JUSTIN MARTYR & THE ANGEL-APOSTLE JESUS CHRIST & THE SAMARITAN PENTATEUCH
Justin
Martyr was a native of Samaria.
It is interesting to compare his calling
Jesus the “...Apostle...” and “...Angel...” of the Father with Gk., ( τὸ
ΣαΜαρειτικόν ) the Samaritan version of the Penateuch:
JUSTIN
MARTYR (circa. 110-160 C.E.):
“...All these
things came to pass as foretold [by], (I say), THE
ONE [WHO IS] OUR TEACHER, AND SON - ( OF ) - GOD THE FATHER AND
ULTIMATE-RULER OF ALL, AND - ( APOSTLE
), - [HE] BEING JESUS CHRIST,
from of whom also the “Christians” have been given [their] name
[and] keep as their own...” -
(Chap 12:9, 1st Apology, Translated
by Matt13weedhacker 16/11/2011 according
to Goodspeed's Greek text)
COMPARE:
SAMMARITAN
TORAH OR TARGUM (circa. 20 C.E. To 400 C.E.):
“...Behold! I send - (
MY APOSTLE ) -
before you in order to keep you and protect you on the way, and to
bring you into the place which I have prepared. Give heed to him and
obey his voice. Do not rebel against him, because he will not pardon
your transgressions; FOR
MY NAME IS IN HIM.
But if you hearken attentively to his voice and do all that I say,
then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your
adversaries. For - (
MY APOSTLE ) -
shall go before you...” -
(Exodus Chapter 23:20-22, Page 177, “Angelomorphic Christology:
Antecedents and Early Evidence” Arbeiten Zur Geschichte Des Antiken
Judentums Und Des Urchristentums, Bd. 42. 1998.)
[FOOTNOTE]:
Compare Matt 10:40; Heb 3:2; Justin Martyr 1st
Apology Chapter 63:5; Dial. 75. Rec-Clem X.72, Acts Of Thomas 9.,
Didache 11:4-9: “...Let every Apostle who comes to you be received
as the Lord...” Clement of Alexandria Paid. I.7 = “Christ.” Philo
Migration. 174.
[FOOTNOTE]:
Ibid., commenting on Dial. 75, Page 178: “...Thus, Justin
apparently reflects two different views of the ( concept ) of
angel-apostle: on the one hand, the Jewish nation of the prophets as
“angels,” as explained by the term of apostle, and on the other
hand, the idea of a special Prophet who really is the Angel of the
Lord, that is, a heavenly being, and is called God's
“Apostle”....” - (Page 148-149, Fossum, “The Name Of
God.”)
For an idea of what Samaritan text looks like here is a picture of the Samritan text Leviticus:
Picture of a Samritan High priest holding the a Torah Scroll:
COMPARE ALSO:
ARAMAIC
TARGUM (circa. 100-500 C.E.):
“...Behold, I send (
MY ANGEL ){6}
before thee, to protect thee in the way, and to bring thee into the
place which I have prepared. Take heed before Him, and hearken to His
words; rebel not against Him, for He will not forgive your sins; FOR
IN MY NAME ARE HIS WORDS.
For if thou wilt truly hearken to His words, and do all that I shall
speak, I will be a foe to thy enemies, and will afflict them that
afflict thee. For (
MY ANGEL ) shall
go before thee...”
-
(Exodus Chapter 23:20-23,
SECTION XVIII. MISHPATIM. Targum Onkelos, “The
Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan Ben Uzziel On the Pentateuch With The
Fragments of the Jerusalem Targum From the Chaldee” by
J. W. Etheridge, M.A. First Published 1862.)
[FOOTNOTE
6]: Sam. Vers.,
shelachi,
“my apostle.”
ARAMAIC
TARGUM (circa. 100-500 C.E.):
“...Behold, I will send (
AN ANGEL ) before
thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee in to the place of
My habitation which I have prepared. Be circumspect before Him, and
obey His word, and be not rebellious against His words; for He will
not forgive your sins, BECAUSE
HIS WORD IS IN MY NAME.
For if thou wilt indeed hearken to His word, and do all that I speak
by Him, I will be the enemy of thy enemy, and will trouble them who
trouble thee. For (
MY ANGEL ) shall
go before thee...” -
(Pgs. 515-527, Exodus Chapter 23:20-23, SECTION XVIII. MISHPATIM.
Targum
Pseudo-Jonathan, “The
Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan Ben Uzziel On the Pentateuch With The
Fragments of the Jerusalem Targum From the Chaldee” by
J. W. Etheridge, M.A. First Published 1862.)
