apostolicfathers0201clem - Carmel Apologetics

668 EPISTLE OF S. POLYCARP.
while J. Reville De Atino Dieqtie quibus Polycarpus Sinyrnae martyritivi
iulit p. 51 (Genevae 1880) states the grounds
for the different views
and declines to pronounce an opinion.
This favourable reception of Waddington's essay was not undeserved.
Altogether it is a masterly piece of critical work. Objection may be
taken to particular points; but its great recommendation is that it
hangs
together and satisfies so many tests. Future discoveries may refute
some of the special criticisms; but it is not likely that they will vitally
affect the broad conclusions. But, while it
appears to be perfectly
sound in its main lines, and his date of the martyrdom may be accepted
as approximately correct, yet the possibility remains that {so far as regards
the notices in Aristides) the date of Quadratus' proconsulship ought
to be placed a year or two before or after a.d. 155. Thus for instance
the years of the proconsulates and the years of the sickness nearly bisect
each other, and careful adjustment is necessary in dealing with occurrences
near the point of bisection. Waddington has not treated this
source of divergence with precision; and, though he may have discerned,
he has not stated, the possibilities which are opened out by
different adjustments.
There are two points more especially in the chronology of Aristides,
at which the ultimate dates are dependent on the mode of adjustment;
(i)
The business with Julianus, which occurred near the transition from
one proconsular year to another; and (2)
The business with Severus,
which occurred near the transition from one sickness year to another.
(i)
Aristides was first taken ill about midwinter {Op.
i.
comp. p. 502 sq), so that the successive years
p. 481;
of the sickness correspond
roughly to our Julian Calendar years. But the proconsuls
came into otfice about May. If therefore an event took place at some
indeterminate time towards the middle of the sickness year,
it
might
'
fall either at the end of one proconsulate or at the beginning of another.
This consideration applies to the transactions of Aristides with the proconsul
Julianus {Op.
i.
p. 532 sq). He arrived at Pergamon
in the
second year of Aristides' illness,
'
a year and some months after its
commencement ;
and probably no long interval elapsed before these
transactions'. If they happened before May, Julianus' term of office
was drawing to a close ;
if after May, it was just commencing. Thus,
1
Masson places them in the third year seem probable, but it cannot be proof
the malady, thus making a great part nounced impossible. If this position were
of a year or more elapse after the arrival accepted, it would be possible to throw
of Aristides at Pergamon. This does not the martyrdom as far back as a.d. 153.