Why was the Septuagint important for early Christians?

The Septuagint, often abbreviated as LXX, holds a significant place in the history of biblical texts and has played a crucial role in the development of early Christianity. Understanding why the Septuagint was so important for early Christians involves exploring its origins, its content, and its influence on the theological, cultural, and linguistic landscape of the early Church.

Origins and Development of the Septuagint

The Septuagint is a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, including some texts not found in the standard Hebrew canon. Its name, meaning "seventy" in Latin, is derived from the legendary account of its translation by seventy-two Jewish scholars in seventy-two days, for the Jewish community in Egypt under Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285-246 BCE). This translation was necessary because many Jews in the Hellenistic world were losing their proficiency in Hebrew and Aramaic, and Greek was becoming the lingua franca of the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Septuagint as Scripture for Early Christians

For early Christians, the Septuagint was more than just a translation; it was the primary form of the Old Testament scriptures. The early Christian community was predominantly Greek-speaking, spread throughout the Roman Empire where Greek was widely used. This made the Septuagint an invaluable resource for evangelism and theological instruction.

The apostles and early Christian leaders frequently quoted from the Septuagint in their writings. For instance, when Paul the Apostle addressed the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles in the synagogues, he used the Septuagint. The writers of the New Testament also predominantly used the Septuagint when quoting the Old Testament. For example, Hebrews 1:6 cites Deuteronomy 32:43 according to the Septuagint version, "Let all God's angels worship him," which differs from the Masoretic Text. This indicates the authoritative status the Septuagint held among early Christians.

Theological Implications

The Septuagint also had significant theological implications for early Christians. Some of the variant readings and interpretations in the Septuagint compared to the Hebrew text provided a basis for certain Christian doctrines. For example, Isaiah 7:14 in the Septuagint uses the word "virgin" (parthenos), which is cited in Matthew 1:23 regarding the virgin birth of Jesus. Such texts reinforced early Christian claims about Jesus and facilitated the spread of Christian theology using the Old Testament.

Cultural and Linguistic Influence

The use of the Septuagint also facilitated the cultural and linguistic transition of the Christian message from a predominantly Jewish context to a broader Greco-Roman audience. It allowed early Christians to express their faith and interpret Jewish scriptures in ways that were intellectually and culturally accessible to non-Jewish communities. This was crucial for the missionary endeavors of Paul and other apostles as they engaged with diverse populations across the Roman Empire.

Preservation and Transmission of Texts

The Septuagint played a critical role in the preservation and transmission of the biblical texts. As the earliest extensive translation of Hebrew scriptures into another language, it provides valuable insights into the textual tradition before the standardization of the Hebrew text around 100 AD. The Septuagint captures several textual variants and interpretations that are absent in the later Masoretic Text, offering a broader view of the scriptural tradition and its development.

Conclusion

In summary, the Septuagint was indispensable for early Christians for several reasons. It served as their primary scripture, supported the spread of Christian theology, facilitated missionary work among non-Jews, and preserved ancient scriptural traditions in a widely spoken language. The Septuagint thus stands as a bridge between the Jewish scriptures and the Christian Old Testament, playing a pivotal role in the formation of Christian identity and doctrine. Its influence is seen not only in the religious practices of the early Church but also in the very texts that constitute the New Testament, reflecting a deep and complex interaction between Jewish heritage and Christian innovation.