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Résumé :

The aim of the paper is to propose a reading of a chronicle passage which reckons with the open and living nature of this kind of texts. Considering the way in which chronicles were written and used, it is possible to consider as witnesses to a chronicle text also the parallel passages transmitted by previous and subsequent chronicle tradition (as they represent a stage of the life of the text). On these grounds, a reading of an apparently inconsistent passage of John Malalas’ chronicle is conducted, which takes into account all the witnesses to the text. Such a reading enables to reassess the meaning of some words, resulting into a better understanding of the passage. A semantic evolution of the terms φιλοσοφέω and λογικός is thus traced, which may nuance Malalas’ passage with an apologetic tone.