The Age of the Peshitta

[Paul Younan]

...Jesus did not speak 4th-5th century Classical Syriac ...

Shlama Akhi Steve,

Can you please point out the specific differences between the Aramaic language of Jesus, as it was graciously preserved in the GNT, and the Aramaic of the Peshitta (what you call, "Classical Syriac")?

Specifically, "Talitha Qumi", and also the last words on the Cross (in the terrible Greek transliteration)...oh, I suppose we can leave "Abba" out, one word is too simple. Please use only these two examples.

Thank you in advance.

+Shamasha

PS - also helpful, if possible, would be precise evidence of what Jesus actually spoke, other than the couple of phrases and words that the GNT graciously preserved. I want to see His actual words, preserved somewhere, that would back up your statement above.

BTW, your statement above is loaded with an obviously misleading assertion - because no one is able to speak something you label as 4-5 centuries later than when that person actually lived. It's impossible for me to speak 25th-century English, right?

Apparently, Eusebius didn't raise an issue with Jesus and King Abgar of Edessa communicating via letter. Eusebius was Bishop in the Holy Land in 314. He was probably born before 270. (the historicity of this account, btw, is irrelevant to my point). Perhaps, just maybe, the language of Edessa and Israel during the first century was nearly identical ?

You have no problem with Jews going around Europe and preaching in Greek to their fellow Jews there, but apparently, you see an insurmountable challenge when the same Jews travel in the opposite direction and encounter, gasp!, a different dialect of the SAME language they happen to speak. Oh my! How did the Apostles evangelize the east, the language was SO different from their own, that they might as well have used GREEK like they did in Europe, right ?

OK, I said all that smiling, you know that already. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s -->