09-13-2008, 01:39 AM
Quote:For the next 60 years after that, we know folks like Hegisippius took the Peshitta to Rome and we know from the Talmud at this time (ca. 125 CE, Mas Shabbath 116a) that versions of Aramaic Gospels with YHWH in them existed in Israel. Then right after Hegisippius we have Origen quoting Peshitta Hebrews 2:9, Eusebius then quotes and confirms Origen in 325 CE, and Jerome himself does his Vulgate ca 380 CE testifying to the Semitic origins of the NT as he does so.
But we also of course know that Jerome in part consulted the previous Latin versions of his time, and in Old Latin (at least it seems so at present) we also see confirmation of readings that could only have come to Rome FROM PESHITTA. To my mind, this approaches the importance of the Gowra Scenario because it is a way to yet again show the Peshitta's extreme antiquity as a source text and, more than that, a well-travelled and powerfully influential source text.
I tell you all the truth. If this can be confirmed, that could be the focus of "Ruach Qadim 3" which BTW I have not had plans for even thnking about until now. Obviously though I am focused on getting Mari out first, but this could be a glimpse of the future, no question.
Shlama Akhi Andrew:
This is exciting stuff. I've been following the thread and desiring to contribute my two cents worth. First, thank you for drawing attention to this passage in the Talmud which seems to confirm that the holy name YHVH was used in the First Century Peshitta text when written in K'tav Ashuri. It makes sense to me that the Assyrian CoE changed the text by substituting Marya in the place of YHVH, when the Peshitta was transcribed into Estrangelo in the Second Century.
Talmud-Masekhta-Shabbat-116a
Come and hear: The blank spaces above and below, between the sections, between the columns, at the beginning and at the end of the Scroll, defile one's hands. ??? It may be that [when they are] together with the Scroll of the Law they are different. Come and hear: The blank spaces and the Books of the Minim may not be saved from a fire, but they must be burnt in their place, they and the Divine Names occurring in them. Now surely it means the blank portions of a Scroll of the Law? No: the blank spaces in the Books of Minim. Seeing that we may not save the Books of Minim themselves, need their blank spaces be stated? ??? This is its meaning: And the Books of Minim are like blank spaces.
As for Jerome's Vulgate from the Peshitta text, this seems likely, but at this time it is inconclusive. However since Jerome was fluent in Hebrew and Aramaic, it is no stretch that he used the Peshitta in place of the corrupt Greek and extant Latin texts that were circulating at that time.
I haven't dug too deep yet, but I'm interested in seeing where this may lead. If indeed Jerome translated the Hebrew T"NK and the Peshitta New Testament into the Latin Vulgate (BTW-peshitta/simple is roughly equivalent to vulgate/common) then this would mean that the Latin Vulgate is closer to the literary truth of the Peshitta than the Greek Textus Receptus. How interesting!
Shlama,
Stephen
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