The Aramaic Bible, especially the Peshitta, reflects a Greek base and offers valuable insight into early New Testament textual transmission.
The Aramaic Version of the Bible: A Textual Criticism Analysis of the Peshitta and Other Aramaic Witnesses
Hebrew Manuscripts of the Old Testament
The largest organized collection of Hebrew Old Testament manuscripts in the world is housed in the Russian National Library ("Second Firkovitch Collection") in Saint Petersburg. Codex Leningradensis is the oldest complete manuscript of the Hebrew Bible in Hebrew. Manuscripts earlier than the 13th century are very rare.
Manuscripts of the Hebrew Scriptures
The first list of the Old Testament manuscripts in Hebrew, made by Benjamin Kennicott (1776–1780) and published by Oxford, listed 615 manuscripts from libraries in England and on the Continent. Giovanni de Rossi (1784–1788) published a list of 731 manuscripts. The main manuscript discoveries in modern times are those of the Cairo Geniza (c. 1890)... Continue Reading →
THE NASH PAPYRUS: The Hebrew Manuscript
How do paleographers place an accurate date on very old ancient Hebrew Old Testament Bible manuscripts? In 1948, this was the problem that was before Dr. John C. Trever (1916 - 2006) was a Biblical scholar and archaeologist, who was involved in the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. When Dr. Trever first laid eyes on the Dead Sea Scroll of Isaiah, he pondered just this question.
THE LENINGRAD CODEX (B 19-A): A Precious Bible Treasure
The Leningrad Codex is the oldest complete manuscript of the Hebrew Bible in Hebrew, using the Masoretic Text and Tiberian vocalization. It is dated 1008 CE (or possibly 1009).
Did the New Testament Authors Really Quote the Greek Septuagint Rather than Hebrew Texts?
Explore the intriguing link between early Christian writings and ancient translations. Discover more here.
Evaluation of the Hebrew Old Testament Texts and Ancient Versions as to Their Usefulness for Textual Criticism
We are quoting extensively from the Old Testament textual scholars Ellis R. Brotzman and Eric J. Tully in their OLD TESTAMENT TEXTUAL CRITICISM: A Practical Introduction from Baker Publishing Group. However, there are a number of paragraphs that were written by Edward D. Andrews. Christian Publishing House will be beginning a free online Old Testament... Continue Reading →
The Syriac Old Testament
Syriac is the language of ancient Syria and one of the dialects of Aramaic, which was an official language of the Persian Empire. It was spoken in northern Mesopotamia and around ancient Antioch. In the second or third century C.E., as a written language, Syriac came into wide use.
How Did the Septuagint Bible Translation Change the World?
The Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). Initially, the Septuagint was made by Jews for the Jewish community, and they felt that it was just as inspired as the Hebrew Scriptures. However, it was used heavily by the early Church in their evangelism, pricing that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, which caused the Jews to return to the Hebrew.
What Is the Greek Septuagint and How Accurate Is It?
The apostle Paul often quoted from the “Septuagint” The “Septuagint” was understood by many people to whom Paul preached The Septuagint is the common term for the Old Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. The word means "seventy" and is frequently shortened by using the Roman numeral LXX, which is a reference to the tradition... Continue Reading →
