To: "b-hebrew-lists.ibiblio.org" <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: [b-hebrew] theories of Hebrew writing embedded in Greek NT autographs - then redaction - today proposed emendation
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:32:08 -0400
Hi,
Putting aside the group posting history, the point that I am making
to Rolf Furuli about scribal habits and textual transmission are simple.
If your theory of a New Testament text with Hebrew words originally
embedded does not reference clearly and astutely the following four issues:
1) Why a diverse variety of writers (allowing they were all Hebrew
fluent and skilled) would all do the exact same highly unusual
autographic Greek writing, of interrupting their Greek flow to change
to a Hebrew script for one word here and there. Today we have no
evidence at all that this was ever done. And various gentlemen only
guess the places this happened by their particular
doctrinal-Christological need (NWT) or, as here, they tentatively
limit the question to happening to NT quotes of OT scripture. No
matter what, you are placing the exact same unusual writing, never
seen in autographic Greek, as changing the style of a variety NT
authors, and nobody else.
2) Why every single case of this occurring in the autographs was
never recognized in either the manuscript lines, in any Greek, Latin
or even Syriac texts. And the conjectured phenomenon was never
referenced even once by the ECW who talked about the texts. In other
words, there is no trace.
3) Why every single one of these cases got redacted into our current
text, ie. The phenomenon then vanished without a trace. Why did they
not have a variety of redactions, such as transliterating YHVW or
Jehovah and a wide divergence between kurios and qeos in many
instances? Why the general textual consistency today? Surely such a
cumbersome redaction back into the Greek and Latin texts would leave
lots of variant signs in addition to historical notes.
4) Acknowledge that this is simply a master emendation theory, of no
textual evidence. Under this theory, the proper NT text was totally
hid for 1800 years, and is restored by conjectural emendation, all
done against 1-2-3.
If these issues are not addressed, then I think it is fair to say
that your theory is of no merit. Granted, I do not think they were
addressed by those who earlier floated similar theories, whether it
be George Howard or David Trobisch, however that is no reason for not
addressing them today.
==================
Please note that I often find Rolf's writings, and even JW writings,
of some interest. The acknowledgement of the name as Jehovah rather
than yahweh or other modern attempts is extra-fine ( I wonder if Rolf
has any specific critiques of the Nehemia Gordon material, beyond the
light dismissal he wrote.) Their concerns about the development of
the Trinity doctrine are interesting, even if I do not share their
general Christology. Rolf has written interestingly on John 1:18, as
I remember.
However, I see some gaping holes in the New Testament
emendation-redaction theory being propounded here.
==================
Shalom,
Steven Avery
Bayside, NY.
[b-hebrew] theories of Hebrew writing embedded in Greek NT autographs - then redaction - today proposed emendation,
Steven Avery, 06/10/2013