Göttingen Septuagint

mab
mab Member Posts: 3,071 ✭✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

Can anyone explain how the information offered in the Göttingen Septuagint might give added insight over the standard LXX that most of us use. I usually look at the LXX to see how an OT passage might be understood in the NT. Does the Göttingen Septuagint add to that?

The mind of man is the mill of God, not to grind chaff, but wheat. Thomas Manton | Study hard, for the well is deep, and our brains are shallow. Richard Baxter

Comments

  • Simon
    Simon Member Posts: 218 ✭✭

    mab said:

    Can anyone explain how the information offered in the Göttingen Septuagint might give added insight over the standard LXX that most of us use. I usually look at the LXX to see how an OT passage might be understood in the NT. Does the Göttingen Septuagint add to that?

    In two ways:

    1. The Göttingen LXX gives it own reconstruction of the Septuagint text. It is the most recent critical edition of the LXX, that tries to take into account all the available manuscripts. I would consider the Göttingen LXX as the academic standard text for the LXX.
    2. The Göttingen LXX has two very extensive apparatuses, which gives you insight in the different readings of important manuscripts, text traditions and revisions. For research in the NT use of the OT this can be relevant, because in the time of the NT there was at least one revision of the LXX, and quite a few variant readings. There are some places where the reading of the NT can be best understood as having a revision of the LXX as Vorlage, or at least having a LXX with significant variant readings as Vorlage.
    3. The Göttingen LXX has introductions to each bible book, explaining the LXX textual traditions for given bible book

    The Göttingen LXX certainly is valuable when you're doing academic level research on the NT use of the OT. However, apart from this highly specialized field of academic research, I would go for the Rahlfs edition with apparatus.

    Some things to consider before buying the Göttingen LXX:

    1. It is far from complete.
    2. All introduction material is in German, not in English. 
  • DMB
    DMB Member Posts: 14,218 ✭✭✭✭

    I'm always reluctant to assign any resource/learning to 'academic research'. I guess I'm so disenchanted with scholars not be able to meet the logical requirements of a junior high school teenager (the toughest test of all).

    Here's Rahlf's at Daniel 7:5:
    αυτης] + ※ εν μεσω αδοντων αυτης 88 Sy

    Versus Gottingen:
    τρία] τριτη 967: cf. 20 | στόματι] σω[μ]ατι 967: cf. 10:6 | αὐτῆς] + ※ εν μεσω οδοντων αυτης 88-Syh = m | [ανα]στασα 967

    Now, granted, if you can't read greek, the question become both moot and mute. But assuming a facility with greek, Gottingen provides more clues.

    And to my knowledge, there is no 'LXX'. Only varients. That's why the apparatus is really the deal in Gottengen.

    Plus, for any passer-by's, don't forget Mr Law's https://www.logos.com/product/43971/when-god-spoke-greek pre-pub.  I was tempted to get the Kindle but the Logos links will be great. I was surprised at Mr Tov's endorcement.

    "If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.

  • mab
    mab Member Posts: 3,071 ✭✭✭

    Thanks. Now I got the idea and added one more book to my pre order list. Is there any other textbook that would facilitate use of LXX or the apparatus? 

    The mind of man is the mill of God, not to grind chaff, but wheat. Thomas Manton | Study hard, for the well is deep, and our brains are shallow. Richard Baxter

  • Abram K-J
    Abram K-J Member Posts: 380 ✭✭

    Funny you should ask....

    In late 2012 and early 2013 the Septuagintablogosphere was taken by storm by these two primer posts on how to read and understand the Göttingen Septuagint: part 1 here, part 2 here, part 3 still to follow, at some point.

    Okay... "taken by storm" is a bit much. The Septuagintablogosphere is, after all, a not-so-densely populated locale. But I do trust and hope those two posts could be useful in answering your questions, mab.

    Abram K-J: Pastor, Writer, Freelance Editor
    Blog: Words on the Word

  • mab
    mab Member Posts: 3,071 ✭✭✭

    Abram

    I put the two posts into PDF for further study. That should hopefully get me off to a good start as soon as I figure out how I'm going to pay for this treasure.

    The mind of man is the mill of God, not to grind chaff, but wheat. Thomas Manton | Study hard, for the well is deep, and our brains are shallow. Richard Baxter

  • David Ames
    David Ames Member Posts: 2,977 ✭✭✭

    mab said:

    I put the two posts into PDF for further study. 

    Maybe this would be a good candidate for a PBB in Logos?

    Just copy the posts to a DOCX file from Word [or other that will write DOCX files]  and follow the instructions at https://wiki.logos.com/Personal_Books 

    If you have not made one before just follow the instructions under Building Personal Books.  Later you can make it 'fancy'.

  • Abram K-J
    Abram K-J Member Posts: 380 ✭✭

    Thanks, mab--glad you think it might be helpful. I did a review of Göttingen LXX in Logos itself, too, here, if you're seriously considering it.

    However, if funds are limited, it is probably worth spending the time first reading something like Jobes and Silva's Invitation to the Septuagint or even The Use of the Septuagint in New Testament Research (in Logos here), if you haven't already.

    M.D.#sthash.GmGnrFbs.dpuf LX

    Abram K-J: Pastor, Writer, Freelance Editor
    Blog: Words on the Word

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 54,801

    Abram K-J said:

    Okay... "taken by storm" is a bit much.

    But you just won an entry in Verbum Practicum w/ Verbum Blog Training (a Reading List)

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • Abram K-J
    Abram K-J Member Posts: 380 ✭✭

    Abram K-J: Pastor, Writer, Freelance Editor
    Blog: Words on the Word

  • mab
    mab Member Posts: 3,071 ✭✭✭

    Abram K-J said:

    Jobes and Silva's Invitation to the Septuagint or even The Use of the Septuagint in New Testament Research (in Logos here), if you haven't already.

    I have the second volume(YAY), so I'll pull that up. Why the former isn't in Logos I'm puzzled;so much of their other works are in Logos. I'll try and scout out a copy.

    The mind of man is the mill of God, not to grind chaff, but wheat. Thomas Manton | Study hard, for the well is deep, and our brains are shallow. Richard Baxter

  • Abram K-J
    Abram K-J Member Posts: 380 ✭✭

    Sounds good. You can probably find a used hard copy online for relatively cheap. Glad you have the other one in Logos--that could be a good place to start, given the interests you've mentioned.

    Abram K-J: Pastor, Writer, Freelance Editor
    Blog: Words on the Word