07-05-2010, 04:21 PM
Shlama Khulkhon:
After a study and meditation,some years ago as to the whereabouts of Paul's "signature" endings of all of his epistles I came to the understanding that they are an embellishment, a "hiddur mitzvah", if you will. They all originate in the phrase of Psalm 122:6-8, where it reads "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May they prosper that love you." "shaalu sh'lom Yerushalayim yishlau ovayikh". Again in 122:8, "the phrase for my brethren and companion's sakes I will now say peace be within you." "L'man akhi v'rayai adab'rah-na shalom bakh" Rabbi Shlomo Carlbach made this phrase into a beautiful song.
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Of course this is the Hebrew from the Massoretic text but the phraseology comes through nicely at the end of Paul's Aramaic written epistles in slightly different forms as he blesses individual brethren and the edutha collectively.
Beginning with Romans 16:21-23 similarities can be seen. The Hebrew "shaalu sh'lom" is equivalent to the pleural form "shalin washalmakhon". In I Corinthians 16:19-21 the phrase is developed even more. In II Corinthians 13:12-13 the same signature is used. In Galatians 6:16 there is a hint of the same equivalence. In Ephesians 6:23 Paul's signature blessing is apparent. Again in Phillipiahs 4:21-22 the same phrase is used. Colossians 4:10-18 appears to be the longest variant of this unique signature of the apostle Paul. I Thessalonians 5:25-26 is a clear equivalence which I strongly believe brings to remembrance the unique attachment between the Christian saints and holy Jerusalem. II Thessalonians 3:17 is where Paul affirms that he uses this unique signature.
"Salutation by the writing of my hand, I Paulos, have written which is the sign in all my epistles, so I write." JWE Translation
The salutation is obscured at the end of I Timothy but present in II Timothy 4:19-22. Titus 3:15 shows the salutation. Philemon verse 24 also demonstrates the signature of Paulos. Finally, Hebrews 13:24 should end the misunderstanding that Hebrews was written by anyone else but the Hebrew of Hebrews, the apostle Paul. The phrase "shaalu b'shlama d'khulhon" completes the thread which is an embellishment of Psalm 122:6-8 inclusive.
This Psalm is the third of the "ascents" which were sung by the Levites to call pilgrims to the festivals from the 15 steps of the portico which separated the heights between the lower Court from the upper court. How fitting for Paulos to draw an allusion to Holy Jerusalem in his signature salutations, the water mark of all of his epistles.
Shlama,
Stephen Silver
Dukhrana Biblical Research
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.dukhrana.com">http://www.dukhrana.com</a><!-- m -->
After a study and meditation,some years ago as to the whereabouts of Paul's "signature" endings of all of his epistles I came to the understanding that they are an embellishment, a "hiddur mitzvah", if you will. They all originate in the phrase of Psalm 122:6-8, where it reads "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May they prosper that love you." "shaalu sh'lom Yerushalayim yishlau ovayikh". Again in 122:8, "the phrase for my brethren and companion's sakes I will now say peace be within you." "L'man akhi v'rayai adab'rah-na shalom bakh" Rabbi Shlomo Carlbach made this phrase into a beautiful song.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.hebrewsongs.com/song-lemaanachaivereai.htm">http://www.hebrewsongs.com/song-lemaanachaivereai.htm</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://hebrewsongs.com/?song=lemaanachaivereai">http://hebrewsongs.com/?song=lemaanachaivereai</a><!-- m -->
Of course this is the Hebrew from the Massoretic text but the phraseology comes through nicely at the end of Paul's Aramaic written epistles in slightly different forms as he blesses individual brethren and the edutha collectively.
Beginning with Romans 16:21-23 similarities can be seen. The Hebrew "shaalu sh'lom" is equivalent to the pleural form "shalin washalmakhon". In I Corinthians 16:19-21 the phrase is developed even more. In II Corinthians 13:12-13 the same signature is used. In Galatians 6:16 there is a hint of the same equivalence. In Ephesians 6:23 Paul's signature blessing is apparent. Again in Phillipiahs 4:21-22 the same phrase is used. Colossians 4:10-18 appears to be the longest variant of this unique signature of the apostle Paul. I Thessalonians 5:25-26 is a clear equivalence which I strongly believe brings to remembrance the unique attachment between the Christian saints and holy Jerusalem. II Thessalonians 3:17 is where Paul affirms that he uses this unique signature.
"Salutation by the writing of my hand, I Paulos, have written which is the sign in all my epistles, so I write." JWE Translation
The salutation is obscured at the end of I Timothy but present in II Timothy 4:19-22. Titus 3:15 shows the salutation. Philemon verse 24 also demonstrates the signature of Paulos. Finally, Hebrews 13:24 should end the misunderstanding that Hebrews was written by anyone else but the Hebrew of Hebrews, the apostle Paul. The phrase "shaalu b'shlama d'khulhon" completes the thread which is an embellishment of Psalm 122:6-8 inclusive.
This Psalm is the third of the "ascents" which were sung by the Levites to call pilgrims to the festivals from the 15 steps of the portico which separated the heights between the lower Court from the upper court. How fitting for Paulos to draw an allusion to Holy Jerusalem in his signature salutations, the water mark of all of his epistles.
Shlama,
Stephen Silver
Dukhrana Biblical Research
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.dukhrana.com">http://www.dukhrana.com</a><!-- m -->