Nielsen’s Nook

Nielsen’s Nook
Nielsen’s Nook
Contemplative, reflective, and irenic we pray.
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Translation and Commentary on The Martyrdom of Polycarp §9.1

Will Nielsen
December 26th, 2007
Tags: • • • • • • •

Translation

1 When Polycarp entered into the stadium, a voice from heaven said to him, “Be strong Polycarp and behave like a man.” [a] No one saw the one who spoke; however, the Christians [b] who were present heard the voice. After he was finally [c] brought forward, there was a great clamor, for they had heard that Polycarp had been arrested. [d]

[a] ἀνδρίζω play the man, behave like a man, come to manhood (BAGD, 65).

[b] ἡμετέρων (ἡμέτερος) what is ours, our people. The NT employs ἡμέτερος in this way in Titus 3:14. μανθανέτωσαν δὲ καὶ οἱ ἡμέτεροι καλῶν ἔργων … - But let our people learn good works … (author’s translation). The idea of “our people” of course in the context of Paul’s epistle to Titus refers to Christians. It is the same here in §9 where Christians have come to support their beloved Polycarp.

[c] Adverbial use of λοιπός (BAGD, 480).

[d] See also §6.1 for a previous instance of συλλαμβάνω.

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