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Is there any New Testament text wherin an influence of this LXX expanded translation is of interpretive importance in the NT (esp. with regard to εὐσέβεια)?

Edit (question clarification): I find this expansion of the LXX interesting; and the use of the LXX in the NT to be very helpful for biblical-historical interpretation. As a point of entry, Titus 1:1 is one place where Paul uses εὐσέβεια, but there is no immediate indication the original readers would hear a clear reminder of Proverbs 1:7. I am wanting to learn, from informed discussion here, as to whether any of the NT usages of εὐσέβεια (or another phrase from the GK of Pr.1:7) would directly tie piety("godliness") or another NT wisdom motif more or less directly to the beginning of wisdom in LXX Proverbs 1:7.

[ Note: Nestle-Aland 27th ed. GNT list of NT citations of OT does not have any reference to Pr.1:7; but this is not an exhaustive list. G.K. Beale and D.A. Carson's Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament indicates there may be some references.]

The Hebrew

(Prov 1:7 [WLC])[snippets from theWord.net application]

יִרְאַת יְהוָה רֵאשִׁית דָּעַת חָכְמָה וּמוּסָר אֱוִילִים בָּֽזוּ׃ פ

Translated [mine] as: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, wisdom and instuction fools despise;

Greek (expanded) Translation

(Prov 1:7 [LXX]) ἀρχὴ σοφίας φόβος θεοῦ σύνεσις δὲ ἀγαθὴ πᾶσι τοῖς ποιοῦσιν αὐτήν εὐσέβεια δὲ εἰς θεὸν ἀρχὴ αἰσθήσεως σοφίαν δὲ καὶ παιδείαν ἀσεβεῖς ἐξουθενήσουσιν

Translated [from www.ecmarsh.com/lxx/Proverbs/index.htm]: 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and there is good understanding to all that practise it: and piety toward God is the beginning of discernment; but the ungodly will set at nought wisdom and instruction.

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  • 2
    Hi there, and welcome to Biblical Hermeneutics. This is an interesting question, but I suspect there's a question behind this question. Would you mind sharing a bit more about the motivation behind asking this question? Perhaps then we can focus answers to that end and be able to answer your actual question.
    – swasheck
    Mar 28, 2013 at 19:14
  • Thank you. Question has been edited with clarification, in response to swasheck. Mar 28, 2013 at 20:00
  • 2
    Fabulous. This went from interesting to awesome. James, Jude, and Hebrews should be good starting points.
    – swasheck
    Mar 28, 2013 at 20:20
  • What words/phrases from Pr.1:7 in the Greek of James, Jude and Hebrews do you mean to indicate reference for "starting points"? For example, I find "Euseb" forms to be lacking in those books. Mar 29, 2013 at 0:43
  • I don't know yet but those authors would seem to have the most contact with proverbs. In fact, James is often categorized as NT wisdom literature
    – swasheck
    Mar 29, 2013 at 3:39

1 Answer 1

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INDICATIONS OF LXX PROVERBS 1:7 IN GREEK NEW TESTAMENT(?)

Conlusion:

There are indications (reasons) to believe the LXX of Proverbs 1:7 has an canonical-theological influence, but the specific evidence of a references to this verse in the Gk. New Testament appears to be indeterminate. Nevertheless, we ourselves, may be reminded, wherever we read εὐσέβεια in the New Testament, of the Holy God, toward which our lives must be directed, in the grace of Christ.

Tools Used:

  • index to Beale and Carson (eds.) Commentary on the New Testament use of the Old Testament;
  • theWord.net Bible software (with Rahlf's LXX, Westminster Leningrad Codex, Delitzsch's Hebrew New Testament, SBLGNT Greek Text, NET Bible);
  • Waltke's NICOT Commentary on Proverbs 1-15;
  • s.v. εὐσέβεια in Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament (abbr. EDNT, Balz & Schneider, eds., pub. by Eerdmans);

[Am assuming that these easily found resources do not need full bibliographical info]

LXX Proverbs 1:7: ἀρχὴ σοφίας φόβος θεοῦ σύνεσις δὲ ἀγαθὴ πᾶσι τοῖς ποιοῦσιν αὐτήν εὐσέβεια δὲ εἰς θεὸν ἀρχὴ αἰσθήσεως σοφίαν δὲ καὶ παιδείαν ἀσεβεῖς ἐξουθενήσουσιν - "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and there is good understanding to all that practise it: and piety toward God is the beginning of discernment; but the ungodly will set at nought wisdom and instruction." [from www.ecmarsh.com/lxx/Proverbs/index.htm]

Closest Phrases:

φόβῳ τοῦ Κυρίου in Acts 9:31 (*"The church ... was strengthened ... living in fear of the Lord" *).

ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ καὶ συνέσει πνευματικῇ in Col.1:9 ("Asking God to fill you...with knowledge..in all spiritual wisdom and understanding")

εὐσεβὴς καὶ φοβούμενος τὸν θεὸν in Acts 10:2 ("He was a pious and God-fearing man")

παιδεύουσα ἡμᾶς, ἵνα ἀρνησάμενοι τὴν ἀσέβειαν ... καὶ εὐσεβῶς ζήσωμεν... in Titus 2:12 ("Training us to reject ungodliness...and live lives of godliness"*)

Significant Word/Concept:

εὐσέβεια - in connection with the concept of the "fear of the Lord" (evidence of which may be Acts 10:2 above) . [Philip H. Towner asserts this "godliness" - "fear of the Lord" conceptual connection in his commentary on 2 Tim 2:19 (in Beale & Carson (cited above), p.903)]

For Improvement of this answer:

  • Textual Variants could be explored.

  • Extrabiblical texts (i.e., the Greek of some early church texts) could be interesting).

  • Improved search and combinatined search techniques on lemmas/morphemes/sytactical nuances.

  • Further research in commentaries and journals.

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