2 maccabees 2:31 - but to strive after brevity of expression, and to avoid a laboured fulness in the treatment, is to be granted to him that would bring a writing into a new form.
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What does "2 maccabees 2:31" mean?
This verse, 2 Maccabees 2:31, is essentially giving advice on how to create a new and effective piece of writing, particularly in the context of summarizing or adapting existing material. Let's break it down:
"but to strive after brevity of expression...": This emphasizes the importance of conciseness. The author is saying that if you're trying to create something new, you should aim to be brief and to the point. Avoid unnecessary words or repetition.
"...and to avoid a laboured fulness in the treatment...": This reinforces the idea of brevity and expands on it. "Laboured fulness" refers to a style that is overly detailed, heavy, and possibly even forced or unnatural. "Treatment" refers to how the subject matter is handled or presented. The author suggests avoiding an overly detailed and exhaustive approach.
"...is to be granted to him that would bring a writing into a new form.": This explains why brevity and a light touch are important. It suggests that adopting a concise and clear style is essential if your goal is to create something original or reshape existing material into something new. The "new form" could refer to a condensed version, a reinterpretation, or a totally new work inspired by the original source.
In simpler terms:
If you want to make something new out of existing writing (like a summary, adaptation, or reinterpretation), it's best to be brief, to the point, and avoid getting bogged down in excessive detail. This focused approach will help you create a fresh and impactful work.
Contextual Understanding:
It's important to understand that 2 Maccabees itself is considered a historical abbreviation of a larger work. The author is aware that they are condensing and re-presenting information. This verse serves as a justification for their editorial choices. It's saying that striving for brevity and avoiding overly detailed accounts is a valid (and even necessary) approach when creating a "new form" of a text.
2 maccabees 2:31 - but to strive after brevity of expression, and to avoid a laboured fulness in the treatment, is to be granted to him that would bring a writing into a new form.
What does "2 maccabees 2:31" mean?
This verse, 2 Maccabees 2:31, is essentially giving advice on how to create a new and effective piece of writing, particularly in the context of summarizing or adapting existing material. Let's break it down:
"but to strive after brevity of expression...": This emphasizes the importance of conciseness. The author is saying that if you're trying to create something new, you should aim to be brief and to the point. Avoid unnecessary words or repetition.
"...and to avoid a laboured fulness in the treatment...": This reinforces the idea of brevity and expands on it. "Laboured fulness" refers to a style that is overly detailed, heavy, and possibly even forced or unnatural. "Treatment" refers to how the subject matter is handled or presented. The author suggests avoiding an overly detailed and exhaustive approach.
"...is to be granted to him that would bring a writing into a new form.": This explains why brevity and a light touch are important. It suggests that adopting a concise and clear style is essential if your goal is to create something original or reshape existing material into something new. The "new form" could refer to a condensed version, a reinterpretation, or a totally new work inspired by the original source.
In simpler terms:
If you want to make something new out of existing writing (like a summary, adaptation, or reinterpretation), it's best to be brief, to the point, and avoid getting bogged down in excessive detail. This focused approach will help you create a fresh and impactful work.
Contextual Understanding:
It's important to understand that 2 Maccabees itself is considered a historical abbreviation of a larger work. The author is aware that they are condensing and re-presenting information. This verse serves as a justification for their editorial choices. It's saying that striving for brevity and avoiding overly detailed accounts is a valid (and even necessary) approach when creating a "new form" of a text.