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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] Aramaic - Abba

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  • From: Jim West <jwest AT highland.net>
  • To: Harold R Holmyard III <hholmyard AT ont.com>, b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Aramaic - Abba
  • Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2005 13:45:05 -0400



Harold R Holmyard III wrote:


HH: One thought that occurs to me is that Jesus elsewhere in the gospels seems to speak Aramaic rather than Hebrew where there are speech fragments in a language other than Greek. That suggests ABBA was Aramaic, and thus according to what has been said would have meant "father." If that is the case, then the Greek NT translation of ABBA as "father" would make sense.


This of course assumes that we have ipsissima verba instead of redactional activity. It could very well be the case that the gospel tradents were passing on what had become almost "magical" words. If some early Christians believed in magic (and some clearly did!)- and if they believed Jesus spoke Aramaic (or Hebrew), it makes sense that they would try to imitate him in this respect. Note that the very places where aramaisms/hebraisms are preserved in the gospel traditions its where prayers are being uttered- and prayer is the most "magical" of all vocalizations.

In other words, the search which leads to the words of Jesus, or what Jesus "said" may be nothing but a search for what some of his followers said in imitation of him (or at least so they hoped).

--
D. Jim West

Biblical Studies Resources - http://web.infoave.net/~jwest
Biblical Theology Weblog - http://biblical-studies.blogspot.com





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