Septuagint
From Textus Receptus
The Septuagint (IPA: /ˈsɛptuədʒɪnt/), or simply "LXX", is the Koine Greek version of the Hebrew Bible, erroniously assumed to be translated in stages between the 3rd and 1st centuries BC in Alexandria. The Septuagint was most probably translated by Origen in about 300 AD. There is at least one nearly complete text of the LXX, Codex Alexandrinus. Nearly complete texts of the Septuagint are also found in the Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus.
The Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles did not quote from a Pre-Christian LXX, but rather Old Testament quotes within the Greek New Testament were later added to Greek Old Testament versions to make it seem that way. What is generally referred to as the LXX today bascially compilations of different Greek translations taken from Vaticanus, Sinaiticus and Alexandrinus, which do not perfectly coincide. Many modern versions like the RSV, NIV will often reject the Hebrew readings and then tell you in a footnote: "SOME LXX versions say...." It must be noted that not all LXX versions read the same. It would be impossible to reconstruct what a pre-Christian LXX version may have looked like, even if such a thing had existed.
The Septuagint (70) got its name by supposedly having been written by six scholars from each of the twelve tribes of Israel who traveled to the city of Alexandria in Egypt, where they miraculously produced their Greek translation from the Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures. But this would have been an unscriptural practice. The custodians of the Old Testament Scriptures were members of the tribe of Levi alone, and not any of the other tribes. Also, many orthodox O.T. Jews hated Paul's ministry to the Gentiles, and never would have accepted an O.T. translation made from a heathen, Gentile language. A Greek Old Testament translation into a pagan tongue and produced by the other eleven tribes in addition to the Levites would have been utterly rejected by the Jews and Jesus himself.
One must ask, why would Jesus quote a Greek manuscript to Hebrew speaking Jews?
External Links
- The Septuagint a Critical Analysis PDF Artcile by Floyd Jones
- NO LXX Part 1 Article by Will Kinney
- NO LXX Part 2 Article by Will Kinney
- NO LXX Part 3 Article by Will Kinney
- Josephus and the LXX Article by Will Kinney
- Luke 3:36 and Hebrews 1:6 in the LXX Article by Will Kinney
