Prescript
The term prescript is made up of the Latin words prae ("before") and scribere ("to write"), meaning what is written in front of it. The so-called formulaic phrase stands as an introduction to the beginning of ancient letters , i.e. before the actual content of the letter. In the basic version, a prescript comprises three components: the name of the sender (lat. Superscriptio ), the name of the addressee (lat. Adscriptio ) and a greeting (lat. Salutatio ). For example, Seneca writes as a prescript: Seneca Lucilio suo salutem (“Seneca greets his Lucilius”).
The same scheme is found in New Testament letters . The letter of James begins with the words: "James ... the twelve tribes in the dispersion: salute" ( Jak 1,1 EU ). The majority of the letters in the New Testament contain a wish for a blessing instead of a simple greeting, for example “Grace to you and peace from God” ( Eph 1,2 EU ).
Paul's letters contain an expanded prescript.
After the prescript there is a Proömium in which the addressees are addressed (often through a wish for well-being), and / or God in the form of praise (what is called eulogy , for example "Praise be to God ..."), thanks or intercession.
literature
- Hans Conzelmann , Andreas Lindemann : Workbook for the New Testament. 10th edition, Tübingen 1991, pp. 36-38.
- Hans-Josef Klauck : The ancient letter literature and the New Testament. A textbook and workbook (UTB 2022). Ferdinand Schöningh, Paderborn 1998.
Web links
- University of Munich, Catholic theology on Paul's letters
Individual evidence
- ↑ Herwig Görgemanns : Epistle. In: The New Pauly (DNP). Volume 3, Metzler, Stuttgart 1997, ISBN 3-476-01473-8 , Sp. 1161-1164.
- ↑ Seneca , Epistulae morales 1,1.
- ^ Ferdinand Rupert Prostmeier: Eulogy. I. Biblical . In: Walter Kasper (Ed.): Lexicon for Theology and Church . 3. Edition. tape 3 . Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 1995, Sp. 987 .