Freethought & Rationalism Archive

stephan huller · 09-08-2013, 03:51 PM

An Italian scholar claims the following piece of evidence as proof that Christians were found to be fighting along with Avidius Cassius against the Emperor Marcus Aurelius in 175 CE:

Quote:

Sic et circa maiestatem imperatoris infamamur; tamen nunquam Albiniani, nec Nigriani, uel Cassiani inueniri potuerunt Christiani, sed idem ipsi qui per genios eorum in pridie usque iurauerant, qui pro salute eorum hostias et fecerant et uouerant, qui Christianos saepe damnauerant, hostes eorum sunt reperti. [ad Scapulam 2.5]

I notice that the English translations render the bit about Cassius as yet another negative:

Quote:

So, too, treason is falsely laid to our charge, though no one has ever been able to find followers of Albinus, or Niger, or Cassius, among Christians; while the very men who had sworn by the genii of the emperors, who had offered and vowed sacrifices for their safety, who had often pronounced condemnation on Christ's disciples, are till this day found traitors to the imperial throne.

Yet Capponi (http://books.google.com/books?id=BdQ...olt%22&f=false) says that this passage 'suggests that the supporters of the revolt of Cassius, including some Christians, were accused of maiestas.' Which is it?

To my eye the structure of the sentence is an exclusive disjunctive (nec ... uel) which properly confirms that none of the above included Christians. How does she construct the sentence differently?

Roger Pearse · 09-09-2013, 12:01 AM

The English translation seems like a very good rendering of the Latin to me. I suspect Capponi has merely confused himself. Tertullian's point is precisely that, while everyone is accusing the Christians of being bad citizens, it was in fact their accusers who were found guilty of maiestas.

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09-09-2013, 12:01 AM	#2
Roger Pearse Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: N/A Posts: 4,370	The English translation seems like a very good rendering of the Latin to me. I suspect Capponi has merely confused himself. Tertullian's point is precisely that, while everyone is accusing the Christians of being bad citizens, it was in fact their accusers who were found guilty of maiestas.

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