Brian Wilson stated:
>If the official was a centurion, however, should we not also be
>considering whether the phrase might be a Latinism? The Vulgate
>rendering of EIPE LOGWi in both Mt 8:8 and Lk 7:7 is DIC VERBO
I thought I'd mention that the centurion was almost certainly not
speaking Latin. Latin soldiers from Italia proper were based in
Palestine only in Caesarea, and probably at a later date than this
event. The centurion, though he may have been a Latin himself, almost
definitely spoke in Greek, for his troops would have been Syrian Greeks.
And, if the centurion was around for long enough to build a synagogue,
he would have spoken with the local Jewish populace in Greek. I think,
therefore, that we can dismiss the possiblity of a Latinism here in this
expression.
Just a few more cents to add to the argument.
Best regards,
George Athas (University of Sydney)
< gathas@mail.usyd.edu.au >
(Visit the Tel Dan & Bytyhwh Ostracon sites at)
(http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~gathas/TelDan.htm)