Stuff Early Christians Readhttp://faithlife.com/stuff-early-christians-read The Septuagint

Rick Brannanrick@logos.com

What is the Septuagint?• Greek translation of the

Hebrew Scriptures

• Extension of the Hebrew Scriptures with Greek material

• Often abbreviated “LXX”

Why Do We Care?• When a New Testament author

draws a quotation from the Old Testament, it will most often be closest to the Greek of the Septuagint (compared to the Hebrew Bible)

• Thus the Septuagint was likely the Bible the NT writers used and knew

When Did it Happen?

When Did it Happen?

How Did it Happen?• Legend: Letter of Aristeas

– 72 translators of the Pentateuch (six from each of the 12 tribes)

– Finished in 72 days

• “Letter of Aristeas” is part of the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha

How Did it Happen?• Truth: Not so neat.

– We don’t really know– Probably several people in

several places (though perhaps centered in Alexandria) over a large period of time

What is its Relation to the Bible?• Directly: The LXX is a

Greek translation of all OT material

• Indirectly: When NT cites the OT, it usually uses the LXX

NT Citations of OT• Synoptic Gospels: 46

quotations• John: 12 quotations• Acts: 23 quotations• Paul: 78 quotations• Hebrews: 28 quotations• General Epistles: ‘few’• Revelation: ‘does not quote,

but its language is full of OT phraseology’

Source: Swete, Henry Barclay. An Introduction to the Old Testament in Greek. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1914.

One Example NT CitationGal 3:13• Christ redeemed us from

the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,” (LEB)

Refers to Deut 21:23

Deuteronomy 21:23From the Hebrew (LEB)

his dead body shall not hang on the tree, but certainly you shall bury him on that day, for cursed by God is one that is being hung; so you shall not defile your land that Yahweh your God is giving to you as an inheritance.

From the Greek (LES)His body shall not sleep upon the tree; rather, with a funeral you shall bury him in that day, for all who hang on a tree are cursed from God. And you shall not defile the land that the Lord your God is giving you as a portion.

Gal 3:13 citation of Deut 21:23• LXX has different phrasing

– LXX groups “all who hang”– Hebrew singles out “the

one that is being hung”• No material difference• NT is better match of LXXBut:• Same conclusion

What About the Apocrypha?• Several names

– Apocrypha– Deuterocanon– Intertestamental Literature– Second Temple Literature

Is the Apocrypha Canonical?• Protestants: No

– But has historical value• Catholics: Sort of

– Hence the term “deutero-canonical”

• Orthodox: Pretty much– They use the Septuagint as

their Old Testament

What is in the Apocrypha?Additions to existing material and different translations

• Additions to Jeremiah• 1 Esdras/Esdras A• Psalm 151• Additions to Esther• Additions to Daniel

Follow Along• I’ll be reading and referring to various

books found in the apocrypha/deuterocanon. You can follow along (if you have a tablet or smartphone) here:

http://supakoo.com/rick/StuffEarlyChristiansRead.htmorhttp://faithlife.com/stuff-early-christians-read (“Documents” tab, though must join the group first)

Additions to Daniel: Susanna• The story of Susanna, wife of

Jehoiakim, a rich and prominent man• She was beautiful• She was lusted after by two judges of

Israel– They set her up to protect themselves

• Daniel saves the day

Additions to DanielBel and the Dragon• Bel is an idol of the Babylonians• Daniel refuses to worship• The king protests: Surely Bel is a

god because he consumes what we supply!

• Daniel proves Bel to be false• Babylonians also worshiped a

certain dragon• Daniel kills the dragon• Daniel is then thrown into a lion’s

den, but perseveres.– A variation on the Biblical story

What else is in the Apocrypha?Material not found in OT

• Tobit• Judith• 1–4 Maccabees• Wisdom of Sirach

– Aka “Ecclesiasticus”• Wisdom of Solomon

Tobit• Tobit, a Jew in Nineveh, his son

Tobias, and the archangel Rafael• Tobit struck blind, and loses income.• Sends Tobias to a faraway relative to

retrieve a significant sum of money.– Sends a companion with him.– Unbeknownst to everyone, the companion

is Rafael.• Rafael helps Tobias win the relative’s

daughter as a wife.• Tobias retrieves the money.• Tobias returns with wife and money.• Rafael helps Tobias cure Tobit’s

blindness.

Judith• Israel and Assyria (led by

Holofernes) are at the point of war• An Assyrian advisor (Achior) advises

against war– Holofernes rejects Achior’s counsel– Achior turned over to Israel

• Holofernes attacks– Israel is beseiged, elders want to

surrender• Judith refuses surrender, trusts God

– Dolls herself up, heads to Assyrian camp– Endears herself to Holofernes– After Holofernes drinks himself drunk,

Judith beheads him• Israel is saved

1, 2, 3, & 4 Maccabees• Literature telling of the Maccabean

revolt in 166–160 BC• Retellings of the same story, mostly• 1 Maccabees is primary• 2 Maccabees relies on 1 Maccabees

– Greek is considered the toughest of the LXX

• 3 Maccabees– Like a prequel to 1 Maccabees

• 4 Maccabees– Particularly gruesome, focuses on torture

and perseverance of the seven sons of Simon

– Not considered deuterocanonical by Catholics

Wisdom Literature• Wisdom of Sirach

– aka Ecclesiasticus– Originally written in Hebrew, similar to

Proverbs and other OT Wisdom literature

“The book contains moral, cultic, and ethical maxims, folk proverbs, psalms of praise and lament, theological and philosophical reflections, homiletic exhortations, and pointed observations about life and customs of the day.” (AYBD)

• Wisdom of Solomon– aka simply “Wisdom”

Other Material in the LXXPsalms of Solomon and Odes

• Not claimed as deuterocanonical by Catholics

• Odes has liturgical use among Orthodox

• Usually labeled as Pseudepigrapha

The End• Questions?

• Contact:Rick Brannanrick@logos.com

Or ask a question on Faithlife:http://faithlife.com/stuff-early-christians-read