Best Dictionary Article or Book Treating Major OT Bible Versions and Canon (MT, LXX, Vulgate)

[JohnABarnett]

I am putting together a table showing the various Old Testament canon traditions (MT, LXX, Vulgate) alongside both Catholic and Protestant canons. Fairly easy to do.

 

But working on it make me want to refresh and add to my knowledge of these traditions, both text and canon. I do not want to bog down into textual criticism, or textual specifics, just a good sketch of the history and development of the major traditions and their differences. I don't want a book simply on canon, but one that includes treatment of the various versions.

 

In addition, I would like the resource to be fairly even-handed with it's point of view rather than tendentious.

 

I'd prefer something available in Accordance if at all possible, but searching the store isn't proving fruitful. Searching Amazon has also proven difficult, as has searching my Dictionaries.

 

So I'm turning to my friends here for help. Help!

Edited September 18, 2018 by JohnABarnett

[ukfraser]

Not sure what you already have in your library but in study bibles like esv and jps and the original ebc there are articles on this. I know i have recently read something on lxx but couldnt find it but i would have a look in some of your resources to see if you already have some articles. The introduction to comfort also provides a snapshot but only for the nt.

 

Generally i find i dont get bogged down in these sorts of articles as they are only a few pages long and well structured.

 

I also read the translator notes at the beginning of my bible notes (though not all included in accordance!!!!!) as they also include the occasional gem.

Edited September 18, 2018 by ukfraser

[JohnABarnett]

Thanks, ukfraser.

 

Yes, I think I know what you mean about Study Bibles notes. I have serveral of them, ESV, NIV, Reformation.

 

Still, I'd really like a fuller treatment than a study bible or brief dictionary article, which I don't believe would treat the history and comparison as well. Perhaps I am wrong on that. I'm befuddled how to search for this topic in my Dictionaries. My efforts so far have been fruitless. I have the entire 8 volume IVP Dictionary set, but the OT volumes are dedicated to specific divisions of the OT. And I was not able to find anything in the Eerdman's Dictionary, though the information could be there.

 

I'm surprised that even searching on the internet and Amazon I haven't really come up with anything that suits what I want. Doesn't mean it isn't there, it could reflect more on my search abilities than on what is available!

Edited September 18, 2018 by JohnABarnett

[JohnABarnett]

My Eerdmans Bible Dictionary has this entry for "Septuagint":

 

"General designation for the Jewish-Greek Scriptures, which consist primarily of various translations of the books of the Hebrew Bible. Also included are additions to some books of the Hebrew Bible as well as independent works, some of which are translations while others were composed in Greek. The texts are believed to have been produced from the 3rd to the 2nd or 1st centuries B.C.E., and at least partly in Alexandria, Egypt. The name Septuagint derives from the tradition in the Letter of Aristeas that 72 (or 70; hence the symbol LXX) elders translated the Pentateuch into Greek.

The term “Septuagint” is actually a cause of difficulty for the field. Many nonspecialists employ a reading from one of the standard printed editions (Rahlfs or Brooke-McLean) or a manuscript and designate it as the definitive reading of the LXX, as though this represents the oldest recoverable form of the Greek text. For this reason, specialists now reserve the term “Old Greek” (OG) or other, more specific terminology to designate a text that in the judgment of scholars most likely represents what was originally written. Critical editions for many books of the LXX are now available and continue to be published in the Göttingen Septuaginta.

There are three main areas of interest in LXX studies. First, the study of the LXX and the later recensions offers insights into the beliefs and thoughts of the Jewish community in antiquity. Second, next to the Dead Sea Scrolls the LXX is the most important witness for textual criticism of the Hebrew Bible. For the most part the LXX text is very close to the Hebrew; however, there are significant differences between the two, in certain sections (e.g., Exod. 35-40; Dan. 4-6) or even entire books (e.g., the LXX version of Job is 17 percent shorter and Jeremiah, 12 percent shorter). Any comparison of the Greek to the Hebrew must treat each book individually. Third, Greek versions were employed with equal authority to the Hebrew Bible in the early Church. Consequently, the LXX had an enormous impact on the language and theology of the early Church." by Tim McLay

 

This gives a good brief description, but I'd like something between this and a tome, and something that considers both MT and LXX in one book. Perhaps what I'm looking for does not exist except as a chapter in a larger work. I dunno.

[JohnABarnett]

When searching for "Septuagint" in The IVP Dictionary of the Pentateuch it merely links to an article on Textual Criticism which focuses only on the Septuagint as it relates to that topic.

[JohnABarnett]

Okay, the IVP Dictionary on the Historical Books links "Septuagint" to the entries on Canon in addition to Textual Criticism. This is better, but still not sufficient, 

 

The IVP Dictionary on the Prophets is limited to three entries considering the Septuagint version of three prophetic books.

 

The one on Wisdom, Poetry and Writings does not even have an entry for Septuagint.

 

My Holman Bible Dictionary has the best entry so far, linking Septuagint to an article on "Bible Texts and Versions." Still looking for more, but it's a start.

Edited September 18, 2018 by JohnABarnett

[Leopold Green]

-- NORMAL --

I probably shouldn't post such a large quotation but I really think what you are after is the Anchor (next time it is on sale) - some may wish to see an evangelical tone to it (maybe I have that wrong, I'm in England so what would I know and we have Brexit) but I am always fascinated by the endless detail and ref you get

 

Helen, etc., please delete my post if I have breached copyright etc.

 

SEPTUAGINT The most widely accepted designation for a diverse collection of Greek literature encompassing: (1) translations of the contents of the Hebrew Bible; (2) additions to some of its books; and (3) works written originally in Greek (or in some instances in Hebrew) but not included in the Hebrew canon. The word “Septuagint,” (from Lat septuaginta = 70; hence the abbreviation LXX) derives from a story that 72 (other ancient sources mention 70 or 5) elders translated the Pentateuch into Greek; the term therefore applied originally only to those five books. That story is now acknowledged to be fictitious, yet the label persists by virtue of the tradition. The precise referent of the term Septuagint in modern discussions, and especially of “the Septuagint” is neither consistent nor clear.

^__________

A. Terminology

1. The Problem of Terminology

2. Definition of the Term

B. Witnesses to LXX

1. Primary Witnesses

2. Secondary Witnesses

C. Theories of Origins

1. Aristeas

2. Kahle

3. Lagarde

4. Tov

5. Other Theories

D. History of the LXX Text

1. Revisions

2. Recensions

E. LXX as a Translation

F. Importance of LXX

G. Bibliographic Resources

1. Collections

2. Selected General Bibliography

3. Modern Printed Editions

^__________

A. Terminology

1. The Problem of Terminology. Some scholars use Septuagint (often in quotation marks) to refer only to the Pentateuch while others intend the term to include the entire collection of Jewish-Greek scriptures (1–3 above), reserving the rubric Old Greek (OG) for those books which are translations from Hebrew. Others, recognizing that all the extant Greek mss are corrupt and probably only partially representative of what the original translators intended, use the terms “Ur-Septuagint,” “Original Septuagint” or “Proto-Septuagint” to describe the text as it presumably left the translators’ hands. Septuagint for some scholars describes a “critical text,” i.e., one chosen after careful reading and evaluation of all the available witnesses to the book(s) in question, and determined to be the “nearest approach” to the original translation. Where such critical texts are not established, these scholars would contend that it is inappropriate to speak of Septuagint, only of mss, papyri etc. Still other scholars, viewing the critical process as artificial, cumbersome, time-consuming and subjective, select one or two well-known uncial mss—Codex Alexandrinus (A) and Codex Vaticanus ( being the most common—as sufficiently representative of the Greek translation. Citations such as LXX^A, LXX^B, or LXX^AB appear in their work—the last being considered more authoritative than either of the first two. Many other scholars, having subjected the matter to little or no critical scrutiny, use Septuagint to refer to any printed edition so labelled, which may be used to correct/adjust readings in the printed editions of the Hebrew Bible. There are also scholars who dispute the idea of a single original translation to which all deviant witnesses could theoretically be traced. For them it is pointless to speak of Septuagint as a single enterprise since there were multiple translations each reflecting the concerns of specific communities.

The first desideratum concerning Septuagint then is some agreement, if not consensus, on the way the word is being or should be used. What relationships do the diverse Greek witnesses to the books of the Hebrew Bible have to [Vol. 5, p. 1,094]  each other on the one hand, and to the various Hebrew witnesses to those very books on the other? It is not sufficient to identify “Old Greek” in contrast to Septuagint (with or without quotation marks) as is so often done, unless one indicates the precise mss or editions in which either may be found.

2. Definition of the Term. For convenience, it is assumed throughout what follows that a single set of original translations of the Hebrew scriptures into Greek was effected in several stages, and in locations not known for sure; that the earliest parts (most likely the Torah) of the translation took place in the 3d century B.C.E. (perhaps in Egypt) and the last parts were completed by the first part of the 1st century B.C.E.; that, in the absence of “hard copy” of these translations, we can recover from the extant witnesses, texts sufficiently reliable to be considered equivalent to the originals, if carefully controlled text-critical principles are employed. This process is being carried out with extreme care in the editions of the Göttingen Septuaginta-Unternehmen (on which see below). It is to the printed texts of these editions (as distinct from readings in their apparatuses), that the term Septuagint as used herein primarily applies. Secondarily, in those books for which full critical editions have not yet been established, Septuagint is considered equivalent to the partially critical texts found in A. Rahlfs’ manual edition (Rahlfs 1935). However, despite the long-established contrary practice (such as found in Rahlfs’ manual edition), whole books without known Hebrew equivalents are not considered Septuagint. They are usually listed also as Apocrypha and even Pseudepigrapha, and again, since much of LXX discussion concerns translation technique, that question is moot in such books. Where, as in parts of Joshua and all of Judges, Rahlfs prints two lemmata, the LXX is deemed to have not yet been established.

 

 

Peters, Melvin K. H. Freedman, David Noel, ed. AYBD. Accordance electronic edition, version 3.9. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2008.

https://accordance.bible/link/read/Anchor#102730

Edited September 18, 2018 by Helen Brown
Truncated the article, exceeds allowed length

[Alistair]

If you are thinking about canon you should also research the Ethiopian and (I think it is the) Syrian Bibles, off the top of my head the Ethiopian is longer (has extra books!) and the Syrian is shorter (no Revelation or Pastorals or it might be fewer of the general epistles).

 

I'll see if I can dig out some information from my old notes when I can.

 

 

PS And the Samaritan Pentateuch too, and note where and how it differs from the LXX and MT.

Edited September 18, 2018 by Alistair

[JohnABarnett]

Leopold, thank you very much.

 

That is a terrific article, the kind of thing I am looking for in combination with the MT. I assume there is an equal article in the Dictionary on that subject. Alas, the 6-volume work is beyond my means unless a major sale comes along.

 

But now I see something that truly matches what I want on this subject.

[JohnABarnett]

If you are thinking about canon you should also research the Ethiopian and (I think it is the) Syrian Bibles, off the top of my head the Ethiopian is longer (has extra books!) and the Syrian is shorter (no Revelation or Pastorals or it might be fewer of the general epistles).

 

I'll see if I can dig out some information from my old notes when I can.

 

 

PS And the Samaritan Pentateuch too, and note where and how it differs from the LXX and MT.

 

Thanks for the comment and offer.

 

I am aware of the Samaritan Pentateuch (John Sailhamer used to refer to it at times in his classes), but I don't know enough about it. See, this is the kind of thing I'd like to see, a brief history and analysis of the major OT versions. 

 

I know next to nothing about the Ethiopian and Syrian Bibles, though I am generally aware that there were different traditions in different locales. My study is not primarily canon at this time, it is a better understanding of the versions. Canon came up as an idea that discussions of it might include what I'm looking for.

 

I'll appreciate anything you can send, but don't put yourself to too much trouble. As much as for information, I'm looking for a resource that I can add to my Accordance library.

Edited September 18, 2018 by JohnABarnett

[Alistair]

Here is an article about the Ethiopian 81-book Bible

 

http://www.euclid.int/papers/Anke%20Wanger%20-%20Canon%20in%20the%20EOTC.pdf

[Alistair]

The Syrian NT includes 22 New Testament books.

It omits 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, Jude and Revelation.

[JohnABarnett]

Thanks Alistair

[R. Mansfield]

Alas, the 6-volume work is beyond my means unless a major sale comes along.

 

Hold that thought...

[MattChristianOT]

I would suggest this work:

 

Mikra: Text, Translation, Reading and Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity Paperback – March 1, 2004

 

Here is the link for Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Mikra-Translation-Reading-Interpretation-Christianity/dp/0801047234/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537310916&sr=8-1&keywords=Mikra

 

This is a great introduction to the popular versions, especially revolving around the OT.

[MattChristianOT]

I would also suggest:

 

Hebrew Bible / Old Testament. The History of Its Interpretation: Volume I: From the Beginnings to the Middle Ages (Until 1300). Part 1: AntiquityHardcover – December 31, 1996

 

But it is more focused on the History of Interpretation than the versions. Still a great work (but very expensive). Here is the Amazon Link:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Hebrew-Bible-Testament-History-Interpretation/dp/3525536364/ref=pd_sbs_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=3525536364&pd_rd_r=7d7cebf2-bb95-11e8-8732-0b3e20371f0d&pd_rd_w=QNfJC&pd_rd_wg=rUV59&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=53dead45-2b3d-4b73-bafb-fe26a7f14aac&pf_rd_r=52WBHF6NZ27B7SETHKHB&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=52WBHF6NZ27B7SETHKHB

[Michel Gilbert]

Hi John,

 

I would suggest The Text of the Old Testament: An Introduction to the Biblia Hebraica, by Ernst Würthwein, rev. Alexander Achilles Fischer at

https://www.eerdmans.com/Products/6680/the-text-of-the-old-testament.aspx

 

There is a section on “The Hebrew Text of the Bible,” “The Ancient Translations,” and “Textual Criticism.”

 

Regards,,

 

Michel

[JohnABarnett]

Thank you, gentlemen, for these further suggestions. I will check them out.

[MattChristianOT]

A pleasure- I would Highly recommend the Mikra Volume. It sounds to be exactly what you are looking for if I am reading your comments correctly.

[Alistair]

I haven't read it but you might find this interesting:

 

Kruger—The question of canon–Challenging the status quo in the New Testament debate (IVP, 2013)

[JohnABarnett]

I haven't read it but you might find this interesting:

 

Kruger—The question of canon–Challenging the status quo in the New Testament debate (IVP, 2013)

 

I actually bought that on Kindle last year. I thought it was well done.

[R. Mansfield]

I would suggest The Text of the Old Testament: An Introduction to the Biblia Hebraica, by Ernst Würthwein, rev. Alexander Achilles Fischer at

https://www.eerdmans.com/Products/6680/the-text-of-the-old-testament.aspx

 

Great news! Würthwein & Fischer's Text of the Old Testament: An Introduction to the Biblia Hebraica is now available in Accordance!