Ms. Pococke 280 - 2Peter-1John in Hebrew?

Shalom Chaverim,

This afternoon, having completed my analysis of the Harley Hebrew manuscript of Matthew, I opened the next file folder on the thumb drive (A thumb drive recently sent to me containing about 30 Hebrew NT manuscripts with which I was not previously familiar.

The next file folder was Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, MS. Pococke 280. Fragments of the Hebrew New Testament (ff. 92v-101v 2Peter/1st John). Date 1301–1500. This folder contained twelve jpg files labeled pages 1-12.

I printed out page 1 to make it easier to examine. As I looked at the text, I immediately realized that someone had been misled. This was not Hebrew at all, it was clearly Aramaic. And it was not very promising for NT origins, because the second word was פטרוס a transliteration of the Greek name Petros. As I examined it further, I recognized the text. I pulled a standard edition of the Syriac New Testament from its shelf and quickly confirmed that this was a transliteration of the standard Syriac of 2Peter into Hebrew letters. Of course 2Peter was not actually part of the Peshitta (which is why I used the term “Syriac New Testament), however standard editions insert the extra Peshitta epistles of 2 Peter, 2nd and 3rd John and Jude from the Philoxenian version so as to have a complete 27 book cannon.

At any rate, this manuscript is in Aramaic, not Hebrew, and is only a copying of the standard Syriac text into Hebrew rather than Syriac letters. Nothing new here.

I still have several more manuscripts on the thumb drive to analyze. Hopefully some of the rest offer something new.

In regards to my health issues, I am having a lot of tests run, and I have referrals to two different specialists, all of these have co-pays. The day before yesterday I got MRI of my brain. They asked if I had any metal in my body. “Yes, I said, Iron, magnesium and zinc.” They asked if I had any head imaging done before? “Yes” I said, “In fact we had portraits done in school every year.”

In all seriousness though, we definitely do need your financial support now more than ever.

We need your financial support now more than ever!

As you know we have been digging ourselves out of a budget shortfall. As I have said to you many times, I look on this work as a co-operative one with me, and all of you combining our resources together in order to get the job done of helping to teach this great truth to all in the world who will listen. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your continued support, you are the ones who make it all possible by your contributions and your prayers for our work. I truly appreciate your help in every way.

If you can make a one time donation of $500 or $1,000 dollars to support this work.