Biblical Criticism & History Forum - earlywritings.com

Paul Shorey (the translator) appears to have a bit of wit about him. One of his notes (emphasis mine): Pythagoras is a great name, but little is known of him. “Pythagoreans” in later usage sometimes means mystics, sometimes mathematical physicists, sometimes both. Plato makes use of both traditions ...

Yes, it is part of the cave illustration. Yes, the things in heaven can be seen better by night. I don't think you can prove your reading (though it is possible), and I don't think I can prove my reading. Your reading might seem to have the advantage that both can be "seen," both the thin...

Plato is saying that this astronomy is the science that brings one closest to the contemplation of heaven itself, yet that astronomy (if considered the study of the physical objects created by the craftsman) does not yet even describe heaven itself but still only a shadow and copy of heaven itself....

There is another case where it seems somewhat ambiguous. It's mentioned in the OP, but the reading given there is not truly secure. Plato Phil., Respublica Stephanus page 516, section a, line 8 ἐκ δὲ τούτων τὰ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ καὶ αὐτὸν τὸν οὐρανὸν νύκτωρ ἂν ῥᾷον θεάσαιτο, “Then there would be need of ...

Where's spin (picture me saying this like the Thenn saying "Where's Mance"?). Found him : Arimathea has a Greek place suffix, which when removed reflects αρημωθ in LXX Josh 20:8, the Hebrew of which is rendered in English Ramoth. Josephus has various forms of the name including Aramathe a...

1) The definite article הָ (as I'm sure you know, the Hebrew at that time would not have had any vowels) before רָמָתַיִם צוֹפִים does not appear to indicate that a city follows (from the Ramoth*). The lack of a definite article would generally indicate a city (from Ramoth*). To be clear, the Hebre...

The male philosopher and aesthete is the closest that one gets to the ideal form of Man, that is, of course, unless ones soul has already joined with the gods in heaven itself , where all true forms are. In heaven itself? Do you mean in the third heaven? In the seventh? Just the upper heavens? All ...

Peter Kirby wrote:I am really enjoying this series of notes on Hebrews. Thank you for the work put into it!

You are quite welcome. Happy to hear it.

By the way, in Jesus' days, the priests were not selected among Levites. Not sure what you are saying here. Are you referring to the statement by Josephus to the effect that, starting with Herod and continuing through Archelaus and then the Romans, the high priests were no longer descended from the...

to Ben, Our author does not specify that he would not be a temple priest if on earth; he says that he would not be a priest if on earth. In other words, if Jesus ever visited earth, according to this epistle, he was not a priest there, according to this verse, if the Levites were around to do their...