Old Man’s Speech and Music. Sir 32:3 Interpreted by Clement of Alexandria and John Chrysostom Cover Image

Old Man’s Speech and Music. Sir 32:3 Interpreted by Clement of Alexandria and John Chrysostom
Old Man’s Speech and Music. Sir 32:3 Interpreted by Clement of Alexandria and John Chrysostom

Author(s): Mikołaj Szymański
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Studies of Literature
Published by: Uniwersytet Adama Mickiewicza
Keywords: Book of Sirach; Clement of Alexandria; John Chrysostom; old age; music; rules of behaviour

Summary/Abstract: The article tries to answer the question why Clement of Alexandria (Paed. II 58, 1–2) and John Chrysostom (De Eleazaro et septem pueris, PG, vol. 63, coll. 523–4) propose peculiar interpretations of Sir 32:3. At first sight it might seem that the writers used texts of that verse in the Septuagint that were different from its present shape, but the real causes of the discrepancies were, in Clement’s case, his abhorrence of music, and in John Chrysostom’s case, the situation in which his speech was delivered.

  • Issue Year: XXV/2015
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 5-9
  • Page Count: 5
  • Language: English