάς τινας ἑπτά, ἐν κύκλοις περιέχοντας τὸν
αἰσθητὸν κόσμον, καὶ ἡ διοίκησις αὐτῶν ἡ εἱμαρμένη18 καλεῖται.
Vocabulary

αἰσθητός, -ή, -όν, perceptible, sensible ἀποκυέω, bear young, bring forth
ἀρσενόθηλυς/ἀρρενόθηλυς, -έος, -υ, hermaphroditic, of both sexes
γέννημα, -ματος, το, offspring δημιουγός, ὁ, builder; Creator, Demiurge
διοικητής, ἡ, administrator; financial administrator (Egypt); pl. (cosmic)
Governors (i.e., the seven known planets: the moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun,
Mars, Jupiter, Saturn) διοίκησις, ἡ, administration, government
κοσμοποιέω, make a world κύκλος, ὁ, circle; pl. heavenly bodies
μείρομαι, pf. pass. εἰμαρμαι, pf. fm. pass. ptc. εἱμαρμένος: be decreed by
Fate; subst. ἡ εἱμαρμένη, Fate μιμέομαι, imitate, copy στοιχεῖον, τό, pl.
components/elements into which matter is divisible ὑφίστημι, 2aor.
ὑπέστην: come into existence
The Second Emanation: The Demiurge
10 Ἐπήδησεν εὐθὺς ἐκ τῶν κατωφερῶν στοιχείων ὁ τοῦ θεοῦ Λόγος εἰς τὸ
καθαρὸν (part) τῆς φύσεως δημιούργημα, καὶ ἡνώθη τῷ δημιουργῷ Νῷ
(ὁμοούσιος γὰρ ἦν), καὶ κατελείφθη (behind) τὰ ἄλογα τὰ κατωφερῆ τῆς
φύσεως στοιχεῖα, ὡς εἶναι ὕλην μόνην. 11 ὁ δὲ δημιουργὸς Νοῦς σὺν τῷ
Λόγῳ, ὁ περιίσχων τοὺς κύκλους καὶ δινῶν ῥοίζῳ, ἔστρεψε τὰ ἑαυτοῦ
δημιουργήματα καὶ εἴασε στρέφεσθαι ἀ ἀρχῆς ἀορίστου εἰς ἀπέραντον
τέλος· ἄρχεται γάρ, οὗ λήγει· ἡ δὲ τούτων περιφορά, καθὼς ἠθέλησεν ὁ
Νοῦς, ἐκ τῶν κατωφερῶν στοιχείων ζῷα ἤνεγκεν ἄλογα19 (οὐ γὰρ ἐπεῖχε [to
them] τὸν Λόγον), ἀὴρ δὲ πετεινὰ ἤνεγκε, καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ (ἤνεγκε) νηκτά·
διακεχώρισται δὲ ἀ ἀλλήλων ἥ τε γῆ καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ, καθὼς ἠθέλησεν ὁ
Νοῦς, καὶ ἡ γῆ ἐξήνεγκεν ἀ αὐτῆς ἃ εἶχε ζῷα τετράποδα καὶ ἑρπετά,
θηρία ἄγρια καὶ ἥμερα.
Vocabulary

ἄγριος, -α, -ον, wild δημιούργημα, -ματος, τό, piece of workmanship,

creature διαχωρίζω ἀπό, separate from δινόω, spin something ἐνόω, make
one, unite with (dat.)
ἥμερος, -ον, tame κατωφερής, -ές, hanging down (cf. Poim. 11, 14) λήγω,
cease, end νηκτός, -ή, -όν, swimming; subst. fish ὁμοούσιος, -ον,
consubstantial, co-essential περιφορά, ἡ, revolution πηδάω, leap ῥοίζος,
ὁ, whistling sound, whirl τετράπουν, τό, quadruped

The Third Emanation: The Descent of the Primal

Human
12 Ὁ δὲ πάντων πατὴρ ὁ Νοῦς, ὢν ζωὴ καὶ φῶς, ἀπεκύησεν Ἄνθρωπον20
αὐτῷ ἴσον, οὗ ἠράσθη ὡς ἰδίου τόκου· περικαλλὴς γάρ, τὴν τοῦ πατρὸς
εἰκόνα ἔχων· ὄντως γὰρ καὶ ὁ θεὸς ἠράσθη τῆς ἰδίας μορφῆς, παρέδωκε τὰ
ἑαυτοῦ πάντα δημιουργήματα, 13 καὶ κατανοήσας δὲ τὴν τοῦ Δημιουργοῦ
κτίσιν ἐν τῷ πυρί, ἠβουλήθη καὶ αὐτὸς δημιουργεῖν, καὶ συνεχωρήθη ἀπὸ
τοῦ πατρός· γενόμενος ἐν τῇ δημιουργικῇ σφαίρᾳ, ἕξων21 τὴν πᾶσαν
ἐξουσίαν, κατενόησε τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ τὰ δημιουργήματα, οἱ (Governors) δὲ
ἠράσθησαν αὐτοῦ, ἕκαστος δὲ μετεδίδου τῆς ἰδίας τάξεως· καὶ καταμαθὼν
τὴν τούτων οὐσίαν καὶ μεταλαβὼν τῆς αὐτῶν φύσεως ἠβουλήθη ἀναρρῆξαι
τὴν περιφέρειαν τῶν κύκλων, καὶ τὸ κράτος τοῦ ἐπικειμένου ἐπὶ πυρὸς
κατανοῆσαι.
Vocabulary

ἀναρρήγνυμι, break through (cf. Poim. 14) δημιουργικός, -ή, -όν, of the
Demiurge, Demiurgical ἐράω (act. only in pres. and impf.), pres. ptc.
ἐρώμενος, 6. ἠράσθην: be in love with (+ gen.), fall in love; subst. pass.
ptc. an object of love, a lover καταμανθάνω, learn well, master κράτος, -
ους, τό, power; κατὰ κράτος, powerfully, mightily μεταλαμβάνω, receive
a share of something περικαλλής, -ές, very beautiful περιφέρεια, ἡ, curved
boundary συγχωρέω > συνχωρέω, 6. συνεχωρήθην: allow, grant consent
σφαίρα, ἡ, sphere, realm

14 καὶ ὁ τοῦ τῶν θνητῶν κόσμου καὶ τῶν ἀλόγων ζῴων ἔχον πᾶσαν
ἐξουσίαν διὰ τῆς ἀρμονίας (of the spheres) παρέκυψεν, ἀναρρήξας (already)
τὸ κύτος, καὶ ἔδειξε τῇ κατωφερεῖ φύσει τὴν καλὴν τοῦ θεοῦ μορφήν, ὃν
ἰδοῦσα ἀκόρεστον κάλλος καὶ πᾶσαν ἐνέργειαν ἐν ἑαυτῷ ἔχοντα τῶν (all
seven) διοικητόρων τήν τε μορφὴν τοῦ θεοῦ ἐμειδίασεν ἔρωτι, ὡς ἅτε τῆς
καλλίστης μορφῆς τοῦ Ἄνθρωπου τὸ εἶδος ἐν τῷ ὕδατι ἰδοῦσα καὶ τὸ
σκίασμα ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. ὁ δὲ ἰδὼν (in turn) τὴν ὁμοίαν αὐτῷ μορφὴν ἐν αὐτῇ
οὖσαν ἐν τῷ ὕδατι, ἐφίλησε καὶ ἠβουλήθη αὐτοῦ οἰκεῖν· ἅμα δὲ τῇ βουλῇ
ἐγένετο ἐνέργεια, καὶ ᾤκησε τὴν ἄλογον μορφήν· ἡ δὲ φύσις λαβοῦσα τὸν
ἐρώμενον περιεπλάκη22 ὅλη καὶ ἐμίγησαν·23 ἐρώμενοι γὰρ ἦσαν. 15 καὶ διὰ
τοῦτο (distinct) παρὰ πάντα (other) τὰ ἐπὶ γῆς ζῷα διπλοῦς ἐστιν ὁ
ἄνθρωπος, θνητὸς μὲν διὰ τὸ σῶμα, ἀθάνατος δὲ διὰ τὸν οὐσιώδη
ἄνθρωπον· ἀθάνατος γὰρ ὢν καὶ πάντων τὴν ἐξουσία ἔχων, τὰ θνητὰ πάσχει
ὑποκείμενος τῇ εἱμαρμένῃ. ὑπεράνω οὖν ὢν τῆς ἁρμονίας (of the spheres)
ἐναρμόνιος γέγονε δοῦλος. ἀρρενόθηλυς δὲ ὤν, ἐξ ἀρρενοθήλεος ὢν πατρὸς
καὶ ἄϋπνος ἀπὸ ἀΰπνου (father)...κρατεῖται.
Vocabulary

ἀκόρεστος, -ον, insatiable ἀρμονία, ἡ, harmony; framework of the

universe, harmony of the seven Governors αὔξησις, -εως, ἡ, growth,
increase ἄϋπνος, -ον, sleepless διπλόος (contr. διπλοῦς), -η, -ον, twofold
ἐναρμόνιος, -ον, in harmony with ἐνέργεια, ἡ, activity, (divine) action,
force/energy κύτος, -εος, τό, the starry vault of heaven μειδιάω, to smile
 οἰκέω, live with (gen.), inhabit/dwell in (acc.) οὐσιώδης, -ες, essential
σκίασμα, -ματος, τό, shadow ὑπεράνω (+ gen.), above

The First Human Beings

16 Καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα· (I said) Νοῦς ὁ ἐμός· καὶ αὐτὸς γὰρ ἐρῶ τοῦ (your)
λόγου.24 ὁ δὲ Ποιμάνδρης εἶπε· Τοῦτό ἐστι τὸ κεκρυμμένον25 μυστήριον
μέχρι τῆσδε τῆς ἡμέρας. ἡ γὰρ φύσις ἐπιμιγεῖσα τῷ Ἄνθρωπῳ ἤνεγκέ τι
θαῦμα θαυμασιώματον· ἔχοντος γὰρ αὐτοῦ τῆς ἁρμονίας τῶν ἑπτὰ
(Governors) τὴν φύσιν,26 οὓς ἔφην σοι (are made) ἐκ πυρὸς καὶ πνεύματος,
οὐκ ἀνέμενεν ἡ φύσις, ἀλ εὐθὺς ἀπεκύησεν ἑπτα ἀνθρώπους,27
(corresponding) πρὸς τὰς φύσεις τῶν ἑπτὰ διοικητόρων,28 ἀρρενοθήλεας καὶ
μεταρσίους. καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα (I said)· Ω Ποιμάνδρη, εἰς μεγάλην γὰρ νῦν
ἐπιθυμίαν ἦλθον καὶ ποθῶ ἀκοῦσαι· μὴ ἔκτρεχε. Καὶ ὁ Ποιμάνδρης εἶπεν·
Ἄλλὰ σιώπα. οὔπω γάρ σοι ἀνήπλωσα τὸν πρῶτον λόγον.29 Ἰδοὺ σιωπῶ, ἔφη
ἐγώ.
Vocabulary

ἀναμένω, to delay ἀναπλόω, explain, unravel ἐκτρέχω, run away

ἐπιμ(ε)ίγνυμι, pass. have sexual intercourse with μετάρσιος, -α, -ον, raised
in the air ποθέω, long for, have a great desire to do something

17 Ἐγένετο οὖν, ὡς ἔφην, τῶν ἑπτὰ τούτων ἡ γένεσις τοιῷδε τρόπῳ·

Θηλυκὴ γάρ γῆ ἦν καὶ ὕδωρ ὀχευτικόν, τὸ δὲ ἐκ πυρὸς (ἡ φύσις ἐξήνεγκεν)
πέπειρον. ἐκ δὲ αἰθέρος τὸ πνεῦμα ἔλαβε καὶ ἐξήνεγκεν ἡ φύσις τὰ σώματα
πρὸς τὸ εἶδος τοῦ Ἄνθρώπου. ὁ δὲ Ἄνθρωπος ἐκ ζωῆς καὶ φωτὸς ἐγένετο εἰς
ψυχὴν καὶ νοῦν, ἐκ μὲν ζωῆς ψυχήν, ἐκ δὲ φωτὸς νοῦν, καὶ ἔμεινεν οὕτω τὰ
πάντα τοῦ αἰσθητοῦ κόσμου μέχρι περιόδου τέλους καὶ ἀρχῶν γενῶν. 18
(Poimandres) Ἄκουε λοιπόν (point), ὃν ποθεῖς λόγον ἀκοῦσαι. τῆς περιόδου
πεπληρωμένης30 ἐλύθη ὁ πάντων σύνδεσμος ἐκ31 βουλῆς θεοῦ· πάντα γὰρ
ζῷα ἀρρενοθήλεα ὄντα διελύετο ἅμα τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ32 καὶ ἐγένετο τὰ μὲν33
ἀρρενικὰ ἐν μέρει, τὰ δὲ θηλυκὰ (ἐγένετο) ὁμοίως. ὁ δὲ θεὸς εὐθὺς εἶπεν
ἁγίῳ λόγῳ· Αὐξάνεσθε ἐν αὐξήσει καὶ πληθύνεσθε ἐν πλήθει πάντα τὰ
κτίσματα34 καὶ δημιουργήματα, καὶ ἀναγνωρισάτω ὁ ἔννους ἑαυτὸν ὄντα
ἀθάνατον, καὶ (ὅτι) τὸν αἴτιον τοῦ θανάτου ἔρωτα, καὶ πάντα τὰ ὄντα. 19
τοῦτο εἰπόντος, ἡ πρόνοια διὰ τῆς εἱμαρμένης καὶ ἁρμονίας (of the spheres)
τὰς μίξεις ἐποιήσαντο, καὶ τὰς γενέσεις κατέστησε, καὶ ἐπληθύνθη κατὰ
γένος τὰ πάντα καὶ ὁ ἀναγνωρίσας ἑαυτὸν ἐλήλυθεν εἰς τὸ περιούσιον
ἀγαθόν, ὁ δὲ ἀγαπήσας τὸ ἐκ35 πλάνης ἔρωτος σῶμα, οὖτος μένει ἐν τῷ
σκότει πλανώμενος, αἰσθητῶς πάσχων τὰ τοῦ θανάτου.
Vocabulary

αἰθήρ, -έρος, ὁ/ἡ, ether, upper air (as opposed to lower air), the divine
element in the human soul; Αἰθήρ, personified ether αἰσθητῶς, through the
(physical) senses ἀρρενικός, -ή, -όν, of masculine gender ἔννοος (contr.
ἔννους, -ον), thoughtful (cf. Poim. 21) διαλύω, dissolve into elements;
break up, separate θηλυκός, -ή, -όν, female, woman-like, of feminine
gender μίξις, -εως, ἡ, coupling, esp. sexual intercourse ὀχευτικός, -ή, -όν,
filled with sexual desire πέπειρος, -ον, ripe; subst. ripeness περίοδος, ἡ,
period (cf. Poim. 18) περιούσιος, -ον, overabundant σύνδεσμος, ὁ, (irreg.),
pl. σύνδεσμα, bond, anything for tying and fastening things together]] (+
gen.) τοιόσδε, τοιάδε, τοιόνδε, such as this, such

The Way of Deathlessness

20 Τί τοσοῦτον ἁμαρτάνουσιν, ἔφην ἐγώ, οἱ ἀγνοοῦντες, ἵνα στερηθῶσι τῆς
ἀθανασίας; (And Poimandres replied) Ἔοικας, ὦ οὗτος,36 τούτων μὴ
πεφροντικέναι ὧν ἤκουσας. οὐκ ἔφην σοι νοεῖν; (And I, the narrator, replied)
Νοῶ καὶ μιμνήσκομαι, εὐχαριστῶ δὲ ἅμα. (And Poimandres replied) Εἰ
ἐνόησας, εἰπέ μοι, διὰ τί ἄξιοί εἰσι τοῦ θανάτου οἱ ἐν τῷ θανάτῳ ὄντες; (I
replied) Ὅτι προκατάρχεται τοῦ οἰκείου σώματος τὸ στυγνὸν σκότος, ἐξ οὗ
(came) ἡ ὑγρὰ φύσις, ἐξ ἧς τὸ σῶμα συνέστηκεν ἐν τῷ αἰσθητῷ κόσμῳ, ἐξ
οὗ θάνατος ἀρδεύεται.
21 (Poimandres replied) Ἐνόησας ὀρθῶς, ὦ οὗτος. κατὰ τί δὲ Ὁ νοήσας
ἑαυτὸν εἰς αὐτὸν χωρεῖ, (which is) ὅπερ37 ἔχει ὁ τοῦ θεοῦ λόγος; φημὶ ἐγώ·
Ὅτι ἐκ φωτὸς καὶ ζωῆς συνέστηκεν ὁ πατὴρ τῶν ὅλων,38 ἐξ οὗ γέγονεν ὁ
Ἄνθρωπος. (Poimandres) Εὖ φῂς λαλῶν· φῶς καὶ ζωή ἐστιν ὁ θεὸς καὶ
πατήρ, ἐξ οὗ ἐγένετο ὁ Ἄνθρωπος. ἐὰν οὖν μάθῃς αὐτὸν39 (composed) ἐκ
ζωῆς καὶ φωτὸς ὄντα καὶ ὅτι ἐκ τούτων τυγχάνεις, εἰς ζωὴν πάλιν χωρήσεις.
ταῦτα ὁ Ποιμάνδρης εἶπεν. (And I said) Ἀλ ἔτι μοι εἰπέ, πῶς εἰς ζωὴν
χωρήσω ἐγώ, ἔφην, ὦ Νοῦς ἐμός; φησὶ γὰρ ὁ θεός· Ὃ ἔννους ἄνθρωπος
ἀναγνωρισάτω ἑαυτόν. 22 (And I replied) Οὐ πάντες γὰρ ἄνθρωποι νοῦν
ἔχουσιν; (Poimandres:) Εὐφήμει, ὦ οὗτος, λαλῶν· παραγίνομαι αὐτὸς ἐγὼ ὁ
Νοῦς τοῖς ὁσίοις καὶ ἀγαθοῖς καὶ καθαροῖς καὶ ἐλεήμοσι, τοῖς εὐσεβοῦσι, καὶ
ἡ παρουσία μου γίνεται βοήθεια (to them), καὶ εὐθὺς τὰ πάντα γνωρίζουσι καὶ
τὸν πατέρα ἱλάσκονται ἀγαπητικῶς καὶ εὐχαριστοῦσιν εὐλογοῦντες καὶ
ὑμνοῦντες τεταγμένως πρὸς αὐτὸν τῇ στοργῇ, καὶ πρὸ τοῦ παραδοῦναι40 τὸ
σῶμα ἰδίῳ θανάτῳ μυσάττονται τὰς αἰσθήσεις, εἰδότες αὐτῶν τὰ
ἐνεργήματα· μᾶλλον δὲ οὐκ ἐάσω αὐτὸς ὁ Νοῦς τὰ προσπίπτοντα
ἐνεργήματα τοῦ σώματος ἐκτελεσθῆναι. (ὁ) πυλωρὸς ὢν ἀποκλείσω (all) τὰς
εἰσόδους τῶν κακῶν καὶ αἰσχρῶν ἐνεργημάτων, τὰς ἐνθυμήσεις
ἐκκόπτων.41
Vocabulary

αἰσχρός, -ά, -όν, shameful, baseἀγαπητικός, -ή, -όν, affection; (adv.)

μυσάττομαι, loathe ἀγαπητικῶς, affectionately ἀθανασία, ἡ, immortality
ἀποκλείω, shut, close ἀρδεύω (= ἄρδω), to water; pass. be watered
ἐκκόπτω, cut off/out ἐκτελέω, accomplish, achieve; pass. be accomplished,
reach an end ἐνέργημα, -ματος, τό, effect ἐνθύμησις, -εως, ἡ,
imagination εὐφημέω, observe a religious silence; impv. “hush!” “be still!”
ἱλάσκομαι, appease, conciliate προκατάρχω, begin, cause; pass. be prior
to, be the root cause of (gen.) πυλωρός, ὁ, gatekeeper στερέω, deprive of
something στοργή, ἡ, love τεταγμένως, regularly ὑμνέω, sing hymns,
celebrate in a hymn

23 τοῖς δὲ ἀνοήτοις καὶ κακοῖς καὶ πονηροῖς καὶ φθονεροῖς καὶ πλεονέκταις
καὶ φονεῦσι καὶ ἀσεβέσι πόρρωθέν εἰμι, τῷ τιμωρῷ ἐκχωρήσας δαίμονι,42
ὅστις τὴν ὀξύτητα τοῦ πυρὸς προσβάλλων θρῴσκει αὐτὸν αἰσθητικῶς καὶ
μᾶλλον ἐπὶ τὰς ἀνομίας αὐτὸν ὁπλίζει, ἵνα τύχῃ43 πλείονος τιμωρίας, καὶ οὐ
παύεται ἐ ὀρέξεις ἀπλέτους τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν ἔχων, ἀκορέστως σκοτομαχῶν,
καὶ τοῦτον βασανίζει (him), καὶ ἐ αὐτὸν πῦρ ἐπὶ τὸ πλεῖον αὐξάνει.
Vocabulary

αἰσθητικῶς, through the senses ἀκόρεστος, -ον, insatiate; (adv.)

ἀκορέστως, insatiably ἀνόητος, -ον, lacking understanding, foolish
ἄπλετος, -ον, immense, inordinate ἐκχωρέω, give up a place to, give way
to θρῴσκω, leap upon, attack ὀξύτης, -ητος, ἡ, sharpness προσβάλλω,
sharpen πλεονέκτης, -ες, greedy, grasping πόρρωθεν, Att. > πρόσωθεν,
 from afar σκοτομαχέω, fight in the darkness τιμωρός, -όν, avenging
ὁπλίζω, prepare somebody for (ἐπί) ὀρέξις, -εως, ἡ, craving φθονερός, -ά,
-όν, envious

The Ascent of the Soul to the Eighth Sphere

24 (I said) Εὖ μοι πάντα, ὡς ἐβουλόμην, ἐδίδαξας, ὦ Νοῦς, ἔτι δέ μοι εἰπὲ
περὶ τῆς ἀνόδου τῆς γινομένης. πρὸς ταῦτα ὁ Ποιμάνδρης εἶπε· Πρῶτον μὲν
ἐν τῇ ἀναλύσει τοῦ σώματος τοῦ ὑλικοῦ παραδίδως αὐτὸ τὸ σῶμα εἰς
ἀλλοίωσιν, καὶ τὸ εἶδος ὃ εἶχες ἀφανὲς γίνεται, καὶ τὸ ἦθος τῷ δαίμονι
ἀνενέργητον παραδίδως, καὶ αἱ αἰσθήσεις τοῦ σώματος εἰς τὰς ἑαυτῶν πηγὰς
ἐπανέρχονται, μέρη (of them) γινόμεναι καὶ πάλιν συνανιστάμεναι εἰς τὰς
ἐνεργείας. καὶ ὁ θυμὸς καὶ ἡ ἐπιθυμία εἰς τὴν ἄλογον φύσιν χωρεῖ.
Vocabulary

ἀλλοίωσις, -εως, ἡ, alteration, change ἀνάλυσις, -εως, ἡ, dissolving (into

elements) ἀνενέργητος, -ον, inactive ἄνοδος, ἡ, the way up, ascent (of the
soul) ἀφανής, -ές, invisible ἐπανέρχομαι, to return ἦθος, -ους, τό,
customs and manners, way of life συνανίστημι, to make rise together; pass.
rise at the same time ὑλικός, -ή, -όν, belonging to matter, material

25 καὶ οὕτως ὁρμᾷ λοιπὸν ἄνω (ὁ ἄνθρωπος) διὰ τῆς ἁρμονίας, καὶ τῇ
πρώτῃ ζώνῃ δίδωσι (up) τὴν αὐξητικὴν ἐνέργειαν καὶ τὴν μειωτικήν
(ἐνέργειαν), καὶ τῇ δευτέρᾳ (ζώνῃ δίδωσι) τὴν μηχανὴν τῶν κακῶν, δόλον
(now) ἀνενέργητον, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ (ζώνῃ δίδωσι) τὴν ἐπιθυμητικὴν ἀπάτην
(now) ἀνενέργητον, καὶ τῇ τετάρτῃ (ζώνῃ δίδωσι) τὴν ἀρχοντικὴν προφανίαν
(now) ἀπλεονέκτητον, καὶ τῇ πέμπτῃ (ζώνῃ δίδωσι) τὸ θράσος τὸ ἀνόσιον
καὶ τῆς τόλμης τὴν προπέτειαν (ἀνενέργητον), καὶ τῇ ἕκτῃ (ζώνῃ δίδωσι)
τὰς ἀφορμὰς τὰς κακὰς τοῦ πλούτου (now) ἀνενεργήτους, καὶ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ
ζώνῃ (δίδωσι) τὸ ἐνεδρεῦον ψεῦδος (ἀνενέργητον).
Vocabulary

ἀνενέργητος, -ον, inactive, powerless ἀνόσιος, -ον, unholy, profane

προπέτεια, ἡ, rashness, haste ἀπλεονέκτητος, -ον, free of avarice
ἀρχοντικός, -ή, -όν, domineering αὐξητικός, -ή, -όν, of growth ἀφορμή,
ἡ, starting point; occasion, pretext ἐνεδρεῦω, ensnare, obstruct
 ἐπιθυμητικός, -ή, -όν, lustful ζώνη, ἡ, belt, zone (e.g., of the terrestrial
sphere, of the planetary spheres) θράσος, -ους, τό, arrogance μειωτικός, -ή,
-όν, diminishing, decrease μηχανή, ἡ, machine, a device ὁρμάω, to rush
προφανεία, ἡ, pride τόλμα/τόλμη, ἡ, audacity, recklessness

26 καὶ τότε γυμνωθεὶς ἀπὸ τῶν τῆς ἁρμονίας ἐνεργημάτων γίνεται ἐπὶ τὴν
ὀγδοατικὴν φύσιν,44 τὴν ἰδίαν δύναμιν ἔχων, καὶ ὑμνεῖ σὺν τοῖς οὖσι τὸν
πατέρα· συγχαίρουσι δὲ οἱ παρόντες τῇ τούτου (person’s) παρουσίᾳ, καὶ
ὁμοιωθεὶς τοῖς συνοῦσιν ἀκούει καί τινων δυνάμεων ὑπὲρ τὴν ὀγδοατικὴν
φύσιν45 φωνῇ τινι ἡδείᾳ46 ὑμνουσῶν τὸν θεόν· καὶ τότε τάξει ἀνέρχονται
πρὸς τὸν πατέρα, καὶ αὐτοὶ εἰς δυνάμεις ἑαυτοὺς παραδιδόασι, καὶ δυνάμεις
γενόμενοι ἐν θεῷ γίνονται.47 τοῦτό ἐστι τὸ ἀγαθὸν τέλος τοῖς γνῶσιν
ἐσχηκόσι,48 θεωθῆναι. λοιπόν, τί μέλλεις;49 οὐχ ὡς πάντα παραλαβὼν
καθοδηγὸς γίνῃ τοῖς ἀξίοις, ὅπως τὸ γένος τῆς ἀνθρωπότητος διὰ σοῦ ὑπὸ
θεοῦ σωθῇ; Vocabulary

ἀνθρωπότης, -ητος, ἡ, humanity, human race γυμνόω, strip somebody

naked
θεόω, make into god, deify καθοδηγός, ὁ, guide ὀγδοατικός, -ή, -όν,
eighth συγχαίρω, rejoice with/at

Select Bibliography
Barnstone, Willis. Essential Gnostic Scriptures. Boston: Shambhala, 2010.
Copenhaver, Brian P. Hermetica: The Greek Corpus Hermeticum and the Latin
Asclepius in a New Translation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,
1992.
Scott, Walter (ed. and trans.). Hermetica: The Ancient Greek and Latin, 4 vols.
Boulder, CO: Hermes House, 1982–1985.
Segal, Robert A. The Poimandres Myth: Scholarly Theory and Gnostic Meaning.
Berlin: W. de Gruyter, 1986.

1 I.e., the seven known planets: the moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars,
Jupiter, and Saturn.
2 I.e., subject to the astrological determinism of the “harmony of the spheres”
(Poim. 15).

3 Thus between the Primal Human and its descendants is a significant gap. This
may explain why the text speaks of a transitional stage of seven “post-primal”
androgynes who reside on earth, corresponding to the seven Governors (Poim.
16–17).

4 Gen. absol.

5 Gen. absol.

6 Dat. of poss.

7 S.v. κατέχω, gen. absol.

8 βούλει > βούληι > βούλῃ.

9 S.v. ἀλλάσσω.

10 ἤνοικτο > ἤνοιγτο.

11 S.v. ταράσσω.

12 Gen. absol.

13 Impf. periph.

14 Cf. table 9.11.5(c).

15 S.v. περιέχω.
16 S.v. ἔχω, here “to hold,” “keep, “remain” in a certain way.

17 Gen. absol.

18 S.v. μείρομαι.

19 ζῷα...ἄλογα.

20 Here and below, the “Primal Human.”

21 S.v. ἔχω.

22 S.v. περιπλέκω.

23 ἐμίγησαν > ἐμίχθησαν, s.v. μείγνημι.

24 λόγος, here “discourse.”

25 S.v. κρύπτω.

26 τῆς ἁρμονίας...τὴν φύσιν (= τὴν φύσιν τῆς ἁρμονίας).

27 Here the term ἄνθρωποι refers to “human beings” as transitional figures

between the Primal Human and earthly human beings.

28 διοικήτωρ = διοικητής.

29 λόγος, “discourse.”

30 Gen. absol.

31 ἐκ, “by.”
32 Dat. of time.

33 μέν...δέ....

34 κτίσμα = κτίσις.

35 ἐκ, “through.”

36 ὦ οὗτος, “O you, yourself” (cf. Poim. 21–22).

37 S.v. ὅσπερ.

38 τὰ ὅλα, “universals.”

39 I.e., the Primal Human.

40 Art. inf.

41 Instr. adv. ptc. (“by,” IV, 1.6).

42 τῷ τιμωρῷ...δαίμονι.

43 S.v. τυγχάνω.

44 I.e., zone.

45 I.e., zone.

46 S.v. ἡδύς.

47 Perhaps “enter into (ἐν).”

48 S.v. ἔχω.

49 μέλλω w/o inf., “to delay,” “wait.”

 8.5. Flavius Philostratus, Life of Apollonios of Tyana
(Philostr. VA 4.17–18)

Related Texts: Flavius Philostratus, Vita Apollonii (VA 8.7.7–9, §8.1) 4.17 The
story begins with Apollonios arriving by ship in Piraeus, the port city of Athens.
When he disembarks he meets a number of students of philosophy: Τοιαῦτα (as
happened) μὲν τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς νεώς,1 ἐς τὸν Πειραιᾶ ἐσπλεύσας περὶ μυσητρίων
ὥραν, ὅτε Ἀθηναῖοι πολυανθρπωπότατα (μυστήρια) Ἑλλήνων πράττουσιν,
(Apollonios) ἀνῄει ξυντείνας ἀπὸ τῆς νεὼς ἐς τὸ ἄστυ, προιὼν δὲ πολλοῖς
τῶν φιλοσοφούντων ἐνετύγχανε Φάληράδε κατιοῦσιν, ὧν οἱ μὲν γυμνοὶ
ἐθέροντο – καὶ γὰρ τὸ μετόπωρον (is) εὐήλιον τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις – οἱ δὲ ἐκ
βιβλίων ἐσούδαζον, οἱ ἀπὸ στόματος ἠσκούντο, οἱ δὲ ἤριζον. παρῄει δὲ
οὐδεὶς ἀυτόν, ἀλλὰ τεκμηράμενοι πάντες, ὡς εἴη Ἀπολλώνιος,
ξυνανεστρέφοντό τε καὶ ἠσπάζοντο (him) χαίροντες, νεανίσκοι δὲ ὁμοῦ δέκα2
περιτυχόντες αὐτῷ, Νὴ τὴν Ἀθηνᾶν ἐκείνην, ἔφασαν ἀνατείναντες τὰς χεῖρας
ἐς τὴν ἀκρόπολιν, ἡμεῖς ἄρτι ἐς Πειραιᾶ ἐβαδίζομεν πλευσόμενοι3 ἐς Ἰωνίαν
παρὰ σε. ὁ δὲ ἀπεδέχετο αὐτῶν καὶ ξυγχαίρειν ἔφη φιλοσοφοῦσιν.
Vocabulary

Ἀθήνη, ἡ, goddess Athene ἀνατείνω, lift up ἄνειμι (fr. εἶμι, this verb
provides the fut. and impf. forms of ἀνέρχομαι): go up (to a city)
ἀποδέχομαι, receive favorably, welcome ἀσκέω, practice, train; ἀσκέω
ἀπὸ στόματος, rehearse speeches ἄστυ, -εως, τό, pl. ἄστη, city, town
εἰσπλέω (Att. ἐσπλέω), 3. εἴσπλευσα: sail into/in ἐρίζω, quarrel; engage
in philosophical disputation εὐήλιος, -ον, sunny, hot θέρω, pass. become
hot Ἰωνία, ἡ, Ionia (coastal region of west Anatolia) κάτειμι (fr. εἶμι, cf.
table 9.14), travel down μετόπωρον, τό, late autumn μυέω, initiate
somebody (into the mysteries); pass. have performed mysteries, be initiated
(into the mysteries) ξυγχαίρω > συγχαίρω, to congratulate, rejoice with
(gen.) ξυναναστρέφω > συναναστρέφω, turn back together ξυντείνω >
συντείνω, exert oneself πάρειμι (fr. εἶμι, cf. table 9.14), 2aor. ptc. παρείς:
pass by, give over to, hand over Πειραιεύς, -έως, ὁ, Piraeus περιτυγχάνω,
 fall in with somebody (dat.), join with πολυανθρωπός, -όν, crowded;
superl. πολυανθρπωπότατος, most crowded πρόειμι (fr. εἶμι): go forward,
proceed τεκμαίρομαι, 3. ἐτεκμηράμην, 6. ἐτεκμήρθην: conjecture/guess;
pass. be indicated Φάληρον, Phaleron (western harbor of Athens);
Φάληράδε, to Phaleron φιλοσοφέω, study philosophy, speculate about
(ὑπέρ); subst. ptc. student of philosophy

4.18 Ἦν μὲν δὴ Ἐπιδαυρίων (μυσητρίων) ἡμέρα. τὰ δὲ Ἐπιδαύρια

(μυστήρια) μετὰ4 πρόρρησίν (of the mysteries) τε καὶ ἱερεῖα δεῦρο μυεῖν,
Ἀθηναίοις (it was) πάτριον ἐπὶ θυσίᾳ δευτέρα, τουτὶ5 δὲ ἐνόμισαν Ἀσκληπιοῦ
ἕνεκα, ὅτι δὴ ἐμύησαν αὐτὸν ἥκοντα Ἐπιδαυρόθεν ὀψὲ μυσητίων.
ἀμελήσαντες δὲ οἱ πολλοὶ τοῦ μυεῖσθαι6 περὶ τὸν Ἀπολλώνιον εἶχον7 καὶ τοῦ
(man) ἐσπούδαζον μᾶλλον ἢ τὸ ἀπελθεῖν τετελεσμένοι, ὁ ( Ἀπολλώνιος)
δὲ ξυνέσεσθαι8 μὲν αὐτοῖς αὖθις ἔλεγεν, ἐκέλευσε δὲ πρὸς τοῖς ἱεροῖς9 τότε
γίγνεσθαι,10 καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸς (was) μυεῖσθαι. ὁ δὲ ἱεροφάντης οὐκ ἐβούλετο
παρέχειν (him) τὰ ἱερά, μὴ γὰρ ἄν ποτε μυῆσαι γόητα, μηδὲ τὴν Ἐλευσῖνα
ἀνοῖξαι ἀνθρώπῳ μὴ καθαρῷ τὰ δαιμόνια.11ὁ δὲ Ἀπολλώνιος οὐδὲν ὑπὸ
τούτων ἥττων12 αὑτοῦ γενόμενος13 Οὔπω, ἔφη τὸ μέγιστον, ὧν ἐγὼ
ἐγκληθείην14 ἄν, εἴρηκας, (namely) ὅτι περὶ τῆς τελετῆς πλείω ἢ σὺ
γιγνώσκων15 ἐγὼ δὲ ὡς παρὰ σοφώτερον ἐμαυτοῦ μυησόμενος ἦλθον.
ἐπαινεσάντων δὲ τῶν παρόντων,16 ὡς ἐρρωμένως καὶ παραπλησίως αὑτῷ
ἀπεκρίνατο, ὁ μὲν ἱεροφάντης, ἐπειδὴ ἐξείργων αὐτὸν οὐ φίλα τοῖς πολλοῖς
ἐδόκει πράττειν,17 μετέβαλε τοῦ τόνου καὶ μυοὺ,18 ἔφη, σοφὸς γάρ τις ἥκειν
ἔοικας, ὁ δὲ Ἀπολλώνιος μυήσομαι ἐφη αὖθις, μυήσει δέ με ὁ δεῖνα
προγνώσει χρώμενος ἐς τὸν με ἐκεῖνον ἱεροφάντην, ὃς μετὰ τέτταρα19 ἔτη
τοῦ ἱεροῦ προὔστη.20
Vocabulary

Ἀσκληπιός, ὁ, Asklepios, god of healing αὖθις, again, later on γόης, -

ητος, ὁ, sorcerer δεῦρο, here; until now Ἐλευσίς, -ῖνος, ἡ, Eleusis, an old
city of Attica sacred to Demeter and Kora ἐξέργω (Att. ἐξείργω), drive
somebody away Ἐπιδαύρια, τά, Epidaurian rites Ἐπιδαυρόθεν, from
Epidauros ἐρρωμένος, -η -ον, powerful; (adv.), ἐρρωμένως, formidably
ἱερεῖα, ἡ (= ἱερατεία), sacrificial victims ἱεροφάντης, ὁ, hierophant
μεταβάλλω, to change; turn/transform into something μυέω, initiate
somebody (into the mysteries); pass. have performed mysteries, be initiated
 (into the mysteries) παραπλήσιος, -α, -ον, about equal; παραπλησίως, with
equal advantage προΐστημι, pf. act. ptc. προεστηκώς, 6. προύστην: set
over, choose as one’s leader; pass. be leader of, preside over something
(gen.); subst. ptc. leader πρόρρησις, -εως, ἡ, proclamation σύνειμι (fr.
εἰμί), 2. συνέσομαι, fut. inf. συνέσεσθαι: be with; join, catch up with
somebody (dat.) τόνος, ὁ, pitch/tone (of voice)

1 S.v. ναῦς.

2 νεανίσκοι…δέκα.

3 Causal adv. ptc. (“because,” cf. IV, 1.4).

4 μετὰ… μυεῖν, art. inf.

5 In Attic, οὑτόϚ, αὕτη, and τοῦτο are often strengthened by ι to οὑτοσί,

αὑτηί, τουτί.

6 Art. inf.

7 ἔχω, here “to stay.”

8 ξυν- > συν-, s.v. σύνειμι.

9 Here “the sacred rites” (τὰ ἱερά).

10 “To attend.”

11 Acc. of spec. (“with respect to”).

12 ἥττων > ἥσσων.

13 Gen. absol.

14 Cf. table 9.3.3(b).

15 γιγνώσκων > γινώσκων.

16 Gen. absol.

17 πράττειν (Att.) > πράσσειν.

18 Cf. table 9.2.4(a).

19 τέτταρα Att. > τέσσαρα.

20 S.v. προΐστημι.
 8.6. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus
(Her. 38–42, 63–68)

Related Texts: Epicurus, Letters to Menoeceus, 125–127 (§8.2)

The Universe and Its Constitutive Elements (§§ 38–

42)
In this section, Epicurus lays out some of the elementary philosophical principles
he borrowed from his teacher Democritus. Though these principles cannot be
observed directly, they can nonetheless be intuited by logical deduction. The text
begins with his first two elementary principles, namely that matter is both
uncreatable and indestructible. Next, in his third and fourth principles, Epicurus
states that the universe consists of solid bodies and void (space) and that these
solid bodies are either compound bodies or simple bodies. Finally, he states that
the number of atoms is infinite and the extent of the void is also infinite.
38 Πρῶτον μὲν (we must consider) ὅτι οὐδὲν γίνεται ἐκ τοῦ μὴ ὄντος·1 πᾶν
γὰρ ἐκ παντὸς ἐγίνε ἂν σπερμάτων γε οὐθὲν προσδεόμενον.2 39 καὶ εἰ
ἐφθείρετο δὲ τὸ ἀφανιζόμενον εἰς τὸ μὴ ὄν, πάντα ἂν ἀπωλώλει τὰ
πράγματα, οὐκ ὄντων τῶν3 εἰς ἃ διελύετο. Καὶ μὴν καὶ τὸ πᾶν4 ἀεὶ τοιοῦτον
ἦν οἷον νῦν ἐστι, καὶ ἀεὶ τοιοῦτον ἔσται. οὐθὲν γὰρ ἐστιν εἰς ὃ μεταβαλεῖ.
παρὰ5 γὰρ τὸ πᾶν οὐθέν ἐστιν, ὃ ἂν εἰσελθὸν εἰς αὐτὸ τὴν μεταβολὴν
ποιήσαιτο. Ἀλλὰ μὴν…τὸ πᾶν ἐστι σώματα καὶ κενόν. σώματα μὲν γὰρ ὡς6
ἔστιν, αὐτὴ ἡ αἴσθησις ἐπὶ πάντων (people) μαρτυρεῖ, κα ἥν (ἐστιν)
ἀναγκαῖον (concerning) τὸ ἄδηλον τῷ λογισμῷ τεκμαίρεσθαι, ὥσπερ
προεῖπον τὸ πρόσθεν. 40 Εἰ δὲ μὴ ἦν ὃ κενὸν καὶ χώραν καὶ ἀναφῆ φύσιν
ὀνομάζομεν, οὐκ ἂν εἶχε τὰ σώματα ὅπου ἦν οὐδὲ δι᾽ οὗ ἐκινεῖτο, καθάπερ
φαίνεται κινούμενα· παρὰ δὲ ταῦτα οὐθὲν οὐ ἐπινοηθῆναι δύναται οὔτε
περιληπτῶς οὐ ἀναλόγως τοῖς περιληπτοῖς, ὡς κα ὅλας φύσεις
7
λαμβανόμενα καὶ μὴ ὡς τὰ τούτων συμπτώματα ἢ συμβεβηκότα λεγόμενα.
Καὶ μὴν καὶ τῶν ... σωμάτωντὰ μέν ἐστι συγκρίσεις τὰ ἐξ ὧν αἱ
συγκρίσεις πεποίηνται·
Vocabulary

ἄδηλος, -ον, invisible to the senses, not evident ἀναλόγως, by analogy

ἀναφής, -ές, impalpable διαλύω, dissolve into elements; break up,
separate ἐπινοέω, think about something, conceive of something
μεταβολή, ἡ, change, changing περιληπτός, -ή, -όν, comprehensible;
subst. something comprehensible περιληπτῶς (> περιληπτικῶς), by
understanding προσδέομαι, to need besides/in addition πρόσθεν, (τό),
before, in front of; earlier, formerly σύγκρισις, -εως, ἡ, a compound,
aggregate substance συμπτώμα, -ματος, τό, attribute, faculty τεκμαίομαι,
to conjecture, form a judgment

41 ταῦτα (latter) δὲ ἐστιν ἄτομα καὶ ἀμετάβλητα, εἴπερ μὴ μέλλει πάντα εἰς
τὸ μὴ ὂν8 φθαρήσεσθαι,9 ἀλ ἰσχύοντα (elements) ὑπομενεῖν ἐν ταῖς
διαλύσεσι τῶν συγκρίσεων, (one element) πλήρη τὴν φύσιν ὄντα καὶ οὐκ
ἔχοντα ὅπῃ ἢ ὅπως διαλυθήσεται. ὥστε τὰς ἀρχὰς ἀτόμους ἀναγκαῖον εἶναι
σωμάτων φύσεις. Ἀλλὰ μὴν καὶ τὸ πᾶν10 ἄπειρόν ἐστι· τὸ γὰρ πεπερασμένον
ἄκρον ἔχει· τὸ δὲ ἄκρον παῤ ἕτερόν τι11 θεωρεῖται· ἀλλὰ μὴν τὸ πᾶν οὐ παῤ
ἕτερόν τι θεωρεῖται· ὥστε οὐκ ἔχον ἄκρον πέρας οὐκ ἔχει· πέρας δὲ (τὸ πᾶν)
οὐκ ἔχον ἄπειρον12 ἂν εἴη13 καὶ οὐ πεπερασμένον. καὶ μὴν καὶ πλήθει14 τῶν
σωμάτων ἄπειρόν ἐστι τὸ πᾶν καὶ τῷ μεγέθει τοῦ κενοῦ. 42 Εἴ τε γὰρ ἦν τὸ
κενὸν ἄπειρον, τὰ δὲ σώματα ὡρισμένα, οὐθαμοῦ ἂν ἔμενε τὰ σώματα, ἀλ
ἐφέρετο κατὰ τὸ ἄπειρον κενὸν διεσπαρμένα, οὐκ ἔχοντα τὰ ὑπερείδοντα
καὶ στέλλοντα κατὰ τὰς ἀνακοπάς· εἴ τε τὸ κενὸν ἦν ὡρισμένον, οὐκ ἂν εἶχε
τὰ ἄπειρα σώματα ὅπου ἐνέστη. Πρός15 τε τούτοις (points) τὰ ἄτομα τῶν
σωμάτων καὶ (τὰ) μεστά, ἐξ ὧν καὶ αἱ συγκρίσεις γίνονται καὶ εἰς ἃ
διαλύονται, ἀπερίληπτά ἐστι ταῖς διαφοραῖς τῶν σχημάτων· οὐ γὰρ δυνατὸν
γενέσθαι τὰς τοσαύτας διαφορὰς ἐκ τῶν αὐτῶν σχημάτων περιειλημμένων.16
καὶ κα ἑκάστην δὲ σχημάτισιν ἁπλῶς ἄπειροί εἰσιν αἱ ὅμοιαι, ταῖς δὲ
διαφοραῖς17 οὐχ ἁπλῶς ἄπειροι, ἀλλὰ μόνον ἀπερίληπτοι.
Vocabulary

ἀμετάβλητος, -ον, unchangeable ἀνακοπή, ἡ, collision ἄπειρος, -ον,

boundless, limitless ἀπερίληπτος, -ον, incomprehensible ἄτομος, -ον,
indivisible; subst. τὸ ἄτομος, atom διάλυσις, -εως, ἡ, a breaking up of
 something διασπείρω, pf. pass. ptc. διεσπαρμένος: disperse; pass. be
scattered περαίνω, to limit; pass. be limited περιείλω, wrap up, pass. be
limited in number πλήρης, -ες, -εις (m. pl.), -ες (nt. pl.), full; solid στέλλω,
to check, prevent; subst. ptc. a check, prevention ὑπερείδω, to support;
subst. ptc., a support

The Soul and Sensation (§§ 63–68)

According to Epicurus, the soul consists of three primary elements, breath, heat,
and air, and a fourth element, mind, which consists of very fine particles.
Whereas the first three elements are distributed throughout the body, the mind is
concentrated in the chest, near the heart. Sense sensation is a function of the
soul, not the body. Epicurus argues that the sensation of colors, shapes, and
smells is possible because all things continually emit from their surfaces “films”
or “replicas” (εἴδωλα) of themselves, which penetrate the sense organs. The soul
and body are formed together and die together; one cannot survive without the
other.
63 Μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα δεῖ συνορᾶν, ἀναφέροντα ἐπὶ τὰς αἰσθήσεις καὶ τὰ
πάθη – οὕτω18 γὰρ ἡ βεβαιοτάτη πίστις19 ἔσται – ὅτι ἡ ψυχὴ20 σῶμά ἐστι
λεπτομερές, παῤ ὅλον τὸ ἄθροισμα παρεσπαρμένον, προσεμφερέστατον δὲ
πνεύματι,21 θερμοῦ τινα κρᾶσιν ἔχοντι καὶ πῇ μὲν τούτῳ (wind) προσεμφερές,
πῇ δὲ τοῦτῳ (heat). ἔστι22 δέ τι μέρος (τῆς ψυχῆς) πολλὴν παραλλαγὴν
εἰληφὸς23 τῇ24 λεπτομερείᾳ καὶ αὐτῶν τούτων,25 συμπαθὲς διὰ τοῦτο
μᾶλλον26 καὶ τῷ λοιπῷ ἀθροίσματι· τοῦτο δὲ πᾶν αἱ δυνάμεις τῆς ψυχῆς
δηλοῦσι καὶ (its) τὰ πάθη καὶ (its) αἱ εὐκινησίαι καὶ αἱ διανοήσεις καὶ ὧν
στερόμενοι θνῄσκομεν. καὶ μὴν καὶ ὅτι ἔχει ἡ ψυχὴ τῆς αἰσθήσεως τὴν
πλείστην αἰτίαν δεῖ κατέχειν·
Vocabulary

ἄθροισμα, τό, assemblage of atoms, an organism διανοήσις, -εως, ἡ,

process of thinking, pl. intellectual faculties εὐκινησία, ἡ, mobility (often
pl.) θερμός, -ή, -όν, hot; τὸ θερμός (= θερμότης), heat κρᾶσις, -εως, ἡ,
mixing, blending of things (that form a compound) λεπτομερεία, ἡ,
composition of small particles λεπτομερής, -ές, composed of fine particles
πάθος, -εος, τό, misfortune, calamity; pain; pl. τὰ πάθη, emotions,
passions; οὐράνιος πάθος, meteorological disturbance παραλλαγή, ἡ,
 difference, change παρασπείρω, be interspersed/dispersed in πῇ, in some
ways; πῇ…πῇ…, in some ways ... in other ways προσεμφερής, -ές, to
resemble (w. dat.); superl. προσεμφερέστατος, most resembling στερέω,
deprive, rob of; pass. be deprived of συμπαθής, -ές, affected by like
feelings, exerting sympathy, interacting

συνοράω, comprehend that (ὅτι) 64 Οὐ μὴν εἰλήφει ἂν ταύτην (αἴθησιν), εἰ

μὴ ὑπὸ τοῦ λοιποῦ ἀθροίσματος ἐστεγάζετό πως· τὸ δὲ λοιπὸν ἄθροισμα
παρασκευάσαν ἐκείνῃ (ψυχῇ) τὴν αἰτίαν ταύτην μετείληφε καὶ αὐτὸ τοιούτου
συμπτώματος παῤ ἐκείνης (ψυχῆς), οὐ μέντοι πα των (αἰσθήσων) ὧν ἐκείνη
κέκτηται· διὸ ἀπαλλαγείσης τῆς ψυχῆς27 (τὸ ἄθροισμα) οὐκ ἔχει τὴν
αἴσθησιν. οὐ γὰρ αὐτὸ ἐν ἑαυτῷ ταύτην28 ἐκέκτητο τὴν δύναμιν, ἀλ
ἑτέρῷ ἅμα συγγεγενημένῳ29 αὐτῷ παρεσκεύαζεν, ὃ διὰ30 τῆς
συντελεσθείσης περὶ αὐτὸ δυνάμεως κατὰ31 τὴν κίνησιν σύμπτωμα
αἰσθητικὸν εὐθὺς ἀποτελοῦν ἑαυτῷ ἀπεδίδου κατὰ32 τὴν ὁμούρησιν καὶ
συμπάθειαν καὶ ἐκείνῳ (ἀθροίσματι), καθάπερ εἶπον.
Vocabulary

αἰσθητικόν, -ή, -όν, of sense perception ἀποτελέω, 3. ἀπετέλεσα,

produce, bring about κίνησις, -εως, ἡ, motion, movement μεταλαμβάνω,
have a part in, acquire a share of ὁμούρησις, ἡ, juxtaposition στεγάζω,
contain, enclose; subst. ptc., an enclosure συμπάθεια, ἡ, affinity συστήμα,
-ματος, τό, composite whole, whole compounded of parts

65 Διὸ δὴ καὶ ἐνυπάρχουσα33 ἡ ψυχὴ οὐδέποτε ἄλλου τινὸς μέρους (even)

ἀπηλλαγμένου34 ἀναισθητεῖ· ἀλ ἃ (μέρη) ἂν καὶ ταύτης (ψυχῆς)
ξυναπόληται τοῦ στεγάζοντος λυθέντος35 εἴ 36 ὅλου εἴτε καὶ μέρους τινός,
ἐάν περ διαμένῃ, σῷζει37 τὴν αἴσθησιν. τὸ δὲ λοιπὸν ἄθροισμα (even)
διαμὲνον38 καὶ ὅλον καὶ κατὰ μέρος οὐκ ἔχει τὴν αἴσθησιν ἐκείνου
(ἀθροίσματος) ἀπηλλαγμένου,39 ὅσον ποτέ ἐστι τὸ συντεῖνον τῶν ἀτόμων
πλῆθος εἰς τὴν τῆς ψυχῆς φύσιν. Καὶ μὴν καὶ λυομένου τοῦ ὅλου
ἀθροίσματος40 ἡ ψυχὴ διασπείρεται καὶ οὐκέτι ἔχει τὰς αὐτὰς δυνάμεις οὐδὲ
κινεῖται, ὥστε οὐ αἴσθησιν κέκτηται. 66 οὐ γὰρ οἷόν τε νοεῖν αὐτὸ
αἰσθανόμενον μὴ ἐν τούτῷ τῷ συστήματι καὶ ταὶς κινήσεσι ταύταις
χρώμενον, ὅταν τὰ στεγάζοντα καὶ περιέχοντα μὴ τοιαῦτα ᾖ,41 ἐν οἷς νῦν
οὖσα42 ἔχει ταύτας τὰς κινήσεις. (continues …) Vocabulary

ἀναισθητέω, lack perception ἐνυπάρχω, exist, be present in ξυναπόληται >

συναπόληται, s.v. συναπόλλυμι, destroy altogether περ (encl. particle
adding intensity), at all συντεῖνω, draw tight, pull to one point; subst.
aggregate

67 Γε δεῖ προσκατανοεῖν, ὅτι τὸ (term) ἀσώματον (which) λέγομεν κατὰ

τὴν πλείστην ὁμιλίαν τοῦ ὀνόματος ἐπὶ43 τοῦ (existing) κα ἑαυτὸ44
νοηθέντος ἄν· (existing) κα ἑαυτὸ δὲ οὐκ ἔστι (possible) νοῆσαι τὸ
ἀσώματον πλὴν τοῦ κενοῦ· τὸ δὲ κενὸν οὔτε ποιῆσαι οὔτε παθεῖν45 δύναται,
ἀλλὰ κίνησιν μόνον δι᾽ ἑαυτοῦ τοῖς σώμασι παρέχεται. ὥσ 46 οἱ λέγοντες
ἀσώματον εἶναι τὴν ψυχὴν ματαιΐζουσιν. οὐθὲν γὰρ ἂν (ἡ ψυχὴ) ἐδύνατο
ποιεῖν οὔτε πάσχειν, εἰ ἦν τοιαύτη· νῦν ἐναργῶς ἀμφότερα ταῦτα
διαλαμβάνομεν περὶ τὴν ψυχὴν τὰ συμπτώματα. 68 ταῦτα οὖν πάντα τὰ
διαλογίσματα47 τὰ περὶ ψυχῆς ἀνάγων τις ἐπὶ τὰ πάθη καὶ τὰς αἰσθήσεις,
μνημονεύων τῶν ἐν ἀρχῇ ῥηθέντων,48 ἱκανῶς κατόψεται τοῖς τύποις
ἐμπεριειλημμένα εἰς τὸ κατὰ μέρος ἀπὸ τούτων ἐξακριβοῦσθαι βεβαίως.
Vocabulary

ἀσώματος, -ον, disembodied, incorporeal διαλαμβάνω, be

distinguished/differentiated διαλογισμός, ὁ, debate, talk; estimation,
consideration ἐμπεριλαμβάνω, encompass, subsume within ἐναργῶς,
manifestly, as the case stands ἐξακριβάζω, know accurately καθοράω, fut.
κατόψομαι, see distinctly, observe ματαιΐζω (= ματάω), speak foolishness
ὁμιλία, ἡ, everyday conversation προσκατανέω, to note in addition that
(ὅτι)

Select Bibliography
Farrington, Benjamin. The Faith of Epicurus. London: Weidenfeld and
Nicolson, 1967.
Inwood, Brad, and L. P. Gerson (trans.). The Epicurus Reader: Selected Writings
and Testimonia. Intro. by D. S. Hutchinson. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1994.
1 τὸ μὴ ὄν, “what does not exist.”

2 Causal adv. ptc. (“because”).

3 τῶν (nt.) in causal gen. absol. cstr. (“because,” cf. IV, 9).

4 τὸ πᾶν, “the universe” (cf. Her. 41).

5 παρά, “beyond.”

6 ὡς, “that” (expressing a fact).

7 “To grasp (intellectually).”

8 τὸ μὴ ὄν, “nonexistence.”

9 S.v. φθείρω.

10 τὸ πᾶν, universe; τὰ ὅλα, universals.

11 παρ᾽ ἕτερόν τι, “against something else/different.”

12 In HGr, two simple negatives make a stronger negative. When translating

οὐκ…ἄπειρον, either omit οὐκ or omit the alpha-privative of ἄ-πειρον.

13 For opt. paradigm of εἰμί cf. table 9.13.

14 Dat. of resp.

15 πρός, “in addition.”

16 Cond. adv. ptc. (“if,” cf. IV, 1.8).

17 Dat. of resp.

18 οὕτως before a consonant becomes οὕτω.

19 πίστις, “certainty.”

20 The term ψυχή refers to the conscious self, or personality, as the center of all
emotions, desires, and affections.

21 πνεύμα, a “wind,”

22 Impers., “there is” (cf, IV, 14),

23 S.v. λαμβάνω (nt. 2pf. ptc.),

24 Dat. of resp.

25 Gen. of comp. (cf. IV, 10),

26 συμπαθὲς… μᾶλλον = μᾶλλον συμπαθές.

27 Gen. absol.

28 ταύτην…τὴν δύναμιν.

29 Instr. adv. ptc. (“by,” cf. IV, 1.6).

30 διὰ…δυνάμεως.

31 κατά, “as a result of.”

32 κατά, “as a result of.”

33 Pres. temporal adv. ptc. (“while,” “so long as”).

34 Cond. gen. absol. (“if,” cf. IV, 9).

35 Gen. absol.

36 εἴθε > εἴτε; εἴτε…εἴτε....

37 Here “keep,” “maintain.”

38 Cond. adv. ptc. (“if”).

39 Conditional gen. absol. (“if”).

40 Gen. absol.

41 μή…ᾖ, “are not” (i.e., “do not exist”).

42 Adv. ptc., “while it is existing.”

43 “On the basis of.”

44 κα ἑαυτό, “for itself” (i.e., as independent).

45 S.v. πάσχω, here “be acted upon.”

46 ὥσθ > ὥστε.

47 διαλογίσμα = διαλογιμός.

48 S.v. λέγω.
 Part 9 Summary of Verbal Paradigms
Contents Thematic Verbs 9.1 Active Indicative
9.2 Middle Indicative
9.3 Passive Indicative
9.4 Contract Verbs
9.5 οἶδα
9.6 γινώσκω
Athematic Verbs
9.7 δύναμαι
9.8 δίδωμι, τίθημι, ἵστημι – Active Indicative
9.9 δείκνυμι, φημί, ἔφην– Active Indicative
9.10 δίδωμι, τίθημι, ἵστημι – Middle Indicative
9.11 δίδωμι, τίθημι, ἵστημι – Passive Indicative
9.12 δίδωμι, τίθημι, ἵστημι – Non-Indicative Moods
9.13 εἰμί
9.14 εἶμι
9.15 ἵημι
9.16 Dual Forms
9.17 Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers
9.18 Alphabetic Numerals
9.19 Month Names
9.20 Greek Currency
9.21 Currency Equivalents
9.22 Terms Employed to Narrate the Approval of Decrees

9.1 Thematic ω-Verbs: Active Indicative

Pres. Impf. Fut. 1 Aor. Perf. Plpf

9.1.1 Indicative
 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) λύω ἔλυον λύσω ἔλυσα λέλυκα (ἐ)λελύκειν
λύεις ἔλυες λύσεις ἔλυσας λέλυκας (ἐ)λελύκεις
λύει ἔλυε(ν) λύσει ἔλυσε(ν) λέλυκε(ν) (ἐ)λελύκει
λύομεν ἐλύομεν λύσομεν ἐλύσαμεν λελύκαμεν (ἐ)λελύκειμεν
λύετε ἐλύετε λύσετε ἐλύσατε λελύκατε (ἐ)λελύκειτε
λύουσι(ν) ἔλυον λύσουσι(ν) ἔλυσαν λελύκασι(ν) (ἐ)λελύκεισαν

9.1.2 Subjunctive

(a) (b)
λύω λύσω
λύῃς λύσῃς
λύῃ λύσῃ
λύωμεν λύσωμεν
λύητε λύσητε
λύωσι(ν) λύσωσι(ν)

9.1.3 Optative

(a) (b)
λύοιμι λύσαιμι
λύοις λύσαις or -ειας
λύοι λύσαι or -ειε(ν)
λύοιμεν λύσαιμεν
λύοιτε λύσαιτε
λύοιεν λύσαιεν or -ειαν
9.1.4 Imperative

(a) (b)
λῦε λῦσον
λυέτω λυσάτω
λύετε λύσατε
λυέτωσαν, or -όντων λυσάτωσαν or -σάντων
Pres. Fut. 1 Aor. Perf.

9.1.5 Infinitive

(a) (b) (c) (d)

λύειν λύσειν λῦσαι λελυκέναι

9.1.6 Participle

(a) (b) (c) (d)

λύων1 λύσων2 λύσας3 λελυκώς4
λύοντος λύσοντος λύσαντος λελυκότος
λύοντι λύσοντι λυσαντι λελυκότι
λύοντα λύσοντα λύσαντα λελυκότα
λύοντες λύσοντες λύσαντες λελυκότες
λυόντων λυσόντων λυσάντων λελυκότων
λύουσι(ν) λύσουσι(ν) λύσασι(ν) λελυκόσι(ν) λύοντας λύσοντας
λύσαντας λελυκότας

9.2 Thematic ω-Verbs: Middle Indicative

 Pres. Impf. Fut. 1 Aor. Perf. Plpf

9.2.1 Indicative

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) λύομαι ἐλυόμην λύσομαι ἐλυσάμην λέλυμαι
(ἐ)λελύμην
λύῃ ἐλύου λύσῃ ἐλύσω λέλυσαι (ἐ)λέλυσο
λύεται ἐλύετο λύσεται ἐλύσατο λέλυται (ἐ)λέλυτο
λυόμεθα ἐλυόμεθα λυσόμεθα ἐλυσάμεθα λελύμεθα (ἐ)λελύμεθα
λύεσθε ἐλύεσθε λύσεσθε ἐλύσασθε λελύσθε (ἐ)λέλυσθε
λύονται ἐλύοντο λύσονται ἐλύσαντο λέλυνται (ἐ)λέλυντο

9.2.2 Subjunctive

(a) (b)
λύωμαι λύσωμαι
λύῃ λύσῃ
λύηται λύσηται
λυώμεθα λυσώμεθα
λύησθε λύσησθε
λύωνται λύσωνται

9.2.3 Optative

(a) (b)
λυοίμην λυσαίμην
λύοιο λύσαιο
λύοιτο λύσαιτο
 λυοίμεθα λυσαίμεθα
λύοισθε λύσαισθε
λύοιντο λύσαιντο
Pres. Fut. 1 Aor. Perf.

9.2.4 Imperative

(a) (b)
λύου λῦσαι
λυέσθω λυσάσθω
λύεσθε λύσασθε
λυέσθωσαν, or -έσθων λυσάσθωσαν or –σάσθων

9.2.5 Infinitive

(a) (b) (c) (d)

λύεσθαι λύσεσθαι λύσασθαι λελύσθαι

9.2.6 Participle

(a) (b) (c) (d)

λυόμενος5 λυσόμενος6 λυσάμενος7 λελυμένος8
λυομένου λυσομένου λυσαμένου λελυμένου
λυομένῳ λυσομένῳ λυσαμένῳ λελυμένῳ
λυόμενον λυσόμενον λυσάμενον λελυμένον
λυόμενοι λυσόμενοι λυσάμενοι λελυμένοι
λυομένων λυσομένων λυσαμένων λελυμένων
λυομένοις λυσομένοις λυσαμένοις λελυμένοις
 λυομένους λυσομένους λυσαμένους λελυμένους

9.3 Thematic ω-Verbs: Passive Indicative

Pres. Impf. Fut. 1 Aor. Perf. Plpf

9.3.1 Indicative

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) λύομαι ἐλυόμην λυθήσομαι ἐλύθην λέλυμαι
(ἐ)λελύμην
λύῃ ἐλύου λυθήσῃ ἐλύθης λέλυσαι (ἐ)λέλυσο
λύεται ἐλύετο λυθήσεται ἐλύθη λέλυται (ἐ)λέλυτο
λυόμεθα ἐλυόμεθα λυθησόμεθα ἐλύθημεν λελύμεθα (ἐ)λελύμεθα
λύεσθε ἐλύεσθε λυθήσεσθε ἐλύθητε λέλυσθε (ἐ)λέλυσθε
λύονται ἐλύοντο λυθήσονται ἐλύθησαν λέλυνται (ἐ)λέλυντο

9.3.2 Subjunctive

(a) (b)
λύωμαι λυθῶ
λύῃ λυθῇς
λύηται λυθῇ
λυώμεθα λυθῶμεν
λύησθε λυθῆτε
λύωνται λυθῶσι(ν)

9.3.3 Optative
 (a) (b)
λυοίμην λυθείην
λύοιο λυθείης
λύοιτο λύθείη
λυοίμεθα λυθεῖμεν, or -θείημεν
λύοισθε λυθεῖτε, or θείητε
λύοιντο λυθεῖεν, or -θείησαν

9.3.4 Imperative

(a) (b)
λύου λύθητι
λυέσθω λυθήτω
λύεσθε λύθητε
λυέσθωσαν, or -εσθων λυθήτωσαν

9.3.5 Infinitive

(a) (b) (c)

λύεσθαι λυθήσεσθαι λυθῆναι
Pres. Fut. 1 Aor. Perf.

9.3.6 Participle

(a) (b) (c) (d)

λυόμενος9 λυθησόμενος10 λυθείς11 λελυμένος12
λυομένου λυθησομένου λυθέντος λελυμένου
 λυομένῳ λυθησομένῳ λυθέντι λελυμένῳ
λυόμενον λυθησόμενον λυθέντα λελυμένον
λυόμενοι λυθησόμενοι λυθέντες λελυμένοι
λυομένων λυθησομένων λυθέντων λελυμένων
λυομένοις λυθησομένοις λυθεῖσι(ν) λελυμένοις
λυομένους λυθησομένους λυθέντας λελυμένους

9.4 Thematic Verbs: Contract Verbs

Present Active

9.4.1 Present Active Indicative

(a) (b) (c) (d)

ποιῶ ἀγαπῶ πληρῶ ζῶ
ποιεῖς ἀγαπᾷς πληροῖς ζῇς
ποιεῖ ἀγαπᾷ πληροῖ ζῇ
ποιοῦμεν ἀγαπῶμεν πληροῦμεν ζῶμεν
ποιεῖτε ἀγαπᾶτε πληροῦτε ζῆτε
ποιοῦσι(ν) ἀγαπῶσι(ν) πληροῦσι(ν) ζῶσι(ν)

9.4.2 Imperfect Active Indicative

(a) (b) (c) (d)

ἐποίουν ἠγάπων ἐπλήρουν ἔζων
ἐποίεις ἠγάπας ἐπλήρους ἔζης
ἐποίει ἠγάπα ἐπλήρου ἔζη
 ἐποιοῦμεν ἠγαπῶμεν ἐπληροῦμεν ἐζῶμεν
ἐποιεῖτε ἠγαπᾶτε ἐπληροῦτε ἐζῆτε
ἐποίουν ἠγάπων ἐπλήρουν ἔζων

9.4.3 Present Active Imperative

(a) (b) (c) (d)

ποίει ἀγάπα πλήρου ζῆ
ποιείτω ἀγαπάτω πληρούτω ζήτω
ποιεῖτε ἀγαπᾶτε πληροῦτε ζῆτε
ποιείτωσαν ἀγαπάτωσαν πληρούτωσαν ζώντων

9.4.4 Present Active Subjunctive

(a) (b) (c) (d)

ποιῶ ἀγαπῶ πληρῶ ζῶ
ποιῇς ἀγαπᾷς πληροῖς ζῇς
ποιῇ ἀγαπᾷ πληροῖ ζῇ
ποιῶμεν ἀγαπῶμεν πληρῶμεν ζῶμεν
ποιῆτε ἀγαπᾶτε πληρῶτε ζῆτε
ποιῶσι(ν) ἀγαπῶσι(ν) πληρῶσι(ν) ζῶσι(ν)

9.4.5 Present Active Infinitive

(a) (b) (c) (d)

ποιεῖν ἀγαπᾶν πληροῦν ζῆν

9.4.6 Present Active Participle

 (a) (b) (c) (d)
m.ποιῶν ἀγαπῶν πληρῶν ζῶν
fm. ποιοῦσα ἀγαπῶσα πληροῦσα ζῶσα
nt.ποιοῦν ἀγαπῶν πληροῦν ζῶν
Present Passive

9.4.7 Present Passive Indicative

(a) (b) (c)

ποιοῦμαι ἀγαπῶμαι πληροῦμαι
ποιῇ or -εῖ ἀγαπᾶσαι πληροῖ
ποιεῖται ἀγαπᾶται πληροῦται
ποιούμεθα ἀγαπώμεθα πληρούμεθα
ποιεῖσθε ἀγαπᾶσθε πληροῦσθε
ποιοῦνται ἀγαπῶνται πληροῦνται

9.4.8 Imperfect Passive Indicative

(a) (b) (c)

ἐποιούμην ἠγαπώμην ἐπληρούμην
ἐποιοῦ ἠγαπῶ επληροῦ
ἐποιεῖτο ἠγαπᾶτο επληροῦτο
ἐποιούμεθα ἠγαπώμεθα επληρούμεθα
ἐποιεῖσθε ἠγαπᾶσθε επληροῦσθε
ἐποιοῦνται ἠγαπῶντο επληροῦντο

9.4.9 Present Passive Imperative

 (a) (b) (c)
ποιοῦ ἀγαπῶ πληροῦ
ποιείσθω ἀγαπάσθω πληρούσθω
ποιεῖσθε ἀγαπᾶσθε πληροῦσθε
ποιείσθωσαν ἀγαπάσθωσαν πληρούσθωσαν

9.4.10 Present Passive Subjunctive

(a) (b) (c)

ποιῶμαι ἀγαπῶμαι πληρῶμαι
ποιῇ ἀγαπᾷ πληροῖ
ποιῆται ἀγαπᾶται πληρῶται
ποιώμεθα ἀγαπώμεθα πληρώμεθα
ποιῆσθε ἀγαπᾶσθε πληρῶσθε
ποιῶνται ἀγαπῶνται πληρῶνται

9.4.11 Present Passive Infinitive

(a) (b) (c)

ποιεῖσθαι ἀγαπᾶσθαι πληροῦσθαι
Present Middle

9.4.12 Present Middle Indicative

δέομαι χρῶμαι
δέῃ χρᾶσαι
δεῖται χρᾶται
δεόμεθα χρώμεθα
 δεῖσθε χρᾶσθε
δέονται χρῶνται

9.4.13 Imperfect Middle Indicative

ἐδεόμην ἐχρῶμην
ἐδέου ἐχρῶ
ἐδεῖτο ἐχρᾶτο
ἐδεόμεθα ἐχρώμεθα
ἐδεῖσθε ἐχρᾶσθε
ἐδέοντο ἐχρῶντο

9.4.14 Present Middle Imperative

δέου χρῶ
δείσθῳ χράσθω
δεῖσθε χρᾶσθε
δείσθωσαν χράσθωσαν

9.5 Thematic Verbs: οἶδα

9.5.1 Indicative

(a) (b)
Pf. Pfpf.
οἶδα ᾔδειν
οἶδας ᾔδεις
οἶδε(ν) ᾔδει
 οἴδαμεν or ἴσμεν ᾔδειμεν
οἴδατε or ἴστε ᾔδεῖτε
οἴδασι(ν) or ἴδασιν ᾔδεισαν

9.5.2 Subjunctive

εἰδῶ
εἰδῇς
εἰδῇ
εἰδῶμεν
εἰδῆτε
εἰδῶσι(ν)

9.5.3 Infinitive

εἰδέναι

9.5.4 Participle

m. fm. nt.
εἰδώς εἰδυῖα εἰδός
εἰδότος εἰδυίας εἰδότος
etc.

9.6 Thematic Verbs: γινώσκω

9.6.1 Indicative
 (a) (b)13 (c) (d) (e) (f) pres. 2 aor. fut. pf. plpf. impf.
γινώσκω ἔγνων γνώσομαι ἔγνωκα ἐγνώκειν ἐγινώσκον
γινώσκεις ἔγνως
γινώκει ἔγνω
γινώσκομεν ἔγνωμεν
γινώσκετε ἔγνωτε
γινώσκουσι(ν) ἔγνωσαν

9.6.2 Optative

γνοίην
γνοίης
γνοίη
γνοῖμεν or γνοίημεν
γνοῖτε or γνοίητε
γνοῖεν or γνοίσαν

9.6.3 Subjunctive

γνῶ
γνῷς
γνῷ or γνοῖ
γνῶμεν
γνῶτε
γνῶσι(ν)

9.6.4 Infinitive
 γνῶναι

9.6.5 Imperative

9.6.6 2Aor act. participle

γνῶθι N. γνούς
γνώτω G. γνόντος
D. γνόντι
γνῶτε A. γνόντα
γνώτωσαν etc.

9.7 Athematic Verbs: δύναμαι

9.7.1 Present Middle Indicative

(a) (b)
δύναμαι κάθημαι
δύνασαι or δύνῃ κάθῃ
δύναται κάθηται
δυνάμεθα καθήμεθα
δύνασθε κάθησθε
δύνανται κάθηνται

9.8 Athematic Verbs: δίδωμι, τίθημι, ἵστημι – Active

Indicative
9.8.1 Present
 (a) (b) (c)
δίδωμι τίθημι ἵστημι
δίδως τίθης ἵστης
δίδωσι(ν) τίθησι(ν) ἵστησι(ν) δίδομεν τίθεμεν ἵσταμεν
δίδοτε τίθετε ἵστατε
διδόασι(ν) τιθέασι(ν) ἱστᾶσι(ν)14

9.8.2 Imperfect

(a) (b) (c)

ἐδίδουν ἐτίθην ἵστην
ἐδίδους ἐτίθεις ἵστης
ἐδίδου ἐτίθει ἵστη
ἐδίδομεν ἐτίθεμεν ἵσταμεν
ἐδίδοτε ἐτίθετε ἵστατε
ἐδίδοσαν ἐτίθεσαν ἵστασαν

9.8.3 Future

(a) (b) (c)

δώσω θήσω στήσω
δώσεις θήσεις στήσεις
δώσει θήσει στήσει
δώσομεν θήσομεν στήσομεν
δώσετε θήσετε στήσετε
δώσουσι(ν) θήσουσι(ν) στήσουσι(ν)
9.8.4 Aorist

Transitive Intransitive (a) (b) (c) (d)

ἔδωκα ἔθηκα ἔστησα15 ἔστην16
ἔδωκας ἔθηκας ἔστησας ἔστης
ἔδωκε(ν) ἔθηκε(ν) ἔστησε(ν) ἔστη
ἐδώκαμεν ἐθήκαμεν ἐστήσαμεν ἔστημεν
ἐδώκατε ἐθήκατε ἐστήσατε ἔστητε
ἔδωκαν ἔθηκαν ἔστησαν ἔστησαν

9.8.5 Perfect

(a) (b) (c)

δέδωκα τέθεικα ἕστηκα
δέδωκας τέθεικας ἕστηκας
δέδωκε(ν) τέθεικε(ν) ἕστηκε(ν) δεδώκαμεν τεθείκαμεν ἐστήκαμεν
δεδώκατε τεθείκατε ἐστήκατε
δεδώκασι(ν) τεθείκασι(ν) ἐστήκασι(ν)

9.9 Athematic Verbs: δείκνυμι, φημί, ἔφην – Active

Indicative

9.9.1 9.2
Pres. Pres. Impf.
δείκνυμι or δεικνύω φημί ἔφην
δεικνύεις φῄς ἔφης
δείκνυσι(ν) φησί(ν) ἔφη (and 2aor) δείκνυμεν φαμέν ἔφαμεν
 δείκνυτε φατέ ἔφατε
δεικνύασι(ν) φασί(ν) ἔφασαν

9.10 Athematic Verbs: δίδωμι, τίθημι, ἵστημι –

Middle Indicative
9.10.1 Present

(a) (b) (c)

δίδομαι τίθεμαι ἵσταμαι
δίδοσαι τίθεσαι ἵστασαι
δίδοται τίθεται ἵσταται
διδόμεθα τιθέμεθα ἱστάμεθα
δίδοσθε τίθεσθε ἵστασθε
δίδονται τίθενται ἵστανται

9.10.2 Imperfect

(a) (b) (c)

ἐδιδόμην ἐτιθέμην ἱστάμην
ἐδίδοσο ἐτίθεσο ἵστασο
ἐδίδοτο ἐτίθετο ἵστατο
ἐδιδόμεθα ἐτιθέμεθα ἱστάμεθα
ἐδίδοσθε ἐτίθεσθε ἵστασθε
ἐδίδοντο ἐτίθεντο ἵσταντο

9.10.3 Future
 (a) (b) (c)
δώσομαι θήσομαι στήσομαι
δώσῃ θήσῃ στήσῃ
δώσεται θήσεται στήσεται
δωσόμεθα θησόμεθα στησόμεθα
δώσεσθε θήσεσθε στήσεσθε
δώσονται θήσονται στήσονται

9.10.4 Aorist

(a) (b)
ἐδόμην ἐθέμην (no middle forms) ἔδου ἔθου
ἔδοτο ἔθετο
ἐδόμεθα ἐθέμεθα
ἔδοσθε ἔθεσθε
ἔδοντο ἔθεντο

9.10.5 Perfect

(a) (b) (c)

δέδομαι τέθειμαι ἕσταμαι
δέδοσαι τέθεισαι ἕστασαι
δέδοται τέθειται ἕσταται
δεδόμεθα τεθείμεθα ἑστάμεθα
δέδοσθε τεθείσθε ἕστασθε
δέδονται τεθείνται ἕστανται
9.11 Athematic Verbs: δίδωμι, τίθημι, ἵστημι–
Passive Indicative
9.11.1 Present

(a) (b) (c)

δίδομαι τίθεμαι ἵσταμαι
δίδοσαι τίθεσαι ἵστασαι
δίδοται τίθεται ἵσταται
διδόμεθα τιθέμεθα ἱστάμεθα
δίδοσθε τίθεσθε ἵστασθε
δίδονται τίθενται ἵστανται

9.11.2 Imperfect

(a) (b) (c)

ἐδιδόμην ἐτιθέμην ἱστάμην
ἐδίδοσο ἐτίθεσο ἵστασο
ἐδίδοτο ἐτίθετο ἵστατο
ἐδιδόμεθα ἐτιθέμεθα ἱστάμεθα
ἐδίδοσθε ἐτίθεσθε ἵστασθε
ἐδίδοντο ἐτίθεντο ἵσταντο

9.11.3 Future

(a) (b) (c)

δοθήσομαι τεθήσομαι σταθήσομαι
δοθήσῃ τεθήσῃ σταθήσῃ
 δοθήσεται τεθήσεται σταθήσεται
δοθησόμεθα τεθησόμεθα σταθησόμεθα
δοθήσεσθε τεθήσεσθε σταθήσεσθε
δοθήσονται τεθήσονται σταθήσονται

9.11.4 Aorist

(a) (b) (c)

ἐδόθην ἐτέθην ἐστάθην
ἐδόθης ἐτέθης ἐστάθης
ἐδόθη ἐτέθην ἐστάθη
ἐδόθημεν ἐτέθημεν ἐστάθημεν
ἔδόθητε ἐτέθητε ἐστάθητε
ἔδόθησαν ἐτέθησαν ἐστάθησαν

9.11.5 Perfect

(a) (b) (c)

δέδομαι τέθειμαι ἕσταμαι
δέδοσαι τέθεισαι ἕστασαι
δέδοται τέθειται ἕσταται
δεδόμεθα τεθείμεθα ἑστάμεθα
δέδοσθε τέθεισθε ἕστασθε
δέδονται τέθεινται ἕστανται

9.12 Athematic Verbs: δίδωμι, τίθημι, ἵστημῑ Non-

Indicative Moods
 δίδωμι (√ δο) τίθημι (√ θε) ἵστημι (√ στα)

9.12.1 Subjunctive – Active

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) Pres. Aor. Pres. Aor. Pres. Aor.
διδῶ δῶ τιθῶ θῶ ἱστῶ στῶ
διδῷς δῷς τιθῇς θῇς ἱστῇς στῇς
διδῷ δῷ τιθῇ θῇ ἱστῇ στῇ
διδῶμεν δῶμεν τιθῶμεν θῶμεν ἱστῶμεν στῶμεν
διδῶτε δῶτε τιθῆτε θῆτε ἱστῆτε στῆτε
διδῶσι(ν) δῶσι(ν) τιθῶσι(ν) θῶσι(ν) ἱστῶσι(ν) στῶσι(ν)

9.12.2 Imperative – Active

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) Pres. Aor. Pres. Aor. Pres. Aor.
δίδου δός τίθει θές ἵστη στῆθι17
διδότω δότω τιθέτω θέτω ἱστάτω στήτω
δίδοτε δότε τίθετε θέτε ἵστατε στῆτε
διδότωσαν δότωσαν τιθέτωσαν θέτωσαν ἱστάτωσαν στήτωσαν

9.12.3 Infinitive
9.12.3.1 Active Inf.

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) Pres. Aor. Pres.2Aor. Pres. 2 Aor.
διδόναι δοῦναι τιθέναι θεῖναι ἱστάναι στῆσαι/στῆναι

9.12.3.2 Middle Inf.

 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) δίδοσθαι δόσθαι τίθεσθαι θέσθαι ἵστασθαι
στήσασθαι

9.12.3.3 Passive Inf.

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) δίδοσθαι δοθῆναι τίθεσθαι τεθῆναι ἵστασθαι
σταθῆναι

9.12.4 Participle – Active

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) Pres. Aor. Pres. Aor. Pres. Aor.
διδούς18 δούς19 τιθείς20 θείς21 ἱστᾶς22 στᾶς23
διδόντος δόντος τιθέντος θέντος ἱστάντος στάντος
διδόντι δόντι τιθέντι θέντι ἱστάντι στάντι
διδόντα δόντα τιθένταν θέντα ἱστάντα στάντα
διδόντες δόντες τιθέντες θέντες ἱστάντες στάντες
διδόντων δόντων τιθέντων θέντων ἱστάντων στάντων
διδοῦσι(ν) δοῦσι(ν) τιθεῖσι(ν) θεᾶσι(ν) ἱστᾶσι(ν) στᾶσι(ν) διδόντας
δόντας τιθέντας θέντας ἱστάντας στάντας

9.12.5 Perfect Active Participle of ἵστημι

Sg. m. fm. nt.

N ἑστώς ἑστῶσα ἑστός
G ἑστότος ἑστῶσης ἑστότος
D ἑστότι ἑστῶσῃ ἑστότι
A ἑστότα ἑστῶσαν ἑστός
Pl.N ἑστότες ἑστῶσαι ἑστότα
 G ἑστότων ἑστωσῶν ἑστότων
D ἑστόσι(ν) ἑστῶσαις ἑστόσι(ν) A ἑστότας ἑστῶσας ἑστότα

9.12.6 Pres. and Aor. Middle Participle

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) Pres. 24Aor.25Pres. 26 Aor. Pres.27 Aor.
διδόμενος δόμενος τιθέμενος θέμενος28 ἱστάμενος στάμενος29

9.12.7 Aor. Passive Participle

m. δοθείς τεθείς σταθείς

fm. δοθείσα τεθείσα σταθείσα
nt. δοθέν τεθέν σταθέν

9.13 Athematic Verbs: εἰμί

9.13.1 Indicative

(a) (b) (c)

Pres. Impf. Fut.
εἰμί ἤμην ἔσομαι
εἶ ἦς ἔσῃ
ἐστί(ν) ἦν ἔσται
ἐσμέν ἦμεν or ἤμεθα ἐσόμεθα
ἐστέ ἦτε ἔσεσθε
εἰσί(ν) ἦσαν ἔσονται

9.13.2 Subjunctive 9.13.3 Optative

 ὦ εἴην
ᾖς εἴης
ᾖ εἴη
ὦμεν εἴημεν / εἶμεν
ἦτε εἴητε / εἶτε
ὦσι(ν) εἴησαν / εἶεν

9.13.4 Imperative

ἴσθι
ἔστω or ἤτω
ἔστε
ἔστωσαν or ἔστων

9.13.5 Infinitive

εἶναι

9.13.6 Participle

m. fm. nt.
ὤν οὖσα ὄν
ὄντος οὔσης ὄντος
ὄντι οὔσῃ ὄντι
ὄντα οὖσαν ὄν
ὄντες οὖσαι ὄντα
ὄντων οὐσῶν ὄντων
 οὖσι(ν) οὔσαις οὖσι(ν) ὄντας οὔσας ὄντα

9.14 Athematic Verbs: εἶμι

Pres. Subj. Opt. Impv. Impf.

εἶμι ἴω ἴοιμι/ ἰοίην ‐ ᾖα/ ᾔειν
εἶ ἴῃς ἴοις ἴθι ᾔεισθα/ᾔεις
εἶσι ἴῃ ἴοι ἴτω ᾔειν/ᾔει
ἴμεν ἴωμεν ἴοιμεν - ᾖμεν
ἴτε ἴητε ἴοιτε ἴτε ᾖτε
ἴασι ἴωσι ἴοιεν ἰόντων/ἴτωσαν ᾖσαν/ᾔεσαν
Infinitive ἰέναι Present Participle nom. ἰών, ἰοῦσα, ἰόν
gen. ἰόντος, ἰούσης, ἰόντος

9.15 Athematic Verbs: ἵημι

Active Indicative Subjunctive Hyphenated endings only occur in

compound forms of the verb.
Pres. Impf.2Aor. Pres.2Aor.
ἵημι ἵην ἦκα ἱῶ - ὧ
ἵης/ἱεῖς ἵεις ἦκας ἱῇς - ἧς
ἵησι ἵει ἦκε ἱῇ - ᾗ
ἵεμεν ἵεμεν - εἷμεν ἱῶμεν - ὧμεν
ἵετε ἵετε - εἷτε ἱῆτε - ἧτε
ἱᾶσι ἵεσαν - εἷσαν ἱῶσι - ὦσι
Infinitive
ἰέναι - εἶναι
 Pres. Participle2Aor. Ptc.
ἱείς (m.), ἱέντος (gen.) εἵς, ἕντος
ἱεῖσα (fm.) εἶσα
ἱέν (nt.) ἕν
ἱέντες (m. pl.) ἕντες
ἵημι – Passive (only occurs in compound forms) Future Aorist
-εθήσομαι Ind. -ειθην
Subj. -εθῶ
Infin. -εθῆναι
Ptc. -εθείς

9.16 Dual Forms

9.16.1 Definite Article (All Genders)

N/V τώ
G τοῖν
D τοῖν
A τώ

9.16.2 Present and 2Aorist Participial Endings

m. fm. nt.
N/V -οντε -ούσα -οντε
G -όντοιν -ούσαιν -όντοιν
D -όντοιν -ούσαιν -όντοιν
A -οντε -ούσα -οντε
9.16.3 Dual (2nd and 3rd pers.) Forms of εἰμί

Ind. ἐστόν
Subj. ἦτον
Opt. 2nd pers. εἴητον/εἶτον, 3rd pers. εἰήτην/εἶτην

9.17 Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers

Cardinal Numbers Ordinal Numbers 1. εἷς (m.), μία (fm.), ἕν (nt.)

πρῶτος, -η, -ον
2. δύο, δυσί(ν) (dat.) δεύτερος, -α, -ον
3. τρεῖς (m., fm.), τρία (nt.) τρίτος, -η, -ον
4. τέσσαρες (m./fm.), τέσσαρα (nt.) τέταρτος, -η, -ον
5. πέντε πέμπτος, -η, -ον
6. ἕξ ἕκτος, -η, -ον
7. ἑπτά ἕβδομος, -η, -ον
8. ὀκτώ ὄγδοος, -η, -ον
9. ἐννέα ἕνατος, -η, -ον
10. δέκα δέκατος, -η, -ον
11. ἕνδεκα ἑνδέκατος, -η, -ον
12. δώδεκα δωδέκατος, -η, -ον
20. εἴκοσι(ν) εἰκοστός, -η, -ον
100. ἑκατόν ἑκατοστός, -η, -ον

9.18 Alphabetic Numerals

The alphabetic system for writing numerals became widely used alongside
 the acrophonic system in the Hellenistic period. This is a quasi-decimal
system that requires twenty-seven letters, nine for the numbers 1–9, nine
for the tens (10–90), and nine for the hundreds (100–900). In Attica, the
symbol i was used for 6, replacing the earlier form F (digamma), which
was not used in Attica in the Roman period. By convention, editors
identify alphabetic numerals for numbers up to 999 by marking them with
an oblique stroke to the upper right of the number (e.g., α´) above the line.
α´ 1 ια´ 11 κα´ 21 μ´ 40 φ´ 500
β´ 2 ιβ´ 12 κβ´ 22 ν´ 50 χ´ 600
γ´ 3 ιγ´ 13 κγ´ 23 ξ´ 60 ψ´ 700
δ´ 4 ιδ´ 14 κδ´ 24 ο´ 70 ω´ 800
ε´ 5 ιε´ 15 κε´ 25 π´ 80 ↑ or Ϡ´ 900
ℌ/ ς´/F 6 ις´ 16 κς´ 26 Ϟ´ 90 ‚α 1000
ζ´ 7 ιζ´ 17 κζ´ 27 ρ´ 100 ‚β 2000
η´ 8 ιη´ 18 κη´ 28 σ´ 200 ‚γ 2000
θ´ 9 ιθ´ 19 κθ´ 29 τ´ 300
ι´ 10 κ´ 20 λ´ 30 υ´ 400

9.19 Month Names

Attic Macedonian Egyptian 1 Ἐκατομβαιών30 Δῖος Θώθ

2 Μεταγειτνιών Ἀπελλαῖος Φαωφί
3 Βοηδρομίων31 Αὐδναῖο Ἀθύρ
4 Πυανοψιών, -ῶνος Περίτιος Χοιάκ
5 Παιμακτηριών Δύστρος Τυβί
6 (Ποσειδεών β´/ ὕστερος)32 Ξανθικός Μεχίρ
7 Γαμηλιών Ἀρεμίσιος Φαμενώθ
8 Ἀνθεστηριών Δαίσιος Φαρμουθί
 9 Ἐλαφηβολιών Πάνημος Παχών
10 Μουνυχιών Λώος Παϋνί
11 Θαργηλιών Γορπιαῖος Ἐπιφί
12 Σκιροφοριών Ἠπερβερεταῖος Μεσορί

9.20 Greek Currency

1 drachma δραχμή = 1 denarius 1 stater = ¾ denarius (15 staters = 22 ½

denarii) 8 chalkoi (χαλκοί) = 1 obol 6 obols (ὀβολοί) = 1 drachma 100
drachmae (δραχμαι) = 1 mina
60 minas (μναῖ) = 1 talent

9.21 Currency Equivalents

8 chalkoi (χαλκοί) = 1 obol 6 obols (ὀβολοί) = 1 drachma 100 drachmae

(δραχμαί) = 1 mina 60 minas (μναῖ) = 1 talent

9.22 Terms Employed to Narrate the Approval of

Decrees

γνώμη preliminary resolution/motion ἐπειδή / ἐπεί “whereas” / “since”

προσαγαγεῖν (s.v. προσάγω) “to introduce a proposal to Council”
εἶπεν “he proposed (the motion that)”
ἐπεψήφιζεν (s.v. ἐπιψηφίζω) “he put (an approved proposal as) a
formal motion to a vote (that),” “to decree”
δεδόχθαι “be it resolved that”
ἔδοξεν/δοκεῖ “it was/is resolved (by)”
ἐψήφισθαι (s.v. ψηφίζω) “be it resolved that”
 χρηματίσαι (s.v. χρηματίζω) “to deliberate on (committee business)”
συνβάλλεσθαι (s.v. συμβάλλω) “to communicate (a preliminary
resolution)”

1 λύων, λύουσα, λύον.

2 λύσων, λύσουσα, λύσον.

3 λύσας, λύσασα, λῦσαν.

4 λελυκώς, λελυκυῖα, λελυκός.

5 λυόμενος, λυομένη, λυόμενον.

6 λυσόμενος, λυσομένη, λυσόμενον.

7 λυσάμενος, λυσαμένη, λυσάμενον.

8 λελυμένος, λελυμένη, λελυμένον.

9 λυόμενος, λυομένη, λυόμενον.

10 λυθησόμενος, λυθησομένη, λυθησόμενον.

11 λυθείς, λυθεῖσα, λυθέν.

12 λελυμένος, λελυμένη, λελυμένον.

13 γινώσκω is athematic in the 2aor.

14 The α of the stem contracts with the α of the ending.

15 Transitive use: “I set up, I caused to stand.”

16 Intransitive form: “I stood.”

17 But ἀνίστημι has the alternate form, ἀνάστα.

18 διδούς, διδοῦσα, διδόν.

19 δούς, δοῦσα, δόν.

20 τιθείς, τιθεῖσα, τιθέν.

21 θείς, θεῖσα, θέν.

22 ἱστάς, ἱστᾶσα, ἱστάν.

23 στάς στᾶσα, στάν.

24 διδόμενος, -η, -ον.

25 δόμενος, -η, -ον.

26 τιθέμενος, -η, -ον.

27 ἱστάμενος, -η, -ον.

28 θέμενος, -η, -ον.

29 στάμενος, -η, -ον.

30 First month until early first century CE (approx. July).

31 First month from early first century CE.

32 Or Ἁδριανιών, intercalary month.

 Part 10 Glossary

ἄβατον, τό, abaton (sleeping chamber of the sanctuary of Asklepios)

ἀγαθός, -ή, -όν, good ἀγαθωσύνη, ἡ, generosity, goodness ἀγαλλιάομαι,
to rejoice exceedingly ἀγαπάω, ἀγαπήσω, ἠγάπησα, ἠγάπηκα, ἠγάπημαι,
ἠγαπήθην: love ἀγάπη, ἡ, love ἀγαπητός, -ή, -όν, beloved, dear(est)
ἄγγελος, ὁ, messenger, angel ἀγέλη, -ης, ἡ, herd, flock ἁγιάζω, to make
sacred, sanctify, consecrate to ἁγίασμα, -ματος, τό, sanctuary ἅγιος, -ια, -
ιον, holy ἁγνεία, ἡ, chastity, a sexually unmolested state ἀγνεύω, to keep
pure from (w. gen.); mid. to keep oneself pure from ἀγνοέω, to not know
something, be ignorant of; pass. to not be known/recognized ἄγνοια, ἡ,
ignorance ἁγνός, -ή, -όν, pure, chaste (of women), holy ἀγρός, ὁ, field,
countryside ἀγορά, ἡ, marketplace (of a city); meeting, assembly; ἀγορὰν
ἄγω/συνάγω, to convene a meeting ἀγοράζω (w. gen.), to buy (with); to
ransom (with) ἀγορανόμος, ὁ, clerk of the market (responsible for
regulating buying and selling) ἄγω, ἄξω, ἤγαγον, ἦχα, ἦγμαι, ἤχθην: to
lead, bring ἀγωγή, ἡ, policy; love spell ἀγών, -ῶνος, ὁ, contest, game,
race; struggle; legal trial, test; athletic games ἀγωνίζομαι, to fight, struggle,
strive ἀγωνοθέτης, -ου, ὁ, president of the games
ἄδηλος, -ον, invisible/not evident to the senses ᾍδης, -ου (uncontr. Ἁίδης,
Ἁίδαο), ὁ, Hades, She’ol, the Netherworld ἀδελφή, ἡ, sister, fellow
believer ἀδελφός, ὁ, brother ἀδικέω, to do wrong; pass. to be wronged by
somebody ἀδίκημα, -ματος, τό, wrongdoing, offense ἀδικία, ἡ,
wrongdoing, injustice Ἀδρίας, -ου, ὁ, Adriatic Sea (btw. Crete and Sicily)
ἀδυ ατος, -ον, impossible; weak, crippled ᾄδω, 2. ᾄσω/ᾄσομαι, 3. ᾖσα,
1aor. inf. ἆσαι: to sing ἀεί, ever, constantly, eternal; (adv.) eternally; at that

time ἀένναος, -ον, ever-flowing, everlasting ἀήρ, ὁ, ἀέρος (gen.), air;

atmosphere ἀθάνατος, -ον, immortal ἀθεώρητος, -ον, invisible θῆναι, -
ῶν, αἱ (Dor. Ἀθᾶναι, -ᾶν): Athens θηναῖος, -α, -ον, Αthenian (adj.);
subst. ὁ θηναῖος, Athenian Ἀθήνη, ἡ, goddess Athene ἄθροισμα, τό,
assemblage of atoms, organism αἰ, Dor. > Att. εἰ
Αἰγύπτιος, -ία, -ιον, Egyptian (adj.); subst. ὁ Αἰγύπτιος; Αἰγυπτία, ἡ,
Egyptian woman Αἴγυπτος, ἡ, Egypt αἰθήρ, -έρος, ὁ/ἡ, ether, upper air (as
opposed to lower air), the divine element in the human soul; personified
Αἰθήρ
αἶμα, -ματος, τό, blood αἰνέω, to praise αἱρέω, pres. inf. αἱρεῖν, pres. act.
impv. αἰρείσθω/θωσαν, pres. mid. impv. αἱρείσθωσαν, 1aor. ᾕρησα / εἷλον
(√ ἑλ-), 2aor. mid. εἱλάμην/όμην: to take by the hand; to take away,
remove; to entrap, take captive; mid. to take for oneself, choose; pass. to be
chosen αἴρω, ἀρῶ, ᾖρα/ἦρα, αἴρω, ἀρῶ, ἦρα, ἦρκα, ἦρμαι, ἤρθην: to lift,
take up/away, carry, pick up, hoist up; to take (away), remove; to weigh
anchor; to put an end to, destroy, kill αἴθησις, ἡ, perception, sensation; pl.
(physical) senses αἰσθάνομαι, impf. ᾐσθόμην, 2aor. ᾐσθόμην: to have the
sense/perception of (gen.); to perceive by the senses αἰσθητός, -ή, -όν,
perceptible, sensible αἰσχύνη, ἡ, shame, disgrace αἰσχύνω (only mid. and
pass. in NT), mid. to be ashamed αἰτέω/έομαι, to ask for, beg; to make a
request αἰτία, τό, cause; accusation, legal charge
αἴτιον, τό, cause, reason αἴτιος, -ία, -ιον, responsible for, guilty of; subst.
the accused, the one who is the cause αἰχμαλοτεύω, to take prisoner, lure
away; pass. to be taken prisoner αἰχμαλωτίζω = αἰχμαλοτεύω
αἰών, -ῶνος, ὁ, period, age αἰώνιος, -ον, eternal ἀκαθαρσία, ἡ, physical
and ritual impurity; moral impurity ἀκάθαρτος, -ον, unclean, impure; τὰ
ἀκάθαρτα, impurities, filth ἀκέραιος, -ον, innocent ἀκοή, ἡ, (faculty of)
hearing; act of hearing; ear; account, report; obedience; pl. αἱ ἀκοαί, ears;
chamber where the voice of Aklepios is heard ἀκολουθέω, follow
ἀκόλουθος, -ον, following, later; (adv.) ἀκολοῦθως, following, next;
according to ἀκοσμέω, to be disorderly; pl. subst. disorderly people
ἀκρατής, -ές, powerless ἄκρατος, -ον, pure, unmixed ἀκριβῶς, accurately,
carefully ἀκροάομαι, to listen to, obey (w. gen.) ἀκροβυστία, ἡ, foreskin;
fig. state of being uncircumcised ἀκούω, hear ἄκρον, τό, high point, top
(of a mountain, staff); outermost edge; end, edge (of the earth); peel (of
fruit) ἀκρόπολις, -εως, ἡ, citadel, castle; the (Athenian) Acropolis
ἀλήθεια, ἡ, truth ἀληθής (m. and fm.), -ές (nt.), true, truthful ἀληθινός, -
ή, -όν, real, genuine, true, dependable ἀληθῶς, truly, actually, surely
ἀλίσκομαι (defective pass., act. supplied by αἱρέω), subj. ἁλῶ, -ῶς (2), -ῷ
(3): to be caught doing something ἀλλά, but, except ἀλλάσσω, 2. ἀλλάξω,
6. ἠλλάγην: to change, alter; to exchange one thing for another ἀλλήλων,
each other, one another ἄλλος, -η, -ον, other, another ἀλλότριος, -ία, -ιον,
belonging to another; foreign; ὁ ἀλλότριος, stranger ἀλόγος, -ον, irrational
ἅλς, ὁ, ἁλος, salt ἅμα, together with (w. dat.); (adv.) at the same time,
when; all at once ἁμαρτάνω, 2aor. ἥμαρτον (but oft. ἁμαρησ-in non-ind.
moods), 4. ἡμάρτηκα: to sin, commit a sin ἁμάρτημα, τό, sin, transgression
ἁμαρτία, ἡ, sin ἁμαρτωλός, -όν, sinful; subst. a sinner ἀμελέω, to
disregard, neglect ἄμεμπτος, -ον, blameless, faultless ἀμήν, amen, truly,
indeed ἀμήχανος, -ον, unmanageable; impossible ἅμμα, -ματος, τό, knot;
βάλλω ἅμμα, to tie a knot in something (gen.) ἀμπελών, -ῶνος, ὁ,
vineyard ἀμύνω, to defend; mid. to defend oneself against; to keep from,
ward off from ἀμφότεροι, -αι, -α, both, all ἄμωμος, -ον, faultless, above
reproach ἄν, particle that renders a statement contingent ἀνά, each, apiece;
ἀνὰ μέσον, between, within (w. gen.) ἀναβαίνω, ἀναβήσομαι, ἀνέβην,
ἀναβέβηκα: to go/come up ἀναβλέπω, to look up/above at (w. acc.), regain
sight ἀναβοάω, cry out ἀναγγέλλω, tell, proclaim; to report, inform
ἀναγινώσκω, to read ἀναγκάζω, to force, compel, urge ἀναγκαῖος, -α, -ον,
necessary, indispensable, essential; (ἐστιν) ἀναγκαῖον + inf., it is necessary
to, one must ἀνάγκη, ἡ, necessity, obligation; tribulation, calamity; pl.
calamities; μετὰ ἀνάγκης, by force, through compulsion ανάγνωσις, ἡ,
reading ἀναγνωρίζω, to become reacquainted; to learn to recognize
ἀναγορεύω, to proclaim publicly ἀναγραφή, ἡ, inscription; inventory
ἀναγράφω, to engrave and publicly set up; to record in a public register
ἀνάγω, 3. ἀνήγαγον, 6. ἀνήχθην: to lead up; pass. to be brought to/up; to
be restored to an original condition; to sail away, put out to sea
ἀναδέχομαι, to accept, receive, undertake ἀνάθεμα, -ματος, τό, votive
offering (ἄνθεμα); the object of a curse ἀνάθημα, -ματος, τό, votive plaque
ἀναιρέω, 2. ἀναιρήσω/ἀνελῶ, 3. ἀνεῖλον/ἀνεῖλα: to destroy; to execute,
kill; mid., to take up for oneself ἀνακλίνω, 6. ἀνεκλίθην: to lay down; pass.
to lie down, recline at a meal ἀνακράζω, to cry out, scream, shout
ἀναλαμβάνω, 6. ἀνελήφθην: to take up, carry; to resolve; to take up (a
discourse); to take over, carry away ἀναλίσκω, see ἀναλόω
ἀναλόω (also ἀναλίσκω), to use up; to spend, pay a fee; pass. to be used,
consumed
ἀνάλωμα, -ματος, τό (oft. pl.), cost, expense ἀναμένω, to wait for/until
ἀνάπαυσις, ἡ, relief, rest ἀναπαύω, 1aor. mid. ἀνεπαυσάμην, fut. mid.
ἀναπαήσομαι: to cause to rest; to end, finish; mid. to rest ἀναπλέω, 3.
ἀνέπλευσα: to sail up (a river) ἀνάστασις, -εως, ἡ, resurrection (of the
dead); erection (of a building) ἀναστρέφω, 6. ἀνεστράφην, fut. pass.
ἀναστραφήσομαι: to overturn something; pass. to behave, conduct oneself;
to associate with ἀναστροφή, way of life, conduct, behavior ἀνατέλλω, 2.
ἀνατελῶ, 3. ἀνέτειλα: to cause to spring/grow up ἀνατίθημι, 3. ἀνέθηκα,
aor. mid. ἀνεθέμην, 2aor. inf. ἀναθεῖναι: to refer, attribute something (acc.)
to something (dat.), ascribe, attribute; to set something up; to dedicate
something (to a god); mid. to confer, lay something (acc.) before somebody
(dat.) for consideration ἀνατολή, ἡ (poet. ἀντολίη), east; κατὰ ἀνατολάς,
eastward; εἰς τὴν ἀνατολήν, πρὸς ἀνατολάς, toward the east ἀνατρέφω, 3.
ἀνέθρεψα, 6. ἀνετράφην: to care for, bring up, raise ἀναφέρω, 2. ἀνοίσω,
3. ἀνήνεγκον: to take up, carry away; to offer up; to bring back, 1 Esd 1:36;
to refer to (ἐπί) ἀνδρεία, ἡ, courage ἀνδρεῖος, -α, -ον, courageous, brave
ἄνειμι (fr. εἶμι) (this verb provides the fut. and impf. forms of ἀνέρχομαι):
to go up (to a city) ἄνεμος, ὁ, wind ἀνεπίληπτος, -ον, free from seizure
ἄνεσις, -εως, ἡ, rest, relaxation; relief ἄνευ, without (w. gen.) ἀνέχω, to
hold/lift up, detain/delay something; mid. to tolerate, endure ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός,
ὁ, man, husband ἀνθρώπινος, -η, -ον, belonging/suited to humans,
common to humanity, human ἄνθρωπος, ὁ, human being, man ἀνθύπατος,
ὁ, proconsul ἀνίστημι, 2aor. act. ptc, ἀναστάς, 2aor. act. impv. ἀνάστηθι/
ἀνάστα: (trans.) to raise up something, (intrans.) rise, get up; ἀνίστημι ἐπί,
to rise up against ἀνόητος, -ον, lacking understanding, foolish ἀνοίγω,
ἀνοίξω, ἀνέῳξα/ἤνοιξα/ἠνέῳξα, ἀνέῳγα, ἀνέῳγμαι/ἠνέῳγμαι/
ἤνοιγμαι, ἀνεῴχθην/ἤνοιχθην/ἠνεῴχθην: open ἀνομέω, to sin, act
lawlessly; subst. ὁ ἀντικείμενος, opponent, adversary ἀνομία, ἡ, lawless
deed; lawlessness ἄνομος, -ον, lawless; subst. lawless man ἀντέχομαι, to
cling to, be devoted to something (gen.)
ἀντιλαμβάνω (w. gen.), to receive in turn, take part in; to help, support; to
perceive/notice something ἀντιλέγω (w. dat.), 2aor. ptc. ἀντειπών: to
contradict somebody/something Ἀντιόχεια, ἡ, Antioch; Syrian Antioch (on
the Orontes River); Pisidian Antioch ἀντολίη, s.v. ἀνατολή
ἄνω, above; upward ἄνωθεν, from above ἄξιος, -α, -ον, worthy, deserving;
proper, fitting; ἀξίως (adv.), worthily ἀξιόω, impf. ἠξίουν: to make
somebody worthy of something; to think/deem worthy/fit, deem suitable; to
entreat/ask somebody; pass. to be permitted ἀξίωμα, -ματος, τό, honor,
rank ἀόρατος, -ον, unseen, invisible ἀόριστος, -ον, unlimited, limitless
ἀπαγγέλλω, to tell, inform, proclaim ἀπάγω, 3. ἀπήγαγον: to lead away by
force; to bring before, bring by force to (εἰς acc. of goal)
somebodysomething; to lead somebody somewhere ἀπαιτέω, to demand
something ἀπαλλάσσω (Att. ἀπαλλάττω), 6. ἀπηλλάγην, 2aor. pass. ptc.
ἀπαλλαγείς, fut. pass. ἀπαλλαγήσομαι: to make something go away; pass.
to be released/separated from (ἀπό); to be cured of ἀπαντάω, 3.
ἀπήντησα, 1aor. inf. ἀπαντῆσαι: to meet somebody (w. dat.); to attend a
meeting; to go (somewhere) to meet somebody (dat.) ἀπάντησις, -εως, ἡ,
meeting, greeting (esp. of the public welcome of an official) ἀπαρνέομαι,
to deny somebody; ἀπαρνέομαι ἑαυτόν, to deny oneself (i.e., to be without
regard for one’s own advantage or convenience) ἅπας, ἅπασα, ἅπαν,
alternate form of πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν
ἀπατάω, to deceive, cheat ἀπάτη, ἡ, deception, deceitfulness ἀπειθέω, 3.
ἠπείθησα, 1aor. ptc. ἀπειθήσας: to disobey, be disobedient ἀπειλή, ἡ,
threat ἄπειμι (fr. εἶμι), ptc. ἀπιόντος, impf. ἀπῄειν: to leave, depart
ἄπειρος, -ον, boundless, limitless; inexperienced ἀπεκδέχομαι, to await
eagerly ἀπελεύθερος, ὁ, freedman (i.e., emancipated slave) ἀπελπίζω, to
despair ἅπερ s.v. ὅσπερ
ἀπέρχομαι, to go away, depart ἀπέχω, to receive; to receive a payment;
mid. to stay away from ἀπιστέω, to disbelieve ἀπιστία, ἡ, unbelief,
incredibility ἄπιστος, -ον, unbelieving, faithless; unbelievable; subst.
unbelievers ἁπλῶς, sincerely, with integrity; absolutely; generally; οὔτε
ἀπλῶς, not at all, not so much as
ἀπό, ἀ , ἀ (w. gen.), from, away from ἀπογράφω, to register with
(παρά) somebody; to file a report ἀποδείκυνμι, to nominate somebody; to
reserve for somebody; to demonstrate; to mark out an area (of asylum,
market, etc.) ἀποδέχομαι, to receive favorably, welcome (w. gen.)
ἀποδημέω, to travel abroad ἀποδίδωμι, 2aor. impv. ἀπόδος: to give; to
give back, return; to hand over; to deliver a letter; to pay; to repay; to
reimburse; to reward; ἀποδοῦναι λόγον, to give account, render financial
accounts; to grant; to give off (smoke) ἀποδοκιμάζω, to reject ἀποθνῄσκω,
ἀποθανοῦμαι, ἀπέθανον: to die ἀποκαθίστημι, 1aor. ἀπεκατέστησα / 2aor.
ἀπεκατέστην: to re-establish, restore, cure; to depose (a king)
ἀποκαλύπτω, 6. ἀπεκαλύφθην, to reveal, disclose ἀποκάλυψις, ἡ,
revelation ἀποκόπτω, to cut off/away; castrate ἀποκρίνομαι, to answer
ἀποκρύπτω, to hide from, keep hidden ἀπόκρυφος, -ον, hidden away; τὰ
ἀπόκρυφα, hidden things ἀποκτείνω, ἀποκτέννω (later form), fut.
ἀποκτεννῶ, 1aor. ἀπέκτεινα, 1aor. pass. ἀπεκτάνθην: to kill ἀποκυέω, to
bear young, bring forth ἀπολαμβάνω, to receive something; to regain,
recover; mid. to take away/aside; to receive ἀπολείπω, 2. ἀπολείψω: to
leave behind; to desert, abandon; pass. to be left behind, remain ἀπόλλυμι
(s.v. ὄλλυμι), 2. ἀπολέσω/ἀπολῶ/ἀπολοῦμαι, 1aor. ἀπώλεσα/2aor.
ἀπωλόμην, 4. ἀπόλωλα, 2plpf. ἀπωλώλειν: to destroy; to lose; mid. to
perish, be ruined; to die, be lost; to be destroyed Ἀπόλλων, -ωνος, ὁ,
Apollo ἀπολογέομαι, to defend oneself; make a defense ἀπολογία, ἡ,
defense ἀπολύω, to dismiss; to release; to relieve from; to be delivered out
of (w. gen.); to divorce somebody (acc.) from oneself (gen.) ἀπορέω, to be
without something (gen.) ἀποστέλλω, ἀποστελῶ, ἀπέστειλα, ἀπέσταλκα,
ἀπέσταλμαι, ἀπεστάλην: to send, commission ἀπόστολος, ὁ, messenger,
apostle ἀποστρέφω, 2aor. pass. ἀπεστράφην (dep.): to look back at (ἐπί)
somebody; to look away; to revoke; to refrain from, turn back from doing
something ἀποτελέω, 3. ἀπετέλεσα, to produce; to bring about ἀποτίνω, 2.
ἀποτείσω, 3. ἀπέτεισα, 1aor. inf. ἀποτεῖσαι, 1aor. impv. ἀποτεισάτω: to
pay a fine, pay what is due; mid. to exert oneself, strive
ἀποτρέχω, to hurry away ἀποφέρω, 2aor. inf. ἀπενεγκεῖν, aor. mid. inf.
ἀποφέρεσθαι: to carry off/away; mid. to win a prize; to carry away from
(ἀπό) somebody to (ἐπί) somebody ἅπτομαι, 3. ἡψάμην, 1aor. mid. impv.
ἅψαι: to touch, take hold of (w. gen.); to strike, attack ἀπώλεια, ἡ,
destruction, annihilation ἄρα, so, then ἆρα, interrogative particle expecting
negative response ἀρά, curse, imprecation ἀργύριον, τό, silver coin (= 1
drachma); money; a fine; silver (= ἄργυρος) ἄργυρος, ὁ, silver ἀρέσκω, to
strive to please somebody, serve; (impers.) to be pleasing to somebody (w.
dat.) ἀρεστός, -ή, -όν, pleasing, acceptable to ἀρετή, ἡ, virtue, excellence
ἀριθμέω, 1aor. mid. ἠριθμησάμην: count, number ἀριστερός, ά, ο , best;
euphem. (like εὐώνυμος) for “left”; ἀριστερά, on the left; ἀριστερά, ἡ,
left hand; τὰ ἀριστερὰ (μέρη), on the left side ἄριστος, -η, -ον, best; finest
ἀρκέω (w. dat.), to be enough/suffient for; to be satisfied with (w. dat.), be
self-sufficient ἄρκος, ὁ/ἡ, a bear ἅρμα, -ματος, τό, chariot ἀρμονία, ἡ,
harmony; framework of the universe, harmony of the seven Governors
(planets) ἁρπάζω, 6. ἡρπάγην, 2aor. pass. ptc. ἁρπαγείς, fut. pass.
ἁρπαγησόμαι: to snatch away, seize by force, take up (to heaven)
ἀρρωστέω, to be very sick ἀρσενόθηλυς/ἀρρενόθηλυς, -έος, -υ,
hermaphroditic, of both sexes ἄρσην, ὁ, ἄρσενος, male, masculine (gram.
gender) Ἄρτεμις, -ιδος, ἡ, goddess Artemis (Roman Diana) ἄρτι, now, at
the present time, just now ἀρτοκόπος, ὁ, baker ἄρτος, ὁ, bread, food
ἀρχάγγελος, ὁ, archangel ἀρχαῖος, -α, -ον, old, ancient; τὰ ἀρχαῖα, things
of old ἀρχή, beginning, origin; magistracy/office; pl. powers, heavenly
powers ἀρχιέρεια, ἡ, chief priestess ἀρχιερεύς, -έως, ὁ, high/chief priest
ἀρχισυνάγωγος, ὁ, synagogue president ἄρχω, to rule, govern (w. gen.);
mid. to begin something (gen.) ἄρχων, -οντος, ὁ, prince, ruler, leader;
archon (title of a city magistrate)
ἄρωμα, -ματος, τό, spice; spices and aromatic oils (esp. used for
embalming the dead) ἀσέβεια, ἡ, impiety, iniquity ἀσεβέω, to act
profanely/wickedly (against), commit sacrilege ἀσεβής, -ές, irreverent to
God or to the gods, impious, ungodly ἀσθένεια, ἡ, weakness, illness
ἀσθενέω, to be weak, sick Ἀσία, ἡ, Roman province of Asia Ἀσκληπιός,
ὁ, Asklepios (god of healing) ἀσπάζομαι, to greet, welcome somebody; to
take leave of ἀσπίς, -ίδος, ἡ, shield; Egyptian asp/cobra ἀστεῖος, -α, -ον,
pleasing, beautiful; refined, honorable ἀστήρ, -έρος, ὁ, star ἄστυ, -εως, τό,
pl. ἄστη, city, town ἀσφάλεια, ἡ, safety; safeguarding/security of a
structure, ἀσφαλής, -ές, safe; subst. (τὸ) ἀσφαλές, safeguard; ἀσφαλῶς,
safely; for certain, beyond doubt ἅτε, just as, as if ἀτελής, -ές, incomplete,
imperfect; nt. subst. imperfection ἀτενίζω, 2. ἀτενίσω: to stare at, look
intently at (w. dat./ πρός) ἄτομος, -ον, indivisible, Epicurus; subst. τὸ
ἄτομος, atom αὐγή, ἡ, light of the sun; pl. rays of the sun αὐθαίρετος, -ον,
self-chosen, voluntary; (adv.) αὐθαιρέτως, by free choice αὖθις, again; (in a
sequence) in turn αὐλή, ἡ, court (of a temple, palace) αὐλητης, ὁ, flute
player αὐξάνω / αὐξω, 3. ηὔχανον: to make grow/increase; pass. to
grow/increase in size/number/strength αὔριον (adv.), tomorrow
αὐτογενέτωρ, -ορος, ὁ, self-generating αὐτοκράτωρ, ὁ, absolute master of
somebody; emperor αὐτός, -ή, -ό, he/she/it, himself/herself/itself
(intensifier) ἀφαιρέω, 3. ἀφεῖλον, 2aor. inf. ἀφελεῖν, 1aor. mid.
ἀφειλάμην: to take away from (gen.), remove; mid. to take away something
from somebody/something ἀφανίζω, to remove, get rid of; to destroy, ruin;
pass. to vanish; to be ruined, be destroyed ἄφεσις, -εως, ἡ, release (fr.
captivity); the act of sending away, letting go; pardon (fr. punishment),
forgiveness ἀφίημι, impf. ἤφιον, 3. ἀφῆκα, 2aor. 2nd pers. sg. impv. ἄφες,
6. ἀφέθην, fut. pass. ἀφεθήσομαι, 2aor. pl. pass. ptc. ἀφέντες: to let,
allow, permit; to leave behind; to forsake; to forgive somebody (dat.); to
release (manumit) a slave to (ἐπί); to acquit of (ἐπί) charges
ἀφικνέομαι, 3. ἀφικόμην: arrive at (εἰς), to come to; to reach (a certain
condition) ἀφίστημι, 1aor. ἀπέστησα/2aor. ἀπέστην, 2aor. subj. ἀποστῶ:
to cause to stand away; to keep away from somebody (gen.); to withdraw
something; mid. to go away, withdraw from (intrans.), abandon; to rebel,
revolt ἀφορίζω, to separate, divide; to set apart, appoint (for a purpose)
ἀφορμή, ἡ, starting point; occasion, pretext φροδίτη, Aphrodite
(goddess) ἄφρων, -ονος (m./fm.), -ον (nt.), foolish, unlearned (contrasting
φρόνιμος) χαΐα, ἡ, Roman province of Achaia ἄχρι, ἄχρις (w. gen.), as
far as, up to; (conj), until

Βαβυλών, -ῶνος, ἡ, Babylon, βάδιζω, 3. βάδισα: to go, walk, proceed; to

go to visit at (παρά) a place βάθρον, τό, bench, seat Βακχεῖον, Bacchic
society Βάκχος, ὁ, Bakchos (Dionysos) βαλανεῖον, τό, bathhouse
βαλανεύς, ὁ, bath attendant (who heats bathwater) βάλλω, 2. βαλῶ, 3.
ἔβαλον, 4. βέβληκα, 5. βέβλημαι, 6. ἐβλήθην: to throw; to put/place; mid.
to lay down (as a foundation/beginning) βαπτίζω, to wash, purify; to
plunge, dip, baptize βάπτισμα, -ματος, τό, baptism βάρβαρος, -ον,
barbarous (i.e., non-Greek-speaking, foreign); subst. barbarian βαρέω, pf.
pass. ptc. βεβαρημένος: to weigh down βάρος, -ους, τό, a weight, load,
burden βαρύς, -εῖα, -ύ, heavy; fierce βασανίζω, to torture, torment; ptc.
subst. torturer βάσανος, ἡ, torture, torment βασιλεία, ἡ, kingship, royal
power, royal reign (of God) βασιλεύς, ὁ, king βασιλεύω, to rule, reign; to
become like a king βασιλικός, -ή, -όν, royal βασιλίσσα, -ης, ἡ, queen
βαστάζω, to pick up; to carry a burden, bear a burden; to remove, take away
βάτος, ἡ, bramble bush, prickly shrub βδέλυγμα, -ματος, τό, abomination
βέβαιος, -ον, steady, secure, reliable; subst. security, guarantee, βέβαιον
παρέχειν τὴν ὠνήν, to confirm/guarantee the contract of purchase; superl.
βεβαιότατος, most reliable; (adv.) βεβαίως, with certainty βεβαιόω, to
confirm βεβαιωτήρ, -ῆρος, ὁ, guarantor βία, ἡ, strength, force
βιάζω/ομαι, to force, use force, do something by force; to lay hands on,
violate (a law); pass. to be forced βίαιος, -α, -ον, violent βίβλος/βύβλος, ὁ,
Egyptian papyrus; a scroll of papyrus (book) βίος, ὁ, life, mode of life
βιόω, to live (for a period of time), pass one’s life βλασφημέω, to slander,
defame, speak impiously βλασφημία, ἡ, slander, defamatory speech,
impious speech βλέπω, to see, look βοάω, to cry, call out, shout βοή, ἡ,
shouting (of a crowd); outcry βοήθεια, ἡ, help; (naut.) reinforcing cables
βοηθέω, to help, come to the aid of somebody (dat.), render assistance to
somebody; to defend oneself βοηθός, ὁ, helper; protector βόθρος, ὁ, pit,
trench βόσκω, to feed/tend domestic animals, graze (cattle) βουλεύομαι, to
plan, resolve, decide; to be a member of the City Council (βουλή) βουλή,
ἡ, plan, decision; τίθημι βουλήν, to reach a decision, decide; City Council
(βουλή) (which was subordinate to the ἐκκλησία [Assembly]); will (of
God) βούλομαι, 6. ἠβουλήθην (dep.): to will, wish, want; to mean
(something) βουνός, ὁ, hill; cf. Κοσκώβουνος, Hill of Kosko βοῦς, βοός,
ὁ/ἡ, ox, cow βραβεῖον, τό, prize awarded by an adjudicator (βραβεύς)
βραχίων, -ονος, ὁ, arm; strength βρέχω, to rain; to soak (in a liquid)
βροτός, ὁ, man (poet.) βρῶμα, -ματος, τό, food (sg. and pl.) βρῶσις, -εως,
ἡ, eating/consumption; food Βυζάντιον, τό, Byzantion βωμός, ὁ, altar

Γαλϊος, ὁ, Galius (Roman praenomen) γάλα, τό, γάλακτος, milk γαμέω,

Att. 1aor. ἔγημα / HGr 1aor. ἐγάμησα: to marry γάμος, ὁ (oft. in pl. w. no
difference in meaning), wedding; πρὸς γάμον, in marriage γάρ, for
(postpos. conj.) γαστήρ, -τρος, ἡ, belly, stomach; womb γέ, even, at least,
indeed γελάω, to laugh γελοῖος, -α, -ον, ridiculous, absurd
γεμίζω, to fill with (w. acc.) γέμω (w. gen.), to be full of something γενεά,
-ᾶς, ἡ (Ion. γενεή, -ῆς), race, offspring γενέθλιος, -ον, belonging to one’s
birth; ἡμέρα γενέθλιος, birthday celebration γένεσις, -εως, τό, generation,
offspring, birth; beginning, origin γενναῖος, -α, -ον, high-born; noble;
subst., τὸ γενναῖον, nobility γεννάω, to conceive a child; pass. to be born
γένος, -ους, τό, family; race; nation, people; offspring, descendants; sort,
kind γερουσία, ἡ, Council of Elders, Senate γέρων, -οντος, ὁ, old man,
elder, senator (who often were experts on religious matters) γεύομαι, to
taste/eat something (gen.); to experience γεῦσις, ἡ, taste γεωργός, ὁ, farmer
γῆ, ἡ, earth, dirt γίνομαι, γενήσομαι, ἐγενόμην, γέγονα, γεγένημαι,
ἐγενήθην: to become, come about, be γινώσκω, γνώσομαι, ἔγνων,
ἔγνωκα, ἔγνωσμαι, ἐγνώσθην: to know, come to know γλυκύς, -εῖα, -ύ,
sweet; comp. γλυκερός, -ή, -όν
γλῶσσα, ἡ, tongue, language γνώμη, ἡ, intention, purpose; resolution,
decision; preliminary resolution (of a City Council); opinion γνωρίζω, 2.
γνωριῶ: to make known; to gain knowledge of, recognize γνῶσις, ἡ,
knowledge; secret knowledge; personal acquaintance γνωστός, -η, -ον,
known; subst. knowledge γογγύζω, to complain γογγυσμός, ὁ, complainer;
complaining γόης, -ητος, ὁ, sorcerer γονεύς, ὁ, pl. γονεῖς, parent γόνυ, -
νατος (Ep. and Ion. γούνατος, etc. nt. pl. γούνατα), τό, pl. γόνατα: knee
γοῦν, thus, then; at any rate γράμμα, τό, letter, pl. τὰ γράμματα, literature,
learning; letters γραμματεύς, ὁ, secretary/registrar (of an association,
council, civic council, etc.); expert in Torah, scribe γραμματεύω, to serve as
a secretary/clerk (of Assembly or Council) γραφή, writing,
written/engraved text, passage of scripture (sg.), Scriptures (pl.) γράφω,
γράψω, ἔγραψα, γέγραφα, γέγραμμαι, ἐγράφην: to write γυνή, γυναικός,
ἡ, woman, wife γρηγορέω, to wake up; to be alert, watchful; to watch over
(ἐπί) γυμνάζω, mid. to exercise oneself, train γυμνάσιον, τό, gymnasium,
center for schooling in athletics and Greek culture (i.e., a school for
educating ἔφηβοι)
γυμνός, -ή, -όν, naked γυμνόω, to strip somebody naked γύμνωισις, -εως,
ἡ, nakedness γυναικεῖος, -α, -ον, of a woman, matters pertaining to women;
nt. pl. τὰ γυναικεῖα, menstruation

δαιμονίζομαι, to be possessed by a demon/hostile spirit δαιμόνιον, τό,

semi-divine god/spirit; demon, evil spirit δαίμων, -ονος, ὁ, δαίμων (voc.):
lesser god/spirit, “demon”; semi-divine being δάκνω, 1aor. ἔδηξα/ 2aor.
ἔδακον: to bite δάκρυον, τό / pl. δάκρυα, -ύων, -ύοις: tear δακρύω, to
weep δάκτυλος, ὁ, finger Δαμασκός, ἡ, Damascus δέ (postpos.), but, and
δεῖ (impers.), pres. act. inf. δεῖν, 3rd sg. fut. δεήσει, impf. ἔδει, opt. δέοιμι:
it is necessary, one must (w. inf.), should/must do something δεῖγμα, -
ματος, τό, example δείδω, 2pf. inf. δεδιέναι, 2pf. ptc. δεδιώς: to fear
δείκνυμι, δείξω, ἔδειξα, δέδειχα, ―, ἐδείχθην: to show, point out; reveal,
explain, prove δεῖνα, ὁ/ἡ, τοῦ δεῖνος, τῷ δεῖνι, τὸν δεῖνα: so-and-so
δεινός, -ή, -όν, terrible, fearful; τὸ δεινόν, evil δεξιός, -ά, -όν, right;
δεξιά, on the right; δεξιά, ἡ, right (hand), authority; right (leg); τὰ δεξιά
(sc. μέρη), on the right side δεῖξις, -εως, ἡ, calling up a god (gen.), making
a god (gen.) appear δειπνέω, to dine δεῖπνον, τό, meal, dinner δέκα, ten
δεκαπέντε, fifteen δεκατέσσαρες, -ων, fourteen δέκατος, -η, -ον, tenth;
δέκατον μέρος, ten percent (10%) δεκτός, -ή, -όν, acceptable, favorable
Δελφοί, -ῶν, οἱ, Delphi δένδρον, τό, tree δεξιός, -ά, -όν, right; δεξιά, on
the right; δεξιά, ἡ, right (hand), authority; right (leg); τὰ δεξιά (sc. μέρη),
on the right side δέομαι, s.v. δέω (2) δέρμα, -ματος, τό, skin; leather, hide
δερμάτινος, -η, -ον, leather (adj.) δεσμός, ὁ, pl. δεσμοί/δεσμά:
shackles/chains (of prison), sandal straps; (fig.) a hindrance that deafens or
physically handicaps δεσμωτήριον, τό, prison
δεσμώτης, ὁ, prisoner δεσπότης, master, lord, ruler; owner δεῦρο (adv.),
here; come here δεύτερος, -α, -ον, second; secondary δέχομαι, to receive,
accept δέω, 3. ἔδησα, pf. pass. δέδεμαι, pf. pass. ptc. δεδεμένος: to
bind/tie, put in chains; to imprison; pass. to be bound, to be bound to
somebody in marriage δέομαι, 1aor. pass. ptc. δεηθείς (dep.): to ask for (w.
gen.), to plead for something (w. gen.), beg of somebody δή, really, indeed;
of course; then, therefore; now, at this point; τί δή; what is going on?
δηλονότι, it is plain that, clearly, of course δῆλος, -η, -ον, clear, plain,
evident; s.c., ἐστί (impers.), it is plain/evident δηλόω, to reveal; to explain,
make clear/evident; pass. to be announced δημιουργέω, to create
δημιούργημα, -ματος, τό, piece of workmanship, created world δημιουγός,
ὁ, builder; Creator; Demiurge Δημήτηρ, -τερος/-τρος, ἡ (Dor. Δαμάτηρ):
Demeter δῆμος, ὁ, people, crowd; the People (i.e., the full citizen body of a
Greek polis, as represented by the ἐκκλησία) δημόσιον, -α, -ον, public; nt.
subt. τὸ δημόσιον, the state; ἡ δημοσία, public court; (adv.) δημοσίᾳ,
publicly δηνάριον, τό, denarius (Lat. loanw.) διαβαίνω, 2aor. ptc. διαβάς:
to cross over διάβολος, ὁ, slanderer, adversary διαβούλιον, τό, counsel,
deliberation; debate διάγραμμα, instructions, ordinances (containing
specific directions or schedules rather than general legislation) διάθεσις, ἡ,
placing in order, arrangement διαθήκη, ἡ, treaty, covenant; last will and
testament διακονέω (w. dat./gen.), to serve, render assistance to διακονία,
service; aid, support, distribution διακοσίοι, -ίαι, -ία, two hundred
διακρίνω, to judge, decide; pass., to bring an issue to a decsion; to doubt
διαλέγω, aor. pass. ptc. διαλεχθείς (dep.): to examine, check; mid. to
converse with (dat.), to discourse, instruct, lecture διαλογίζομαι, to
consider, ponder διαλογισμός, ὁ, debate, talk; estimation, consideration
διαλύω, to dissolve into elements; to break up, separate διαμένω, 3.
διέμεινα: to persist, remain, continue unchanged, survive διάνοια, ἡ,
understanding, mind, thoughts
διανοίγω, 6. διηνοίχθην: to open; to explain, interpret διαρρήγνυμι/
διαρρήσσω, 3. διέρρηξα, 6. διεράγην: to tear something; to tear something
to pieces; to break (shackles) διασπείρω, pf. pass. ptc. διεσπαρμένος: to
disperse; pass. to be scattered διαστρέφω, pf. pass. ptc. διεστραμμένος: to
turn away; to pervert, distort διασῴζω, to bring safely through, convey to
safety διατάγμα, -ματος, edict, decree διατάσσω, to direct, appoint; to put
in order διατελέω, to continue to do something διατίθημι, mid. to establish
a covenant διαφέρω, to carry through, spread through; (impers.) διαφέρει
τινί, it matters to somebody, it makes a difference; pass. to drift about in the
sea διαφόρον, τό, money; pl. revenues διδασκαλία, ἡ, teaching
διδάσκαλος, ὁ, teacher διδάσκω, διδάξω, ἐδίδαξα, ―, ―, ἐδιδάχθην: to
teach διδαχή, ἡ, teaching, instruction δίδωμι, δώσω, ἔδωκα, δέδωκα,
δέδομαι, ἐδόθην: to give διέρχομαι, to go through; to come/go toward a
destination; to cross over διηγέομαι, 3. διηγησάμην: to recite, relate, tell
διήγησις, -εως, ἡ, narrative, story, account διΐστημι, pres. pass. διίσταμαι:
to separate; pass. to be separated δικαιόω, to declare somebody to be
justified; pass. to be acquitted δίκαιος, -α, -ον, just, righteous, upright;
(adv.) δικαίως, uprightly; honestly, righteously; fairly, justly δικαιοσύνη, ἡ,
justice, uprightness, righteousness; honesty δικαίωμα, -ματος, τό, statute;
righteous act δικαστήριον, τό, court of justice δίκη, ἡ, judgment,
punishment διό, therefore, for this reason διοίκησις, ἡ, administration,
government διοικητής, ἡ, administrator; financial administrator (Egypt); pl.
(cosmic) Governors (i.e., the seven known planets) Διόνυσος, ὁ, god
Dionysos διόπερ, therefore (emphatic for διό) Διός, see Ζεύς
διότι, for, because; therefore δίσκος, ὁ, disk; sun disk (i.e., sun); discus
event διψάω, to be thirsty διωγμός, ὁ, persecution; persecution against
(ἐπι) διώκω, to pursue, chase; to persecute; to strive for; to recite (a spell)
δόγμα, -ματος, τό, statute δοκέω, 3. ἔδοξα, pf. mid. inf. δεδόχθαι: to think,
suppose, consider; to seem to (w. inf.), regard to be (something); δοκεῖ +
inf., it seems (to somebody) that, he purportedly; εἰ δοκεῖ (w. dat.), if it
pleases (somebody); ἔδοξε/δοκεῖ, it was/is resolved (by); to seem
good/appropriate/best; to propose/make (a request); pass. to be decided;
pass. mid. inf. δεδόχθαι, “be it resolved that (re a motion)”
δοκιμάζω, to approve for (membership) δόλος, ὁ, cunning, deceit δόξα, ἡ,
glory, honor δοξάζω, to think, imagine; glorify; mid. to display one’s
greatness; pass. to be supposed to be; to be held in honor δόρυ, -ατος, τό,
spear δουλεία, ἡ, slavery δουλεύω, to be a slave to somebody (dat.); to
serve somebody (dat.) δούλη, ἡ, female slave δοῦλος, ὁ, slave, servant
δραπέτης, ὁ, runaway slave δραχμή, ἡ, drachma (abbrev. δρ.), light
drachma δρόμος, ὁ, racing, running; the course of (one’s) life/of a season
(καιρός) δύναμαι (dep.), impf. ἠδυνάμην/ἐδυνάμην, 6. ἐδυνήσθην: to be
able δύναμις, ἡ, power δυνατός, -ή, -όν, strong, powerful; able, capable of;
subst. ruler; δυνατώτερός, stronger δύο, dat. pl. δυσί(ν), two δύνω (also
δύω), mid. δύομαι, 2. δύσομαι, 2aor. ἔδυν: to go down/set (of the sun);
mid. set (of the sun); to sink δώδεκα, twelve δωρεάν, without payment,
without reason/cause, in vain δώρημα, τό, gift δῶρον, τό, gift

ἐάν, if ἐαυτου, him-/herself, his own ἐάω, pres. mid. inf. ἐᾶσθαι, impf.
εἴων, 2. ἐάσω, 3. εἴασα: to allow, permit; to leave, let go; mid. to be left to
oneself ἑβδομήκοντα, seventy ἕβδομος, -η, -ον, seventh Ἑβραῖος, -ου, ὁ,
Hebrew person ἐγγίζω, to approach, come near (in either a spatial or
temporal sense) ἐγγύς (adv.), near, close to; on the verge of ἐγείρω, ἐγερῶ,
ἤγειρα, ―, ἐγήγερμαι, ἠγέρθην: to raise up; intrans., rise
ἐγκαθεύδω, to sleep in a temple (seeking prophetic dreams and a cure for a
disease), “to incubate”
ἐγκαλέω, to bring a charge against somebody (dat.); pass. to be charged
with (w. gen.) ἐγκατακοιμάομαι (= ἐγκοιμάομαι), aor. pass. (dep.),
ἐγκατεκοιμάθην, 1aor. fem. ptc. ἐγκατακοιμαθεῖσα to sleep in a temple
(seeking prophetic dreams and a cure for a disease), “to incubate”
ἐγκαταλείπω, 1aor. ἐγκατέλιψα/2aor. ἐγκατέλιπον: to forsake, abandon,
desert ἐγκρατεία, ἡ, self-control, esp. withdrawal from sexual activity,
sexual abstinence ἔγκυος, -ον, pregnant ἐγώ (pron.), I εἶδος, -ους, τό,
form, appearance ἔθνος, -ους, τό, people, nation; pl. gentiles ἔθος, -ους, τό,
custom(s) ἔθω, to be accustomed to (pres. only in ptc.), εἴωθα (pf. used in
place of pres.), to be in the habit of doing something (w. inf.) εἰ, if εἰμί, to
be εἰδωλολατρία, -ας, ἡ, idolatry εἰκάζω, 1aor. inf. εἰκάσαι, 5. εἴκασμαι: to
represent by a likeness; to liken to; to perceive something as something
else; pass., to take the form of εἴκοσι, twenty εἴκω, 1aor. act. inf., εἶξαι: to
yield to somebody; to give way to (a passion or impulse) εἰκών, -όνος, ἡ,
image; statue εἷλον, s.v. αἱρέω
εἱμάτιον, s.v. ἱμάτιον
εἶμι, inf. ἰέναι: to come/go, go into, come into contact with εἴπερ, since; if
really/indeed εἰρήνη, ἡ, peace εἴργω, s.v. ἔργω
εἰς (w. acc.), into, to, as; for (expressing the goal of an action) εἶς, μία, ἕν,
one εἰσέρχομαι, εἰσελεύσομαι, εἰσῆθον, εἰσελήλυθα: to go/come in, enter
εἰσάγω, to lead in, bring in; to introduce εἰσακούω (w. gen.), to hear, obey
εἴσειμι (fr. εἶμι), impf. εἰσῇειν, inf. εἰσιέναι: to enter; to come before, enter
before εἰσέρπω, to go into, enter εἴσοδος, -ου, ἡ, entrance; entrance door,
entrance hall; entering, access εἰσοράω (also ἐσοράω), pres. ptc. εἰσορῶν,
εἰσορῶντος: to look upon (w. admiration), gaze toward (πρός)
εἰσπλέω (Att. ἐσπλέω), 3. εἴσπλευσα: to sail in/into εἰσπορεύομαι, to go
in(to), enter; to have sexual intercourse with εἰσφέρω, to bring in/to (εἰς);
to introduce; to enter into (πρός) the presence of a high official; mid. to
contribute/pay, provide εἶτα, then, next; and so, therefore εἴωθα (pf. of
obsol. pres. ἔθω; pf. w. pres. meaning), 2pf. ptc. εἰωθώς, -υῖα, -ός: to be
accustomed to; nt. ptc. subst., τὸ εἰωθός, custom ἐκ, ἐξ, out of, from
ἕκαστος, -η, -ον, each, every ἑκατόν, one hundred ἑκατοντάρχης, ὁ,
centurion (cf. κεντυρίων) ἑκατοστός, -ή, -όν, hundredth ἐκβάλλω
ἐκβαλῶ, ἐκέβαλον, ἐκβέβληκα, ἐκβέβλημαι, ἐκεβλήθην, to throw out,
cast out ἔκβασις, -εως, ἡ, result, outcome; a way out, escape ἐκβοάω, to
call out, shout out ἐκδέχομαι, to expect, look forward to, wait for
somebody (acc.); to take/receive ἐκδίδωμι, to surrender; to pay for
something ἐκδύω, 6. ἐξεδύθην: to strip, take off; mid. to strip/undress
oneself; pass. to be stripped (of one’s clothing) ἐκεῖ, there ἐκεῖθεν, from
there ἐκεῖνος, -η, -ο, that ἐκζητέω, to seek out, require ἐκκλησία,
assembly, community, congregation ἐκλάμπω, 2. ἐκλάμψω, 3. ἐξέλαμψα:
to blaze up; to shine, beam forth ἐκλέγω, 1aor. mod. ἐξελέξαμαι: to collect
revenue (money); mid. to choose, select ἐκλείπω, 3. ἐξέλιπον, 4.
ἐκλέλοιπα: to forsake; to remain, be left; to pass away (die); to abandon,
quit ἐκλεκτός, -ή, -όν, chosen, elect; precious ἐκπέμπω, to send out; to
issue an edict (ἄκτον) ἐκπίπτω, impf. pass. ἐξεπεμπόμην, 3. ἐξέπεσον: to
fall off; to lose, forfeit; to run off course, run aground; to be
issued/published (of a decree); to resolve that (w. inf.); pass. to come forth
from ἐκπλήσσω, impf. ἐξεπλησσόμην, 6. ἐξεπλάγην, aor. pass. ptc.
πλαγείς: to amaze; pass., to be amazed ἐκπορεύομαι, to go away, come out
(of gods/evil spirits) ἔκστασις, ἡ, a spell; ecstasy ἐκτείνω, 1aor. inf.
ἐκτεῖναι, pf. ptc. ἐκτετακώς: to stretch out, lay out, spread out; to hold out
ἐκτέμνω, 4. ἐκτέτμηκα, pf. pass. inf. ἐκτετμῆσθαι: to cut out (trees, a
diseased part)
ἕκτος, -η, -ον, sixth ἐκτός (w. gen.), out of ἐκφάινω, 6. ἐξεφάνην: to bring
light, reveal; pass. to show oneself ἐκφέρω, 3. ἐξήνεγκον, 6. ἐξηνέχθην,
aor. pass. subj. ἐξενέχθω: to lead out, take out; to produce; to carry out (the
dead for burial); to declare one’s opinion ἐκφεύγω, 2aor. ἐξέφυγον: to
escape ἔλαιον, τό, olive oil ἐλάσσων, -ονος (m./fm.), ἔλασσον (nt.),
smaller, less ἔλεγχος, ὁ, proof, legal argument; accusation ἐλέγχω, to
reprove, reproach ἐλεάω/έω, to be merciful; to feel pity; pass. to be shown
mercy ἐλεήμων, -ον, -ονος (gen.), merciful, compassionate ἔλεος, -ους, τό,
mercy, compassion ἐλευθερία, ἡ, freedom ἐλεύθερος, -έρα, -ον, free;
subst. freeman/freewoman ἐλευθερόω, to set free, liberate ἕλκω, 1aor.
εἵλκυσα: to pull an object/person; to attract; to stretch something; to spin
thread Ἕλλην, -ηνος, ὁ, / pl. Ἕλλησι (dat.): Greek (person), Gentile
Ἑλληνικός, -ή, -όν, Hellenic, Greek (adj.); τὰ Ἑλληνικά, Greek customs
ἐλπίς, ἐλπίδος, ἡ, hope ἐμαυτοῦ, – ῆς, (reflexive pron.) myself; (poss.
pron.) my own ἐμβαίνω, 4. ἐμβέβηκα, pf. ptc. ἐμβεβηκώς: to embark (in a
boat); to plunge into water; to march/process ἐμβάλλω, to throw in/against
ἐμβλέπω, to look at (dat.), gaze on; to consider ἔμμενω, 1aor. ἐνέμεινα:
abide in, persevere in, stay fixed in; abide by, stand by, be true to ἐμός, -ή,
-όν, mine, my ἐμπίπλημι/ἐμπιπλάω (w. gen.), pres. ptc. ἐμπιπλῶν, 2.
ἐμπλήσω, 1aor. mid. impv. ἔπλησαι: to fill full of something ἐμπίπτω, 2.
ἐμπέσουμαι, 2aor. ἐνέπεσον, 2aor. inf. ἐμπεσεῖν: to fall into (a
state/condition); to intrude into/among ἐμπνέω, ἐνέπνευσεν, 1aor. ptc.
ἔμπνευσας, 1aor. pass. ptc. ἐμπνευσθείς: to blow/breathe upon ἔμπροσθεν
(w. gen.), before, in front of; previously ἐμφανίζω, to explain; to inform,
make a report; to present evidence, show plainly ἐμφυσάω, 3. ἐνεφύσησα:
to blow in, breathe into ἐν (w. dat.) in, among, with; when, while, during
ἔναντι, in the sight of, before (w. gen.) ἐναντίος, -α, -ον (w. gen.), contrary,
against, opposed; ἐναντίον, before; τὸ ἐναντίον, on the other hand; subst.
οἱ ἐναντίοι, τὰ ἐναντία, the opposites
ἐνάρετος, -ον, virtuous, excellent ἐνάρχομαι, to begin, make a beginning
ἔνατος, -η, -ον, ninth ἕνδεκα, eleven ἑνδέκατος, -η, -ον, eleventh ἔνδον,
inside, within ἔνδοξος, -ον, held in honor, of high repute; glorious; subst.
glorious features; (adv.) ἐνδόξως, gloriously ἔνδυμα, τό, clothing; garment
ἐνδύω, aor. inf. ἐνδῦσαι: to dress, put on (clothing); mid. to clothe
(oneself), wear ἐνειλέω, 3. εἴλησα: to wrap in something; to roll up
something ἔνειμι (fr. εἰμί), 3rd pers. impf. ἐνῆν, to be possible, in one’s
power ἕνεκα/ἕνεκεν (w. gen.), because of, for the sake of, on account of; in
honor of; for this reason; τίνος ἕνεκα, why?
ἐνενήκοντα (indecl.), ninety ἐνέπω (also ἐννέπω), impf. ἔννεπον: to tell,
pronounce that ἐνέργεια, ἡ, activity, (divine) action, force/energy ἐνεργέω/
έομαι (w. impers. subject): to be at work (in something), be operative, to
activate ἐνέργημα, -ματος, τό, effect ἔνθα (adv.), here, where ἐνθάδε
(adv.), here, in this place ἐνιαυτός, ὁ, year; κατὰ ἐνιαυτόν, annual, yearly
ἐνίστημι, 2pf. act. ptc. ἐνεστώς, ἐνεστῶσα, ἐνεστός: to be present, to be
impending (at the time of writing) ἐννέα, nine (indecl.) ἐννοέω, to reflect
on, occupy one’s mind with ἔννοια, ἡ, thought, insight ἐνοχλέω, to trouble,
annoy; pass. to be disturbed, troubled ἐνταῦθα, here, there; then ἐντέλλω/
ομαι (w. dat.), 2. ἐντελεῖμαι, 3. ἐνετειλάμην, 5. ἐντέταλμαι: to command
somebody ἐντεῦθεν, from there/here (of place); from then (of time), from
that (of cause); ἐντεῦθεν…ἐντεῦθεν…, on this side … on that side ἐντόλη,
ἡ, commandment, instruction ἐντός (w. gen.), within, among; within (a
period of time); inside ἐντρέπω, 6. ἐνετράπην: to show deference to,
respect ἐντυγχάνω, 3. ἐνέτυχον, 2aor. inf. ἐντυχεῖν: to bring a charge
against; to appeal, petition; to happen to meet with/run into somebody; to
happen to read ἐνύπνιον, τό, a dream ἕνωισις, -εως, ἡ, union ἐνώπιον (w.
gen.) before, in the presence of
ἕξ, six ἐξάγω, to lead out, bring ἐξαιρέω, 3. ἐξεῖλον (fr. √ ἐξελ-), 2aor.
mid. ἐξειλόμην, 2aor. ptc. ἐξελών: to remove; mid. to take away, destroy,
bring to naught; to rescue, deliver, save ἐξαίφνης (adv.), suddenly (Dor.
ἐξαπίνας) ἐξανίστημι, mid. ἐξανίσταμαι: to raise up; to establish; to arise,
get up, awake ἐξαποστέλλω, to send somebody off/away; to send on a
mission, commission a senator ἐξεγείρω, to awaken; to raise from the dead;
pass. to be awakened, wake up; to be raised up ἔξειμι (fr. εἶμι), inf. ἐξιέναι,
ptc. ἐξιών, -οῦσα, -όν: to go out, leave, depart from a place ἐξέρχομαι, to
come or go out or forth, get out ἐξηγέομαι, to tell (in detail), report
ἑξήκοντα (indecl.), sixty ἑξῆς (adv.), next, following; τὰ ἑξῆς, the
following things; that which follows, the consequences ἐξίστημι, 2.
ἐκστήσω/ομαι, 3. ἐξέστησα: (trans.), to amaze; (intrans.) to be
amazed/astonished; to be out of one’s mind ἐξομολογέομαι, to confess,
acknowledge ἐξορκίζω (= ἐξορκόω), to make somebody swear/taken an
oath; to conjure by (κατά) a god ἐξουδενόω (= ἐξουδενέω), to despise,
treat with contempt ἐξουθενέω, s.v. ἐξουδενόω
ἐξουσία, ἡ, authority, right ἔξω, out, outside; (prep. w. gen.) out of,
outside; ὁ ἔξω, outsider, unbeliever ἔοικα (pf. w. pres. sense), pf. inf.
ἐοικέναι, ptc. ἐοικώς: to be like, resemble (w. dat.) ἑορτή, ἡ, festival,
feast ἐπαγγελία, ἡ, a promise ἐπαγγέλλω, 1aor. mid. ἐπηγγειλάμην, 1aor.
ptc. ἐπαγγειλάμενος: to promise ἐπαινέω, to commend somebody, praise;
approve (statutes) ἐπαίνος, ὁ, praise, commendation of something ἐπαίρω,
3. ἐπῆρα, 1aor ptc. ἐπάρας: to lift up something, hoist ἐπαισχύνομαι, to be
ashamed ἐπακούω, to hear, listen to; to heed ἐπάνω, above, over; on top
of; onward ἐπαοιδη, s.v. ἐπῳδή
ἐπαρχία, ἡ, province (Lat. provincia) ἐπαύριον (adv.), the next day
ἐπεγείρω, to awaken; to excite, rise up against, assault; pass. to wake up
ἐπεί, when, after; because, since; ἐπειδήπερ, intensive form of ἐπεί
ἐπείγω, to hasten on, press on; pass., to hurry oneself toward (ἐπί)
ἐπειδή, since, because; after ἔπειτα/ἔπειτεν, then, next ἐπέρχομαι, to come
upon, against; to arrive at ἐπερωτάω, to ask a question, question somebody;
to put the question (with respect to a formal motion); to consult a god/oracle
about something ἐπέχω, 2aor. act. impv. ἐπίσχες: to hold firmly to; to stay,
halt; to stay on (for a period of time); to offer, extend ἐπί, ἐ , ἐ (w.
gen.) on, at the time of; (w. dat.) on, on the basis of; (w. acc.) on, around
ἐπιβαίνω, to set foot on, walk on; to get upon, mount on; to embark (in a
ship) ἐπιβάλλω, to lay on; to put on something; to board a ship ἐπιβλέπω,
to look at/upon (gen.); to consider ἐπιγινώσκω, to recognize ἐπίγραμα, -
ματος, τό, inscription ἐπιγράφω, to write on/in; to inscribe on ἐπιδείκνυμι/
ἐπιδεικνύω, pres. mid. inf. ἐπιδείκνυσθαι, 3. ἐπέδειξα, 1aor mid.
ἐπεδειξάμην: to show, point out, discuss; to prove that (ὅτι) ἐπιδημέω, to
come to stay in a city, reside temporarily in a place; to live at home; to stay
at home ἐπιδίδωμι, 6. ἐπεδόθην, pf. ptc. ἐπιδεδωκώς: to give into one’s
hands; to give somebody one’s hand; to surrender, give up control; to give
back/return; to increase/grow in size ἐπιζητέω, to seek after, desire
ἐπιθυμέω, to desire; pass. to attract ἐπιθυμητός, -ή, -όν, desirable; costly,
precious ἐπιθυμία, ἡ, desire for good things (longing); negative desire (lust,
covetousness, craving) ἐπιθύω, to offer a sacrifice/spell for (acc. / ἐπί)
something ἐπικαλέω, to call upon; mid. to call in as a helper; pass. to be
called ἐπικατάρατος, -ον, accursed ἐπίκειμαι, to set over (w. dat.), to
set/lay upon; to adorn with; (of an impersonal force) to confront ἐπικρατέω,
to have power/mastery over (w. gen.) ἐπιλαμβάνω, 5. ἐπείλημμαι: to take
hold of something, overtake, seize; pass. to be imprisoned ἐπιλανθάνομαι
(w. gen.), 2. ἐπιλήσομαι, 3. ἐπελαθόμην, pf. pass. ptc. ἐπειλημμένος: to
forget; to neglect, overlook ἐπιλέγω, 3. ἔπειπον, to utter a spell/magical
word ἐπίλεκτος, -ον, chosen, choice ἐπιμαρτυρέω/ομαι, to bear witness to
something; mid. to call upon somebody (acc.) to witness to somebody (dat.)
ἐπιμέλεια, ἡ, care, attention; responsibility ἐπιμελέομαι (w. gen.) pass.
(dep.): to take care of something (gen.)
ἐπιμελής, -ές, careful, attentive; (adv.) ἐπιμελῶς, diligently ἐπιμένω, 3.
ἐπέμεινα: to stay on, remain ἐπιπίπτω, 4. ἐπιπέπτωκα: to fall on/over
ἐπιπληρόω, to fill up with ἐπιποθέω, to long for somebody (acc.), earnestly
desire ἐπισκέπτομαι (= ἐπισκοπέω), to inspect/examine something; to visit
somebody (acc.) ἐπισκευάζω, to repair, restore (a building) ἐπισκοπέω, to
watch over, inspect, observe ἐπίσκοπος, ὁ, bishop ἐπισπάω, to be
responsible for bringing something on/making something happen; to pull
the foreskin over the head of the penis (in order to hide the marks of
circumcision) ἐπίσταμαι, to know, understand ἐπιστάτης, ὁ, overseer,
manager; ἐπιστάτης τῶν βοῶν, cowherd; ἐπιστάτης τῶν ποιμνίων,
shepherd ἐπιστήμη, ἡ, knowledge ἐπιστολή, ἡ, letter ἐπιστρέφω, to
return; to turn (in religious/moral sense), turn around/back; pass. (dep.), to
pay attention to, care about ἐπιτάσσω (Att. ἐπιτάττω), pres. ptc.
ἐπιτασσόμενος,1aor. inf. ἐπιτάξαι, aor. pass. ptc. ἐπιταχθείς: to
instruct/order somebody to do something; to impose regulations; subst. ptc.
regulations, things decreed ἐπιτελέω, to complete; to perform, accomplish;
to perform a ritual; to celebrate (a birthday) ἐπιτίθημι, 2aor. ptc. ἐπιθείς: to
lay/put something (acc.) on (ἐπί) somebody/something (acc.); to give
something (acc.) to somebody (dat.) ἐπιτιμάω, to warn, speak seriously; to
rebuke ἐπιτίμιον, τό, assessment of damages, penalty, punishment
ἐπιτρέπω, to allow somebody (dat.) to do something (inf.); to permit
somebody to do something; to tolerate, put up with; pass. to be entrusted as
a legal guarantor ἐπιφαίνω, 2aor. pass. ptc. ἐπιφανείς: to show, appear; to
divinely manifest ἐπιφανής, -ές, appearing, manifest (of a god); used as
title by Antiochus IV Epiphanes; notable, distinguished ἐπιφέρω, 1aor ptc.
ἐπενέγκας: to lay upon; to hover over; to carry (on one’s person); to bring
on/about; to bring legal action (κρίσιν) against (κατά) somebody; to
compel; pass. to be hovering over ἐπιχωρέω, to move over/toward; to grant
somebody permission to do something ἐπιψήφιζω, 3rd sg. 1aor.
ἐπεψήφιζεν, aor. mid. inf. ἐψήφισθαι: to put (a motion) to a vote ἐπός, ὁ,
word; speech
ἐπουράνιος, -ον, heavenly ἑπτά, seven ἐπῳδή (= ἐπαοιδη), enchantment,
spell ἐράω (act. only in pres. and impf.), pres. ptc. ἐρώμενος, 6. ἠράσθην:
to be in love with (w. gen.), fall in love; subst., pass. ptc., an object of love,
a lover ἐργάζομαι, 3. εἰργασαμην, 1aor. mid. inf. ἐργάσασθαι: to work,
labor, till; to produce an effect, be productive; to bring about ἐργασία, ἡ,
production; business ἐργάτης, ὁ, worker, a worker in a trade ἔργον, τό,
work, deed, task ἔργω / εἴργω, to shut out; pass. to be shut out of (gen.)
ἐρευνάω, see ἐραυνάω
ἐρίζω, to quarrel; to engage in philosophical disputation ἔριον, τό, wool
ἑρμηνεία, ἡ, interpretation ἑρμηνεύω, to interpret Ἑρμῆς, -οῦ, ὁ, Hermes
(messenger of the gods); Mercury (planet) ἑρπετόν, τό, reptile ἔρρωσο, s.v.
ῥώννυμι
ἑρύω, mid. ἐρύομαι/ῥύομαι, 2. ῥύσομαι, 3. ἐρρυσάμην: mid. to rescue,
save, deliver ἔρχομαι, ἐλεύσομαι, ἦλθον, ἐλήλυθα: to come/go ἔρως, -
ωτος, ὁ, love; Ἔρως, god of love ἐρωτάω, to ask (a question), request, beg
ἐσθίω, 2. φάγομαι, 3. ἔφαγον: to eat ἐσθός, -ή, -όν, good, morally good,
faithful ἔσχατος, -η, -ον, last, final; lowest, most insignificant ἔσω, inside,
within (adv.) ἑταῖρος, ὁ, a companion, friend; ἑταίρα, ἡ, prostitute ἕτερος,
-η, -ον, another, different, one of two ἔτι, still, yet (adv.) ἑτοιμάζω, to
prepare; pass., to be ready ἕτοιμος, (-η), -ον, prepared, ready; at hand; at
hand ἔτος, ἔτους, τό, year εὖ (adv.), well εὐαγγελίζω/ομαι, to announce
good news, make a joyful announcement εὐαγγέλιον, a joyful
announcement, good news εὐγενής, -ές, of noble birth, high social status
εὐδοκία, ἡ, goodwill, purpose; desire ἐυδοκέω, to take pleasure in, be
pleased with; be pleased (to do something), consider somebody/something
good εὕδω, to sleep, rest εὐεργεσία, ἡ, benefaction
εὐεργετέω, to confer (benefits) εὐεργέτης, ὁ, benefactor εὔθετος, -ον, fit,
suitable, qualified εὐθύς, εὐθεῖα, εὐθύ, straight; (adv.) εὐθύς, immediately,
at once εὐλαβής, -ές, prudent; reverent, pious; comp. εὐλαβέστερος; adv.
εὐλαβῶς, cautiously, piously keeping clean from εὐλογέω, to bless
εὐλογητός, -ή, -όν, blessed, praised εὐλογία, ἡ, blessing εὔνοια, ἡ,
affection, enthusiasm; goodwill εὑρίσκω, εὑρήσω, εὗρον, εὕρηκα, ―,
εὑρέθην: to find, discover εὐσέβεια, ἡ, reverence toward the gods, piety
ἐυσεβέω, to worship/reverence (the gods) εὐσεβής, -ές, discharging sacred
duties; pious, devout; superl. εὐσεβέστατα, most pious εὐτυχέω, to be
prosperous, have good fortune; εὐτύχει, “farewell”
εὐφραίνω, to make glad; pass. to rejoice, celebrate εὐφροσύνη, ἡ, joy,
cheerfulness εὐχαριστέω, to do a favor for somebody (dat.); to give thanks
εὐχή, ἡ, prayer; vow, oath; εὐχῆς ἕνεκεν, in fulfillment of a vow εὔχομαι,
3. ηὐξάμην, 1aor. mid. impv. εὖξαι: to pray; to vow εὐωδία, ἡ, aroma,
fragrance; perfume εὐώνυμος, -α, -ον, honored; euphem. for “left”
ἐφάλλομαι, ἐφηλόμην: to leap/spring upon ἐφάπτω, mid. to claim
somebody (w. gen.) as one’s property Ἐφέσιος, -ία, -ιον, Ephesian; subst.
Ephesians Ἔφεσος, ἡ, Ephesos (Ionia) ἐφέστιον, τό, household, family
ἔφηβος, ὁ, an ephebe/adolescent enrolled in a system for educating young
men for citizenship and military service ἐφικνέομαι, 2aor. ἐφικόμην: to
reach (to); to attain (to) ἐφίστημι, pres. mid. ἐφίσταμαι, 3. ἐπέστησα/
ἐπέστην, aor. ptc. ἐπιστάς, -άντος, 4. ἐφέστηκα: to stand on; to stand near,
stand beside (w. παρά); to approach somebody (w. dat.); to come upon,
attack; mid. (intrans.), to come upon somebody (w. dat.), overtake
somebody ἔχθρα, ἡ, hatred, enmity ἐχθρός, -ά, -όν, enemy, hated; ὁ
ἐχθρός, an enemy ἔχω, ἕξω, ἔσχον, ἔσχηκα: trans. to have, hold; intrans.
to be, feel ἕως, (1) conj. until (w. any tense); while (w. pres. ind. only); (2)
prep. (w. gen.) to, until, as far as
ζάω (√ζη), ζήσω / ζήσομαι, ἔζησα: to live Ζεύς, Διός (gen.), Διί (dat.),
Δία (acc.), Ζεῦ (voc.), Zeus
ζῆλος, ὁ, also ζῆλος, -ους, τό, jealousy; zeal ζηλόω, to strive; to be filled
with envy or jealousy ζημία, ἡ, loss, damage; fine, financial penalty
ζημιόω, to fine somebody (dat.); pass. to suffer a loss, forfeit ζητέω, to
seek, look for ζμύρνα, s.v. σμύρνα
ζωή, ἡ, life ζῷον, τό, animal, living creature ζῳοποιέω, to give life to,
make alive

ἤ, or, than ἡγεμών, -όνος, ὁ, leader; imperial governor (of a Roman

province) ἡγέομαι (w. inf.), to lead the way; to consider, regard; to regard
as necessary; subst. ptc. leader, chief; pass. to be led ἤδη, now, already
ἡδονή, ἡ, enjoyment, pleasure ἡδύς (m.), -εῖα (fm.), -ύ (nt.), pleasant;
pleasant to the taste/sweet, welcome; comp. ἡδίων (nom.), ἡδίω (acc.);
superl. ἥδιστος, -η, -ον, pl. ἥδιστα, most gladly, most delicious (food);
most pleasant to the taste; ἥδιστα μᾶλλον, all the more; (adv.) ἡδέως, with
pleasure, gladly ἠθικός, -ή, -όν, ethical; (adv.) ἠθικῶς, ethically ἦθος, -
ους, τό, customs and manners, way of life ἥκω, pres. inf. ἥκειν, 2nd sg.
pres. impv. ἥκε, 2. ἥξω: to have come/arrived, be present ἡλικία, ἡ, life
span, years of age; maturity, εἰς ἡλικίαν, to one’s life span; ἐπέρχομαι εἰς
ἡλικία, to come of age; παρὰ καιρὸν ἡλικίας, past the normal age ἥλιος,
ὁ, sun; Ἥλιος, ὁ, Helios (sun god) ἡμεῖς, we ἡμέρα, ἡ, day ἡμέτερος, -α,
-ον, our ἥμισυς, -εια, -υ, half; μέχρι τοῦ ἡμίσους, up to the middle (of
one’s body) ἠρεμέω, to be quiet, to not speak with (ἐκ) ἡρῷον, τό
(uncontr. ἡρῶιον), grave/shrine of a hero (ἥρως) ἡσσάομαι (Att.
ἡττάομαι), 6. ἡσσήθην: to overcome; pass. to give way to, give into (w.
dat.), succumb to ἥσσων, -ον (Att. ἥττων, -ον), lesser, inferior, weaker;
(adv.) nt. ἥσσον, less ἡσυχάζω, to keep quiet; to find rest ἡσυχία, ἡ,
quietness, silence; decorum; rest ἦχος, ὁ, echo; sound

θάλλασσα, ἡ, sea, lake θάλπω, to keep warm, inflame (the passions),

comfort θάμνος, ὁ, bush, shrub
θάνατος, ὁ, death θάπτω, 2. θάψω, 3. ἐτάφησα, 1aor. inf. θάψαι, pf. pass.
ptc. τεθαμμένος, 6. 1aor. ἐθάφθην/2aor. ἐτάφην: to bury somebody; to
provide a funeral for (πρὸς) somebody (dat.) θαρσέω (Att. θαρρέω), to be
of good courage θάσσων (Att. θάττων), s.v. ταχύς
θαῦμα, τό, a wonder θαυμάζω, intrans. to marvel, wonder, be amazed;
trans. to marvel or wonder at, admire θαυμάσιος, -α, -ον, wonderful,
excellent; superl. θαυμασιώτατος, -η, -ον, most
admirable/excellent/wonderful; τὰ θαυμάσια, marvels, wonders
θαυμαστός, -ή, -όν, wonderful, marvelous θεά, ἡ, goddess θεάομαι, 3.
ἐθεασάμην: to see, look at, notice, observe θέατρον, τό, theater θεῖος,
θεῖα, θεῖον, divine; τὸ θεῖον, deity, the Divinity, divine substance; τὰ θεῖα,
acts of the gods; (adv.) θείως, divinely θέλγω, 3. ἔθελξα, 1aor. inf. θέλξαι:
to bewitch, enchant θέλημα, το, will, desire θέλω, impf. ἤθελον, 2.
θελήσω, 3. ἠθέλησα: to wish, want, desire θεμέλιος, ὁ, foundation
θεοπρόπος, ὁ, public messenger sent to inquire of an oracle θεός, ὁ, God,
god θεοσεβής, -ές, pious; subst. god fearer θεραπεία, ἡ, worship of a god;
pl. divine services; medical treatment, healing θεραπεύω, to serve a deity,
perform a ritual for a god; to heal θερμός, -ή, -όν, hot; τὸ θερμός (=
θερμότης), heat θέσις, -εως, ἡ, position, setting down; resting place
θεσπέσιος, -α, -ον, divine, oracular θεωρέω, to see, watch, observe Θῆβαι,
αἱ (var. Θήβη), Thebes θηλυκός, -ή, -όν, female, woman-like, feminine
(gram. gender) θῆλυς, -λεια, -λυ, female; she- ; subst. woman θηρεύω, to
hunt, catch θηριομαχία, ἡ, to fight with wild beasts (as a spectator event)
(Lat. venatio) θηρίον, τό / θηρσί (dat. pl.): wild animal θησαυρός, ὁ,
treasury, storehouse; pl. treasures θίασος, ὁ, private religious association
θιασῶτης, ὁ, member of a θιασός
θιγγάνω, 2aor. ἔθιγον: to touch (w. gen.), take hold of; pass. to be touched
θλίβω, pf. pass. ptc. τεθλιμμένος: push; to oppress, afflict; pass. to be
oppressed, experience pain θλῖψις, ἡ, distress, affliction, tribulation
(apocalyptic term)
θνῂσκω, 3. ἔθανον, 2aor. ptc. θανών, pf. act. inf. θνηκέναι: to die, be dead;
subst. the deceased θνητός, -ή, -όν, mortal; subst. a mortal; stillbirth (when
the fetus has died in the uterus); τὰ θνητά, things affecting mortals
θορυβέω, to trouble/bother somebody; to create a disturbance, clamor for
somebody (acc.); pass. to be troubled, distressed θόρυβος, ὁ, uproar, public
disturbance θρεπτός, ὁ / θρεπτή, ἡ, house slave θρίξ, -τριχός, ἡ, hair
θρόνος, ὁ, chair, seat, throne θυγάτηρ, -τρος, ἡ, daughter; female
descendant θῦμα, -ματος, τό, sacrificial victim, sacrifice θυμός, ὁ,
soul/spirit (as the principle of life); soul/heart (as shown by feelings and
passions, esp. joy and grief); passion, desire; anger, rage θυμόω, to make
angry, provoke; pass. to be angry θύρα, ἡ, door, doorway (of a house);
entrance (of cave/tomb); ἐπὶ θύραις, lit. “at the doors” (i.e., impending)
θυρίς, -ίδος, ἡ, window θυσία, ἡ, sacrifice θυσιαστήριον, τό, altar of burnt
offerings (in the forecourt of the Jerusalem temple) θύω, to sacrifice (a
victim) θώραξ, -ακος, ὁ, (soldier’s) breastplate, coat of mail

ἴαμα, -ματος, τό, healing, cure ἰάομαι, 2. ἰάσομαι, 3. ἰασάμην, 6. ἰάθην: to

heal/cure; to find a remedy ἰατρός, ὁ, physician ἴδε, ἴδου, ἴδετε, look! see!
ἰδέα, ἡ, idea, kind, form ἰδίᾳ (adv. of ἴδιος), -α, -ον, privately ἴδιος, -α, -
ον, one’s own, belonging to one, personal ἱδρύω, 2. ἱδρύσομαι, 3. ἵδρυσα/
ἱδρυσάμην, 5. ἵδρυμαι: to found, dedicate; to set up something (altar,
statue); mid. to establish (a temple); to dedicate ἱέρεια, ἡ, priestess ἱερόν,
temple, temple precincts ἱερεύς, -έως, ὁ, pl. ἱερῆς (later ἱερεῖς), priest; ἐπὶ
ἱρέως, during the priesthood of so-and-so ἱεροποιός, ὁ, magistrate who
oversees the temples and sacred rites ἱερός, -ά, -όν, sacred, holy
Ἰεροσόλυμα, -ματος / Ἰερουσαλήμ, Jerusalem ἱερόσυλος, -ον, sacrilegious;
subst. temple robber, sacrilegious person ἱκανός, -ή, -όν, sufficient,
considerable; many, a number of; (adv.) ἱκανῶς, sufficiently, adequately
ἱκέτης, -ου, ὁ / ἱκέτις, -ιδος, ἡ, suppliant (i.e., one who comes seeking help
or protection) ᾽Ικόνιον, τό, Ikonion (Lat. Iconium) ἱλάσκομαι, to appease,
conciliate ἵλεως (adv.), merciful, gracious, kindly ἱμάς, -άντος, ὁ, strap
ἱμάτιον, τό, outer garment, cloak, robe; pl. clothes; grave clothes, funeral
shroud ἱματισμός, ὁ, clothing ἵνα, in order that (w. subj.), that (introducing
an indirect statement) ἰόβακχος, ὁ, Iobakchos, member of the Bakcheion
ἰός, ὁ, poison Ἰουδαῖος, -α, ον, Jewish/Judean (adj.); Jew/Judean (noun)
Ἰούλιος, Julius (Roman nomen) ἱππεύς, -έως, ὁ, horseman, cavalryman (as
a collective noun) ἵππος, ὁ, horse; cavalry (collective noun); pl. ἵπποι,
bouncers (in a men’s drinking club) Ἴσις/ Εἶσις, ἡ, Ἴσιδος (gen.), goddess
Isis Ἰσραήλ, ὁ, Israel ἴσος, -η, -ον, same, equal, equivalent; nt. pl., on an
equality; (adv.) ἴσως, equally ἵστημι, στήσω, ἔστησᾳἔστην, ἔστηκα,
ἕσταμαι, ἐστάθην: trans. to set, establish; intrans. to stand ἱστορέω, to visit
somebody, get to know somebody; pass. to be recorded ἱστορία, ἡ, story,
account ἰσχυρός, -ά, -όν, strong, powerful; comp. ἰσχυρότερος, stronger
ἰσχύς, -ύος, ἡ, strength, might ἰσχύω, to be able/strong; to defeat,
overcome; to prevail against (κατά); to be valid, be in force; to be able to,
have the power to (w. inf.); subst., something strong; dissolution, breaking
up Ἰταλία, ἡ, Italy ἰχθύς, -ύος, ὁ, fish Ἰωνία, ἡ, Ionia (coastal region of
west Anatolia)
καθαιρέω, to tear down, destroy; pass. to suffer loss of (w. gen.) καθαίρω,
1aor. ἐκάθηρα, to wash, clean; to purge, perform a purification καθάπερ (=

καθά), just as, in the same way, in accordance with καθαρεύω, to be pure,
clean; to be free from καθαρίζω, to purify from (ἀπό), cleanse καθαρμός,
cleansing, ritual to remove defilement (once it has been contracted)
καθαρός, -ά, -όν, pure, clean, innocent; superl. καθαρώτατος, purest
καθέδρα, ἡ, chair, seat καθέζομαι, 1aor pass. ptc. καθεσθείς, -θεῖσα, -θέν:
to sit, sit down; to sit by (w. ἐπί); to sit as a suppliant (in a sacred service)
καθεύδω, to sleep; to die; to have sex with (πρός) somebody
καθηγέομαι, to lead, command (w. gen.) καθῆκω, to be appropriate,
suitable, proper; nt. ptc. (τὸ) καθῆκον, what is appropriate κάθημαι, to sit,
sit down καθιδρύω, to consecrate, dedicate; to found/establish something
καθίζω, (instrans) to sit down, take one’s seat; stay; (trans.) to cause to sit,
set καθίστημι, 3. κατέστησα, 6. κατεστάθην, 1aor. pass. ptc. καθεσθείς: to
appoint somebody; to constitute, make καθότι, to swear (an oath) that;
because (= διότι) καθώς, just as καί, and; also, even (adv.) καινός, -ή, -όν,
new; strange; comp. καινότερος
καιρός, ὁ, period of time, favorable/proper time, fixed time (for an event)
καίπερ, although (w. ptc.) Καῖσαρ, -αρος, ὁ, emperor, caesar; Caesar (as a
name of a month in the Province of Asia) καίτοι, although, and yet καίω
(Att. κάω), 3. ἔκαυσα: to light something, kindle a fire, burn κακία, ἡ,
wickedness, evil κακόω, to do evil, hurt/harm κακῶς (adv.), wrongly,
wickedly; κακῶς ἔχειν, to be sick/ill κάλλιστος, -η, -ον (superl. of καλός),
best, especially noble/fine κάλλος, -ους, τό, beauty καλύπτω, pf. pass. ptc.
κεκαλυμμένος: to cover, hide, conceal καλέω, καλέσω, ἐκάλεσα,
κέκληκα, κέκλημαι, ἐκλήθην: to call, name, invite καλός, -ή, -όν, useful,
praiseworthy, excellent, fine; beautiful καλῶς, rightly, well; καλῶς ἂν
ποιήσαις/ποιήσεις, lit. “you would do well (to)”; fig. “please” (epistolary
formula expressing a polite request); hurrah for, bravo for (to approve the
words of a speaker) καπνός, ὁ, smoke καρδία, ἡ, the center of physical,
spiritual, and mental life; fig. heart καρπός, ὁ, fruit, grain, harvest
καρτερέω, to be steadfast, persist κασίγνητος, ὁ / κασιγνήτη, ἡ, brother,
sister κατά, (w. acc.) according to; (w. gen.) against, down from
καταβαίνω, καταβήσομαι, κατέβην, καταβέβηκα: to go down, descend
καταβάλλω, to lead/bring down; to contribute something to καταγγέλλω, to
announce, preach κατάγω, 3. κατήγαγον, 6. κατήχθην: to bring down; to
carry in procession; pass. (naut.) to call in at a port, put into shore
καταισχύνω, to humiliate, shame, disgrace κατακαίω (Att. κατακάω), impf.
κατέκαιον, 2. κατακαύσω: to burn completely, burn up
κατάκειμαι, to lie down in/on (dat. / εἰς) κατακλίνω, to make somebody lay
down; pass. to recline at table, to banquet κατακολουθέω, to obey
(commandments) (dat.) κατάκριμα, τό, condemnation, punishment, penalty
κατακρίνω, to condemn; to sentence somebody to do something
καταλαμβάνω, to obtain, attain, seize; to catch up to somebody (acc.),
overtake; to understand; to fall (of night) καταλλάσσω, 6. κατηλλάγην, aor.
pass. subj. καταλλαγῶ, aor. pass. ptc. καταλλαγείς: to reconcile; pass. to
become reconciled καταλείπω / καταλιμπάνω, 3. κατέλιπον, 2aor. ptc.
καταλι(μ)πών, 6. κατελείφθην, aor. pass. inf. κατελείφθηναι: to leave
behind; to abandon, forsake; to have remaining; to leave alone
καταλιμπάνω, see καταλείπω
κατάλυσις, ἡ, disruption καταλυσμός, ὁ, flood, deluge καταλύω, to
destroy, abolish; to eradicate κατανοέω, to observe; to gaze at καταντάω, to
come to, arrive at, reach; to attain to something καταξιόω, to consider
somebody worthy καταπίπτω, pf. καταπέπτωκα: to fall, drop; to descend
καταργέω, to deactivate, render ineffective, make powerless (contrasting
ἐνεργῶ); to release from, estrange from κατασείω, to wave one’s hand,
signal κατασκευάζω, to construct, build; to prepare καταφεύγω, 1aor.
κατέφυγα/2aor. κατέφυγον: to flee; to take refuge καταφιλέω, to kiss,
caress; to kiss somebody in greeting/farewell καταφρονέω, to despise, treat
with contempt καταφυγή, ἡ, place of refuge καταφυτεύω, to plant
καταχράομαι, to make full use of something, have full ownership of
something (dat.) κατεργάζομαι, 3. κατειργασάμην: to bring about,
accomplish; to prepare; to work out κατέρχομαι, 4. κατελήλυθα: to go
down; to derive from, descend from; (naut.) to put into port κατεσθίω, impf.
κατήσθιον, 3rd pl. impf. -θοσαν, 3. κατέφαγον: to eat, devour κατέχω,2aor.
κατέσχον, 1aor. pass. ptc. κατασχεθείς: to possess, occupy; to hold back,
bind, confine; to understand that (ὅτι); to hold (a ship) on a certain course
κατηχέω, 3. κατήχησα: to teach, instruct κατισχύω, to overpower; prevail
over (acc.), become master of κατοικέω, to settle, dwell in; subst.
inhabitants κατοικία, ἡ, dwelling place; territory (for habitation)
κατοικίζω, to settle, establish; pass. to be settled, dwell κάτω, down (adv.)
καυχάομαι, to boast, take pride in καύχημα, -ματος, τό, boast; a ground for
boasting, object of boasting κείμαι, 2. κείσομαι: to stand/be standing; to
recline; to lie sick; to lie buried; to be appointed, established; subst. (τά)
κείμενα, something established/existing κελεύω, to command (officially) +
inf. to order that κενός, -ή, -όν, empty, void (space); τὸ κενόν, the void; no
purpose; κενῶς / διὰ κενῆς / εἰς κενόν, in vain, to no purpose κεντυρίων, -
ωνος, ὁ, centurion (Lat. loanw., cf. ἑκατοντάρχης) κέρας, -ατος, τό, horn
(of an animal), container made from the horn of an animal κερδαίνω, 3.
ἐκέρδησα/ἐκέρδανα: to gain, profit; to spare oneself, avoid κέρδος, -ους,
τό, gain, profit κεφαλή, ἡ, head κῆδος (Aeol. κᾶδος), -εος, τό, performing
funeral rites for the dead κῆπος, ὁ, garden κηρύσσω, κηρύξω, ἐκήρυξα,
κακήρυχα, κεκήρυγμαι, ἐκηρύχθην: to proclaim, make known, preach
κῆρυξ, -υκος, ὁ, herald, public messenger; trumpet shell (seashell with
sharp edges used in torture) κιβωτός, ἡ, chest, treasure chest; sacred
depository, Ark (of the Covenant); boat, ark (barge) κιθαριστής, ὁ, kithara
player Κιλικία, ἡ, province of Cilicia κινδυνεύω (impers.), there is a
danger/risk that + inf.
κινέω, to move; to stir up; pass. to be moved/resolved (of an inward
personal disposition) κίνησις, -εως, ἡ, motion, movement κλαίω, pres. ptc.
κλάων, 3. ἔκλαυσα: to weep (for), cry κλάω, 6. ἐκλάσθην: to break, break
off; pass. to be damaged κλείω, 6. ἐκλείσθην: to close up, shut up κλέπτης,
-ου, ὁ, thief κλέπτω, to steal κληρονομέω, to inherit, acquire possession of
something κληρονομία, inheritance κληρονόμος, ὁ, heir, inheritor κληρόω,
to obtain by lot, appoint by lot; pass. to be assigned κλῆρος, ου, ὁ, that
which is assigned by lot, a share, portion; inheritance, inheritable estate
κλῆσις, ἡ, calling, vocation κλητός, -ή, -όν, called κλίνη, ἡ, couch, bed
κλίνω, 3. ἔκλινα: to bend down; κλίνω τὴν κεφαλήν, to bow one’s head;
ἔκλινεν τὰ γόνατα, to fall on one’s knees κλύω, aor. impv. κλῦθι: to hear,
attend to κοιλία, ἡ, belly, womb κοιμάομαι, 1aor. pass. ptc. κοιμηθείς
(dep.): to fall asleep; to sleep; subst. one who has fallen asleep; (fig.) to die
κοινός, -ή, -όν, common, shared; public; κοινῇ σωτηρίᾳ, for common
safety; subst. τὸ κοινόν, treasury; religious association; τὰ κοινά, common
funds, public money; κοινῇ (adv.), in common, as a group; in public
κοινωνέω, to have a share of something (w. gen.) κοινωνία, ἡ, fellowship,
partnership; sexual intercourse with (πρός) κοίτη, ἡ, bed κοιτών, -ῶνος, ὁ,
bed chamber κόκκινος, -η, -ον, scarlet, red; τὸ κόκκινον, scarlet cloth,
κολάζω, to punish, chastise; to punish for (ἐπι) κολακεία, ἡ, flattery
κόλασις, ἡ, punishment, torture κολυμβάω, to swim κομίζομαι, to get
back, recover; to bring into (ἐν) a place, introduce κοπιάω, 1aor. ἐκοπίασα:
to work hard, labor κόπος, ὁ, labor, work; reward for labor;
produce/harvest κόπτω, 3. ἔκοψα: to cut, beat (one’s breast); to strike
somebody, fight; mid. to mourn Κορίνθιος, -α, -ον, Corinthian; subst. a
Corinthian person Κόρινθος, ἡ, Corinth κόρος, ὁ, boy; κόρα, ἡ, girl; pl.
pupils (of the eyes) κοσμέω, to put in order, arrange; to adorn, dress
κοσμικός, -ή, -όν, earthly, worldly κόσμος, ὁ, world (as a place of
habitation); good order; ornament, ornamentation κουφίζω, to lighten
κούφος, -η, -ον, light (in weight), airy κράζω, to scream, screech; to call
out, cry out, shout κρᾶσις, -εως, ἡ, mixing, blending of things (that form a
compound) κραταιός, -ά, -όν, powerful, mighty κρατέω, to attain
something; to conquer, master, rule over (w. gen.), subdue; take possession
of (w. gen.); to take custody of; to hold something (w. gen.) κρατίστος, -η, -
ον, most excellent, noblest; most excellent; “his Excellency” (official title
given to senators and magistrates) κράτος, -ους, τό, power; κατὰ κράτος,
powerfully, mightily κρέας, ὁ, κρέως, meat/flesh κρείσσων (Att.
κρείττων), -ον, gen. –ονος (comp. of ἀγαθός): stronger, better, of higher
rank/value ; subst. τὸ κρεῖσσον, something better
κρεμάννυμι/κρεμάζω, 1. pres. mid. κρέμαμαι, pres. mid. ptc. κρεμάμενος,
3. ἐκρέμασα, aor. mid. inf. κρέμασθαι, aor. pl. ptc. κρεμάσαντες, 6.
ἐκεμάσθην: to hang up something, hang something from (gen.); to hang
somebody in execution; mid. to hang, be suspended; pass. to be hung up,
suspended κρημνός, ὁ, cliff, precipice Κρήτη, ἡ, Crete κρίμα, τό, legal
case; judgment κρίνω, κρινῶ, ἔκρινα, κέκρικα, κέκριμαι, ἐκρίθην: to
judge, reach a decision, decide; pass. to be decided κρίσις, -εως, ἡ,
judgment, judging; condemnation κρίσμα, see κρίμα
κρυπτός, -ή, -όν, hidden κρύπτω, impf. pass. ἐκρυβόμην, 3. ἔκρυψα, 6.
ἐκρύβην, 2aor. pass. inf. κρυβῆναι, pf. pass. ptc. κεκρυμμένος: to cover,
hide, conceal; pass. to be hiding κτάομαι, 3. ἐκτησάμην, 1aor. mid. inf.
κτήσασθαι, pf. κέκτημαι, plpf. pass. ἐκέκτημην: to get, acquire; to possess;
subst. οἱ κεκτήμενοι, owners κτῆμα, -ματος, τό, anything gotten; pl.
possessions, κτῆνος, -ους, τό, domestic animal; mostly pl. τὰ κτήνεα,
herds, cattle, livestock κτήσις, -εως, ἡ, property, possessions κτίζω, to
found, create, make; to build; pass. to be created, constructed κτίσις, -εως,
ἡ, creation, that which is created; creature, created thing κυβερνήτης, ὁ,
shipmaster (who is responsible for the crew) κυέω, 1aor. inf. κυῆσαι: to be
pregnant; to conceive a child κύκλος, ὁ, circle; pl. heavenly bodies
κυκλόω, to encircle, surround κύκλῳ, in a circle, around; all around κυλίω,
to roll something up/down; mid., to roll oneself upon something; to pour
down κῦμα, -ματος, τό, wave (of the sea) Κύπρος, ἡ, Cyprus κυρία, ἡ,
lady κυριακός, -ή, -όν, belong to the Lord, the Lord’s κυριεύω (w. gen.), to
have power over, rule over; to gain mastery over; to control κύριος, earthly
master or lord; Lord (as title of God and Christ) κύριος, -α, -ον, valid/good
(re law and statutes); ἀγορά κυρία, regular meeting/assembly κυρίως
(adv.), with full authority; comp. κυριώτερος, greater authority; superl.
κυριώτατος, supreme authority κύων, ὁ, κυνός (gen.), κύνα (acc.): dog
κωλύω, to hinder, prevent; to prohibit κώμη, ἡ, village; pl. countryside
κῶμος, ὁ, carousing, wild partying
κωφός, -ή, -όν, deaf, unable to speak

λαγχάνω, 2aor. ἔλαχον, subj. λάχῂν, ptc. λαχών: to receive (an

inheritance/honor); to obtain an office; to choose by lot λάθρᾳ, secretly
(adv.) λαμβάνω, λήμψομαι, ἔλαβον, εἴληφα, εἴλημμαι, ἐλήμφθην: to take,
take hold of, receive λαμπρός, -ά, -όν, bright, shining; superl.
λαμπροτάτατος, -η, -ον, brightness, splendor; most excellent (w. titulature)
λάμπω, 3. ἔλαμψα: to shine, shine forth; to shine upon somebody (dat.)
λανθάνω (also λήθω), 2aor. ἔλαθον, 2pf. ptc. λεληθότως: to escape notice,
be unknown to somebody (acc.); pf. ptc. as adv., secretly λαός, ὁ, people,
nation λατρεύω (w. dat.), to serve somebody (as a religious duty), worship
λέγω, ἐρῶ, εἶπον, εἴρηκα, εἴρημαι, ἐρρέθην/ἐρρήθην: to speak, say
λειτουργέω, to provide service (during sacrifices) λειτουργία, ἡ, public
service, public liturgical service; priestly ministry λεπτός, -ή, -όν, light (in
weight); light (diet), thin; fine, delicate, subtle; τὸ λεπτόν δρ., light
drachma (= 1 obol); superl. λεπτότητος
λευκός, -ή, -όν, white; comp. –τερος, whiter λέων, -οντος, ὁ / λέαινα, ἡ,
lion, lioness λήθη, ἡ, forgetfulness ληστής, ὁ, robber, pirate λίαν, very,
exceedingly λιθάζω, 1aor. ptc. λίθασας: to stone somebody (as a means of
execution) λίθινος, -α, -ον, made of stone λίθος, ὁ, stone; precious stones,
jewels λιμήν, -μένος, ὁ, harbor λίμνη, ἡ, lake λογίζομαι εἰς (w. acc.), to
estimate, reckon; to have regard for, esteem λογικός, -ή, -όν, rational; τὰ
λογικά, rational beings λόγιον, τό, saying, oracle; omen λογισμός, ὁ,
deliberation, reasoning; reasoning (as a faculty of the mind); λογισμοί,
financial accounts λόγος, ὁ, statement, saying, utterance, discourse;
proposal; complaint; (magical) spell, formula λοιδορέω, to rebuke, abuse
somebody λοιμός, ὁ, plague λοιπός, -ή, -όν, remaining, rest; (τὸ) λοιπόν,
from now on, finally; (adv.); οἱ λοιποί/τὰ λοιπά the rest/others λούω/λόω,
to bathe, wash; mid. to bathe oneself (the contr. impf. mid. forms, ἐλοῦμην
and ἐλοῦτο, to belong to λόω); to bathe (as a baptism)
λύπη, ἡ, sorrow; affliction; pl. pains, labor pains λυπέω, to cause
pain/grief; pass. to be sorrowful, distressed λύσις, ἡ, a releasing; divorce;
breaking (of spells); interpretation; solution (of a riddle) λυτρόω, mid. to
release by payment of a ransom, redeem λύχνος, lamp (of metal or clay)

μαγικός, -ή, -όν, magical; pl. subst. works of sorcery μάγος, ὁ, magician
μαθητής, ὁ, pupil, disciple μαῖα, ἡ, midwife μαινάς, -άδος, ἡ, maenad,
female bacchante μακαρίζω, 2. μακαριῶ: to call/consider blessed; to
pronounce blessed for (w. gen.) μακάριος, -α, -ον, blessed, happy
Μακεδονία, ἡ, Macedonia Μακεδών, -όνος, ὁ, Macedonian person
μακράν (adv.), far (away) μακροθυμέω, to be long-suffering, patient μάλα,
very; comp. μᾶλλον, more, all the more; instead of/rather than; by all
means; μᾶλλον ἤ, more than; μᾶλλον…ἤ…; πολλῷ μᾶλλον, much more;
superl. μάλιστα, most of all, above all, especially μάλιστα, most of all,
above all, especially μᾶλλον, more, rather; μᾶλλον…ἤ, more…than, cf.
μάλα
μανθάνω, 2aor. ἔμαθον,2aor. inf. μαθεῖν, 4. μεμάθηκα, pf. ptc. μεμαθηκώς:
to learn; to learn something from (ἀπό / gen.) somebody μαραίνω, to
quench; pass. to die out (of a flame); to waste/wither away μαρτυρέω, to
bear witness, testify; to speak favorable of; to approve of somebody (dat.);
to approve of somebody; pass. to gain approval for something, be approved
of by somebody μαρτυρία, ἡ, evidence; martyrdom μαρτύριον, τό,
testimony, proof; martyrdom μάρτυς, -υρος, ὁ, witness; martyr μαστιγόω,
to whip, flog μαστίζω, to strike with a whip, scourge μαστός, ὁ, woman’s
breast; man’s breast μάταιος, -α, -ον, empty, useless, powerless; foolish
μάχαιρα, ἡ, sword, dagger μάχη, ἡ, a fight/fighting, quarrel, dispute; battle
μάχομαι, to quarrel, dispute; to fight; μάχομαι ἐν, fight with (ἐν/dat.), be in
conflict with; οἱ μαχόμενοι, those who fight, combatants μεγαλύνω, to
praise, glorify, exalt
μέγας, μεγάλη, μέγα, large, great μέγεθος, -ους, τό, size, magnitude,
greatness μέγιστος, -η, -ον (superl. of μέγας, μεγάλη, μέγα): best,
extraordinary; topmost, foremost; mighty μεθερμηνεύω, to translate
μεθίστημι, 3. μετέστησα: to remove; to seduce (to apostasy), shift
somebody over to (a particular way of life) μεθύσκω, 3. ἐμέθυσα: to make
somebody drunk; pass. to become drunk μεθύω, to be drunk μ(ε)ίγνημι, 3.
ἔμ(ε)ιξα, 1aor impv. μῖξον,1aor. pass. ἐμ(ε)ίχθην, more oft. 2aor. pass.
ἐμ(ε)ίγην: to mix; to bring together; pass. to be brought into contact with,
be intermingled μειδιάω, to smile μείρομαι, pf. pass. εἰμαρμαι, pf. pass.
ptc. εἱμαρμένος: pass. to be decreed by Fate; fm. ptc. ἡ εἱμαρμένη, Fate
μέλαν, -ανος, τό, ink μέλας, -αινα, -αν, black, dark μελέτη, ἡ, care μέλι, -
ιτος, τό, honey μέλλω (w. inf.), to be about to, intend to μέλος, -ους, τό,
melody, music; bodily frame (usually pl.) μέλω, (impers.) μέλει τινι, it is a
care/concern to somebody; pass. to be of special interest to somebody (dat.)
μέντοι (Dor. μάντοι), yet, nevertheless μένω, μενῶ, ἔμείνα, μεμένηκα: to
remain, stay μερίζω, 2. μεριῶ, 6. ἐμερίσθην: to divide; to assign μεριμνάω,
to be anxious to do something μέρος, -ους, τό / nom. and acc. pl., τὰ μέρη:
part, piece; one’s part/role; place; a separate part (in contrast to the whole)
μέσος, -η, -ον, middle, in the middle/midst; ἀνὰ μέσον, between, within
(w. gen.) μεστός, -ή, -όν, filled with, full of (gen.); subst. something that is
full/filled μετά, (w. gen.), with; (w. acc.), after, behind μεταβάλλω, to
change; to turn/transform into (εἰς) something μεταβολή, ἡ, change,
changing μεταδίδωμι, to give a share, impart μετανοέω, to repent μετανοία,
ἡ, repentance μεταξύ (w. gen.), between μεταπέμπω, to send for, summon;
to arrest somebody μεταστρέφω, to change, turn (somebody’s mind) to; to
pervert something μετατίθημι, to put in another place, transfer to another
place; mid. to change one’s mind, turn away
μετέχω, to partake of (gen.), participate in μετουσία, ἡ, participation,
partnership μέτρον, τό, measure; size μέχρι(ς), (prep. w. gen.) until, to; to
the extent; (conj.) until μή, not (w. non-ind. verbs) μηδαμῶς, by no means,
not at all μηδέ, nor, but not, not even (with non-indicative moods) μηδείς,
μηδεμία, μηδέν (w. non-ind.), no one, nothing; μηδέν (adv.), not at all, in
no way μηδέποτε, never μηδέπω, not yet (w. non-ind. moods) μήκιστος, -
η, -ον, longest (time) μήν (= εἰ μήν), surely, indeed (used in combination
w. various particles); καὶ μήν, furthermore μήν, ὁ, μηνός, month μηνύω, 3.
ἐμήνησα, 1aor. pass. ptc. μηνυθείς: to disclose a secret, report μήποτε, that
… not, lest μήπως, that perhaps, lest somehow μήτηρ, -τρός, ἡ, mother
μηχανάομαι, to plot against, contrive against somebody μιαίνω, 3. ἐμίανα,
5. μεμίαμμαι: to defile, contaminate; mid. to defile oneself μίγνημι, s.v.
μείγνημι
μικρός, -α, -ον, little, small, of little importance μιμνήσκομαι (w. gen.)
(also μνήσκομαι), 3. ἐμνήσθην, 4. μέμνημαι, 6. ἐμνήσθην: to remember
somebody, recollect; to make mention of (w. gen.); pass. (dep.)
remembered/to be remembered μισέω, hate, despise μισθός, ὁ, wages, pay;
physician’s fee μνᾶ, ἡ, μνᾶς (gen.), μνῆν (acc.) / pl. μναῖ, μνέων (gen. pl.
> NW μνᾶν), mina (= 100 drachmae) μνῆμα, -ματος, τό, grave, tomb
μνημεῖον, τό, tomb, sepulchre μνημονεύω (w. gen.), to remember, think of;
to make mention of (περί); μνημονευτέον (verbal adj. expressing
necessity), must be remembered, must be kept in mind μνημόσυνον, τό,
memorial, remembrance, legacy μνηστεύω, to betrothe; pass. to be
betrothed, engaged μοῖρα, ἡ, portion, share; ἱερὰ μοῖρα, sacred share (that
is rightfully due); destiny, fate μοιχεία, ἡ, adultery μόλις, with difficulty,
scarcely; only rarely, not readily μονογενής, -ές, only, unique
μόνος, -η, -ον, only, alone μορφή, ἡ, form, outward appearance μουσικός,
-ή, -όν, musical μυέω, to initiate somebody (into the mysteries); pass. to
have performed mysteries, be initiated into the mysteries; subst. ceremony
of initiation into the mysteries μῦθος, ὁ, story, narrative μυριάς, -άδος, ἡ,
ten thousand; a myriad; (mostly pl.) countless thousands μυσαρός, -ά, -όν,
foul, dirty; subst. polluted thing μυστήριον, τό, mystery, secret knowledge;
pl., secret rituals μύστης, ὁ, / μύστις, ἡ, an initiate μωρία, -ας, ἡ,
foolishness μωρός, -ά, -όν, foolish, stupid; subst. foolish thing

ναός, ὁ, temple, inner part of Jewish temple, sanctuary ναῦς, ἡ, ναός (gen.,
Att. νεώς), ναῦν (acc.), ship (of larger vessels) ναύτης, ὁ, sailor νεανίσκος,
ὁ, a youth, young man; servant νεκρός, -ά, -όν, dead, lifeless; pl. the dead
νέος, -α, -ον, new; ὁ νεός, boy/young man; ἡ νέα νουμηνία, New Year
νεότης, -ητος, ἡ, youth, state of youthfulness νεύω, to nod, beckon with the
hand νεφέλη, ἡ, cloud νεώτερος, ὁ (comparative of νέος), young man νή,
by (particle of strong affirmation, w. acc. of divinity being invoked) νῆσος,
ἡ, island νηστεία, ἡ, day of fasting, esp. the Day of Atonement νηστεύω, to
fast, observe a fast νικάω, to defeat; to win a court case νίκη, victory; Νίκη,
goddess Nike νιν (encl.), Dor. acc. of 3rd pers. pron. for αὐτός/αὐτή (him
/her) νοερός, -ή, -όν, intellectual νοέω (w. acc.), aor. pass. ptc. νοηθείς: to
perceive, understand (that); mid. to bear in mind, think; pass. to be thought
of, be perceived νομίζω, to think, suppose, assume; to institute a custom;
pass. ptc. customary; subst. (nt. pl. ptc.), customary things νόμιμος, -η, -ον,
to conform to the law, legal; pl. τὰ νόμιμα, laws, statutes νόμος, ὁ, law,
Torah νοσέω, to be ill, sick νόσος, ἡ, disease, illness νουθεσία, ἡ, warning,
instruction, admonition νουθετέω, to instruct; to warn, admonish
νουμηνία, ἡ, new moon; first day of the lunar month; ἡ νέα νουμηνία, the
New Year νοῦς ὁ, νοός, (gen.), νοΐ/νῷ (dat.), νοῦ (gen.), νοῦν (acc.):
mind, understanding; κατὰ νοῦν, in one’s mind νύμφη, ἡ, bride, young
wife νυμφίος, ὁ, bridegroom νῦν, now, at the present νυνί, strengthened
form of νῦν, now, at this time νύξ, νυκτός, ἡ, night

ξενίζω, to entertain/host as a guest; to surprise, startle; subst. (nt. pl. ptc.),

strange things/notions ξένιος, -α, -ον, hospitable; epithet of Zeus, “protector
of the rights of hospitality”
ξένος, -η, -ον, strange, foreign; subst. a stranger, foreigner; guest ξύλον, τό,
wood, tree (collective, trees); cross ξηρός, -ά, -όν, dry; paralyzed

ὁ, ἡ, τό, the ὀβολο , ὁ, pl. ὀβολοι: obol ὀγδοήκοντα, eighty ὄγδοος, -η, -
ον, eighth ὀγκόω, pass. to swell (through pregancy); to be pregnant ὅδε,
ἥδε, τάδε, this ὀδεύω, to travel ὁδηγέω, to guide, lead; to lead to (πρός/
εἰς) ὁδός, ἡ, way, road, journey ὀδούς, -όντος, ὁ, pl. teeth ὅθεν (adv. of
place), from where, from which; for which reason οἶδα, fut. εἰδήσω, plpf.
ᾔδειν: to know, understand, perceive οἰκεῖος, -α, -ον, of a household;
belonging to the same kin/family; proper to a thing, suitable; individual; οἱ
οἰκεῖοι, family members οἰκέτης, household slave οἰκέω, to live with
(gen.); to inhabit/dwell (acc.) οἰκίζω, 1aor. ᾤκισα, poet. ᾤκισσα, 4. ᾤκικα,
pf. pass. ᾤκισμαι: to found a city/colony; to build (a temple) οἰκοδομέω,
pf. pass. ᾠκοδόμημαι: to build/construct; to form/fashion; (fig.) to build up,
encourage οἰκονομία, ἡ, management of a household; administration of an
office; economy; arrangement, structure (of parts), “anatomy”
οἶκος, ὁ, also οἰκία, ἡ, house, home οἰκουμένη, ἡ, inhabited world οἶνος,
ὁ, wine
οἴομαι (also οἶμαι), impf. ᾤμην: to think that, suppose; to feel like (w. inf.)
οἷος, -α, -ον, what kind (of), such as; οἷoν + inf. (impling fitness,
possibility), it is possible ὀκνέω, 3. ὤκνησα: to hesitate ὄλεθρος, -ου, ὁ,
destruction ὀλίγος, -η, -ον, little, few; pl. δι᾽ ὀλίγων, in a few (words),
briefly; (πρὸς) ὀλίγον, a short while; με ὀλιγον, after a brief (time)
ὁλοκαυτώμα, -ματος, τό, a whole burnt offering ὅλος, -η, -ον, whole, all
ὁμιλία, ἡ, conversation ὄμμα, -ματος, τό, eye ὄμνυμι (later ὀμνύω), 2.
ὀμοῦμαι, 3. ὤμοσα, aor. subj. ὀμόσω: to swear/confirm an oath, swear by
(ἐν or + acc.) a god ὅμοιος, -α, -ον (w. dat.), like, similar to (w. dat. or
gen.); subst. τὰ ὅμοια, the same things ὁμοιόω, to make like, become like
(w. dat.) ὁμοίωμα, -ματος, τό, likeness, form, appearance ὁμοίως (adv.),
likewise, in the same way ὁμοῦ (adv.), in the same place/time, together
ὅμως, nevertheless ὀνειδίζω, to mock, insult, heap insults upon ὀνειδισμός,
ὁ, reproach, contempt ὄνειρος, ὁ, a dream ὄνομα, -ματος, τό, name
ὀνομάζω, to name/call something (by a certain name); to utter a name
(acc.) (for magical purposes) on (ἐπι) ὄντως, actually, really ὀξύς, -εῖα, -ύ,
sharp; swift, quick (of spirit/mind); comp. -τερος
ὅπερ, s.v. ὅσπερ
ὅπῃ, by which; ὅπῃ ἢ ὅπως, a way by which ὁπλίται, s.v. ὅπλον
ὅπλον, τό, tool, large shield; pl. τὰ ὅπλα, weapons, arms ὁποῖος, -α, -ον, of
what sort, such as ὁπόσος, -ον, as much/many, how much/many ὅπου,
where (non-interogative) ὅπως, that, in order that ὅραμα, -ματος, τό, a
vision ὅρασις, ἡ, seeing, sight; apearance; pl. eyes ὁράω, ὄψομαι, εἶδον,
ἑόρακᾳ / ἑώρακα, ―, ὤφθην: to see ὀργάνον, τό, tool, bodily organ,
device; musical instrument ὀργή, ἡ, anger, wrath ὄργια, -ίων, τά, secret
religious rites, religious mysteries
ὀργίζω, pass. to become angry ὀργίλος, -η, -ον, inclined to anger, quick-
tempered; subst. hot temper; one of violent temper ὀρθός, -ή, -όν, upright,
erect; straight, true, correct; ὀρθῶς, correctly, rightly, strictly; normally, in
good order ὀρθόω, to set upright; pass. to be erected ὁρίζω, to set limits; to
appoint, set; to administer an oath; pass. to be fixed/determined; to be
limited ὅριον, τό, boundary, τὰ ὅρια, region, district ὁρκίζω: to make
somebody swear an oath to somebody (acc.), swear by the name (τῷ
ὀνόματι τοῦ) of somebody; conjure by (acc.), magically invoke by (acc.)
ὅρκος, ὁ, oath ὁρμάω, to rush ὄρος, -ους, τό, mountain, hill ὅς, ἥ, ὅ, who,
which, what ὀσμή, ἡ, smell, fragrance ὅσος, -η, -ον, as much as; pl. as
many as, all; + ἄν (or ἐάν), whoever, whatever ὅσπερ, ὅνπερ (acc.) / ἥπερ
(fm.) / ὅπερ (nt.) / ἅπερ (nt. pl.): the very man/woman/thing(s); which
indeed/exactly; ὅνπερ τρόπον, in the same way ὅστις, ἥτις, ὅτι, who,
which, whoever ὀστοῦν, τό (uncontr. ὀστέον), pl. ὀστᾶ, ὀστῶν (uncontr.
ὀστέων), bone ὄστρακον, τό, potsherd ὅταν, when, whenever ὅτε, when,
while ὅτι, that, because οὗ, where οὗ, whose (gen. of relative pronoun ὅ)
οὐ, οὐκ, οὐχ, not, no οὐαί (w. dat.), woe/alas; concerning, by reason of
(dat.) οὐδαμός, -ή, -όν, not anyone, not any; οὐδαμοῦ, nowhere, not
anywhere οὐδέ, not even; οὐδέ… οὐδέ…neither … nor …
οὐδείς, οὐδεμία, οὐδέν, no one, nothing, no οὐδέποτε, never οὐκέτι
(adv.), no longer, no more οὖν, then (temporal), therefore (in a discourse or
line of argument) οὔπω, not yet οὐράνιος -ον, heavenly, from heaven;
meteorological οὐρανός, ὁ, sky, heaven οὖς, τό, ὠτός (gen.), ὠτί (dat.) /
pl. τὰ ὦτα: dim. ὠτίον: hearing οὐσία, ἡ, being, essence; substance οὐτέ,
not, nor; οὐτέ… οὐτέ…, neither…nor…
οὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο, this οὕτω, οὕτως, (1) adv. in this way, thus, so; (2) adj.
such; (3) as follows
οὐχί, not, not so, no indeed ὀφειλέτης, ὁ, a debtor, one who is under
obligation, one who is guilty/liable for ὀφείλω (and –έω), 2. ὀφειλήσω, 3.
ὠφείλησα: to owe somebody something, be indebted to somebody; to be
obligated to, should/must (w. inf.); ἁμαρτίαν ὀφείλω (w. dat.), to incur sin
against ὀφθαλμός, ὁ, eye ὄφις, -εως, ὁ, serpent, snake ὄφρα, that, in order
that ὄχλος, ὁ, crowd; army; pl. peoples ὀψέ (adv.), late, late in the evening;
as prep. (w. gen.), late for something ὀψιά, ἡ, evening ὄψις, -εως, ἡ,
appearance, countenance, face; vision, apparition

πάθος, -ους (uncontr. -εος), τό, misfortune, calamity; emotions, passions;

pain; pl. τὰ πάθη, feelings; οὐράνιος πάθος, meteorological disturbance
παιδάριον, young man; small boy παιδεία, ἡ, teaching, education;
discipline, correction παιδευτής, ὁ, instructor of youths παιδεύω, to teach,
instruct; to correct, discipline παιδίον, τό, child, infant παιδίσκη, ἡ, female
slave, maidservant παῖς, παιδός, ὁ/ἡ, child (in relation to parents);
slave/servant (in relation to a master/God); ἐκ παιδός, from childhood
παλαιός, -ά, -όν, old, former πάλιν, again, once more πανταχοῦ,
everywhere πάντῃ (adv.), in every way, on every side παντοκράτωρ, -ορος,
ὁ, almighty one πάντοτε, always (adv.) πάντως (adv.), certainly, doubtless;
strictly πάππος, ὁ, grandfather παρά, (w. gen.) from, by, (w. dat.) with, in
the presence of; (w. acc.) beside, along παραβολή, ἡ, parable, proverb;
discourse παραγγέλμα, τό, commandment παραβαίνω, 3. παρέβην: to
transgress παραβάλλω, to throw to (esp. of fodder to animals); to venture to
(do something) παράβασις, -εως, ἡ, disobedience, violation of a boundary
or norm παραγγέλλω, to command, instruct somebody (dat.); subst. ptc.
instructions, things announced παραγίνομαι, to be beside, be present with,
visit with (πρός); to come to one’s side/aid; to arrive at/in/from (εἰς/ἐν/ἐκ)
παράγω, to march by; to introduce; to (make) pass by
παράδεισος, -ου, ὁ, garden, orchard (in Eden); a place of blessedness above
the earth, “Paradise”
παραδέχομαι, to accept, receive παραδίδωμι, to hand over to another,
transmit παραιτέομαι, to ask for, entreat, beg, request; to excuse oneself
(παραιτοῦμαι, “excuse me”) παρακαλέω, to beg, request; to urge,
encourage; to console, comfort; to appeal to; to summon παράκειμαι, to be
ready; to have available, have in stock παράκλησις, -εως, ἡ,
encouragement, comfort παρακολουθέω, pf. ptc. παρηκολουθηκώς: to
follow, accompany; to follow (in a course of events); to follow in the mind,
understand παρακούω, to ignore, pay no attention to; to disobey
παραλαμβάνω, to receive, accept; to take, take charge of; to take
over/receive somebody as a prisoner; to inherit sacred objects; to succeed to
an office παραμένω, to remain (in a place); to remain/stay (of slaves whose
manumission was deferred) παραμονή, ἡ, obligation of a slave to continue
to serve his or her master after manumission παράνομος, -ον, lawless,
unlawful παράπτωμα, τό, an offense, wrongdoing παρασκευάζω, to
provide, prepare for somebody/something (dat.) παρασπείρω, to be
interspersed/dispersed in παρατίθημι, to serve up (food), provide
παρατυγχάνω, 2aor. ptc. παρατυχών: to be somewhere by chance, be
present at παραχρῆμα, immediately, instantly; recently πάρειμι (fr. εἰμί),
pres. ptc. παρών, -ούσα, -όν, impf. παρῆν, opt. παρείην: to be present, be
here; (impers.) to come to/upon, arrive; πάρειμι + inf., to be possible to (do
something); subst. ptc. the present; bystander παρεμβολή, ἡ, army;
battalion παρέρχομαι, pf. inf. παρεληλυθέναι: to walk past, pass by; to pass
away; (of time) to be past; (of a past) to be over; to disobey παρέχω, 3.
παρέσχον, 2aor. ptc. παρασχών, 2aor. mid. impv. παράσχου: to
provide/give; + inf., to allow somebody (dat.) to do something παρθένος, ἡ,
virgin, unmarried girl παρίστημι (also παριστάνω), pf. ptc. παρεστώς: to
stand before (w. dat.); to approach, come near; to render, present oneself,
offer, supply; to show παρό > παρ᾽ ὅ, for what reason παρουσία, ἡ,
coming, arrival; technical term for the second “coming” of Christ;
(personal) presence παροχή, ἡ, supply of something παρρησία, ἡ,
confidence, boldness; (adv.) παρρησίᾳ, freely, openly, plainly
παρρησιάζομαι, to speak openly/freely πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν, (w/o article) each,
every (pl. all); (w. article) entire, whole, all; everyone, everything πάσχω,
πείσομαι, 2aor. ἔπαθον, ptc. παθών, πέπονθα: to suffer, endure, undergo; to
experience πατάσσω, 1aor. inf. πατάξαι: to strike, slay πάτηρ-τρός, ὁ,
father πάτριος, -α, -ον (= πατρικός), derived from one’s fathers, hereditary;
customary; subst. τὸ πάτριον, tradition; τά πάτρια, ancestral customs
πατρίς, -ίδος, ἡ, homeland; hometown πατρῴος, -α, ον, of one’s father(s),
hereditary (privileges/honors) παύω, to make to end, bring to an end; mid.
to stop doing something, cease πεδίον, τό, plain πέδον, τό, ground, plain
πείθω, πείσω, ἔπεισα, πέποιθα, πέπεισμαι, ἐπείσθην: to persuade,
convince; (pass.) to obey; (pf. act. and pass.) to trust, rely on, have
confidence πεινάω, to be hungry πειρασμός, ὁ, period/process of tempting,
trial, test πέμπτος, -η, -ον, fifth πέμπω, πέμψω, ἔπεμψα, ―, ―, ἐπέμφθην:
to send, appoint πένης, -ητος, ὁ, poor person πενθέω, to be sad, grieve,
mourn; πενθῶ ἐπί, to mourn over πένθός, -ους, τό, mourning, sorrow
πεντήκοντα, fifty πεντακόσιοι, -αι, -α, five hundred πέρα, beyond (w.
gen.); πέρα τῆς ὥρας, beyond the season (i.e., unseasonably) πέραν, on the
other side, across; τὸ πέραν, the opposite side πέρας, -ατος, τό, limit, end
(of the earth), boundary; (adv.) πέρας, finally, in conclusion; as a result
περάω, 1aor inf. περῆσαι: to pass through περί (w. gen.), about, concerning;
(w. acc.) around, near περιάγω, 2aor. ptc.: περιαγαγόντες: to go about; to
lead around/about περιαιρέω, aor. inf. περιελεῖν, ptc. περιελών, impf. 3rd
sg. περιῃρεῖτο: to take away, remove; to cut away (of anchors) περιβάλλω,
2aor. περιέβαλον, pf. ptc. περιβεβλημένος: to lay something around, put
around; to clothe with something; to encircle; mid. to throw around oneself,
Acts 98:6; to embrace, clothe oneself περίβολος, ὁ, enclosing wall of a
temple περιεργάζομαι, to meddle in περιέρπω, to walk about περιέχω, 2aor.
ptc. περίσχων, 2aor. pass. inf. περισχέσθαι: to include; to encompass,
surround; to come upon, befall
περίλοιπος, -ον, remaining, surviving; οἱ περίλοιποι, remnant (of Joseph)
περιμένω, to wait (for) περιπατέω, to walk about, go about, live
περιπλέκω, pf. inf. περιπλακῆναι, 6. περιεπλάκην: to embrace; pass. to be
embraced περισσεύω, to be present in abundance, increase, overflow
περισσός (Att. περιττός), -ή, -όν, abundant, profuse; comp. περισσότερος,
-α, -ον, abundantly, still more περισσότερον, see περισσός
περιστερά, ἡ, dove περιτέμνω (Dor. περιτάμνω), pf. ptc. περιτετμηκώς, -
κυῖαι, -κός, pf. pass. ptc. περιτετμημένος: to cut off; to circumcise a man,
circumcise a woman περιτίθημι, to put around, wrap around περιτομή, -ῆς,
ἡ, circumcision περίχωρος, -ον, neighboring, surrounding; subst. τὸ
περίχωρον, surrounding region πετεινός, -ή, -όν, winged; τὸ πετεινόν, bird
πέτρα, -ας, ἡ, rock πεύθομαι, see πυνθάνομαι
πηγή, ἡ, running water; a spring source, fountain; source πήγνυμι, 3.
ἔπηξα, 1aor. ptc. πήξας, 6. ἐπάγην: to pitch a tent; pass. to become stiff,
congealed πηδάω, to leap πιάζω, to catch (of an animal); to seize, arrest (a
person) πικρός, -ά, -όν, bitter, harsh; fierce (animal); πικρῶς, bitterly,
fiercely πίμπλημι, 3. ἔπλησα, 1aor. inf. πλάσαι, 1aor. impv. πλῆσον, 6.
ἐπλήσθην, fut. pass. πλησθήσομαι: to fill, fulfill; pass. to be filled with (w.
gen.) πίναξ, ὁ, πίνακος, flat wooden plaque (plastered or primed, then
painted and inscribed) πίνω, πίομαι, ἔπιον, πέπωκα, ―, ἐπόθην: to drink
πιπράσκω, 3. πέπρακα, 6. ἐπράθην: to sell something πίπτω, πεσοῦμαι,
ἔπεσον, πέπτωκα: to fall, fall down πιστεύω, to believe in, have confidence
in; to entrust oneself to, entrust something to somebody, trust πίστις, -εως,
ἡ, confidence, faithfulness, belief πιστός, ή, όν, trustworthy, faithful; this
term is related to the practice of making oaths; it refers to one who can be
“trusted” to take an oath and is “faithful” to the agreement undertaken.
πλανάω, to lead astray; pass. to wander, be led astray πλάνη, ἡ, error,
deceit πλάσμα, τό, anything formed; a body, molded thing πλάσσω (Att.
πλάττω), 3. ἔπλασα, pf. pass. inf. πεπλάσθαι: to form, mold, fashion
πλατεῖα, ἡ, street πλατύς, -εῖα, -ύ, wide πλείστος, -η, -ον, most, greatest,
chief πλεῖων (m./fm.), πλείονα (m./fm. acc.), πλεῖον/πλέον (nt.); pl.
πλείονες (nom.), πλειόνων (gen.), πλείοσιν (dat.), πλείους (m. acc.): more;
more (than + gen.); better/greater; ἐπὶ (τὸ) πλεῖον, all the more; ἐπὶ πλεῖον,
at greater length; ἐπὶ πλείονα χρόνον, for a long time; adv. (nt. pl.),
πλείονα, all the more; (superl.), πλεῖστος, -η, -ον, most; subst., πλείστοι, the
majority πλεονάζω, 1aor. ἐπλεόνασα: (trans.) to increase, cause to grow,
multiply, (intrans.) become more/abundant πλευρά, -ᾶς, ἡ, side; rib πλέω,
inf. πλεῖν, 3. ἔλευσα: to sail, travel by ship πληγή, ἡ, a blow, wound;
plague; ἔρχομαι πληγῶν, to come to blows; sudden calamity πλῆθος, -ους,
τό, great number, multitude; abundance, great quantity πληθύνω, to
multiply, increase, grow in number πλήν, nevertheless; but only, except
πλήρης, -ες / pl. -εις (m.), -ες (nt.): full; solid πληρόω, to fill, fulfill
πλησίον (w. gen.), near, nearby; ὁ πλησίον, neighbor; ἡ, female companion
πλήσσω, 2aor. pass. ptc. πληγείς: to wound, strike; to sting (of bees); to bite
πλοῖον, τό, boat πλόος (contr. πλοῦς), ὁ, πλοός (gen.) / pl. πλοῖ (nom.),
πλῶν (gen.): sailing, voyage; “voyage” (of life) πλούσιος, -α, -ον, rich,
wealthy; ὁ πλούσιος, rich man; comp. πλουσιώτερος, -ον, richer πλοῦτος,
ὁ, wealth, riches πνεῦμα, τό, breath, human spirit, one’s inner self, ghost,
Spirit/Breath (of God) πνευματικός, -η, -ον, spiritual πνέω, 3. ἔπνευσα: to
blow (of wind) πνοή, ἡ, wind, breath πόθεν (interog. adv.), from where?
how? in what way? why?
ποθέω, to long for, have a great desire (to do something) ποιέω, to do,
make ποιητής, ὁ, author, maker ποικίλος, -η, -ον, various, various kinds
ποιμαίνω, to herd, tend flocks ποιμήν, -ένος, ὁ, herd ποίμνιον, τό, flock (of
sheep/goats) ποῖος, -α, -ον, what? which? what sort/kind of? (interr.
pronoun) πολεμέω, to wage war, go to war with πολεμίος, -α, -ον, hostile;
subst. enemy; superl. πολεμιώτατος, most bitter enemy πόλεμος, ὁ, war,
battle
πόλις, -εως, ἡ, city πολιτεία, ἡ, citizenship; way of life, conduct πολιτεύω
(often mid.), mid. inf. πολιτεύεσθαι: to conduct one’s life in a particular
way; to live under a certain set of laws; to deal with in one’s private affairs
πολίτης, ὁ, citizen, countryman πολλάκις, often, repeatedly πολύς, gen.
πολλοῦ, πολλή, πολύ, much, many; πολυ (adv.), often πομπεύω, to walk in
a procession πομπή, ἡ, solemn procession πονηρός, -ά, -όν, evil, bad
πόνος, ὁ, hard labor; pain, affliction πορεύομαι, to go, proceed πορνεία, ἡ,
unlawful sexual practice, sexual promiscuity/immorality πορνεύω, to
engage in prohibited sexual activity, commit sexual immorality; (fig.) to
practice idolatry πο νη, ἡ, prostitute, whore πόρρω (= πόρσω) (adv.), far
away, far off πορφύρα, ἡ, purple dye; purple cloth; purple stripe πόσος, -η,
-ον, how great? how much/many?
ποταμός, ὁ, river πότε, when? (in direct question); when (in indirect
question); ἕως πότε, how long?
ποτέ (encl.), once, former, formerly, sometimes, ever; at last; ὅσον ποτέ,
whatever; whenever, ὅταν ποτέ
πότερον, whether ποτήριον, τό, cup ποτί, Dor. > πρός
ποτίζω, 2. ποτιῶ, 3. ἐπότισα: to give somebody a drink ποτόν, τό, drink
πού (enclit.), (adv. of place) somewhere; “I suppose,” “perhaps”
ποῦ, where?
πούς, ποδός, ὁ, foot πρᾶγμα, matter, event, affair; thing πρᾶξις, -εως, ἡ,
way of acting/conducting; action/deed; (magical) ritual πράσσω (Att.
πράττω), 3. ἔπραξα, 1aor. ptc. πράξας, 1aor pass. ptc. πραχθείς: to do
something; to commit an act; to achieve, accomplish, be busy with; τὰ
περίεργα πράσσειν, to practice magic; to charge somebody money for
something; pass. to take place, happen πραΰς, πραεῖα, πραΰ, mild, soft,
gentle; meek, unassuming πρεσβεία, ἡ, embassy, mission πρεσβύτερος, -α,
-ον, older: ὁ πρεσβύτερος, old man; elder/official; ancestor πρεσβυτής, ὁ,
old man; ambassador πρίν (ἤ), before, until
προάγω, to draw near to, approach; to bring up to; to lead forward
προβαίνω, pf. ptc. προβεβηκώς: to advance, make progress; to pass (of
time) πρόβατον, τό, sheep προγινώσκω (Att. προγιγνώσκω), to foresee,
have foreknowledge of πρόγνωισις, -εως, ἡ, foreknowledge, ability to
know beforehand, προγράφω, to write above; to set forth as a public notice,
advertise; to exhibit in a public place; to register/record (names) προέδρια,
ἡ, front seat (i.e., seat of honor) πρόεδροι, οἱ, presiding officers πρόειμι (fr.
εἶμι): to go forward; proceed, continue προέρχομαι, to go forward,
approach; to come/go before; to come/go forth; to go (read) forward
πρόθεσις, -εως, ἡ, plan, purpose; offering, “(the Bread of) Presence”
προθυμία, ἡ, willingness, eagerness πρόθυμος, -ον, ready, eager; (adv.)
πρόθυμως, zealously, earnestly προθύω, to sacrifice on somebody’s behalf;
to perform an opening sacrifice προΐστημι, pf. act. ptc. προεστηκώς, 6.
προεστάθην > προὔστην: to set over, choose as one’s leader; pass. to be
leader of, preside over something (gen.); subst. ptc. leader προλαμβάνω, to
take something on one’s own; anticipate προλέγω, 3. προεῖπον, 4.
προείρηκα: to warn in advance; say beforehand/above πρόνοια, ἡ,
Providence πρός (w. acc.), toward, with (prep.) προσάγω, to bring to; to put
in; to bring forward (committee business); to come near, approach, to draw
near προσδέχομαι, to accept, receive; to welcome; to admit into
membership; to wait for προσδοκάω (Ion. -έω), to wait in suspense; to
anticipate προσέρχομαι, to come or go to, approach προσευχή, ἡ, prayer;
(Jewish) prayer house προσεύχομαι, pray προσέχω, to pay attention to,
notice; to take care of; mid. to cling to something (w. dat.); προσεχω τὸν
νούν (w. dat.), to turn one’s attention/mind to προσήλυτος, proselyte,
convert to Judaism (i.e., fully entitled members of the Jewish religious
community) πρόσθεν, (τό), before, in front of; τὸ πρόσθεν, earlier,
formerly προσίστημι, mostly pass. (dep.), προσίσταμαι: to set against; to set
oneself against something, encounter προσκαλέω/έομαι (mostly mid.), 6.
προσεκλήθην: to summon, entreat; to call to a special task; to encourage
προσκαρτερέω, to provide service to (w. dat.) προσκεφάλαιον (NW
ποτικεφάλαιον ), pillow, head cushion προσκόπτω, 2. προσκόψω, 3.
προσέκοψα: to hit against; offend
προσκυνέω, worship, kneel προσκύνημα, -ματος, τό, act of obeisance to
(παρά) a god on behalf of somebody (gen.) προσλαλέω, to speak to
προσλαμβάνω, mid. to take somebody aside; to partake of food πρόσοδος,
ἡ, access, approach; revenue, public revenue προσπίπτω, to fall upon; to
prostrate oneself before, fall down before (πρός) προστάγμα, -ματος, τό,
command προστάσσω (Dor. ποιτάσσω), pf. pass. ptc. προστεταγμένος: to
command, order (w. dat.); pass. to be fixed, determined προστίθημι, aor.
subj. προσθω, 2aor. inf. προσθεῖναι: to add to something; to continue, repeat
(an action) πρόστιμον, τό, penalty, fine προσφέρω, 3. προσένεγκον: to
bring to somebody; to offer something as a sacrifice; to offer/reach out
one’s hand πρόσωπον, τό, face πρότερος, -α, -ον, former, earlier, past;
πρότερον/πρότερον ἢ (adv.), before, previously προτιμάω, inf. προτιμᾶν:
to prefer πρόφασις, -εως, ἡ, motive, pretext, excuse; προφάσει ὡς, as a
pretext, under the pretext of προφήτης, ὁ, prophet πρυτανεία, ἡ, period
during which the prytaneis (πρυτάνεις) of each tribe (φυλή) presided in the
Council and Assembly πρύτανις, -εως, ὁ, member of the tribe presiding in
the Council or Assembly; pl. πρυτάνεις, οἱ, prytaneis, one of the ten (or
twelve) rotating executive committees of Council and Assembly πρωΐ
(adv.), early, early in the morning πρωτεύω, to be pre-eminent, be first
among πρῶτος, -η, -ον, first, foremost, before; πρῶτον (adv.), first, before,
earlier, to begin with; (adv.) πρώτως, for the first time πτωχεία, ἡ, poverty,
Gos. Thom. 3
πτωχός, -ή, -όν, poor Πύθιος, -α, -ον, Pythian (i.e., of Delphi), epith. of
Apollo πύλη, ἡ, gate πυλών, -ῶνος, ὁ, city gate; gateway, door
πυνθάνομαι (older form πεύθομαι), 2. πεύσομαι, 3. ἐπυθόμην, 2aor. mid.
ptc. πυθόμενος: to learn something from somebody (gen.), inquire
concerning something (gen.); subst. a question πῦρ, πυρός, τό, fire πυρόω,
to burn with fire; to heat to red hot: pass. to be set on fire, be purified by fire
(of metals)
πυρρός, -ά, -όν, yellowish-red, red; comp. –τερος
πωλέω, to sell, offer for sale; pass. to be for sale; subst. ptc. vendor πώς
(encl.), somehow, in some way πῶς, interrog. particle how? in what way?

ῥάβδος, ἡ, rod, staff ῥᾴδιος, -α, -ον, easy; (adv.) ῥᾴδιον, a light manner
ῥάπτω, 3. ἔρραψα: to sew (a garment); to alter (a garment) ρέω, 3rd pl.
1aor. impv. ῥευσάτωσαν: to flow, stream, waft ῥήγνυμι/ῥήσσω, fut.

ῥήξω, aor. impv. ῥῆξον, aor. ptc. ῥήξας, 2aor. pass. ptc. ῥαγείς, -εῖσα, -
έν, 3rd sg. 2aor. pass. impv. ῥαγήτω, fut. pass. ῥαγήσομαι: to tear, tear in
pieces; pass. to break out, burst, break in two ῥῆμα, -ματος, what is said, a
word, a saying ῥίζα, ἡ, root ῥίπτω, 3. ἔρριψα, 1aor. impv. ῥῖψον, 6.
ἐρρίφην: to throw, cast away; to lay/put something down ῥόδον, τό, rose
ῥομφαία, ἡ, sword ῥύομαι, s.v. ἐρύω
ῥυπαρός, -ά, -όν, filthy, dirty Ῥωμαῖος, -α, -ον, of the Romans, Roman;
subst. Roman person Ῥώμη, ἡ, Rome ῥώννυμι, 4. ἔρρωμαι, pf. mid. inf.
ἐρρῶσθαι, pf. mid. ptc. ἐρρωμένος, pf. mid. impv. ἔρρωισο: to be in good
health/well; ἔρρωσο, “farewell”; pass. to be strengthened

σαββατίζω, 2. σαββατιῶ: to keep the Sabbath; σαββατίζω τὸ σάββατον, to

keep the Sabbath as a Sabbath σάββατον, τό (often in pl.), the Sabbath
σάλπιγξ, -ιγγος, ἡ, trumpet Σάραπις, ὁ, god Sarapis σαρκοφάγος, -ον, flesh
eating; subst. flesh eater; sarcophagus σάρξ, σαρκος, ἡ, flesh, physical
body σατανᾶς, -α (gen.), ὁ, adversary, Satan (w. article), enemy of God
σβέννυμι, 3. ἔσβεσα, aor. inf. σβέσαι, aor. pass. impv. σβέσθητι: to
extinguish, put out (a fire); pass. to be extinguished σεαυτοοῦ, -ῆς
(reflexive pron.), yourself Σεβαστός, -ή, -όν, Augustan (adj.); Σεβαστός
for Lat. Augustus; pl. Augusti σέβω/ομαι, to worship, reverence; mid. ptc.
subst. σεβόμενοι, god fearers (i.e., Gentiles who took part in synagogue
services without becoming full προσήλυτοι); subst. θεὸν σέβων, god fearer
Σεινᾶ, see Σινᾶ
σείω, to shake σελήνη, ἡ, moon σεμνός, -ή, -όν, solemn, reverent;
honorable, above reproach; superl. σεμνότατος, -η, -ον, most solemn/holy;
(adv.) σεμνῶς, reverently σημαίνω, 2. σημανῶ, 3. ἐσήμηνα, aor. impv.
σήμανον: to give a sign/signal, indicate something (acc.) with a sign; to
report, make known σημεῖον, τό, sign, token, distinguishing mark, portent;
a marking (on approved sacrificial animals); pl. stripes σήμερον, τό, today;
(adv.), today σιγάω, to be silent σιγή, ἡ, silence, quiet σίδηρος, ὁ, iron,
anything made of iron Σιδών, -ῶνος, ἡ, Sidon Σινά/Σεινᾶ (indecl.), Sinai;
Σίναιον ὄρος, Mount Sinai σιτίον, τό, food made from wheat, food; pl.
diet, eating habits σιωπάω, to keep silent, say nothing, become quiet
σκανδαλίζω, to cause to be caught/to fall; pass. to be led into sin
σκάνδαλον, -ου, τό, obstacle, that which causes stumbling σκέλος, -εος,
τό, leg (fr. the hip downward) σκέπη, ἡ, protection, shelter, shade σκεῦος, -
ους, τό, vessel, container; instrument; kedge, driving anchor; τὰ σκευή,
equipment, ship’s tackle, possessions σκηνή, ἡ, tent, tabernacle σκήνωμα, -
ατος, τό, tent, dwelling, tabernacle σκληρός, -ά, -όν, hard, difficult
σκολιός, -ά, -όν, curved, crooked, coiled; dishonest; σκολιῶς, coiling; τὸ
σκολιόν, intestine σκοτεινός, -ή, -όν, dark σκότος, -ους, τό, darkness; sin,
evil σκῦλον, τό, pl. σκύλα: spoils, booty σκώληξ, -ηκος, ὁ, worm σμύρνα,
ἡ (also ζμύρνα), myrrh (gum from an Arabian tree used for embalming the
dead, as incense, and as a salve) σοφία, ἡ, wisdom σοφιστής, ὁ, master,
expert σπείρω, 3. ἔσπειρα, 1aor. mid. ptc. ἐσπειραμένος, pf. pass. ptc.
ἐσπαρμένος, 6. ἐσπάρην: to sow seed; to scatter, spread, extend σπέρμα,
τό, seed, offspring, children; descendants σπεύδω, 3. ἔσπευσα: to hurry; to
take an interest in somebody σπήλαιον, τό, cave σπλάγχα, τά, inward
parts, entrails (esp. heart, lungs, liver, kidneys); fig. affection, love
σπλαγχνίζω (= σπλαγχνεύω), to eat the entrails of a sacrificial victim
σπονδή, ἡ, drink offering, libation; donation of wine σπουδάζω, to pay
serious attention to; to study; to hurry, be in a hurry to do something
σπουδαῖος, -α, -ον, good, excellent σπουδή, ἡ, diligence, concern,
attention; haste, hurry; ἐν σπουδῇ, in concern στάδιον, τὸ, stadium, arena
στάσις, -εως, ἡ, standing still; riot, rioting, uprising στατήρ, -ῆρος, ἡ,
stater (coin) σταυρός, ὁ, cross σταυρόω, to crucify στεγάζω, to contain,
enclose; subst. ptc., enclosure στεῖρα, ἡ, incapable of bearing children,
infertile, barren στενάζω, to groan, sigh στέργω, to feel affection for
somebody, show affection to στέφανος, ὁ, wreath; crown; crowing
στεφανόω, to crown; to honor somebody; pass. to be crowned with; to be
honored by (ὑπό) somebody for (some virtue [acc.]) with a crown (dat.)
στῆθος, -ους (uncontr. -εος), τό, (breast of both sexes) στήλη, ἡ, stele,
(inscribed) stone slab στηρίζω, to set up, establish, strengthen στοιχεῖον,
τό, pl. components/elements into which matter is divisible στοιχέω, to
correspond to, coincide στολή, ἡ, robe, garment στολίζω, to dress, adorn,
decorate στόμα, -ματος, τό, mouth στρατηγός, ὁ, strategos, military
commander; strategos, Egyptian (Ptolemaic) governor of a nome
(administrative unit) στρατιώτης, ὁ, soldier στρέφω, 6. ἐστράφην: to turn,
turn around; to change into (w. εἰς) something; to make revolve, turn
something around; mid. to turn oneself around in circles; pass (dep.), to turn
toward σύ, you (sg.) συγγένεια, ἡ, kinship/relationship with/to (πρός)
συγγενής, -ές, related to (gen.) somebody, akin to; subst. a relative,
kinsman συγγίνομαι, pf. συγγεγενημαι, to associate with (w. dat.); to
mingle with, have sexual intercourse with; to be a companion συγκαθεύδω,
to have sex with somebody (dat.) σύγκρισις, -εως, ἡ, a compound,
aggregate substance συγχαίρω, to rejoice with/at συζητέω (w. dat.), to
dispute, debate συκῆ, ἡ, fig tree
συλλαμβάνω, 3. συνέλαβον, 2aor act. inf. συλλαβεῖν, 2aor. mid. impv.
συλλαβοῦ, 6. συνελήμφθην: to lay hold of, seize; comprehend; to conceive
a child; mid. to take part in something with somebody συμβαίνω, 3.
συνέβην, 4. συμβέβηκα, pf. ptc. συμβεβηκώς: to happen; συνέβη (w. acc.
+ inf.), it happened that (impers.); συμβαίνω τί τινι, something happens to
somebody; subst. τὸ συμβεβηκός, a contingent attribute (“accident”) of
something συμβάλλω, impf. συνέβαλλον: to converse with (dat.), engage in
an argument; to communicate (a preliminary resolulion) συμβουλεύω, to
recommend συμβούλω, to advise, counsel συμμείγνυμι, pf. pass. ptc.
συμμεμιγμένος: to mix together, mingle with; mid. to associate with; to be
joined sexually with (gen.) συμπάθεια, ἡ, affinity σύμπας, σύμπασα,
σύμπαν, all together (w. collective nouns); ἡ σύμπασα, the whole (world)
συμπτώμα, -ματος, τό, attribute; faculty συμφέρω, to help, be
advantageous; to bring together, collect; (impers.) it is useful/good/best;
subst. nt. ptc. (τὸ) συμφέρον, what is useful/best/beneficial; the welfare
συμφορά, ἡ, misfortune, calamity σύμφωνος, -ον, harmonious, in
agreement (with) σύν (w. dat.) with, in company with συνάγω, gather
together, assemble συναγωγή, synagogue συνδειπνέω, to dine with
somebody συνδοκέω, to seem good also συνέδρος, ὁ, member of the
Council (συνέδριον) συνείδησις, ἡ, conscience σύνειμι (fr. εἰμί) (1), 2.
συνέσομαι, fut. inf. συνέσεσθαι: to be with; to join, catch up with
somebody (dat.) σύνειμι (fr. εἶμι) (2), ptc. συνιών, συνιοῦσα, συνιόν, 3rd
pl. pres. impv. συνίτωσαν: to meet together (on), assemble συνεργέω, to
work together with somebody (attain something or bring about something),
assist συνεργός, -ον, working together, ὁ/ἡ συνεργός, helper συνέρχομαι,
to assemble, gather together σύνεσις, -εως, ἡ, understanding, discernment
συνετός, -ή, -όν, intelligent, discerning συνέχω, to keep closed; to seize,
torment συνίημι (fr. ἵημι), ptc. συνιείς, -εντος, pl. συνιέντες, 2. συνήσω, 3.
συνῆκα, 1aor. subj. συνῶ: to understand something (gen.); subst. wise ones
συνίστημι/συνιστάνω, fut. συστήσω, 2aor. act. inf. συστῆναι, 2aor. mid.
inf. συστήσασθαι, 2aor. pass. subj. συστηθῶ: to demonstrate, show; to
introduce/recommend somebody to somebody; to be composed of (gen.);
mid. to establish; to join (in battle) σύνοδος, ἡ civic meeting (at which
motions are deliberated); community συνουσία, ἡ, being with/together
with; sexual intercourse συντάσσω, to arrange for something to be done,
command; to prescribe (a medical treatment) συντέλεια, ἡ, completion,
consumation συντελέω, 1aor. pass. ptc. συντελεσθείς: to bring to an end,
finish, carry out, accomplish; to arrange, agree upon; to pay (toward
common expenses); pass. to be brought to perfection συντίθημι, aor. mid.
συνεθέμην: mid. to agree to/on, consent to Συρία, ἡ, Syria συστέλλω, mid.
inf. συστέλλεσθαι, 1aor. συνέστειλα, pf. pass. ptc. συνεσταλμένος: to
humiliate; (naut.) to fold up, furl a sail; mid. to be discouraged; pass. (of
time), to grow shorter συστήμα, -ματος, τό, the whole compounded of parts
σφάγιον, mostly pl. σφάγια, victims, offerings, sacrifices σφάλλω, 6.
ἐσφάλην: to make fall; pass. to stumble/fall over something (acc.),
transgress; to fail σφεῖς, σφέων (gen.), σφίσι(ν) (dat.), σφᾶς (acc.) (pl.
pron.): they, them σφόδρα, very (much), extremely, greatly (adv.)
σφραγίζω, to seal (for security), seal by impressing a seal with a signet ring
σφραγίς, -ῖδος, ἡ, (wax) seal σχεδόν, adv. nearly, almost σχῆμα, -ματος,
τό, bodily form, shape; looks, outward appearance; a way of life; the
character or property of a thing; style σχίζω, to split, divide σχίσμα, τό,
crack, cleft; dissension, schism σχοινίον, τό, rope σῴζω, σώσω, ἔσωσα,
σέσωκα, σέσῳσμαι / σέσωμαι, ἐσώθην: to save, rescue, deliver σῶμα, -
ματος, τό, body, physical body σωματικός, -ή, -όν, bodily, of the body
σωμάτιον, τό, poor body (dim. of σῶμα) σωτήρ, -ῆρος, ὁ, savior σωτηρία,
ἡ, deliverance, rescue, salvation σωφροσύνη, ἡ, prudence, discretion; self-
control, esp. sexual self-restraint

τάλαντον, τό, a talent (measure of weight ranging from 108 to 130 pounds)
ταμίας, ὁ, treasurer
τάξις, -εως, ἡ, arrangement; (official) appointment; position, order
ταπεινός, -ή, -όν, humble, lowly; undistinguished ταπεινόω, to humble,
humiliate; to bring low, be made low ταπείνωισις, -εως, ἡ, humiliation,
humility ταράσσω, pf. pass. ptc. τεταραγμένος: to agitate physically,
pervert something; (fig.) to stir up, disturb mentally, throw into confusion;
pass. to be troubled, vexed; to be thrown into disorder/confusion τάσσω
(Att. τάττω), pf. pass. τέτακμαι, pf. pass. ptc. τεταγμένος: to station, post
somebody before; to set; to appoint; to determine; to undertake (a task); to
restore; pass. to be ordained that (w. acc. + inf.); τὰ ταταγμένα, instructions
ταφή, ἡ, burial, burial place ταφικόν, τό, burial fee τάφος, grave, tomb
τάχα, quickly; perhaps τάχηλος, ὁ, neck ταχύς, -εῖα, -ύ, swift, quick, soon;
ταχέως (adv.), quickly; comp. θάσσων (Att. θάττων), θᾶσσον, quicker,
sooner than (ἤ); superl. τάχιστος, -η, -ον, most quickly, as quickly as
possible, as soon as τέ, and; τέ…δέ…, both … and … (usually follows the
word it coordinates) τείνω, 3. ἔτεινα: to stretch, reach out, extend; to apply
τεῖχος (>τοῖχος), -ους, τό, city wall τεκμαίρομαι, 3. ἐτεκμηράμην, 6.
ἐτεκμήρθην: to conjecture, guess; pass. to be indicated τέκνον, τό, child
τέλειος, -α, -ον, complete, perfect; mature, full-grown (of persons); τὰ
τέλεια, mature animals; superl. τελειότατος, -η, -ον, most perfect τελειόω,
to fulfill; pass. to be accomplished (of promises, prophecies); to become
mature, perfect τελετή, ἡ, initiation rite into sacred mysteries τελευταίος, -
α, -ον, last (of time) τελευτάω, pres. impv. 2nd sg. τελεύτα: to die, pass
away τελέω, 6. ἐτελέσθην, pf. pass. ptc. τετελεσμένος: to finish, complete,
fulfill; to perfect; to initiate (into a mystery religion), pass. to be
accomplished τέλος, -ους, τό, end; outcome, resolution, conclusion
τέμενος, -εος, τό, precincts of a temple τέρας, -ατος, τό, portentous sign, a
wonder τεσσαράκοντα (Att. τετταράκοντα), forty τέσσαρες, nt. τέσσαρα,
gen. τεσσάρων, four τέταρτος, -η, -ον, fourth τέχνη, ἡ, trade, skill,
craftsmanship τεχνίτης, -ου, ὁ, craftsman, artisan, skilled worker; musician
τηρέω, to keep, observe τίκτω, 2. τέξομαι, 3. ἔτεκον, 4. τέτοκα, pf. pass.
τέτεγμαι, fm. pf. pass. ptc. τετοκυῖα, 6. ἐτέχθην: to give birth (to) τίθημι,
θήσω, ἔθηκα, τέθεικα, τέθειμαι, ἐτέθην: to put, set, lay τιμάω, 1aor.
ἐτίμησα, 1aor. ptc. τιμάς: to honor τιμή, -ῆς, ἡ, honor, pl. honors;
price/cost, value; (gen.), at a price of τίμιος, -α, -ον, precious, valuable;
superl. τιμιώτερος, -α, -ον, more precious τιμωρία, ἡ, retribution,
vengeance τίνω, 2. τίσω (also τείσω), 3. ἔτ(ε)ισα, to pay a penalty, undergo
something (acc.) as a punishment τίς, τί, who? which? what?
τις, τι (encl.), anyone, anything τοίνυν, indeed, then; therefore; δὴ τοίνυν,
“I suggest/submit (that)”
τοιοῦτος, -αύτη, -οῦτον, of such a kind, such as this, for example; τὰ
τοιαῦτα, similar/related things τοῖχος, s.v. τεῖχος
τόκος, ὁ, birth; offspring; interest (on money owed) τόλμα/τόλμη, ἡ,
audacity, recklessness τολμάω, to dare to, be bold enough to (w. inf.); to
show boldness toward (ἐπί) τόπος, ὁ, place, location τοσοῦτος, -αύτη, -
οῦτον, so much/great/large, etc.; pl. so many τότε, then, at that time
τράπεζα, ἡ, table; τράπεζα τῆς προθέσεως, table of the Bread of Presence;
offering table (for a god) τράχηλος, ὁ, neck τράγος, ὁ, goat τραχύς, -εῖα, -
ύ, rough, rocky τρεῖς, τρία, three τρέμω: to tremble at (w. acc.), shake in
fear, be in awe of τρέπω, 3. ἔτρεψα/ἔτραπον, 2aor. pass. ἐτρέπην: to
incline/turn somebody toward (εἰς); to turn back to, go back to; mid. to
turn/take oneself to (εἰς) τρέφω, 1aor. ἔθρεψα, pf. pass. ptc. τεθραμμένος:
to rear/raise a child; to feed τρέχω, 2. δραμέομαι, 3. ἔδραμον: to run
τριάκοντα, thirty τριακόσιοι, -αι, -α, three hundred τρίς (adv.), three times
τρίτος, -η, -ον, third τρόμος, ὁ, trembling τρόπος, ὁ, way, manner; ὅν
τρόπον, (just) as; κα ὃν τρόπον, in the manner that τροφή, ἡ, food
τρώγω, to eat τυγχάνω, pres. ptc. τυχών, τυχόντος / τυχοῦσα / τυχόν, 2aor.
ἔτυχον, 2aor. 3rd sg. subj. τήχῃ, inf. τυχεῖν, pf. τέτ(ε)υχα, pf. ptc.
τετ(ε)υχώς: to gain, experience; to happen, turn out (as a result), happen to
be; to gain/receive something (gen.); to attain to (ἐπί); to obtain one’s
request (w. gen.); ἔτυχεν δέ, and it came to pass that (w. acc.); adj. ptc.
ordinary τύμβος, ὁ, sepulchral mound, grave τύπος, ὁ, image, form; type,
prototype, pattern; pl. details τυπόω, to stamp a shape into something
τύπτω, ἔτυψα: to beat, strike τύραννος, ὁ, tyrant, king, prince τύχη, ἡ,
luck; ἀγαθῇ τύχῃ, “for good fortune”; Τύχη γαθή, Agathe Tyche
(goddess)

ὑβρίζω, to insult, mistreat ὕβρις, -εως, ἡ, damage; acts of insolence,

insolence; pl. insults ὑγιαίνω, to be in good health ὑγίεια, ἡ, health;
Ὑγίεια, goddess Hygeia (daughter of Asklepios) ὑγιής, -ές, healthy; τίθημι
ὑγιή, to make well ὑγρός, -ά, -όν, wet, moist; subst. liquid, the wet/water
ὕδωρ, -ατος, τό, water ὑετός, ὁ, rain υἱός, ὁ, son, descendant ὕλη, ἡ,
matter ὑλικός, -ή, -όν, belonging to matter, material ὑμεῖς, you (pl.)
ὑμέτερος, -α, -ον, your ὑμνέω, to sing hymns, celebrate in a hymn ὕμνος,
ὁ, hymn ὑπάγω, to bring under one’s power, induce somebody to do
something; to bring before a court of law; to go away, depart ὑπακοή, ἡ,
obedience; answer ὑπακούω, to obey (w. dat.); to be subject to ὑπάρχω,
impf. ὑπῆρχον: to exist, be present; to belong to; to possess; subst. ptc. τὰ
ὑπάρχοντα, possessions, property ὑπέρ, with: (w. gen.) for, in behalf of;
about, concerning; (w. acc.) over and above, beyond ὑπερβάλλω, to exceed,
surpass ὑπερβολή, ἡ, excess, extraordinary character, superiority,
surpassing; surpassing quality, greatness; κα ὑπερβολήν, to an
extraordinary degree ὑπερέχω, to be of more value, better than; to excel;
ptc. subst. great value; to rise above; transcend
ὑπερηφανία, ἡ, arrogance, pride ὑπεροράω, 2aor. ptc. ὑπεριδών: to
overlook, disregard ὑπεροχή, ἡ, pre-eminence, dignity; state of superiority,
κα ὑπεροχή, with superior (w. gen.) ὑπερῷον, τό, upper part of a house,
upper portico ὑπηρέτης, -ου, ὁ, assistant, attendant; helper ὕπνος, ὁ, sleep;
κα /κατὰ (τὸν) ὕπνον, in a dream ὑπνόω, to sleep ὑπό, ὑ , ὑ (w.
gen.), by, by means of; (w. acc.), under, below ὑπογράφω, to write below
ὑποδείκνυμι/ὑποδεικνόω, 3. ὑπέδειξα: to show, reveal, indicate
ὑποδέχομαι, to entertain as a guest; to provide hospitality for; to promise
ὑποδήμα, pl. -ματα, sandal, shoe ὑποθέσις, -εως, ἡ, general theory
ὑποκείμαι, to lie under, below; to be subject to somebody/something
ὑποκρίνομαι, aor. pass. inf. ὑποκριθῆναι: to play a part; to pretend, deceive
ὑπόκρισις, ἡ, hypocrisy ὑπολαμβάνω, to reply; to believe, assume,
suppose; to undertake to ὑπομένω, to remain, await; to endure, stand one’s
ground, hold out; bear an ordeal, put up with ὑπόμνημα, -ματος, τό,
reminder; memorandum ὑπομονή, ἡ, endurance, perseverance ὑπόστασις, -
εως, ἡ, basis; frame of mind ὑποστρέφω, to return, turn back ὑποτάσσω, to
make subject; to append; pass. to be subjected to ὑποτίθημι, aor. mid. ptc.
ὑποθέμενος: to suggest, advise ὑποφέρω, fut. ὑποίσω: to bear up, endure
ὕστερος, -α, -ον, coming after; last; (adv.) ὕστερον, after, finally, later than
(ἤ) ὑψηλός, -ή, -όν, tall, high; proud, haughty ὕψιστος, -η, -ον, highest; ὁ
ὕψιστος, the Most High (God) ὕψος, -ους, τό, height ὑψόω, to lift up,
raise; (fig.) to exalt

φαίνω, pres. pass. inf. φαίνεσθαι, 2. φανῶ/οῦμαι, 3. ἔφανα, 6. ἐφάνην,

2aor. fm. pass. ptc. φανείς, -είσα, -έν, aor. pass. impv. φάνηθι: to shine,

give light; mid. to make one’s appearance, attend (a meeting); pass. to

appear, be seen, become visible, appear to be, be apparent (that) φανερός, -
ά, -όν, known, visible; evident, notable; (adv.) φανερῶς, openly, publicly
φανερόω, to make known, show, manifest, reveal φαντασία, ἡ, fantasy;
appearance, presentation Φαρισαίος, Pharisee
φαρμακεία, ἡ, sorcery φάρμακον, τό, drug, medicine; magic potion; spell
cast using a magic potion φέγγος, -ους, τό, light, radiance, flash φείδομαι,
1aor. mid. ἐφεισάμην: to refrain from, spare somebody (gen.) from

something φέρω, οἴσω, ἤνεγκα, ἐνήνοχα, ἐνήνεγμαι, ἠνέχθην: to bring,

bring along, carry; to endure, bring against (of charges); to establish,
validate φεύγω, 2. φεύξομαι, 3. ἔφυγον: to flee, escape; to avoid, turn from
φήμη, ἡ, good report, fame φημί, 3rd sg. φησίν, 3rd pl. φασίν, impf. 3rd
sg. ἔφη: say; (impers.) it is said φθάνω, 2. φθήσομαι, 3. ἔφθασα, 4.
ἔφθακα: to attain, reach; to arrive, come/go first, come/go before (others)
φθαρτός, -ή, -όν, perishable φθείρω, fut. pass. φθαρήσομαι: to sexually
seduce; to be dissolved φθονέω, to be envious of somebody (dat.), be
jealous φθορά, ἡ, depravity, moral corruption; miscarriage φιάλη, ἡ, phial
(shallow bowl from which wine was poured onto an altar while prayers
were recited and then the remainder of the wine was consumed)
φιλάνθρωπος, -ον, humane; τὰ φιλάνθρωπα, humane concessions
(technical term for privileges given to ethinic communities); (adv.)
φιλανθρώπως, humanely, kindly φιλέω, to love; to kiss φιλία, ἡ, friendship
φίλιος, -α, -ον, friendly; subst. friend φιληδονία, ἡ, love of pleasure
φιλόδωρος, -ον, generous, bountiful φίλος, -η, -ον, beloved, pleasant;
popular; subst. friend φιλοσοφέω, to study philosophy, speculate about
(ὑπέρ); subst. ptc. student of philosophy φιλοσοφία, ἡ, philosophy
φιλοσόφος, ὁ, philosopher; adj. φιλοσόφος, -ον; superl. φιλοσοφώτατος,
most philosophical φιλοστορία, ἡ, tender love, strong affection
φιλοτιμέομαι (pass. dep.): to strive after honor, be ambitious; make a
sincere effort φιλοτιμία, ἡ, love of honor, generosity φίλτρον, τό, love
potion φλέγω, to burn with fire; pass. to be on fire; to be filled w. (intense
emotion) φλόξ, ἡ, φλογός, flame; πῦρ φλογός, flaming fire φοβέομαι
(pass. dep.), to fear, be afraid of φοβερός, -ά, -όν, terrible, horrifying,
dreadful φόβος, ὁ, fear, fright φοιτάω, to come in, go about
φονεύς, -έως, ὁ, φονέα (acc. sg.) / φονέας (acc. pl.): murderer φονεύω, to
murder, kill φόνος, ὁ, murder φορά, ἡ, payment, (membership) dues;
tribute; rapid motion φορέω, to wear (clothing/armor); to bear, suffer
φορτίον, τό, a load, cargo; burden φρονέω, to think, have in mind, set one’s
mind on, be concerned about φρόνησις, -εως, ἡ, practical wisdom
φρόνιμος, -ον, prudent, wise; superl. -τατος, wisest φροντίζω, to consider,
ponder; to be concerned about somebody (gen.); to pay attention to
something (gen.) φύω, 4. πέφυκα: to bring forward, produce/form; to
create, put forth φυλακή, ἡ, prison φύλαξ, -ακος, ἡ, guard; guardian,
protector φυλάσσω (Att. φυλάττω), to keep; to guard, protect; to observe,
follow; pass. to be kept φυλή, ἡ, tribe φύλλον, τό, leaf φυσικός, -ή, -όν,
natural, inborn; comp. φυσικώτερος, more natural; (adv.) φυσικῶς,
naturally, physically φύσις, ἡ, circumstance; nature (of something), natural
condition; substance; natural being, creature; female genitalia φυτεύω, to
plant something φύω, 1aor. ἔφυσα/2aor. ἔφυν, aor. inf. φῦναι: to bring
forth, be born φωνέω, to speak; to give (a speech) φωνή, ἡ, sound, voice,
language φώς, φωτός, ὁ, man φῶς, φωτός, τό, light φωστήρ, -ῆρος, ὁ,
star

χαίρω, fut. χαρήσομαι, 2aor. pass. ἐχάρην: rejoice; χαῖρε, greetings

(spoken address), good day; (in letters) inf., χαίρειν (w. dat.), greetings;
πολλὰ χαίρειν, many greetings χαλάω, to lower, let down χαλεπός, -ή, -όν,
difficult; cruel, harsh; χαλεπῶς, with difficulty, with great discomfort
χάλκεος, -έα, -εον (later form, χαλεῖος, -α, -ον; Att. contr. χαλκοῦς, -ῆ, -
οῦν), (of) bronze χαλκός, ὁ, bronze; anything made of metal; χαλκός, a
chalkos (copper coin; 8 chalkos = 1 obol) χαλκοῦς, -ῆ, -οῦν, see χάλκεος
χαρά, ἡ, joy, happiness χαρακτήρ, -ῆρος, ὁ, outward appearance;
distinctive features
χαρίζομαι, impf. ἐχαριζόμην, 5. κεχάρισμαι: to show a favor/kindness to
somebody; to freely grant, give, bestow favor upon somebody; to be
pleasing/beloved; pass. to be given freely χάριν (w. gen.), because of, by
reason of (oft. follows the noun it modifies); ὧν χάριν, for which χάρις, -
ιτος, ἡ, gratuitous service (free from contractual obligations or
counterservice), beneficient disposition, goodwill toward someone, sign of
favor, benefaction χάρισμα, τό, gift, something freely given χαριτόω, to
bestow favor upon χορτάζω, to feed/fatten (cattle); pass. to eat one’s fill
χεῖλος, -ους, τό / pl. τὰ χείλη: lips; edge, shore (of the sea), bank (of a
river) χειμάζομαι, to be tossed/battered by a storm χειμών, -ῶνος, ὁ, storm
χείρ, χειρός, ἡ, hand χείρων (m./fm.), χεῖρον (nt.), -ονος: worse; inferior to
something (gen.); subst. the worst Χερουβ, τό χερουβινειν/ιμ (pl.): cherub,
cherubim, winged creatures (like the Egyptian sphynx), half human, half
lion χήρα, ἡ, widow χθές, yesterday χθόνιος, -α, -ον, under the earth;
χθόνιοι θεοί, gods of the underworld/Hades χιλιάς, -άδος, ἡ, thousand
χίλιοι, -αι, -α, thousand χιτών, -ῶνος, ὁ, tunic χλωρός, -ά, -όν, greenish-
yellow; subst. green plant χορτάζω, to feed/fatten (cattle); pass. to eat one’s
fill χόρτος, ὁ, grass; χόρτος τοῦ ἀγροῦ, wild grass, hay χοῦς, τό, χοός
(gen.), dust, clay χράω, pres. mid. inf. χρῆσθαι, 1aor. mid. inf. χρήσασθαι:
to proclaim (by gods in oracles); to direct by an oracle (w. inf.); mid. to
make use of something (dat.); to treat somebody with (w. dat. / ἐν); to be
subject to, suffer from sickness; w. adv. to treat somebody (dat.) in a
particular way (e.g., well/badly); to warn somebody (dat.) χρεία, ἡ, the
need, necessity χρή (impers. or subject in acc.), impf. ἐχρῆν: it is necessary
for somebody (acc.) to do something (inf.) χρηματίζω (w. dat.), to
deliberate on (committee business); to give ear to (an oracle), make known
a divine injunction/warning; to issue instructions to somebody; pass. to be
warned χρῆσις, -εως, ἡ, use, employment of something χρησμός, ὁ,
oracular response, oracle
χρηστός, -ή, -όν, useful, good; pleasant to the taste; beloved; (adv.)
χρηστῶς, well χριστός, ὁ, messiah, anointed one; ὁ Χριστός, the annointed
one, the Christ χρόνος, ὁ, time (chronological), period of time χρίω, 3.
ἔχρισα, 4. κέχρικα, 5. κέχριμαι: to anoint (with); to rub/smear with
χρύσεος, -α, -ον (contr. χρυσοῦς, -ῆ, -οῦν), golden, gold χρυσίον, τό, gold,
money, anything made of gold, gold vessel χρυσός, ὁ, gold, gold coin
χρυσοῦς, s.v. χρύσεος
χρῶμα, -ματος, τό, color χωλός, -ή, -όν, lame, unable to walk χώρα, ἡ,
country, countryside; a place; land (as opposed to sea) χωρέω, to go
forward, make progress; (of money) to be spent; subst. ptc. payment; to
hold, contain something (gen.) χωρίζω, to divide, separate; to depart, go
away from χωρίον, τό, plot of land, property; place (to sit) χωρίς, also
χωρὶς ἤ (w. gen.), except for, apart from

ψαλμός, ὁ, psalm, song of praise ψεύδομαι, to lie, tell a falsehood ψεύδος,

-ους, τό, lie, lying ψηφίζω, freq. mid. ψηφίζομαι (for citation of formal
motion), aor. mid. inf. ἐψήφισθαι, aor. mid. inf. ἐψήφισθαι: to approve a
motion, to decree; aor. mid. inf. “be it resolved that”
ψήφισμα, -ματος, τό, decree ψῆφος, ἡ, vote ψυχή, ἡ, soul, life, person,
one’s inmost being ψυχόω, to give a soul to, to “be-soul”
ψυχρός, -ή, -όν, cold

ὦδε, here; now, at this point; in this way ᾠδή, ἡ, song, ode ὠδίν, -ῖνος, ἡ /
pl. ὠδῖνες: labor pains ὠδίνω, to suffer labor pains ὠκύς, ὠκεῖα, ὠκύ,
quick; superl. ὤκιστος, as quickly as possible, ὠνή, ἡ, contract for
purchase ὥρα, ἡ, moment, time, short indefinite period of time ὡραῖος, -α,
-ον, beautiful; gracious ὡς, as, like, about (with numbers/time), when (with
expressions of time) ὡσεί, like, as if, about, approximately ὥσπερ, as, just
as, even as; like ὥστε, so that, with the result that ὠφελέω, to gain, profit,
achieve (something); to help, benefit