OTS 633 – READING IN THE SEPTUAGINT

James B. De Young

Fall, 2003

 

WESTERN SEMINARY

Portland, Oregon

 

SYLLABUS

 

The first translation of the Old Testament was made into Greek about 250 B.C. and became the Bible of the Early Church.  If forms the basis for the theology and vocabulary of the New Testament.  You will discover the Old Testament in its Greek translation by reading Messianic passages from all types of literature.  You will learn about the origin, transmission, and significance of this vital translation.  You will compare the Greek with both the Hebrew text and New Testament quotations.  Prerequisites:  OTS 510 and NTS 510.  2 hours.

 

A.  COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

  1. A history of the Greek version of the Old Testament.

 

  1. Translation of representative sections.

 

  1. Comparison of the Old Testament Greek with the Hebrew text and New Testament quotations.

 

  1. Consideration of the influence of the LXX on the New Testament.

 

  1. Acquaintance with various problems in the modern debate on the LXX. 

 

 B.  COURSE OBJECTIVES

 

  1. To become acquainted with the LXX, its character, its influence, its effect on the New Testament, and its transmission by the reading of scholarly texts and articles on these subjects.

 

  1. To become aware of the nature of Greek translation of the Hebrew text by reading (translation of) selected portions from all sections of the LXX, and by comparison of the Greek and Hebrew texts. 

 

  1. To gain appreciation for the influence of the LXX on the New Testament by comparison of the above selected portions of the LXX and the MT with their use or quotation in the New Testament. 

 

  1. To increase proficiency in reading Hellenistic Greek and to increase one’s Greek vocabulary, by the regular recitation (translation) of the LXX an analysis of all verbal forms. 

 

  1. To gain appreciation for the scope of Old Testament Messianic passages in the LXX in comparison to the MT by concentrating upon such passages in the regular assignments.

 

  1. To discover and practice the biblical hermeneutic as revealed by the LXX and MT texts and the NT. 

 

C.    COURSE PROCEDURES

           

1.      Frequent assignments in translation of the Greek text (Rahlfs; Zondervan Triglot) of the Old Testament, in identifying verbal forms, and in comparison of the Greek and Hebrew texts.

 

2.      Assignments in reading New Testament passages where the assigned Old Testament passages are quoted or other wise utilized. 

 

3.      Possible quizzes on Greek verbal forms and on other reading assignments.

 

4.      Several projects to be read and/or written and graded, especially critiques of assigned books or periodical articles (see schedule). 

 

5.      Class discussion of reading assignments. 

 

6.      Lecture frequently on various aspects of Septuagintal studies. 

 

7.      Class interaction with the topic of the use of the Old Testament in the New Testament.

 

8.      Two larger projects, each consisting of a selected text from the New Testament where the Old Testament is utilized.  This will involve the analysis of the text involved (which Old Testament text – LXX, MT, other – is used) and hermeneutical and theological uses of the Old Testament by the New Testament author.  A list of such texts will be provided.    

 

9.      Grading will be determined on the basis of daily work and recitation (quizzes), and written projects. 

 

10.  Attendance is required as outlined in the catalogue.

 

D.  ASSIGNED READING AND PROJECT REQUIREMENTS (Due dates shown in the

attached schedule)

 

1)                  Read and take notes of the entry, “Septuagint,” in ISBE, vol. IV, pp. 2722- 2732, by H. St. John Thackeray; or, E.M. Blaiklock, “Septuagint”, ZPEB, vol. V, pp. 342-347.

 

2)                  A  500 word critique of these articles:

 

a)      Floyd V. Flison, “The Septuagint and the New Testament,” BA, IX (May, 1946), pp. 34-42.

b)      Everett F. Harrison, The Importance of the Septuagint for Biblical Studies,” Part I and Part II, BS, 112 (October, 1955), pp. 344-355, 113 (January, 1956), pp. 37-45.

 

3)                   Reading of the following pages:  Bleddyn J. Roberts, The Old Testament Text and Versions (Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1951), pp. 101-187.

 

4)                   Read Ralph W. Klein, Textual criticism of the OT (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1974), pp. 1-84.  For interaction and criticism (esp. pp. 1-50, 62-84).

 

5)                   A 500 word critique of the following sections:  W.P.M. Walters (Peter Katz), “Septuagintal Studies in the Mid-Century:  Their Links with the Past and their Present Tendencies,” in The Background of the New Testament and its Eschatology, ed.  W.D. Davies and D. Daube (Cambridge; 1956), pp. 176-208.

 

6)                   Reading of the following section:  Harry M. Orlinsky, “The So-Called ‘Suffering Servant’ in Isaiah 53, The Library of Biblical Studies, ed. by Harry M. Orlinsky.  Interpreting the Prophetic Tradition (New York: KTAV, 1969), pp. 226-273.

 

7)                   A 1,000-word critique of one of the following books, due as indicated on the syllabus. 

 

a)       Henry B. Swete, An Introduction to the Old Testament in Greek (reprinted; New York: KTAV Publishing House, Inc. 1968), pp. 1-132, 171-194, 289-341, 369-497.

b)       Sidney Jellicoe, The Septuagint and Modern Study, (Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, 1968), pp. 1-359.

c)      Karen H. Jobes and Moises Silva, Invitation to the Septuagint (Grand Rapids:  Baker Academic, 2000), pp. 9-331.

 

8)                   Two projects (10-12 pp.) on the use of the OT in the NT.

 

 

E.  COURSE SCHEDULE

           

Sept       3        Introduction to the course and to the importance of the Septuagint. 

                        Lecture on history and traditions of the LXX.  Jobes & Silva, pp. 27-44.

 

           10         Reading of Genesis 1:1-13, 24-31.  Cf. vv. 14-23

Lecture on transmission of the LXX text; reading of I.S.B.E. or Z.P.B.E. articles due.   Reading J & S, chs. 2-3.

 

           17         Reading of Genesis 3:8-24. Cf. vv. 1-7; cf. Rom. 5:12; 2 Cor. 11; 1 Tim 2.      

Lecture on texts of LXX; comparison of Greek and Hebrew.  Critique of articles  due. 

 

           24         Reading of Genesis 12:1-20; cf. Galatians

 

Oct      1         Reading of Deuteronomy 32:1-18.

Reading of Deuteronomy 32:19-22; 28-43. Cf. vv. 23-27.

 

 8         Lecture on the LXX as source for semantics and linguistics; principles of

translation.

Reading of Roberts due.  Reading J & S, chs. 4-5.

Reading of 1 Samuel 1:26-2:11.

 

15        Lecture on the textual criticism of the LXX.

Reading of Psalm 2:1-12.  Discussion of its use in NT.  Reading J & S, chs. 6-7.

 

            22        Reading of Psalm 21:1-23 (AV: 22:1-22).  Use in NT cf. vv. 24-32.

Lecture on textual criticism, cont. Reading of Klein due.  Reading J & S, chs. 7-8.

 

29        Reading of Psalm 44:1-18 (AV: 45:1-17).

Reading of Psalm 68:1-22 (AV: 69:1-21).  Use in NT cf. vv. 23-37.

 

Nov     5         Reading of Psalm 101:24-29; 102:1-22 (AV: 102:23-28; 103:1-22).

      Reading of Psalm 109:1-7; (AV: 110:1-7).  Use in NT; cf. Swete, 1-28, 369-477).

 

12          Reading of Psalm 117:1-29 (AV: 118:1-29).

Lecture on use of LXX in NT.  Critique of Walters due.  J & S, chs. 9-13.

 

19          Reading of Isaiah 2:1-5, 4:1-6; 7:10-16; cf. Matt. 1:18-25.

Reading of Isaiah 11:1-12:6.  Reading of Orlinsky due.

 

26        Reading of Isaiah 40:1-17.  Cf. vv. 18-31

Reading of Isaiah 42:1-17.  Cf. vv. 18-25  Reading J & S, chs. 10, 14.

 

Dec      3         Reading of Isaiah 49:1-16. Cf. vv. 17-26

Reading of Isaiah 50:1-11.  Critique of Swete, Jellicoe, or Jobes-Silva due.

 

10          Reading of Isaiah 52:13-53:12.

Reading of 1 Maccabees 1:10-28; 1 Clement 1:1-3, 10:1-7, 42:1-5.  Use of OT in NT projects due.