Reconstruction of the Jewish Core of the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs: A Comparative Analysis of the Greek, Armenian, Slavonic Versions and the Qumran Manuscripts
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15633/acr.5706Keywords:
Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, Christian interpolations, Qumran, Old Testament apocrypha, Second Temple literature, Armenian version, Slavonic versionAbstract
This article attempts to reconstruct the original Jewish core of the apocryphal work Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs by comparing the extant versions in Greek, Armenian, and Slavonic with the fragments discovered among the Qumran manuscripts. The aim of the analysis is to distinguish the original elements of the text from later Christian interpolations. Based on a comparison of the source texts, it is demonstrated that the fundamental content of the work derives from Second Temple Judaism, particularly with regard to its ethical and apocalyptic teachings. However, some messianic themes were reinterpreted or added by Christian redactors. The article also outlines the history of research on the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs and discusses the nature of the extant textual traditions. Furthermore, it puts forward a specific research hypothesis: namely, that through a comparative analysis of the various versions, combined with consideration of the Qumran evidence, one can, with a high degree of probability, reconstruct the original form of the text and identify the subsequent Christian additions.
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