Freethought & Rationalism Archive

stephan huller · 07-27-2012, 11:32 PM

Quote:

The blessed Evagrius and Albanius and I when we met these men sought to know the causes of brothers falling away or backsliding or stumbling in the proper life. For it happened in those days that Chaeremon the ascetic died in a sitting posture and was found dead on his chair holding his work in his hands. (Συνέβη γὰρ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις καὶ Χαιρήμονα τὸν ἀσκητὴν καθεζόμενον τελευτῆσαι καὶ εὑρεθῆναι αὐτὸν νεκρὸν ἐν τῇ καθέδρᾳ κατέχοντα τὸ ἔργον εἰς τὰς χεῖρας). And it happened also that another brother while digging a well was swallowed up by the well; and another on his way down from Scete died from lack of water. Then again there was the story of Stephen, who fell into disgraceful profligacy, and of Eucarpius, and the story of Heron of Alexandria, and the story of Valens of Palestine, and the story of Ptolemy the Egyptian who lived in Scete.[chapter 47]

I am reminded of a friend of mine in Toronto finding his father in law suffering a stroke while watching a pornographic film. Apparently he had to dress his father in law, remove the movie from the VCR after calling an ambulance. His wife to this day has no clue what happened. I am sorry about bringing this up. Reading these old books is often dreadfully boring.

Toto · 07-28-2012, 12:31 AM

From here?

http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/pa...ac_02_text.htm

It doesn't make a lot of sense. Is his "work" a euphemism? Why is digging a well a sign of backsliding?

DCHindley · 07-28-2012, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephan Huller

The blessed Evagrius and Albanius and I when we met these men sought to know the causes of brothers falling away or backsliding or stumbling in the proper life. For it happened in those days that Chaeremon the ascetic died in a sitting posture and was found dead on his chair holding his work in his hands. (Συνέβη γὰρ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις καὶ Χαιρήμονα τὸν ἀσκητὴν καθεζόμενον τελευτῆσαι καὶ εὑρεθῆναι αὐτὸν νεκρὸν ἐν τῇ καθέδρᾳ κατέχοντα τὸ ἔργον εἰς τὰς χεῖρας). And it happened also that another brother while digging a well was swallowed up by the well; and another on his way down from Scete died from lack of water.[chapter 47]

From here?

http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/pa...ac_02_text.htm

It doesn't make a lot of sense. Is his "work" a euphemism? Why is digging a well a sign of backsliding?

Hmmm,

I can see digging a well and becoming swallowed up in it as an attempt to forge a new (heretical) doctrine rather than drawing from the well of the Samaritan woman.

Dying from lack of water refers to falling into heresy rather than drinking from the 'rivers of living water'.

Both are drawn on the Gospel of John:

John 4:11 The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water?"

John 7:38 He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, 'Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.'"

DCH

DCHindley · 07-28-2012, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephan huller

Quote:

The blessed Evagrius and Albanius and I when we met these men sought to know the causes of brothers falling away or backsliding or stumbling in the proper life. For it happened in those days that Chaeremon the ascetic died in a sitting posture and was found dead on his chair holding his work in his hands. (Συνέβη γὰρ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις καὶ Χαιρήμονα τὸν ἀσκητὴν καθεζόμενον τελευτῆσαι καὶ εὑρεθῆναι αὐτὸν νεκρὸν ἐν τῇ καθέδρᾳ κατέχοντα τὸ ἔργον εἰς τὰς χεῖρας).[chapter 47]

Proverbs 12:14 From the fruit of his words a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.

You've got too much time on your ... uh ... hands, Stephan.

DCH

stephan huller · 07-29-2012, 11:39 AM

don't we all. if the study of the bible was originally thought to be the prelude to (sexual) union with god then for atheists it is appropriately identified as a prelude to ...

DCHindley · 07-29-2012, 12:44 PM

My personal observations of this thread:

Not much interest.

A little interest.

A great deal of interest.

Suddenly, lost all interest ...

DCH

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephan huller

don't we all. if the study of the bible was originally thought to be the prelude to (sexual) union with god then for atheists it is appropriately identified as a prelude to ...

stephan huller · 07-29-2012, 12:55 PM

well at least it aroused your interest

stephan huller · 07-29-2012, 01:00 PM

i'm not sure what could be added to first post. other examples of the use of ergon? other examples of masturbating monks? aa barging in arguing someone is putting words in his mouth?

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07-28-2012, 12:31 AM	#2
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	From here? http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/pa...ac_02_text.htm It doesn't make a lot of sense. Is his "work" a euphemism? Why is digging a well a sign of backsliding?

07-29-2012, 11:39 AM	#5
stephan huller Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: seattle, wa Posts: 9,337	don't we all. if the study of the bible was originally thought to be the prelude to (sexual) union with god then for atheists it is appropriately identified as a prelude to ...

07-29-2012, 12:55 PM	#7
stephan huller Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: seattle, wa Posts: 9,337	well at least it aroused your interest

07-29-2012, 01:00 PM	#8
stephan huller Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: seattle, wa Posts: 9,337	i'm not sure what could be added to first post. other examples of the use of ergon? other examples of masturbating monks? aa barging in arguing someone is putting words in his mouth?

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