by Kevin Cauley

Many years ago, scholars thought that the Greek language was a "specialized" language that was in place for the New Testament alone. More recent scholarship has dismissed this theory in favor of the idea that New Testament Greek was the common everyday language used by the average Joe of the day. What swayed scholars in this direction was the uncovering of tens of thousands of papyri written in Greek that discussed everyday Greek life during those years. The term "Koine" (common) is applied to the Greek of the New Testament, because that Greek was, in fact, the "common" language of the people during that period of time. The term is used in contrast to what scholars consider "classical" Greek of the Greek homeland proper in which genre many of the classical Greek works are written.

The fact that New Testament Greek is not a specialized sort of Greek, but the common every day kind of Greek that folks used during that time, stems from the conquests of Alexander the Great. As Alexander moved through, conquering the various countries of his day, he took along with him as the official state language, Greek. He also made a great effort to "hellenize" (convert to Greek culture) those countries that he conquered. By the time the Romans took over the Greek empire, the Greek culture had thoroughly saturated Alexander's conquered world. Greek remained the most popular language of the day, though Latin became the language of law under the Roman empire.

In the midst of this Greek cultural revolution, some Hebrew speaking scholars made a Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures. This translation of the Old Testament was called the Septuagint (abbreviated LXX). It testifies as to how popular the Greek language was that the Hebrew scriptures were translated into Greek. Tradition states that the translation was done in the city of Alexandria by seventy-two scholars from the country of Israel sometime around 250 B.C. Most modern day historians, however, doubt the reliability of this story, favoring a view that has the translation being accomplished in various Jewish synagogues and then compiled sometime before 130 B.C. Regardless the time of accomplishment, the entire work was in broad circulation well before the time of Christ. Many Jewish communities outside of Palestine (and some within) used the work as their primary text in studying the Old Testament because their knowledge of Hebrew had grown diminished from living in the Gentile world for so long.

There are several reasons why the Septuagint is valuable to the Greek student today. First of all, it gives the Greek student an additional source of reference in order to evaluate grammar and vocabulary in the Koine Greek language, particularly in regard to religious terminology. Much of the religious terminology of the New Testament was used in the Septuagint in translating the Old Testament. Second, the New Testament writers often quote from the Septuagint when citing Old Testament scriptures. One such quotation is found in Hebrews 1:6. The quote, "Let all the angels of God worship Him," is not found in a translation of the Hebrew (and most will not find it in their English Bibles today), but it is, however, found in the Septuagint. Third, many ancient Latin versions of the Old Testament relied heavily (if not entirely) upon the Septuagint. The King James Version favors the Latin translation in several Old Testament passages. This means that the Septuagint does have some influence upon one of the predominant English translations of our time. While purists may not appreciate this, there is something to be said for the knowledge of the ancients who translated this work from Hebrew into Greek. They were much closer to the language of Hebrew as spoken by the Hebrews than we and likely had resources to do the translation that we do not. Finally, the Septuagint is helpful in studying the Old Testament. I often look to the Septuagint to help clarify difficult passages. The Greek of the Septuagint can also help give us a better idea of how New Testament Christians would have read and evaluated the Old Testament.

The Septuagint is a valuable document in the study of both the Old and New Testaments. Today, the Septuagint continues to serve as the official Old Testament of the Greek Orthodox Church. We can gain a greater understanding of Greek through studying it, but more importantly, it can aid us in understanding New Testament Christianity. From time to time, in these articles, I will refer to the Septuagint (as I have already done) to clarify or illustrate the meaning of certain Greek words or grammar. I hope that you can use this article as reference when considering those studies.

(If you would like to have a Greek copy of the Septuagint, or if you would like an English translation, both may be found as part of the free online Bible program, www.onlinebible.net.)

by Don Ruhl

Read Colossians Chapter 2

Blessed Wisdom and Knowledge

To those who have not fully committed themselves to Christ, I want to say this. Paul makes a statement about Jesus in Colossians 2:3, which I have found to be true, that

3 in [Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 3:2, NKJV).

Yes, a person can discover wisdom and knowledge without ever knowing the Son of God, yet, once knowing Him, all wisdom and knowledge take on a new meaning. First, the wisdom and knowledge that one discovers in the Scriptures provides a delight for the soul that one will not find in the wisdom and knowledge outside of Christ.

Second, all wisdom and knowledge that we gain through the Scriptures and through our experiences in God's world, simply enhance our admiration for Jesus and we relate that new knowledge to Him. For example, as I have learned more science, I am more fascinated by His ability to create all things with His mere spoken word. As I have learned more of literary devices, I have seen how the Bible is even more of a powerful piece of literature than I originally thought.

Gain all the wisdom and knowledge you can, but be in Christ yourself, corresponding all that you learn and experience to Him and see how you start to view all wisdom and knowledge, that truly they are treasures.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read Isaiah 34-36

Isaiah prophesies of the destruction of Edom. The destruction will make Edom desolate of people, but animals and birds shall dwell there. To confirm that the Lord will do as promised, He says this,

16 "Search from the book of the LORD, and read: Not one of these shall fail; Not one shall lack her mate. For My mouth has commanded it, and His Spirit has gathered them." (Isa. 34:16, NKJV).

When He prophesies of the generations of animals that will live in Edom, He challenges the Edomites, and anyone listening, to check up on Him. The animals shall do just as God stated in the beginning, as recorded in Genesis chapter 1. When God sets in motion a law or makes a promise, brother, it happens precisely as He said that it would. God has never failed to keep His word. Everything has come to pass.

What then of the promise for the return of His Son Jesus Christ. Over 1900 years have transpired since Jesus was here and since His apostles spoke of His return. Do not think that God has forgotten His promise. Oh, He remembers it perfectly, knowing that it means the everlasting end for those who are not His, but He wants everyone to belong to Him. Therefore, He is waiting until everyone repents, who is going to repent. Let us always be prepared for the return of Jesus Christ.