Gegraptai

It’s from Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War 1.2.2:

τῆς γὰρ ἐμπορίας οὐκ οὔσης, οὐδ᾽ ἐπιμειγνύντες ἀδεῶς ἀλλήλοις οὔτε κατὰ γῆν οὔτε διὰ θαλάσσης, νεμόμενοί τε τὰ αὑτῶν ἕκαστοι ὅσον ἀποζῆν καὶ περιουσίαν χρημάτων οὐκ ἔχοντες οὐδὲ γῆν φυτεύοντες, ἄδηλον ὂν ὁπότε τις ἐπελθὼν καὶ ἀτειχίστων ἅμα ὄντων ἄλλος ἀφαιρήσεται, τῆς τε καθ᾽ ἡμέραν ἀναγκαίου τροφῆς πανταχοῦ ἂν ἡγούμενοι ἐπικρατεῖν, οὐ χαλεπῶς ἀπανίσταντο, καὶ δι᾽ αὐτὸ οὔτε μεγέθει πόλεων ἴσχυον οὔτε τῇ ἄλλῃ παρασκευῇ.

Here’s my rough-draft translation. I put the main verb, which finally appears near the end, in bold:

For because there was no commerce nor fearless mingling with one another neither by land nor through the sea; and because they were distributing among themselves their own things, each enough to live off; and because they had no abundance of property nor planted the ground, since they were unsure when some other, approaching, (and being at the same time unfortified) might take from them; and because they believed themselves to be in possession of their daily necessary nourishment wherever, they were not departing with difficulty; and because of this they were neither strong with respect to greatness of cities nor in another means.

Anybody out there have any experience with GRE test-prep materials? Which ones are best? Or are they even worth it?

I just came across this article at the blog of Nijay Gupta, a PhD student at Durham University. It’s subjective, as is any advice concerning getting into PhD programs, but it is the most helpful, informative, and thorough bit of information on the subject that I’ve come across. Check it out!

I’ve been really busy for the past few weeks, which is why my blog has been neglected. But, my big project for Archaeology class, which is what I’ve been spending every minute of my time working on lately, is now finally finished. Also, it’s Reading Week.

So, I am bound and determined to post a few things this week now that I have a bit of free time, including continuing my reading of Ignatius’ Epistle to the Romans. Keep an eye out this week.

I just haven’t been able to squeeze it into my schedule since my semester began. Anyway, since all the cool kids are doing it (namely Cody and Jack), and since at the moment I neither have the time nor the urge to post anything substantive, here’s what’s been going on lately:

• Brandon got a new LCD HDTV for the living room. I try not to waste too much time watching it, but it is pretty sweet.
• I owe the book store $750. Ouch. I must admit, though, I did get a bit carried away. One of the books that I bought, finally, was the Liddell-Scott lexicon—and I must say, it is worth its $190 price tag. And it weighs a ton, so I can work out and translate Greek at the same time. (Yeah, I’m a huge nerd.)
• Speaking of Greek, I’m doing an independent study in Classical Greek this semester with Dr. Long, and, sick and twisted as it may sound, I’m having a blast. We’re translating Epictetus’ Enchiridion. Coming from a biblical Greek background, this is tedious, time-consuming work. I’m learning a lot, though, about the evolution of the Greek language, a bit about Stoic philosophy, and quite a lot about the milieu of the New Testament. It’s a lot of fun.
• I’m also learning Latin through an independent study with Dr. Dongell, and it’s coming along very well.
• Just today I turned in my application letter for the Biblical Archaeology Program Scholarship. It’s a $2500 scholarship, so that will be a huge help in paying my way to excavate in Israel this summer if I get it. Pray that I do!
• For Lent, I’ve committed to something that is difficult for me, because it conflicts radically with my OCD nature. I would like for this to become a lifestyle change, and not just a ‘Lent thing,’ so please pray that I might trust in God more fully.
• I got some cool shoes.

That’s about it, folks. Perhaps next time I’ll have something more interesting to talk about. And I hope next time will be sooner than later.

I haven’t posted in a couple of weeks. My January course on Acts has kept me too busy to find the time to keep my blog updated. I intended to post a major entry this weekend after finishing up my J-term course, but then I got the flu (and now my three housemates have it too). Since I’m feeling rather swimmy-headed and tired, anything I write will probably be incoherent. So, I’m putting productivity off for the next couple of days. I do still plan to take full advantage of this week of freedom, though. Here’s what I still hope to accomplish in the next eight days:

• Post one major blog entry;
• Continue blogging my NT Greek readings daily;
• Review Greek morphology, syntax, and vocabulary;
• Read Dennis R. MacDonald, Does the New Testament Imitate Homer? It should prove … um … interesting.
• And last, but not least, spend an hour each morning in prayer.

So, this flu has held me up, but look for something new up here in the next few days. And pray that I and my housemates get over this mess quickly!

Besides all of that, I’m getting very excited about beginning the Spring term next week. My classes are really going to be a lot of fun. Here’s what I’m taking:

• Biblical Archaeology
• Non-Canonical Writings for NT Studies
• Directed study in Ecclesiastical Latin
• Directed study in Classical Greek

I’m anticipating an exciting semester! Now, I must rest so I can take advantage of this next week off…

By the way, the latest Biblical Studies Carnival is here. It is extremely thorough, and quite worth reading.

This summer, I’ll be digging for three weeks at Tel Rehov, one of the largest tels in the Holy Land, just south of the Sea of Galilee. Here is some information about the tel and recent excavations which I have taken from the tel’s web site:

The first eight seasons of excavations, from 1997-2007, revealed successive occupational layers from the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age I (12th - 11th centuries BCE). Large and well-preserved buildings from three occupation layers were dated to the 10th - 9th centuries BCE (the time of the United Monarchy of David and Solomon and the Divided Monarchy under Omri and Ahab). Two of these cities suffered a destruction. Remains of the 8th century BCE city that was violently destroyed by the Assyrians in 732 BCE include an 8 m-wide mudbrick wall around the acropolis. Evidence of Assyrian slaughter was found in the destroyed 8th century BCE houses.

The finds included abundant restorable pottery vessels, unique pottery cult stands, clay figurines, seals, ivories and other objects from the Iron Age II city. After the first five seasons, Tel Rehov has became a major site for studying the Iron Age II in Israel, set squarely in the forefront of the debate over the chronology and nature of this period.

And here are a few pictures:

Obviously, I can’t wait! Please pray for monetary provision (I may have a good chance at a scholarship), and that through this experience, I will experience challenge, growth, and direction, both spiritually and in the area of career and study plans.