Texts in Conversation
The Letter of Aristeas ends its preface by promising not to tire the reader with a long introduction. 2 Maccabees 2 ends its preface with the same stock appeal to brevity, a habit of Greek writers rather than a sign that either preface is short.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Letter of Aristeas 1:8
Letter of Aristeas to Philocrates
Pseudepigrapha, Hebrew Bible Expansions
On a former occasion, too I sent you a record of the facts which I thought worth relating about the Jewish race - the record which I had obtained from the most learned high priests of the most learned land of Egypt. As you are so eager to acquire the knowledge of those things which can benefit the mind, I feel it incumbent on me to impart to you all the information in my power. I should feel the same duty towards all who possessed the same disposition but I feel it especially towards you since you have aspirations which are so noble, and since you are not only my brother in character no less than in blood but are one with me as well in the pursuit of goodness. For neither the pleasure derived from gold nor any other of the possessions which are prized by shallow minds confers the same benefit as the pursuit of culture and the study which we expend in securing it. But so that I do not weary you with too lengthy an introduction, I will proceed at once to the substance of my narrative.
2 Maccabees 2:32
Deuterocanon
29 For as the masterbuilder of a new house must care for the whole structure, and again he who undertakes to decorate and paint it must seek out the things fit for its adorning; even so I think it is also with us. 30 To occupy the ground, and to indulge in long discussions, and to be curious in particulars, is fitting for the first author of the history; 31 but to strive after brevity of expression, and to avoid a labored fullness in the treatment, is to be granted to him who would bring a writing into a new form. 32 Here then let’s begin the narration, only adding this much to that which has already been said; for it is a foolish thing to make a long prologue to the history, and to abridge the history itself.
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Notes and References
“... These figures should be borne in mind when reading passages like II Maccabees 2.32 ('It is a foolish thing to make a long prologue to the history, and to abridge the history itself'), or Letter of Aristeas 8 ('that I may not weary you by too lengthy an introduction, I will proceed to the substance of my narrative'). These are highly conventional transition-formulae, both alluding to 'brevity' as a rhetorical ideal (see further, ch. 5, n. 50.) Both the prefaces in question are, in fact, several sentences long. Moreover, II Maccabees is formally speaking not a history but an epitome, and this is the point of the author's remarks. ...”
Alexander, Loveday
The Preface to Luke's Gospel: Literary Convention and Social Context in Luke 1.1-4 and Acts 1.1
(p. 30) Cambridge University Press, 1993
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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