Friday, June 26, 2009
On Whether 'Christianos' is from Greek or Latin
The form of the word is Latin but at the time words like this could be
formed in Greek. I have to think carefully about this, so what follows is
provisional. I will have to look up a historical grammar before being sure,
but I think Jimmy Carter could be right. Actually, the form is AMBIGUOUS in that
it can be a gentilic (indication of nationality or sect) but it can also be
a diminutive. This makes me wonder whether it had an obvious meaning to
outsides and another meaning for insiders.
formed in Greek. I have to think carefully about this, so what follows is
provisional. I will have to look up a historical grammar before being sure,
but I think Jimmy Carter could be right. Actually, the form is AMBIGUOUS in that
it can be a gentilic (indication of nationality or sect) but it can also be
a diminutive. This makes me wonder whether it had an obvious meaning to
outsides and another meaning for insiders.
Email stephan.h.huller@gmail.com with comments or questions.