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

Carmen Gauvin-O'Donnell
Carmen Gauvin-O'Donnell Member Posts: 729 ✭✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

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.

Comments

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 55,111

    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.

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • Carmen Gauvin-O'Donnell
    Carmen Gauvin-O'Donnell Member Posts: 729 ✭✭✭
    https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310506#Comment_1310506

    Hey thanks MJ! All these answers make sense!

  • Carmen Gauvin-O'Donnell
    Carmen Gauvin-O'Donnell Member Posts: 729 ✭✭✭
    https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310506#Comment_1310506

    Hey thanks MJ! All these answers make sense!

  • mab
    mab Member Posts: 3,072 ✭✭✭
    https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310582#Comment_1310582

    There is such a substantial body of patristic literature that is printed, you would be quite busy enough with that. 

    The mind of man is the mill of God, not to grind chaff, but wheat. Thomas Manton | Study hard, for the well is deep, and our brains are shallow. Richard Baxter

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