[B-Greek] PATHR MELLONTOS AIWNOS
Webb
webb at selftest.net
Mon Feb 20 18:55:48 EST 2006
Not to waste too many electrons without much expertise, but I can think of
two complementary reasons why the LXX translators might have used that
rendering. First, God is described in the Hebrew bible a number of times as
'olam, which I think implies immeasurable ancientness (cf. "the ancient of
days"). The LXX translators, being strict monotheists, might not have been
able to imagine a human being named "eternal father", since that sounds just
like a name for God. Secondly, the appearance of the person being described
seems to inaugurate a new age of peace, so they may have concluded that
abi-'ad means "father (i.e. founder/inaugurator) of the new (MELLONTOS, lit.
"coming" or "incipient") age". The foreclosure of one possible
interpretation opens another.
Webb Mealy
> -----Original Message-----
> From: b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org]
> On Behalf Of Ben Crick
> Sent: Monday, February 20, 2006 3:31 PM
> To: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: Re: [B-Greek] PATHR MELLONTOS AIWNOS
>
> On Mon 20 Feb 2006 (22:14:28 +0000), joseph.ripley at ntlworld.com wrote:
> > Can anyone explain why this has become "Everlasting Father" PATHR
> > MELLONTOS AIWNOS ?
> > It seems the Hebrew says "abiod" which is translated in a similar way -
> > with or without the future emphasis.
>
> Dear Joe,
>
> The Hebrew, which is the /Vorlage/ of the LXX, has 'a:BiY `aD, "Father
> of Eternity". So it seems that the LXX /PATHR MELLONTOS AIWNOS/ is a
> fair paraphrase. "Everlasting Father" is better English than "Father
> of Eternity", the literal rendering of 'a:BiY `aD. The noun `aD
"eternity"
> comes 6 times in Isaiah, used in a general sense (26:4, 30:8), and also
> more specifically in 57:15, 64:9 and 65:18. 30:8 has La`aD (`aD with the
> prefix L:), meaning "for the time to come". Brenton's translation is of
> course a literal rendering of the LXX Greek text without reference to
> the Hebrew.
>
> The Latin Vulgate (St Jerome) has /Pater futuri saeculi/ which has an
> affinity with PATHR MELLONTOS AIWNOS, don't you think?
>
> ERRWSQE
> Ben
> --
> Revd Ben Crick, BA CF ZFC Hf
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