Another example from Codex Sinaiticus, this time concerning the name Ἰησοῦς (Jesus). In the Epistle to the Hebrews, the anonymous author writes:
The author is making an argument based on Psalm 95. (For simplicity, I am going to ignore the supporting evidence in v. 4.7). Psalm 95.10-11 has:
The author of Hebrews is arguing for the Christian concept of the afterlife as a heavenly existence with God. They are arguing that the generation of Hebrews that wandered in the wilderness for forty years did not obtain God's rest when they (or their descendants) entered Canaan under Joshua. God's rest refers to another day, something other than the entrance into Canaan.
For present purposes, the interesting thing is the way the name of the patriarch Joshua is rendered in the text:
Joshua's name in verse 8 is rendered with the nomen sacrum Iota Sigma overline, because the patriach Joshua has the same name as the Christian savior Jesus.
Joshua's name is given in its full, unabbreviated form in Sinaiticus in Deuteronomy 3.28:
In Deuteronomy 3.28, Joshua's name is spelled Iota Eta Sigma Omicron Upsilon, i.e. the name Ἰησοῦς, or Jesus.
The same scribe copied, called Scribe A, copied both passages. He knew that Iota Sigma overline was an an abbreviation for the name Ἰησοῦς (which can be rendered into English as either 'Joshua' or 'Jesus').
Best,
Ken
5 And again in this place he said,
“They shall never enter my rest.”
6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he sets a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,
“Today, when you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak later of another day. 9 So then, there remains a sabbath rest for the people of God; 10 for whoever enters God’s rest also ceases from his labors as God did from his. (Hebrews 4.6-9)
“They shall never enter my rest.”
6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he sets a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,
“Today, when you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak later of another day. 9 So then, there remains a sabbath rest for the people of God; 10 for whoever enters God’s rest also ceases from his labors as God did from his. (Hebrews 4.6-9)
The author is making an argument based on Psalm 95. (For simplicity, I am going to ignore the supporting evidence in v. 4.7). Psalm 95.10-11 has:
10 For forty years I loathed that generation
and said, “They are a people who err in heart,
and they do not regard my ways.”
11 Therefore I swore in my anger
that they should not enter my rest. (Psalm 95.10-11)
and said, “They are a people who err in heart,
and they do not regard my ways.”
11 Therefore I swore in my anger
that they should not enter my rest. (Psalm 95.10-11)
The author of Hebrews is arguing for the Christian concept of the afterlife as a heavenly existence with God. They are arguing that the generation of Hebrews that wandered in the wilderness for forty years did not obtain God's rest when they (or their descendants) entered Canaan under Joshua. God's rest refers to another day, something other than the entrance into Canaan.
For present purposes, the interesting thing is the way the name of the patriarch Joshua is rendered in the text:
Joshua's name is given in its full, unabbreviated form in Sinaiticus in Deuteronomy 3.28:
The same scribe copied, called Scribe A, copied both passages. He knew that Iota Sigma overline was an an abbreviation for the name Ἰησοῦς (which can be rendered into English as either 'Joshua' or 'Jesus').
Best,
Ken
Statistics: Posted by Ken Olson — Fri Jan 12, 2024 1:20 pm