04-22-2014, 04:01 AM
It is not what he might think.
Saul of Tarsus, was of the Diaspora, a Roman citizen, born in a Greek speaking city of the Gentiles...a Hellenist by any standard, and so according to his thinking, Saul/Paul must then have spoken no Aramaic...only Greek. But, we know that isn't true at all, so why must it be true of anyone of the Jews born abroad? His "logic" fails.
I don't say that Saul/Paul didn't speak Greek, it seems clear that he did, but, he also spoke fluent Aramaic, and most likely the old Hebrew as well, and maybe some Latin too.
When we study the actual texts, they show us many evidences that indicate the Letters were all written 1st in Aramaic, then at once translated into Greek.
I don't have a problem understanding that a Jewish man who spoke Aramaic, probably his primary language, being a Hebrew of the Hebrews, would use his natural mother tongue to write his Letters in, and then either dictate them to a translator, or have them translated into Greek and or Latin for those who only understood those languages.
It would seem more odd to have them written only in Greek and or Latin, then have them translated into Paul's usual language, Aramaic, so the Aramaic Christians could read them, or hear them read aloud.
And this idea that no Jew outside of Israel could speak Aramaic, is just plain nonsense. Saul/Paul did, and I'm sure Timothy did as well...as would most Jews who were devout and who spent any time in Israel during the feasts a number of times a year, as God instructed them to do.
Again...all he brings is mere speculation, and we can speculate all day as well...but, the real proof is found in the Text itself. I say get to know it, and see what we have seen, which contradicts the conventional "wisdom".
Saul of Tarsus, was of the Diaspora, a Roman citizen, born in a Greek speaking city of the Gentiles...a Hellenist by any standard, and so according to his thinking, Saul/Paul must then have spoken no Aramaic...only Greek. But, we know that isn't true at all, so why must it be true of anyone of the Jews born abroad? His "logic" fails.
I don't say that Saul/Paul didn't speak Greek, it seems clear that he did, but, he also spoke fluent Aramaic, and most likely the old Hebrew as well, and maybe some Latin too.
When we study the actual texts, they show us many evidences that indicate the Letters were all written 1st in Aramaic, then at once translated into Greek.
I don't have a problem understanding that a Jewish man who spoke Aramaic, probably his primary language, being a Hebrew of the Hebrews, would use his natural mother tongue to write his Letters in, and then either dictate them to a translator, or have them translated into Greek and or Latin for those who only understood those languages.
It would seem more odd to have them written only in Greek and or Latin, then have them translated into Paul's usual language, Aramaic, so the Aramaic Christians could read them, or hear them read aloud.
And this idea that no Jew outside of Israel could speak Aramaic, is just plain nonsense. Saul/Paul did, and I'm sure Timothy did as well...as would most Jews who were devout and who spent any time in Israel during the feasts a number of times a year, as God instructed them to do.
Again...all he brings is mere speculation, and we can speculate all day as well...but, the real proof is found in the Text itself. I say get to know it, and see what we have seen, which contradicts the conventional "wisdom".