{"slug":"khazarzar-athanasius-the-great-of-alexandria-scholia-in-acta","id":"greek:khazarzar:khazarzar-athanasius-the-great-of-alexandria-scholia-in-acta","title":"Scholia in Acta","title_source":"Scholia in Acta","author":"Athanasius the Great of Alexandria","genre":"commentary","date":"","tradition":"greek","coverage":"not-located","coverage_claim":{"status":"not-located","text":"No English translation could be identified: a language model asked twice could not name one, though it could not rule one out either. That is not proof that none exists — translations in dissertations, recent books and other modern languages are easily missed."},"publication":{"status":"machine-draft","reviewed_by":null,"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","generated":"2026-11-15T06:29:52Z","cost_usd":0.002281},"source":{"registry_id":"greek:khazarzar:khazarzar-athanasius-the-great-of-alexandria-scholia-in-acta","work_id":"khazarzar-athanasius-the-great-of-alexandria-scholia-in-acta","edition":"khazarzar","language":"","license":"Migne PG text (public domain); khazarzar host and the digitising project state no licence for this layer","url":"http://khazarzar.skeptik.net/pgm/PG_Migne/Athanasius%20the%20Great%20of%20Alexandria_%20PG%2025-28/Scholia%20in%20Acta.pdf"},"stats":{"passages":3,"english_words":662,"coptic_letters":0,"source_letters":2645,"commentary_units":18,"commentary_kinds":7,"derived_notes":0,"ambiguities":5,"work_notes":6,"external_links":0,"timeline":5},"summary":{"work":"khazarzar-athanasius-the-great-of-alexandria-scholia-in-acta","abstract":"The Scholia in Acta attributed to Athanasius of Alexandria are a set of Greek exegetical notes on the Acts of the Apostles. Their attribution to Athanasius is traditional but disputed, and they survive only embedded in later Byzantine catenae, not as independent manuscripts. The scholia cannot be firmly dated; stylistic considerations suggest a 4th–5th century origin, but the earliest manuscript evidence is medieval. They were incorporated into Greek catena traditions on Acts and cited by Byzantine commentators but never circulated independently in the Latin West. The modern edition by khazarzar relies on 19th-century printed editions of catenae, not direct manuscript collation, and lacks a critical apparatus. The work is often confused with Athanasius' genuine exegetical fragments; scholars should consult CPG 2 for reliable spuria.","historical_context":"The Scholia in Acta are traditionally ascribed to Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 296–373), a key figure in the Arian controversy and bishop of Alexandria. However, the attribution is uncertain; the scholia may be a later compilation or the work of another author. They survive only as excerpts in Greek catenae on Acts, which are collections of patristic comments assembled from the 6th century onward. The earliest manuscript witnesses are medieval, and no independent transmission exists. The scholia were used by Byzantine exegetes but were unknown in the Latin West. The modern edition by khazarzar is based on 19th-century printed editions of catenae, not on direct collation of manuscripts, and provides no critical apparatus or manuscript sigla. The work is often confused with Athanasius' genuine exegetical fragments; the Clavis Patrum Graecorum (vol. 2) lists it among spuria. The scholia reflect concerns such as the Novatianist controversy, suggesting a context of intra-Christian polemic over penance and purity.","significance":"The Scholia in Acta illustrate the reception of Acts in late antique and Byzantine exegesis, particularly through the catena tradition. They also shed light on the polemical use of Athanasius' authority in later debates, such as those against the Novatians. The work's uncertain attribution and fragmentary transmission exemplify the challenges of studying patristic texts preserved only in catenae.","timeline":[{"date":"4th–5th c.","event":"Probable composition of the scholia, if authentic to Athanasius or a contemporary."},{"date":"6th c. onward","event":"Incorporation of the scholia into Greek catenae on Acts."},{"date":"Medieval period","event":"Earliest surviving manuscript evidence of the catenae containing the scholia."},{"date":"19th c.","event":"Publication of printed editions of Greek catenae, used by khazarzar."},{"date":"20th–21st c.","event":"Digital transcription by khazarzar, without critical apparatus."}],"relations":[{"work":"Athanasius of Alexandria, Exegetical Fragments","relation":"Often confused with these; CPG 2 distinguishes spuria.","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Greek Catenae on Acts","relation":"The scholia survive only as excerpts in these catenae.","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Novatianist Controversy","relation":"The scholia engage with Novatianist rigorism, reflecting Athanasius' polemics.","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Clavis Patrum Graecorum 2","relation":"Lists the scholia among Athanasian spuria.","key":"","label":null,"url":null}],"external_links":[],"cautions":["Attribution to Athanasius is traditional but not universally accepted; the scholia may be spurious.","No firm date can be assigned; stylistic grounds suggest 4th–5th c., but earliest manuscripts are medieval.","The work survives only in later Byzantine catenae, not in independent manuscripts.","The khazarzar edition lacks critical apparatus and manuscript sigla; it relies on 19th-century printed editions.","The scholia are often confused with Athanasius' genuine exegetical fragments; consult CPG 2 for reliable spuria."],"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","cost_usd":0.000506,"generated":"2026-11-15T06:29:52Z"},"links":[{"kind":"source","label":"Patrologia Graeca text (khazarzar mirror)","url":"http://khazarzar.skeptik.net/pgm/PG_Migne/Athanasius%20the%20Great%20of%20Alexandria_%20PG%2025-28/Scholia%20in%20Acta.pdf"}],"checks":{"work":"khazarzar-athanasius-the-great-of-alexandria-scholia-in-acta","status":"pass","blocking":[],"warnings":[],"stats":{"passages":3,"translated":3,"commentary_passages":3,"commentary_units":18,"english_words":662,"source_letters":2638,"commentary_kinds":7},"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor"},"work_notes":[{"unit":"transmission","kind":"transmission","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The attribution to Athanasius of Alexandria is traditional but not universally accepted; the scholia survive only in later Byzantine catenae, not in independent manuscripts.","cites":[{"key":"hollis:alma990015346000203941","label":"Origen of Alexandria : his world and his legacy","url":"https://hollis.harvard.edu/permalink/f/1s5nto6/990015346000203941"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"dating","kind":"chronology","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"No firm date can be assigned; the scholia are often placed in the 4th–5th century on stylistic grounds, but the earliest manuscript evidence is medieval.","cites":[{"key":"hollis:alma99153682714303941","label":"Origen of Alexandria : exegetical works on Ezekiel : the fourteen homilies and the Greek fragments of the homilies, commentaries and scholia : text and translation","url":"https://hollis.harvard.edu/permalink/f/1s5nto6/99153682714303941"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"These scholia were incorporated into Greek catenae on Acts and cited by later Byzantine commentators, but they never circulated independently in the Latin West.","cites":[{"key":"hollis:alma99155258116503941","label":"Universal salvation and freedom of choice according to Origen of Alexandria","url":"https://hollis.harvard.edu/permalink/f/1s5nto6/99155258116503941"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The khazarzar edition provides no critical apparatus or manuscript sigla; readers cannot verify which catena manuscripts were used or how the text was reconstructed.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The edition is based on the digital transcription by khazarzar, which draws on 19th-century printed editions of Greek catenae, not on direct collation of manuscripts.","cites":[{"key":"hollis:alma99156103388903941","label":"Origen of Alexandria : master theologian of the early church","url":"https://hollis.harvard.edu/permalink/f/1s5nto6/99156103388903941"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The work is often confused with Athanasius’ genuine exegetical fragments; scholars should consult Clavis Patrum Graecorum 2 for a reliable list of Athanasian spuria.","cites":[{"key":"hollis:alma99157849992803941","label":"Origen of Alexandria and the theology of the Holy Spirit","url":"https://hollis.harvard.edu/permalink/f/1s5nto6/99157849992803941"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"derived_work_notes":[{"kind":"coverage","severity":"info","text":"No English translation could be identified: a language model asked twice could not name one, though it could not rule one out either. That is not proof that none exists — translations in dissertations, recent books and other modern languages are easily missed."},{"kind":"limit","severity":"caution","text":"The English is a machine draft produced passage by passage from the transcribed Coptic; no human has verified it. The commentary is model-written and cites only keys the pipeline could resolve."},{"kind":"register","severity":"info","text":"Register: commentary in ancient Greek; the English keeps the liturgical formulae and the vocatives rather than normalising them."},{"kind":"structure","severity":"info","text":"Passages: 3 narrative."},{"kind":"source","severity":"info","text":"Source edition: khazarzar — Migne PG text (public domain); khazarzar host and the digitising project state no licence for this layer"}],"derived_structure":{"narrative":3},"term_index":[],"citations":{"dossier:greek-origen-scholia-in-canticum":{"label":"gap dossier: Scholia on the Song of Songs","url":"https://naxiai.com/christian/gaps/greek-origen-scholia-in-canticum"},"hollis:alma990015346000203941":{"label":"Origen of Alexandria : his world and his legacy","url":"https://hollis.harvard.edu/permalink/f/1s5nto6/990015346000203941"},"hollis:alma99153682714303941":{"label":"Origen of Alexandria : exegetical works on Ezekiel : the fourteen homilies and the Greek fragments of the homilies, commentaries and scholia : text and translation","url":"https://hollis.harvard.edu/permalink/f/1s5nto6/99153682714303941"},"hollis:alma99155258116503941":{"label":"Universal salvation and freedom of choice according to Origen of Alexandria","url":"https://hollis.harvard.edu/permalink/f/1s5nto6/99155258116503941"},"hollis:alma99156103388903941":{"label":"Origen of Alexandria : master theologian of the early church","url":"https://hollis.harvard.edu/permalink/f/1s5nto6/99156103388903941"},"hollis:alma99157849992803941":{"label":"Origen of Alexandria and the theology of the Holy Spirit","url":"https://hollis.harvard.edu/permalink/f/1s5nto6/99157849992803941"}},"segments":[{"i":1,"ref":"p1","source":"Τοῦ ἁγίου Ἀθανασίου ἐκ τοῦ πρὸς Νουατιανοὺς βʹ λόγου. Εἰ ἔμενε, φησὶν, ὑμῖν ἔμενε, καὶ πραθὲν ἐν τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ ἦν. Ἐπειδὴ δὲ, φησὶν, ἐπεχειρήσατε πειράσαι τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον, καὶ εἰς τοῦτο συνεφωνήσατε, λήψεσθε πεῖραν οὗ ἠθελήσατε. Σωφρονισθήσονται δὴ, καὶ φοβηθήσονται καὶ ἄλλοι πειράσαι, δι' ὑμῶν τὴν πεῖραν λαβόντες.\n\nΤοῦ ἁγίου Ἀθανασίου ἐκ τῆς πρὸς Νουατιανοὺς πραγματείας. Κατανοῆσαι δεῖ καὶ ἐνταῦθα, ὅτι ἀρχὴ ἦν τοῦ κηρύγματος, καὶ μέγα μὲν ἐτόλμησαν οὗτοι, πειράσαι τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον ἐπιχειρήσαντες· μεγάλη δὲ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἀδελφοῖς ὠφέλεια γέγονεν ἡ τούτων τιμωρία· ἐπαιδεύθησαν γὰρ, καὶ ἐδιδάχθησαν, ὅτι οὐ δεῖ κατὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος τολμᾷν, οὐδὲ πειράσαι τοῦτο ἐπιχειρεῖν. Ὥσπερ ἄνθρωπος ὑπὸ ἀνθρώπου ἱερέως βαπτιζομένου φωτίζεται τῇ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος χάριτι, οὕτως καὶ ὁ ἐξομολογούμενος ἐν μετανοίᾳ διὰ τοῦ ἱερέως λαμβάνει τὴν ἄφεσιν χάριτι Χριστοῦ.\n\nΚΕΦ. Ηʹ, ς. κδʹ. Δεήθητε ὑμεῖς ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ πρὸς τὸν Κύριον. ἈΘΑΝΑΣΙΟΥ Ἐκ τοῦ πρὸς λεγομένους Καθαροὺς λογ. γʹ.","english":"From the holy Athanasius, from the second discourse to the Novatians. If it had remained, he says, it would have remained for you, and when sold it was under your authority. But since, he says, you undertook to test the Holy Spirit, and agreed to this, you will experience what you wished. Indeed, others will be disciplined and will fear to test, having taken the experience through you.\n\nFrom the holy Athanasius, from the treatise to the Novatians. It must be understood here also that this was the beginning of the proclamation, and these men dared greatly, having attempted to test the Holy Spirit; and great benefit has come to the other brothers from the punishment of these men, for they were taught and learned that one must not dare against the Spirit nor attempt to test it. Just as a person being baptized by a human priest is illuminated by the grace of the Holy Spirit, so also the one confessing in repentance receives forgiveness through the priest by the grace of Christ.\n\nChapter 8, verse 24. Pray for me to the Lord. From Athanasius, from the third discourse to those called Cathari.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"Νουατιανοὺς","severity":"info","text":"The Novatians (also called Cathari, 'pure') were a rigorist schismatic group that refused readmission to those who had lapsed during persecution. Athanasius wrote against them, defending the validity of repentance and reconciliation through the Church.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"πειράσαι","severity":"info","text":"The verb πειράσαι ('to test') here carries a negative connotation of improper challenge or provocation against the Holy Spirit, not neutral inquiry. The context implies a deliberate act of defiance.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ΚΕΦ. Ηʹ, ς. κδʹ. Δεήθητε ὑμεῖς ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ πρὸς τὸν Κύριον","severity":"info","text":"The citation 'Chapter 8, verse 24' likely refers to Acts 8:24, though the verse numbering differs from modern Bibles. The phrase 'Pray for me to the Lord' echoes Acts 8:24 (Simon Magus asking Peter to pray), but the exact reference is uncertain.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"Τοῦ ἁγίου Ἀθανασίου ἐκ τοῦ πρὸς Νουατιανοὺς βʹ λόγου","severity":"info","text":"The passage is introduced as an excerpt from Athanasius' second discourse against the Novatians, followed by a second excerpt from a treatise to the same group, and a third from a third discourse. This indicates a compilation of multiple Athanasian fragments.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"background","lemma":"Καθαροὺς","severity":"info","text":"The term 'Cathari' (Καθαροὺς) is a Greek designation for the Novatians, meaning 'pure ones.' This reflects the group's self-identification and the polemical context of Athanasius' writings against them.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ΚΕΦ. Ηʹ, ς. κδʹ","severity":"caution","text":"The chapter and verse notation 'Ηʹ, ς. κδʹ' is ambiguous: it may refer to a biblical book (possibly Acts or another) but the numbering system is not standard. The exact scriptural reference cannot be determined with certainty.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The scriptural reference 'ΚΕΦ. Ηʹ, ς. κδʹ' is unclear; it may be a non-standard citation or a scribal error. The phrase 'Δεήθητε ὑμεῖς ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ πρὸς τὸν Κύριον' does not match any known verse exactly, though it resembles Acts 8:24 in theme."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":2,"ref":"p2","source":"Πρὸς οὖν τὴν ὑποκειμένην αὐτοῦ πικρίαν, καὶ ταύτην αὐτοῦ τὴν κατὰ τῆς δωρεᾶς τοῦ Θεοῦ τόλμαν καὶ ἐπιχείρησιν Πέτρος δικαίως ἐκινήθη, καὶ κινηθεὶς εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν· Τὸ ἀργύριόν σου σὺν σοὶ εἴη εἰς ἀπώλειαν. Εἰ καὶ μὴ δεῖ, ἀλλὰ διὰ τὴν τόλμαν σου ταύτην, ὅτι τὴν δωρεὰν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐνόμισας διὰ χρημάτων κτᾶσθαι, οὐκ ἔστι σοι μερὶς, οὐδὲ κλῆρος ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τούτῳ. Ἡ γὰρ καρδία σου οὐκ ἔστιν εὐθεῖα ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ. Καὶ τοσαῦτα κατ' αὐτοῦ εἰπὼν ὀρθῶς καὶ δικαίως, οὐδὲν τούτων ἀνίατον ἡγησάμενος τῷ τῆς μετανοίας φαρμάκῳ, θεραπευτικὰ δὲ ταῦτα κρίνας εἶναι, ἐπήγαγε· Μετανόησον οὖν ἀπὸ τῆς κακίας σου, καὶ δεήθητι τοῦ Κυρίου, εἰ ἄρα ἀφεθήσεταί σοι ἦ ἐπίνοια τῆς καρδίας σου. Μέγα γάρ σοι καὶ τοῦτο. Καὶ μὴ ἤδη τὴν δωρεὰν οὕτως ἀκαθάρτως καὶ ῥυπαρῶς διὰ χρημάτων σπεῦδε. Ἀλλὰ τέως τῆς πικρίας σου καὶ τῆς κακῆς ταύτης ἐπινοίας παυσάμενος, μετανόησον, εἰ ἄρα ἀφεθήσεταί σοι ἡ ἐπίνοια τῆς καρδίας σου, οὐχ ὡς ἀμφιβάλλων, ἀλλ' ὅτι δυσίατα πάθη, οὐκ ἀνίατα μέντοι, ἀλλὰ δυσίατα. Εἰ γὰρ ἦν ἀνίατον, περισσὸν ἦν τό· Μετανόησον ἀπὸ τῆς κακίας σου ταύτης, καὶ δεήθητι τοῦ Κυρίου. Ἀλλ' ὅτι ἡ μετάνοια μὲν ἰσχύει διὰ τούτων, ὅτι δὲ μετὰ πολλῆς μετανοίας καὶ ἐπιμελείας χρεία τοῖς βαρυνθεῖσιν εἰς κακίαν, παριστὰς ἐπήγαγεν· Εἰ ἄρα ἀφεθήσεταί σοι ἡ ἐπίνοια τῆς καρδίας σου. Εἰς γὰρ χολὴν πικρίας καὶ σύνδεσμον ἀδικίας ὁρῶ σε ὄντα.","english":"Therefore, in response to his underlying bitterness, and this audacity and undertaking of his against the gift of God, Peter was justly moved, and being moved, he said to him: \"May your money go with you to destruction. Even if it should not be so, yet because of this audacity of yours, because you thought to acquire the gift of God through money, you have no part, nor lot, in this matter. For your heart is not straight before God.\" And having spoken so much against him rightly and justly, considering none of these things incurable by the medicine of repentance, but judging these to be therapeutic, he added: \"Repent, therefore, from your wickedness, and beseech the Lord, if indeed the intent of your heart will be forgiven you. For this is great for you. And do not now hasten to the gift so impurely and sordidly through money. But for now, having ceased from your bitterness and this evil intent, repent, if indeed the intent of your heart will be forgiven you,\" not as if doubting, but because passions are hard to heal, not incurable, however, but hard to heal. For if it were incurable, the saying \"Repent from this wickedness of yours, and beseech the Lord\" would be superfluous. But because repentance is effective through these things, and because great repentance and care are needed for those weighed down in wickedness, he added, presenting this: \"If indeed the intent of your heart will be forgiven you. For I see you as being in a gall of bitterness and a bond of injustice.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"Πρὸς οὖν τὴν ὑποκειμένην αὐτοῦ πικρίαν","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'underlying bitterness' (ὑποκειμένην πικρίαν) refers to a persistent moral disposition, not a momentary anger, consistent with the Novatianist context of rigorism.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"δυσίατα","severity":"info","text":"δυσίατα ('hard to heal') is a medical metaphor; Athanasius distinguishes it from ἀνίατα ('incurable'), emphasizing that repentance can still cure even severe sin.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"Μετανόησον οὖν ἀπὸ τῆς κακίας σου","severity":"info","text":"The call to repentance echoes Acts 8:22 (Simon Magus rebuked by Peter), though the exact phrasing is not a direct quotation; it adapts the narrative for doctrinal polemic.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"Πέτρος","severity":"info","text":"Peter's rebuke of Simon Magus (Acts 8) is a standard patristic trope against simony; Athanasius uses it here to attack Novatianist claims to purity.","cites":[{"key":"dossier:greek-origen-scholia-in-canticum","label":"gap dossier: Scholia on the Song of Songs","url":"https://naxiai.com/christian/gaps/greek-origen-scholia-in-canticum"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"Εἰ γὰρ ἦν ἀνίατον","severity":"info","text":"The conditional 'if it were incurable' (εἰ γὰρ ἦν ἀνίατον) functions as a rhetorical refutation of Novatianist rigor, arguing that repentance is always possible.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"external","lemma":"Novatians","severity":"info","text":"This passage survives in a catena on Acts, likely excerpted from Athanasius' lost anti-Novatianist work; it shows how fourth-century orthodoxy opposed Novatianist refusal of readmission.","cites":[{"key":"hollis:alma990015346000203941","label":"Origen of Alexandria : his world and his legacy","url":"https://hollis.harvard.edu/permalink/f/1s5nto6/990015346000203941"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Greek text has no textual cruces; the Coptic Vorlage is not extant, but the Greek is clear. The identity of 'he' in the previous passage is ambiguous but likely Simon Magus."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":3,"ref":"p3","source":"Καὶ τοσοῦτον ἴσχυεν ἡ εἰς μετάνοιαν προτροπὴ τοῦ μεγάλου τούτου ἀποστόλου καὶ πρὸς τὸν τοσοῦτον μάγον, καὶ πρὸς τὸν οὕτω χολῆς καὶ πικρίας μεστὸν, καὶ τοσούτων κακῶν πεπληρωμένον, ὡς ἤδη ἐπιμελείας ἑαυτὸν δοῦναι, καὶ ταῦτα αὐτῷ εἰπόντι τὴν Γραφὴν ἐπιμαρτυρεῖν· Δεήθητε ὑμεῖς ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ πρὸς τὸν Κύριον· οὐ γὰρ ἐμοὶ παῤῥησία μέτεστιν, ὅπως μηδὲν ἐπέλθῃ ἐπ' ἐμὲ, ὧν εἰρήκατε. Οὔτε δὴ ἀπηγόρευσε ταῦτα αὐτῷ ὁ θεῖος Ἀπόστολος, οὔτ' ἀπηρνήσατο. Πῶς γὰρ ὁ καὶ ὑποθέμενος καὶ εἰπών; Τοσοῦτον δὲ ὠφελήθη οὗτος αὐτὸς ὁ τηλικοῦτος μάγος ἀπὸ τῆς ἐλπίδος, τῆς εἰς μετάνοιαν, ὡς ἤδη τοσοῦτον τῆς πονηρίας καὶ πικρίας αὐτὸν μεταβληθέντα\n\nεἰπεῖν· Ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς ὑπὲρ ἐμαυτοῦ δεηθῆναι· ὑμεῖς δὲ δεήθητε ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ πρὸς Κύριον.\n\nΤοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐκ τοῦ πρὸς τοὺς Νουατιανοὺς τοὺς ἑαυτοὺς ὀνομάσαντας Καθαροὺς λόγου Βʹ.\n\nΚΕΦΑΛ. Ιςʹ, στ. γʹ. Καὶ λαβὼν περιέτεμεν αὐτόν. Ἵν' οὖν μὴ κωλύηται εἰς συναγωγὰς παραβάλλειν, διὰ τὸ ἀπερίτμητον εἶναι τὸν Τιμόθεον, οὕτως συμπαρεῖναι τοῦτ' ᾠκονόμησεν, οὐχὶ καὶ ἐδογμάτισεν","english":"And so great was the power of the exhortation to repentance of this great apostle, even toward so great a magician, and toward one so full of bile and bitterness, and filled with so many evils, that he already gave himself over to care, and when he said these things, he called Scripture to witness: \"Pray for me to the Lord; for I have no share in boldness, that none of the things you have spoken may come upon me.\" Neither did the divine Apostle forbid him this, nor did he deny it. For how could he, who had both suggested and spoken? And so greatly was this very magician, great as he was, benefited by the hope of repentance, that he, already so transformed from his wickedness and bitterness, said: \"I myself am not able to pray for myself; but do you pray for me to the Lord.\"\n\nFrom the same author, from the second discourse to the Novatians, who call themselves Cathari.\n\nChapter 16, verse 3. And taking him, he circumcised him. So that Timothy might not be hindered from attending the synagogues because he was uncircumcised, he arranged this to be present, but he did not also make it a doctrine.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"Τοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐκ τοῦ πρὸς τοὺς Νουατιανοὺς τοὺς ἑαυτοὺς ὀνομάσαντας Καθαροὺς λόγου Βʹ","severity":"info","text":"This heading marks a transition from the preceding narrative to a new excerpt, identified as from Athanasius' second discourse against the Novatians (who called themselves 'Cathari').","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"Δεήθητε ὑμεῖς ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ πρὸς τὸν Κύριον","severity":"info","text":"The request 'Pray for me to the Lord' echoes Acts 8:24, where Simon Magus asks Peter to pray for him, though the wording here is not a direct quotation from the canonical text.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"Νουατιανοὺς τοὺς ἑαυτοὺς ὀνομάσαντας Καθαροὺς","severity":"info","text":"The Novatians were a rigorist Christian sect that refused readmission to those who had lapsed during persecution; they called themselves 'Cathari' (pure). Athanasius wrote against them.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ΚΕΦΑΛ. Ιςʹ, στ. γʹ","severity":"info","text":"This citation likely refers to a chapter and verse of a biblical book, possibly Acts 16:3, but the content about Timothy's circumcision does not match Acts; it may refer to a different text or a misattribution.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"Καὶ λαβὼν περιέτεμεν αὐτόν","severity":"caution","text":"The statement that Timothy was circumcised to avoid hindrance in synagogues is not found in the New Testament; it may reflect a later tradition or a confusion with another figure.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"text","lemma":"Τοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐκ τοῦ πρὸς τοὺς Νουατιανοὺς","severity":"info","text":"This heading attributes the following passage to Athanasius, but the work against the Novatians is not securely attested in the Athanasian corpus; the attribution may be spurious or from a lost work.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The source of the scriptural citation 'Pray for me to the Lord' is unclear; it may be a paraphrase of Acts 8:24 or from a non-canonical tradition.","The reference 'Chapter 16, verse 3' does not correspond to any known biblical passage about Timothy's circumcision; the text may be corrupt or misattributed.","The attribution of the second discourse against the Novatians to Athanasius is uncertain; the work is not widely attested."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]}]}