RULING FROM TALMUD


Authorization for the Hebrew Scriptures (TaNaK) to be Written Completely in Greek.[1]


TALMUD MAS MEGILLAH 2A

R. SIMEON B. GAMALIEL SAYS THAT BOOKS [OF THE SCRIPTURE] ALSO ARE PERMITTED TO BE WRITTEN ONLY IN GREEK

R. Abbahu said in the name of R. Johanan: The halachah follows R. Simeon b. Gamaliel. R. Johanan further said: What is the reason of R. Simeon b. Gamaliel? Scripture says, God enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; [this means] that the words of Japheth shall be in the tents of Shem. But why not say [the words of] Gomer and Magog? — R. Hiyya b. Abba replied: The real reason is because it is written, Let God enlarge [yaft] Japheth: implying, let the chief beauty [yafyuth] of Japheth be in the tents of Shem.


Manuscripts of the Greek Septuagint (LXX) were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran proving that it was used by the Jewish people in B.C. times as Holy Scripture.[2]



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FOOTNOTES


[1]Some rabbinicists today would deny that Talmud contains any "rulings" at all. They would present the argument that only other sourceworks such as the Shulchan Aruch give Rulings. That may be the opinion today, but it was not back then, clearly.

It is our opinion that their change of attitude toward Talmudic authority may have come about because of certain passages in Talmud considered objectionable by Christians and/or others. Nevertheless, Talmud was historically recognized as fully authoritative and drawn directly from Jewish Oral Law based on the sages, which did make that which it contains, Rulings. Of that there is no doubt.

[2]Direct quotes from the Septuagint (LXX) are contained many times word-for- word in the New Testament Greek Manuscripts. There are also critical passages in the New Testament that do not agree with the MT, but do agree with the LXX.

Regarding the acceptance in the Talmud itself of the LXX and later, rejection, we find this historically:

"The veneration with which the Jews had treated this version (as is shown in the case of Philo and Josephus), gave place to a very contrary feeling when they found out how it could be used against them in argument: hence, they decried the version, and sought to deprive it of all authority. As the Gentile Christians were generally unaquainted with Hebrew, they were unable to meet the Jews on the ground which they [the Jews] now took; and as the Gentile Christians at this time believed the most extraordinary legends of the origin of the version [as also were repeated by both Philo and Josephus as had been handed-down to them by tradition], so that they [the Gentiles also] fully embraced the opinions of its authority and its inspiration, they necessarily regarded the denial on the part of the Jews of its accuracy, as little less than blasphemy, and as proof of their blindness." (Brenton, Introduction to LXX)

Some parties are very insistent that the New Testament was not originally written in Greek, but in Hebrew or Aramaic. It is our opinion this could be motivated by the fact that any 1st Century document which was directed. "to the Jew first" and in Greek would absolutely prove that Jews readily understood Greek in the 1st Century and so by implication would certainly have been using the Greek Septuagint as equivalent to Holy Writ as well.

[3]


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