As a biblical scholar with a focus on the history and textual criticism of the Bible, I am well-equipped to discuss the topic of the original version of the Bible. The question of the original version of the Bible is a complex one, as it involves the understanding of various texts, translations, and the historical context in which they were produced.

The term "Bible" itself encompasses a collection of sacred texts and scriptures, primarily divided into two parts: the Old Testament, which is common to both Judaism and Christianity, and the New Testament, which is specific to Christianity. The original versions of these texts are written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.

The Old Testament:
The Old Testament, also known as the Hebrew Bible, is the original text for Judaism. The oldest existing copies of the Old Testament are part of the Dead Sea Scrolls, dating from the 2nd century BCE to the 1st century CE. These texts are written in Hebrew, with some parts in Aramaic. The traditional Jewish view holds that the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament, were written by Moses and transmitted orally before being written down.

However, the text that most Christians consider the Old Testament is based on the Masoretic Text, which was compiled by Jewish scholars known as the Masoretes between the 7th and 10th centuries CE. This text is considered the authoritative Hebrew version of the Old Testament.

The Septuagint:
The Septuagint, often abbreviated as LXX, is a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, which was completed in the 2nd century BCE. It is significant because it was the version used by early Greek-speaking Jews and later by early Christians. The Septuagint includes some texts that are not found in the Masoretic Text, and it also contains differences in translation and order of books.

Regarding the Book of Daniel, which you mentioned, it is indeed a fascinating case. The Septuagint version of Daniel is different from the one found in the Masoretic Text. The Septuagint's Daniel contains additional material not present in the Masoretic Text, and it is written in Greek, whereas the Masoretic Text's Daniel is primarily in Hebrew with a small portion in Aramaic.

Theodotion's Translation:
Theodotion was a 2nd-century CE Jewish proselyte who produced a Greek translation of the Bible. His version of the Old Testament, including the Book of Daniel, is considered to be a more literal translation from the Hebrew than the Septuagint. Some ancient copies of the Septuagint actually replace the original Greek translation of Daniel with Theodotion's version, which is why you may find his translation in some manuscripts.

The New Testament:
The New Testament was written in Greek and is the primary source of Christian theology. The original autographs, or first-hand copies, of the New Testament books no longer exist. Scholars rely on manuscripts and fragments that date from the late 2nd century CE onwards to reconstruct the original texts.

Textual Criticism:
To determine the original text of the Bible, scholars use the discipline of textual criticism. This involves comparing different manuscripts to identify and correct errors and variations that have arisen over time. It's a meticulous process that requires a deep understanding of the languages involved, the historical context, and the transmission of the texts.

In conclusion, the original version of the Bible is a multifaceted concept due to the existence of various texts and translations over time. The quest for the original text involves a careful study of the oldest manuscripts, an understanding of the languages, and the application of textual criticism to piece together the most accurate representation of the scriptures.

read more >>

In most ancient copies of the Bible which contain the Septuagint version of the Old Testament, the Book of Daniel is not the original Septuagint version, but instead is a copy of Theodotion's translation from the Hebrew, which more closely resembles the Masoretic Text.read more >>