bbl 450 new testament backgrounds class x: reading, writing, and manuscripts; pseudonymity & nt...

BBL 450 New Testament Backgrounds

CLASS X: Reading, Writing, and Manuscripts; Pseudonymity & NT

Dr. Esa Autero

Writing & Manuscripts; Pseudonymity and NT

1.1 Introduction How many people were able to read in the Roman Empire? What kind of writing materials were available? How were NT letters produced and distributed?

How long did it take & how much did it cost to write Romans?

What did the ancients think of pseudepigraphy & forgery? Are there pseudonymous writings in the NT?

Writing & Manuscripts; Pseudonymity & NT

2.1 Reading, Writing, and ManuscriptsBut while reading, his eyes glanced over the pages, and his heart searched out the sense, but his voice and tongue were silent. Ofttimes, when we had come (for no one was forbidden to enter, nor was it his custom that the arrival of those who came should be announced to him), we saw him thus reading to himself, and never otherwise; and, having long sat in silence (for who durst interrupt one so intent?), we were fain to depart, inferring that in the little time he secured for the recruiting of his mind, free from the clamour of other men’s business, he was unwilling to be taken off. And perchance he was fearful lest,if the author he studied should express aught vaguely, some doubtful and attentive hearer should ask him to expound it, or to discuss some of the more abstruse questions, as that, his time being thus occupied, he could not turn over as many volumes as he wished; although the preservation of his voice, which was very easily weakened, might be the truer reason for his reading to himself. But whatever was his motive in so doing, doubtless in such a man was a good one. (Aug. Conf. 6.3.3)


• Reading and writing in antiquity Readers or hearers – Gk. anaginosko “read out loud”

“be doers…not merely hearers” (Jam 1:22-25) “you have heard that it was said” (Matt 5:21) “let the reader understand” (Matt 24:15; cf. Col 4:7)

Reading and rhetoric Scriptio continuata Importance of rhetoric (Pliny, Ep. 8.1; Col 4:17; Acts 8:30) Reading vs. writing

The art of writing & professional scribes

Writing & Manuscripts; Pseudonymity and NT

Writing and literacy rates – what does it mean to be “literate”? Visual “maps” & inscriptions Graffiti (Pompeii, Ephesus etc.) Semi-literacy & rudimentary writing Signing one’s name (1Cor 16:21) Not full literacy [cf. public reading]

Jewish education of children (Sir 51:23; y.Ketub. 8.32c; Ag.Ap. 2.178; Philo, Legat. 210; Lk 4:16) Average people & the “learned” (Matt 5:21; 12:3; 21:16; Luke 10:26) “You have heard it…” vs. “Have you not read…”


(210) for all men are eager to preserve their own customs and laws, and the Jewish nation above all others; for looking upon their laws as oracles directly given to them by God himself, and having been instructed in this doctrine from their very earliest infancy they bear in their souls the images of the commandments contained in these laws as sacred; (Philo, Legat. 210)

Suggestions for literacy rates* 10% of Mediterranean population 10-15% for Jewish men

Local variation Languages

Greek, Latin; Aramaic, Hebrew; local dialects and languages


• Making of manuscripts Writing technology

Pens: sea rush (coastal reed) cut into 8-10inch long w/ sharp tip Ink: commonly mixture of ground charcoal gum Arabic or animal glue* Writing style: left to write and hanging from the line

Paper size slightly smaller than American page Each line (Gk. stichos) about 36 letters [c. 3 inches]

Copyists charged by line Average sheet had 3-4 columns of 30-40 lines of text


Writing materials – availability, price, and purpose as factors Paper invented in China AD 100 (1000 yrs. later to Mediterranean world) Any material or surface might do (cf. John 8:6) Most commonly used materials:

Ostraca – clay pots; short quick notes on the unglazed surface Tablets – leaf or thinly cut sheets of wood OR wax tablet in a wooden

frame; for notes, drafts, lessons, temporary docx Iron/bronze “pen” w/ sharp point; opposite end flat to smooth out

the wax Parchment – for permanent writing

Parchment sheets of animal hide (sheep, goat, calf) – sown together; smooth [preferred] inner (Lat. recto) side; outer (verso) “hairy” side (cf. Rev 5:1; Pliny, Ep. 3.5.17)


Papyrus – “paper” made of reed Inner pitch made into tape-like strips, then strips pounded and glued

vertically & horizontally together Side w/ horizontal fibers recto

Scroll – made of parchments or papyri Papyrus leaves glued to make a scroll; parchment strips sown

20 papyrus sheets a standard scroll* [charta] (c. 15 ft.) Some long scrolls reached 35ft.

Cost was 15 denarii/charta w/ 1500-2000 lines Scrolls transported in capsa (cylindrical carrying case; cf. 2 Tim 4:13)

Writing & Manuscripts; Pseudonymity and

• What is the meaning of the following sayings?

Papyrus w/ horizontal and vertical strips visible


Codex – ancestor of modern book Origins - stacked tablets tied together

2-5 leaves tied to together – used for quick notes & first drafts Parchment notebooks – use as above

Parchment sheet stacked, sown in middle, folded in half = 4 pages Practical & reusable - stigma of not being “official book”

13 When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books [ta biblia], especially the parchments [tas membranas]. (2 Tim 4:13)

Christians preferred codex Early collections of Four Gospels & Paul’s letters

Paul’s letters – probably copy sent to church original kept by Paul After Paul’s death “collection” to his disciples


Authors, sources, composition, and secretaries Sources acknowledged occasionally – hearer expected to recognize them

Obtaining materials from written sources

Pliny, Ep. 3.5


Secretaries – used generally unless noted otherwise Materials & technical skills to compose & cut papyri

Common letter composition formulas:* Formulas Format Papyri Paul

Disclosure formula

“I want you to know”

P.Oxy. 1155, 1481, 1493,

1670

Gal 1:11

Thx. giving formula

“I give thanks [gods] for [good

news]”

P.Oxy. 1299, 1070, 1481

Eph 1:15-16; Col 1:3; 1 Th 1:2; 2 Th 1:3; 2 Tim

1:3

Astonishment formula

“I am amazed that [failure]

P.Mich. 8.479 Gal 1:6

Petition formula

Request formula w/ Gk. parakaleo + voc. + request

P.Oxy. 292, 1480, 1666

Rom 12:1; 15:30; 16:17; 1 Cor 1:10; 16:15


Secretaries knew literary & social conventions Proper style + rhetoric for occasion – status & title of person Avoid embarrassment & enhance results

Roles of secretaries in letter composition Transcribe dictation verbatim General guidelines + composition & format by secretary Notes on tablets – draft(s) – editing(s) – final composition

Final composition checked by the author(s)


Publishing and sending letters Appearance and style of script important b/f sending Author retained a copy + (multiple) copies made if necessary

Cost and length Standard letters very brief (few lines or a “paragraph” very common) 3 John – a typical length

Length* (words)

Paul Seneca Cicero Papyri (<1400

0)

Shortest 335 149 22 18

Longest 7114 4134 2530 209

Average 2495 995 295 87


Cost of letter writing & sending* Papyrus 4 denarii/roll Scribes charged app. 25 denarii/10,000 lines (P.Lond. Inv. 2110)

400 lines/day w/ 1 denarius/day All but poorest could send brief letters (few lines)

Cost app. ½ denarius

NT documents – expensive & time consuming to write

Book No of lines

% of standard scroll

Cost in denarii

Cost in $US

App.** time to write

Rom. 979 136% 20.68 $2,275 2.5 days

Phil. 221 31% 4.68 $515 ½ day

Philem.

44 6% .92 $101 1-2hrs.


Sending & receiving letters – how did it function w/ Paul’ letters? Roman postal service – official mail only Private letter carriers (Cicero, Fam. 15.17. 1-2; 1 Cor 4:14; 1 Pet 5:12)

Somewhat going “that direction” Slave delivering the letter Carriers also elaborated/explained the content (Eph 6:20)

I found the boat sailing down, and I thought that I ought to let you know about what I have said (P.Oxy. 1153; cf. P.Oxy. 123)

12 Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! (1 Pet 5:12)


Copying ancient letters laborious and costly

No mass production – efficiency not an important value

NT letters – carefully composed, not haphazard “quick notes”

NT letters expensive to produce & copy Benefactors & communal involvement important (cf. Lk 1:1-4)

Probably only main centers had more than 1-2 NT writings at first


2.2 Pseudonymous Writings and the New Testament Psedonymous writings common in ancient world

OT Pseudepigrapha NT Apocrypha – written in the names of NT heroes

Gospel of Thomas, Peter, Philip, Mary; Acts of John; 3 Corinthians etc.

Is it possible there are pseudonymous writings in NT? Compatible w/ inspiration?

Pseudonymous vs. anonymous

All Gospels originally anonymous (also Acts & Hebrews)


Motivations for pseudonymous writings Deliberate deception – for distribution (fame and money?) Honor a past figure Pass on teachings of past teacher by disciples Secretary correcting style [& updating the content] (cf. Rom 16:22)

Not all pseudonymous writings had the same motivation

NT writings most commonly treated as pseudonymous Pastoral epistles (1-2 Tim; Tit) Ephesians and Colossians 2 Thessalonians James; 1-2 Peter; Jude


General reasons for NT Pseudonymity Style, content, vocabulary differences & historical setting (e.g. Paul vs.

pastorals) Theological differences or similarity to another writing (2Pet-Jude) Remarkable Greek style (1 Pet)

Some general responses Different literary setting and genre (e.g. personal letter*) Greater latitude of the amanuensis Stylistic and vocabulary analysis not always reliable** Historical settings difficult reconstruct


Other things to ponder on the question of pseudonymity Some pseudonymous works treated as Scripture by some in early church

E.g. 1 Enoch (Tertullian – thought it was authentic) Content (regula fidei) or authorship (apostolicity) more important? Pseudonymous writings rejected as canonical, esp. late 3rd cent. on

3 Corinthians as a forgery (Tertullian, On Bapt. 17)in Asia, the presbyter who composed that writing, as if he were augmenting Paul’s fame from his own store, after being convicted, and confessing that he had done it from love of Paul, was removed from his office. (Tert. On Bapt. 17) Muratorian canon & Epist. Laod. (cf. Col 4:16) & Epist. Alex. as forgeries Same in 1st and early 2nd century? (cf. 2 Thess 2:2; Rev 22:18-19)


Continuing master’s legacy not deceptive (Iamblichus, De vita Pyth. 158, 198*) How were OT pseudepigrapha and apocrypha perceived? Pseudonymous letters very rare among Jews & Christians

Extant e.g. Letter of Aristeas & Epistula Apostolorum Some NT writings more general others specific

2 Tim & Tit [personal details] vs. Ephesians [very general] General considerations and specific investigation of NT letters* Ancient idea of authorship different from modern Difficult to know motivations of authors

Could God have use these conventions in communicating His Word? Many sincere Bible-believing scholars disagree on the issue


• Wha

bbl 450 new testament backgrounds class x: reading, writing, and manuscripts; pseudonymity & nt...

Documents

kind of writing materials

literacy rates

jewish nation

nt letters

learned matt

new testament backgrounds

average people

little time