JOHANNES MEURSIUS

"...the paralytic was also left behind because of sin, as he said: 'See, you have become well; sin no more'" original Greek: "ἐγκατελείφθη καὶ ὁ παραλυτικὸς διὰ ἁμαρτίας ὡς εἶπεν οἷς ἴδε καὶ ὑγιὴς γέγονας μηκέτι ἁμάρτανε" ] This passage is highly corrupt. For what does that mean: "as he said to whom" original: "ὡς εἶπεν οἷς"? I re-punctuate and restore it as follows: "...to whom Jesus said: 'See, you have become well; sin no more'" original Greek: "ᾧ εἶπεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς. ἴδε, ὑγιὴς γέγονας, μ. ἁ.". The scribe had written "Jesus" using a compendium A "compendium" was a shorthand abbreviation used by medieval scribes to save space; here "ὁ ῖς" (ho Iēs) was likely misread as "οἷς" (hois)., and from this it became "to whom." No one will doubt that this is the true reading of this passage.

"A certain Elpidius, a Cappadocian by birth" ] Basil the Great mentions him in Epistle 8: "For I have spent this fiftieth day in illness, upon which our beloved and most diligent brother and fellow-minister Elpidius visited us."

"Of the chorepiscopus Timothy" ] Concerning the chorepiscopi A "chorepiscopus" (country bishop) was a rank in the early church for a clergyman who exercised episcopal functions in rural districts under the authority of a city bishop., see our Glossary.

"And of Philoneolus Thomas" original: "καὶ τοῦ Φιλονεόλου θωμᾶ" ] It should be written: "of Philoneolus Thoues."

"A certain Abramius became a monk" ] John Moschus mentions the abbot Abramius in the Spiritual Meadow original title: "Limon.", Chapter 97, as does Nicephorus, Book 11, Chapter 42.

"And the right of two children" original: "καὶ τέκνων δύο δικαίωμα" ] It should be written: "the right of three children." The Right of three children original Latin: "Ius trium liberorum." This was a legal privilege in the Roman Empire granted to citizens who had fathered three or more children, exempting them from certain duties and providing inheritance advantages. is well-known in Roman affairs. The origin of the error lies in the confusion between the Greek numerals β' (2) and γ' (3).

"A certain barbarian storm" ] He understands this as the invasion of the Goths Likely referring to the Sack of Rome in 410 AD by Alaric and the Visigoths..

"Which had been cherished in beauty for one thousand two hundred years" ] Those years were not entirely 1200. See Orosius, Book 7, Chapter 40.