An Introduction to the Old Testament in Greek

by Henry Barclay Swete

Overview

Henry Barclay Swete (1835–1917) published An Introduction to the Old Testament in Greek in 1900 as a manual to accompany his three-volume edition of the Septuagint (1887–1894) and to provide a guide through the vast corpus of Septuagint literature. Part 1 covers the textual history of the Septuagint, providing an in-depth analysis of its complex tradition, surveying the most important Greek witnesses and the earliest versions. Part 2 discusses the Alexandrian manuscript tradition, and covers the order and grouping of books, titles, comparison with the Hebrew Canon, and the textual divisions used in the manuscripts. Part 3 is concerned with the influence and use of the Septuagint in later works. An appendix contains the letter of pseudo-Aristeas with an introduction explaining the forgery. For over a century Swete's work has been an indispensable tool for every scholar and student of the Septuagint.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781592441693
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	03/06/2003
Pages:	608
Product dimensions:	4.90(w) x 6.90(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Henry Barclay Swete (1835-1917) was Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge for twenty-five years. Swete is well-known and respected for the extensive range of his biblical and patristic studies and for his careful and exact scholarship.his careful and exact scholarship.

Table of Contents

Part I. The History of the Greek Old Testament and of Its Transmission: 1. The Alexandrian Greek version; 2. Later Greek versions; 3. The Hexapla; 4. Ancient versions based on the Septuagint; 5. Manuscripts of the Septuagint; 6. Printed texts of the Septuagint; Part II. The Contents of the Alexandrian Old Testament: 1. Titles, grouping, number, and order of the books; 2. Books of the Hebrew canon; 3. Books not included in the Hebrew canon; 4. The Greek of the Septuagint; 5. The Septuagint as a version; 6. Text divisions: stichi, chapters, lections, catenae, etc.; Part III. Literary Use, Value, and Textual Condition of the Greek Old Testament: 1. Literary use of the Septuagint by non-Christian Hellenists; 2. Quotations from the Septuagint in the New Testament; 3. Quotations from the Septuagint in early Christian writings; 4. The Greek versions as aids to biblical study; 5. Influence of the Septuagint on Christian literature; 6. Textual condition of the Septuagint, and problems arising out of it; Additions and corrections; Appendix: The letter of pseudo-Aristeas; Indices.