Chapter 1: Summary – History, Origins, and Transmission of the Septuagint

IBL 205 • CHAPTER 1 OVERVIEW

Chapter 1: History, Origins, and Transmission of the Septuagint

Tracing the translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek from 3rd-century BC Alexandria to Origen’s Hexapla.

Core Lessons in Chapter 1

  • Lesson 1: Historical Context of Alexandria, the Letter of Aristeas, and the Translation of the Pentateuch
  • Lesson 2: Expansion of the Greek Old Testament: Prophets, Writings, and Translation Techniques (Literal vs. Free)
  • Lesson 3: Jewish Revisions of the LXX: Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodotion
  • Lesson 4: Origen’s Hexapla and Major Christian Uncial Codices (Vaticanus, Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus)
  • Lesson 5: Modern Critical Editions of the Septuagint (Rahlfs-Hanhart and the Gottingen Septuagint)

Chapter 1 Mastery Checklist

  1. Read this Chapter Summary and complete the Chapter 1 Test (10 Questions, 80% Passing Score).
  2. Study each of the five core lessons in Chapter 1 and complete each lesson’s Check-in Quiz.
  3. Practice the corresponding script, vocabulary, or manuscript exercises using BDA’s Interactive Biblical Languages Tools.