Review: The Septuagint: What It Is and Why It Matters

NOTE: This book was provided to me free by Crossway without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

Gregory Lanier and William Ross. https://amzn.to/3DOcmVFThe Septuagint: What It Is and Why It Matters.  Wheaton, IL: Crossway, November 2, 2021.  216 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

Does the Greek translation of the Old Testament fascinate you, and you want to learn more about it?  The two authors for this book, Gregory Lanier and William Ross, does an excellent job giving readers an accessible introduction to the Greek Old Testament.  Often the term Septuagint is used to say Greek Old Testament and the book goes over what is the Septuagint, if it is even proper to say “the Septuagint says…” and why the Greek translation of the Old Testament is important.  The two authors are both capable specialists in writing on this subject, both having their PhD from Cambridge and both being professors who are professors at Reformed Theological Seminary who hold a high view of the Bible and write academic papers and books.  I am so glad they wrote this book and so glad the publisher was willing to have a book on this subject be published since some can think this is an obscure subject, though I don’t think it should be an obscure topic!  I wished this book was available when I was taking an Old Testament textual Criticism class during my second master’s program.  It was so good that I wish the publisher can published books using the same format and structure as this book but for other ancient translations of the Bible such as the Latin Vulgate, Aramaic Targum, Syriac Peshitta, etc.

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Review: Thriving in Grace: Twelve Ways the Puritans Fuel Spiritual Growth

Joel Beeke and Brian Hedges. Thriving in Grace: Twelve Ways the Puritans Fuel Spiritual Growth.  Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, May 29th 2020. 220 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

Want to grow in your Christian life with deliberate meditation on God as He has revealed Himself in a way that is practical and worshipful?  This book is a must read.  It is a practical and spiritual introduction to the Puritans, but it isn’t done in a way that makes readers feel it is an academic historical theology lecture; rather it is quite devotional and made me want to yearn to read more of the Puritans to minister to my soul, to search my own heart and to grow in Christ with greater holiness and sanctification.

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30 Day Quick Bible Devotional from the Gospel of Matthew (Observations from the Greek)

Here’s a compilation of thirty of our blog’s quick devotional with each post on a verse from the first seven chapters on Matthew.  I think they are ideal for daily reading as a project for a month.  Readers might also want to read my post on “The Benefit of Morning and Evening Bible Devotions.”  If you enjoyed what you read you might also consider our Free and Now in Top 5 Languages: 31 Day Quick Bible Devotional from Paul’s Epistles.

I want each to interpret the verse well with observation from the Greek but also to apply it practically well too.

Here’s the listing:

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Quick Devotional from Matthew 7:15 (Observation from the Greek)

This is from my daily Greek exercise of sight reading some time ago, courtesy of Vincent S Artale Jr.

Our text is from the Greek translation of Matthew 7:15.  Here is my translation:

“Προσέχετε ἀπὸ τῶν ψευδοπροφητῶν, 
Watch out because of the false prophets, 

 

 οἵτινες ἔρχονται πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐν ἐνδύμασιν προβάτων,

who come to you in clothing of sheeps,

 

ἔσωθεν δέ εἰσιν λύκοι ἅρπαγες. ”
but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Here are some observations:

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Quick Devotional from Matthew 7:1 (Observation from the Greek)

This is from my daily Greek exercise of sight reading some time ago, courtesy of Vincent S Artale Jr.

Our text is from the Greek translation of Matthew 7:1.  Here is my translation:

“Μὴ κρίνετε, ἵνα μὴ κριθῆτε· ”
Do not judge in order that you not be judged

Here are some observations:

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Quick Devotional from Matthew 6:33 (Observation from the Greek)

This is from my daily Greek exercise of sight reading some time ago, courtesy of Vincent S Artale Jr.

Our text is from the Greek translation of Matthew 6:33.  Here is my translation:

“ζητεῖτε δὲ πρῶτον τὴν βασιλείαν [τοῦ θεοῦ] καὶ τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ, καὶ ταῦτα
But Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and this

πάντα προστεθήσεται ὑμῖν. ”
all he will do to you

Here are some observations:

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Quick Devotional from Matthew 6:31 (Observation from the Greek)

This is from my daily Greek exercise of sight reading some time ago, courtesy of Vincent S Artale Jr.

Our text is from the Greek translation of Matthew 6:31.  Here is my translation:

“μὴ οὖν μεριμνήσητε λέγοντες· Τί φάγωμεν; ἤ· Τί πίωμεν; ἤ· Τί περιβαλώμεθα; ”
Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?

Here are some observations:

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Quick Devotional from Matthew 6:27 (Observation from the Greek)

This is from my daily Greek exercise of sight reading some time ago, courtesy of Vincent S Artale Jr.

Our text is from the Greek translation of Matthew 6:27.  Here is my translation:

“τίς δὲ ἐξ ὑμῶν μεριμνῶν δύναται προσθεῖναι ἐπὶ τὴν ἡλικίαν αὐτοῦ πῆχυν ἕνα; ”
And who out of you by being worried, he is able to his stature one cubit?

Here are some observations:

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Quick Devotional from Matthew 6:17 (Observation from the Greek)

This is from my daily Greek exercise of sight reading some time ago, courtesy of Vincent S Artale Jr.

Our text is from the Greek translation of Matthew 6:17.  Here is my translation:

“σὺ δὲ νηστεύων ἄλειψαί σου τὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ τὸ πρόσωπόν σου νίψαι,

”But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face

Here are some observations:

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Quick Devotional from Matthew 6:13 (Observation from the Greek)

This is from my daily Greek exercise of sight reading some time ago, courtesy of Vincent S Artale Jr.

Our text is from the Greek translation of Matthew 6:13.  Here is my translation:

“καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν,
And lead us not into temptation

ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ. ”
But rescue us from the evil one

Here are some observations:

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Quick Devotional from Matthew 6:10 (Observation from the Greek)

This is from my daily Greek exercise of sight reading some time ago, courtesy of Vincent S Artale Jr.

Our text is from the Greek translation of Matthew 6:10.  Here is my translation:

“ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου·
Your kingdom come

γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου,
Your will be done

ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς· ”
as in heaven also on earth

Here are some observations:

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Quick Devotional from Matthew 6:7 (Observation from the Greek)

This is from my daily Greek exercise of sight reading some time ago, courtesy of Vincent S Artale Jr.

Our text is from the Greek translation of Matthew 6:7  Here is my translation:

“Προσευχόμενοι δὲ μὴ βατταλογήσητε ὥσπερ οἱ ἐθνικοί, δοκοῦσιν γὰρ ὅτι ἐν τῇ
But while praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles, because in

πολυλογίᾳ αὐτῶν εἰσακουσθήσονται. ”
their many words they suppose that they will be heard

Here are some observations:

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Quick Devotional from Matthew 5:44 (Observation from the Greek)

This is from my daily Greek exercise of sight reading some time ago, courtesy of Vincent S Artale Jr.

Our text is from the Greek translation of Matthew 5:44.  Here is my translation:

“ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν· ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶν καὶ προσεύχεσθε ὑπὲρ τῶν
But I say to you ‘Love your enemies and pray for those

διωκόντων ὑμᾶς, ”
who persecute you

Here are some observations:

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Quick Devotional from Matthew 2:14 (Observation from the Greek)

 

This is from my daily Greek exercise of sight reading, courtesy of Vincent S Artale Jr.

Our text is from the Greek translation of Matthew 2:14.  Here is my translation:

“SENTENCE 14 [TP ὁ TP] δὲ ἐγερθεὶς παρέλαβεν τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ
And he rose and took the child and His mother

νυκτὸς
by night

SENTENCE καὶ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον”
and left for Egypt

Here are some observations:

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Quick Devotional from Matthew 2:2 (Observation from the Greek)

 

This is from my daily Greek exercise of sight reading, courtesy of Vincent S Artale Jr.

Our text is from the Greek translation of Matthew 2:2.  Here is my translation:

“2 λέγοντες
Saying

SENTENCE “ Ποῦ ἐστιν ὁ τεχθεὶς βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων
Where is the one born King of the Jews?

SUPPORT εἴδομεν γὰρ αὐτοῦ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῇ
For we know the Star in the east

SENTENCE καὶ ἤλθομεν προσκυνῆσαι αὐτῷ ””
and came to worship Him

Here are some observations:

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