- βαθμός
- βαθμός, οῦ, ὁ (s. βαίνω; in various senses Strabo, Luc., et al.; LXX, ins, pap, 4 Esdr, Ps.-Soph. Philo, Joseph.)① a structured rest for the foot marking a stage in ascending or descending, step (cp. βαίνω ‘take a step, walk’; Soph.; Hellen. writers [Nägeli 26], LXX; ApcEsdr 4:8 p. 28, 7 Tdf. al.; Jos., Bell. 5, 206, Ant. 8, 140 in physical sense) ἐπὶ τρίτου βαθμοῦ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου on the third step of the altar GJs 7:3; cp. Ac 12:10 D.② a stage in intellectual or spiritual progress (Dio Chrys. 24 [41], 6; Philo, Aet. M. 58) grade (Jos., Bell. 4, 171 οἱ τῶν τολμημάτων βαθμοί), rank (cp. IG XII/2, 243, 16 τοῖς τᾶς ἀξίας βασμοῖς ἀνελόγησε=he kept up to the degrees of his rank): β. ἑαυτῷ καλὸν περιποιεῖσθαι win a good standing (or rank) for oneself 1 Ti 3:13. Perh. a t.t. of the mysteries underlies the last ref. (a ‘step’ in the soul’s journey heavenward); cp. Herm. Wr. 13, 9 ὁ βαθμὸς οὗτος, ὦ τέκνον, δικαιοσύνης ἐστὶν ἕδρασμα. Furthermore, philosophy seems also to have used β. to denote the gradual attainment of wisdom (s. OImmisch, Philol. n.s. 17, 1904, 33, 1).—On the form of the word s. RSchöll, SBBayAk 1893 II 500.—DELG s.v. βαίνω p. 157. M-M.
Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά παλαιοχριστιανική Λογοτεχνία. 2015.