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Old 03-21-2013, 05:45 PM   #191
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In any event I am glad you're back. Honestly. The big word-thing-to-intimidate-people and all.
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Old 03-21-2013, 05:58 PM   #192
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Originally Posted by Jeffrey Gibson View Post
And yet another instance of peititio principii and ad hominem ...
Oh, give it a rest, Jeffrey. Be a good fellow. Please.
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Old 03-21-2013, 06:46 PM   #193
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Originally Posted by tanya View Post
Jews may well have had NO CHOICE but to call YHWH "kurios". It is easy for us, today, to talk big about independence, free thought, scholarly disposition, and so on.....

Back then, disagreements led to a sword coming at one's head.
Really?? Can you provide some documentation that "back then" (when exactly" Jews who did not call Yahweh κύριος had their heads cut off, let alone risked doing so?

Quote:
Originally Posted by tanya
To me, it is simply inconceivable that YHWH could be equated with a mere human, i.e. a kurios.
Er what? Are you actually claiming that Greek speakers never used the title κύριος for anyone or anything other than a human being?
No, Jeffrey, I did not communicate that thought. I deny that I wrote such a thing.

I wrote that it is inconceivable that Jews would limit YHWH by constraining him in mere human attributes. Kurios is a term applicable to humans, not to YHWH. The subject of my sentence, was Jews, not Greek speakers.

I have no idea whether Koine Greek speakers described people, rocks, rivers, trees, goats, or deities as "O kurios". Frankly, it is off topic. The question here is not what did Koine Greek speakers say, the question is whether the LXX accurately portrays the meaning of Psalm 96, verse 5, as it pertains to the OP, i.e. by signaling a role for "demons", although, I maintain, in harmony with the OP, that the original Hebrew text did not reference "demons", at all, but rather the inanimate objects CARVED by humans, to worship--"idols". I argue this point, ignorant of Hebrew, but cognizant of the lofty role played by Lucian's recension of the Hebrew text of his era, according to Jerome, who fashioned the vulgate from it.

I deny that Douay Rheims represents an authentic translation of the Vulgate, for that latter text specifically states
Quote:
omnes enim dii populorum sculptilia Dominus autem caelos fecit
and I deny your claim that sculptilia corresponds to an animate entity, as explicitly translated in Douay Rheims, but rather corresponds to the inanimate objects carved by humans: idols.

The Douay Rheims version also mistranslates the Vulgate's message about populorum, unless my high school Latin is very seriously undermined. There is nothing about "gentiles" conveyed in the Latin text.

I am unaware of any relationship between Jehovah's Witnesses and the World English Bible, but, if there is one, then, in my opinion, they are to be praised, for their version is accurate, from my perspective.

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Old 03-21-2013, 07:00 PM   #194
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The general meaning of the term "daimon" has already been outlined via references to a number of sources including the TDNT. This general meaning is generally consistent with an indwelling divine spirit
This is boldfaced assertion. No such general meaning or general consistency (whatever that means) has been demonstrated or established. Which ancient authors in what texts speak of demon as an "indwelling spirit"? Do all authors who use this term understand it as having this meaning. Is it the prevalent meaning in the 1st (or 4th) century CE?

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{it}has been used by many Greek philosophers, Emperors {???} and other writers in a manner that is certainly NOT representative by the meaning "devil" or "evil demon", as does the author of Matthew.
But other philosophers, medical men, historians, and other writers do use the term with the sense it has in Matthew.

So your claim is moot.

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The entire point of the OP is to draw attention to the use of the term in Matthew (and of course via the TR to other authors of the gospels).
You keep changing what you say is the point of the OP. And in any case, you have still not shown that the use of the term in Matthew is unique for his age in any way.

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Whoever wrote Matt 8:31 could have selected another term to present his story about Jesus healing the people,
Such as?

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but the term used is "daimones".
Yes, which you have not shown is inappropriate in any way especially given the fact that the story in which it appears is an exorcism story. Why isn't it also an inappropriate term in the exorcism story we find in Phliostratus?

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If we step back
Step back from what?

and apply the abbreviated term into Matt we get:

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So the devils "[indwelling] gods, goddesses or inferior deities" besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
Yes, we get this. But so what?

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The classical uses of the term as a god, a goddess or an inferior deity, [I]whether good or bad (my emphasis -- because you seem to constantly ignore this portion of the text you quote)
I have acknowledged that the classical tradition uses the term whether bad or good, although in the large the term has been used to reflect something which is good and not bad.
Really? Have you actually demonstrated this? And even if you have, how does this lead to your conclusion that daimon = "evil spirit" (or is it now crazy spirit?) is exclusively Christian?

I'll ask again: is it true that only Christian writers use the word daimon to refer to an evil Spirit. Or do classical and Hellenistic authors do so as well?

If they do, then speaking of the use of daimon to mean evil spirit as antithetical so some alleged general usage is nonsense.


Quote:
It is precisely the Christian usage of the term, commencing from Matthew, which uses the term in a bad, negative sense, as "devil" or "evil spirit".
Once more, as is shown in the very sources you appeal to (but misuse) to show that there was a general sense to this term, the use of daimon to mean "evil spirit" is pre-Christian. It does not commence with Matthew.


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So if "guardian spirit" was the general meaning of the term before Matthew, Matthew can hardly be subverting its meaning by using it to mean "guardian spirit".
As you are aware, the general term frequently used throughout the NT and LXX is "daimonion" and this is used generally in the negative sense of "devils, bad spirits". When Matthew however used the root term "daimon(es)",
Root term???

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which is not the same as the derivative "daimonion",
It isn't? Funny that LSJ says otherwise.

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he uses the term within the context of an indwelling "crazy mad evil devil".
Oh, so now it's "crazy mad devil, is it?

And you are certain that there is no pre Christian attestation to the use of daimon with this meaning?




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And what's with the assertion that Matthew was paving the way for a doctrine of the "holy spirit". Are you actually saying that Christians had no doctrine of τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον until after Matthew was wriiten??

Sorry, Pete. But this is just more horseshit. Your conclusions are agenda, not evidenced, based. And once again you show that you have no idea what you are talking about.
The gospel authors and others report themselves to have been "filled with the Holy Spirit" and to be used as instruments by the HS to write their agenda driven propaganda.
Yep. But how this proves your point that Matthew used daimones to make way for a doctrine of the holy spirit is beyond me.

Jeffrey
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Old 03-21-2013, 07:14 PM   #195
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I don't really want to get into this discussion, but how can anyone say that the legion of demons that possessed the demoniac and later the swine were "indwelling spirits"? How can a benign indwelling spirit leave the body and inhabit another body?

This absurdity should not be allowed to stand.
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Old 03-22-2013, 03:34 AM   #196
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Originally Posted by Jeffrey Gibson
Leaving aside the fact which you seem to be unaware of that the Vulgate uses "sculptilis" to render כְשָׁפִ֖ים "sorceries", so what? All that means is that Jerome was giving the literal Latin equivalent of what he (or Lucian) found in the Hebrew text of Ps. 96. It has no bearing on whether אֱלִילִ֑ים
(or for that matter "sculptillis") was thought to mean, or connoted, "evil spirits" -- a point that you have yet to deal with, and, notably, keep avoiding.
William Whitacre defines sculptilis as “engraved”

Lewis and Short Latin English lexicon:
sculptĭlis, e, adj. [sculpo], formed or produced by carving, graving, etc.,

Psalms 96:5 Hebrew Interlinear version
’ĕ·lî·lîm English: are idols

Psalms 96:5
Strong's 457, “'e li lim” expressing the Hebrew, using Roman symbols, translated as “are idols”

Micah 1:7
Latin: Et omnia sculptilia eius concidentur,
English: And all her graven images will be cut to pieces
Hebrew in Roman Letters “pe si le ha” English: “of her idols”

Do you have a source which identifies this Hebrew word, as representing an animate, supernatural entity, rather than a human created, carved object, employed to represent a supernatural deity? "DEMONS" are not inanimate, carved objects.

In my opinion, the evidence is clearly pointing to a deformation of the original notion of "demon" as either (or neither) GOOD or BAD, to a concept of PURE EVIL. I understand that Jeffrey believes that this process began long before the Christians came to power. I do not understand his evidence for so thinking. To me, the evidence points to a false translation of "sculptilis". It means, in Hebrew, or Latin: IDOL, or GRAVEN IMAGE, or CARVED OBJECT, something inanimate, not something living, with anthropomorphic features. I favor Pete's interpretation. I think the OP supposition that "demon" became associated with EVIL, commenced with the Christians' assumption of power, and control of the empire's printing presses and libraries.

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Old 03-22-2013, 07:27 AM   #197
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tanya,

why do you perpetuate this bloodbath? You have lost every debate you've ever had here. You must know that you know nothing about these matters. Just stop the bloodbath. Shut mouth
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Old 03-22-2013, 08:41 AM   #198
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Do you have a source which identifies this Hebrew word,
sculptilis is a Hebrew word??

Quote:
as representing an animate, supernatural entity, rather than a human created, carved object, employed to represent a supernatural deity? "DEMONS" are not inanimate, carved objects.
If we are speaking of אֱלִיל , yes, Brown Driver Briggs:

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אֱלִיל noun masculine (etymology uncertain: most probably akin to Syriac weak, feeble, poor; perhaps also in usage [compare b] felt to suggest אַל not; compare Che on Isaiah 2:8) insufficiency, worthlessness. a. Zechariah 11:17 רֹעִי הָאֱלִיל the shepherd of worthlessness = the worthless shepherd, Job 13:4 רֹפְאֵי אֱלִל worthless physicians ("" טֹפְלֵישֶֿׁקֶר), Jeremiah 14:14 Qr concrete a thing nought (uttered by prophets), but here קֶסֶם אֱלִיל a worthless divin[ity] ("" חֲזוֺן שֶׁקֶר, תַּרְמִית לִבָּם) should perhaps be read (compare Gf).

b. especially plural אֱלִילִים concrete worthless gods, idols (compare הֲבָלִים) (possibly originally an independent word = gods, compare Sabean אלאלת, & see NöSBAk 1882, p. 1191, but even if so, associated by the prophets with idea of worthlessness, & used by them in iron. contrast with אֵלִים, אֱלֹהִים) Leviticus 19:4 (not to be made) Leviticus 26:1 (both H), Isaiah 2:8,18,20 (twice in verse) (of silver & gold), Isaiah 10:10 מַמְלְכוֺת הָאֱלִיל (collective) kingdoms of idolatrous worthlessness, Isaiah 10:11; Isaiah 19:1,3(of Egypt) Isaiah 31:7 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 30:13 (Egypt), Habakkuk 2:18 אִלְּמִים ׳א dumb idols, Psalm 96:5 ( = 1 Chronicles 16:26) all the gods of the nations are ׳א vain, worthless gods 1Chron 97:7.
which, you'll observe, notes that in Ps 96:5 it's referent is a supernatural being.

Also, see the entry on אֱלִיל in the TDOT.

And then there's this from the the entry on in the TDNT.

B
Quote:
The OT and Later Jewish View of Demons.

1. Belief in Spirits and Demons in the OT.

In the OT there are many traces of a belief similar to the popular Greek belief in spirits. The spirits of the dead to be consulted in witchcraft are called אֱלֹהִים in the invocation of the witch of Endor in 1 S. 28:13: אֱלֹהִים רָאִיתִי עֹלִים מִן־הָאָרֶץ. We also read in Is. 8:19: הֲלוֹא־עַם אֶל־אֱלֹהָיו יִדְרשׁ בְּעַד הַחַיִּים אֶל־הַמֵּתִים.71 This אֱלֹהִים corresponds exactly to the Gk. δαίμων. It is not certain whether the spirits of the dead are also denoted by אוֹב and יִדְּעֹנִי:72 It is important, however, that in the days of Saul those who conjured up the dead were driven out of the land. This could hardly have been without precedent. It rests rather on the ancient command stated in Dt. 18:10: לֹא־יִמָּצֵא בְךָ . . . קֹסֵם קְסָמִים מְעוֹנֵן וּמְנַחֵשׁ וּמְכַשֵּׁף.73 The force of this command is revealed in 1 S. 15:23a: חַטַּאַת־קֶסֶם מֶרִי.74 Balaam describes it as a characteristic of Israel, לאֹ־נַחַשׁ בְּיַעֲקֹב וְלֹא־קֶסֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל (Nu. 23:23). It is in keeping with the prohibition of magic that the name רְפָאִים is customary for the dead.75 This prohibition is also responsible for the fact that the whole sphere of demonology appears only on the margin in the OT. In many stories (e.g., Jacob at Jabbok) and cultic usages we may suspect an animistic basis, but these things have no great influence on the OT and our conclusions are only tentative. Demonic figures are encountered for certain only in the שֵׁדִים, the שְׂעִירִים,76 and proper names like לִילִית, עֲזָאזֵל and עֲלוּקָה. On occasion these spirits are mentioned to depict the utter destruction of Babylon or Edom, in the ruins of which all kinds of beasts and שְׂעִירִים find their dens and Lilith a resting place (Is. 34:14; 13:21). The underlying popular beliefs concerning the abodes of demons and the homelessness of Lilith may be easily recognised, but the passages show no less plainly that these beliefs are only used and not accepted. In a few passages there is reference to sacrifices to שֵׁדִים and שְׂעִירִים. Thus in Lv. 17:7: וְלֹא־יִזְבְּחוּ עוֹד אֶת־זִבְחֵיהֶם לַשְּׂעִירִים אֲשֶׁר הֵם זֹנִים אַחֲרֵיהֶם, שְׂעִירִים denotes spirits to whom a portion is offered on the occasion of sacrifice. The other passages refer to Israel’s idolatry: Dt. 32:17: יִזְבְּחוּ לַשֵּׁדִים לֹא אֱלֹהַּ אֱלֹהִים לֹא יְדָעוּם; Ps. 106:37 וַיִּזְבְּחוּ אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶם וְאֶת־בְּנוֹתֵיהֶם לַשֵּׁדִים; 2 Ch. 11:15: אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה וַיַּעֲמֶד־לוֹ כֹּהֲנִים לַבָּמוֹת וְלַשְּׂעִרִים וְלָעֲגָלַיִם. Here it is hard to determine whether שֵׁד and שָׂעִיר are used contemptuously of idols or of real demons.77 The only passage where there is possible reference to protection against demons is in Ps. 91:6 if we follow the LXX and read מִקֶּטֶב וְשֵׁד צָהֳרָיִם.78 In general we may say the OT knows no demons with whom one may have dealings in magic even for the purpose of warding them off.

The Gk. δαίμων concept embraced the forces which mediate between God and men. It is characteristic of the OT that a special name was coined describing such powers as God’s messengers, i.e., מַלְאָךְ → ἄγγελος. In this way a linguistic and material basis was given for dualism within the spirit world, and the way was thus prepared for later development. It is particularly important to realise that the actual workings of destructive powers, which in the Gk. world are attributed to δαίμονες, are in the OT ascribed to the rule of God. God sends the מַלְאָךְ הַמַּשְׁחִית not merely to avenge Himself on His enemies79 but also to bring famine and pestilence (2 S. 24:16). To express the same thought רוּחַ רָעָה is also used,80 this being plainly distinguished from רוּחַ יהוה (1 S. 16:14). OT monotheism is thus maintained, since no power to which man might turn in any matter is outside the one God of Israel.

In the LXX שֵׁד is always translated δαιμόνιον, as is שָׂעִיר in Is. 13:21; 34:14.81 On the other hand, in Lv. 17:7; 2 Ch. 11:15 (εἴδωλα καὶ) μάταια is used for שָׂעִיר. δαιμόνιον also occurs in ψ 90:6,82 and in Is. 65:3 we have (θυμιῶσιν) τοῖς δαιμονίοις, ἃ οὐκ ἔστιν. Mention may also be made of Bar. 4:7: παροξύνατε γὰρ τὸν ποιήσαντα ὑμᾶς θύσαντες δαιμονίοις καὶ οὐ θεῷ. The fact that δαιμόνιον can also be used for אֱלִיל (along with βδέλυγμα, εἴδωλον and χειροποίητον), and that εἴδωλον and μάταιον occur for שָׂעִיר (along with δαιμόνιον), shows that the LXX takes for granted something which is by no means certain in the Mas., namely, that δαιμόνιον is a contemptuous term for heathen gods. The point of the translation is not simply to express the fact that Israelites must have no more dealings with heathen gods than with demons, but also to show that δαιμόνιον signifies the spirits of popular belief which are so dreadful to man: such beings are the gods of the heathen. The meaning of δαιμόνιον is thus narrowed down as compared with the Gk. δαίμων.

Apart from the verse in ψ 90:6 already mentioned, true spirits are found only in Tob. 6:8 ff. Here we read of an evil and envious spirit which attacks and destroys man. This is the first indication of a new development according to which the spirits are brought into connexion with man. It will be our task to trace this development in the sections which follow. At the same time, by its consistent use of δαιμόνια rather than δαίμονες for these spirits, the LXX sets a linguistic pattern. This is followed no less by Joseph. than by the NT. It is a mere hypothesis to explain this choice in terms of the more general character of δαιμόνιον.83

The more likely explanation is that δαιμόνιον belongs more specifically to popular belief. Thus the LXX probably gives us the oldest examples of a popular usage which is only sparsely attested in the Hellenistic period. Δαίμων is avoided because it is too closely associated with positive religious elements, whereas δαιμόνιον indicates from the very first the hostile spirits of popular belief. The singular passage in Philo (→ 9) seems to support this. Philo is choosing a word familiar either from the LXX or surrounding popular speech to indicate hostile spirits, and therefore suitable to describe the idols of Balak.

OT Old Testament.

71 Jirku, 1 ff.

72 Jirku contests this, 5 ff.

73 Cf. Lv. 19:31; 20:6, 27 and 2 K. 21:6; 23:24.

74 קסם is used for the conjuring up of a departed spirit in 1 S. 28:8.

75 If the term is linked with רָפֶה, cf. Ges.-Buhl, s.v.

76 Strictly the “hairy ones,” cf. W. R. Smith, Die Rel. d. Semiten (1899 G.T.), 84: the jinns are also thought of as hairy.

77 Perhaps we should also read בָּמוֹת הַשְּׂעִרִים in 2 K. 23:8, and לַשֵּׁדִים for שְׁוָרִים in Hos. 12:11 (12), where the LXX has ἄρχοντε for שָׂרִים.

78 We hardly need mention the other passages in which there seem to be echoes or primitive conceptions of demons of sickness or tree demons.

79 Gn. 19:1, 15; Ex. 12:23; 2 K. 19:35; Ps. 35:5 f.; Ez. 9:1 ff.

80 Ju. 9:23; 1 S. 16:14 ff., 23; 18:10; 19:9; cf. 1 K. 22:21 ff.

81 Materially similar is Bar. 4:35: κατοικηθήσεται ὑπὸ δαιμονίων.

82 Ps. 96:5 Mas.: כָּל־אֱלֹהֵי הָעַמִּים אֱלִילִים.

Mas. Masora.

83 Dibelius, 226 f.
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In my opinion, the evidence is clearly pointing to a deformation of the original notion of "demon" as either (or neither) GOOD or BAD, to a concept of PURE EVIL. I understand that Jeffrey believes that this process began long before the Christians came to power. I do not understand his evidence for so thinking.
You don't understand that the instances of the pre 1st century use of δαίμων to mean "evil spirits" makes nonsense of the claim that the word was given the meaning of evil spirits" by Christians???? How on earth could you not understand this.

Are you, like Pete once did, claiming that there are no pre-chrristin instances of the use of to mean "evil spirits"??

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To me, the evidence points to a false translation of "sculptilis". It means, in Hebrew, or Latin: IDOL, or GRAVEN IMAGE, or CARVED OBJECT, something inanimate, not something living, with anthropomorphic features. I favor Pete's interpretation. I think the OP supposition that "demon" became associated with EVIL, commenced with the Christians' assumption of power, and control of the empire's printing presses and libraries.
The Empire had printing presses???

And if it's true that it was only Christians who used the word to mean "evil spirits" how do you explain the use of it with this sense in these non Christian texts?

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Plutarch Quaest.Rom., 51 (II, 276f/277a): οἱ περὶ Χρύσιππον οἴονται φιλόσοφοι φαῦλα δαιμόνια περινοστεῖν, οἷς οἱ θεοὶ δημίοις χρῶνται κολασταῖς ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀνοσίους καὶ ἀδίκους ἀνθρώπους.

Dio, 2, 3 (I, 958e): οὐκ οἶδα μὴ τῶν πάνυ παλαιῶν ἀτοπώτατον ἀναγκασθῶμεν προσδέχεσθαι λόγον, ὡς τὰ φαῦλα δαιμόνια καὶ βάσκανα προσφθονοῦντα τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς ἀνδράσι καὶ ταῖς πράξεσιν ἐνιστάμενα ταραχὰς καὶ φόβους ἐπάγει σείοντα καὶ σφάλλοντα τὴν ἀρετήν, ὡς μὴ διαμείναντες ἐν τῷ καλῷ καὶ ἀκέραιοι βελτίονος ἐκείνων μοίρας μετὰ τὴν τελευτὴν τύχωσιν.


Corp. Herm., XVI, 10 f.: τὰ δὲ ὑπὸ τῶν θεῶν ἐπιταττόμενα ἐνεργοῦσι θυέλλαις καὶ καταιγίσι καὶ πρηστῆρσι καὶ μεταβολαῖς πυρὸς καὶ σεισμοῖς, ἔτι δὲ λιμοῖς καὶ πολέμοις ἀμυνόμενοι τὴν ἀσέβειανθεῶν μὲν γὰρ τὸ εὖ ποιεῖν, ἀνθρώπων δὲ τὸ εὐσεβεῖν, δαιμόνων δὲ τὸ ἐπαμύνειν

Plut. Is. et Os., 25 (II, 360d/e): (τοὺς δαίμονας) ἐρρωμενεστέρους μὲν ἀνθρώπων γεγονέναι λέγουσι καὶ πολλῇ τῇ δυνάμει τὴν φύσιν ὑπερφέροντας ἡμῶν, τὸ δὲ θεῖον οὐκ ἀμιγὲς οὐδʼ ἄκρατον ἔχοντας

Hippocrates De Morbo Sacro, 1 (VI, p. 362, Littré): ὁκόσα δὲ δείματα νυκτὸς παρίσταται καὶ φόβοι καὶ παράνοιαι καὶ ἀναπηδήσιες ἐκ τῆς κλίνης καὶ φόβητρα καὶ φεύξιες ἔξω, Ἑκάτης φασὶν εἶναι ἐπιβολὰς ἢ ἡρώων ἐφόδους.

Eur. Hipp., 141 :σὺ γὰρ ἔνθεος, ὦ κούρα, εἴτʼ ἐκ Πανὸς εἴθʼ Ἑκάτας ἢ σεμνῶν Κορυβάντων ἢ ματρὸς ὀρείας φοιτᾷς;

Porphyr. De Philosophia ex Oraculis Haurienda, III, 164 bc: τοὺς δὲ πονηροὺς δαίμονας οὐκ εἰκῆ ὑπὸ τὸν Σάραπιν ὑποπτεύομενὁ αὐτὸς δὲ τῷ Πλούτωνι ὁ θεός, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο μάλιστα δαιμόνων ἄρχων.

Xenophon, Ephesiaca, 1, 5: ἐξιλάσκεσθαί τινας λέγοντες δαίμονας, καὶ προσεποίουν ὡς εἴη τὸ δεινὸν ἐκ τῶν ὑποχθονίων θεῶν.

Philostr. Vit. Ap., IV, 10, 147 f. when Apollonius of Tyana stones the pest demon




Dio, 2, 3 (I, 958e): τὰ φαῦλα δαιμόνια καὶ βάσκανα προσφθονοῦντα τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς ἀνδράσι;

the references in Josephus to δαιμόνιος πρόνοια, e.g., Ant., 13, 314; Bell., 2, 457; 7, 82 and 318.

or the prescriptions given in the Greek Magical Papyri against δαιμονῶντες, δαιμονιζόμενοι, δαιμονιόπληκτοι and δαιμονοτάκται.

(on these, see A. Dieterich in Jbch. f. Phil. Suppl., 16 (1888), 810 (IX, 1). Preis. Zaub., IV, 1374 f.)
Sorry, but you have no idea what you are talking about And why I continue to argue with someone who is so studiously ignorant (not to mention incapable of evaluating evidence to the contrary of her views and who rapes evidence to make it fit and confirm what she already knows as true) is beyond me.

I should have long ago followed Robert Heinlein's dictum:

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Never try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and it annoys the pig.
I will do so now.

Jeffrey
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Old 03-22-2013, 10:00 AM   #199
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But other philosophers, medical men, historians, and other writers do use the term with the sense it has in Matthew.
I did ask for the references, but you appear to have provided this to tanya ....

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And if it's true that it was only Christians who used the word to mean "evil spirits" how do you explain the use of it with this sense in these non Christian texts?

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Plutarch Quaest.Rom., 51 (II, 276f/277a): οἱ περὶ Χρύσιππον οἴονται φιλόσοφοι φαῦλα δαιμόνια περινοστεῖν, οἷς οἱ θεοὶ δημίοις χρῶνται κολασταῖς ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀνοσίους καὶ ἀδίκους ἀνθρώπους.

Dio, 2, 3 (I, 958e): οὐκ οἶδα μὴ τῶν πάνυ παλαιῶν ἀτοπώτατον ἀναγκασθῶμεν προσδέχεσθαι λόγον, ὡς τὰ φαῦλα δαιμόνια καὶ βάσκανα προσφθονοῦντα τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς ἀνδράσι καὶ ταῖς πράξεσιν ἐνιστάμενα ταραχὰς καὶ φόβους ἐπάγει σείοντα καὶ σφάλλοντα τὴν ἀρετήν, ὡς μὴ διαμείναντες ἐν τῷ καλῷ καὶ ἀκέραιοι βελτίονος ἐκείνων μοίρας μετὰ τὴν τελευτὴν τύχωσιν.


Corp. Herm., XVI, 10 f.: τὰ δὲ ὑπὸ τῶν θεῶν ἐπιταττόμενα ἐνεργοῦσι θυέλλαις καὶ καταιγίσι καὶ πρηστῆρσι καὶ μεταβολαῖς πυρὸς καὶ σεισμοῖς, ἔτι δὲ λιμοῖς καὶ πολέμοις ἀμυνόμενοι τὴν ἀσέβειανθεῶν μὲν γὰρ τὸ εὖ ποιεῖν, ἀνθρώπων δὲ τὸ εὐσεβεῖν, δαιμόνων δὲ τὸ ἐπαμύνειν

Plut. Is. et Os., 25 (II, 360d/e): (τοὺς δαίμονας) ἐρρωμενεστέρους μὲν ἀνθρώπων γεγονέναι λέγουσι καὶ πολλῇ τῇ δυνάμει τὴν φύσιν ὑπερφέροντας ἡμῶν, τὸ δὲ θεῖον οὐκ ἀμιγὲς οὐδʼ ἄκρατον ἔχοντας

Hippocrates De Morbo Sacro, 1 (VI, p. 362, Littré): ὁκόσα δὲ δείματα νυκτὸς παρίσταται καὶ φόβοι καὶ παράνοιαι καὶ ἀναπηδήσιες ἐκ τῆς κλίνης καὶ φόβητρα καὶ φεύξιες ἔξω, Ἑκάτης φασὶν εἶναι ἐπιβολὰς ἢ ἡρώων ἐφόδους.

Eur. Hipp., 141 :σὺ γὰρ ἔνθεος, ὦ κούρα, εἴτʼ ἐκ Πανὸς εἴθʼ Ἑκάτας ἢ σεμνῶν Κορυβάντων ἢ ματρὸς ὀρείας φοιτᾷς;

Porphyr. De Philosophia ex Oraculis Haurienda, III, 164 bc: τοὺς δὲ πονηροὺς δαίμονας οὐκ εἰκῆ ὑπὸ τὸν Σάραπιν ὑποπτεύομενὁ αὐτὸς δὲ τῷ Πλούτωνι ὁ θεός, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο μάλιστα δαιμόνων ἄρχων.

Xenophon, Ephesiaca, 1, 5: ἐξιλάσκεσθαί τινας λέγοντες δαίμονας, καὶ προσεποίουν ὡς εἴη τὸ δεινὸν ἐκ τῶν ὑποχθονίων θεῶν.

Philostr. Vit. Ap., IV, 10, 147 f. when Apollonius of Tyana stones the pest demon




Dio, 2, 3 (I, 958e): τὰ φαῦλα δαιμόνια καὶ βάσκανα προσφθονοῦντα τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς ἀνδράσι;

the references in Josephus to δαιμόνιος πρόνοια, e.g., Ant., 13, 314; Bell., 2, 457; 7, 82 and 318.

or the prescriptions given in the Greek Magical Papyri against δαιμονῶντες, δαιμονιζόμενοι, δαιμονιόπληκτοι and δαιμονοτάκται.

(on these, see A. Dieterich in Jbch. f. Phil. Suppl., 16 (1888), 810 (IX, 1). Preis. Zaub., IV, 1374 f.)

Thankyou for these citations, but are you able to easily provide an English translation for these extracts.







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Old 03-22-2013, 10:06 AM   #200
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Thankyou for these citations, but are you able to easily provide an English translation for these extracts.
Umm ... why should I, even if it were an easy thing to do? You are the one who claims to know -- and who has been instructing me about -- what Greek authors say about demons.

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