- ἀφορμή
- ἀφορμή, ῆς, ἡ (s. ἀφορμάω) lit. a base or circumstance from which other action becomes possible, such as the starting-point or base of operations for an expedition, then gener. the resources needed to carry through an undertaking (e.g. even commercial capital), in our lit. (also Ar. 2, 7; Just.; Tat.; Mel., HE 4, 26, 5; Ath., R. 49, 235 al.) a set of convenient circumstances for carrying out some purpose occasion, opportunity for someth., a meaning found in Attic Gk. and also quite common in the Koine (Nägeli 15) ἐκκόπτειν τὴν ἀ. τῶν θελόντων ἀ. cut off the opportunity of those who wish an opportunity 2 Cor 11:12 (numerous transl. var. render: ‘cut the ground out from under those who look for opportunity’); ἀ. διδόναι τινί (Polyb. 28, 6, 7 μὴ διδόναι τ. ἐχθροῖς ἀφορμὴν εἰς διαβολήν; Pr 9:9; Philo, Leg. ad Gai. 200; cp. Diod S 1, 83; 13, 22, 5; 3 Macc 3:2) give someone an occasion: τῷ ἀντικειμένῳ λοιδορίας χάριν to the opponent for reviling 1 Ti 5:14; excuse (to future believers for moral laxity) Hm 4, 3, 3; τινός for someth. 2 Cor 5:12 (for the gen. cp. Epict. 1, 8, 6; 1, 9, 20; Dio Chrys. 16 [33], 38; Jos., Bell. 7, 441, Ant. 5, 57); ἀ. διδόναι τινί, ἵνα Hm 4, 1, 11. Pl. (Polyb., Epict., Vett. Val.; IPriene 105, 13 and 16; Joseph.) ἀφορμὰς διδόναι τινί, ἵνα ITr 8:2; ἀ. λαμβάνειν (a favorite expr.; e.g. in Polyb.; Dionys. Hal.; Philo, In Flacc. 47; Ar. 11, 7 ἀφορμήν; cp. Just., A I, 44, 9 ἀφορμάς) grasp an opportunity Ro 7:8, 11; w. gen. of the one who gives the opportunity Lk 11:53/54 v.l. (the expr. ἀ. ζητεῖν is used difft. POxy 34 III, 13 ἀ. ζητοῦντες ἁμαρτημάτων=looking for opportunity to commit illegal acts). W. εἴς τι for someth. (Appian, Bell. Civ. 5, 53 §222 ἔχειν ἀφορμὴν ἔς τι; Philo) 2 Cl 16:1; εἰς ἀ. τῇ σαρκί to give the flesh an opportunity (to become active) Gal 5:13.—M-M. TW. Sv.
Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά παλαιοχριστιανική Λογοτεχνία. 2015.