Difference between revisions of "Aramaic"
(Expanded (6)) |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | '''Aramaic''' was the [[language]] of [[Jesus]]. It is a | + | '''Aramaic''' was the [[language]] of [[Jesus]]. It is a Semitic language and was spoken by the [[Aramaeans]] and spread across the [[Mesopotamia]] and became the language of the [[Persian Empire]]. It was most closely related to [[Hebrew]] and [[Arabic]]. The post-biblical Rabbinic commentary on the Bible and application of the Biblical laws (as well as perpetuating of the Biblical lore) to contemporary Jewish life, is known as the Talmud. The first part of the Talmud is primarily in Mishnaic Hebrew and secondarily in Aramaic. The second part of the "Babylonian" Talmud, known as the Gemara, is primarily in Aramaic and secondarily in Hebrew. The Babylonian Talmud representing Babylonian exilic Judaism is authritative for Jews today rather than the Palestinian Talmud from Palestine. |
Parts of the [[New Testament]] were written in Aramaic. | Parts of the [[New Testament]] were written in Aramaic. | ||
It survives today only in isolated [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] villages as well as some [[Nestorian]]s in northern [[Iraq]] and eastern [[Turkey]]. | It survives today only in isolated [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] villages as well as some [[Nestorian]]s in northern [[Iraq]] and eastern [[Turkey]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==The "Aramaic" Church== | ||
| + | |||
| + | The [[Church of the East]], sometimes known as the [[Nestorian]] Church or sometimes as the Assyrian Church uses the Aramaic Language in their liturgy [http://www.cired.org/]. This is true also of the Church of the East in India, also known as the Syro-Chaldean Church, though its people speak an Indian dialect and not Aramaic. The Aramaic translation of the Bible for this Church is the Peshitta, the earliest of the translations for both the Old and New Testament after the Greek Septuaginta of the Hebrew original for the Old and after the Greek original for the New. Jesus spoke Aramaic as well as Mishnaic 1st century common) Hebrew and some of his utterances in the Greek New Testament are transliterations of the Aramaic. Examples of these are Talitha Kum(i)-"Get up ,Young girl!", Eloi, Eloi, lama Shvaktani- MyGod, My God, why have you left Me." In the book of Revelation of the New Testament, the word "Maranatha" appears, as it does in the liturgies of the early church. Maranatha means either (according to its accent), "The Lord has come" or "O Lord, come!" | ||
| + | |||
| + | Church of the East members from the "Assyrian" group still speaking Aramaic, are dispersed to several countries since their World War l persecution and flight from Turkey - along with the Armenians. They are settled today in various countries and in the United States are found in numbers in Flint Michigan, Modesto California, and Yonkers New York. | ||
| + | |||
| + | A few modern Churches Such as the [[Syro-Chaldean Church of North America]], now known as the [[Evangelical Apostolic Church of North America (Syro-Chaldean)]] derive their Apostolicity and general theological outlook from the Aramaic Church of the East though their membership is not ethnically Assyrian [http://www.eacna.org/]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Chaldean Catholic Church represents a part of the Church of the East which has recognized the Pope and the jurisdiction of the Western Catholio Church. This Church also uses the Aramaic language in their liturgy. | ||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
Revision as of 12:46, March 20, 2008
Aramaic was the language of Jesus. It is a Semitic language and was spoken by the Aramaeans and spread across the Mesopotamia and became the language of the Persian Empire. It was most closely related to Hebrew and Arabic. The post-biblical Rabbinic commentary on the Bible and application of the Biblical laws (as well as perpetuating of the Biblical lore) to contemporary Jewish life, is known as the Talmud. The first part of the Talmud is primarily in Mishnaic Hebrew and secondarily in Aramaic. The second part of the "Babylonian" Talmud, known as the Gemara, is primarily in Aramaic and secondarily in Hebrew. The Babylonian Talmud representing Babylonian exilic Judaism is authritative for Jews today rather than the Palestinian Talmud from Palestine.
Parts of the New Testament were written in Aramaic.
It survives today only in isolated Lebanese villages as well as some Nestorians in northern Iraq and eastern Turkey.
The "Aramaic" Church
The Church of the East, sometimes known as the Nestorian Church or sometimes as the Assyrian Church uses the Aramaic Language in their liturgy [1]. This is true also of the Church of the East in India, also known as the Syro-Chaldean Church, though its people speak an Indian dialect and not Aramaic. The Aramaic translation of the Bible for this Church is the Peshitta, the earliest of the translations for both the Old and New Testament after the Greek Septuaginta of the Hebrew original for the Old and after the Greek original for the New. Jesus spoke Aramaic as well as Mishnaic 1st century common) Hebrew and some of his utterances in the Greek New Testament are transliterations of the Aramaic. Examples of these are Talitha Kum(i)-"Get up ,Young girl!", Eloi, Eloi, lama Shvaktani- MyGod, My God, why have you left Me." In the book of Revelation of the New Testament, the word "Maranatha" appears, as it does in the liturgies of the early church. Maranatha means either (according to its accent), "The Lord has come" or "O Lord, come!"
Church of the East members from the "Assyrian" group still speaking Aramaic, are dispersed to several countries since their World War l persecution and flight from Turkey - along with the Armenians. They are settled today in various countries and in the United States are found in numbers in Flint Michigan, Modesto California, and Yonkers New York.
A few modern Churches Such as the Syro-Chaldean Church of North America, now known as the Evangelical Apostolic Church of North America (Syro-Chaldean) derive their Apostolicity and general theological outlook from the Aramaic Church of the East though their membership is not ethnically Assyrian [2].
The Chaldean Catholic Church represents a part of the Church of the East which has recognized the Pope and the jurisdiction of the Western Catholio Church. This Church also uses the Aramaic language in their liturgy.
Sources
The New American Desk Encyclopedia, Penguin Group, 1989
