19 Wednesday Nov 2014
Posted in Greek, New Testament Background, Philo
Moses says that the world was created in six days – not because the Maker needed even a micron of time, since God reasonably accomplishes all things at once: not only the ordering but also the intention. But order was necessary for those things coming into being.
Greek Text and Notes:
ἓξ δὲ ἡμέραις δημιουργηθῆναι φησι τὸν κόσμον, οὐκ ἐπειδὴ προσεδεῖτο χρόνων μήκους ὁ ποιῶν ἅμα γὰρ πάντα δρᾶν εἰκὸς θεόν, οὐ προστάττοντα μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ διανοούμενον ἀλλʼ ἐπειδὴ τοῖς γινομένοις ἔδει τάξεως
18 Saturday Oct 2014
Posted in Genesis, Greek, Greek Translation, New Testament Background, Philo
But not the great Moses: He taught the fundamental distinction between those things which can be seen and those ungenerated. Now, all that is perceived originates and changes; never remaining in its state. But the unseen which is perceived by the mind holds as close as brother and kinsman—eternally.
Upon that which is perceived he bestowed the familiar name “genesis.” Since the world is both seen and perceived, it must necessarily have had a genesis.
Thus, it was not for nothing that wrote of this genesis with special reverence for the work of God.
Greek Text & Notes
02 Thursday Oct 2014
Posted in Creation, Greek, Greek Translation, Literature, New Testament Background, Philo
There is a useless dogma not worth contending for: the world was established like a city in anarchy: without ruler, arbitrator, or judge by whom all things are rightly administered and regulated.
Greek Text & Notes: Continue reading
01 Wednesday Oct 2014
Both a Father with his offspring and an artist with his artwork aim for perseverance: first, by driving off — by any contrivance— loss and injury; and then a strong desire to provide — in any way — that which is needful and profitable: now, no such relationship ever exists between that which has never come into existence and one who is not the Maker.
The prior post may be found https://memoirandremains.wordpress.com/2014/09/25/philo-on-creation-9/
Greek Text & Notes:
25 Thursday Sep 2014
Posted in Genesis, Greek, New Testament Background, Philo
So, that part which suffers of itself can neither live nor move; rather it moves, is conformed and lives by means of the mind — which recasts it as a perfect work: the world.
Some say the world is unbegotten — those who don’t realize that they are undercutting the obligation and necessity of piety: foreknowledge. For reason says that the Father and Creator concerns himself with what has been brought to be.
τὸ δὲ παθητὸν ἄψυχον καὶ ἀκίνητον ἐξ ἑαυτοῦ, κινηθὲν δὲ καὶ σχηματισθὲν καὶ ψυχωθὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ νοῦ μετέβαλεν εἰς τὸ τελειότατον ἔργον, τόνδε τὸν κόσμον· ὃν οἱ φάσκοντες ὡς ἔστιν ἀγένητος λελήθασι τὸ ὠφελιμώτατον καὶ ἀναγκαιότατον τῶν εἰς εὐσέβειαν ὑποτεμνόμενοι τὴν πρόνοιαν· τοῦ μὲν γὰρ γεγονότος ἐπιμελεῖσθαι τὸν πατέρα καὶ ποιητὴν αἱρεῖ λόγος·
As in the preceding verse (8), I have translated “patheton” as the part which suffers. It is possible to translate this as “that which is passive”. However, Philo does use the word “that which suffers”. In addition, he seems to be setting up a contrast between passions and reasons — that which suffers & the mind. The parts are passive & active, but such a translation seems to miss passion/reason contrast.
metaballo: literally to change & to throw. It is used in the NT to refer to a change in thinking (metaphorically). It is more than just to “transform” (Yonge) for which there is an adequate Greek word.; it is more like “trans-throw”. I have opted for “recast” to reach for some active transformation. Colson & Whitaker simply translated it as “change” which seems too weak.
Pronoian: foreknowledge, forethought. The word for knowledge or thought looks and sounds similar to the the word for “mind”. Noia (thought) and nous (mind). Thus, there is a bit of pun: by denying the operation of the mind, such persons deny the intention of the mind.
The previous post can be found here:https://memoirandremains.wordpress.com/2014/09/22/philo-on-creation-7/
22 Monday Sep 2014
Posted in Greek, New Testament Background, Philo
Now Moses having soon achieved the summits of philosophy and having been taught by sacred oracles the nature of all created things, knew that the essential nature has two causes: First, that subject to suffering; and the second the entire mind, pure and untouched — which is greater than virtue, greater than knowledge, great even than the good, itself, or even the beautiful.
Μωυσῆς δὲ καὶ φιλοσοφίας ἐπʼ αὐτὴν φθάσας ἀκρότητα καὶ χρησμοῖς τὰ πολλὰ καὶ συνεκτικώτατα τῶν τῆς φύσεως ἀναδιδαχθεὶς ἔγνω δή, ὅτι ἀναγκαιότατόν ἐστιν ἐν τοῖς οὖσι τὸ μὲν εἶναι δραστήριον αἴτιον, τὸ δὲ παθητόν, καὶ ὅτι τὸ μὲν δραστήριον ὁ τῶν ὅλων νοῦς ἐστιν εἱλικρινέστατος καὶ ἀκραιφνέστατος, κρείττων ἢ ἀρετὴ καὶ κρείττων ἢ ἐπιστήμη καὶ κρείττων ἢ αὐτὸ τὸ ἀγαθὸν καὶ αὐτὸ τὸ καλόν,
The prior posts in this series may be found here:
https://memoirandremains.wordpress.com/2014/07/30/philo-on-creation-1-2/
https://memoirandremains.wordpress.com/2014/08/07/philo-on-creation-3-5/
https://memoirandremains.wordpress.com/2014/09/15/philo-on-creation-6-7/
15 Monday Sep 2014
Posted in 1 Clement, Greek, New Testament Background, Philo
(Philo continues his discussion of how to read and consider the Creation account in Genesis. The previous post in this series will be found )
6. Just as the smallest seal can be conformed to the outward shape of something immense; perhaps those who read the exceeding beauty of the world’s creation in the laws, find their souls overshadowed when encountering such bright flashes of light.
But first we must consider in short the insinuation of that which ought not be passed over in silence.
7. Now there are certain people, amazed by the world rather the world’s Maker, who definitively pronounce the world without beginning and without end; telling impious lies that God remains in continued inactivity; when the contrary is demanded: that such persons be in a continued state of amazement at the powers of Maker and Father—and not pronounce excessive dignity upon the world.
GREEK TEXT & NOTES: Continue reading
07 Thursday Aug 2014
Posted in Genesis, Greek, Literature, New Testament Background, Philo
Tags
Creation, Greek, Greek Translation, Moses, New Testament Background, NT Background, On Creation, Philo
The previous post in this series may be found here.
Now, just as I explained, the start of Moses’ account is most remarkable, since it concerns the making of the cosmos, showing the cosmos in conformity to the law: the law also to the cosmos. The man regulated by that law, being conformed to the purpose and practice of nature, becomes a citizen of the cosmos which is so administered.
Now, the intellectual beauty of making the cosmos is such that no poet, no writer would be able to praise. It exceeds speech and hearing; being greater – more august – than any mortal means could possibly adapt.
Yet this must not be a cause for silence. Rather, on account of the one loved by God, we must speak even beyond our ability. We will take nothing of ourselves. In place of much, we will come to what little is possible for human thought driven by love and desire for wisdom.
Greek Text & Notes:
30 Wednesday Jul 2014
Posted in Greek, New Testament Background, Philo
Tags
Bible, Greek, Greek Translation, Moses, NT Background, On Creation, Philo
On the Creation 1-2
Now concerning the other lawgivers, some set out their code for virtue, unadorned and naked. Others tied-up their thoughts with heavy weights, mythic lies which hid the truth.
Moses refused both of those options. The first one is thoughtless, careless, and unphilosophical. The other is the work of liars full of witchcraft. Instead, he began the law with all beauty and dignity. He didn’t immediately set down “Do this” and “Don’t do that”; nor did he make up a myth (he didn’t even use existing myths). It was necessary, first, to form their minds for the use of the law.
The Greek Text and Translation Notes: Continue reading
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