Mathetes

Footnotes

Introductory Note to the Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus

^[272] Some read, “Who of you would tolerate these things?” etc.

^[273] The text is here uncertain, and the sense obscure. The meaning seems to be, that by sprinkling their gods with blood, etc., they tended to prove that these were not possessed of sense.

Chapter III.—Superstitions of the Jews.

^[274] The text here is very doubtful. We have followed that adopted by most critics.

Chapter IV.—The other observances of the Jews.

^[275] Otto, resting on ms. authority, omits the negative, but the sense seems to require its insertion.

^[276] Literally, “lessening.”

^[277] Comp. Gal. iv. 10.

^[278] This seems to refer to the practice of Jews in fixing the beginning of the day, and consequently of the Sabbath, from the rising of the stars. They used to say, that when three stars of moderate magnitude appeared, it was night; when two, it was twilight; and when only one, that day had not yet departed. It thus came to pass (according to their night-day (νυχθήμερον) reckoning), that whosoever engaged in work on the evening of Friday, the beginning of the Sabbath, after three stars of moderate size were visible, was held to have sinned, and had to present a trespass-offering; and so on, according to the fanciful rule described.

^[279] Otto supplies the lacuna which here occurs in the mss. so as to read καταδιαιρεῖν.

^[280] The great festivals of the Jews are here referred to on the one hand, and the day of atonement on the other.

Chapter V.—The manners of the Christians.

^[281] Literally, “paradoxical.”

^[282] Literally, “cast away fœtuses.”

^[283] Otto omits “bed,” which is an emendation, and gives the second “common” the sense of unclean.

^[284] Comp.2 Cor. x. 3.

^[285] Comp. Phil. iii. 20.

^[286] Comp. 2 Cor. vi. 9.

^[287] Comp. 2 Cor. vi. 10.

^[288] Comp.2 Cor. iv. 12.

Chapter VI.—The relation of Christians to the world.