Dr. Peter Williams' presentation, "Why I Don't Believe in the Septuagint," may be viewed here: czcams.com/video/RmpnJ1cgh58/video.html&list=LL6UAzFU6GZgix5ojuRZqNrg . An excellent overview of the Septuagint, by Dr. J. F. Hultin: czcams.com/video/-NhrQqDlw7c/video.html&list=LL6UAzFU6GZgix5ojuRZqNrg . My examination of quotations from the Old Testament in the New is still available at several sites on the internet, to include: www.areopage.net/PDF/LXXNotesFeb06.pdf .
I have read your article 14 years after it was written. Suffice to say I was deeply impressed by the balanced and meticulous scholarship (of a "physicist", no less!). Kudos! P.S. Big fan of your reviews.
If I were judging your age on your hands, I'd guess you were 30 years old. I can't tell by your voice, but I have to tell you that your voice is extremely soothing and i could listen to these videos for hours. They're especially helpful at bedtime. Not that the reviews put me to sleep, but they are very calming and relaxing
I just ordered the Rohlfs septuaginta. Hope the font size is readable. The reviewed edition of the septuaginta is so comfortable to the eyes. Great review and thanks for sharing it!
When I compare the font in my copy of Rahlfs to Symbol, caps are about as tall as 8.5 pt Symbol caps, while lowercase letters seem about as tall as 8 pt Symbol lowercase characters.
The set is available from CBD: www.christianbook.com/septuaginta-readers-edition-hardcover-blue-volumes/9781619708433/pd/708433?product_redirect=1&Ntt=708433&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP and soon Amazon will sell it, but their price is much higher: www.amazon.com/Septuaginta-Readers-Hardcover-n/dp/1619708434
Great... Will be studying the LXX next semester... this is a great preparation... What readers edition of the Hebrew Bible (Masoretic Text) would you recommend? Thanks for your great videos
In a synagogue in the 1st century, one could only read the Hebrew scrolls or the Targum (a translation of the Hebrew Bible into Aramaic). Greek was forbidden. Recall that Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the Solomon’s temple circa 170 BC. Thus, the need for Herod to build the 2nd temple. The Jews of the 1st century despised the Greeks, for that and other reasons. The only evidence for a BC Septuagint is the letter of Aristeas, which no one believers but everyone quotes. It is a fantastic tale (read fantasy). There is no reference to a Septuagint prior to 50 AD (+/-). If you trace all the reference to a BC Septuagint, you will find that each and every on them references the Letter of Aristeas in one form or another. So, the only witness to a BC Septuagint is the Letter of Aristeas (LOA). If one believes the LOA, one has to believe also that the 10 northern tribes of Israel were not dispersed to four winds after 721 BC. From this diaspora they never returned. Rather you have to believe that they were still in Israel in 285 BC, since the LOA claims that 6 scribes from each of the 12 tribes of Israel were assembled in Egypt by Ptolemy Philadelphus. Incidentally, a land to which the Jews were forbidden ever to return to. Deuteronomy 28:68. Incidentally, none of the ancient writers who refer to the LOA agree on which Ptolemy is referred to. Only the Levites were allowed to copy the scriptures (with the exception of the King who had to make a copy for himself). So, one has to add to that belief that 72 scribes (not Levites) defiled themselves among the Greeks and defied the scriptures and God’s wishes in order to copy the scriptures as well as going to a land to which they were forbidden ever to return. More so, add to that belief, that 72 scribes, each without a copy of the Hebrew scriptures, translated them from memory into Greek in 72 days and every single word was identical all the while being locked up in 72 chambers on the isle of Pharos without any collaboration between them. And by the way, why is it called LXX "The 70"? And may I say ”Incidentally” again? Incidentally, the Pharos light house was not built until 280 BC, 5 years after the blessed event. A minor point. To sum up, we are to believe that God inspired the work of 72 (not 70) disobedient, non-Levitical scribes who rendered 72 identical copies of the Hebrew scriptures from memory into Greek. Really? Incidentally (one more time), the LOA section 176 says that the whole scroll was written in gold. Really? Where is it? You’d think that someone would have a vested interest in preserving such a priceless document. Where is it? It doesn’t exist! Finally, If you were to get a copy of the Septuagint, you would find that it is nothing more than the Old Testament portions of the codex Alexandrinus, the codex Sinaiticus and the codex Vaticanus, along with the Apocrypha. Earlier English translations included the apocryphal books as part of the old testament. The KJB translators included the apocryphal books because it was part of their mandate, but they placed them in a separate section called the “Apocrypha” meaning “writings…not considered genuine”. And they headed each page with the title Apocrypha to dispel any doubt of their intention. If you believe that Jesus quoted from the Septuagint, you have to also believe that Jesus endorsed the Apocrypha. Including prayers for the dead! Including praying to angels! Including purgatory! The Septuagint? Really?
Hardcover for me. I think the real advantage of hardcover is that you can store the books upright. But if that's not an important consideration for you, I don't know why flexisoft shouldn't do the job.
Dear Grant, based mainly on your reviews and the reviews of others I have made two lists of bibles I would like to purchase. Would you be willing to have a look at them and let me know, which list in your opinion is more comprehensive and worth purchasing?
Certainly. But I may not know anything about some or most of the books on your list. But feel free to post the list here or email it to me at ignatios_antioch@hotmail.com.
@@RGrantJones Many thanks. I was trying various options for some time and finally came up to a conclusion. This is OK if you will not know a particular book however I think you will. Both lists have some repetitions as part of the list is for my family. Sending now.
Could you please review the Interlinear Hebre-Greek-English Bible since this might be a helpful study book for those who want to learn both biblical Hebrew and Greek. PS. I appreciate a lot the fact that you review books which you buy on your own. This gives you full independence in commenting on them and it makes your reviews truthful in contrast to reviews done by those who obtain bibles for free and keep them for themselves. This I find immoral especially that for overwhelming number of people buying a Bible a good is a major expense for which they have to work a lot. I also think that after 2000 years of Christianity and Western civilisation claiming to be built on Christian values, it is strange that people still must purchase the Word of God which has become profit making business to so many...
I'll add it to my list, but since the one I own was published by Hendrickson, I'll have to ask their permission. Even if it's still in print and Hendrickson doesn't object, it may be a few months before I get to it. On the topic of taking books in exchange for reviews, I don't want to imply anything about other reviewers. It's just that, for me, I would be tempted to exaggerate the pros and ignore the cons to keep the publishers happy and the free books coming. I'd prefer to live without that temptation! But sometimes you just can't win! I had a comment on one of my videos a week or so ago taking me to task for criticizing a Bible. How could I be negative about such a beautiful Bible when there are people in the world who don't even own an inexpensive one???!!! The person who made that comment was, in essence, comparing me to the princess who couldn't sleep because of the pea under her mattress, when all I'm trying to do is to help people invest their money wisely and provide constructive feedback to publishers.
@@RGrantJones I know something about this. I have made recently a sort of negative written kind of review of the new Westminster Large Print Bible on the Bible Buying Guide CZcams Channel also saying plainly and honestly what do I think of Bible reviews when bibles are being received for free. You may be interested to have a look on this because I do also mention you as a positive example of Bible reviews. This is fact that majority of people do not own bible and will not be able to effort one of the more expensive they make so persistently. I am thinking in fact of making a complete reference bible but in a very simplistic way, which will be a paperback bible falling apart after few weeks but have some more dignity and yet be effordable by everyone. This is why I would like to work on this with people like you. I believe that Bibles should be for free in Christian nations and that they should not be an object of business at all. In fact I think it should be prohibited for corporations to print Bible and only church-like communities should be able to do it like for instacne the Church Bible Publishers.. People will never be satisfied but for me the aim is to reach those people who are silent, whom we do not know from any channel or story and who are out there in remote places only dreaming of heaving their own bible. I know some of them from my life in Africa where I do also spend part of my time.
Bew -- yes, I will review it. But it may be some time before I get to it. I like to spread out my Greek language edition reviews, so as not to bore the viewers who are only interested in English Bibles.
I was also wondering if you could propose a composition of the optimal reference Bible containing all minimally necessary texts and help tools. What would be your suggestion as to format, paper, cover, etc. I was also wondering if you would be interested in cooperation on bible reviews. We are planning to do KJV only Bible reviews for Central and Eastern Europe and perhaps you could do such reviews on our behalf and we would translate them into various languages (Polish, Russian, Czech, etc. ) This would be done from a different channel and we could talk about details via email. Reason for this is to show to people in this parts of world that there is an alternative to Catholic and evangelical bible texts.
Shin -- if I were younger and had more time and energy, that sounds like something I'd be eager to do. But as it is, I'm older and tired and my time is pretty much spoken for. I'm honored you considered me to work on such a project.
@@RGrantJones I do because having looked at countless Bible reviews on CZcams I can say it with confidence that you do them in the most thorough way and since we are also thinking of developing our own format of the KJV only bible - I had to ask. If you would change your mind - do let me know please. We are working on putting together a small. international group to work on this new format. BTW. Do not think that I am a young person ... I am not as young anymore :-)
There is a handy, economical, single volume all-Greek Bible (although it includes English along with Greek on the title page) which may not be oriented to scholars, but which could be helpful for everyday use for Greek-reading laity as well as others. Could you consider reviewing it? The English parallel title is: "The BIble: the Septuagint Old Testament (LXX) and the Patriarchal 1904 New Testament".The ISBN (as it displays on the back paperback cover) is 978-1494779719. The print would be far too small for many readers, but it probably would be worth using despite that, if only for sheer convenience.
Dr. Peter Williams' presentation, "Why I Don't Believe in the Septuagint," may be viewed here: czcams.com/video/RmpnJ1cgh58/video.html&list=LL6UAzFU6GZgix5ojuRZqNrg .
An excellent overview of the Septuagint, by Dr. J. F. Hultin: czcams.com/video/-NhrQqDlw7c/video.html&list=LL6UAzFU6GZgix5ojuRZqNrg .
My examination of quotations from the Old Testament in the New is still available at several sites on the internet, to include: www.areopage.net/PDF/LXXNotesFeb06.pdf .
I have read your article 14 years after it was written. Suffice to say I was deeply impressed by the balanced and meticulous scholarship (of a "physicist", no less!). Kudos!
P.S. Big fan of your reviews.
If I were judging your age on your hands, I'd guess you were 30 years old. I can't tell by your voice, but I have to tell you that your voice is extremely soothing and i could listen to these videos for hours. They're especially helpful at bedtime. Not that the reviews put me to sleep, but they are very calming and relaxing
nice vid.
its $109 on amazon as of now (Jan/2023)
you got it for near half of that.
I just got mine from Amazon for $66.89 (July 2023).
What a great set of books, thanks for the review.
Yes, I agree. They're excellent. Thanks for watching and commenting, gypsy!
I just ordered the Rohlfs septuaginta. Hope the font size is readable. The reviewed edition of the septuaginta is so comfortable to the eyes. Great review and thanks for sharing it!
When I compare the font in my copy of Rahlfs to Symbol, caps are about as tall as 8.5 pt Symbol caps, while lowercase letters seem about as tall as 8 pt Symbol lowercase characters.
@@RGrantJones Thank you so much!
The set is available from CBD: www.christianbook.com/septuaginta-readers-edition-hardcover-blue-volumes/9781619708433/pd/708433?product_redirect=1&Ntt=708433&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP and soon Amazon will sell it, but their price is much higher: www.amazon.com/Septuaginta-Readers-Hardcover-n/dp/1619708434
Thanks for another great video, Dr. Jones. Your work here is admirable.
Very interested in what Hendrickson has been coming out with recently. Thanks for the review sir, looking forward to mine!
Thanks for commenting. I think you'll be happy with this set.
You can still put the partial dust jacket in a full protective cover.
Great... Will be studying the LXX next semester... this is a great preparation... What readers edition of the Hebrew Bible (Masoretic Text) would you recommend? Thanks for your great videos
The Hebrew Bible from Trinitarian Bible Society.
Would you recommend getting this two volume set over the single volume of Rahlfs’ Septuagint published by the German Bible Society?
If your Greek vocabulary isn't strong, this set would be better. Otherwise, I would recommend the single-volume edition. Thanks for the question!
I want to buy the New testament Septuagint English version. Please can you recommend any one?
In a synagogue in the 1st century, one could only read the Hebrew scrolls or the Targum (a translation of the Hebrew Bible into Aramaic). Greek was forbidden. Recall that Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the Solomon’s temple circa 170 BC. Thus, the need for Herod to build the 2nd temple. The Jews of the 1st century despised the Greeks, for that and other reasons.
The only evidence for a BC Septuagint is the letter of Aristeas, which no one believers but everyone quotes. It is a fantastic tale (read fantasy). There is no reference to a Septuagint prior to 50 AD (+/-). If you trace all the reference to a BC Septuagint, you will find that each and every on them references the Letter of Aristeas in one form or another. So, the only witness to a BC Septuagint is the Letter of Aristeas (LOA).
If one believes the LOA, one has to believe also that the 10 northern tribes of Israel were not dispersed to four winds after 721 BC. From this diaspora they never returned. Rather you have to believe that they were still in Israel in 285 BC, since the LOA claims that 6 scribes from each of the 12 tribes of Israel were assembled in Egypt by Ptolemy Philadelphus. Incidentally, a land to which the Jews were forbidden ever to return to. Deuteronomy 28:68. Incidentally, none of the ancient writers who refer to the LOA agree on which Ptolemy is referred to.
Only the Levites were allowed to copy the scriptures (with the exception of the King who had to make a copy for himself). So, one has to add to that belief that 72 scribes (not Levites) defiled themselves among the Greeks and defied the scriptures and God’s wishes in order to copy the scriptures as well as going to a land to which they were forbidden ever to return.
More so, add to that belief, that 72 scribes, each without a copy of the Hebrew scriptures, translated them from memory into Greek in 72 days and every single word was identical all the while being locked up in 72 chambers on the isle of Pharos without any collaboration between them. And by the way, why is it called LXX "The 70"?
And may I say ”Incidentally” again? Incidentally, the Pharos light house was not built until 280 BC, 5 years after the blessed event. A minor point.
To sum up, we are to believe that God inspired the work of 72 (not 70) disobedient, non-Levitical scribes who rendered 72 identical copies of the Hebrew scriptures from memory into Greek. Really?
Incidentally (one more time), the LOA section 176 says that the whole scroll was written in gold. Really? Where is it? You’d think that someone would have a vested interest in preserving such a priceless document. Where is it? It doesn’t exist!
Finally, If you were to get a copy of the Septuagint, you would find that it is nothing more than the Old Testament portions of the codex Alexandrinus, the codex Sinaiticus and the codex Vaticanus, along with the Apocrypha.
Earlier English translations included the apocryphal books as part of the old testament. The KJB translators included the apocryphal books because it was part of their mandate, but they placed them in a separate section called the “Apocrypha” meaning “writings…not considered genuine”. And they headed each page with the title Apocrypha to dispel any doubt of their intention.
If you believe that Jesus quoted from the Septuagint, you have to also believe that Jesus endorsed the Apocrypha.
Including prayers for the dead!
Including praying to angels!
Including purgatory!
The Septuagint? Really?
Would you recommend the hardcover or the flexisoft version for books this size? I have the Greek Reader’s UBS in both, but it is considerably smaller.
Hardcover for me. I think the real advantage of hardcover is that you can store the books upright. But if that's not an important consideration for you, I don't know why flexisoft shouldn't do the job.
Dear Grant, based mainly on your reviews and the reviews of others I have made two lists of bibles I would like to purchase. Would you be willing to have a look at them and let me know, which list in your opinion is more comprehensive and worth purchasing?
Certainly. But I may not know anything about some or most of the books on your list. But feel free to post the list here or email it to me at ignatios_antioch@hotmail.com.
@@RGrantJones Many thanks. I was trying various options for some time and finally came up to a conclusion. This is OK if you will not know a particular book however I think you will. Both lists have some repetitions as part of the list is for my family. Sending now.
Does the book include the book of enoch, i heard enoch is not considered
Enoch is not in the Septuagint and is only considered canonical in the Tewahedo churches.
Could you please review the Interlinear Hebre-Greek-English Bible since this might be a helpful study book for those who want to learn both biblical Hebrew and Greek.
PS. I appreciate a lot the fact that you review books which you buy on your own. This gives you full independence in commenting on them and it makes your reviews truthful in contrast to reviews done by those who obtain bibles for free and keep them for themselves. This I find immoral especially that for overwhelming number of people buying a Bible a good is a major expense for which they have to work a lot.
I also think that after 2000 years of Christianity and Western civilisation claiming to be built on Christian values, it is strange that people still must purchase the Word of God which has become profit making business to so many...
I'll add it to my list, but since the one I own was published by Hendrickson, I'll have to ask their permission. Even if it's still in print and Hendrickson doesn't object, it may be a few months before I get to it.
On the topic of taking books in exchange for reviews, I don't want to imply anything about other reviewers. It's just that, for me, I would be tempted to exaggerate the pros and ignore the cons to keep the publishers happy and the free books coming. I'd prefer to live without that temptation!
But sometimes you just can't win! I had a comment on one of my videos a week or so ago taking me to task for criticizing a Bible. How could I be negative about such a beautiful Bible when there are people in the world who don't even own an inexpensive one???!!! The person who made that comment was, in essence, comparing me to the princess who couldn't sleep because of the pea under her mattress, when all I'm trying to do is to help people invest their money wisely and provide constructive feedback to publishers.
@@RGrantJones I know something about this. I have made recently a sort of negative written kind of review of the new Westminster Large Print Bible on the Bible Buying Guide CZcams Channel also saying plainly and honestly what do I think of Bible reviews when bibles are being received for free. You may be interested to have a look on this because I do also mention you as a positive example of Bible reviews.
This is fact that majority of people do not own bible and will not be able to effort one of the more expensive they make so persistently. I am thinking in fact of making a complete reference bible but in a very simplistic way, which will be a paperback bible falling apart after few weeks but have some more dignity and yet be effordable by everyone. This is why I would like to work on this with people like you.
I believe that Bibles should be for free in Christian nations and that they should not be an object of business at all. In fact I think it should be prohibited for corporations to print Bible and only church-like communities should be able to do it like for instacne the Church Bible Publishers..
People will never be satisfied but for me the aim is to reach those people who are silent, whom we do not know from any channel or story and who are out there in remote places only dreaming of heaving their own bible. I know some of them from my life in Africa where I do also spend part of my time.
Review that book septuar full version pléae
Bew -- yes, I will review it. But it may be some time before I get to it. I like to spread out my Greek language edition reviews, so as not to bore the viewers who are only interested in English Bibles.
I was also wondering if you could propose a composition of the optimal reference Bible containing all minimally necessary texts and help tools. What would be your suggestion as to format, paper, cover, etc.
I was also wondering if you would be interested in cooperation on bible reviews. We are planning to do KJV only Bible reviews for Central and Eastern Europe and perhaps you could do such reviews on our behalf and we would translate them into various languages (Polish, Russian, Czech, etc. ) This would be done from a different channel and we could talk about details via email. Reason for this is to show to people in this parts of world that there is an alternative to Catholic and evangelical bible texts.
Shin -- if I were younger and had more time and energy, that sounds like something I'd be eager to do. But as it is, I'm older and tired and my time is pretty much spoken for. I'm honored you considered me to work on such a project.
@@RGrantJones I do because having looked at countless Bible reviews on CZcams I can say it with confidence that you do them in the most thorough way and since we are also thinking of developing our own format of the KJV only bible - I had to ask. If you would change your mind - do let me know please. We are working on putting together a small. international group to work on this new format. BTW. Do not think that I am a young person ... I am not as young anymore :-)
Brother, You have to check out my latest video. I have a 1567 Beza Gk/Lat New Testament.
do not whisper. Like your review
Huge assumption. Maybe his voice is on the weak side for some health reason, you never know.
There is a handy, economical, single volume all-Greek Bible (although it includes English along with Greek on the title page) which may not be oriented to scholars, but which could be helpful for everyday use for Greek-reading laity as well as others. Could you consider reviewing it? The English parallel title is: "The BIble: the Septuagint Old Testament (LXX) and the Patriarchal 1904 New Testament".The ISBN (as it displays on the back paperback cover) is 978-1494779719. The print would be far too small for many readers, but it probably would be worth using despite that, if only for sheer convenience.