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PD01 - How Blessed and Imperishable Are Used in the Bible

  • Don
  • July 24, 2021 at 7:08 AM
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  • Don
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    • July 24, 2021 at 7:08 AM
    • #1

    τὸ μακάριον καὶ ἄφθαρτον are the Greek words used in PD1

    I recently discovered that the famous Beatitudes in the New Testament use the same word as Epicurus's Principal Doctrine 1: μακάριος (makarios) "blessed" https://biblehub.com/greek/3107.htm I'm *not* saying that the Epicureans influenced the Bible writers (a la Dewitt), but I thought it might be instructive to see that word used in a more familiar context to add a different level of meaning to the Doctrine. The Beatitudes obviously applied to people not gods. So, how can we interpret PD 1 to also apply to human beings? There is commentary out there along those lines, so I'm not going to outline it all here. Just something for thought on this post.

    Since I found μακάριος in the Beatitudes, I also decided to see how the other descriptor in PD1, άφθαρτος (aphthartos) "incorruptible," appeared in the Bible: https://biblehub.com/greek/862.htm I Peter 3:4 is an interesting context "the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit." and 1:23 "for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable." Again, this imperishability is experienced by living humans in this context.

    Personally, I think this strengthens the "idealist" concept of the Epicurean gods (a la Sedley et al). I've read papers that say that people/sages can/could become "gods" in the Epicurean sense if they become exemplars of the philosophy in life and, after they die, can continue as an imperishable concept in the minds of those who come after them. The sage doesn't exist anymore, but their example is άφθαρτον "imperishable" because it now relies only on recollecting the images of their example.

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    • July 24, 2021 at 7:17 AM
    • #2

    So the word Beatitude (or its root beatus?) is the Latin equivalent of blessed?

    What does beatus mean in Latin?
    English words for beatus include blessed, prosperous, wealthy, fortunate, blissful, blessed creature, blithe, righteous, saint and excellent. Find more Latin…
    www.wordhippo.com

    I see these for imperishable:

    How to say imperishable in Latin
    Latin words for imperishable include incorruptibilis, incorruptivus, inconruptus, inconruptorius, inconruptivus, incorruptorius, aeviternus, inviolabilis,…
    www.wordhippo.com
  • Don
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    • July 24, 2021 at 7:33 AM
    • #3

    Just remember, the original is in Greek. The Latin is a translation first done by "St" Jerome if I remember correctly. It may be interesting to see how those verses with makarios and aphthartos were translated into the Latin.

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    • July 24, 2021 at 8:07 AM
    • #4

    Latin Vulgate Bible with Douay-Rheims and King James Version Side-by-Side+Complete Sayings of Jesus Christ

    Beatitudes - Wikipedia
    en.wikipedia.org

    Latin Vulgate Bible with Douay-Rheims and King James Version Side-by-Side+Complete Sayings of Jesus Christ

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    • July 24, 2021 at 9:08 AM
    • #5

    Thanks for the references, I always recoil in distaste at reading that, especially

    Quote

    12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.....

    Few doctrines are as life-destroying.

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    • July 24, 2021 at 9:38 AM
    • #6
    Quote from Cassius

    Thanks for the references, I always recoil in distaste at reading that, especially

    Quote

    12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.....

    Few doctrines are as life-destroying.

    Amen! ( ;) )

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    • July 24, 2021 at 10:46 AM
    • #7

    The Latin translation of μακάριος is beatus:

    Charlton T. Lewis, An Elementary Latin Dictionary, beātus

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    • July 24, 2021 at 10:56 AM
    • #8

    I wonder what other Latin roots that resembles. I tend to think de- tends to be God or divine, but not so be-

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    • July 24, 2021 at 11:05 AM
    • #9

    It's related to Latin beo

    Latin Word Study Tool

  • Cassius November 26, 2022 at 3:58 PM

    Moved the thread from forum PD 1 -The blessed and immortal nature knows no trouble itself ... to forum New PD1 Forum.
  • Cassius July 5, 2025 at 4:43 PM

    Moved the thread from forum PD 01 - The blessed and immortal nature knows no trouble itself ... to forum Epicurus - Principal Doctrines.
  • Cassius July 5, 2025 at 5:17 PM

    Changed the title of the thread from “How Blessed and Imperishable Are Used in the Bible” to “PD01 - How Blessed and Imperishable Are Used in the Bible”.

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