Stromata 2.15.70.3-4
Posted: January 26th, 2024, 7:49 pm
I am not successfully wrapping my brain around this text in the Stromata. The ANF translation doesn't help, but I ran it through ChatGPT and its translation at least makes some sense. I am trying to understand the sentence about "forgiveness is not constituted as pardon, but rather as a healing" (as per ChatGPT). So what I am missing seems to be the distinction between συγγνώμη and ἄφεσιν, both of which relate to our English concept of forgiveness/pardon, although συγγνώμη seems closer to our English concession/forbearance.
Anyone care to help me understand the point of that sentence? Thank you!
τί δέ; οὐχὶ καὶ ὁ θεὸς μετὰ τὴν ἐπὶ τῷ Κάιν συγγνώμην ἀκολούθως οὐ πολλῷ ὕστερον τὸν μετανοήσαντα Ἐνὼχ εἰσάγει δηλῶν ὅτι συγγνώμη μετάνοιαν πέφυκε γεννᾶν; ἡ συγγνώμη δὲ οὐ κατὰ ἄφεσιν, ἀλλὰ κατὰ ἴασιν συνίσταται. τὸ δ' 2.15.70.4 αὐτὸ γίνεται κἀν τῇ κατὰ τὸν Ἀαρὼν τοῦ λαοῦ μοσχοποιίᾳ. ἐντεῦθέν τις τῶν παρ' Ἕλλησι σοφῶν συγγνώμη τιμωρίας κρείσσων ἀπεφθέγξατο, ὥσπερ ἀμέλει καὶ τὸ ἐγγύα, πάρα δ' ἄτα ἀπὸ τῆς Σολομῶντος φωνῆς λεγούσης· υἱέ, ἐὰν ἐγγυήσῃ σὸν φίλον, παραδώσεις σὴν χεῖρα ἐχθρῷ·
ANF
And what? Does not God, after the pardon bestowed on Cain, suitably not long after introduce Enoch, who had repented? showing that it is the nature of repentance to produce pardon; but pardon does not consist in remission, but in remedy. An instance of the same is the making of the calf by the people before Aaron. Thence one of the wise men among the Greeks uttered the maxim, “Pardon is better than punishment;” as also, “Become surety, and mischief is at hand,” is derived from the utterance of Solomon which says, “My son, if thou become surety for thy friend, thou wilt give thine hand to thy enemy;
Chat GPT
"What then? Is it not the case that God, following the forgiveness extended to Cain, subsequently introduces Enoch, who repented much later, indicating that forgiveness naturally gives rise to repentance? However, forgiveness is not constituted as pardon, but rather as a healing. The same occurs in the case of Aaron's making of the golden calf for the people. From there, one of the wise men among the Greeks declared that forgiveness is a more powerful form of punishment, just as the proverb says, 'If you guarantee for your friend, you will deliver your hand to the enemy.'"
Anyone care to help me understand the point of that sentence? Thank you!
τί δέ; οὐχὶ καὶ ὁ θεὸς μετὰ τὴν ἐπὶ τῷ Κάιν συγγνώμην ἀκολούθως οὐ πολλῷ ὕστερον τὸν μετανοήσαντα Ἐνὼχ εἰσάγει δηλῶν ὅτι συγγνώμη μετάνοιαν πέφυκε γεννᾶν; ἡ συγγνώμη δὲ οὐ κατὰ ἄφεσιν, ἀλλὰ κατὰ ἴασιν συνίσταται. τὸ δ' 2.15.70.4 αὐτὸ γίνεται κἀν τῇ κατὰ τὸν Ἀαρὼν τοῦ λαοῦ μοσχοποιίᾳ. ἐντεῦθέν τις τῶν παρ' Ἕλλησι σοφῶν συγγνώμη τιμωρίας κρείσσων ἀπεφθέγξατο, ὥσπερ ἀμέλει καὶ τὸ ἐγγύα, πάρα δ' ἄτα ἀπὸ τῆς Σολομῶντος φωνῆς λεγούσης· υἱέ, ἐὰν ἐγγυήσῃ σὸν φίλον, παραδώσεις σὴν χεῖρα ἐχθρῷ·
ANF
And what? Does not God, after the pardon bestowed on Cain, suitably not long after introduce Enoch, who had repented? showing that it is the nature of repentance to produce pardon; but pardon does not consist in remission, but in remedy. An instance of the same is the making of the calf by the people before Aaron. Thence one of the wise men among the Greeks uttered the maxim, “Pardon is better than punishment;” as also, “Become surety, and mischief is at hand,” is derived from the utterance of Solomon which says, “My son, if thou become surety for thy friend, thou wilt give thine hand to thy enemy;
Chat GPT
"What then? Is it not the case that God, following the forgiveness extended to Cain, subsequently introduces Enoch, who repented much later, indicating that forgiveness naturally gives rise to repentance? However, forgiveness is not constituted as pardon, but rather as a healing. The same occurs in the case of Aaron's making of the golden calf for the people. From there, one of the wise men among the Greeks declared that forgiveness is a more powerful form of punishment, just as the proverb says, 'If you guarantee for your friend, you will deliver your hand to the enemy.'"