THE ANCIENT GREEK FUTURE PARTICIPLE AND POLYCARP’S EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. A Statistical and Morphosyntactical Study

Abstract

This thesis examines the Greek future participle from a statistical and morphosyntactical perspective in order to ascertain whether the occurrence of a future participle in Polycarp's Epistle to the Philippians might serve as a basis for emendation or not. The frequencies of the future participle in a relatively large selection of texts from the 5th century BCE to the beginning of the 4th century CE are established through the databases Perseus under PhiloLogic and Thesaurus Linguae Graecae. In addition, the morphosyntax of the future participle in early low-register Judeo-Christian texts is analysed and compared with the usage in Polycarp. The results from this study show that the occurrence of a future participle in Polycarp stands out for this particular type of Greek. The conclusion is therefore drawn that the future participle might be decisive for the textual critical debate but that further research must be conducted before a final stance can be taken. It is possible, however, that Polycarpian scholarship has largely overlooked the future participle. In that case this thesis provides fresh insight into an intractable controversy.