Septuagint, Old Testament, and the Canon of Scripture
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 8:27 am
In church a few weeks ago, the pastor was preaching from Jeremiah, and I was reading from the Septuagint (in Greek), which was quite different from the text he was preaching from. I mentioned that to him, and he asked if I considered the Septuagint to be part of the canon.
My response: I don't know that the answer to that question really makes a difference to me, because I filter the Old Testament through the eyes of the New Testament, and do not directly apply many laws and direct commandments of the Old Testament. In practice, I suppose I use the Old Testament as rich background for understanding the New Testament, including historical background, the story of the covenant, rich symbolism, who God is and how he relates to his people ...
Whether or not the Septuagint is inspired, the Maccabees is still one of the best sources for understanding the historical background of the New Testament. Sirach contains wisdom similar to that of Proverbs, and I would filter both through New Testament eyes.
I'm not sure if that was good theology or not, but it does describe my current attitude. How do the rest of you see it? How did early Anabaptists see it?
My response: I don't know that the answer to that question really makes a difference to me, because I filter the Old Testament through the eyes of the New Testament, and do not directly apply many laws and direct commandments of the Old Testament. In practice, I suppose I use the Old Testament as rich background for understanding the New Testament, including historical background, the story of the covenant, rich symbolism, who God is and how he relates to his people ...
Whether or not the Septuagint is inspired, the Maccabees is still one of the best sources for understanding the historical background of the New Testament. Sirach contains wisdom similar to that of Proverbs, and I would filter both through New Testament eyes.
I'm not sure if that was good theology or not, but it does describe my current attitude. How do the rest of you see it? How did early Anabaptists see it?