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Showing posts with label ΤΕΤΡΑΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΟ ΚΑΙ ΙΗΣΟΥΣ. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Eusebius discerning the "Lords"
in Christologically interpreted Psalms:
Father bears the "Tetragrammaton",
Son bears the Adon-Lord /

O Ευσέβιος διακρίνει τους «Κυρίους»
σε χριστολογικά ερμηνευόμενους Ψαλμούς:
Ο Πατέρας φέρει το «Τετραγράμματο»,
ο Υιος φέρει το Αδών-Κύριος

 

 

Psalm 110|109:1 in Eusebius's Commentary on the Psalms,
one Lord in nomina sacra and the other in plain text.

Matthew 22:44 in Eusebius's Commentary on the Psalms,
both Lords in nomina sacra.



 
The Lords of Mat 22:44 both in the form of nomina sacra
in Codex a) Sinaiticus and b) Vaticanus.

 

Περὶ δὲ τῆς τοῦ Πατρὸς μυσταγωγίας τὸ, καὶ καλέσω ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου· ποίου γὰρ κυρίου, αὐτὸς ὢν ὁ διὰ τοῦ τετραγράμμου δηλούμενος Κύριος, εἰ μὴ ἄρα τοῦ Πατρὸς καλέσειν ἐπαγγέλλεται;
* Eusebius, Generalis elementaria introductio (= Eclogae propheticae) / Ευσέβιος, Εκλογαί Προφητικαί περί του Χριστού 42.21.

 

ᾯ συμφώνως καὶ νῦν λέλεκται· «Τὸ ἅρμα τοῦ Θεοῦ μυριοπλάσιον, χιλιάδες εὐθηνούντων.» Ἀνθ’ οὗ ὁ Σύμμαχος ἡρμήνευσεν· «Ὄχησις τοῦ Θεοῦ μυριάδων, χιλιάδες ἠχούντων.» Τί δὲ «ἠχούντων» ἢ πάντως που φωνὰς πλήρεις δοξολογίας καὶ θεολογίας; Οἷα καὶ τὰ σεραφεὶμ ἀναγέγραπται παρὰ τῷ Ἡσαΐᾳ βοῶντα καὶ λέγοντα· «Ἅγιος, ἅγιος, ἅγιος Κύριος Σαβαὼθ, πλήρης πᾶσα ἡ γῆ τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ.» Ἐν ταύταις δὲ ταῖς χιλιάσι καὶ ταῖς μυριάσι ταῖς ὑπεζευγμέναις τῷ ἅρματι τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ αὐτὸς ὁ Κύριος μέσος ἐμπολιτεύεται, ὥσπερ ἡνιοχῶν αὐτὰς καὶ τῷ Πνεύματι παρασκευάζων. Διὸ ἐπιλέγεται, «Κύριος ἐν αὐτοῖς.» Ποῖος δὲ Κύριος, σημαίνει προϊὼν καὶ φάσκων· «Ἐν Σιναῒ ἐν τῷ ἁγίῳ.» Αὐτὸς γὰρ ἐκεῖνος, φησὶν, ὁ Κύριος ὁ ἐν Σιναῒ τῷ ἁγίῳ ὄρει ὀφθείς· ἦν δὲ οὗτος ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ Λόγος, δηλαδὴ τοῖς ὑπὸ τὸ ἅρμα τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐζευγμένοις. Διὸ οὐ τῷ τετραγράμμῳ κέχρηται ἡἙβραϊκὴ λέξις, στοιχείοις δὲ κοινοῖς τὸν Κύριον περιέχει ἐν τῷ, «Κύριος ἐν αὐτοῖς.» Ἵνα γὰρ ἕτερον παραστήσῃ τοῦτον τοῦ ἀνωτέρω διὰ τοῦ τετραγράμμου σημανθέντος Θεοῦ, ὅτε μὲν «τὸ ἅρμα τοῦ Θεοῦ» ἐλέγετο, διὰ τῶν ἀνεκφωνήτων παρ’ Ἑβραίοις ἐδηλοῦτο στοιχείων· νυνὶ δὲ τοῖς κοινοτέροις χαρακτῆρσιν, οἷς καὶ ὁ παρ’ ἀνθρώποις γράφεται κύριος. Ἀκριβῶς δὲ καὶ τὸν τόπον ἐπισημαίνεται τὸν «ἐν Σιναῒ,» ἵνα σημήνῃ τὸν ἐπὶ γῆς ὀφθέντα Κύριον.

[...]

«Εἶπε Κύριος· Ἐκ Βασὰν ἐπιστρέψω, ἐπιστρέψω ἐν βυθοῖς θαλάσσης.» Πάλιν κἀνταῦθα «ὁ Κύριος» οὐ διὰ τετραγράμμου παρ’ Ἑβραίοις ἐκπεφώνηται, διὰ δὲ τῶν κοινοτέρων στοιχείων. Ἤδη δὲ τρίτον τοῦτον ἐδήλωσεν ἡ παροῦσα Γραφὴ ἐφιστῶσα τὸν ὡς ἂν εἴποι τις, δεύτερον Κύριον. Ἐπεὶ καὶ ἐν τῷ φάσκοντι ψαλμῷ· «Εἶπε Κύριος τῷ Κυρίῳ μου. Κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου,» διὰ τῶν ἀνεκφωνήτων παρ’ Ἑβραίοις τεττάρων στοιχείων ἐγέγραπτο. Ὁ δὲ δεύτερος, ὃν ἑαυτοῦ Κύριον ὁ προφήτης ἐδήλου φάσκων, «Τῷ Κυρίῳ μου,» ἑτέροις στοιχείοις ἐδηλοῦτο, οἷς καὶ πᾶς ὁ ἐν ἀνθρώποις δούλου κύριος σημαίνεται. Οὕτως οὖν καὶ ἐνταῦθα ἤδη τρίτον ὁ μέχρις ᾅδου καταβὰς καὶ διεξόδους θανάτου πεποιημένος Κύριος διὰ τῶν παρ’Ἑβραίοις κοινῶς γραφομένων στοιχείων ὠνόμασται. Διόπερ ὁ Σύμμαχος «δεσπότην» ἡρμήνευσεν αὐτόν. Οὗτος οὖν ὁ Κύριος, αὐτὸς ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ Λόγος δηλαδὴ, εἶπε· «Ἐκ Βασὰν ἐπιστρέψω·» καὶ πάλιν· «Ἐπιστρέψω ἐκ βυθῶν θαλάσσης.»

[...]
Εἰκότως οὖν εἴρηται· «Ἐθεωρήθησαν αἱ πορεῖαί σου, ὁ Θεός.» Εἶτ’ ἀσφαλίζεται διδάσκων ποίου Θεοῦ αἱ πορεῖαι ἐθεωρήθησαν· διὸ ἐπιλέγει· «Αἱ πορεῖαι τοῦ Θεοῦ μου, τοῦ βασιλέως μου.» Οὐ γὰρ ἁπλῶς Θεοῦ, οὐδὲ βασιλέως, ἀλλὰ τοῦ «Θεοῦ μου.» Τοῦτο δὲ ὅμοιον τυγχάνει τῷ, «Εἶπε Κύριος τῷ Κυρίῳ μου·» ὁ μὲν γὰρ πρῶτος ὁ ἐπὶ πάντων εἴη ἂν Θεός· ὁ δὲ δεύτερος Κύριος ὁ ἀκούων· «Κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου,» ἐμὸς τυγχάνει Κύριος· διὸ, «Εἶπε Κύριος τῷ Κυρίῳ μου.» Καὶ ἐνταῦθα τοίνυν τὸν δεύτερον σημαίνων ὁ αὐτὸς προφήτης φησίν· «Αἱ πορεῖαι τοῦ Θεοῦ μου, τοῦ βασιλέως μου, τοῦ ἐν τῷ ἁγίῳ.» Ἐὰν γὰρ λέγω θεωρουμένας πορείας, μή τις νομιζέτω με λέγειν τοῦ ἐπὶ πάντων Θεοῦ· ἀλλὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ μου καὶ τοῦ βασιλέως μου πορεῖαι.
[...]

Ἀλλὰ γὰρ μετὰ τοὺς ἐξ Αἰγύπτου, καὶ μετὰ τὴν προφθάσασαν Αἰθιοπίαν, ἑξῆς αἱ λοιπαὶ βασιλεῖαι τῆς γῆς καλοῦνται, δηλαδὴ καὶ τὰ ὑπὸ ταύταις ἔθνη. Διὸ ἐπιλέγεται· «Αἱ βασιλεῖαι τῆς γῆς, ᾄσατε τῷ Θεῷ, ψάλατε τῷ Κυρίῳ.» Ἃ καὶ οὐδ’ ἄλλως ἢ διὰ μόνης τῆς τοῦ Σωτῆρος ἡμῶν διδασκαλίας τέλους ἐτύγχανεν. Οὐκ ἔστιν οὖν ἔθνος, οὐ χώρα, οὐ γένος ἀνθρώπων, οὐ βασιλεία καθ’ ὅλης τῆς οἰκουμένης, ἔνθα οὐχὶ λαοὶ τῷ Θεῷ συστάντες τὸ κέλευσμα ἀποπληροῦσιν. Πάλιν δὲ κἀνταῦθα ᾄδειν μὲν προστάττει τῷ Θεῷ, ψάλλειν δὲ τῷ Κυρίῳ οὐχ ἵνα τοῦ τετραγράμμου, τῷ δὲ κοινοτέροις στοιχείοις δηλουμένῳ ὀνόματι. Καὶ ἵνα σαφέστερον γνῶμεν τίς ποτε ἦν οὗτος ὁ Κύριος, ἐπισυνάπτει λέγων ἑξῆς· «Τῷ ἐπιβεβηκότι ἐπὶ τὸν οὐρανὸν τοῦ οὐρα-νοῦ κατὰ ἀνατολάς·» σφόδρα ἀκολούθως· ἐπειδὴ γὰρ διὰ τῶν ἀνωτέρω εἴρητο· «Ὁδοποιήσατε τῷ ἐπιβεβηκότι ἐπὶ δυσμῶν, Κύριος ὄνομα αὐτῷ·» ἀκολούθως διὰ τῶν μετὰ χεῖρας οὐκέτι ἐπιβεβηκέναι αὐτὸν ἐπὶ δυσμῶν φησιν, ἀλλ’ ἐπὶ τὸν οὐρανὸν κατ’ ἀνατολάς. 

[...]

«Κἀγὼ δὲ ἡ προσευχή μου πρὸς σὲ, Κύριε, καιρὸς εὐδοκίας, ὁ Θεός· ἐν τῷ πλήθει τοῦ ἐλέους σου ἐπάκουσόν μου.» Οἱ μὲν ἐχλεύαζον, φησὶ, καὶ διέσυροντὰς ἐμὰς κακώσεις· ἐγὼ δὲ προσεκαρτέρουν, τὴν ἐμὴν προσευχήν σοι τῷ Κυρίῳ προσαναφέρων. Τήρει δὲ, ὡς καὶ ἐνταῦθα τὸν Κύριον διὰ τοῦ τετραγράμμου ἡ Ἑβραϊκὴ ἐπισημαίνεται γραφή. Εὐχόμενος δὲ πρὸς σὲ τὸν Κύριον ταῦτα ἔλεγον· «Καιρὸς εὐδοκίας, ὁ Θεός·» ἢ, κατὰ τὸν Σύμμαχον· «καιρὸς διαλλαγῆς. Ὁ Θεὸς, ἐν τῷ πλήθει τοῦ ἐλέους σου ἐπάκουσόν μου.» Εἰ γὰρ καί ποτε ἄλλοτε ἡ σὴ τοῦ Πατρὸς ἐμαρτύρησε φωνὴ λέγουσα· «Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ Υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητὸς, ἐν ᾧ ηὐδόκησα.» Ἀλλὰ νῦν μάλιστα καιρός ἐστι τῆς εὐδοκίας· διὸ ἱκετεύω ἐν τῷ πλήθει τοῦ ἐλέους σου ἐπακοῦσαί μου, καὶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ τῆς σωτηρίας σου σῶσαί με. 

[...]

Ἀλλὰ πρὸ τοῦ ταῦθ’ οὕτω γενέσθαι, καὶ πρό γε τῆς τοῦ κόσμου συστάσεως, σὺ, φησὶν, αὐτὸς εἶ, ὁ Θεός. Καὶ καλῶς γε οὐ σὺ ἦσθα, φησὶν, ἀλλὰ, σὺ εἶ· ὁ γὰρ αὐτὸς καὶ ἦς, καὶ εἶ, καὶ ἔσῃ· μᾶλλον δὲ ὁ αὐτὸς ἀεὶ ὢν τυγχάνεις, καὶ αὐτὸς εἶ, κατὰ τὴν φάσκουσαν θεολογίαν· Σὺ δὲ ὁ αὐτὸς εἶ, καὶ τὰ ἔτη σου οὐκ ἐκλείψουσιν. Οὐδὲ γὰρ θέμις ἐπ’ αὐτοῦ φάναι τὸ, ἦς, ἢτὸ, ἦν, ἢ τὸ, ἔσται· τὰ μὲν γὰρ τοῦ παρῳχηκότος, τὰ δὲ τοῦ μέλλοντος ἔσεσθαι χρόνου δηλωτικὰ τυγχάνει· ὧν οὐδὲν ἁρμόζει τῇ θείᾳ προσηγορίᾳ· μόνον γὰρ αὐτῇ τὸ ἀεὶ εἶναι ἁρμόττει. Διὸ σφόδρα ἀκριβῶς ἐνταῦθά τε εἴρηται· Ἀπὸ τοῦ αἰῶνος ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος σὺ εἶ, ὁ Θεός· καὶ ἐν ἑτέροις τὸ, Σὺ δὲ ὁ αὐτὸς εἶ, καὶ τὰ ἔτη σου οὐκ ἐκλείψουσιν. Τηρητέον δὲ, ὅτι ἐν τῷ, Κύριε, καταφυγὴ ἐγενήθης ἡμῖν, τὸ, Κύριε. οὐ διὰ τοῦ τετραγράμμου φέρεται παρ’ Ἑβραίοις, ἀλλὰ διὰ τῶν κοινῶν καὶ συνήθων γραφομένων στοιχείων, τῶν καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς ἀνθρωπίνης προσηγορίας ταττομένων, εἴποτε τὸν ἐν ἀνθρώποις δεσπότην, κύριον καλοῖμεν. Κατὰ τὰ αὐτὰ γὰρ καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ παρόντος τὸ Ἀδωναῒ ἡρμήνευται εἰς τὸν Κύριον, τοῦ τετραγράμμου ὀνόματος, ὃ τὴν ἀπόῤῥητον τοῦ Θεοῦ θεολογίαν σημαίνει, μὴ κειμένου κατὰ τὴν παροῦσαν λέξιν, ἀλλὰ τοῦ δεσπότου μάλιστα εὐκαίρως ὠνομασμένου, εἰς παράστασιν τοῦ κήδεσθαι αὐτὸν καὶ φροντίζειν τῶν αὑτοῦ οἰκετῶν, ὧν καὶ καταφυγὴ τυγχάνει. Καὶ ὅρα μήποτε ἐπὶ τὸν Θεὸν Λόγον ἀναφέρεται ἡ παροῦσα διδασκαλία· οὐδὲ γὰρ μακρὰν ἀπᾴδει ἡ ἐνταῦθα φήσασα λέξις· Πρὸ τοῦ ὄρη γενηθῆναι καὶ πλασθῆναι τὴν γῆν καὶ τὴν οἰκουμένην σὺ εἶ, ὁ Θεός· τῆς παρὰ Σολομῶνι ἐκ προσώπου τῆς σοφίας φασκούσης, Πρὸ τοῦ ὄρη ἑδρασθῆναι, πρὸ δὲ πάντων βουνῶν γεννᾷ με· δι’ ὧν ἔοικεν αἰνίττεσθαι τὰς ἀσωμάτους καὶ ἀγγελικὰς δυνάμεις, ὧν προϋπάρχειν τὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ Λόγον καὶ τὴν σοφίαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, αὕτη ἡ σοφία διδάσκει.

*  Eusebius, Commentaria in Psalmos / Ευσέβιος, Εις τας επιγραφάς των Ψαλμών, Ερμηνεία τινών κατ' επιλογήν,
J.-P. Migne, Patrologiae cursus completus (series Graeca), Paris: Migne, 1857-1866, Vols. 23:66-1396; 24:9-76.


 

Sunday, October 22, 2017

J. Rotherham's New Testament:
Commenting on Mat 22:44 /

Η Καινή Διαθήκη του Ρόδερχαμ:
Σχόλιο στο εδ. Ματ 22:44



Joseph B. Rotherham



Hebrew: “Jehovah [Yahweh = The Becoming One]
to my Lord [my Adon = my sovereign, ruler, master].”

Εβραϊκά: «Ο Ιεχωβά [Γιαχβέ = Ο Γενόμενος]
προς τον Κύριό μου [τον Αδόν μου = τον υπέρτατό, άρχοντά, κυρίαρχό μου]».


The New Testament Newly Translated (from the Greek Text of Tregelles)
and Critically Emphasised
, 12th ed., 1896.


*


Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Did Jesus Christ fear
to pronounce God's name? /

Φοβόταν ο Ιησούς Χριστός
να προφέρει το όνομα του Θεού;







«Είναι άγνωστος στον Ιησού ο ιουδαϊκός φόβος
για την προφορά του ονόματος του Θεού».

Hans Conzelmann,
Jesus,
Fortress Press, 1973,
p./σ. 56.



Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Passivum divinum
& the “coming of יהוה” /

Το Passivum divinum
& η “έλευση του יהוה”







φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ·
ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν κυρίου [יהוה],
εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ

—Mark / Μάρκος 1:3.




Here, the term κύριος which is used in the LXX to refer to the tetragrammaton (Isa 40:3 LXX) is applied to Jesus in order to point out that God’s salvation is taking place with the coming of Jesus.

Εδώ, ο όρος κύριος που χρησιμοποιείται στην Ο' για να αναφερθεί στο τετραγράμματο (Ησ 40:3 Ο') εφαρμόζεται στον Ιησού για να επισημανθεί ότι η σωτηρία του Θεού λαβαίνει χώρα με την έλευση του Ιησού.

* Beniamin Pascut,
“The So-Called Passivum Divinum in Mark's Gospel” *,
Novum Testamentum, Brill, Vol./Τόμ. 54, No./αρ. 4, 2012,
p./σ. 319 [313-333].

[English/Αγγλικά, PDF]


Monday, May 28, 2012

Alan Segal:

Jesus Christ,
God's principal angel
who carries the Tetragrammaton /

Ιησούς Χριστός,
ο πρωταρχικός άγγελος του Θεού
που φέρει το Τετραγράμματο





Many "two powers" themes have come together. Jesus is raised from the dead and enthroned as Christ far above the status of any man or angel. He is sovereign in this age and the age to come, a claim explicitly reserved for God according to rabbinic tradition. Furthermore, Christ has been exalted beyond any title that can be named, implying that he has been awarded the secret name of God.

The process of transferring divine names and titles to Jesus is especially characteristic of the Revelation of John where the identification of the Christ with the tetragrammaton is even more obvious. For instance, Rev. 22:12-13:
Behold I am coming soon bringing my recompense to repay every one for what he has done. I am the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

We have seen that such titles from Isaiah and Deuteronomy are particularly important in the rabbinic polemic. These traditions present some plausible targets for the rabbis' attack. The same can be said of the Christ's victorious coming in Rev. 19.

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed which no one knows but himself. He is clad in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is the Word of God. And the armies of heaven arrayed in fine linen white and pure, followed him on white horses. From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to smite the nations and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tred the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Many different images are jumbled together in this description. Divine warrior imagery is prominent but the divine warrior has been identified with the messiah (Ps. 2) and Jesus, based on the "son of man" tradition in Daniel. Furthermore, many divine titles are applied to the figure: "true and faithful," "King of Kings," "Lord of Lords" are all divine attributions in Judaism. Lastly and more importantly, he has appropriated the ineffable name, which is identical with "Word of God" (v. 13). On this basis, it seems safe to consider that many Christians identified the Christ with God's principal angel, who carried the divine name, because of his resurrection.

* Alan F. Segal,
Two powers in heaven: early rabbinic reports about Christianity and Gnosticism
[Δύο δυνάμεις στον ουρανό: πρωτοραβινικές αναφορές σχετικά με τον Χριστιανισμό και τον Γνωστικισμό],
Brill, pp./σσ. 212, 213.



Wednesday, February 29, 2012

“ΔΙΟΣ ΙΑΙΟ ΥΨΩ”:

A Christian inscription? /

Χριστιανική επιγραφή;



ΔΙΟΣ ΙΑΙΟ [ΙΑΩ?] ΥΨΩ

“I divine Jehovah raise up”,
“O Divine/God Jehovah, raise up”

or “I exalt [you] O divine Jehovah”

“Εγώ, ο θεϊκός Ιεχωβά, εξ-/υψώνω/εγείρω”,
“Ω Θεϊκέ/Θεέ Ιεχωβά, εξ-/ύψωσε/έγειρε”,
ή “Σε εξυψώνω, ω θεϊκέ Ιεχωβά”








The following excerpt is taken from a larger article published by Dr. James D. Tabor, who was the licensed Israel Antiquities scholar
investigating the Talpiot Tomb B by remote camera
(http://bibleinterp.com/articles/tab368028.shtml).
It is used by permission with thanks to Dr. Tabor.


"5. Ossuary 5:3=Kloner 5:2. This ossuary is has a highly ornamented front façade with twin rosettes and an elaborate frieze border. In the narrow curved blank space between the rosettes there is a four line Greek inscription written in uncial letters (Fig. 19). The final two letters of line 4 are uncertain, both in their formation and due to the limitations of remote autopsy by camera. The following variations appear possible:
ΔΙΟΣΙΑΙΟΥΨΩΑΓΒ
ΔΙΟΣΙΑΙΟΥΨΩΑΓΙΩ
ΔΙΟΣ ΙΑΙΟΥΨΩΑΠΟ
ΔΙΟΣΙΑΙΟΥΨΩΑΠΒ
We are convinced that each line of the inscription is a separate and discrete word, yielding the following word divisions. I include here the variables of line 4:
 
1. ΔΙΟΣ
2. ΙΑΙΟ
3. ΥΨΩ
4. ΑΓΒ ΑΓΙΩ ΑΠΟ or ΑΠΒ

All the letters of lines 1, 2, and 3 are quite clear although we did consider the possibility that l.1 might be a zeta rather than an iota but ΖΑΙΟ seems to make no sense either in isolation as part of another combination of words from lines 1-3. There is an obscure word in Pliny’s Natural History—ΖΑΙΟΣ, that refers to some kind of fish—apparently of the sea urchin variety, which interested us greatly considering the iconography on ossuary 6, described below. However, there is no sigma in l. 2 or beginning of l.3. Taking these words one by one, based on our line-by-line breakdown, we have the following:

ΔΙΟΣ is an adjective (masc. nom/voc. sing.) likely modifying what we take to be the proper noun in line 2. It can be variously translated as “heavenly,” “divine” “wondrous”–but here in this context it seems to clearly refer to God.

ΙΑΙΟ we take as a Greek representation or transliteration of the Tetragrammaton: י ה ו ה ‎ (Yod, Heh, Vav, Heh)—that is Yahweh. It is unusual in that it has four letters rather than the common three-letter form ΙΑΩ. Josephus says the divine name is represented by four “vowels.” It is possible that this writer intended it as a precise transliteration—since the Hebrew name of God also has four letters.

Accordingly, the inscription, though written in Greek letters, is purposely bilingual first a Greek representation of God—the “Divine one,” followed by a Hebrew presentation—Yahweh—but represented in Greek letters.

ΥΨΩ is the present indic. act. 1st person singular of the contract verb ΥΨΟΩ, to “raise,” “lift up” or “exalt.” As literally written it could then be translated “I divine Jehovah raise up” or “I exalt [you] O divine Jehovah” (taking ΔΙΟΣ as a vocative). This verb is most interesting in the context of early Christianity and late 2nd Temple Judaism. Paul uses the intensified verb ὑπερυψόω in Philippians 2:9, speaking of Jesus’ exaltation or “super-lifting up” to heaven. He then applies a text from Isaiah 45:23 about “every knee bowing” to Yahweh, equating it to Jesus in his new heavenly status. Most scholars agree that Paul here is drawing upon a very early Christological hymn. John 12:32 uses the verb ὑψόω to refer to both Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and his exaltation or “lifting up” to heaven: “And I, when I am lifted up out of the earth (ὑψωθῶ ἐκ τῆς γῆς), will draw all people to myself.” The thought here is identical to that of Paul in the Philippians hymn, as an echo of Isaiah 45:23. Jesus is taken up from the earth to heaven and in his new status draws all of humankind in homage as Yahweh’s representative and one who bears Yahweh’s name. John repeats this theme often using the same verb, referring to both Jesus being lifted up on the cross—and thus exalted to heaven (Jn. 3:14; 8:28; 12:32, 34). Acts 5:31 echoes a very similar thought, using again the verb ὑψόω: God lifted up this one at his right hand ( ὕψωσεν τῇ δεξιᾷ αὐτοῦ) as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” This “lifting up” of Jesus “embraces resurrection, reception, ascent, enthronement, and royal dominion.” In the New Testament there are many passages in which Jesus knows, bears, and reveals God by his “Name” Yahweh—that is the four-letter Tetragrammaton. Accordingly, depending on the wider context of this tomb, if it does indeed relate to early Jesus followers, they might be appropriating the divine name Yahweh in referring to Jesus, as Paul does numerous times in his authentic letters.

In the LXX the verb is also used for one being “lifting up” from the gates of death: Psalm 9:14 (13 English) ὁ ὑψῶν με ἐκ τῶν πυλῶν τοῦ θανάτου. This should be compared to Psalm 29:2 (Psa 30:2 Hebrew/ 30:1 English) Ὑψώσω σε, κύριε, ὅτι ὑπέλαβές με. The writer, in context, is celebrating deliverance from Sheol: “O Yahweh, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.” These kinds of strong parallels with some of our earliest Christian materials about the exaltation of Jesus, involving heavenly ascent and enthronement at the right hand of God, provide a very convincing background to the use of the verb ὑψόω among Jesus’ earliest followers.

We are inclined to argue that in this inscription, even though the three-letter verb ΥΨΩ can be read as a 1st person singular present indicative active, when crammed into this small space, it is most likely suspended or abbreviated. When first working on the inscription we considered that it might be a shortened form of the dative superlative ΥΨΙΣΤΩ, which is so commonly found in dedicatory inscriptions “to the most High God.” However, the ending in omega strongly argues against this possibility. Even though one finds suspended forms of ΥΨΙΣΤΩ they never drop the third letter iota and substitute it for an omega. Also ΔΙΟΣ is clearly either nominative or vocative, not dative, as would be required in such a case.

We propose that what we have here is ΥΨΩ[ΣΕΝ] (aorist indic. Act. 3ms “he has raised up”), ΥΨΩ[ΣΕΙ] (future indic. Act. 3ms “he will raise up”) or more likely, as I will explain below, ΥΨΩ[ΣΟΝ] (aorist Imperative, 2ps “Raise up!”). Given the cramped space the omega ending would be enough to carry the meaning in this context. If so this inscription would be a plea to “God/Yahweh,”called upon in bilingual fashion, to raise someone up: “O Divine/God Jehovah, raise up!—or alternatively a call to Jesus as Yahweh’s representative.

Much depends on the transcription of the last line with its three letters since the final two are difficult to read. If we take the final line as ΑΠΟ, that is, the preposition “from,” it is possible that it might be an abbreviated plea for resurrection “from [the dead].” If we read it as ΑΠΒ it makes no sense as a word but it could perhaps be either initials or some kind of apotropaic cipher.

In looking at both the photos and the previous three words we are inclined to argue that we have here either ΑΓΙΩ or more likely ΑΓΒ. If line 4 reads ΑΓΙΩ (taking the last letter as a ligature) in the dative case, it could mean “to the holy,” perhaps referring to God/Yahweh to raising up to the “holy place” or the “holy one” (i.e., throne of God)—or being raised up to the holy place. This notion of ascent to heaven or heavenly exaltation we know from many Jewish and early Christian texts of this period. For example, Clement of Rome writes of Paul who “thus departed from the world and went to the holy place” (1 Clement 5:7).

If it reads ΑΓΒ, which seems quite likely, there are several possibilities. It might be a Greek representation of the rare Hebrew name Hagab (Ezra 2:46; Neh 7:48), which in Greek appears as Agabas (Ἅγαβος). We do in fact know of an early Christian prophet from Jerusalem mentioned in Acts 11:28 and 21:10 by this name. In which case the inscription would read either “I Hagab exalt [you] O Divine Jehovah,” or “I Divine Jehovah raise up Hagab.” Although this reading is possible we do not find it compelling in this context. In the first reading it seems more natural to take ΔΙΟΣ ΙΑΙΟ as asimple nominative—as the subject of the declaration—and thus there is no need to supply the personal pronoun object “you.” But beyond the grammar we have no examples on ossuaries of personal statements of praise to God, or alternatively 1st person utterances by God. This inscription isunprecedented and it likely is intended to affirm much more than the utterance of an unknown Hagabor God’s utterance about him. It is true that names are the most common phenomenon on ossuaries, as “tags” representing the name of the deceased, but this intriguing inscription seems to represent something quite beyond recording the name of the deceased. In this case context is everything and we have to remember we are talking about an inscription in a tomb written by a Jewish family bold enough to write the letters of the name of God in a tomb while declaring a message about “lifting up” or resurrection.

Another possibility is that ΑΓΒ might be read backwards as an Aramaic word written in Greek (bagah) a phenomenon we find on other inscriptions, and thus would be referring to God Yahweh raising up “from it [the tomb].”

We are inclined to take ΑΓΒ as a transliteration of the Hebrew Hiphil imperative hagbah (hbgh) from the verb hbg, to “lift up.” In which case we would have a double imperative—Raise up! Raise up!—once in Greek (line 3), repeated in Hebrew with Greek letters (line 4). This seems to parallel lines 1 and 2 in that we also there have first Greek, for God, followed by the Hebrew Yahweh represented in Greek letters. If such is the case we would have a cleverly balanced bilingual inscription with a plea for God/Jehovah to raise someone up, or alternatively, depending on how the Greek verb ΥΨΩ is understood, a declaration or celebration of God having so acted. There is a remarkable parallel to this idea in Ezekiel 21:31 [v. 26 English]: “Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Remove the mitre, and take off the crown; this shall be no more the same; exalt that which is low, and abase that which is high.” Here the Hebrew phrase is הַשְׁפִּֽיל וְהַגָּבֹ֖הַ הַגְבֵּ֔הַ הַשָּׁפָ֣לָה , using the verb hbg and the LXX parallels this with forms of ὑψόω—thus “ἐταπείνωσας τὸ ὑψηλὸν καὶ τὸ ταπεινὸν ὕψωσας.” The context of this passage in Ezekiel is quite remarkable as it has to due with abasing one branch of the messianic Davidic lineage and exalting another. There is also a fragment of the Dead Sea Scrolls from cave 4 that uses the same verb for heavenly exaltation, most likely of the leader of the community: “to [the eternal height and to the cl]ouds of the heavens and He shall exalt him in stature. With the heavenly beings in the congregation of [the Yahad] 4) לרום עולם ועד ש]ח֯קים יגביה בקומה. ועם אלים בעדת Q431 f2:8 ).

I will discuss the further implications of this preferred reading of the inscription in my concluding analysis below but prior to that I want to describe what we discovered inscribed on the next ossuary. We believe it provides further context to the tomb as a whole, and thus how the inscriptionmight best be read."


* James D. Tabor,
"A Preliminary Report of a Robotic Camera Exploration of a Sealed 1st Century Tomb in East Talpiot, Jerusalem",
[«Προκαταρκτική Έκθεση της Εξερεύνησης μέσω Ρομποτικής Κάμερας ενός Σφραγισμένου Τάφου του 1ου Αιώνα στο Ανατολικό Ταλπιότ της Ιερουσαλήμ»]
pp./σσ. 14-20.
at The Bible and Interpretation, February 2012.
[English/Aγγλικά, PDF]




Friday, December 30, 2011

Did Jesus "cried out in a loud voice"
using the Tetragrammaton on the cross?
(Part 2) /

Χρησιμοποίησε ο Ιησούς το Τετραγράμματο
όταν "φώναξε με δυνατή φωνή" επάνω στον σταυρό;
(Μερος 2ο)



See: / Βλέπε:






“My God, my God, why, Lord, hast thou forsaken me?”
He said these words on the Cross.

—Gospel of Philip 72.

Transl. R. McL. Wilson,
The Gospel of Philip
,
(
A. R. Mowbray & Co. Limited, 1962).



“Θεέ μου, Θεέ μου ίνα τι, Κύριε, με εγκατέλειπες;”
ήταν στο σταυρό όταν είπε αυτούς τους λόγους.

—Ευαγγέλιο του Φιλίππου 68.

Μετάφρ. Σ. Αγουρίδη,
Χριστιανικός Γνωστικισμός:
Τα Κοπτικά κείμενα του Nag Hammadi στην Αίγυπτο

(2η έκδ., Άρτος Ζωής,
2004). *



Thursday, October 27, 2011

Jesus
as the representative of God's name on earth /

Ο Ιησούς
ως αντιπρόσωπος του ονόματος του Θεού στη γη




“It is probable that Jesus’ identity was very early associated with the angel of YHWH who is superior to all angels in that he represents God’s name on earth.”


«Είναι πιθανότατο ότι η ταυτότητα του Ιησού συσχετίστηκε από πολύ νωρίς με τον άγγελο του ΓΧΒΧ ο οποίος είναι ανώτερος από όλους τους άλλους αγγέλους καθώς αυτός αντιπροσωπεύει το όνομα του Θεού στη γη».

Alan F. Segal,
“Heavenly Ascent in Hellenistic Judaism, Early Christianity and Their Environment”
[Ουράνια Ανάληψη στον Ελληνιστικό Ιουδαϊσμό, στον Πρώιμο Χριστιανισμό και στο Περιβάλλον τους],
Aufstieg und Niedergang der Römischen Welt (ANRW) 23.2:1371.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

In the name of
"Jah El the Protector
& His Son Joshua the Prince":
A daring reading
of an Aphrodisias (Caria) inscription /

Εν ονόματι
του «Ια Ηλ του Προστάτη
& του Υιού του Ιωσούα του Άρχοντα»:
Μια τολμηρή ανάγνωση
επιγραφής από την Αφροδισιάδα (Καρία)




Dated in the early 3rd cent. CE or 5th cent. CE /
Χρονολόγηση στις αρχές του 3ου αι. ΚΧ ή στον 5ο αι. ΚΧ



Ἰά [יה‎, Γιαχ] Ἢλ [אל, Θεός] Προστάτης

σὺν Υἱῷ Ἰωσούᾳ
[יהושע, Ιησούς] Ἄρχ(οντι)



Yah [יה‎, Jah] El [אל, God] the Protector

with his Son Joshua [יהושע, Jesus] the Prince



Θεὸς βοηθός, ? πατέλλα ΔΟ̣[·]
οἱ ὑποτεταγμέ-
νοι τῆς δεκαν(ίας)
τῶν φιλομαθῶ̣[ν]
5τῶν κὲ παντευλόγ̣( ... ων)
εἰς ἀπενθησίαν
τῷ πλήθι ἔκτισα[ν]
ἐξ ἱδίων μνῆμα
--------
Ἰαηλ προστάτης
10 v. σὺν υἱῷ Ἰωσούᾳ ἄρχ(οντι)
Θεόδοτος Παλατῖν(?ος) σὺν
v. υἱῷ Ἱλαριανῷ v.
Σαμουηλ ἀρχιδ(?έκανος) προσήλ(υτος)
Ἰωσῆς Ἰεσσέου v.
15 Βενιαμιν ψαλμο(?λόγος)
Ἰούδας εὔκολος v.
Ἰωσῆς προσήλυ(τος)
Σαββάτιος Ἀμαχίου
Ἐμμόνιος θεοσεβ(ής) v. v.
20 Ἀντωνῖνος θεοσεβ(ής)
Σαμουηλ Πολιτιανοῦ
Εἰωσήφ Εὐσεβίου προσήλυτος
καὶ Εἰούδας Θεοδώρου
καὶ Ἀντιπέος Ἑρμήου
25καὶ Σαβάθιος νεκτάρις
[?κα]ὶ Σ̣α̣μ̣ο̣<υ>ηλ πρεσ-
β̣ε̣υ̣τ̣ὴ̣ς̣ ἱ̣ε̣ρ̣ε̣ύ̣ς̣

God help us. Donors to the soup kitchen. Below are listed the members of the decany of the students of the law, also known as those who fervently praise God, who erected, for the relief of suffering in the community, at their personal expense, this memorial (building). //  Jael, prostates, with her son Josua, magistrate, Theodotos, former palace employee, with his son Hilarianos, Samuel, president of the dekania, a proselyte, Joses, son of Jesseas, Benjamin, the psalm singer, Judas the good-tempered, Joses, proselyte, Sabbatios, son of Amchios, Emmonios, godfearer, Antoninos, godfearer, Samuel, son of Politianos, Joseph, son of Eusebios, proselyte, and Judas, son of Theodoros, and Antipeos, son of Hermias, and Sabbatios the sweet, and Samuel the older, priest.



* Inscription information: / Πληροφορίες για την επιγραφή:
Inscriptions of Aphrodisias Project,
"11.55. List of Jews and godfearers"
[11.55. Κατάλογος Ιουδαίων και θεοσεβών].

* See also: / Βλέπε επίσης:

- Joyce Maire Reynolds, Robert F. Tannenbaum,
Jews and God-fearers at Aphrodisias: Greek inscriptions with commentary : texts from the excavations at Aphrodisias,
University of Virginia/Cambridge Philological Society, 1987.

- Margaret H. Williams,
"The Jews and Godfearers Inscription from Aphrodisias: A Case of Patriarchal Interference in Early 3rd Century Caria?",
Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte, pp./σσ. 297-310.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

יהוה = Jesus:
A wrong conjecture
based on wrong prerequisites /

יהוה = Ιησούς:
Λάθος συμπέρασμα
βάσει εσφαλμένων προϋποθέσεων


Τhe regular translation of the Hebrew tetragrammaton by kurios (‘Lord’) in the Septuagint makes for an easier association in the New Testament between Christ as ‘Lord’ and God himself.

Η μετάφραση του εβραϊκού τετραγράμματου κατά βάση με τον όρο κύριος στην Εβδομήκοντα προσφέρεται για ευκολότερη συσχέτιση στην Καινή Διαθήκη του Χριστού ως "Κυρίου" με τον Θεό καθαυτόν.

* Robert P. Gordon,
Hebrews Readings, A new biblical commentary,
Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2008,
p./σ. 61.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Ιεσσωά ή Ιεσώα :
Μια ελληνική μεταγραφή
του ονόματος Ιησούς
από τον Θεοδώρητο Κύρου /

Jescha [sic] or Jesoha :
A Greek transcription
of the name Jesus
by Theodoret of Cyrus



Migne, Patrologia Graeca Vol. 81:473 & 84:1004.

Ἰεσσωὰ / Ἱεσῶα



«Οὕτω ταῦτα προθεσπίσας μεταβάλλει τοῦ λόγου τὸ [σχῆ]μα καὶ ἐκ προσώπου τῆς ἐκκλησίας πρὸς τὸν εὐεργέτην βοᾷ· Ἀγαλλιάσθω ἡ ψυχή μου (ἐπὶ) τῷ κυρίῳ· ἐνέδυσε γάρ με ἱμάτιον σωτηρίου καὶ χιτῶνα εὐφροσύνης περιέβαλέ με. Ἱμάτιον σωτηρίου καὶ (χιτ)ῶνα εὐφροσύνης τοῦ παναγίου βαπτίσματος τὴν χάριν καλεῖ· «Ὅσοι γάρ» φησιν «εἰς Χριστὸν ἐβαπτίσθητε, Χριστὸν (ἐνε)δύσασθε.» Διὸ καὶ ἐν τῇ Ἑβραίων φωνῇ τὸ ἱμάτιον σωτηρίου ἱμάτιον
ἰεσῶα καλεῖται, (του)τέστιν Ἰησοῦ».



–Θεοδώρητος Κύρου,
Ερμηνεία εις τον Προφήτην Ησαΐαν 19:440,

J.-N. Guinot,
Théodoret de Cyr. Commentaire sur Isaïe (1984), Vol. 3.


Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Did Jesus "cried out in a loud voice"
using the Tetragrammaton on the cross?
(Part 1) /

Χρησιμοποίησε ο Ιησούς το Τετραγράμματο
όταν "φώναξε με δυνατή φωνή" επάνω στον σταυρό;
(Μερος 1ο)



«καὶ τῇ ἐνάτῃ ὥρᾳ ἐβόησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς φωνῇ μεγάλῃ·
Ἐλωῒ ἐλωῒ λεμὰ σαβαχθάνι;
[Ἠλὶ ἠλὶ λεμὰ σαβαχθάνι;
(Matthew/Ματθαίος 27:46, SBLGNT)]

ὅ ἐστιν μεθερμηνευόμενον
Ὁ θεός μου ὁ θεός μου, εἰς τί ἐγκατέλιπές με;
[Θεέ μου θεέ μου, ἱνατί με ἐγκατέλιπες;

(Matthew/Ματθαίος 27:46, SBLGNT)]

καί τινες τῶν παρεστηκότων ἀκούσαντες ἔλεγον·
Ἴδε Ἠλ-Ια-ν  [ אל-יהו (Θεέ ΙΧΒ[Χ];) ] φωνεῖ».

—Mark / Μάρκος 15:34, 35.





Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Jesus as the Supreme Agent
bearing God's Name /

Ο Ιησούς ως ο Ύψιστος Εκπρόσωπος
που φέρει το Όνομα του Θεού



«Paul uses "Lord" (Greek kyrios) to represent the divine name (i.e., the tetragrammaton) that has been given to Jesus. This is seen most clearly in Philippians 2:10-11, where Paul applies to Jesus language that is applied to God in the Jewish Scriptures. This use of "Lord" as the divine name can easily be misunderstood, however. In at least some streams of thought within the diversity of first-century Judaism, it was not felt to be incompatible with monotheism for God's supreme agent to bear God's name as part of his empowerment to serve in this capacity. A striking example, which provides an instructive parallel to Paul's own statements, is the case of the angel Yahoel in Apocalypse of Abraham. The name Yahoel is clearly made up of the two divine names, Yah(weh) and El. Yet the reason the angel bears this name is not because he has been confused with or absorbed into God but because the angel has been given the divine name by God. This is made clear in Apocalypse of Abraham 10:3, 8, where God is portrayed as saying, "Go, Yahoel of the same name, through the mediation of my ineffable name." This presumably represents an interpretation of Exodus 23:21, which refers to an angel in whom God's name dwells. Nevertheless, David Capes has actually suggested that when the name "Yahoel" appears in the hymn in Apocalypse of Abraham 17:8-14, the angel is in fact being included in the worship of God. But "Yahoel" in this context is the name of God, the name which the angel bears. That this is the case is clear from 17:2, 7, which depicts the angel as kneeling with Abraham and reciting the hymn of worship with him. The angel is among the worshippers of God and is not confused with God, even though as God's agent he bears the name of God himself. Paul's statement about Jesus in Philippians 2 is comparable; upon his exaltation, God has given to Jesus the name that is above every name, that is, the name of God.

That Paul's application of the divine name "Lord" and of Yahweh texts from the Hebrew Bible to Jesus is intended to present Jesus as God's agent, who shares in God's rule and authority, becomes clear when one considers Romans 14:9-11, where Paul takes up the language of Isaiah 45:23 once again, but here emphasizes that the throne of judgment is ultimately God's, even though Christ is the Lord through whom judgment is carried out. In 1 Corinthians 15:27-28, Paul makes clear the roles played by Jesus and God: Jesus is the "(son of) man" to whom all things are to be subjected. That is to say, Jesus is the representative of humankind whom God has chosen to be his agent and mediator of judgment, and through whom he  intends to bring all things into subjection to himself. Thus however united and "at one" with God the agent may be, the two remain ultimately distinguishable for Paul. Monotheism is preserved not because Jesus is absorbed into God or included in the divine identity but because even though Jesus reigns over absolutely everything else on God's behalf, God himself is not subjected to Christ, but Christ is subjected to God.»

«Ο Παύλος χρησιμοποιεί τον όρο "Κύριος" ως αντιπροσωπευτικό του θεϊκού ονόματος (δηλ. του τετραγράμματου) που έχει δοθεί στον Ιησού. Αυτό φαίνεται ξεκάθαρα στο Φιλιππησίους 2:10-11, όπου ο Παύλος εφαρμόζει στον Ιησού γλώσσα η οποία εφαρμόζεται στον Θεό στις Ιουδαϊκές Γραφές. Εντούτοις, αυτή η χρήση του όρου "Κύριος" ως του θεϊκού ονόματος μπορεί εύκολα να παρερμηνευθεί. Σε κάποια τουλάχιστον ρεύματα σκέψης εντός της πολυμορφίας του Ιουδαϊσμού του πρώτου αιώνα, δεν θεωρούνταν ως ασύμβατο με τον μονοθεϊσμό να φέρει το όνομα του Θεού ο υπέρτατος εκπρόσωπος του Θεού ως μέρος της εξουσιοδότησής του να υπηρετεί με αυτή την ιδιότητα. Ένα χαρακτηριστικό παράδειγμα, το οποίο αποτελεί διδακτικό παράλληλο στις δηλώσεις του Παύλου, είναι η περίπτωση του αγγέλου Ιαωέλ στην Αποκάλυψη Αβραάμ. Το όνομα Ιαωέλ αποτελείται σαφώς από τα δύο θεϊκά ονόματα, Ια(χβέ) και Ελ. Μολαταύτα ο λόγος για τον οποίο ο άγγελος φέρει το όνομα δεν είναι επειδή έχει γίνει σύγχυση με ή επειδή έχει αφομοιωθεί από τον Θεό αλλά επειδή εχει δοθεί στον άγγελο το θεϊκό όνομα από τον Θεό. [...]»

* James F. McGrath,
The Only True God: Early Christian Monotheism in Its Jewish Context
[Ο Μόνος Αληθινός Θεός: Ο Πρώιμος Χριστιανικός Μονοθεϊσμός στην Ιουδαϊκή του Συνάφεια],
University of Illinois Press, 1st ed., 2009,
pp./σσ. 49, 50.





Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Daniel Johansson:

"Paradoxical" & "ambiguous" conclusions
concerning Mark's use of the title κύριος /

"Παράδοξα"¨και "διφορούμενα" συμπεράσματα
αναφορικά με τη χρήση του τίτλου κύριος από το Μάρκο


«Mark has a similar purpose with his linking of Ps. 110.1 to Deut. 6.4, but instead of splitting ‘Lord’ and ‘God’ between two persons, Mark brings in an OT text which portrays two κύριοι. Furthermore, he puts all emphasis on κύριος. This reinforces the complex view of κύριος found throughout Mark; there is one κύριος, and yet two figures, God and Jesus, share this name and title. The one title κύριος appears to guarantee the oneness of the κύριος. This, in Mark’s view, does not compromise monotheism, but certainly reinterprets monotheism so that Jesus is included on the divine side of the God–creation divide. [...]

As noted above, Joel Marcus has observed that in Mark ‘the relation between Jesus and the κύριος ... subtly combines a recognition of the separateness of the two figures with a recognition of their inseparability’ ([The Way of the Lord: Christological Exegesis of the Old Testament in the Gospel of Mark (Edinburgh: T&T Clark)] 1993: 39). The present article has demonstrated that this observation is correct overall with regard to the relation between Jesus and God, but it has also shown that some qualifications are necessary. First, we should speak of the relation between Jesus and God rather than Jesus and the κύριος. Second, the distinction between Jesus and the κύριος is not as neat as Marcus argues. Contrary to his view, Mark actually identifies Jesus with κύριος (1.3) and throughout his narrative, by means of his ambiguous use of κύριος, links both God and Jesus to the κύριος title. Third, there is an overlap of identity between God and Jesus achieved by means of κύριος, which serves to unite God and Jesus. The ‘inseparability’ is realized precisely through their shared identity as κύριος. Yet, at the same time, Mark maintains a clear distinction. Throughout most of the narrative two figures are linked to κύριος, and Mark never calls Jesus ‘God’ and ‘Father’. These are reserved for the God of Israel and separate Jesus from God.

Mark thus articulates a sophisticated κύριος Christology in which the early Christian confession ‘Jesus is Lord’ (cf. Rom. 10.9; 1 Cor. 12.3; Phil. 2.11) is presupposed. [...] For Mark, the confession links Jesus to God so that Jesus shares the identity of being κύριος with God. In this he agrees with Paul and Luke. The exclusive divinity of the God of Israel is maintained, but not to the exclusion of Jesus. If we ask who the κύριος in the Gospel of Mark is, the paradoxical answer is: God and Jesus.»


* Daniel Johansson,
«Kyrios in the Gospel of Mark»,
Journal for the Study of the New Testament 2010 33: 101-124.
DOI: 10.1177/0142064X10380130.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Mirandola, Reuchlin
& the Word that made Audible the Tetragrammaton /

Ο Μιραντόλα, ο Ρόιχλιν
& ο Λόγος που κατέστησε Ακουστό το Τετραγράμματο


ιωδ, χε, σιν, βαβ, χε


«Pico [della Mirandola * # ] states most clearly his argument that Cabala confirms the truth of Christianity. Briefly the argument is that the name ‘Jesus’ is the Tetragrammaton, the ineffable name Yahweh, the four-lettered (in Hebrew letters) name of God but with a medial S (sin) inserted. The meaning implied, and as expanded by later Christian Cabalists (notably by Reuchlin in the De verbo mirifico), is that the S in the Name of Jesus makes audible the ineffable Name (composed only of vowel sounds) and signifies the Incarnation, the Word made flesh or made audible. This, to our minds, most strange argument was not new but had a patristic and medieval tradition behind it and can be found in the works of St Jerome and of Nicholas of Cusa. But it was brought into great prominence by Pico in the Cabalist Conclusions and was firmly lodged in the later Christian Cabalist tradition descending from him. Depending on elaborate manipulations of the Hebrew alphabet, the argument seemed amazingly convincing to adepts in such studies and many Jews were converted on these lines. Since Cabala confirms the truth of Christianity, it followed for Pico and his followers that Cabalist methods and techniques of religious meditation can and should be adopted by Christians. Hence a door was opened for the acceptance by Christians of Cabalist occult philosophy.»
«Ο Πίκο [ντέλα Μιραντόλα * # ] αναφέρει με σαφήνεια το επιχείρημά του ότι η Καββάλα επιβεβαιώνει την αλήθεια του Χριστιανισμού. Εν συντομία το επιχείρημα είναι ότι το όνομα 'Ιησούς' είναι το Τετραγράμματο, το άρρητο όνομα Ιαχβέ, το όνομα του Θεού με τα τέσσερα γράμματα (στα Εβραϊκά) στο οποίο όμως έχει προστεθεί στο μέσο ένα Σ (σιν). Αυτό που αφήνει να εννοηθεί, και όπως προεκτάθηκε από μεταγενέστερους χριστιανούς Καββαλιστές (κατά κύριο λόγο από τον Ρόιχλιν στο De verbo mirifico), είναι ότι το Σ στο Όνομα του Ιησού καθιστά ακουστό το άρρητο Όνομα (που αποτελείται μόνο από φωνηεντικούς ήχους) και δηλώνει την Ενσάρκωση, ότι ο Λόγος έγινε σάρκα ή έγινε ακουστός. Αυτό το επιχείρημα που φαίνεται τόσο παράξενο ως σκέψη σήμερα  δεν ήταν νέο αλλά είχε μια πατερική και μεσαιωνική παράδοση που είχε προηγηθεί και η οποία μπορεί να βρεθεί στα έργα του Αγ. Ιερώνυμου και του Νικόλαου Κουζάνου. Έλαβε όμως εξέχουσα σπουδαιότητα από τον Πίκο στο έργο του Conclusiones Cabalisticae και παγιώθηκε στη μεταγενέστερη καββαλιστική παράδοση που προήλθε από αυτόν. Με βάση περίτεχνους χειρισμούς του εβραϊκού αλφάβητου, το επιχείρημα έμοιαζε εξαιρετικά πειστικό στους ειδήμονες αυτών των σπουδών και πολλοί Ιουδαίοι μεταστράφηκαν με βάση αυτή την κατανόηση. Εφόσον η Καββάλα επιβεβαιώνει την αλήθεια του Χριστιανισμού, ήταν επακόλουθο για τον Πίκο και τους ακολούθους του ότι οι καββαλιστικές μέθοδοι και τεχνικές θρησκευτικού διαλογισμού μπορούν και θα πρέπει να υιοθετηθούν από τους Χριστιανούς. Έτσι, μια πόρτα ανοίχθηκε για να γίνει αποδεκτή από τους χριστιανούς η καββαλιστική αποκρυφιστική φιλοσοφία».

* Frances Yates,
The Occult Philosophy in the Elizabethan Age (Routledge Classics)
[Η Αποκρυφιστική Φιλοσοφία στην Ελισαβετιανή Εποχή],
Routledge, 2001,
p./σ. 23.