Gal 2:20 - to the son
Harold R. Holmyard III
hholmyard at ont.com
Mon May 1 07:23:01 EDT 2000
Dear Steve,
You write:
>While it is possible that Paul and the author of Hebrews were making their
>own translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, I don't think this is likely in
>this case. The Septuagint Greek version of Scripture is the likely source.
>Here is the original text:
>Hab 2:4
>hO DE DIKAIOS hEK PISTEWS MOU ZHSETAI
>Galatians 3:11 reads:
>hO DIKAIOS hEK PISTEWS ZHSETAS
Steve, this is an important point, because the ease of possible
understanding of the LXX with respect to faith rather than faithfulness
seems obvious. Earlier I gave reasons for seeing Hab 2:4 in the Hebrew as
carrying an implication of faith towards God, even if faithfulness was the
immediate idea. The Septuagint seems to increase the reader's tendency to
interpret with respect to faith rather than faithfulness.
Not only do the words you quoted do this, but so do the earlier words
in Hab 2:4 LXX, which are quoted verbatim in Heb 10:38:
EAN hUPOSTEILHTAI OUK EUDOKEI hH YUCH MOU EN AUTWi
"If he should draw back, my soul has no pleasure in him."
The Greek contrasts the two types of people in Hab 2:4 in terms of lack of
faith and faith, it seems. The Hebrew contrast may be less direct. The
Hebrew term translated "puffed up" is debated but does not necessarily
imply the direct opposite of faith the way that the Greek EAN hUPOSTEILHTAI
does. These facts may explain how Paul could take a verse which in Hebrew
may point to faithful conduct, and apply it to faith alone in Rom 1:17.
Yours,
Harold Holmyard
More information about the B-Greek
mailing list