Was the New Testament Originally Written in Aramaic?

[ebion]

The Apostolic Church of the East (which uses the PeshittA as their scripture) was probably the biggest church in the world for a millenium. Their legend is that the ACoE was founded in Antioch then Seleucia-Ctesiphon after the Early Christians from Jerusalem fled to Pella before the sack by Titus. And that whilst Peter and Paul went West to Rome, Thomas went to India via Persia with a shipwreck on the island of socotra.

Pantaenus, visiting India late in the second century, reported that

he found on his own arrival anticipated by some... to whom Bartholomew, one of the apostles, had preached, and had left them the Gospel of Matthew in Hebrew."

(Eusebius quoted by H.J. Schonfield. The History of Jewish Christianity (London: Duckworth, 1936) at 66.)

There is a chain of transmission of the curation of the PeshittA: the patriachs of the
Assyrian Church of the East (ACoE). From peshitta.org:

"With reference to....the originality of the Peshitta text, as the Patriarch and Head of the Holy Apostolic and Catholic Church of the East, we wish to state, that the Church of the East received the scriptures from the hands of the blessed Apostles themselves in the Aramaic original, the language spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and that the Peshitta is the text of the Church of the East which has come down from the Biblical times without any change or revision."

Mar Eshai Shimun, by Grace, Catholicos Patriarch of the East

From Shamasha Paul Younan:

I am aware that there are some documentable connections with the Church of the East. I am aware that many of the Nazarenes fled Judea for the Parthean Empire and eventually were assimilated into the Church of the East.

There were ethnic Jews in the aCoE even before this event. The Church of Khuqy, in Babylon, is the traditional birthplace of the ACoE and where every Patriarch was consecrated. That was his "St. Peter's Basilica", if you will.

I am also aware that Yosef and Miriam's linage continued in the Church of the East..

Yes, Mar Abris - who reigned from 90-107 AD, was a relative of the Virgin Mary. Mar Yacob I - who reigned from 172-190, was a relative of Yosep the Carpenter.

Fk^rwbw 0ml4

Here is a complete list of the Patriarchate, including the above-mentioned:

Year	Patriarch
33	Toma (Thomas)
33	Bar Tulmay (Bartholemew)
33-45	Addai
45-81	Agai, disciple of Addai (from the Seventy Disciples)
48-81	Mari, disciple of Addai (from the Seventy Disciples)
90-107	Abris, relative of the Virgin Mary
130-152	Oraham I
172-190	Yacob I, relative of Yosip the Carpenter
191-203	Ebid M'shikha
205-220	Akhu d'Awu
224-244	Shakhlupa of Kashkar
247-326	Papa Bar Gaggai
328-341	Shimun Bar Sabbai
345-347	Shahdost
350-358	Bar Bashmin
383-393	Tumarsa
393-399	Qaiyuma
399-411	Eskhaq
411-415	Akhkhi
415-420	Yoalaha I
420	Maana
421	Qarabukht
421-456	Dadishu
457-484	Bawai or Babu
484-496	Aqaq
496-502	Bawai
505-523	Sheela
524-535	Narsai
524-538	Elisha (dual Patriarchate)
539-540	Polos
552-567	Yosip
570-581	Khazqiyil
581-595	Eshuyow I, Arzunaya
596-604	Soreshu I Garmaqaya
605-608	Greghor, Partaya
628-644	Eshuyow II (Gdalaya or Arab)
647-650	Mar Immeh
650-660	Eshuyow III, Kdayawaya
681-684	Gewargis I
684-692	Yokhannan I, Bar Marta
686-693	Khnaishu I (dual Patriarchate)
693-694	Yokhannan II, Garba
714-728	Sliwazkha
731-740	Pethyon
741-751	Awa
752-754	Surin
754-773	Yacob II
774-778	Khnanishu II (the Assyrian monument in China was erected during his reign)
780-820	Timotheus I
820-824	Esho-barnon
825-832	Gewargis II
832-836	Soreshu II
837-850	Oraham II, Margaya
850-852	Teadasis (Theodoros)
860-872	Sargis, Suwaya
873-884	Annush d'beth Garmay
884-892	Yokhannan III, Bar Narsai
892-898	Yokhannan IV
900-905	Yokhannan V
906-937	Oraham III, Abraza
937-949	Ammanoel I
961-962	Esrail Karkhaya
963-986	Odishu Garmaqaya
967-1000	Mari Aturaya
1001-1012	Yokhannan VI
1013-1022	Yokhannan VII
1023-1027	Eshuyow IV
1028-1049	Elia I
1049-1057	Yokhannan VIII
1057-1072	Soreshu III (Bar Zanbur)
1072-1090	Odishu II (Bar Ars) Aturaya
1092-1109	Makkikha I (Bar Shlemon)
1111-1132	Elia II
1133-1135	Bar Soma (Of Suwa)
1135-1136	Bar Gabbara
1138-1147	Odishu III (nephew of Elia II)
1148-1175	Eshuyow V (from Beth Zodai, Baladaya)
1176-1190	Elia III (Abukhalim)
1191-1222	Yoalaha II (Bar Qaiyuma)
1222-1226	Soreshu IV
1226-1256	Soreshu V (from Baghdad)
1257-1265	Makkikha II
1265-1281	Dinkha I, Arbilaya (from Arbil)
1281-1318	Yoalaha III, Bar Turkaye (Turkish by race)
1318-1328	Timotheus II, Arbilaya
1329-1359	Dinkha II
1359-1368	Dinkha III
1369-1392	Shimun III
1403-1407	Shimun IV
1407-1420	Elia III
1420-1447	Shimun V
1448-1490	Shimun VI
1491-1504	Elia V
1505-1538	Shimun VII
1538-1551	Eshuyow Shimun VIII
1552-1558	Dinkha Shimun IX (Bar Mama)
1558-1580	Yoalaha Shimun X
1580-1600	Dinkha Shimun XI
1600-1653	Elia Shimun XI
1653-1690	Eshuyow Shimun XIII
1690-1692	Yoalaha Shimun XIV
1692-1700	Dinkha Shimun XV
1700-1740	Shlemon (Solomon) Shimun XVI
1740-1741	Michael Shimun XVII
1740-1820	Yonan (Yuna) Shimun XVIII
1820-1860	Oraham Shimun XIX
1860-1903	Ruwil Shimun XX
1903-1918	Binyamin Shimun XXI
1918-1920	Polos Shimun XXII
1920-1975	Eshai Shimun XXIII
1975-	Mar Dinkha IV

So the chain of transmission of the ACoE curated the Aramaic PeshittA and vouches for its authenticity. To prove me wrong, the onus is on you to provide evidence to the contrary.

[Steven Avery]

So the chain of transmission of the ACoE curated the Aramaic PeshittA and vouches for its authenticity. To prove me wrong, the onus is on you to provide evidence to the contrary.

Your logic is very flawed.

Which one was the first one that clearly cites the Peshitta?

Which is the first one that vouches for the authenticity of the Peshitta?
What exactly did they say?

[ebion]

Here is a list of the verse differences between the PeshittA and the TR (based on work by Konway87).
Some of these differences are very significant theologically, and as we go through the list carefully, we get the feeling that changes were added to the TR, rather than missing from the PeshittA.

1) John 7:53-8:11 The PeshittA doesn't contain Pericope de Adultera which is the story of woman in adultery.

2) Matthew 10:8 - the PeshittA does not contain "Raise the dead."

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. (Matthew 10:8 [KJV])

Heal the the sick and cleanse the lepers and cast out the demons. Freely you have received, freely give. (Matthew 10:8 [HAS])

3) Matthew 27:9 - "Jeremiah" not named in PeshittA.

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; (Matthew 27:9 [KJV])

Then the thing was fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet, who said, "I took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of The Precious One, which was agreed upon by the sons of Israel. (Matthew 27:9 [HAS])

4) Matthew 27:35. "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots." isn't in the PeshittA

And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. (Matthew 27:35 [KJV])

And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments by lot. (Matthew 27:35 [HAS])

5) Luke 22:17-18. "And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this and divide it among yourselves : for I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God
shall come." isn't in the PeshittA.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
(Luke 22:17-18 [KJV])

{19} And He took The Bread and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it unto them, and said, "This is My Body, which concerning your persons, is given. Be doing this for Dukrani {My Memorial}." (Luke 22:17 [HAS])

6) Acts 8:37 - "And Philip said, If thou dost trust with all the heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus the Anointed is the Son of God." isn't in the Peshitta

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Acts 8:37 [KJV])

7) Acts 15:34. "But it pleased Silas to remain there." isn't in the PeshittA

Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. (Acts 15:34 [KJV])

8 - Acts 18:6. "Your blood is on your own heads." isn't in the PeshittA.

And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.(Acts 18:6 [KJV])

And he shook off his garments, and said unto them, "From now on, I am clean. I go unto the Gentiles!" (Acts 18:6 [HAS])

9) Acts 28:29 - "And when he had said these things, the Jews departed, and had much reasoning among themselves." isn't in PeshittA.

And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. (Acts 28:29 [KJV])

10) 1 Tim. 3:16. In Peshitta and Peshitto, The word "God" is not expressed.

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (I Timothy 3:16 [KJV])

And truly, great is this Mystery of Righteousness; The One who was manifested in the flesh, and was justified in The The Spirit, and was seen of The Heavenly Messengers, and was Proclaimed among the Peoples/Nations/Gentiles, and was believed upon in the world, and has ascended up in Glory! (I Timothy 3:16 [HAS])

11) 1 John 5:7, 8. "In heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit ; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth." isn't found in the PeshittA.

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (I John 5:7 [KJV])

12) The PeshittA only has 22 books. The PeshittA doesn't contain 2nd Peter, 2nd John, 3rd John, Jude, and Revelation.

Other differences: To which we add:

20) Heb. 2:9 by the grace of God should be apart from God. The phrase "S'tar (#14219) min Alaha" means "Apart from God", in other words, God did not die on the Cross, only His humanity (His human nature died, not his divine nature.) The PeshittA has preserved this original reading, as witnessed to by Origen (185-232 A.D.)

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:9 [KJV])

But, He who was humbled to be less than The Heavenly Messengers, we behold to be Yeshua, and because of the suffering of His death, Glory and Honor was placed upon His Head, for, apart from God, He tasted death for every man. (Hebrews 2:9 [HAS])

21. Luke 3:4 make straight in the plain is added

,,, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. (Luke 3:4 [KJV])

... who said, A voice that calls out in the the desert, 'Prepare The Way of The Lord-YHWH, and to make straight in the plain the paths for Our God. (Luke 3:4 [HAS])

22. Heb. 12:14 "Follow peace with all men [KJV]" should be "Run after Peace with every man [HAS]"

23 Acts 21:25 [KJV]"and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only" added:

As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. (Acts 21:25 [KJV])

But, concerning those who believe from the Gentiles, we wrote that they should be keeping their souls from what is sacrificed, and from fornication, and from the strangled, and from blood. (Acts 21:25 [HAS])

24. Mark 10:18 except One, God

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. (Mark 10:18 [KJV])

And Yeshua said unto him, "Why do you call Me good?" There is no one good , except One, God. (Mark 10:18 [HAS])

25. 1John 5:7 KJV The Johannine Comma is not in the PeshittA.

Minor differences:

30. Acts 26:28 Eastern Peshitta MSS have "...King Agrippa said...." Western Peshitto MSS have "...Agrippa said..." Again the Western text matches the reading of the Greek text.

31. Luke 1:35 the Western/UBS text at Luke 1:35, which has "...He who is begotten in you..." rather than the way it is given in The Peshitta (Khabouris Codex), which has "....He who is begotten from you..."
The Greek text "has therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee..." KJV.
Think about this for a bit.

32. Mark 1:20 The Peshitta text does not have the clause "in the boat/ship", as does the UBS version. The Greek text has "in the boat/ship", "in the ship" KJV. ...The Greek scribes are famous for interpolating the text, and since "in the boat" is found in Matthew's Gospel, in the parallel account, it could have been interpolated into Mark's Gospel, where it didn't originally appear.

33. Mark 10:6 In the Greek it says: "From the beginning of the creation", while the Peshitta has 'from the beginning'.

34. Mark 5:40 The PeshittA text has "But, Yeshua sent them all out" ܕܝܢ ܝܫܘܥ ܐܦܩ ܠܟܠܗܘܢ The Western/UBS version of the PeshittO has "But, He sent them all out." ܕܝܢ ܐܦܩ ܠܟܠܗܘܢ The UBS follows the reading in the Greek "he had put them all out" KJV.

35. Mark 6:1 The Peshitta has ܘܢܦܩ ܡܢ ܬܡܢ ܝܫܘܥ "And Yeshua departed from there" While the UBS version has it worded as ܘܢܦܩ ܡܢ ܬܡܢ "and He departed from there" which again follows/conforms to the Greek: "And he went out from thence" [KJV].

36. Luke 2:48 where the PeshittA, reads "... I and your father..." while the Western altered PeshittO, reads "...your father and I..." When Maryam is relating to Yeshua that they had been searching for Him with much anxiety. The Western version follows the Greek: "thy father and I" KJV.

[Steven Avery]

There is a chain of transmission of the curation of the PeshittA: the patriachs of the
Assyrian Church of the East (ACoE). From peshitta.org:

Same question as before, unanswered.

So the chain of transmission of the ACoE curated the Aramaic PeshittA and vouches for its authenticity. To prove me wrong, the onus is on you to provide evidence to the contrary.

Your logic is very flawed.

Which one was the first one that clearly cites the Peshitta?

Which is the first one that vouches for the authenticity of the Peshitta?
What exactly did they say?

[ebion]

Same question as before, unanswered.

It was answered, in due course, in its proper thread.

It can take a week for an answer to percolate up through my drafts folder: I'm not being paid to post here.

But answers to posts by trolls, or posts that are vapid, content free, or detract from the thread, can take much longer. A nice thing about this software is that you can filter lists of users: in which case it can take a very long time indeed - poof.

[Steven Avery]

Same question as before, unanswered.

It was answered, in due course, in its proper thread.

Nah, nothing there about who was the first to speak of the Peshitta, to use its text, etc.

I've learned to not trust anything you post.

[Steven Avery]

This citation of Isa 59 in the middle of a large section (between 3:09 & 3:18 where "Paul" cites examples of the faults of the Judean people in keeping God's commandments), which otherwise (five examples) draw exclusively from Psalms.*

Romans 3:15 (AV)
Their feet are swift to shed blood:

In addition to Isaiah 59, we have:

Proverbs 1:16
For their feet run to evil,
and make haste to shed blood.

Here is the breakdown I have been using, from Psalms, Proverbs and Isaiah, 2 verses, consecutive in Isaiah 59.

Romans 3 Pauline wonderful scripture pastiche - interpolation into Psalm 14 (13 in LXX) of the "LXX" socalled
https://www.purebibleforum.com/index.ph ... post-12439

First Paul beautifully puts together a number of scriptures, using numerous Psalms and Isaiah,

.. simply "it is written".

================================================

Romans 3:10-18
As it is written,
3:10 There is none righteous, no, not one: (Psalm 14:1)
3:11 There is none that understandeth, (Psalm 14:2)
there is none that seeketh after God.
3:12 They are all gone out of the way,
they are together become unprofitable;
there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Psalm 14:3) - also Psalm 53 1-3

After being written as one unit in the NT, Romans 3:13-18 is brought into the Greek text, the OT Greek is identical to that in Romans:

3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre;
with their tongues they have used deceit; (Psalm 5:9)
the poison of asps is under their lips: (Psalm 140:3).
3:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: (Psalm 10:7)
3:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: (Isaiah 59:7; Proverbs 1:16).
3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: (Isaiah 59:7).
3:17 And the way of peace have they not known: (Isaiah 59:8).
3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Psalms 36:1).

===============================================================


BACKUP VERSES


Psalm 14:1-3 (AV)
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men,
to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy:
there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Psalm 5:9
For there is no faithfulness in their mouth;
their inward part is very wickedness;
their throat is an open sepulchre;
they flatter with their tongue.

Psalm 140:3
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent;
adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.

Psalm 10:7
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud:
under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

Isaiah 59:7
Their feet run to evil,
and they make haste to shed innocent blood:
their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity;
wasting and destruction are in their paths.

Proverbs 1:16
For their feet run to evil,
and make haste to shed blood.

Isaiah 59:8
The way of peace they know not;
and there is no judgment in their goings:
they have made them crooked paths:
whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.

Psalm 36:1
The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart,
that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

=================

Here is Psalm 14:4-7 in the AV from the Hebrew Bible:

Psalm 14:4-7 (AV)
|Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.
There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.
Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.
Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!
when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

[ebion]

There are a lot of comments in Christologically themed passages throughout the Pauline corpus that seem highly critical of Jews in general, so he may have read or heard Josephus' books on the Judean War recited privately and integrated his negative portrait of scheming Judean high priests and aristocrats and the extreme actions of factional leaders into his portrayal of Judeans as a people.

I would avoid using Jews/Judaism for anything pre-8 c. AD (pre-Talmud) when the rabbis, the descent of the Pharisees, started to exert a monopoly in Babylon. Back in the time of the Jamesian church, I think it's more productive to think Pharisees vs. Sadducees vs. Essenes vs. Hebrews, and Collabos/Herodians vs. Zealots, to name a few.

Jesus Christ was an anti-Pharisee probably anti-Sadducee definitely pro-Essene Hebrew, not a Jew.

And there are a lot of comments in passages throughout the Fauline corpus that seem highly critical of YHWH in general (there fixed it for you :-,)!

[ebion]

I do agree that Jesus's "brother" continued his work after Jesus' untimely death, but I do not buy the legendary depiction of the trial and execution of "James the Just" relayed by Hegesippus, in a work preserved only here as a fragment in a citation by Eusebius. It is too fabulous, and doesn't really cohere with the account of the trial of a James (with a brother Jesus) in Ant 20.200.

This may be an area which you should research here, as Hegesippus' James the Just account has been discussed here since 2013. Ken Olson, who has his own position on the origin of the TF (Ant 18), touches on the trial of a James before Ananus in Ant 20, and Origen's belief that Josephus had once blamed the destruction of Jerusalem on the death of James the Just.

I have also researched this matter to death. You might like my research on why Hegesippus said that James was nicknamed "Oblias." There is a table showing a little Hebrew analysis, which you might find entertaining.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2540&p=57087&hilit=Oblias#p57087

You may be right, but I was thinking more about the Clementine depictions of maybe-James assault and maybe-death. Problem is I don't know what is a good text for the Clementines, other than not Rufinus. I've been looking at the Kerygmata Petrou, and the Syriac portions, but haven't gotten to a clear basis set yet.

I'll try to get that straight (or abandon hope :-,) and then will circle back to your and Ken's work.

(As an aside on another topic; if the the Ebioneans consider Jesus to be a man born of Joseph, who acquired his divinity at the baptism by John, does this mean the Ebionaens felt Jesus survived the cruxifiction?)

[DCHindley]

There are a lot of comments in Christologically themed passages throughout the Pauline corpus that seem highly critical of Jews in general, so he may have read or heard Josephus' books on the Judean War recited privately and integrated his negative portrait of scheming Judean high priests and aristocrats and the extreme actions of factional leaders into his portrayal of Judeans as a people.

I would avoid using Jews/Judaism for anything pre-8 c. AD (pre-Talmud) when the rabbis, the descent of the Pharasees, started to exert a monopoly in Babylon. Back in the time of the Jamesian church, I think it's more productive to think Pharasees vs. Sadducees vs. Essenes vs. Hebrews, and Collabos/Herodians vs. Zealots, to name a few.

Jesus Christ was an anti-Pharasee probably anti-Sadducee definitely pro-Essene Hebrew, not a Jew.

And there are a lot of comments in passages throughout the Fauline corpus that seem highly critical of YHWH in general (there fixed it for you :-,)!

Had a long winded response but had to stop myself. The word everyone was using in that time (including Josephus & Philo) was "Ioudaios," which most scholars today understand to refer to a lifestyle, not a "religion." It was "the Judean way of living." The Wikipedia article on Ioudaios is actually (well, yesterday) pretty good.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ioudaios

Probably for about 15 years now I have stopped using the term "Jew" for non-Greek folks originating from areas formerly part of Herod's old kingdom (Judah, Samaria & Idumea mainly) until after around 400 when all hope of reconstituting the Judean temple(-state) had to be abandoned. Until the 4th or 5th century CE, I always call them "Judeans" as did just about everyone in antiquity. Didn't matter if they were from Judea proper, Galilee, Samaria, or Idumea, only that they practiced the "Judean way."

In the diaspora, this Judean way was practiced quite differently than how it might be practiced in their regions of origin. Even pilgrims from Samaria, Galilee & Idumea, when coming to Jerusalem to bring their offerings, they have to stop in camps for a couple weeks in advance to make sure they undergo ritual purification rites. This means that even in these areas of the "Judean" heartland, few were actually living a ritually pure lifestyle all the time. In the diaspora, as even in the "Judean" regions, they might kind-of eat kosher, be circumcised, or observe the sabbath, but you better do those things in Judea proper when on pilgrimage.

You may prefer to call these folks of common heritage "Hebrews" but I prefer to use the term that everyone else used in the day, "Ioudaios." Yes, I have to include qualifications when i use that word, but I don't want to be applying an artificial term.