Peshitta New Testament

[markusvonkaenel]

Beginners question: what do I gain with the Peshitta Text?

[TYA]

"Peshitta" applies mainly to two different things--a version of the Tanakh, and a version of the Apostolic Writings ("NT").

 

#1) With regards to the Peshitta Tanakh--an ancient translation of the Hebrew text (pre-Masoretic) into Aramaic (ca. 100 BCE - 100 CE, you gain one of the most important and ancient (though largely ignored) Jewish witnesses to the ancient text of the Tanakh.  Extant manuscripts date from 464 CE, pre-dating the final form of the Hebrew Masoretic Text by hundreds of years.

 

To me, this is extremely valuable for textual criticism of the Tanakh, and for understanding the Jewish stream of thought around the turn of the millennium.  Admittedly, its origins are shrouded in some mystery, as the targums, but good scholarship leads me to believe that the Peshitta Tanakh was originally the work of Jews, perhaps in Babylon or Edessa.  It is a crucial witness to the pre-Masoretic text of the Tanakh, and (in my opinion), wasn't "Christianized" (another subject).

 

#2) With regards to the Peshitta version of the Apostolic Writings ("NT"), you gain one of the earliest known versions of the Apostolic Writings in existence (I actually believe the earliest unified version of the "NT")--dating originally to 80CE - 250CE (probably, in reality, somewhere in between).

 

Extant manuscripts range from the 5th-17th centuries, but analysis reveals that even in Paul's writings, some of the readings go back to the 2nd-4th centuries, at the very least.  Thus, I believe there is good support for holding that the Peshitta was completed some time around 150 CE.

 

Scholars debate over whether it was translated from Greek, but I strongly contend that there is no good evidence for that view.  I tend to believe that the Peshitta in its current form is, at the most, a "translation" from the earliest Aramaic in the 1st-century CE into a classical, Syriac dialect--but still very much original in its witness to the apostles writings.

 

(Slight sidenote: the earliest reported manuscript of the Apostolic Writings isn't Greek; it is actually Aramaic, dated firmly to 78 CE.  It (or at least, a note regarding it) was found by the Vatican's chief librarian (Assemani) in the 18th century.  Some believe that this Aramaic manuscript (of all four Gospels, mind you) is the Peshitta, others like myself aren't so confident, but still believe that the Peshitta gives perhaps the earliest witness to the Apostolic Writings).

 

The Syriac dialect in the extant manuscripts of the Peshitta Apostolic Writings is fairly close to the dialects that Yeshua and his disciples would have spoken in 1st-century Judea, and so you would get an authoritative, ancient witness which contains some of the original words in use, versus a translation into Greek or Hebrew.  Note: The Greek versions actually transliterate many of the Aramaic words and phrases found in the Peshitta.

 

(The Hebrew versions today are all translations from Greek, made by Christians, with one important exception, which is a Hebrew translation from the Peshitta itself.  I like the Hebrew translations as more of a novelty, but I don't accord them any real textual authority.  By contrast, I tend to give the Peshitta priority / preference over the Greek witnesses in the vast majority of cases.

 

I'm painting with a broad brush here, but as to "what do you gain," in my opinion, perhaps the most authoritative witness to Yeshua and his disciples' words.  At the very least, a more "Semitic" (and yet, authoritative) witness to the Apostolic Writings.  I consider all witnesses to the text important, but give general preference to the Peshitta.)

 

* By "Semitic," I'm not suggesting that Greek wasn't a language in use by the Jews, as it certainly was.  But Greek was never considered a "holy language," unlike Hebrew and Aramaic.  Aramaic remains extant in the Tanakh itself and rabbinic writings up to this day.

 

Edit: I now see that you specifically asked about the New Testament in the title of the post.  Well, you got more than you bargained for

Edited April 22, 2019 by TYA

[TYA]

Additionally (and note: this is primarily intended for Markus; but I felt good for others to see who are outside the Jewish milieu), the Peshitta version of the Apostolic Writings / "NT" does something crucially important when it comes to substantiating an authentic Jewish faith in Yeshua  (beyond just personal study or even textual criticism, which are obviously important).

 

I have read over the years how (Jewish) detractors of Yeshua do some of the following things:

 

1) denounce the "New Testament" as a Greek document, as opposed to the "holy" languages of Hebrew and Aramaic; and subsequently disclaim the modern Hebrew versions of the "NT" (again, which indeed are translated from Greek).  They claim that the Hebrew Tanakh is "original," whereas the "New Testament" is a fraud (again, painting with a very broad brush here).

 

2) claim that the name "Yeshua" was merely invented in the 19th century to trick Jews into believing in "Jesus"; but that "Yeshua" (of Nazareth, specifically) has no ancient record or support.

 

3) claim that the "New Testament" is purely a Gentile religious work which Jews should have no part of (partly because of the Greek language, but also because of later Christian interpolations (e.g. "Easter" in Act 12:4; trinitarian formulas in 1Jn 5:7-8, etc.).

 

Well guess what: none of these accusations apply to the Peshitta version.  Even though, admittedly, the Peshitta version came into the hands of Eastern Christians, those Eastern Christians (called "Nestorians") actually claim that the Peshitta was made by Yeshua's Jewish disciples.  In other words, there is at least tradition (whether you believe it or not) that holds that the Peshitta "NT" was made by Jews in Edessa, beginning with Toma (Thomas), Taddai (Thaddeus), and their disciples.

 

The Peshitta preserves the name "Yeshu / Yeshua" (yud-shin-waw-ayin) in ancient Aramaic manuscripts going back at least to the 5th century as we have them today, which refutes the anti-missionary claim that the name "Yeshua" was invented by the messianic Jewish movement in the 19th century.

 

Next, the Peshitta is in Aramaic (regardless of the Estrangela script), which is one of Judaism's holy languages.  It avoids the accusations against Greek documents not being worthy of canonization (not saying I agree).  The actual dialect of the Peshitta is very similar to that of the targums and Peshitta Tanakh--again, Jewish documents--the former, indisputably.

 

So again, the Peshitta--in my humble but studied opinion--serves many good purposes--especially to a Jewish believer in Yeshua.

Edited April 22, 2019 by TYA

[markusvonkaenel]

 Thanks Toma.

 

More I do not need than a sale of the NT Peshitta.

 

You wrote exactly about my feelings/thoughts. I have nothing to add to questions (to remain a beginner). 

 

Helen: a good sale please 

[MattChristianOT]

 Thanks Toma.

 

More I do not need than a sale of the NT Peshitta.

 

You wrote exactly about my feelings/thoughts. I have nothing to add to questions (to remain a beginner). 

 

Helen: a good sale please 

I would take it a step farther. In my research, I have noticed that the P tends to reflect a translation from the LXX (or the other way around) as well as divergence from the MT and LXX, which could mean textual fluidity, making P a great source for textual criticism.

[TYA]

I would take it a step farther. In my research, I have noticed that the P tends to reflect a translation from the LXX (or the other way around) as well as divergence from the MT and LXX, which could mean textual fluidity, making P a great source for textual criticism.

 

Well said with regards to Peshitta Tanakh (just so others understand what you are specifically referring to).  And also, the relationship to the targums must be taken into account.  There are both agreements and divergences with all the sources mentioned here.  A very early and important witness indeed.

 

A good article on the authorship of the Peshitta Tanakh was written by Joshua Bloch, and printed in The American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures (Vol. 35, No. 4, July 1919, p. 215-222).

 

Yes, and Accordance, it would be great to have Janet Magiera's "Aramaic Peshitta New Testament Database" (available in BibleWorks for $30).  This should not displace the wonderful work by George Kiraz, but be in addition to it.

Edited April 23, 2019 by TYA