The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

that Hellenistic literature which Judaea so much
dreaded. Its importance, not only to the Hellenists
but to the world at large, can scarcely be overestimated.
First and foremost, we have here the
Greek translation of the Old Testament, venerable
not only as the oldest, but as that which at the time
of Jesus held the place of our ' Authorised
Version,' and as such is so often, although fireely,
quoted in the New Testament. Nor need we
wonder that it should have been the people's Bible,
not merely among the Hellenists, but in Galilee,
and even in Judaea. It was not only, as already
explained, that Hebrew was no longer the * vulgar
tongue ' in Palestine, and that written Targumim
were prohibited. But most, if not all— at least in
towns—would understand the Greek version; it
might be quoted in intercourse with Hellenist
brethren or with the Gentiles; and, what was
perhaps equally, if not more important, it was the
most readily procurable. From the extreme labour
and care bestowed on them, Hebrew manuscripts
of the Bible were enormously dear, as we infer
from a curious Talmudical notice,** JJ^^^J*'* *^