OPut of curiosity, not so much a Logos issue...

Carmen Gauvin-O'Donnell · August 2024

I have just heard it recently said that there are still Many Many early church fathers' letters and documents that have not been translated, and I'm wondering why. To quote a podcast I heard the other day, "WHY NOT?! Y'ALL HAVE HAD *2000* YEARS!!" LOL!

So could someone here who has knowledge of these things give me some insights on why we have them but they're not yet translated? Like I say, I'm curious...

C.

MJ. Smith · August 2024

Carmen Gauvin-O'Donnell said:
I have just heard it recently said that there are still Many Many early church fathers' letters and documents that have not been translated, and I'm wondering why.

1. The meaning of church father has changed over time from meaning a select group of fathers recognized by the ACELO churches to any Christian writer of the era (perhaps omitting ones labeled gnostic or esoteric). This means the number of texts to translate has gone up

2. The Dead Sea Scrolls and Nag Hammadi finds have drawn a group of scholars away from translating church fathers.

3. Computerized manuscripts catalogues have dramatically increased the awareness of manuscripts and fragments available in the various academic and monastic libraries.

4. Many of the languages in which they are written are relatively scantly studied - Coptic, Sogdian, ... so there are few scholars able to read the language who also have the historical knowledge of theology and philosophy necessary to translate them.

5. There is little incentive - financial or reputational - for scholars to work in this area.

P.S. I will revisit my answer when the Tibetan Kanjur and Tengyur are translated.