Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

THEODOTION

Theodotion of Ephesus, according to early testimony the mid-2nd century scholar responsible for the sixth column of Origen’s Hexapla. Theodotion’s version appears to be a faithful and literal translation (or in some books a revision of the LXX) of a Semitic text that was very similar to that now known as the MT.

Despite early references to Theodotion, there are difficulties in determining the exact nature and extent of his work. For example, quotations of Theodotion’s version, particularly from Daniel, are found in the NT. This led some to conclude that Theodotion added to the work of an earlier writer whom scholars designate Ur-Theodotion, but this notion is increasingly being abandoned. J.-D. Barthélemy argued that Ur-Theodotion, whom he identified as Jonathan ben Uzziel, was the real author and that there were identifying traits of his work, now known as the kaige (Palestinian) recension. Some have attempted to propose more characteristics, and, in this approach, kaige-Theodotion is still conceived as a unified work. However, it has been shown that books such as Daniel and Job cannot be connected with kaige. Thus, the nature and extent of kaige-Theodotion remain in question.

Bibliography. T. McLay, The OG and Theodotion Versions of Daniel. SBLSCS 43 (Atlanta, 1996); J. W. Wevers, “Barthélemy and Proto-Septuagint Studies,” BIOSCS 21 (1988): 23-34.

Tim McLay