Post on 14-Dec-2015
THE SEPTUAGINT
英四 C 許施敏 Tina
英三 B 田偲妤 Sally
英三 B 廖曼淇 Mandy
英三 B 陳侃茵 Anteia
英三 B 翁良權 Ben
Outline
1. Historical background
2. The definition of the Septuagint
3. The importance of the Septuagint
4. The influence of the Septuagint
Historical Background
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE SEPTUAGINT
• Alexander the Great defeated the Persians in 331 BC, and established the empire in the lands of Israel.
• Greek became one of the common languages in the Mediterranean world.
LOCATION
• The Ptolemy, the Seleucids, and the Pergamon kingdoms
• The primary language of the Jews in Alexandria, Egypt was Greek.
Produced in Alexandria, Egypt
The Definition of the Septuagint
The Letter of Aristeas
1. This document revealed much information about the Septuagint.
2. This document was written by a Hellenistic Jew in the mid
second century BC.
3. This document mentioned about how the translation of the Septuagint was done, and the reasons for it, and the circumstances.
4. This document claimed that the Septuagint was even
more authoritative than the Hebrew one.
Septuagint (LXX) = “translation of the seventy interpreters”
1. What- Greek translation of the Old Testament
2. When- 300-200 BC.
(The Greek King of Egypt, Ptolemy II Philadelphus)
3. Who - 70-72 Jewish scholars
4. Where- Alexandria, Egypt
5. Why- a. Many Jews were beginning to lose their Hebrew
language.
b. Greek was a common language at the time.
6. How- • Many early Christians, spoke and read Greek, relied
on the Septuagint to understand the Old Testament.
b. The New Testament writers quoted directly from the Septuagint.
c. Whenever Christianity spread, translations of the Hebrew Scriptures were made based on the Septuagint.
The Importance of the Septuagint
• The disciple Philip explained a passage that was read from the Septuagint.
• The apostle Paul often quoted from the Septuagint.
The importance of the Septuagint1. The oldest and the most important of all the versions (of
Bible translations) made by the Jews in Egypt.
2. The key to understand the Greek of the New Testament
3. Provide the earliest commentary on Hebrew text
4. Quoted by the New Testament
5. Shed light on translation debates
6. Know the different interpretations between Hebrew and Greek Old Testament
The Influence of the Septuagint
The reinterpretation
• behold, a “virgin” shall conceive. • behold, a “young woman” shall conceive.
• I desire “mercy” and not sacrifice. • I desire “goodness” and not sacrifice.
• He gave them “bread” out of heaven to eat.• He gave them “food” or “grain” from heaven.
The writing style
1. Idioms and vocabulary
ex: Nephilim Gegenes
2. Hellenistic sources and thoughts
Thank you for your attention