Nielsen’s Nook

Translation

1 But thanksgiving [1] to God - for did he not prevail against all? [2] For the noble Germanikos was encouraging their cowardice through the steadfastness in him. And he fought against the wild animals remarkably. [3] For when the Proconsul desired to cajole him, even saying to have pity on his youthfulness, Germanikos forcefully [4] dragged the wild animal upon himself, [5] desiring at once to be free from their unrighteous and lawless life.

[1] χάρις a common word usually meaning “grace,” in centuries before Christ, Euripides, Xenophon, and Plato, for example, used χάρις + dative to express thanksgiving or gratitude (BAGD). This is of course the use here. Hebrews 12:28 gives us a NT example, which assumes God as the indirect object: Διὸ βασιλείαν ἀσάλευτον παραλαμβάνοντες ἔχωμεν χάριν, διʼ ἧς λατρεύωμεν εὐαρέστως τῷ θεῷ μετὰ εὐλαβείας καὶ δέους. Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable royal rule, let us give thanks to God, through which we might offer worship in a manner acceptable to God with reverence and awe (author’s translation).

[2] Here the period seems to be misplaced. The syntax appears to be asking a rhetorical question.

[3] ἐπισήμως is a adverb that describes something done “in an outstanding manner” (BAGD); however, it also describes the imprints on a coin which mark the coin out for a particular kingdom and king. (Middle Liddell)

[4] This adverbial use of the aorist middle participial form of προσβιάζομαι is supported by BAGD.

[5] When used in the middle voice ἐπισπάω refers to doing the action to or for one’s self. See 1 Macc 14:1, καὶ ἐπορεύθη εἰς Μηδίαν τοῦ ἐπισπάσασθαι βοήθειαν ἑαυτῷ and [King Demetrius] marched into Media to call help to himself. (author’s translation) In this case the reflexive pronoun is used. In Martyrdom of Polycarp 3:1 it seems to be assumed in the context.