apostolicfathers0201clem - Carmel Apologetics

DATE OF THE MARTYRDOM. 669
while accepting Waddington's date for Julianus (a.d. 145, 146), and
likewise his relative chronology which places the proconsulate of Severus
in the loth year of the sickness and makes Quadratus the immediate
successor of Severus, we have still an alternative as to the martyrdom.
If we place the business with Julianus at the commencement of his
proconsulate (say July, a.d. 145), then the second year of the illness was
A.D. 145, and the martyrdom occurred a.d. 154. If on the other hand
we place
it at the close (say April a.d. 146), then the second year of
the illness was a.d. 146, and the martyrdom a.d. 155.
The question
is one of historical probability; but it seems indeterminable
in itself. His business with Julianus was the obtaining
redress for the plunder of certain property which had occurred apparently
during his absence, though this is not certain. He could hardly have
returned before March. But the matter might have been taken in hand
at once after his return. We are told that the proconsul was holding an
assize at Pergamon (p. 532 dyopa 8' rjv Slkwv) ;
and in this particular
business he appears to have acted with great promptness. There is
nothing therefore to prevent our placing these transactions (say) in
April. But considerations might also be urged on the other side, such
as the pressure of business which would render it
impossible for the
proconsul to attend to such matters when he was giving up office, and
the like. The point therefore cannot be settled on its own merits. In
order to decide we have to call an extraneous consideration to our aid.
The 23rd of February was a Saturday in a.d. 155, but not in a.d. 154.
This fact decides in favour of a.d. 155.
(ii)
The second incident, where different adjustments are possible,
occurs at a later point in the chronology. Aristides speaks of certain
transactions with Severus then proconsul, as taking place in the loth
year of his illness (i. pp. 502, 505). It was then midwinter {xeifxwv 8'
rjv dXiyov /xcra rpoTras).
His illness, as we have seen (p. 659), likewise
commenced about midwinter. Did these transactions with Severus fall
at the beginning or at the close of his tenth year If we accept the
former view with Waddington, then we get a.d. 155 or a.d. 154 as the
alternative dates of the martyrdom, according as we have adopted the
later or the earlier date in the previous case (the transaction with
Julianus). If the latter view be adopted with Lipsius, then the alternative
dates of the martyrdom are pushed a year forward, a.d. 156 or
A.D. 155.
Unlike the former, this question is one not of historical probability
but of grammatical interpretation.
Aristides says (p. 502)
that when the
tenth year of his sickness 'was come round' (eVei
S^ko-tw TrepLrJKovTi),
he