From: Edward Hobbs (EHOBBS@WELLESLEY.EDU)
Date: Wed Dec 04 1996 - 13:13:07 EST
hWN hOI PATERES KAI EKS hWN hO XRISTOS TO KATA SARKA, hO WN
EPI PANTWN QEOS EULOGHTOS EIS TOUS AIWNAS, AMHN.
I will say for myself only, however, that it seems to me that the
sentence reads more comfortably and smoothly with hO WN EPI PANTWN QEOS
understood as the subject of EULOGHTOS rather than as an appositive to hO
XRISTOS TO KATA SARKA. Why? Because the phrase EULOGHTOS EIS TOUS AIWNAS
then seems an almost inchoate second appositive to hO XRISTOS TO KATA
SARKA, rather strangely employed as an epithet for "the Messiah in his
earthly manifestation" (wouldn't one more readily use that epithet for the
risen and exalted, enthroned Messiah?), but quite normally used of God on
high in the traditional Jewish benediction, BARUCH ADONAI ELOHENU MELEKH
OLAM.
-------------------------------------------------------
Carl,
You are, as usual, absolutely right! (No surprise, you knew I'd
think that.)
Since I use several Jewish Berakoth every day, all of which begin
the same way, let me suggest you add three syllables to your version:
BARUCH [+ATTAH] ADONAI ELOHENU MELEKH [+HA]OLAM
I used to require my intensive-summer-Greek students to memorize the Motsi
before going to lunch, since I asked them all to say it with me when we
began the meal. (First, a sentence of Hebrew--THEN we learn Greek! As St.
Paul said, "the Jew first, THEN the Greek".)
Edward
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