First Clement 7.5

[Brett Williams]

Text from 1 Clement 7.5

διελθωμεν εις τας γενεας πασας και καταμαθωμεν οτι εν γενεα μετανοιας τοπον εδωκεν ο δεσποτης τοις βουλομενοις επιστραφηναι επ αυτον.

Let us review all the generations in turn, and learn how from generation to generation the Master hath given a place for repentance unto them that desire to turn to Him. - JB LIghtfoot

Another translation I came across has a different ending. It reads, "...to turn FROM him."

What could be the basis for translating επιστραφηναι επ αυτον as "to turn FROM him"

[Barry Hofstetter]

There would be no basis for that translation as the text stands. It can only be an error of some sort.

[Shirley Rollinson]

Text from 1 Clement 7.5

διελθωμεν εις τας γενεας πασας και καταμαθωμεν οτι εν γενεα μετανοιας τοπον εδωκεν ο δεσποτης τοις βουλομενοις επιστραφηναι επ αυτον.

Let us review all the generations in turn, and learn how from generation to generation the Master hath given a place for repentance unto them that desire to turn to Him. - JB LIghtfoot

Another translation I came across has a different ending. It reads, "...to turn FROM him."

What could be the basis for translating επιστραφηναι επ αυτον as "to turn FROM him"

αυτον is Accusative - so indicates "motion towards" rather than "motion away from"

[Barry Hofstetter]

αυτον is Accusative - so indicates "motion towards" rather than "motion away from"

The fact also that it's ἐπ´ αὐτόν. Could there be a manuscript variant with ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ? But that would make no sense in the context at all.