John Milton
Well-known member
When discussing this text today, I came across the following passage with the following translation:
The part that I have a question about in the translation is the phrase "to assist me in learning the Greek tongue." Is this text saying that Josephus did not know Greek as this translation seems to say? It seems to me to be saying instead that Josephus utilized helpers to work with him on the Greek language. Thoughts?Contra Apionem 1.50b said:εἶτα σχολῆς ἐν τῇ Ῥώμῃ λαβόμενος, πάσης μοι τῆς πραγματείας ἐν παρασκευῇ γεγενημένης χρησάμενός τισι πρὸς τὴν Ἑλληνίδα φωνὴν συνεργοῖς οὕτως ἐποιησάμην τῶν πράξεων τὴν παράδοσιν.
Afterward I got leisure at Rome; and when all my materials were prepared for that work, I made use of some persons to assist me in learning the Greek tongue, and by these means I composed the history of those transactions.