I heard mention...

Peter said:

I would suggest Jaroslav Pelikans latest book, "Whose Bible Is It?" It is an excellent general history of scripture.

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Thank you my friend I will try to get this at the small local library as i'm still saving up for my english translation of LXX

Most of the responses you get in this forum regarding the history of the Bible are not fully true. The history of the scriptures is a messy complicated thing.

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I don't mind a mess, my life is full of it anyway

In a nutshell:

1. What we call the OT written in Hebrew. ???-c.300 BCE
2. Translated into Greek in Alexandria (LXX). c.200 BCE
3. MT edited c.150-??? CE

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am I reading this right, the oldest extant copy, useable, is OT in hebrew from at least 300yrs. bc, what is this book known as please?

The history of the Bible is an interesting thing. I wish it was better taught

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me to, everywhere, hopefully someone in a position to do so will suggest this as a new forum, or perhaps there is another path?

And God Bless All His Peoples.

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Peter said:

The closest we have to an extant copy of the Hebrew text prior to the formation of the Church is in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

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And the LXX is next oldest, yes/no?

While these texts show a close relationship to the MT, there is also present certain portions of the LXX.

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Does this suggest that the MT and the LXX are both at least as old as these texts

The DSS are a new area of study for me, so I dont know much. I do know that there is a great deal of secrecy and politics surrounding their current status.

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No change there then, it seems to have been that way since they were found, any idea how much of them have been translated into english, any where I can read any online?

There are vast libraries on the islands of Patmos and Athos in the EO monastaries there. These have never been completely catalogued and may contain ancient mss.

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Sounds very interesting

Pelikan is a scholars scholar, and has been honored by RCC, EO, Protestant AND Jewish organizations. (This summer I plan to read his history of doctrine series, all 5 volumes!)

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Sounds as if I'll have to read these

A study of history

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A lifelong job methinks


And God Bless All His Peoples.

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Peter said:

The LXX copies we have are older than the MT. Again, Pelikan is the man to read on the subject.

Peace.

Rdr. Peter

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