Between Scroll and Scripture

The articles of this volume aim to contribute to a better understanding of the language of the Septuagint and biblical Greek in general. A large amount of the specific linguistic features of the Septuagint can be explained against the background of the vocabulary and stylistic phenomena of Hellenistic literature and contemporary papyri. Moreover, numerous linguistic features of the Septuagint also occur in the New Testament, in the Apostolic Fathers and in the literature of ancient Christianity. The contributors to the volume consider both the Semitic legacy of these literary collections and their Greek background in the widest sense, including inscriptions and spoken Greek as reflected in papyri. The articles address four major topics: the vocabulary of the Septuagint and the New Testament and its linguistic background; the papyri and their importance for biblical scholarship; neologisms and Hapax legomena; and problems related to the interpretation of difficult passages in biblical and non-biblical Jewish literature. The contributors take into account recent developments in the research landscape, including studies of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the growing attention to the Septuagint as a version of the Bible to be studied in its own right.

First Part: The Specific Vocabulary of the Septuagint and the New Testament and Its Linguistic Background
Antonella Bellantuono: A Self-Sufficient God. Investigation into the Meaning of the Epithet ἀπροσδεής (1 Macc 12:9; 2 Macc 14:35; 3 Macc 2:9) - Eberhard Bons: Visiting the Sick. The Specific Use of the Verb ἐπισκέπτομαι in Biblical and Non-Biblical Literature - Dorota Hartman: Translating Anger in the Bible. The Case of παροξύνω - Christoph Kugelmeier: Ἰσοδυναμέω again. Observations on a Key Concept of Translation Theory in the Prologue to the Book of Ben Sira - Michaël van der Meer: Perseverance in the Septuagint. The Semantic Fields of ἰσχύω and ἀνδρίζομαι in the Greek Bible and Contemporary Documents - Nathalie Siffer: L'usage des hapax bibliques θεομαχέω et θεομάχος à la lumière de la littérature grecque antique

Second Part: The Study of Papyri and Their Importance for Biblical Scholarship
Ralph Brucker: Papyri as Textual Witnesses of the Septuagint Psalms. Overview and Preliminary Checklist - Juan Chapa: Some Notes on P.Oxy. IV 656 - Patrick Pouchelle: La relation entre יכח et ἐλέγχω dans le Pentateuque. La construction d'une correspondance à la lumière de quelques papyri hellénistiques

Third Part: Neologisms and Hapaxlegomena
Rosario Pierri: Neologisms in Antiquity and in the Septuagint - Marco Settembrini: »Who Has Heard of Such a Thing?« (Is 66:8). Hapax legomena in Isaiah 56-66

Forth Part: Difficult Verses or Expressions in Biblical and Non-Biblical Jewish Literature
Miriam Carminati: The Rejoicing Wisdom in Prov 8:30-31. A Comparison of the Usage of the Hebrew Root śḥq and the Greek Verb εὐφραίνω in Prov 8:30-31 - Flavio Dalla Vecchia: »J'étais auprès de lui en plein accord« (Pr 8,30a). Sagesse et Créateur/création - Giulia Leonardi: Ruth as γυνὴδυνάμεως. An Investigation of the Different Conceptions of Virtue between the Jewish Origins of the Narrative and Its Christian Reception - Adrian Schenker: Messager du grand dessein - titre messianique ancien? Critique textuelle d'Isaïe 9:5-6 - Daniela Scialabba: Aseneth, a Woman Who Becomes 'City of Refuge' for Many. Remarks on the Female Protagonist of the Novel 'Joseph and Aseneth' - Romina Vergari: »ψυχὴ εὐλογουμένη πᾶσα ἁπλῆ, ἀνὴρ δὲ θυμώδης οὐκ εὐσχήμων« (Prov 11:25). »A blessed soul is fully simple; an immoderate man is indecorous«