What is the Aramaic Primacy?This series of web pages provides free lessons on the Aramaic New Testament or Peshitta.
Aramaic Primacy (the opposite of Greek Primacy) is the belief that the New Testament was originally written in Aramaic, rather than Koine Greek. Aramaic Primacists believe that the Greek New Testament is a translation of the Aramaic Peshitta. Aramaic Primacists believe that the Aramaic Peshitta is the original written form of the New Testament, the actual inspired of Word of God. (There are other Aramaic texts related to the New Testament, such as the so-called Old Syriac, and the Diatessaron, which will be discussed separately).
In the East (meaning churches east of Constantinople, covering countries such as Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, even as far as India and beyond), it turns out that basically all Christian churches have always believed that the Aramaic Peshitta is the inspired Word of God. Their historical beliefs are that the books of the Aramaic Peshitta were handed to them by the apostles themselves. They have never believed anything different. They have never used the various Greek texts. It is only in the West (Europe, America, etc.) that the idea of the original New Testament being in Aramaic is controversial. But in turns out that there is an immense body of evidence for this view (which you would expect, if it was true). Initially, some people are shocked by the idea of Aramaic Primacy – the idea that the New Testament was not, originally, written in Greek, but rather in Aramaic. They dismiss the idea out of hand without listening to the evidence. But 'converts' (those who once believed that the New Testament was originally written in Koine Greek, but examined the evidence, and changed their mind) find that their faith is immensely strengthened. Why? Rather than being a challenge to their faith, a belief in Aramaic Primacy provides a huge boost to their faith. They find that worrying and troubling variations in the Greek texts disappear. They find that criticisms of the New Testament based on problems in the Greek texts disappear. Suddenly obscure passages of the New Testament make sense. Verses take on exciting new meanings. Links to the Hebrew Bible become clearer and more explicit. The Aramaic Peshitta is much closer to the traditional KJV text than the huge number of variants in the Greek texts. Faith is increased by understanding just how internally consistent the Aramaic Peshitta is, how essentially all manuscripts across all countries and across whole centuries, all agree (just like the Hebrew Bible). The Aramaic Peshitta has all the hallmarks of being divinely preserved down through time, kept from all the doctrinal battles that would rage in the Greek world, preserved from textual interference. Far from being a challenge to faith, the evidence provided by the Aramaic Peshitta should strengthen the feeble knees, embolden the heart and soul of all students of YHWH's Word, and prepare this generation for the time when Israel's Messiah will come to save his people and judge those nations who stand against YHWH's Anointed and who have touched the apple of his eye. Just as the Tanakh contains both Hebrew and Aramaic, the New Covenant has been divinely preserved in Aramaic. Together, Hebrew and Aramaic were the vehicles by which YHWH has revealed His Word to Jew (Hebrew) and Gentile (Aramaic). Greek is the language of the apostasy and the enemies of the Jews. Greeks polluted the Holy Temple at Jerusalem, introduced Greek philosophy to Judaism, and the Maccabbees waged war against that evil influence. Jews will never accept a Greek New Testament that calls upon Theos, Deus, or Zeus by another name. They will bow the knee only to YHWH. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one Lord. |
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