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The Septuagint: What It Is and Why It Matters
A Thorough, Accessible Introduction to the Greek Translation of the Old Testament
Scholars and laypeople alike have stumbled over Bible footnotes about the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Many wonder, What is it? Why do some verses differ from the Hebrew text? Is it important to Scripture?
In this introduction to the Septuagint, Gregory R. Lanier and William A. Ross clarify its origin, transmission, and language. By studying its significance for both the Old and New Testaments, believers can understand the Septuagint’s place in Judeo-Christian history as well as in the church today.
Scholars and laypeople alike have stumbled over Bible footnotes about the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Many wonder, What is it? Why do some verses differ from the Hebrew text? Is it important to Scripture?
In this introduction to the Septuagint, Gregory R. Lanier and William A. Ross clarify its origin, transmission, and language. By studying its significance for both the Old and New Testaments, believers can understand the Septuagint’s place in Judeo-Christian history as well as in the church today.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 9, 2021
26 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
About the author
Gregory R. Lanier
18 books8 followersGregory R. Lanier (Ph.D. University of Cambridge) is Associate Professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary (Orlando). He specializes in early Christology, Synoptic Gospels, Greek OT (Septuagint), and textual criticism. He also serves part-time as an associate pastor at River Oaks Church (Lake Mary, FL). He lives in Orlando with his wife and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
June 25, 2022
This was an unexpectedly good read. I've often read mentions of the Septuagint (or 'LXX') in the footnotes of my Bible, but never really knew much about it; here Greg Lanier and William Ross explore exactly what they say in the title - what the LXX is, and why it matters. As well as providing an accessible introduction to the history of the LXX, they show how it has affected our understanding of the Old Testament and the New. All of this is done within a framework of clear and unapologetic evangelical convictions.
They say it's aimed at laymen and church leaders alike, and on a number of occasions they suggest that a decent understanding of the LXX is nigh-on essential for any serious Christian. I think this overstates the case. Nonetheless, their sentiment is somewhat-justified by showing how a good understanding of the LXX enables us to deal with several apologetic issues that quickly confront any careful student of the Bible (for example, how the New Testament uses the Old). I've left with a much clearer understanding of the LXX, but - more importantly - I feel better informed about the decisions which have gone into translating my Bible into English, and for that I'm very grateful.
They say it's aimed at laymen and church leaders alike, and on a number of occasions they suggest that a decent understanding of the LXX is nigh-on essential for any serious Christian. I think this overstates the case. Nonetheless, their sentiment is somewhat-justified by showing how a good understanding of the LXX enables us to deal with several apologetic issues that quickly confront any careful student of the Bible (for example, how the New Testament uses the Old). I've left with a much clearer understanding of the LXX, but - more importantly - I feel better informed about the decisions which have gone into translating my Bible into English, and for that I'm very grateful.
Read
February 7, 2023This is easily the best book on the Septuagint I've read. It is clearly written and very accessible. While it doesn't cover as much ground as Jobes and Silva's book, it does make the same areas clearer for the reader, which makes this much more practical. They also address some of the excesses of other approaches to the Septuagint such as Laws who argues for the Greek text of the Old Testament over the Hebrew. If you're curious about the Septuagint this is a great intro to it that explains what it is and why it matters - and hence the subtitle. :)
November 25, 2021
An excellent introduction to the issue. This is scholarship at its best: clearly presented; recognizing the still unanswered questions; not avoiding the difficult issues; accessible to the non-specialist. Lanier and Ross are to be commended on the work. Highly recommended.
January 21, 2022
This is quite a mixed book that has nuggets of gold in the second half.
Starting off with a section from near the end, on page 188-189 in paperback, the authors state: "The Reformation instinct is that "Scripture interprets Scripture"; the normative authority norms itself. But this principle does not impose strict biblicism ("me and my Bible alone") or rule out insight from the broader church tradition."
That being said, they fail when it comes to the "broader church tradition". The authors do not state their own doctrinal commitments up front, which would have made this work a lot better, if they revised it. They are working in a Protestant/low church vein, as both authors teach at RTS and one is a presbyterian minister. This means they have a (unstated in the text) prior doctrinal commitment that the original OT to be taken for final authority has to be the Hebrew and they do not accept any of the Greek Canon as being authoritative. Secondarily, while this is not of the same weight as the prior, of the six reviews on the inside jacket, all of them are protestants, three are baptists, two from non-denominational backgrounds. Why not Catholics, Anglicans, or Eastern Orthodox? If they are trying to appeal to low-church backgrounds, ones with a heavy dispensationalist or KJV-only, this would make more sense. As it stands though, these unstated commitments influenced the entire book.
The second major issue stems from the first, in that the authors cite uncritically many modern (last 20 years) works of scholarship that tend to be by people who don't accept the canonicity of scripture in the first place.
Specific issues:
For the work itself, starting off, the authors don't accept the creation of the Septuagint to be true in any meaningful way. The Letter of Aristeas to Philocrates (a letter from around 280-240BC) they don't hold to be true, and they say it is a myth, again citing modern scholarship. They leave it at that. This is like modern scholars who refused to accept Troy as a real city until archaeologists found it in 1871. On the contrary, Josephus in his "Antiquities of the Jews", book 12, chapter 2 (page 309 in my edition) cites much of that letter verbatim. That Ptolemy II Philadelphus wanted to translate the Pentateuch into Greek for the Library of Alexandria, which was done by 72 scribes. Later, also under the Ptolemies, the rest of the then Hebrew corpus was translated into Greek, traditionally by 70 scribes (hence Septuagint or LXX). I have no reason to disbelieve the Josephus or Philo of Alexandria who believe this account here. The authors go on to state they believe it was probably translated at Alexandria anyway (???).
Now for the good stuff. The authors do show that the Masoretic Text (which we have today in only one intact manuscript dating from 1008, the Leningrad Codex) differs substantially in many areas from the *three* Greek Septuagint intact manuscripts that we have which date from the Nicene and Constantinian era, the Codex Sinaiticus (א), Codex Alexandrinus (A), and Codex Vaticanus (B).
Many things that Christians take for granted today, such as the prophecy about a virgin giving birth, the eternal pre-existance of the Son of Man, the Son of Man being identical to the Ancient of Days, (Christ's divinity), are only found in the LXX and not the Masoretic Text that nearly all modern English bibles use as their textual source.
This is why the Septuagint is important for a couple of reasons, one is that the three Greek manuscripts we have today are 700 years older than the MT. This relates to it being translated by Jewish scribes in Alexandria, who were then fluent in the original Hebrew and could faithfully translate this into Greek, because by the time of Christ, Greek and Aramaic and Latin had supplanted Hebrew by the first century.
The second reason the LXX is important for us is that since the Septuagint was translated into Greek by Jewish Scribes *prior to the birth of Jesus*, it represents a pre-Christian Old Testament that is not biased by unbelieving Jews (post Christ's advent) who, according to the Church Fathers, changed and removed the prophecies in then Hebrew texts as to undermine the Christian position of them pointing towards Jesus as the Messiah. (As claimed first by Justin Martyr in his 'Dialogue with Trypho', chapters 71-73, also by Irenaeus in his 'Against Heresies', Book III, Chapter 21, and by Origen in his Epistola ad Africanum.) These changes are shown in comparing the surviving 10th century Masoretic Text to the three LXX manuscripts, where many things such as Psalms 72:17, 110:3, and Isaiah 7:14 were revised in Jewish texts posts-Jesus.
One more thing that deserves to be mentioned, is that the Latin Vulgate, translated by Jerome, reflects a Hebrew (and some Greek) manuscript from the 380's that no longer exists. So even if the Vulgate was a perfect translation by Jerome, it would *still be different from today* because the MT has changed. This needs to be taken into account when reading Reformers talk about the inadequacy of the Vulgate source text. The older English Catholic translation of the Vulgate, the Douy-Rheims, does reflect the Septuagints wording for the pre-existance in Psalm 72:17 and 110:3, which reflects Jerome having a different manuscript. The authors also helpfully note that some of the longer books in the Greek (such as Esther, Daniel, and Jeremiah), some of these have been discovered in fragments in the Qumran Caves (commonly referred to as the Dead Sea Scrolls), which helps show that the LXX reflects an older manuscript basis.
This really boils down to: what should we use as our source translation? We have *three* Greek manuscripts that are way older and were used by the Church Fathers, versus having one manuscript from 10th century unbelievers. If you are trying to hold to the "broader church tradition" doctrine that God preserves His Word for his people through His Church, I would submit that God preserved for us the LXX in the codexes we have received. You can't make arguments for the Nicene Creed about virgin birth, or Christ's nature if you rely on the MT *alone* as your inspirational source.
All that being said, I really enjoyed the discussions in the second half of the book, the resources for further study are decent, and I wish the authors had been more upfront with their doctrinal beliefs.
Starting off with a section from near the end, on page 188-189 in paperback, the authors state: "The Reformation instinct is that "Scripture interprets Scripture"; the normative authority norms itself. But this principle does not impose strict biblicism ("me and my Bible alone") or rule out insight from the broader church tradition."
That being said, they fail when it comes to the "broader church tradition". The authors do not state their own doctrinal commitments up front, which would have made this work a lot better, if they revised it. They are working in a Protestant/low church vein, as both authors teach at RTS and one is a presbyterian minister. This means they have a (unstated in the text) prior doctrinal commitment that the original OT to be taken for final authority has to be the Hebrew and they do not accept any of the Greek Canon as being authoritative. Secondarily, while this is not of the same weight as the prior, of the six reviews on the inside jacket, all of them are protestants, three are baptists, two from non-denominational backgrounds. Why not Catholics, Anglicans, or Eastern Orthodox? If they are trying to appeal to low-church backgrounds, ones with a heavy dispensationalist or KJV-only, this would make more sense. As it stands though, these unstated commitments influenced the entire book.
The second major issue stems from the first, in that the authors cite uncritically many modern (last 20 years) works of scholarship that tend to be by people who don't accept the canonicity of scripture in the first place.
Specific issues:
For the work itself, starting off, the authors don't accept the creation of the Septuagint to be true in any meaningful way. The Letter of Aristeas to Philocrates (a letter from around 280-240BC) they don't hold to be true, and they say it is a myth, again citing modern scholarship. They leave it at that. This is like modern scholars who refused to accept Troy as a real city until archaeologists found it in 1871. On the contrary, Josephus in his "Antiquities of the Jews", book 12, chapter 2 (page 309 in my edition) cites much of that letter verbatim. That Ptolemy II Philadelphus wanted to translate the Pentateuch into Greek for the Library of Alexandria, which was done by 72 scribes. Later, also under the Ptolemies, the rest of the then Hebrew corpus was translated into Greek, traditionally by 70 scribes (hence Septuagint or LXX). I have no reason to disbelieve the Josephus or Philo of Alexandria who believe this account here. The authors go on to state they believe it was probably translated at Alexandria anyway (???).
Now for the good stuff. The authors do show that the Masoretic Text (which we have today in only one intact manuscript dating from 1008, the Leningrad Codex) differs substantially in many areas from the *three* Greek Septuagint intact manuscripts that we have which date from the Nicene and Constantinian era, the Codex Sinaiticus (א), Codex Alexandrinus (A), and Codex Vaticanus (B).
Many things that Christians take for granted today, such as the prophecy about a virgin giving birth, the eternal pre-existance of the Son of Man, the Son of Man being identical to the Ancient of Days, (Christ's divinity), are only found in the LXX and not the Masoretic Text that nearly all modern English bibles use as their textual source.
This is why the Septuagint is important for a couple of reasons, one is that the three Greek manuscripts we have today are 700 years older than the MT. This relates to it being translated by Jewish scribes in Alexandria, who were then fluent in the original Hebrew and could faithfully translate this into Greek, because by the time of Christ, Greek and Aramaic and Latin had supplanted Hebrew by the first century.
The second reason the LXX is important for us is that since the Septuagint was translated into Greek by Jewish Scribes *prior to the birth of Jesus*, it represents a pre-Christian Old Testament that is not biased by unbelieving Jews (post Christ's advent) who, according to the Church Fathers, changed and removed the prophecies in then Hebrew texts as to undermine the Christian position of them pointing towards Jesus as the Messiah. (As claimed first by Justin Martyr in his 'Dialogue with Trypho', chapters 71-73, also by Irenaeus in his 'Against Heresies', Book III, Chapter 21, and by Origen in his Epistola ad Africanum.) These changes are shown in comparing the surviving 10th century Masoretic Text to the three LXX manuscripts, where many things such as Psalms 72:17, 110:3, and Isaiah 7:14 were revised in Jewish texts posts-Jesus.
One more thing that deserves to be mentioned, is that the Latin Vulgate, translated by Jerome, reflects a Hebrew (and some Greek) manuscript from the 380's that no longer exists. So even if the Vulgate was a perfect translation by Jerome, it would *still be different from today* because the MT has changed. This needs to be taken into account when reading Reformers talk about the inadequacy of the Vulgate source text. The older English Catholic translation of the Vulgate, the Douy-Rheims, does reflect the Septuagints wording for the pre-existance in Psalm 72:17 and 110:3, which reflects Jerome having a different manuscript. The authors also helpfully note that some of the longer books in the Greek (such as Esther, Daniel, and Jeremiah), some of these have been discovered in fragments in the Qumran Caves (commonly referred to as the Dead Sea Scrolls), which helps show that the LXX reflects an older manuscript basis.
This really boils down to: what should we use as our source translation? We have *three* Greek manuscripts that are way older and were used by the Church Fathers, versus having one manuscript from 10th century unbelievers. If you are trying to hold to the "broader church tradition" doctrine that God preserves His Word for his people through His Church, I would submit that God preserved for us the LXX in the codexes we have received. You can't make arguments for the Nicene Creed about virgin birth, or Christ's nature if you rely on the MT *alone* as your inspirational source.
All that being said, I really enjoyed the discussions in the second half of the book, the resources for further study are decent, and I wish the authors had been more upfront with their doctrinal beliefs.
December 31, 2021
Teaching is, indeed, a gift. One of the aspects that make teaching challenging is the ability of communicating clearly. And even when you are able to do, the true art of teaching occurs when the teacher is able to render any topic interesting. This is what makes this short and affordable book unique. As an introduction to the Septuagint, it has no parallel in the market today. Lanier and Ross have accomplished something outstanding. They have written a manageable, clear, and interesting introduction to a rather obscure topic.
The first distinction to be made is between obscure and useful. For something to be obscure does not immediately translate into a matter of curiosity, with no real usefulness out there. This book might be one of the best examples of that. The book is broadly divided in two sections. First, the authors present to us facts that help illumine and clarify what the Septuagint is. They bring light to the topic at hand. And in doing so, they clear up many misconceptions most of us had about the Septuagint.
Yes, Septuagint scholarship might not be as famous or renown as the Old or New Testament academy. And yet, the authors devote over ninety pages (almost half of the book) to show how the Septuagint is relevant for questions of Canon, Old Testament Text, Old and New Testament Interpretation, and many other areas in which pastors and teachers engage Sunday to Sunday. They truly demonstrate why the Septuagint matters.
I have already mentioned some of the pros concerning readability, succinctness, affordability, and clarity. I might add two more items to the list. I cannot overstate the great accomplishment of keeping a lay audience in mind while writing this book. There are many examples and illustrations throughout that make even the most challenging topics more digestible for readers unfamiliar with deep biblical scholarship. That’s not only remarkable, but something to be thankful for. Finally, it should not go unnoticed that this volume is written from a Protestant and Evangelical perspective, which affirms the authority and inerrancy of Scripture. God has gifted us with top notch scholars writing for the church.
Teaching is, indeed, a gift. One of the aspects that make teaching challenging is the ability of communicating clearly. And even when you are able to do, the true art of teaching occurs when the teacher is able to render any topic interesting. This is what makes this short and affordable book unique. As an introduction to the Septuagint, it has no parallel in the market today. Lanier and Ross have accomplished something outstanding. They have written a manageable, clear, and interesting introduction to a rather obscure topic.
The first distinction to be made is between obscure and useful. For something to be obscure does not immediately translate into a matter of curiosity, with no real usefulness out there. This book might be one of the best examples of that. The book is broadly divided in two sections. First, the authors present to us facts that help illumine and clarify what the Septuagint is. They bring light to the topic at hand. And in doing so, they clear up many misconceptions most of us had about the Septuagint.
Yes, Septuagint scholarship might not be as famous or renown as the Old or New Testament academy. And yet, the authors devote over ninety pages (almost half of the book) to show how the Septuagint is relevant for questions of Canon, Old Testament Text, Old and New Testament Interpretation, and many other areas in which pastors and teachers engage Sunday to Sunday. They truly demonstrate why the Septuagint matters.
Concerning the cons, I would have appreciated if there was a final sección or even an appendix that would give the readers some practical helps on how to start using the Septuagint more and more. There is a section for more advanced material and where to look for it, and there are practical advices implicitly stated throughout the whole book (especially the second section). But a concise practical appendix stating tips and tricks would also have been good. Again, for future readers, the practical material is there, interwoven, all throughout.
I have already mentioned some of the pros concerning readability, succinctness, affordability, and clarity. I might add two more items to the list. I cannot overstate the great accomplishment of keeping a lay audience in mind while writing this book. There are many examples and illustrations throughout that make even the most challenging topics more digestible for readers unfamiliar with deep biblical scholarship. That’s not only remarkable, but something to be thankful for. Finally, it should not go unnoticed that this volume is written from a Protestant and Evangelical perspective, which affirms the authority and inerrancy of Scripture. God has gifted us with top notch scholars writing for the church.
There are three items that I believe make learning a joyful experience. First, I love to acquire new data in a memorable and systematic way, that I can revisit and remember. Second, my mind blows when new categories that I wasn’t even aware of are presented and explained. Third, I truly learn when I connect what I have been given in facts with how can I use that in life. This volume accomplishes all three for any Bible student. I would definitely recommend it for pastors, Bible teachers, and lay people alike.
I want to thank Crossway for providing me with a review copy of this volume.
La enseñanza es en verdad un don. Uno de los aspectos que hacen que la enseñanza sea un desafío es la capacidad de comunicarse con claridad. E incluso cuando se puede hacer, el verdadero arte de enseñar ocurre cuando el maestro puede hacer que cualquier tema sea interesante. Esto es lo que hace que este libro breve y accesible sea único. Como introducción a la Septuaginta, no tiene paralelo en el mercado actual. Lanier y Ross han logrado algo extraordinario. Han escrito una introducción manejable, clara e interesante sobre un tema bastante oscuro.
La primera distinción que se debe hacer es entre oscuro y útil. Que algo sea oscuro no se traduce inmediatamente en que sea una sólo una curiosidad sin ninguna utilidad real. Este libro podría ser uno de los mejores ejemplos de ello. El libro está dividido en dos secciones. Primero, los autores nos presentan hechos que ayudan a iluminar y aclarar qué es la Septuaginta. Aportan luz al tema que nos ocupa. Y al hacerlo, aclaran muchos conceptos erróneos que la mayoría de nosotros teníamos sobre la Septuaginta.
Sí, la erudición de la Septuaginta podría no ser tan famosa o renombrada como la academia del Antiguo o Nuevo Testamento. Y, sin embargo, los autores dedican más de noventa páginas (casi la mitad del libro) a mostrar cómo la Septuaginta es relevante para preguntas sobre el Canon, el Texto del Antiguo Testamento, la Interpretación del Antiguo y Nuevo Testamentos y muchas otras áreas en las que los pastores y maestros se involucran domingo a domingo. Realmente demuestran por qué es importante la Septuaginta.
En cuanto a desventajas, me hubiera gustado una sección, aunque sea un apéndice sobre cómo continuar estudiando la Septuaginta, y algunos consejos para comenzar a usarla más y más. En la realidad, todo esto se encuentra implícito sobretodo en la segunda sección. Sin embargo un abordaje un tanto más explícito no hubiera estado de más.
Ya he mencionado algunas de las ventajas relativas a la legibilidad, la brevedad, y la claridad. Podría agregar dos elementos más a la lista. No puedo exagerar el gran logro de tener en mente a una audiencia laica mientras escribieron este libro. Hay muchos ejemplos e ilustraciones que hacen que incluso los temas más desafiantes sean digeribles para lectores que no están familiarizados con la erudición bíblica profunda. Eso no solo es extraordinario, sino algo por lo qué estar agradecido. Finalmente, no debe pasar desapercibido que este volumen está escrito desde una perspectiva protestante y evangélica, que afirma la autoridad y la infalibilidad de las Escrituras. Dios nos ha regalado eruditos del más alto nivel que escriben para la iglesia.
Hay tres elementos que creo que hacen que el aprendizaje sea una experiencia placentera. Primero, me encanta adquirir nuevos datos de una manera memorable y sistemática, que pueda revisitar y recordar. En segundo lugar, mi mente estalla cuando se presentan y explican nuevas categorías de las que ni siquiera era consciente. En tercer lugar, realmente aprendo cuando relaciono lo que se me ha dado en hechos con cómo puedo usar aquello en la vida diaria. Este volumen cumple estas tres cosas para todo estudiante de la Biblia. Definitivamente lo recomendaría a pastores, maestros de Biblia y laicos por igual.
Agradezco a Crossway por proveerme una copia de este libro para revisar.
The first distinction to be made is between obscure and useful. For something to be obscure does not immediately translate into a matter of curiosity, with no real usefulness out there. This book might be one of the best examples of that. The book is broadly divided in two sections. First, the authors present to us facts that help illumine and clarify what the Septuagint is. They bring light to the topic at hand. And in doing so, they clear up many misconceptions most of us had about the Septuagint.
Yes, Septuagint scholarship might not be as famous or renown as the Old or New Testament academy. And yet, the authors devote over ninety pages (almost half of the book) to show how the Septuagint is relevant for questions of Canon, Old Testament Text, Old and New Testament Interpretation, and many other areas in which pastors and teachers engage Sunday to Sunday. They truly demonstrate why the Septuagint matters.
I have already mentioned some of the pros concerning readability, succinctness, affordability, and clarity. I might add two more items to the list. I cannot overstate the great accomplishment of keeping a lay audience in mind while writing this book. There are many examples and illustrations throughout that make even the most challenging topics more digestible for readers unfamiliar with deep biblical scholarship. That’s not only remarkable, but something to be thankful for. Finally, it should not go unnoticed that this volume is written from a Protestant and Evangelical perspective, which affirms the authority and inerrancy of Scripture. God has gifted us with top notch scholars writing for the church.
Teaching is, indeed, a gift. One of the aspects that make teaching challenging is the ability of communicating clearly. And even when you are able to do, the true art of teaching occurs when the teacher is able to render any topic interesting. This is what makes this short and affordable book unique. As an introduction to the Septuagint, it has no parallel in the market today. Lanier and Ross have accomplished something outstanding. They have written a manageable, clear, and interesting introduction to a rather obscure topic.
The first distinction to be made is between obscure and useful. For something to be obscure does not immediately translate into a matter of curiosity, with no real usefulness out there. This book might be one of the best examples of that. The book is broadly divided in two sections. First, the authors present to us facts that help illumine and clarify what the Septuagint is. They bring light to the topic at hand. And in doing so, they clear up many misconceptions most of us had about the Septuagint.
Yes, Septuagint scholarship might not be as famous or renown as the Old or New Testament academy. And yet, the authors devote over ninety pages (almost half of the book) to show how the Septuagint is relevant for questions of Canon, Old Testament Text, Old and New Testament Interpretation, and many other areas in which pastors and teachers engage Sunday to Sunday. They truly demonstrate why the Septuagint matters.
Concerning the cons, I would have appreciated if there was a final sección or even an appendix that would give the readers some practical helps on how to start using the Septuagint more and more. There is a section for more advanced material and where to look for it, and there are practical advices implicitly stated throughout the whole book (especially the second section). But a concise practical appendix stating tips and tricks would also have been good. Again, for future readers, the practical material is there, interwoven, all throughout.
I have already mentioned some of the pros concerning readability, succinctness, affordability, and clarity. I might add two more items to the list. I cannot overstate the great accomplishment of keeping a lay audience in mind while writing this book. There are many examples and illustrations throughout that make even the most challenging topics more digestible for readers unfamiliar with deep biblical scholarship. That’s not only remarkable, but something to be thankful for. Finally, it should not go unnoticed that this volume is written from a Protestant and Evangelical perspective, which affirms the authority and inerrancy of Scripture. God has gifted us with top notch scholars writing for the church.
There are three items that I believe make learning a joyful experience. First, I love to acquire new data in a memorable and systematic way, that I can revisit and remember. Second, my mind blows when new categories that I wasn’t even aware of are presented and explained. Third, I truly learn when I connect what I have been given in facts with how can I use that in life. This volume accomplishes all three for any Bible student. I would definitely recommend it for pastors, Bible teachers, and lay people alike.
I want to thank Crossway for providing me with a review copy of this volume.
La enseñanza es en verdad un don. Uno de los aspectos que hacen que la enseñanza sea un desafío es la capacidad de comunicarse con claridad. E incluso cuando se puede hacer, el verdadero arte de enseñar ocurre cuando el maestro puede hacer que cualquier tema sea interesante. Esto es lo que hace que este libro breve y accesible sea único. Como introducción a la Septuaginta, no tiene paralelo en el mercado actual. Lanier y Ross han logrado algo extraordinario. Han escrito una introducción manejable, clara e interesante sobre un tema bastante oscuro.
La primera distinción que se debe hacer es entre oscuro y útil. Que algo sea oscuro no se traduce inmediatamente en que sea una sólo una curiosidad sin ninguna utilidad real. Este libro podría ser uno de los mejores ejemplos de ello. El libro está dividido en dos secciones. Primero, los autores nos presentan hechos que ayudan a iluminar y aclarar qué es la Septuaginta. Aportan luz al tema que nos ocupa. Y al hacerlo, aclaran muchos conceptos erróneos que la mayoría de nosotros teníamos sobre la Septuaginta.
Sí, la erudición de la Septuaginta podría no ser tan famosa o renombrada como la academia del Antiguo o Nuevo Testamento. Y, sin embargo, los autores dedican más de noventa páginas (casi la mitad del libro) a mostrar cómo la Septuaginta es relevante para preguntas sobre el Canon, el Texto del Antiguo Testamento, la Interpretación del Antiguo y Nuevo Testamentos y muchas otras áreas en las que los pastores y maestros se involucran domingo a domingo. Realmente demuestran por qué es importante la Septuaginta.
En cuanto a desventajas, me hubiera gustado una sección, aunque sea un apéndice sobre cómo continuar estudiando la Septuaginta, y algunos consejos para comenzar a usarla más y más. En la realidad, todo esto se encuentra implícito sobretodo en la segunda sección. Sin embargo un abordaje un tanto más explícito no hubiera estado de más.
Ya he mencionado algunas de las ventajas relativas a la legibilidad, la brevedad, y la claridad. Podría agregar dos elementos más a la lista. No puedo exagerar el gran logro de tener en mente a una audiencia laica mientras escribieron este libro. Hay muchos ejemplos e ilustraciones que hacen que incluso los temas más desafiantes sean digeribles para lectores que no están familiarizados con la erudición bíblica profunda. Eso no solo es extraordinario, sino algo por lo qué estar agradecido. Finalmente, no debe pasar desapercibido que este volumen está escrito desde una perspectiva protestante y evangélica, que afirma la autoridad y la infalibilidad de las Escrituras. Dios nos ha regalado eruditos del más alto nivel que escriben para la iglesia.
Hay tres elementos que creo que hacen que el aprendizaje sea una experiencia placentera. Primero, me encanta adquirir nuevos datos de una manera memorable y sistemática, que pueda revisitar y recordar. En segundo lugar, mi mente estalla cuando se presentan y explican nuevas categorías de las que ni siquiera era consciente. En tercer lugar, realmente aprendo cuando relaciono lo que se me ha dado en hechos con cómo puedo usar aquello en la vida diaria. Este volumen cumple estas tres cosas para todo estudiante de la Biblia. Definitivamente lo recomendaría a pastores, maestros de Biblia y laicos por igual.
Agradezco a Crossway por proveerme una copia de este libro para revisar.
January 17, 2022
After many years of languishing in the shadows of Biblical studies, the Septuagint has again returned to some prominence in Biblical scholarship. This work seeks to provide a basic introduction of the Septuagint for a lay or pastoral audience.
The authors explain what the Septuagint is: its likely Egyptian context; the stories of how it came about, and what may be true from them; the challenge of speaking regarding "the Septuagint" in light of the various texts, likely translators, etc. involved; its relation to the Apocrypha.
The authors then explain why the Septuagint is important: its role as a witness to the Hebrew text; its role in interpretation of the New Testament; and ultimately, how to value the Septuagint in terms of authority, canon, and inspiration.
This is a generally helpful introduction. Even though I agree with the authors about the standing of the Septuagint in terms of its apocryphal parts and its inspiration vis-a-vis the Hebrew Bible, even I felt that the authors' explanation was a bit too confessional and Reformed, and was a bit too dismissive of the weight of traditional arguments for the Septuagint. Nevertheless, for someone with little understanding of the Septuagint, this is a useful introduction.
**--galley received as part of review program
The authors explain what the Septuagint is: its likely Egyptian context; the stories of how it came about, and what may be true from them; the challenge of speaking regarding "the Septuagint" in light of the various texts, likely translators, etc. involved; its relation to the Apocrypha.
The authors then explain why the Septuagint is important: its role as a witness to the Hebrew text; its role in interpretation of the New Testament; and ultimately, how to value the Septuagint in terms of authority, canon, and inspiration.
This is a generally helpful introduction. Even though I agree with the authors about the standing of the Septuagint in terms of its apocryphal parts and its inspiration vis-a-vis the Hebrew Bible, even I felt that the authors' explanation was a bit too confessional and Reformed, and was a bit too dismissive of the weight of traditional arguments for the Septuagint. Nevertheless, for someone with little understanding of the Septuagint, this is a useful introduction.
**--galley received as part of review program
January 26, 2023
A fascinating, insightful, and readable introduction to LXX studies.
November 15, 2021
Wonderful introduction to the LXX (Septuagint) with helpful emphasis on the practical.
The book is separated into two large sections of "What it is" and "Why it matters." It is split down the middle answering these two questions.
A strength of the book is its readability. This is a more obscure and difficult topic even for pastors and amateur theologians. But the book does a good job introducing the topic without making it too difficult. A knowledge of Greek and Hebrew is not necessary to understand the book, but it probably helps.
I think that the second half of the book was the most helpful. Too often Biblical scholars write about topics and all I can think "so what?" But this book spends an adequate amount of time answering that question in length. I left the book not just with some knowledge, but a desire to study the LXX more.
I couldn't help but compare this book to Gallagher's new book on the LXX as well. Both have similarities, but a lot of differences. Gallagher's was more focused on the translation and then scholarship surrounding the LXX. This one is much more of an introduction.
If you have read a ton about the LXX then this may or may not be the book for you. The book is much more written towards new comers. I think it is accessible for lay people. But it is more similar to a college textbook than a popular level work. I think anyone who wants to know a little more about the Septuagint, or maybe that doesn't know anything but is curious should read it.
I received a free copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for a review.
The book is separated into two large sections of "What it is" and "Why it matters." It is split down the middle answering these two questions.
A strength of the book is its readability. This is a more obscure and difficult topic even for pastors and amateur theologians. But the book does a good job introducing the topic without making it too difficult. A knowledge of Greek and Hebrew is not necessary to understand the book, but it probably helps.
I think that the second half of the book was the most helpful. Too often Biblical scholars write about topics and all I can think "so what?" But this book spends an adequate amount of time answering that question in length. I left the book not just with some knowledge, but a desire to study the LXX more.
I couldn't help but compare this book to Gallagher's new book on the LXX as well. Both have similarities, but a lot of differences. Gallagher's was more focused on the translation and then scholarship surrounding the LXX. This one is much more of an introduction.
If you have read a ton about the LXX then this may or may not be the book for you. The book is much more written towards new comers. I think it is accessible for lay people. But it is more similar to a college textbook than a popular level work. I think anyone who wants to know a little more about the Septuagint, or maybe that doesn't know anything but is curious should read it.
I received a free copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for a review.
November 30, 2021
The marketing copy describes this book as both "thorough" and "accessible." When those are in tension the authors usually sacrifice the former for the sake of the latter, and yet this remains a very useful book for those wanting to get a handle on the Greek Old Testament. They cover the history and style of the LXX in the first half of the book, and then in the second half wade into the choppy waters of the NT's use of the LXX. This is particularly thorny in places were skeptical scholars have accused the apostles of taking liberties with the OT, despite the latter's being well within the conventions of their time. More work continues to be done in understanding and reconciling places in which the Hebrew OT and LXX do not match, especially when that intersects with NT quotation and citation. But this book would be a quick and helpful book for interested readers of the Bible and its history.
March 26, 2022
Super interesting and very helpful for my professional development. Definitely going to haul this into the office and refer to it while working.
January 5, 2024
Though the title itself would scare some away or produce some eye rolling, this book was exactly what I was hoping for on this topic. Several things I liked about it:
1) Mucho footnotes. If someone is going to write a popular-level, short book on a very complex topic, it’s so helpful to have footnotes that guide me on how to go deeper.
2) Short enough that I would read a book on the Septuagint. Let’s be honest, I wouldn’t read a 400 page book on the subject.
3) It answers some of the questions that are raised when you realize that the NT authors quote from the Septuagint, even when it differs from the Masoretic text. How do reconcile that fact with our faith in the Hebrew text that is so broadly used today? The authors hit the nail on the head with examining all of the details of how the NT authors used the Septuagint, their careful outlining of how Scripture was passed down, and their theological conclusions about transmission and translation.
This would be a good read for anyone who has my same curiosities about the NT use of the Septuagint. Chapters 6 and 7 are worth the read.
1) Mucho footnotes. If someone is going to write a popular-level, short book on a very complex topic, it’s so helpful to have footnotes that guide me on how to go deeper.
2) Short enough that I would read a book on the Septuagint. Let’s be honest, I wouldn’t read a 400 page book on the subject.
3) It answers some of the questions that are raised when you realize that the NT authors quote from the Septuagint, even when it differs from the Masoretic text. How do reconcile that fact with our faith in the Hebrew text that is so broadly used today? The authors hit the nail on the head with examining all of the details of how the NT authors used the Septuagint, their careful outlining of how Scripture was passed down, and their theological conclusions about transmission and translation.
This would be a good read for anyone who has my same curiosities about the NT use of the Septuagint. Chapters 6 and 7 are worth the read.
November 16, 2022
Lanier and Ross have written an excellent, easily read intro into what the Septuagint is and why it matters. The book is broken into two parts: 1) What is the Septuagint and 2) Why Does it Matter? In exploring this topic you will find your understanding of translation decisions will grow and you’ll see just how important the Septuagint is to both our understanding of the Old Testament and the New Testament. This intro is well cited and presents all kinds of problems that are still in need of scholars to address today.
Part 1: What is the Septuagint
Most people know very little, if anything, about the Septuagint. Many that do know about it are aware that it translates to mean seventy and have heard the story of about seventy-two scholars who translated the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) into Greek in seventy days. Some addon that these seventy-two scholars were put in seventy-two different rooms and all came out with the exact same translation. This is little more than a story. Never in all of history could you get ten people (much less seventy-two) to separately write the exact same translation of any text. Translation is a complex task that has many different and valid approaches that result in many different possible variations in the result.
What is believed to be true about this fabled story is that the Library of Alexandria wanted to add a copy of the Hebrew Bible to its great collections of works. It commissioned Jewish Scholars to come and translate the work for them into Greek giving access to it to the common person. There exists a letter that speaks of this commission called the Letter of Aristeas that says only the Pentateuch (Torah) was translated. Those translators would have made multiple copies of their work. Some, no doubt, burned when the Library fell, but others were brought back to Israel and dispersed to other scholars who would make more copies.
As true as this story may or not be, it is still not a good summary of what the Septuagint is. The work of translating the Tanakh into Greek was done by many people over a period of some three hundred years. Some of them translated only a chapter or a book while others translated much larger sections. The result today is that the Septuagint is a conglomeration of different translations that helps us peer back into the past and develop a more accurate understanding of what earlier copies of the Tanakh said.
Some of these translators did a word-for-word translation striving to translate every single instance of a word to the same word in Greek. Sometimes attempts were made to make a more readable translation opting for smoothness rather than word for word, but more often the translators wanted to preserve as best as possible the original word order and emphasis. The same translation decisions are made today by modern translation teams. The big difference is that modern translation teams work to translate the whole Bible at once in a much shorter period of time (certainly not centuries!).
Almost as soon as translations of the Tanakh were made into Greek the process of revision and alteration began. Scholars worked to improve the translations as best they could.
Part 2: Why Does it Matter?
The primary text used to translate the Tanakh is the Massoretic text, a document written in Hebrew, which dates to the 11th century AD. The Septuagint and related Greek translations of the Tanakh predate the Massoretic text by centuries. Incorporating them into our study allows us to see a more full and accurate picture of what the Bible says.
There are several issues with the Massoretic text that the Septuagint helps highlight and correct for. Some of these discrepancies are minor involving just a word swap, but others involve large passages added or missing from one text or the other.
Another reason the Septuagint helps is it provides insight into how Jews pre-Christ translated certain Hebrew words. For example, the words translated as without form and void from Hebrew (Genesis 1:2) are debated. But we can look at ancient Septuagint translators give us their insight as being “invisible and uncompleted” (pg 119).
Another example is how “I AM WHO I AM” is translated in Exodus 3:14. The Greek translates it as “I am the one who is” which helps us see the concept of the self-existence of God in ancient Jewish tradition. Various other names for God are translated in ways that help us see the reverence and meaning of these words.
There is also an aspect of their translations that personifies many of the Hebrew passages showing the belief in a messianic ideology.
Probably the most compelling reason the Septuagint is important is the extent to which it relates to New Testament events. It is often said that the Septuagint was the Bible of Jesus. And we see how true that is in how some New Testament quotes are word for word from the Septuagint and some quotes come from the Apocrypha which, while not held to be Scripture, was often stored with the Hebrew Bible.
Closing Thoughts
Overall this book is very easy to read. You do not need to be able to read Hebrew or Greek to read this little intro. All the words they reference are transliterated so you can sound them out and easily identify them if needed. You get a pretty broad overview of the Septuagint and the issues related to it and the other textual traditions from which our English Bibles derive. I think anyone wanting a brief primer into this topic or translation issues, in general, would benefit from this short read.
Part 1: What is the Septuagint
Most people know very little, if anything, about the Septuagint. Many that do know about it are aware that it translates to mean seventy and have heard the story of about seventy-two scholars who translated the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) into Greek in seventy days. Some addon that these seventy-two scholars were put in seventy-two different rooms and all came out with the exact same translation. This is little more than a story. Never in all of history could you get ten people (much less seventy-two) to separately write the exact same translation of any text. Translation is a complex task that has many different and valid approaches that result in many different possible variations in the result.
What is believed to be true about this fabled story is that the Library of Alexandria wanted to add a copy of the Hebrew Bible to its great collections of works. It commissioned Jewish Scholars to come and translate the work for them into Greek giving access to it to the common person. There exists a letter that speaks of this commission called the Letter of Aristeas that says only the Pentateuch (Torah) was translated. Those translators would have made multiple copies of their work. Some, no doubt, burned when the Library fell, but others were brought back to Israel and dispersed to other scholars who would make more copies.
As true as this story may or not be, it is still not a good summary of what the Septuagint is. The work of translating the Tanakh into Greek was done by many people over a period of some three hundred years. Some of them translated only a chapter or a book while others translated much larger sections. The result today is that the Septuagint is a conglomeration of different translations that helps us peer back into the past and develop a more accurate understanding of what earlier copies of the Tanakh said.
Some of these translators did a word-for-word translation striving to translate every single instance of a word to the same word in Greek. Sometimes attempts were made to make a more readable translation opting for smoothness rather than word for word, but more often the translators wanted to preserve as best as possible the original word order and emphasis. The same translation decisions are made today by modern translation teams. The big difference is that modern translation teams work to translate the whole Bible at once in a much shorter period of time (certainly not centuries!).
Almost as soon as translations of the Tanakh were made into Greek the process of revision and alteration began. Scholars worked to improve the translations as best they could.
Part 2: Why Does it Matter?
The primary text used to translate the Tanakh is the Massoretic text, a document written in Hebrew, which dates to the 11th century AD. The Septuagint and related Greek translations of the Tanakh predate the Massoretic text by centuries. Incorporating them into our study allows us to see a more full and accurate picture of what the Bible says.
There are several issues with the Massoretic text that the Septuagint helps highlight and correct for. Some of these discrepancies are minor involving just a word swap, but others involve large passages added or missing from one text or the other.
Another reason the Septuagint helps is it provides insight into how Jews pre-Christ translated certain Hebrew words. For example, the words translated as without form and void from Hebrew (Genesis 1:2) are debated. But we can look at ancient Septuagint translators give us their insight as being “invisible and uncompleted” (pg 119).
Another example is how “I AM WHO I AM” is translated in Exodus 3:14. The Greek translates it as “I am the one who is” which helps us see the concept of the self-existence of God in ancient Jewish tradition. Various other names for God are translated in ways that help us see the reverence and meaning of these words.
There is also an aspect of their translations that personifies many of the Hebrew passages showing the belief in a messianic ideology.
Probably the most compelling reason the Septuagint is important is the extent to which it relates to New Testament events. It is often said that the Septuagint was the Bible of Jesus. And we see how true that is in how some New Testament quotes are word for word from the Septuagint and some quotes come from the Apocrypha which, while not held to be Scripture, was often stored with the Hebrew Bible.
Closing Thoughts
Overall this book is very easy to read. You do not need to be able to read Hebrew or Greek to read this little intro. All the words they reference are transliterated so you can sound them out and easily identify them if needed. You get a pretty broad overview of the Septuagint and the issues related to it and the other textual traditions from which our English Bibles derive. I think anyone wanting a brief primer into this topic or translation issues, in general, would benefit from this short read.
November 1, 2024
A great intro. For those who hold to doctrines of “infallibility” or “inerrancy,” it offers a compelling case to study the LXX as a helpful guide and supplement to the MT. For those of us who hold to the Great Tradition, it (perhaps inadvertently) argues for the importance and need for studying the theology of this translation as a peer and equal of the MT.
February 16, 2023
2023 reads: 03
Rating: 3.5 stars
Rating: 3.5 stars
September 30, 2023
An excellent introduction on a much-neglected topic.
December 28, 2021
A very helpful introduction, on the educated layman level, to the Septuagint, in an aesthetically pleasing presentation. However, the final chapter, on authority, mars the whole book. I might have given it three stars just for the final chapter alone, but felt that would not be representative of the fine quality of discussion in the previous six. The problem with the final chapter is that it lacks a coherent ecclesiology and therefore stumbles upon itself trying to explicate a “self-authenticating” authority for a Hebrew text they admit we don’t have and can only approximate. One glaring example is that though the New Testament may cite a Septuagint form of the Old Testament text, it does not mean the Septuagint form so cited is itself inspired, only the truth claim the New Testament author is affirming in the reference. What the what? What does that even mean? And using this purblind “authority” construction and some sleight of hand on canonicity (reminder: lack of ecclesiology), but of course the so-called “Apocrypha” are not Scripture. Oy. Were one to, Dead-Poets-Society-like, rip the final chapter from one’s copy, it would improve the overall quality of the book. Do I recommend it? Yes, the first six chapters.
November 5, 2021
What it is and why it matters. This book by Lanier and Ross answers those question clearly. This book is very easy to read. I say that even though it has some Greek and Hebrew in it. No knowledge of original languages is required whatsoever in this highly accessible survey of the importance of the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew scripters (aka, the Old Testament). Lay readers and pastors alike will all find this book informative and helpful as they seek to understand the history, both in translation and in textual matters, the value, and the limitations of this significant translation. Highly recommended for anyone looking for introductory information on the Septuagint.
February 7, 2022
I picked this book up because I didn’t have any idea what the Septuagint was and wanted to learn more. Ross & Lanier did an excellent job making this accessible to the layperson and achieving their goal of explaining what it is and why it matters.
I am thankful for this book because I left having a better understanding of what the Septuagint is, answers to common arguments that are made against Bible translation “errors”, and was strengthened in my belief of the Bible’s authority. I was encouraged by some of the content in this book (such as learning who Origen was), and though it was a bit of a dry read at times, I truly found it engaging and overall a beneficial read for any layperson.
I was specifically helped by the last portion of the book, where Lainer & Ross look at portions of the New Testament that quote the Old Testament and explain the differences in translation. Not only was this helpful, but as someone who just studied Hebrews, I had wondered specifically why those quotes were different, and I was so excited to find a solid explanation. I also loved that they looked at Jude 9 (where Michael contends for Moses’ body) and explained that that was a story in the Jewish tradition.
I’d recommend this for any layperson to read to do just what the title of this book suggests: learn what the Septuagint is and why it matters!
I am thankful for this book because I left having a better understanding of what the Septuagint is, answers to common arguments that are made against Bible translation “errors”, and was strengthened in my belief of the Bible’s authority. I was encouraged by some of the content in this book (such as learning who Origen was), and though it was a bit of a dry read at times, I truly found it engaging and overall a beneficial read for any layperson.
I was specifically helped by the last portion of the book, where Lainer & Ross look at portions of the New Testament that quote the Old Testament and explain the differences in translation. Not only was this helpful, but as someone who just studied Hebrews, I had wondered specifically why those quotes were different, and I was so excited to find a solid explanation. I also loved that they looked at Jude 9 (where Michael contends for Moses’ body) and explained that that was a story in the Jewish tradition.
I’d recommend this for any layperson to read to do just what the title of this book suggests: learn what the Septuagint is and why it matters!
February 14, 2022
Short book, 200 pages, a good and fast read. The only thing missing for me was addressing how the Septuagint stacks up as a translation of the proto-Masoretic Hebrew, as against the Masoretic which is the source of modern Bible translations. I would have liked an evaluation of that; when I'm reading the Septuagint, am I reading a translation of a Hebrew source which is qualititatively "better" than the Masoretic source? This given the lack of pointing in pre-Masoretic texts, Qumran texts, etc. How reliable do we assume the readings of the Septuagint translators were, vs the much later reading decisions made by the Masoretes. It's the dadim / dodim thing of Song of Songs - the Septuagint says "your breasts are finer than wine", whereas the Masoretic prettifies this to "your loving is finer than wine".
December 25, 2022
This book is a great introduction to the Septuagint and an essential resource for anyone interested in the LXX. While quite academic at times, this book is still accessible to the average reader. The book is split into two parts with distinct purposes, the first being, “What is the Septuagint?” and the second, “Why does it matter?” These two sections work to provide the reader with a firm understanding of the origins, nature, and development of the Septuagint along with a reasoned explanation of the value of the Septuagint for both Old Testament and New Testament studies. I highly recommend this book as an introduction to the Greek Old Testament as found in the Septuagint.
November 10, 2021
This is an excellent introduction to the Septuagint, and it's importance for Christians today.
June 11, 2023
Does the Greek translation of the Old Testament fascinate you, and you want to learn more about it? The two authors for this book, Gregory Lanier and William Ross, does an excellent job giving readers an accessible introduction to the Greek Old Testament. Often the term Septuagint is used to say Greek Old Testament and the book goes over what is the Septuagint, if it is even proper to say “the Septuagint says…” and why the Greek translation of the Old Testament is important. The two authors are both capable specialists in writing on this subject, both having their PhD from Cambridge and both being professors who are professors at Reformed Theological Seminary who hold a high view of the Bible and write academic papers and books. I am so glad they wrote this book and so glad the publisher was willing to have a book on this subject be published since some can think this is an obscure subject, though I don’t think it should be an obscure topic! I wished this book was available when I was taking an Old Testament textual Criticism class during my second master’s program. It was so good that I wish the publisher can published books using the same format and structure as this book but for other ancient translations of the Bible such as the Latin Vulgate, Aramaic Targum, Syriac Peshitta, etc.
The book consists of two parts with a total of seven chapters. Part one answers the question “What is the Septuagint?” and gives us a detailed and nuanced explanation of the Greek translation of the Old Testament and why it is can be incorrect to merely say “the Septuagint says…” when its not just one translations but the term Septuagint has now been used to refer to various Greek translations and updated editions. Chapter one is on “What (If Anything) Is the So-Called Septuagint?” and chapter two explores who and where dit he Greek Old Testament comes from. Chapter three is on how the Greek Old Testament was translated and the next chapter was on how did the Greek Old Testament translation developed. These chapters for part one was highly informative. Part Two was even more helpful as it answers the question “Why does it matter?” which chapter five exploring why the Greek Old Testament matter for studying the Old Testament itself, chapter six on why it matter for studying the New Testament. I love how this was organized as we see the issue is not just obscure but is important for serious students of both the Old and New Testament. Chapter seven is probably my favorite chapter in the book which masterfully answers the question of what kind of authority does the Septuagint has, in which the author discusses that there are three different kinds of authority (Normative, derivative, interpretative) and how the Septuagint helps with God’s Word being authoritiative without arriving at the strange conclusion some have arrived at of “Septuagint only” nor is it dismissive en toto of the Greek translations of the Old Testament. I also love how the author looks at the Bible itself with the New Testament use of the Greek Old Testament that helps us see the author’s views are not academic speculation but is biblical and balanced. The book also made proper use of history and textual studies itself such as when they argue why we should not rule out the need to study the Hebrew Old Testament when we realize later recensions editions of the Greek Old Testament has a translation philosophy of trying to produce a translation that was more faithful to the Hebrew than previous Greek translations of various books of the Old Testament. This final chapter alone is worth getting the book though of course it builds off the knowledge of everything before in chapters one through six. There’s also a helpful appendix that briefly answers ten key questions about the Septuagint that I thought was very good and as a result of reading this book I was able to save money from almost buying what I thought was the best critical edition of the Septuagint (it turn out the book I wanted to get was semi-critical edition) and now I’m directed to newer translations published after my time in seminary that I was previously unaware of. I do think those who are general Christian reading audience and those in seminary or seminary trained would find this book helpful. I highly recommend it as a book to get if you love to learn about the Bible and want to know more of how even the New Testament used the Old Testament through various translations of the Old Testament.
NOTE: This book was provided to me free by Crossway without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
The book consists of two parts with a total of seven chapters. Part one answers the question “What is the Septuagint?” and gives us a detailed and nuanced explanation of the Greek translation of the Old Testament and why it is can be incorrect to merely say “the Septuagint says…” when its not just one translations but the term Septuagint has now been used to refer to various Greek translations and updated editions. Chapter one is on “What (If Anything) Is the So-Called Septuagint?” and chapter two explores who and where dit he Greek Old Testament comes from. Chapter three is on how the Greek Old Testament was translated and the next chapter was on how did the Greek Old Testament translation developed. These chapters for part one was highly informative. Part Two was even more helpful as it answers the question “Why does it matter?” which chapter five exploring why the Greek Old Testament matter for studying the Old Testament itself, chapter six on why it matter for studying the New Testament. I love how this was organized as we see the issue is not just obscure but is important for serious students of both the Old and New Testament. Chapter seven is probably my favorite chapter in the book which masterfully answers the question of what kind of authority does the Septuagint has, in which the author discusses that there are three different kinds of authority (Normative, derivative, interpretative) and how the Septuagint helps with God’s Word being authoritiative without arriving at the strange conclusion some have arrived at of “Septuagint only” nor is it dismissive en toto of the Greek translations of the Old Testament. I also love how the author looks at the Bible itself with the New Testament use of the Greek Old Testament that helps us see the author’s views are not academic speculation but is biblical and balanced. The book also made proper use of history and textual studies itself such as when they argue why we should not rule out the need to study the Hebrew Old Testament when we realize later recensions editions of the Greek Old Testament has a translation philosophy of trying to produce a translation that was more faithful to the Hebrew than previous Greek translations of various books of the Old Testament. This final chapter alone is worth getting the book though of course it builds off the knowledge of everything before in chapters one through six. There’s also a helpful appendix that briefly answers ten key questions about the Septuagint that I thought was very good and as a result of reading this book I was able to save money from almost buying what I thought was the best critical edition of the Septuagint (it turn out the book I wanted to get was semi-critical edition) and now I’m directed to newer translations published after my time in seminary that I was previously unaware of. I do think those who are general Christian reading audience and those in seminary or seminary trained would find this book helpful. I highly recommend it as a book to get if you love to learn about the Bible and want to know more of how even the New Testament used the Old Testament through various translations of the Old Testament.
NOTE: This book was provided to me free by Crossway without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
January 3, 2022
Today I have the privilege of reviewing a book put out by Crossway called, “The Septuagint: What it is and Why it matters.”
Chances are you have heard of the Septuagint, or have at least seen its abbreviation “LXX,” at one point or another. The Septuagint is usually defined as, “the Greek Old Testament of the Apostles and early church.” Yet, this explanation of the LXX is more often used for convenience and at the expense of the complex reality. The Septuagint, as a topic, can be difficult and elusive. Enter in this introduction to the Septuagint put together by Gregory Lanier and William Ross. The authors of this book masterfully accomplish their task, which is laid out in the introduction,
“This book aims to accomplish what even we as the authors occasionally thought was an impossible task: to distill the enormous complexity surrounding the origins, transmission, and role of the Septuagint into a brief introduction that is accessible to laypeople but still informative for scholars.”
“The Septuagint: What it is and Why it matters,” is broken up into two parts. Part one lays out a fundamental knowledge regarding the Septuagint while part two addresses why the Septuagint matters.
This introduction is right around two-hundred pages, including the appendix, and is filled with ample amounts of information to equip and inform the reader. One of the first things readers will notice is how well organized the book is. Additionally, despite being focused on a difficult subject, the book does a great job at presenting the information in a digestible way. That said, as digestible as this book is, it will be a slower read for most individuals, but will be a great door into the world of the LXX.
Writing a review on all of the information one will pick up from this book is difficult as it ranges from the historical context surrounding the LXX, it’s formation, to the methods of translation used in the LXX, through discussions on the canon, the apostle’s use of the Greek, and even Greek revisions laid in the lap of Origen within the early church. Gems are laid throughout the book and this book will really foster a desire for deeper study on the subject of the Greek Old Testament’s use in relation to the New Testament. In addition to the primary contents of the books, “the book concludes with a snapshot of the ten things a minister or bible teacher should know (and teach) about the Septuagint, including a selected bibliography of key resources for further study.”
When I consider my overall thoughts, I have one slight disappointment in the book. While the book discusses the Greek Old Testament’s authority “for today’s church” in chapter seven, the discussion is rather limited when it comes to those who adhere to LXX priority in various circles. As an introduction, however, I can see why this may have been left as is and the author’s discussions are helpful nonetheless.
Where most individuals will find interest in this particular book is: in order to look more closely at what Jesus and the Apostles used, understanding the differences found between the Old Testament and New Testament citations of the Old Testament, and also gaining some clarity on the canon discussion since few recognize the roll of the LXX in the apocrypha’s adoption in some theological traditions.
Overall the book is great, and I will be re-reading it and recommending it going forward. I think anyone who is in ministry would do well to pick up this book if they haven’t studied the LXX for themselves already. Even if you have a good deal of information under your belt on the topic, you’ll learn something from this book.
Chances are you have heard of the Septuagint, or have at least seen its abbreviation “LXX,” at one point or another. The Septuagint is usually defined as, “the Greek Old Testament of the Apostles and early church.” Yet, this explanation of the LXX is more often used for convenience and at the expense of the complex reality. The Septuagint, as a topic, can be difficult and elusive. Enter in this introduction to the Septuagint put together by Gregory Lanier and William Ross. The authors of this book masterfully accomplish their task, which is laid out in the introduction,
“This book aims to accomplish what even we as the authors occasionally thought was an impossible task: to distill the enormous complexity surrounding the origins, transmission, and role of the Septuagint into a brief introduction that is accessible to laypeople but still informative for scholars.”
“The Septuagint: What it is and Why it matters,” is broken up into two parts. Part one lays out a fundamental knowledge regarding the Septuagint while part two addresses why the Septuagint matters.
This introduction is right around two-hundred pages, including the appendix, and is filled with ample amounts of information to equip and inform the reader. One of the first things readers will notice is how well organized the book is. Additionally, despite being focused on a difficult subject, the book does a great job at presenting the information in a digestible way. That said, as digestible as this book is, it will be a slower read for most individuals, but will be a great door into the world of the LXX.
Writing a review on all of the information one will pick up from this book is difficult as it ranges from the historical context surrounding the LXX, it’s formation, to the methods of translation used in the LXX, through discussions on the canon, the apostle’s use of the Greek, and even Greek revisions laid in the lap of Origen within the early church. Gems are laid throughout the book and this book will really foster a desire for deeper study on the subject of the Greek Old Testament’s use in relation to the New Testament. In addition to the primary contents of the books, “the book concludes with a snapshot of the ten things a minister or bible teacher should know (and teach) about the Septuagint, including a selected bibliography of key resources for further study.”
When I consider my overall thoughts, I have one slight disappointment in the book. While the book discusses the Greek Old Testament’s authority “for today’s church” in chapter seven, the discussion is rather limited when it comes to those who adhere to LXX priority in various circles. As an introduction, however, I can see why this may have been left as is and the author’s discussions are helpful nonetheless.
Where most individuals will find interest in this particular book is: in order to look more closely at what Jesus and the Apostles used, understanding the differences found between the Old Testament and New Testament citations of the Old Testament, and also gaining some clarity on the canon discussion since few recognize the roll of the LXX in the apocrypha’s adoption in some theological traditions.
Overall the book is great, and I will be re-reading it and recommending it going forward. I think anyone who is in ministry would do well to pick up this book if they haven’t studied the LXX for themselves already. Even if you have a good deal of information under your belt on the topic, you’ll learn something from this book.
March 18, 2024
Excellent introduction to the Septuagint—or should I say "old Greek?" A good introduction leaves you wanting to explore the topic more, and Lanier succeeds. I would have easily enjoyed 200 more pages on the topic from him.
Full send.
Full send.
December 28, 2021
Very clear and accessible to the laymen, yet chock-full of scholarly information. A great introduction to the Old Greek translation of the Old Testament.
December 8, 2021
The book is a good basic understanding of the Septuagint. Especially, for a layperson like myself.
May 17, 2022
Not having read anything much on the Septuagint, I was glad to see this book by two reformed scholars with a high view of Scripture.
The book gives the history of the development of the Greek translations of the OT and exposes some of the mythology.
The most useful sections get into the detail of how the Septuagint translates the Masoretic Hebrew text. There is a verse by verse explanation of each NT use of the Greek OT which offers explanations for variations and their NT interpretations. The authors conclude with three principles which in turn illuminate the necessity of, importance and authority of translations.
The three principles are:-
1. The Hebrew is the normative OT text, where the Greek offers a tool to illuminate the original where there are textual issues.
2. The Greek OT was the word of God in translation for the early church and was used by the apostles to that end.
3. Interpretively the Greek OT acts as a commentary illuminating the OT text.
The book gives the history of the development of the Greek translations of the OT and exposes some of the mythology.
The most useful sections get into the detail of how the Septuagint translates the Masoretic Hebrew text. There is a verse by verse explanation of each NT use of the Greek OT which offers explanations for variations and their NT interpretations. The authors conclude with three principles which in turn illuminate the necessity of, importance and authority of translations.
The three principles are:-
1. The Hebrew is the normative OT text, where the Greek offers a tool to illuminate the original where there are textual issues.
2. The Greek OT was the word of God in translation for the early church and was used by the apostles to that end.
3. Interpretively the Greek OT acts as a commentary illuminating the OT text.
June 18, 2022
This is an excellent introduction to the Septuagint for lay people. It is scholarly, yet accessible to most people who have some basic knowledge of textual criticism and bible translation. I find reading this book to be very informative and helps me to realize how little I know about the Septuagint. Prior to reading this book I was not aware of the significant influence and importance of the Greek Old Testament to the Jews, the New Testament authors, and followers of Jesus ever since. Reading this book is like entering into an entirely new world of knowledge that makes one realize how little one knows. At the same time, it makes one so thankful for the hard work of so many scholars who commit their lives to study these issues so that the rest of us can benefit from the fruits of their labor. Lanier and Ross' book is undoubtedly the best introduction available now for thoughtful lay people.
February 1, 2022
This book won't be for everyone, but the authors succeed extremely well in what they are trying to accomplish, which is provide a popular-level introduction to the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament). On a topic that could possibly be a snoozer for the non-academic, they write with clarity and show why this matters for the typical Bible student. Also, the modern illustrations they use to make their points are extremely helpful.
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