Talk:Gospel of Matthew

Greek name

There's a bit of a problem with the Greek name for this Gospel - the way it is now, with the acute inflection, makes the word mean 'against', rather than the accent going the other way, meaning 'according to'. Any easy solutions? — edited by Pιsτévο ^{talk complaints} at 15:24, November 16, 2006 (PST)

Well, you don't say! I just copied it over from wikipedia, and that's how they had it. I think the normal formatting here only supports alphas with acute accents; I tried everything, but I couldn't make the grave one show up as anything but a box. Someone with much more technical expertise than myself is obviously needed. Gabriela 20:59, November 16, 2006 (PST)

It's possible to make à come up, but of course, that isn't the Greek letter. Personally, I think that κατα (i.e. without accent) may be the best way - that's the way it's pronounced (i.e. uninflected), and it preserves the differentiation. $0.02, anyway. — edited by Pιsτévο ^{talk complaints} at 05:46, November 17, 2006 (PST)

Done. Still, I wish there were a way to make it completely correct. Gabriela 06:41, November 17, 2006 (PST)

Actually, if I remember my classes in Ancient Greek correctly, the translation of the preposition would depend more on how Μαθθαίος is declined. According to Smyth's "Greek Grammar," when Κατά is associated with a noun in the genitive (or in some cases, the dative in the Boeotian dialect), it means against. However, when Κατά is the preposition for an accusative noun, it means along, over, or according to. Therefore, Κατά Μαθθαίον is acceptable since Μαθθαίον is the accusative form of Μαθθαίος. The translation is not contingent on the accent acute, or lack thereof, over the last alpha of Κατά.I have seen some Bibles which have it, some don't even bother to accent it (like Nestle-Aland's Novvm Testamentvm Graece). As long as Matthew is in the accusative, I think the translation is understood as "According to Matthew." Mike 11:20, November 17, 2006 (PST)

I'm fairly sure that the fact it's in English will take away any controversy either way :) but nonetheless, I'm not entirely sure that ancient Greek is the same as N.T. Greek in this matter - in Trembelas' 1952 'translation' of the New Testament from N.T. to modern Greek, approved by more Greek patriarchates than you can poke a stick at, in the introduction to the Gospel of Matthew is found the sentence: Συνεγράφη δε το κατα Ματθαίον Ευαγγέλιον μεταξύ τών ετών 60-66 μ. Χ. (I think, 'It was written, the Gospel of Matthew, around the years 60-66 A.D.'). Perhaps the language changed? — edited by Pιsτévο ^{talk complaints} at 16:40, November 17, 2006 (PST)

I'm not exactly sure either. I think the preposition is the same either way. Unfortunately, I do not have a grammar of Koine Greek. Also, most documents concerning Koine/Biblical texts are so horrid with their accenting as many Biblical scholars consider accenting to be "trivial" due to the Attic tonal system being swept away in favor of convenience. For the time being, I wouldn't use the accent acute over the Κατά. I believe it is good just like it is. Thank you, Pistevo for your assistance in this matter. Mike 19:17, November 17, 2006 (PST)