[B-Greek] Why does the Greek New Testament sometimes quote from theLXX and not from the proto-MT whe

Bart Torbert Bart.Torbert at ihsenergy.com
Thu Mar 11 10:06:58 EST 2004






Philip,

Your question does raise an issue that I find interesting, but have never
found a complete answer to.   I have read claims that the LXX was used as
the "standard text" among the Greek speaking Jews living outside of Judea.
I am sure there are folks on the list that would dispute that assertion.

What I am trying to find is the balance between the authoritativeness of
the LXX vs the MT.   With all the fuss these days over New Testament
translations and manuscripts, the issue of what proper manuscripts to use
and how to translate them regarding the Old Testament does not get as much
attention.

Paul would have been very knowledgeable  of  the Hebrew version(s).   One
would think he would defer to them, considering his Orthodox training.
Maybe the examples in Hebrews reflects Paul's use of text that his audiance
would be the most familiar with.  So what does that say about the over all
"quality" of the LXX vs the MT?

Bart Torbert
bart.torbert at ihsenergy.com




                                                                           
             "John Byron"                                                  
             <jbyron at ashland.e                                             
             du>                                                        To 
             Sent by:                  <phil-eng at ighmail.com>,             
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             ists.ibiblio.org                                           cc 
                                                                           
                                                                   Subject 
             03/11/2004 07:06          Re: [B-Greek] Why does the Greek    
             AM                        New Testament sometimes quote  from 
                                       theLXX and not from the proto-MT    
                                       whe                                 
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           




Philip,

The NT authors seem to have been more familiar with the LXX than a
proto-MT. Also, we must be careful if we assume that there was a single
homogeneous Hebrew text available to anyone in the first century CE. The
numerous biblical fragments found at Qumran, Cairo Geniza and even the
Targumim demonstrate that there were a variety of texts available. I am not
sure we should conclude that an author chose a text to fit a particular
theological point, but I would not rule it out. The LXX is, in many ways, a
theological interpretation of one or more Hebrew texts. Thus the LXX
reflects the theology of many Greek reading Jews living during that time.

John Byron Ph.D.
Ashland Theological Seminary
910 Center St.
Ashland, OH 44805
jbyron at ashland.edu

>>> "Philip Engmann" <phil-eng at ighmail.com> 03/11/04 08:46AM >>>
Dear B-Greekers,

Why does the Greek New Testament sometimes quote from the LXX and not
from the proto-MT where the two texts differ?

For example, in the following verses:[1]

1.    Hebrews 1.6/
<http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/users/f298c9bb/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOW
S/My%20Documents/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/Mcuments/Philip's%20Files/Mcumen
ts/Philip's%20Files/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDO
WS/Desktop/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/spDt32-43.html> Deuteronomy 32.43

"Let all God's angels worship him." NT/LXX
The MT omits this quotation             MT

2. Hebrews 2.6-8/
<http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/users/f298c9bb/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOW
S/My%20Documents/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/Mcuments/Philip's%20Files/Mcumen
ts/Philip's%20Files/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDO
WS/Desktop/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/spPs8-4.html> Psalm 8.4-6
"Thou didst make him a little lower than the angels" NT/LXX
"thou hast made him a little less than God"                   MT

3. Hebrews 2.13/
<http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/users/f298c9bb/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOW
S/My%20Documents/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/Mcuments/Philip's%20Files/Mcumen
ts/Philip's%20Files/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDO
WS/Desktop/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/spIs8-17.html> Isaiah 8.17
"I will put my trust in him." NT/LXX
"I will hope in him"                 MT

4. Hebrews 3.15/
<http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/users/f298c9bb/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOW
S/My%20Documents/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/Mcuments/Philip's%20Files/Mcumen
ts/Philip's%20Files/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDO
WS/Desktop/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/spPs95-7.html> Psalm 95.7-8
"Today, when you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the
rebellion."                NT/LXX
"O that today you would hearken to his voice! Harden not your hearts, as
at Meribah"      MT

5. Hebrews 8.8-12/
<http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/users/f298c9bb/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOW
S/My%20Documents/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/Mcuments/Philip's%20Files/Mcumen
ts/Philip's%20Files/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDO
WS/Desktop/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/spJr31-31.html> Jeremiah. 31.31-34
"for they did not continue in my covenant, and so I paid no heed to
them, says the Lord"   NT/LXX
"my covenant which they broke, though I was their husband, says the
LORD"                    MT

6. Hebrews 10.5-7/
<http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/users/f298c9bb/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOW
S/My%20Documents/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/Mcuments/Philip's%20Files/Mcumen
ts/Philip's%20Files/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDO
WS/Desktop/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/spPs40-6.html> Psalm 40.6-8
 "Sacrifices and offerings thou hast not desired; but a body hast thou
prepared for me"      NT/LXX
"Sacrifice and offering thou dost not desire; but thou hast given me an
open ear"               MT

7. Hebrews 10.37-38/
<http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/users/f298c9bb/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOW
S/My%20Documents/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/Mcuments/Philip's%20Files/Mcumen
ts/Philip's%20Files/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDO
WS/Desktop/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/spHab2-3.html> Habakkuk 2.3-4
"and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him."
NT/LXX
"Behold, he whose soul is not upright in him shall fail [Hebrews. - is
puffed up]"       MT

8. Hebrews 11.21/
<http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/users/f298c9bb/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOW
S/My%20Documents/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/Mcuments/Philip's%20Files/Mcumen
ts/Philip's%20Files/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDO
WS/Desktop/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/spGen47-31.html> Genesis 47.31
"By faith Jacob ... bowing in worship over the head of his staff."
NT/LXX
"Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed"
MT

9. Hebrews 12.5-6/
<http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/users/f298c9bb/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOW
S/My%20Documents/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/Mcuments/Philip's%20Files/Mcumen
ts/Philip's%20Files/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDO
WS/Desktop/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/spPr3-11.html> Proverbs 3.11-12
"For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son
whom he receives."  NT/LXX
"for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he
delights"        MT



  _____

[1] The first phrase shows the New Testament and the LXX wording, and
the second phrase has the wording from the Hebrew Old Testament. In each
case, the New Testament author is true to the Septuagint. The difference
between the Hebrew MT and the Greek LXX is highlighted.

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