From being a player to an artist in the humanities?

Like so many creative activities, learning to become an artist lies in thousands of small decisions and executions, which Marty demonstrates here. 

I think there are many parallels with writing in the humanities including theology, historical research, narratology, etc. Some good food for thought!

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxPaTPiHVGfs9J-suAAyyK93h8gnqNLRKT

Une bonne question au début de l'année académique: Pourquoi apprendre les langues bibliques?

Voici un interview avec Robin Reeve, professeur à la HET-PRO. Nous explorons les atouts de l'apprentissage des langues bibliques en lien avec l'exégèse, mais également les difficultés et les limites rencontrées par les étudiants en théologie. Robin et moi connaissons bien ces défis parce que nous sommes passés par toutes les étapes, à partir des premiers moments de contact avec les langues bibliques jusqu'à aujourd'hui où nous donnons des cours d'hébreu et de grec. Nous cherchons à offrir un peu de courage et d'espoir à tous ceux et celles qui apprennent les langues bibliques...ces langues si belles et riches! Bonne vision! James Morgan (prof. en Nouveau Testament à la HET-PRO et lecteur de grec biblique à l'Université de Fribourg)


Voir cet article de Robin Reeve sur les traductions de la Bible : https://point-theo.com/traductions-de-la-bible-legitimite-et-limites/


Pour apprendre l'alphabet grec, voir ma vidéo bilingue sur cette chaine : https://youtu.be/3XQ3YARCRSo.


La photo dans le 'thumbnail' est d'un tableau à la HET-PRO dont le nom du peintre m'est inconnu. Je le noterai aussi tôt que possible. Les morceaux musicaux sont pris de la gallérie YouTube.

Do I really have to learn ancient Greek?

Every year thousands, perhaps millions, of students begin studies in history, philosophy, and theology and they have to learn Greek, ancient Greek! Although they might not say it out loud, some are probably thinking, “Why do I have to study this language that isn’t spoken anymore? And we have translations in our languages, why do I have to learn this language? Isn't the study of ancient Greek a waste of time and energy?” Those are great questions! Are you victims of curriculum? Or are you privileged beneficiaries of some of the richest texts in human history? You can guess what my slant will be…You are definitely not victims; rather, honored explorers of antiquity. 

Proofs of the Divine in the Acts of the Apostles and Herodotus’ Histories

Around 500 years separate Herodotus, the first great Greek historian, and Luke, the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. In my latest journal article, I explore the word tekmêrion 'proof' or 'evidence', which they use to describe their perception of divine activity. Their theological understanding of the world was different but they did believe that there was something greater working behind the scenes and often in the scenes. 

Proofs of the Divine: Luke’s Use of Tekmhpion in Acts 1:3 in Light of Herodotus’ Description of the Battle of Mycale (Hist. 9.100.2): 

Abstract:

In Acts 1:3, the author claims that Jesus had shown himself alive ‘by many proofs’ (ἐν πολλοῖς τεκμηρίοις). Phrases containing τεκμήριον (a NT hapax) qualified by πολύς have a long textual history. Reference works, however, do not discuss the closest rhetorical and theological parallel to the occurrence of τεκμήριον in Acts, which is found in Herodotus’ description of the battle of Mycale (Histories 9.100.2) in a metaleptic aside about proofs of divine intervention in human history: Δῆλα δὴ πολλοῖσι τεκμηρίοισι ἐστὶ τὰ θεῖα τῶν πρηγμάτων. Given the theologically charged nature of Luke–Acts and the Histories, this rich parallel illustrates well both projects and evinces plausible Herodotean influence on Luke’s historiographical erudition.

Participation in the amazing 'Herodotus Marathon'!

What an amazing experience (and experiment) was the Herodotus Marathon (description)! From May 31 to June 2, an international team of readers gave a non-stop reading of all nine volumes of Herodotus's Histories in various languages and translations online. Despite technical challenges, the team from St. Andrews University pulled it off. A huge thanks to the team there: Prof. Thomas Harrison, Euan Bowman, Edward Armstrong, and Marco Gay! I enjoyed hearing Herodotus in Japanese, Hebrew, Ukrainian, and even Bärndütsch (my wife's language)!

Here's my reading from Book 7, chapters 14–21 on Xerxes and Artabanus's experiences with a phantom appearing in dreams. Their interpretation was that Persia must attack Greek (especially Athens). If they do not take this course of action, Xerxes and Artabanus would be punished severely by the gods. The rest of the Histories depicts the consequences of this decision. 

Donning proudly my Herodotus Helpline T-shirt, I also read from the ending of Book 8, chapters 141–144, which portrays some passionate speeches given by Athenians, Spartans, and a representative of Mardonius, a major commander of the Persian army. The result: Athens and Sparta are not going to give up but fight for their freedom. Book 9 recounts the stunning victory of the Greeks against all odds. Persia is pushed back, away from the traditional lands of the Greeks...but does not disappear, as told by later historians.  

Proofs of the Divine: Luke’s Use of Tekmhpion in Acts 1:3 in Light of Herodotus’ Description of the Battle of Mycale (Hist. 9.100.2)

Happy to share my article that compares uses of tekmêrion (proof or convincing proof) by Herodotus and Luke in relation to their beliefs--which were obviously different--that the divine was at work in the scenes they describe. 

The article can be found here (if you have access): 

Proofs of the Divine: Luke’s Use of Tekmhpion in Acts 1:3 in Light of Herodotus’ Description of the Battle of Mycale (Hist. 9.100.2): 

Here is the abstract:

In Acts 1:3, the author claims that Jesus had shown himself alive ‘by many proofs’ (ἐν πολλοῖς τεκμηρίοις). Phrases containing τεκμήριον (a NT hapax) qualified by πολύς have a long textual history. Reference works, however, do not discuss the closest rhetorical and theological parallel to the occurrence of τεκμήριον in Acts, which is found in Herodotus’ description of the battle of Mycale (Histories 9.100.2) in a metaleptic aside about proofs of divine intervention in human history: Δῆλα δὴ πολλοῖσι τεκμηρίοισι ἐστὶ τὰ θεῖα τῶν πρηγμάτων. Given the theologically charged nature of Luke–Acts and the Histories, this rich parallel illustrates well both projects and evinces plausible Herodotean influence on Luke’s historiographical erudition.

Mt 6 9 13 Lord's Prayer #Short

The Lord's Prayer is a beautiful prayer that still resonates today. It invites us to worship God and to seek his help for our daily needs. Here is a reading of the prayer as it is presented in the Greek New Testament (Nestle-Aland 28th edition). Try to memorize it! 

Mary praises God - ”The Magnificat” - Luke 1.46-55 #Shorts

Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners! Reading Mark 2.15-17 in New ...

On Tyranny and Tyrants - Echoes from Ancient Texts

It may seem strange to speak of tyranny and tyrants in the 21^st century. Unfortunately, the year 2022 is displaying a good number of tyrants and the damage is tragically manifest. For this reason, I’d like to dedicate this video to one of my students from Ukraine and to her family. 

 

Concerning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia, Krišjānis Kariņš, said this: “This is the new ‘usual’, so to speak, we have an aggressive neighbor who is interested in recreating an empire who believes in the right to subjugate others and has a disregard for national self-determination. This is a threat to all of us.” (Source: BBC World News, 23 Feb. 2022). 

 

When I heard this statement, it sounded like something I had read in a speech in one of the ancient histories or tragedies. As a form of rule, tyranny is ancient and very well documented in various types of literature. In this video, we’ll look at some ancient texts that help us to understand why it was attractive to some and why it was opposed by many. 

Some resources:

For definitions of ‘tyranny’ and ‘tyrant’:

 

τυραννίς in The Online Liddell-Scott-Jones Greek-English Lexicon

 

"1. τῠ́ραννος" in: The Brill Dictionary of Ancient Greek, edited by: Franco Montanari. Consulted online on 05/04/2022 

<https://dictionaries.brillonline.com/search#dictionary=montanari&id=120347> First published online: July 2015.

 

Other resources cited in the text or found elsewhere:

 

Andrewes, A. The Greek Tyrants. London: Hutchinson University Library, 1956.

 

Austin, M., “Greek Tyrants and the Persians, 546–479 B.C.” The Classical Quarterly, 40(2), (1990), 289-306. doi:10.1017/S0009838800042889

 

Berve, H. Die Tyrannis bei den Griechen. München: C.H. Beck’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1967.

 

Ehrenberg, Victor, and P. J. Rhodes. "tyranny." In The Oxford Classical Dictionary. Oxford University Press, 2012. https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199545568.001.0001/acref-9780199545568-e-6624.

 

Herodotus, Histories, translation by A. D. Godley, Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1920.

 

Lewis S. Ancient Tyranny. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2006.

 

Theognis, elegiac poet, VIBCE, Θέογνις: in IEG 1; ALG 2; PLG 2; ed. D. Young, T 1971; J. Carrière, BL 1948; A. Garzya, Firenze 1958; B. A. van Groningen, b. I, Amsterdam 1966; M. Vetta, b. II, Roma 1980.