Of physical torment in this life we have a few instances. In one passage the pangs of childbirth are likened to ' torment.' The woman arrayed as the sun was 'travailing in birth, and in pain to be delivered ' (pixaavi^oixii'-q tckc'lv. Rev 12'^). Such men as have not the seal of God on their forehead are tormented by tlie scorpions live months ; ' and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when it striketh a man' (Rev 9'). Of scorpions G. E. Post says (HDB, s.v.), 'Their sting is very painful, frequently causing a night of agony, which nothing but a large dose of morphine will a.ssuage.' The torments of Babylon the Great consist of plagues, death, mourning, famine, and burning with tire (Rev 18"-), especially the last (Igio. 15) fjjg heroes of Israel were 'tormented' (He 11", RV ' evil entreated').
To torments after death we have fairly numerous references in Rev. and 4 Ezra. Those who worship the Beast and his image shall be tormented with fire and brimstone ; and the smoke of their torment shall ascend for ever and ever, there being no rest for them day or night (Rev 14"""). A similar punishment awaits the devil, the Beast, and the False Propliet, who, after being cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever (Rev 20'°). Those who have cast away despitefully the ways of God 'shall dwell in torments' {4 Ezr. ix. 9). Those who have scorned God's law must know it (or Him) afterdeath by torment (ix. 12). TheMes.siah shall show the evil multitude ' the torments where- with they shall be tormented, which are likened unto a flame' (xiii. 38). It is better with beasts « than with men, for they know not of torments promised them after death (vii. 66). Fire and torments await the wicked (vii. 38). The apostates shall be tormented (vii. 72). The torments begin in the Intermediate Abode (vii. 75, 80, 86, 99), and are increased after the Final Judgment (vii. 36, 38, 84). The pit of torment is synonymous with the furnace of hell (vii. 36). Other instances of future torment are found in 2 Bar 36'°'- 51" 5'2^ 54'*'- 552-' 5613 592. n 786 838 859.
Literature. — R. H. Charles, The Apocalypse of Saruch, London, 1896 ; P. Volz, Judische Eschatolorjie, Tubingen, 1903, § 39 ; Libri Apocryphi Veteris Testatnenti, ed. O. F. Fritzsche, Leipzig, 1871 ; DCG, s.v. ' Torment.'
William Watson. TOWN -CLERK. — The town-clerk of Ephesus (Ac 19^5-"), who displays tact and also points out the illegality of the whole proceedings of the crowd, with the proper means of redress if there be a real gi-ievance, was a typical official of a Greek city with tlie Athenian type of constitution. In cities like Ephesus, which were the headquarters
of a Roman governor, the town-clerk appears to have acted al.so as a kind of intermediary hetween the proconsul (with his start) and the municipal authorities. The Acts narrative is in fact a pre- cious document for the understanding of the town- clerk's position. With the advent of the Empire tlie free democratic constitution of most jirovincial cities was suspended. The assemblies could be held only with the |)ermission of the governor, who was an Imperial official (cf. IQ^'"*'). No longer could a citizen bring a proposal before the assembly per- sonally, but only through the presiding official. The old council of annually elected citizens re- mained, as did the old magistracies. These offices were held only by the rich, as no salary was at- tached to them. The cTpar-qyol (see MAGISTRATE, Praetor) and the ypa/xixanus toO 57)fjLov formed the magisterial board of the city. Every measure to be brought before the people must first have had their approval and support. These magistrates seem to have presided over the assembly in rotation. A decree passed by the a.ssembly required the con- lirmation of the governor before it could become law. The high importance of the town-clerk appears from the fact thut his name alone is fre- quently given as a means of dating a decree, and, if it is his second period of office, inscriptions indicate that in the usual way. An inscription of Bran- chid* in the same province of Asia as Ephesus (Greek Inscriptions in the British Museum, no. 921) provides the best illustration of the import of this riotous assembly in Ephesus (C. G. Brandis, in Pauly-Wissowa, ii. [1896] col. 1551). A citizen of Brancbidce in 48 B.C. is celebrated on it as having gone on an embassy to Rome and restored to the people of BranchidEe their former assembly and laws. Under the Empire privileges were apt to be taken away from cities if they were abused. This had happened in the case of Branchidie, and only the intervention of a prominent citizen, who took the journey to Rome and doubtless spent a large sum of money, was able to recover their old rights for the populace. So in Ephesus and elsewhere the local officials were most careful to avoid punisliment from the Roman authorities on account of assemblies illegally summoned.
Literature.— O. Scliulthess, s.v. ypafLfiajeU in Pauly-Wis- Bowa, vii. [1912] cola. 17U3-17S0 ; J. Menadier, Qua condicione Kpfifsii vsi Hint inde ab Asia in /ortnnin prom'ncia; redacta, Berlin, 18S0 ; H. Swoboda, Die (friechisi'hen Vi)iksbeschliisse, Leipzig, 1S90 ; W. M. Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen, London, 1S95, pp. 28111., 305.