The sun., 1884-02-24

and Hort.
Prof. Toy begins his Introduction with TIC
Categorical assertion that the quotations in
the New Testament from the Old Testament
are never made immc iaey from the Hebrew
but always from tho Scptungnt Greek or an
Aramnic version" Apart from the proof sup
piled by cXtrinsic considerations this asscr-
ton might be brought very near to veriilcation
by a careful survey Of the quotations them
selves. BY far the largest part OF them ere found
upon comparison to HGrce with the Se ptuagint
against the Hebrew. a second category OF ex-
am ples is observed to agree with both the He
brew and the Septuagint. and therefore proves
nothing for any theory A third class OF cita-
tions includes those which agree with
neither tho Hebrew nor the Septuagint. and
therefore indicate either laxity Of quota
ton or the existence OF an Arumaic
version There is fourth but small group
Of extracts which coincide with tho Hebrew
text against the SeEtungint. and this might be
held to shake Prof Toys preliminary aver
ment. but for the following reasons drawn from
data exterior to tho texts Themselves II is
unlikely that Hebrew. which had long been
dead language was known to any of the New
Testament writer's except Paul, who alone had
received rabbinical education. nnd it Is to be
nOlct l'lill oven fNul y '.lHlIDNS are ALMOST
uniformly from the Greek. When Paul began
to write his Epistles (Which it must bs remom-
bored wor" probably the first of our present
New Testament writings to be committed to
paper the Scptuagtnt had been for something
like two centuries the authorized version of the
Jewish colonies scattered about the Mediter
ranean word 50 far rs any version of books
which the herarchical auth orities at Jerusalem
still ldeemed it species OF profanity totransale
Cnn be described as authorized. But whether
technically authorized or not. II is certain that
during the ilrSt century of our era the SOP
tuagint WAS widely read ami priced rs bcing
in all likelihood tho only ,criHen version. in
Palestine. where, though Aramaic was tho
ysrnacular. Greek was generally uniers TODD.
Tho eYangelsts and apo sites writing in Greek
lor n Greek speaking public. accustomed to me
Greek version. naturally cited the Scripture
from this version; thcre are not maGy Of the
luptatlons In which the influence Of the Sop
uagnt Is not evident" From these facts IT is
easonahlo to conclude that whore loosanese OF
quotation will not explain New Testament do
.ations from the Septuagnt. those dcylations
hould DO referred nor to tho original Hebrew
yhich the evangelists and the apostles with
me cAceDtionl could not read, but to the only
'ther popular version of tho Old TeStamen,
hen in existence the Aramac.
But was there written Arumaic version OK
ant IN the i.s. century of our era irof. Toy
,rudsntly declines 10 be drawn into this as ye
undecided controversy. pointing out that tb,
acknowledged existence Of an oral version Is
lutte adequate to explain all departures from
he Septuagint.
1t is indeed quite su !ilcient for tho author
,urpose to affirm on we'll n gh unassa liable evi
lonce. that oral Aramaic versions of parts II n o
II the whole Of The o d Testament were .amiia
o the Jews OF Palestine in the times OF tn,
)hrst and his dlscplos. We know from ia,
talmud that oral renderngs' o! the Hebrew
which was no longer understood By the mas
the Jewish people. into the Aramaic spokeI
oneue were given In tho synagoguas; afte
he Scripture had been read in The original til
Interpreter, or targumst. followed with trans
alton into the vernacuiar." II is true that onl
he rentateuch and the five Megilloth ruth
lamentations Esther. Song of Songs. Eccesi
Lstes) appear to have been read regularly 4
he synagogue" bu. Prof. Toy submits a
probable that the remaining books, pRrticu
arly Psalms. Proverbs, Job, and Daniel. woul
30 so often referred to Ia Synagogue discourse'
n the rabbinical schools. and elsewhere" a
10 make a great Iart of their contents faniiia
tomany persons and especially TO students {
the Scriptures. The synagogue reading. he In
sists. would bc n constant source Of instrut
ton. as Is tho case with tho readings In III
churches now and In that day. phsn Jo0i
use Jen and people dpendrd yp' more TIA
noU on their memories, many ScriI
turs passage would be retained with verb,
accuracy. We may suppose that proverbi,
saylngs and Msssanic passages especiail
would be remembered; these would bo ScriI
tural household words then as now" So muc
for the sources from which the New Test
Inent writer's may he presumed to have draw
their quotations Before leaving however. tn
all - l,tA tlfax