What Is the Septuagint? (Fun Version)

[@isaachuerta1077]

Hey Matt, I just want to say as a former Non-denominational turned Catholic, I really appreciate your dives into these areas where most people won't go. Your perspective and insight on these topics is refreshing. I pray that anyone "searching" finds what they are looking for.

[@kyz8390]

Isaac Huerta I think Christians in the United States are waking up again. I hope this prompts Jews and everyone to wake up and reveal more of God’s plan.

[@andrew-elkins]

Hey Isaac, that's awesome. I'm a former Non-denominational in RCIA. Hoping to be received into the Church after all this Corona Pandemic stuff dies down.

[@isaachuerta1077]

I came into The Church in 2017, and I now teach RCIA. Andre - I pray that you are recieved in through all of this. God bless you all!

[@joshportie]

As a former Jesuit controlled church goes to the mother of harlots?

[@joshportie]

The slumber in America is worse every day. Sad thing is none of you notice.

[@roddumlauf9241]

I've been using the Septuagint as my primary Old Testament for the past 15 years or so. I have a number of English translations of the Septuagint. I also use Western Bibles which are based on the Masoretic text as secondary translations (RSV, ESV, NAS, NKJV etc. There seem to be far fewer problem texts, "mistakes" and contradictions in the Septuagint. But the Septuagint that we have today also has its problem texts. The Dead Sea Scrolls have shown us that the "70" elders used a different Hebrew text than the proto-Masoretic family text type to translate the Hebrew into Greek. A great book to read on this topic is "When God Spoke Greek" by Timothy Law, Oxford Press. The entire Church before Jerome used the Septuagint until Jerome switched from the Septuagint to the proto-masoretic to translate the Latin Vulgate. It very interesting to read about Augustine's arguments as to why Jerome, in his mind, was in error. The Eastern Church have always and to this day use the Septuagint.

[@HammerHeadzzz]

As I said in my comment, I would love to have the unedited Hebrew text. Matt’s argument that the NT has quotes from the Septuagint because it was ALREADY translated into Greek is good, but he presupposes that the masoretic text is like unedited Hebrew text, which it is not. The Septuagint is far better. God bless!

[@joshportie]

Thats a tragedy. Its a fraud.

[@joshportie]

And no thats a lie. They dont quote the septuagint which is barely a few hundred years old.

[@wyattsteel411]

@@HammerHeadzzz The great Hebrew Bible scholar Emmanuel Tov said that the Masoretic Text accurately reflects a Hebrew text from at least the 3rd century BC. But (as evidence by the Septuagint, Dead Sea Scrolls, Peshitta, Samaritan Pentateuch, Targums, etc.) scripture was historically a lot more fluid than it is now, with a bunch of different versions and translations floating around. I personally don't think any one textual tradition is what we should stick to, myself - I think we should analyze all sources out there to try and reconstruct the oldest form of the text we can.

[@wyattsteel411]

@@joshportie Can you prove that the Septuagint is a few centuries old? I have evidence it isn't.

[@MaciejBogdanStepien]

Septuagint! Fun version! On the Annunciation Day! God bless you, man.

[@AnnaH-qt9nl]

Hey brother I been watching you videos for a while now. I just want to thank you for the time you spend in research as well as your candor. You are operating in your called purpose indeed and we’re all the better for it. God bless ya

[@chiverybob]

Hey Matt, just wanted to say as an Orthodox Christian I appreciate you explaining the advantages and disadvantages of the Septuagint. We choose to use the Septuagint because, as you said, it is the same Bible the Apostles used : )

[@approachinglimits]

Jacob Sparks I have the orthodox study bible which I believe uses the Septuagint and apocrypha for the Old Testament. I also have the separate version which has Greek side by side with English. Just like to see fellow orthodox!

[@chiverybob]

@@approachinglimits It's definitely nice to see fellow Orthodox! I also use the Orthodox Study Bible. Please pray for me during this difficult Lent.

[@alanhales1123]

Jacobthemagition, Jesus and the Apostles didn't quote from the erroneous septuagint, they quoted from the Old Testament Hebrew. You have been misled.

[@logiboy123]

How incredibly timely. I was just having a discussion with an orthodox Christian yesterday about this topic and was hoping to learn more. Great content Matt.

[@greenhaven-podcast]

😊🙏☦️

[@MrSteveKape]

Haven’t heard from you in a while Matt! I was starting to get concerned about you and the family! Glad you’re here!

[@Naith123]

Steve Kape check out the TMBH podcast, he puts up 5 episodes a week

[@defvent]

7 trillion views and only 25 dislikes. Nice! That's the power of the Septuagint, baby!

[@MattWhitmanTMBH]

I'm really pleased with that ratio.

[@joshportie]

The power of Satan. The septuagint is a fraud.

[@wyattsteel411]

@@joshportie Is it?

[@thomervin7450]

@@joshportie Well, considering many translations of the Bible are based on the Septuagint, you are probably reading a fraud of a fraud.

[@joecastillo8798]

@@MattWhitmanTMBH The fact is the Jews made use of the Septuagint long before the Christian Era, and in the time of Christ it was recognized as a legitimate text and was employed in Palestine even by the rabbis. The Apostles and Evangelists utilized it also and borrowed Old Testament citations from it, especially in regard to the prophecies. The Fathers and the other ecclesiastical writers of the early Church drew upon it constantly. HERE I CITE DEUTEROCANONICAL REFERENCES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. ▪︎WISDOM 2:12-21 12* Let us lie in wait for the righteous one, because he is annoying to us; he opposes our actions, Reproaches us for transgressions of the law* and charges us with violations of our training. 13. He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the LORD. 14. To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us, 15. Because his life is not like that of others, and different are his ways. 16. He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the righteous and boasts that God is his Father. 17. Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him in the end. 18. For if the righteous one is the son of God, God will help him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. 19. With violence and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. 20. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.” 21. These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them, Old Testament attested in the New ▪︎HEBREWS 11:1-2 1 Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. 2 Because of it the ancients were well attested. Below, the Old Testament ancients attest to the New Testament ▪︎MATTHEW 27,43 43 He trusts in God; LET GOD DELIVER HIM now, if he desires him; for HE SAID, ‘I AM THE SON OF GOD.’” ~OT Deuterocanonical "Wisdom Book" is Matthew's source on the clear reference to "THE SON OF GOD" above. ••> WISDOM 2:17-18 17 Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him in the end. 18 For if the righteous one is the SON OF GOD, God will help him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. ~Whereas, Psalms omits "Son of God". ••> PSALMS 22:8-9 8 All who see me mock me; they curl their lips and jeer; they shake their heads at me: 9 “He relied on the Lord-let him deliver him; if he loves him, let him rescue him.” ▪︎JOHN 8:44. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, (A) and you want to carry out your father’s desires.(B) He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.(C) ••> WISDOM 2:24 24 but through the devil’s envy death entered the world, and those who belong to his company experience it. ▪︎JOHN 10:20 20 Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why listen to him?” ••> WISDOM 5:4 4 “These are persons whom we once held in derision and made a byword of reproach-fools that we were! We thought that their lives were madness and that their end was without honor. ▪︎JOHN 8:53 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?” ••> SIRACH 44:19 19 Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations, and no one has been found like him in glory. God bless.

[@nowthatimcatholic3640]

Another great video Matt. Good job introducing people to this very important text (or collection of texts)

[@lc-mschristian5717]

Loved your video. I read the Septuigent and think it is the best we have at this point in time as Old Testament Scripture. God's peace be with you.

[@BiblicalStudiesandReviews]

It’s fascinating to me how many Christians are getting into the LXX! Do you have a favorite translation of it?

[@lc-mschristian5717]

@@BiblicalStudiesandReviews I use the Orthodox Study Bible. Overlooking some of the footnotes

[@WillEhrendreich]

Thank you for the megaman references. Oh and all the incredible work you do in putting these awesome videos together.

[@ggesman7811]

Loved the video and the subject. You really have created a good quality video. Please allow me to give a critique. Origen died about 253 AD and wrote the Hexapla between 230 - 240 AD. Origen was a such hardcore DEFENDER of the Septuagint that he learned Hebrew which no contemporary church father could understand. He then compiled the Hexapla to compare and contrast the Septuagint with the scriptures used by anti-Christian heritics, namely the Hebrew (proto-Mesoretic Text), and 3 Greek translations of it. The other column was a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew text (to help a Greek speaker to pronounce the Hebrew easier). With this he could quickly expose that many messianic prophecies were either missing or changed from of the ORIGINAL Hebrew. Origen powerfully demonstrated that the Septuagint preserved the integrety Old Testament Scriptures BETTER than the Hebrew present in his day and recent Greek translations. About a hundred years later in 331 AD Constantine commissioned Eusebius to make 50 Septuagint Bibles for the Bishop of Constantinople who was to distribute them to the Churches. Church growth was exploding there. Keep up the studying and videos. They are very encouraging.

[@jacksonhstudios4421]

I’m ready for the 2nd Part of Protestant Talks with Catholic Theologian.

[@cinnamondan4984]

Jackson Higgs Studios I am ready for all things under the sun

[@joshportie]

You mean a Catholic talks to a fake protestant.

[@shaolinshowdown1123]

@@joshportie prove that statement. The protestant part. Otherwise it becomes an opinion. And the opposite can be proven right or wrong. No opinion added.

[@JacobblerMusic]

I’m ready for the second half of the talk with the catholic theologians. Also I think you should talk to Dr. Taylor Marshall. That would be a great conversation!!!!!!

[@mikkis668]

Yeah, I've been waiting too!

[@joshportie]

That guy is a massive liar. Why would that be interesting?

[@JacobblerMusic]

@@joshportie What has he lied about?

[@josephmay6331]

Watched the whole thing man! Thank you for this, it helped me out a whole lot and I appreciate it so much! I hope you are having a blessed day and thank you as always!

[@BirdieSenpai]

THIS is by far the best guide to the Septuagint I've seen thus far! Super groovy, Matt! Together with videos by Nathan Hoffman over at NathanH83, such as "How long were the Israelites in Egypt?" and "Were the Pyramids Built Before the Flood?", this helps to facilitate a much stronger understanding not only of the Septuagint but of the various time periods different versions of scripture were translated and really puts into perspective the sheer history our faith and the scriptures our faith involves have behind them.

[@bethshrader7432]

Hi Matt, this was so far over my head honestly I didn't understand much of it, but I'm sure one day when I learn a lot more I'll be able to come back to it and get some more understanding out of it.

[@sorenpx]

One thing I have learned, after spending some time looking into the history of the biblical text, is that the deeper you go the more complex it becomes. There's always another level, always a new layer to be peeled back.

[@kyz8390]

Alexandrian Jews were often the most educated, both secular text and sacred text. It makes sense there were the ones who wrote the Septuagint. Important because the world saw for the first time the truth of the living God in the common language.

[@radicalgreek99]

You mean Hebrews

[@leatherneck818]

Matt, you never have to try to sell on anything. You being on KZbin is enough. Thanks for expounding on all things Bible 👍 (and of course making it fun)

[@dubber2001]

Thank the Lord for intellectuals like yourself. I come from a seventh day Adventist background, and I love how you go into these topics. While you obviously have your own view and beliefs on the topics, you don't try and hide the other views there may be. Well done man, people like you help to bring all walks to the one and only true God. Thanks dude. I pray for you and your family as often as I remember. Happy sabbath brother.

[@PapaJoeWalsh]

Hi Matt. Really appreciate your videos; very engaging, informative and honest! Oh, and enjoyable. I love your visits to the churches of other non-Protestant denominations. Thanks from Ireland!

[@geneparadiso6258]

As a Catholic, I appreciate your open mind and covering these topics!

[@geneparadiso6258]

Simply that Matt is a Protestant and brings up Catholic subjects that no other Protestant is willing to discuss.

[@geneparadiso6258]

Nick Giorgione I believe Jesus’ Church is physical and is the one true Catholic and Apostolic Church.

[@geneparadiso6258]

Nick Giorgione You’re an Italian, you should know better.

[@eastwestcoastkid]

Gene Paradiso well that’s not really correct. The ecumenical movement for over half a century have been discussing these very things-with Catholics and Orthodox Christians.

[@eastwestcoastkid]

Nick Giorgione I think my point was clearly made. Protestants also talk about this and actively-at the risk of repeating what I clearly said.

[@krayas8049]

Hey Matt! Just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate your videos. Your quest for truth is incredible and hope you continue to do more!

[@angelinebui2562]

Wow! Thank you for all the hard work you put in to make videos like this one. This was totally informative and seriously blew my mind. God bless you!

[@ender1598]

That was a very interesting and informative video. Thanks for all the hard work in putting that together. Really appreciate it!!

[@emmafraser1130]

Great video. There is so much information and research packed in there. I think I'm going to have to watch it again to take it all in. Thank you Matt

[@MattWhitmanTMBH]

Thanks Emma Jo!

[@kneelingcatholic]

Another real head-scratcher is Hebrews 10:5 's version of Psalms 40: 6.... The Masoretic text (MT) says 'you have dug our my ears' The Septuagint (LXX) says 'a body thou hast prepared for me' Guess which one the book of Hebrews uses! The above divergence is not trivial. The Ps 40:6 of the LXX is a proof text for the Incarnation, the MT version is NOT. Because of this, Christians must question the accuracy of the Masoretic text. There is good reason to believe that both the LXX and the MT are simply renderings of an earlier Hebrew proto-text...which the LXX has often rendered more faithfully. I understand that the Dead Sea scrolls also testify to this somewhat.

[@albertito77]

kneelingcatholic Matt wasn’t blowing the MT’s trumpet. He would know that it too contains many problems.

[@raymack8767]

There are over 400 instances where the Square Hebrew and LXX within the Dead Sea Scrolls agree against the Masoretic Text. And mamy instances where the vastly older Paleo Hebrew portions in the DSS and the Square Hebrew agree against the Masoretic Text. The MT actually left out a whole line of text from a Psalm that the Square Hebrew and LXX preserved. The so-called masters of vowel memorization thus not only forgot vowels but consonants, in another place in the Psalms the Masoretes put in the wrong word whereas the Square Hebrew and LXX preserved the true word, and in one place in Isaiah the block-headed Masoretes left out consonants. Even several of the Paleo Hebrew portions within the DSS don't agree with the MT. When all 3 are against the MT, the MT is finished: "By the mouth of two or three witnesses let every word be established. The LXX for 1 and 2 Samuel are backed up in 3 Dead Sea Scrolls, 1 and 2 Samuel are outside of the Pentateuch. The Dead Sea Scrolls agree with the LXX for Isaiah 9:6, not with the MT. Again, not in the Pentateuch, so the disciples of Jesus didn't make up the rest of the LXX outside of the Pentateuch.

[@BiblicalStudiesandReviews]

@@raymack8767 I love reading your comments are the LXX! They are always insightful!

[@raymack8767]

@@BiblicalStudiesandReviews Anytime, and thanks for the kind comments. God bless!

[@heard3879]

Now I've got to search for the book The Well at the End of the World.

[@patricksmith3135]

Matt, what a great show and interesting, fun to learn and to listen to you. I love your show. God's Peace be with you.

[@knuerr]

I love your station!!

[@Stian9Tutorials]

I am constantly amazed at how interesting and entertaining you manage to make these videos. You are doing great work, looking forward for every video. Would you ever make a video on the Early Church, especially capturing how Gnosticism and Christianity split off, and the different takes there were on Jesus at the time?

[@kylemyers971]

Hey man, where's part two of your talk with the Catholic theologian? I've been waiting so long for it!

[@Ben-br1bu]

Very interesting. What I would like to know is how do you know that the Septuagint disagrees in wording with the original Hebrew? Now, I don't know if my information is correct but I have heard the following things: 1. Both, early Christians and Jews at that time were frequently using the Septuagint. 2. Only after Christianity had formed and become influentual and the Christians had started to successfully prove from the Septuagint that Jesus is the Christ, Jews stopped using the Septuagint and created their own Greek translations. 3. The Church Fathers and early Christians repeatedly claimed that the Jews were changing the Hebrew texts in order to be able to reject Jesus. 4. The Masoretic Hebrew which we use today comes from the oldest known version of it which is from around 1,000 AD. 5. Many differences between the Masoretic and the Septuagint have an influence on prophecies about Jesus. 6. The Dead Sea Scrolls (which have been dated to a time before Christ) more often (but not always) agree with the reading of the Septuagint than with the Masoretic texts. 7. Other sources also seem to agree with the Septuagint more often (like the Samaritan Pentateuch or the writings of Flavius Josephus). So, with this information in mind, couldn't it be that the Hebrew text, we have today is acutally which disagrees with the original Hebrew and the Septuagint is actually more reliable? The early Christians seem to have thought like that. What are your thoughts on this?

[@BibelFAQ]

Sweet! Thanks again! Always learning new stuff!

[@lillianalwood777]

So interesting. I have been wrestling with this lately, it's so interesting to me.I found your channel today and watched two videos so far. I really like how you approach subjects it makes me think clearer about how I ask questions as I am researching haha! Thank you!

[@bethparrillooooo]

As a former researcher of Tolkien and Lewis, I found that your info about The Well at the World's End to be fascinating and am now scrambling to get a copy. Thanks!

[@MulRooster]

solid intro there sir, loved the sidebar glance call out

[@belisariobenites1091]

Excellent episode. Thank you so much.

[@mariakayed5555]

Super interesting! I was waiting for this video (I think you mentioned it's coming during the protestant talks with a catholic theologian video, still waiting for that pt 2 btw). I have a couple of questions though: (1) what is the book "Prologue to Sirach" that is mentioned in the comparative table you put at 23:18, it doesn't exist in any Codex?? (2) are there books that are considered in the Septuagint collection but that aren't taken into consideration within the deuterocanonical books? (3) is the Hebrew version of Isaiah 7 about the young woman from the Masoretic text or an older Hebrew translation (that existed before the Septuagint and not after the rise of Christianity)? (4) are you going to do an episode about the Masoretic text? finally, a note, not ALL Catholics are Roman Catholics, there are several rites within the Catholic church, the Roman Catholic is the only Western rite but there are several Eastern rites (Melkite, Byzantine, Maronite, Armenian, etc.) Thanks and God bless you!

[@MNskins11]

I've always hated the title "Roman Catholic". If a Catholic doesn't recognize the Pope as the vicar of Christ, then I don't think that person even deserves the title Catholic.

[@mariakayed5555]

@@MNskins11 i understand. But for me, it's more about the cultural diversity within the Catholic Church, more than the fact that all acknowledge the pope. I live in lebanon, I am a Greek Catholic, the melkites (it's from the old Byzantine and we have almost the same liturgy as the Greek Orthodox), and where there are also maronites, Syriac catholics and armenian Catholics (from the top of my head). These churches have their own rites, their own traditions (for some for example, you find married priests which is something non existent within the roman Catholic church since the 9th century). So identifying Catholics as only Roman Catholics for me deprives Catholic church from lots and lots of cultural diversity. P.S. it's not about "deserving" or not to be called Catholic, we are all christians. My husband is Pentacostal Evangelical and we both have a very eucunomical vision of the church 😉

[@YvesMatar]

SCATESKIN with all my respect to the pope, he is still essentially a man. while he is very important to the church, let’s not equate him to God, and let’s agree that God is much bigger than that, unless we want to call pope Alexander VI the vicar of Christ as well

[@MNskins11]

@@mariakayed5555 lol...i think you may have read a little too much into my comment. And I definitely read too much into yours. Your point is taken and successfully made, my sister in Christ. God bless you.

[@MNskins11]

@@YvesMatar not sure you understand the meaning of vicar. Or the point of Peter's chair. But Catholic's dont give the Pope a status that's equal to God. ???

[@Dudemanbro1577]

Your open heart and historical theological nerdy spirit makes you the best Biblical channel on YT! I’ve recently been reintroduced to Christ and you continue to fuel the hunger I have to better understand God and His love! Even my gf who has grown up in an evangelical Christian household her entire life has learned a lot from you too! Please keep up the great work!

[@khuongduy111]

I'm a Catholic but i love your content,you are not like one of those self acclaimed prophet and think they have the right answer in the Bible but all they are doing is extremism,you actually have a more open mind and give us good Bible video,May God bless you

[@hk47ray]

"The extreme teen Septuagint" had me cracking up. I'm a guy who grew up during the evangelical explosion of versions of the Bible (we're probably around the same age), so I laughed at that one. In fact, dissatisfaction with the fadish evangelical culture led me to study church history, which then led me to liturgy, traditional worship, and the importance of the Eucharist. I encourage every Christian to read a good church history book.

[@IamGrimalkin]

The "extreme teen bible" is just a NKJV translation with the odd "teen-focused" devotional or study notes scattered around, it's not anything terribly exotic really.

[@hk47ray]

@@IamGrimalkin Oh I know the translation and content is nothing bad. And on a positive note, God's Word is being shared. But, at some point the medium becomes part of the message too. I find the pandering niche market Bibles to be ridiculous and cheapening to the "product". I'll call it a product since these publishers treat it like they are selling deodorant or sports drinks, haha. The problem is, kids then begin to treat the Bible and faith that way too, as something disposable and self-centered. I could go on and on, but I'll stop. ;-)

[@nikolaj4925]

Orthodox Christian over here. Glad you picked on the subject of the Septuagint! God bless you and stay safe !

[@jessephillips1233]

Well you definitely sold me on "The Well at the World's end"

[@klamar123]

Those "optional" KZbin choices... LMAO. Great explanation of the Sep and its influence!

[@randallpcrittenden]

This is an amazing video, and I don't want to diminish that in any way, but I think my favorite part was the Mega-Man-Style "Mental Buffer" gauge.

[@bogo1992]

Odd. I was just researching this text for the first time a couple of days ago and then this video pops up. Thanks!

[@BiblicalStudiesandReviews]

It’s such a fascinating study.

[@RumorHazi]

I would love to see Jimmy Akin from Catholic Answers on the program! Matt, you have a keen insight and I think your excellent attention to detail would gel very well with Jimmy. We, as Catholics, are taught that the Septuagint included the Deuterocanonical text, and Jesus taught from the Septuagint, therefore, the Church always included it in the official Canon.

[@aaronthomas829]

The videos on the screen, during the bit about looking what was coming next. Pretty funny Matt. Watching paint dry... Man scratching his butt and farting for 6 hours. Nice touch!! LOL

[@dragons123ism]

Where is part 2 of A Protestant talks with a Catholic theologian?

[@Ryan3Mitchell]

dragons123ism yeeeaaaah

[@men.276]

He's slacking

[@joecastillo8798]

Well hidden.

[@askthiscatholic3941]

I have been checking back often looking for that one too

[@Alex-yd9pf]

Catholic theology > Protestant theology

[@bonniejohnstone]

I use the Orthodox Study Bible which has the Septuagint (we only use this version). The deuterocanonical books or added books are mostly historical (Maccabees) or bravery like Judith. (A favorite) Here you will also find the song of Daniel with the 3 youths in the fiery furnace. The books aren’t like Isaiah or Jeramiah, Psalms or Daniel.

[@BiblicalStudiesandReviews]

Ok dumb question here, but when you say “we only use this version”, do you mean your church?

[@raghotrod86]

I love the videos in the list during the first 30 seconds. I had to stop the video just to read the titles. Hilarious

[@studentministry9432]

This was done on my birthday.... what a great Birthday present, thank you!

[@Papasquatch73]

Good video. My comments are thoughts I had as I watched it. Thanks for the post

[@DnDarrenJ]

Thank you for the reminder of "The Well at the World's End." I took it off my bookshelf to start re-reading at lunch today (which was at home, not at the office).

[@DecentFellowship]

Love the intro! I've been blessed in your videos, Matt. I was saved and baptized in the Baptist tradition when I was 11, btw. I was confirmed as an Episcopalian in 1985. I've been binging videos of N.T. Wright's lectures and sermons. He's written more than 50 books, I believe, at last count. He loves the Lord, and he holds 12 doctorates, also at last count. His explications of Christian soteriology and eschatology are nothing short of awesome! He is trained in the classics, history and theology (pretty much in that order, I believe, though he identified his calling to the clergy as a young boy). He has discussed how Greek Epicureanism, Platonism and Stoicism have shaped modern Christian theology, which is just all wrong...he says that rather, Christianity is "Jewish to the core". It should be noted that he has also discussed the role of *high* art, music, literature and drama ought to factor in to the life of the Christian community. I started reading J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis when I as a young Christian of 15 (c. 1977). Due to their influence, and that of "The Inklings" (a group...really an informal "salon", in the old sense of the word...of Christian creative writers). As a teenager, I began to read some extant literary criticism and got hooked. I went on to earn a Master's in English Literature from Middlebury College's Bread Loaf School of English, with studies at Lincoln College, Oxford University. (I did undergrad at what is now Asbury University, also in English with a Journalism minor. Asbury is a Christian liberal arts school; the seminary of the same name is across the street. The schools are unaffiliated, but there is fellowship.) Note that J.R.R. Tolkien and Hugo Dyson were both instrumental in C.S. Lewis' conversion from atheism to theism, and then Christianity (see "Surprised by Joy" for some of that). That photo of Tolkien that you flashed on the screen was on the cover of an authorized biography by Humphrey Carpenter, whom I actually met while at Oxford in the summer of 1989. He has long since passed, but at the time Carpenter was lecturing on his then-new biography of Lewis Carroll (of "Alice in Wonderland" fame). I had read the Tolkien biography in high school and learned that Tolkien's faith in Christ shaped all his fictional works. I read "The Lord of the Rings" five times. I love Lewis, too, but Tolkien is always my fave. Tolkien was a devout Roman Catholic, as you know. Lewis was, of course, a C of E man. ANYHOO, I can go on and on, but would like to recommend "The Silmarillion", which served as a back-story and history of Tolkien's fantasy world called "Middle Earth", which is its own character in both "The Hobbit" (a children's story), and "The Lord of the Rings" (decidedly NOT a children's story). Tolkien started writing "The Silmarillion" in the trenches of WWI, and while in hospital recovering from shell shock (now called PTSD). While you're correct that William Morris influenced Tolkien in some ways, we can't even imagine all the influences that contributed to his writing. His time in the trenches and the friendships he made there, and his broad study of literature, are also factors. "The Silmarillion" actually reads like the Bible, recounting the One's creation of Middle Earth, and all the peoples of Middle Earth (Elves, Dwarves, and Men), and the particular history of the Elves, a race of sentient beings who were essentially immortal, unless killed by accident or warfare. Tolkien had started making up distinct languages when he was a child, so all the races of Middle Earth had their own languages and cultures. He and Lewis were experts on the myths and legends of all humanity, especially the Norse mythology. They believed that all the myths and religions of the world, even the pagan ones, point to the one true God and His Christ. While God chose the Jews to tell His true story, they believed that He was always at work in every nation to reveal Himself in many ways. (There is actually an ancient Nordic myth from the pre-Christian era in which a god sacrifices himself to himself in order to save others...pretty cool, right?) "Myth" did not mean lies or fantasies to them; they were rather an expression of the human cultures from which they originated. Tolkien wrote a poem called "Mythopoeia" after a conversation he had with Lewis about myth in general on 19 September 1931. Lewis said (and I'm paraphrasing), "Isn't myth just lies, even if breathed through silver?" Tolkien answered, "No. After all, the Christian story is a myth, too, *but one that actually happened*." Myth is the distinct language of cultures.

[@davidcheater4188]

I'm glad that you're doing OK. I like your discussion of the Septuagint a lot. But I'm going to complicate things a bit by pointing out that there are also translations into Aramaic called the Targum which would have been used extensively by the Aramaic speaking Jews, and the communities in East Asia particularly Babylon. (The Targum is still used by Yemenite Jews.) The Targum didn't try for word-by-word translation, it tended to add of lot of explanation and commentary.

[@tabethacordell3352]

Matt, God is using you to do great things! Praise Him for that! Thank you for your faithfulness and discernment in your studies. May God Bless you and keep you!

[@Scotter727]

ShadowFAX, my dear brother in Christ. Gandalf’s horse was Shadowfax. Excellent video as always.

[@harktheheral]

He's talking about in The Well at World's End, which influenced Shadowfax, but may not have had the exact same name.

[@MattWhitmanTMBH]

@@harktheheral Eaaaaaaaasy there Scott; I've got to defend my honor on this one. Michael Harrell is correct: I was trying to recall the name of the horse in the Well at the World's End, but displayed Gandalf's horse Shadowfax, and his name on the screen. I make mistakes, but that's not one I'd make, and this is verifiable onscreen at 3:10 :)

[@Scotter727]

The Ten Minute Bible Hour Fine fine. You’re off the hook! 😂😂 Keep up the great work. Love when you visit churches of various denominations. As someone who was born into the Methodist tradition, then spent 20 years in the Baptist tradition, and am now Roman Catholic, I am reminded so often through your work that so much more unites us than divides us. God bless and keep you, sir!

[@LaToya_C.]

The Xtreme teen version. 😂😂😂. I love how you present this information.

[@akjkjkak]

love your "up next" :)

[@mattsmombot4796]

Once again great job son!

[@MattWhitmanTMBH]

I love you mom.

[@dominicvilleneuve171]

"Just a Man Scratching His Butt And Farting Into a Camera for 6 Straight Hours" isn't an actual youtube video... Day ruined

[@jesuschristbiblebiblestudy]

Fascinating is the convergence of the Latin vulgate and Greek translations. It is over 90% identical.

[@crafterman2345]

11:03 look at those other videos in the background!!!!! XD I love this channel

[@cinnamondan4984]

The gospels even in the original language Greek are still translations of a story that was supposed to have been conducted in Aramaic. So many layers of complexity in getting to whatever may have been the original wording.

[@BiblicalStudiesandReviews]

I think you are probably right. But sometimes I’m tempted to think Jesus spoke Greek on occasion. The sermon on the mount in Matthew, for example, works beautifully in Greek. I just wonder sometimes.

[@henryjordan9453]

I have the Septuagint at home with me I love it

[@donaldmichael9840]

Groovy post. Thanks for sharing.

[@ABird971]

16:07 - This is a mistake, how can you know that the LLX doesn't agree with the "ORIGINAL HEBREW" when no BC Hebrew is available? You seem to still hold The Masoretic Text to be "Original Hebrew", however at 26:14 you quickly mentioned that the Hebrew text we have, came into existence deep into AD. 22:18 - "The jews" did not only "buy the story of Aristeas", they were the ones trying to sell it. It's also in the Talmud. 26:14 - I think it would be important to emphasize this more. The text that "we protestants" use for our OT (The Masoretic Text) came into existence much later. The LXX contains the oldest copies of Biblical text that we have.

[@s3cr3tandwh1sp3r]

Yes the Masoretic text was from much later, but we now have the Dead Sea scrolls which were from the time of Christ or before and they a remarkable similarity to the Masoretic text. Take the Isaiah 53 for example, the difference between the Isaiah scroll and the Hebrew is only sixteen letters, most of them spelling or stylistic changes, and the three letters that comprise the word "light" are the only significant difference. Yes there are differences, and some of them are significant. But the evidence we have of textual transmission shows a remarkable amount of stability, even if we do not know all the historical details.

[@ABird971]

@@s3cr3tandwh1sp3r I think my point above stands. On top of that, you might find that the LXX version of Isaiah 53 and that of the Qumran scrolls also compare pretty well. If, however, you take 4Q71, a piece of Jeremiah text from Qumran, you'll find it confirms the LXX and not the Masoretic text.

[@gerardomartinez6226]

I'm no protestant but find it odd that you uphold the Hebrew bible as more accurate than LXX, despite dead sea scrolls proving it is reliable. No offence to Jews I support Israel, but keep in mind that Judaism rejected teachings of Christ so it would actually work in their favor to revise older scriptures if that were ever a concern, like what was done in Matt 28:12-15.

[@s3cr3tandwh1sp3r]

@@ABird971 Point well taken. I'm not saying that the history of textual transmission is clear or that the MT has no issues. But my point in general is that it appears in most instances to be a reliable text. There are places where it might need to be amended (even the Masoretes thought that, as the Masora show). For example, we should probably include the full story of Nahash the Eye-Gouger in 1 Sam. 10:27.

[@s3cr3tandwh1sp3r]

@@gerardomartinez6226 I think you would have to provide evidence that they tampered with the text. I think their veneration of it as God's word such that they wouldn't even change the text to add vowels but put them around the existing text is testament to their commitment to preserving it as they received it. It's not outside the realm of possibility, but if they did we should find all sorts of differences in various texts as Jewish scribes changed what they thought would advantageous to Christians, but I don't know of any such evidence.

[@annapobst]

That was so good!! Thank you, finally, i understand this a bit 😅😅😅

[@iguanarchist]

You didn't have to sell me... I've been hoping for quite a while that you'd do this video.

[@gjjk84]

A couple years ago I heard someone make the argument that the creators of the Masoretic text made changes to the Tanakh that downplay Jesus’ fulfillment of the prophesies. So an example would be the verses concerning the Virgin birth. What are your thoughts, Matt?

[@mrmiz4372]

Not Matt but that's definitely part of the equation. For example, Wisdom 2:12-20, one of the deuterocanonical books which the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches include within the OT and some Protestants include within the Apocrypha, reads as follows: ‘Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training. He professes to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a child of the Lord. He became to us a reproof of our thoughts; the very sight of him is a burden to us, because his manner of life is unlike that of others, and his ways are strange. We are considered by him as something base, and he avoids our ways as unclean; he calls the last end of the righteous happy, and boasts that God is his father. Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; for if the righteous man is God’s son, he will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries. Let us test him with insult and torture, that we may find out how gentle he is, and make trial of his forbearance. Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for, according to what he says, he will be protected’. If there's any more compelling prophesy of Christ as the Spiritual Messiah, as opposed to the political messiah that most Jews expected, I've never seen it.

[@kajleradbourne1345]

I’m not sure this could be totally disproved but I think it is highly unlikely. I’m assuming your question relates to Isaiah 7:14 where the Hebrew word translated “virgin” means young woman (as opposed to the LXX Greek word that is more specifically “virgin”). First off the context of that passage demonstrates the initial fulfillment of the prophecy was the birth of Isaiah’s son Maher-Shelal-Hash-Baz (Is 8:1-2). This child’s mother was Isaiahs wife - a young woman but not a virgin. The prophecy makes little immediate sense if the original was “virgin”. Secondly, there are at least two of the Dead Sea scrolls that include this passage. These scrolls were written either concurrently or prior to Jesus and wouldn’t have been influenced by him. Both agree with the Masoretic text.

[@BiblicalStudiesandReviews]

This was the claim that Justin Martyr made.

[@JehoshaphatAsher]

Nicely done!

[@markdixon3590]

Hey Matt, I’ve been following your videos and podcasts for a couple months now and I absolutely love your content. I remember in one of your podcast episodes you mentioned that you watched Game of Thrones and also Mad Max and you might make an episode discussing why you think Christians can watch shows and films that have “ explicit” content. I think tackling this topic would be a super interesting video. I love film and most of all my favorite movies are rated R. They all tackle very deep human issues in a very realistic way and I think that’s why I like them. I’ve only discovered these films in the last few years because I was raised in a Christian home (like many others) where the only rated R movies allowed were war movies. Also do you think it would be interesting if someone made an Old Testament series that was true to the text and also didn’t sensor it and portrayed the very real and brutal things that happened?

[@benneptun4054]

LXX! That would be a cool name for a video game, involving Jesus and Gandalf knocking down dark strongholds in Middle Earth and beyond. Kind of like the Bibleman cartoon, but for grown ups. Thank you for the GREAT content. A champion, you are. :-)

[@franciscopico]

thanks, very helpful. please keep it up.

[@jaybig360]

Septuagint is the Bible our lord quoted from. Catholics still use today.

[@ownpetard8379]

No. The ORTHODOX use the Septuagint "still in use today". Catholics have some Septuagint use, but I like said elsewhere Jerome chose the proto-masoretic text as the basis for his Latin translation, for which he was roundly criticized by contemporaries, including St. Augustine.

[@jaybig360]

Own Petard how are you going to tell me what I use? Let’s be clear Protestant have zero say about the Bible. You guys were not even thought of when all this was happening.

[@ownpetard8379]

joshjaydah ?? Please re-read what I wrote. The Protestants follow the Catholics. Jerome used the LXX only when he absolutely had to.

[@richarde.t.sadowski2208]

...big THANK YOU , for the lesson, braddah, ...eyah

[@legolasflamier1542]

Very good video i learned a lot! Thanks!

[@reconnaissanceman1547]

Alright I know this isn’t the point of the bid but I’ve never laughed harder than at that KZbin sidebar you showed 😂

[@katandpapa]

Thank you so much for the videos! BE SAFE,GOD BLESS! 🇺🇸🙏❤

[@herodytus]

23:44 LOL! I had a Bible with that cover at some point. I have no idea where it went.

[@joejackson6205]

Excellent and informative video. I think you did miss the biggest problem with the septuit, there was no Hebrew cannon at the time of its first creation. Hebrew scholars and priests only decided to create a Cannonized book some years after the Sep began to circulate. The scholars in Jerusalem had problems with the scholars in Alexandria, and decided only scrolls writ in Hebrew could be considered for Holy Cannon.

[@albertito77]

Hi Matt. I don’t believe the Letter of Aristeas either but I think you miss out a very important point here. No, the LXX isn’t perfect. There are numerous cases where we can see that the translators simply got it wrong or they miss parts out. But as far as manuscript evidence goes the LXX is absolutely indispensable when used in conjunction with Hebrew, Latin, Syriac, and other Greek manuscripts. The LXX offer us a second hand glimpse into the oldest Hebrew manuscripts in existence. And if the date is even remotely accurate, the the translators were working from Hebrew manuscripts that were possibly only 200 years after many of the biblical books found their final form. Even the Pentateuch were edited into its final form by post exilic scribes. Also consider that Biblical Hebrew is a very obscure language. Pretty much the only Hebrew we have from the time it was spoken as a vernacular is in the text of the OT itself. Languages have nuance and idioms that you either know or you don’t. The LXX translators were translating very soon after Biblical Hebrew ceased to be a vernacular tongue. So knowledge about what certain phrases or idioms might mean, and which they put into their translation is priceless to us today. This kind of linguistic knowledge is irrevocably lost otherwise. Lastly, whilst the LXX misses out parts, so does the Masoretic-in fact sometimes embarrassingly so. Although the Masoretic is in Hebrew, it is so late as to be medieval, it was edited with a clear anti Christian bias, and the diacritics are sometimes questionable. And sometimes the Masoretic simply cuts verses in half, ie the sentence just hangs with the last five words gone. POOF! Not there. Even the KJV translators had to paste in the gaps from the Vulgate and LXX. So the linguistic knowledge it contains, extremely early manuscripts it gives us a glimpse at alone makes the LXX a vital and priceless treasure in preserving and understanding the original Hebrew.

[@andresvasquez7109]

26:00 - That was a quick switcharoo - Knowing that the "masoretic texts" came after Our Lord Jesus and were curated and edited well into the 7th century by non-believing Jews, how are we able to observe those as guidance over Christianity?... beats me... Also, as you were correctly mentioning, the language of Divine Inspiration is indeed Greek. I liked your point of view of it. Indeed, Greek would go on to shape my first language in an incredible manner. What I don't share with you is the quick dismissal of of the origin of this text... What if the legend is true? After all, we are talking about The Son of Man who would later be mentioned to "cure the blind" and "walk on water", and that was other people talking about Him. As you mention, if Our Lord and Our Father decided this language to shape his people, why wouldn't the Alexandria Canon be the apex/turning point where Judaism would offer the world salvation through Christ. One more thing to note... If the "masoretic texts", we we can see, were edited and curated well into the 7th century, and The Book of Revelation was written around 100AD [I might add, there is no original manuscript for this book, since we are being so picky with Bible book origins], shouldn't we heed the warning in the Holy Book of Revelation that states: Chapter 22 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man *** shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy ***, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Why wouldn't this scripture refer to the Bible as a whole? Where is the incentive to follow the masoretic texts?

[@livepoetic390]

I’m sure there are consequences for those who change God’s word. However that passage in the book of Revelation is specifically a curse for those who try to change the book of Revelation.

[@andresvasquez7109]

@@livepoetic390 To a great extent, it could also apply to the rest of the bible as, more than likely, undue modifications would not be pleasant to The Creator of The Universe. After all, both you and I agree that modification to God's word is a dangerous affair either way... I'll take my chances with the original books as found in the longest lasting of Christian traditions (Orthodox and Catholic Church) as compared to outright taking them out of circulation. Not sure a historical and well documented 1500's modification is something I want to follow; Specially to a canon curated by non-believers. Additionally on this topic, I hope that TMBH covers the deuterocanonicals being found inside the dead sea scrolls.

[@randycates4749]

Matt: Are you familiar with the author, Gary Michuta and his two books 1) Why Catholic Bibles are bigger: The untold story of the lost books of the Protestant Bible and 2) The Case for the Deuterocanon: Evidence and Arguments. Great presentation on the LXX in this video and very fair.

[@BiblicalStudiesandReviews]

Interesting! Does this book discuss the LXX incorporating the apocrypha in its canon?

[@randycates4749]

@@BiblicalStudiesandReviews YES!

[@johnnyvonline1862]

I needed this video!

[@elrohirthehasty]

thumbs up just for the totally real youtube sidebar

[@elrohirthehasty]

im gonna make that a wallpaper on my desktop. you should make it available for the patrons!

[@RodneyPeters]

5:28 You mentioned a link to the Letter of Aristeas?

[@BethEmanuel]

I really liked the video. Do one on the Dead Sea scrolls next.

[@ggbrady]

I agree, this is one of the most interesting thing of all the things.

[@BiblicalStudiesandReviews]

No kidding! The LXX is a fascinating subject.

[@heyitshina]

Wow! a Wyoming hat! If you're ever in Casper, Wyoming on a Saturday night. Come visit His Outpouring church in the Eastridge Mall. We're a small church. But a lot is happening there.

[@BatMite19]

Thanks. Learned a lot.

[@cinnamondan4984]

God, you are so good at talking

[@MattWhitmanTMBH]

Thanks!

[@ShaunCKennedyAuthor]

Actually, the Letter of Artisteas doesn't have the part about them being locked in separate rooms or every copy matching. That was a later development of the story. In the Letter, the miracle was that the seventy two scribes were able to perfectly answer the king's questions without any hesitation. Sorry, I'm finally catching up on my Watch Later list.

[@BiblicalStudiesandReviews]

Good catch.

[@DivineAegis02]

How do protestants call the Book of Wisdom Apocrypha have they read Wisdom Chapter 2? its very specific about Christ. 12Therefore let us lie in wait for the righteous; because he is not for our turn, and he is clean contrary to our doings: he upbraideth us with our offending the law, and objecteth to our infamy the transgressings of our education. 13He professeth to have the knowledge of God: and he calleth himself the child of the Lord. 14He was made to reprove our thoughts. 15He is grievous unto us even to behold: for his life is not like other men's, his ways are of another fashion. 16We are esteemed of him as counterfeits: he abstaineth from our ways as from filthiness: he pronounceth the end of the just to be blessed, and maketh his boast that God is his father. 17Let us see if his words be true: and let us prove what shall happen in the end of him. 18For if the just man be the son of God, he will help him, and deliver him from the hand of his enemies. 19Let us examine him with despitefulness and torture, that we may know his meekness, and prove his patience. 20Let us condemn him with a shameful death: for by his own saying he shall be respected. 21Such things they did imagine, and were deceived: for their own wickedness hath blinded them. 22As for the mysteries of God, they knew them not: neither hoped they for the wages of righteousness, nor discerned a reward for blameless souls. 23For God created man to be immortal, and made him to be an image of his own eternity. 24Nevertheless through envy of the devil came death into the world: and they that do hold of his side do find it.

[@s3cr3tandwh1sp3r]

Given the fact that the codex was not widely used during the time the LXX made, it would have been impossible to have it all as one "book," and would have been a collection of scrolls. This would also play into the ordering difference between the LXX and the Hebrew.

[@merserd]

Matt, I really appreciate your critical analysis of this material. The history is absolutely fascinating. Much like your video on Pontus Pilot, this video is great.

[@peteryepremian5595]

Just a man scratching his butt and farting into a camera for 6 straight hours, that was hilarious thank you for that Matt lol

[@jenniferlawrence1372]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say this whole video started with you thinking up the bit about Jesus carrying the Extreme Teen Septuagint.

[@BiblicalStudiesandReviews]

😂