25 Irrefutable Reasons Why the New Testament Was NOT Originally Written in Greek

This is a very shocking article that goes contrary to what is commonly taught and popularly believed in this modern Christian world.

But before making a prematurely negative judgment, please lay aside first any bias and prejudice, and open-mindedly examine the FACTS that will be presented here in a logical and objective manner — backed-up by overwhelming solid evidence, both external and internal.

In this regard, let us wisely and patiently apply the advice of King Solomon when he said:

He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.
~Proverbs 18:13

Not only that, but most may have already been influenced — sadly and unwittingly — by the strong effect of the statement: “A lie repeated often enough is eventually believed as true.” Whether factual or not, this quote is commonly attributed to Adolf Hitler’s propagandist, Joseph Goebbels.

NOTE: Unless you have already read it, please READ FIRST the fully documented article on this website as a suggested primer:The Amazing Hebrew Language History Since Eden.” This will give you a solid understanding of the God-inspired history of the Semitic languages.

Here now are the 25 Solid Facts Proving that Greek Cannot Be the Original New Testament Language:

1. God’s Nature and Character Is Consistent

God talked to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden in what later became known as the Hebrew language. God used this language to speak to all the Israelites at Mt. Sinai. It’s the language in which the Ten Commandments were written by God’s own finger. It’s also the language He used to speak to all the patriarchs and prophets. He even had the Old Testament written primarily in this language. Is it now logical to believe that God (for no apparent reason) suddenly changed His mind (Malachi 3:6) and surprisingly began to use Greek — a completely foreign language — to write the New Testament? Such absurd thinking presents lots of problematic difficulties.

2. Josephus Disdained the Greek Language

Josephus [Hebrew name: Yosef ben Matityahu (A.D. 37-100)], the first-century Jewish priest-historian, reflects the common negative attitude of the Jews toward the Greeks when he said:

I have also taken a great deal of pains to obtain the learning of the Greeks, and understand the elements of the Greek language … [yet] I cannot pronounce Greek with sufficient exactness; for our nation does NOT encourage those that learn the languages of many nations … because they [the Jews] look upon this sort of accomplishment as common [very lowly] … But they give him the testimony of being a wise man who is fully acquainted with our [Jewish] laws … [in contrast] as there have been many who have done their endeavors with great patience to obtain this [Greek] learning, there have yet hardly been so many as two or three that have succeeded therein, who were immediately well rewarded for their pains (emphases mine).

~Antiquities of the Jews, XX, XI

3. Jews Had an Aversion Toward the Greeks

The great Jewish aversion toward the Greeks (especially on religious matters) is reflected and recorded by the gospel writer and historian Luke in that violent incident where an angry Jewish mob developed upon the false report that Paul brought Greeks with him in his temple worship during his last visit to Jerusalem (Acts 21:27-29). This led to Paul’s arrest and imprisonment.

4. Hebrew-Aramaic Was Actually the Common Language in First-Century Judea

All honest historians agree that Christ and his disciples commonly spoke in Aramaic [a sister dialect to Hebrew], which was also the common language in all Judea and surrounding regions in the first century. Sadly, popular Christian teaching deceitfully wants us to believe that Greek was their common language, which is also the false reason given to support the erroneous belief that Greek was the original language of the New Testament.

5. Aramaic Was Christ’s Native Language

Two relatively recent movies — in consultation with noted top historians to precisely re-create the original scenario in Jerusalem at the time of Christ on earth — used Aramaic in their movie dialogue. The two stated Christian films were “The Passion of the Christ” and “Risen.”

6. Hebrew-Aramaic Was Also the Native Language of All Christ’s Disciples

All of Christ’s disciples were Hebrews who also spoke Aramaic. Their primary audience were also Hebrews who also spoke Aramaic. And we’ve already seen that the native language of Yahshua (Jesus) was Aramaic. It is absolutely illogical and unreasonable for them to suddenly write to their fellow Hebrew audience in a foreign hated language (Greek)! It’s like a true-blooded American writing to a large American audience using the Russian language!

7. Christ’s Disciples Were Not Knowledgeable in Greek

Let us remember that even the top four most-often named disciples [Peter, Andrew, James, and John] were plain fishermen and were derisively derided by the Sanhedrin as “uneducated and untrained men” (Acts 4:13). HOW then can such ignorant men write in Greek? Impossible!

8. There Is No Evidence That the Disciples Ever Studied Greek

There is absolutely no record or evidence that the disciples (even after Christ’s resurrection) ever ventured to find a school or a tutor to study Greek. If ever they did study first, HOW could they fulfill Christ’s commission to go and preach? And since both the Jewish and Roman persecutions came early, they obviously would have already been dead before they were able to learn Greek.

9. The “Oracles” (or Words) of God Were Committed to the Jews

The apostle Paul says that “the oracles [words, NIV] of God were committed to the JEWS” — NOT to the Latin-speaking Romans, and also NOT to the Greeks (Romans 3:1,2). Sadly, this biblical fact is hidden or ignored by some historians and theologians in an effort to rewrite history. This false but popular claim that Greek was the original language of the New Testament is already clearly debunked by this one verse alone! Remember, God has absolute power to cause His words to be fulfilled to the letter!

10. The Apostles Wrote Early Due to the Impending Persecutions

Logically piecing all the facts together (and contrary to common teachings), it is believed that before leaving Jerusalem to fulfill Christ’s commission for them to go find the “lost sheep of the House of Israel” (and never to return due to their martyrdom in far-off lands), the apostles and disciples wrote first. This was done shortly after receiving the mighty power of God’s Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost [and while the facts were still fresh in their minds] and before the Roman persecutions began. Those apostles (like Matthew and John) and disciples (like Mark and Luke) who were gifted in writing and familiar with all the events surrounding Christ’s life wrote their accounts (now called “gospels”). The later letters of John, James, Jude, and Peter came shortly thereafter. Paul’s epistles were last. All these accounts and letters were written in their native Hebrew-Aramaic language while they were still residing in Jerusalem. After all those writings were done, God inspired such original autographs to be duplicated in multiple copies by many of the existing Hebrew Scribes (and priests) in Jerusalem who eventually became zealous converts by then (Acts 6:7; 12:24).

11. The Apostles Then Went to Seek the “Lost Sheep Of Israel”

Unknown to, or simply ignored by most historians and theologians, those faithful apostles followed Christ’s instructions to them to the letter. In obedience to Christ’s command, they left Jerusalem and went to find the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:5,6; 15:24). These “lost sheep of the house of Israel” also spoke and understood Hebrew and Aramaic. It was to them [the scattered sheep outside of the Judean fold] (John 10:16) that the Gospel message and apostolic letters were primarily addressed to first, because being very far from Judea, they needed these comforting messages more. Many centuries later, those original writings (apostolic autographs) were copied and translated into Greek, Latin, and many other languages.

[NOTE: Appendix 1 explains more details to an added Commission to the apostles. Appendix 2 details the extent of knowledge about the Gospel message then.]

Leadership at the Early Jerusalem Congregation

Except for Peter and John [among the original twelve who stayed behind to head the Jerusalem congregation], assisted by James [Christ’s half-brother, though not among the twelve, but was considered a pillar in the faith] (Galatians 1:18,19; 2:9), the rest of the apostles eventually went to seek the “lost sheep of the house of Israel.” While most of the Jerusalem members began to scatter soon after the stoning of Stephen, the apostles still stayed behind (Acts 8:1). Why?

Two Important Reasons Why They Still Stayed

From Luke’s account, we can figure out that the apostles waited until after the Jerusalem Conference to be able to help decide on the very important doctrinal issues presented then. Plus, more importantly, to also finish their apostolic writings and duplications thereof (Acts 15:2b).

More details on the very big topic of “Where Did the Twelve Apostles Go?” is detailed in the article written by Dr. Herman L. Hoeh.

[NOTE: Appendix 3 details the Territorial Preaching Boundaries of the original apostles.]

12. The Romans Failed to Destroy Those Hebrew-Aramaic Writings

The Romans actually did a double major campaign to destroy all Hebrew writings. After the massive destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in A.D. 70, the first massive attempt to destroy all Hebrew writings was precipitated by the violent Bar Kokhba Revolt (A.D. 132-135). After the bloody suppression of that revolt, in his anger, Roman Emperor Hadrian proclaimed the rooting out of Jewish nationalism in Judea, which he saw as the cause of the repeated rebellions. He then prohibited Torah law, the Hebrew calendar, executed Judaic scholars, and the sacred scrolls of Judaism were ceremonially burned. In an attempt to erase any memory of the name Israel, and in utter contempt, he erased and replaced the name Israel off the map withSyria Palaestina (from the original word “Philistine,” the traditional long-standing chief enemy of the Israelites).

The second attempt was undertaken during the reign of Emperor Diocletian who ruled from A.D. 284-305. This was called the Diocletanic Persecution (303–11), described as the empire’s last, largest, and bloodiest official persecution of Christianity.

But as a wise advanced planner, God is always ahead of man’s evil plans. For example, when Herod planned to kill all the male children in an effort to eliminate the Christ-child, Joseph was instructed earlier to bring his family to Egypt and stayed there until Herod was dead.

God’s four-fold advanced steps concerning the preservation of the Apostolic Writings were:

  1. The original apostles wrote their writings before the Roman persecutions began.
  2. Many copies of these were made and brought to regions beyond the Roman Empire.
  3. These “lost sheep of the house of Israel” preserved those Hebrew-Aramaic writings.
  4. Those writings stayed there until there was a change in the climate of persecutions.

These developments explain why the apostolic writings in the Hebrew-Aramaic language escaped even the double massive Roman Campaigns to destroy them. Of course, these scattered Israelite tribes were already in long possession of what is called the Old Testament Scriptures, being read by them every Sabbath (Acts 15:21). And as God’s miraculous back-up plan, most of these Old Testament Scriptures were providentially hidden in earthen jars at the Qumran caves near the shores of the Dead Sea, better known as the Dead Sea Scrolls. Indeed, God is never late in doing what needs to be done, and He is never outwitted by man’s evil plans (Psalms 2:1-5).

13. The Roman Empire’s Split Protected the Aramaic Writings

This major division of the Roman Empire happened during the reign of Constantine the Great. Because the eventual focus shifted on the rivalry between the Western Latin and the Eastern Greek factions of the empire, the Hebrew-Aramaic writings of the apostles were left undisturbed.

Some notable changes during Emperor Constantine’s reign were:

  1. Persecution of Christians eventually stopped when he adopted Pseudo Christianity.
  2. Pseudo Christianity was made the official state religion of the Roman Empire.
  3. Pseudo Christianity started to split into the Western and Eastern factions when Constantine divided Rome into the Western and Eastern Empires starting in A.D. 330.

According to biblical scholar Henry H. Halley, this great division was finally cemented by A.D. 395 when Rome officially adopted the Latin language for the Western Empire versus Constantinople (named after Constantine instead of its old name Byzantium) when it also adopted Greek as the official language for the Eastern empire (“Church History,” Halley’s Bible Handbook, H.H. Halley, Zondervan, p. 795).

This (about 1,600 years) old political and religious divide exists until today between the Roman Catholic Church of the West, and the Greek Orthodox Church of the East. This rivalry actually focuses more highly on the language competition between Latin versus Greek!

NOTE: This great competition to become the first and more dominant between the Western Latin Church and the Eastern Greek Church explains why the Latin Vulgate was the first to be printed by Johannes Gutenberg in the early 1500s, compared to the still conflicting Greek manuscripts which appeared very much later, but surprisingly still called after Latin names! (Source: Wikipedia: Movable Type)

14. Disturbing Conflicts Among Existing Greek Manuscripts

This is not to say that the Latin version has no problems. But when the Greek translated manuscripts eventually appeared, none of them agreed with each other! WHY?

First, very obviously, they were NOT translated from one original source document, but from various corrupted copies!

Secondly, all these Greek manuscripts had surprisingly Latin names! This fact alone clearly goes against what the apostle Paul stated as the strong marker for originality where he wrote that the “oracles [words] of God were committed to the Jews”—not to the Latin Romans nor even to the Greeks (Romans 3:1,2).

Thirdly, consider the places where these Greek manuscripts were found. They all had a long-standing history of Anti-Semitism (hatred against the Hebrew people). The following are the present popular versions called “Codex,” and named after the places where they were found:

We have one more version, which was the basis for the King James Bible version — the Textus Receptus (Received Text or Majority Text).

Wescott and Hort on the Textus Receptus

While most Christians became well-settled with the King James Version, the New Testament portion of which was translated from the Greek Textus Receptus, two noted theologians rocked this boat of stability when they pioneered a new study called Textual Criticism, which questioned all assumptions and ventured to revise even the Textus Receptus Greek translation!

These two controversial figures were Wescott and Hort, who in 1881 published their own New Testament in the Original Greek (coded: WH). In their work, these two scholars instead favored the Vaticanus and Sinaiticus manuscripts combined with Codex Bezae plus the Old Latin and the Old Syriac texts. But surprisingly and disturbingly, a newer version, the Nestle-Aland (coded: NU) contains 558 differences from the WH text! So, which version is now to be believed?

15. The Resulting Babel of Philosophies on Bible Translations

Today, we have a plethora of competing and somewhat disagreeing Bible translations. On this regard, it is important to know the reasons why such translations were made. For an exhaustive commentary on this Babel-like phenomenon, their background, and an evaluation of each translation, you may want to read the PDF version of a 281-page book, “Modern Bible Translations Unmasked.”

16. Anti-Semitism Clouded Bible Translation Accuracy

1. The Re-Arrangement of the Books in the New Testament

Most honest Bible scholars know this fact. And frankly, Anti-Semitism and Antinomianism are two of the hidden agenda why this rearrangement was made. Please note that after the Gospel accounts, the writings of the original apostles (who were actually called first) should follow the Book of Acts rather than being placed last. Paul’s letters should be placed last (1 Corinthians 15:8, 9). Did not the Bible say, “to the Jew first and then to the Greeks/Gentiles [or “Arameans” AENT, HRB]”? (Romans 1:16; 2:10). In effect, God also offered salvation to the Jews first, not to Gentiles [or Greeks] (John 4:19-22).

[NOTE: AENT = Aramaic English New Testament; HRB = Hebrew Roots Bible]

2. Ignoring the Original Language of the Gospel Accounts

Another sign of Anti-Semitism is ignoring, denying, and changing the original language of the Gospel accounts. Below is an authoritative testimony:

The material of our four Gospels is all Israeli and the language in which it was originally written is Aramaic, then the principal language of the land.

~Quoted from Our Translated Gospels, p. ix (1936) by Dr. Charles Cutler Torrey (one of the most capable Peshitta scholars), AENT, p.723

More details on New Testament Anti-Semitism, how it developed and who mainly caused it is described in greater detail in the Appendix section, page 915, of the AENT.

Since All the Greek Manuscripts Do Not Agree With One Another, What Then Was the Correct Original Manuscript Version?

17. There’s Proof that the Hebrew-Aramaic Language Was the Original

The Khabouris Codex is the oldest Peshitta Aramaic text available. It is not a translation, but the language Christ spoke in His day [NOTE: Peshitta simply means common, plain, simple, or straightforward].

NOTE: When the Khabouris Codex was found, the news article “US Library Gets an Ancient Bible” appeared in the New York Times on March 26, 1955 reporting on the oldest known New Testament Bible written in “the language used by Christ.” The article says that it was taken to the White House where then-President Dwight Eisenhower viewed it, together with then-Secretary of State John Foster Dulles. It was escorted via police motorcade and armed guards, along with much pomp to the Library of Congress. This Codex was said to have been insured for “an hour and a half” in the amount of $1,500,000 US dollars. This copy stayed in the Library of Congress until 24 June 1986, when it was transferred to the Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan, where it remains to this day.

Andrew Gabriel Roth, noted historian, scholar, and authority on Hebrew and Aramaic languages, stated in part in the Introduction to the Aramaic English New Testament (AENT):

It is common knowledge that Y’shua (Christ) and his original followers spoke Hebrew and Aramaic, but up until now the vast majority of Bible students have only had access to translations and versions of Greek texts.

NOTE: Andrew Gabriel Roth has access and studied the most ancient Aramaic text (in Hebrew letters) which were derived from the Khabouris Codex, one of 360 manuscripts that make up the Eastern Peshitta family. He said that the present Aramaic English translation of the volume is as literal as possible to the Aramaic and includes many footnotes that address significant differences between the earliest Aramaic and Greek versions. This Aramaic English New Testament is the most definitive English New Testament translation in nearly two thousand years.

Background Information on the Aramaic Text

Authenticity: The article from the New York Times, March 1955 issue says: “Scholars had examined the manuscript for the Library of Congress and pronounced it authentic.”

Age: The AENT website says “The Khabouris Manuscript is a copy of a Second Century New Testament, which was written in approximately 165 AD (internally documented as 100 years after the great persecution of the Christians by Nero, in 65 AD). Carbon dating has found this copy of the New Testament to be approximately 1,000 years old. Given its origins, this would make it a copy of the oldest known New Testament manuscript.”

Resources: 1) Unpublished writings of Abbott Gerrit Crawford, Ph.D., MSJ, Western-Rite Syrian Orthodox Church in America; 2) Fr. Michael Ryce, N.D., D.C.P.” Additional testimony is in http://hebrewnewtestament.com/khabouris.htm

Now, here is Irrefutable Internal Evidence on the Hebrew-Aramaic as the Original Language in the New Testament:

18. Names of Places in Israel Were in Hebrew-Aramaic

  • John 1:28 — Bethany (Beth-Anya or Bethabara). The word “Beth” is simply the Hebrew word for “house…” There are over 50 geographic places starting with “Beth” in Israel, which clearly shows that the language of the whole nation has always been Hebrew.
  • John 19:13 — Gabbatha [Griptha] (Hebrew and Aramaic for judgment seat or pavement)
  • John 19:17 — Golgotha [Gagultha] (Aramaic word for the place of the skull)
  • Acts 1:19 — Akel Dama (“Khagel-Dema” is the Aramaic word/phrase for “field of blood”)

19. Historical Events Were in the Hebrew-Aramaic Language

  • John 19:20 — Sign on the stake was written in Hebrew, Greek, Latin)
  • John 20:16 — Mary Magdalene exclaimed: “Rabboni” (Aramaic for Great Teacher)
  • Acts 21:40 — Paul spoke in Hebrew to the accusing Jerusalem crowd
  • Acts 22:2 — Crowd became very quiet when Paul began to speak in Hebrew

20. Internal Evidence of Aramaic Names, Phrases, and Idioms

The following words and phrases simply do NOT occur in the Greek language at all, and thus needed to be explained using another language by the use of parenthesis to be understood:

  • Abba [Aramaic for Father, Daddy] (Mark 14:36; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6)
  • Bar Yona [Bar-Jonah, Aramaic for the son of Jonah] (Matthew 16:17)
  • Benai Regesh [Boanerges, Aramaic for sons of thunder] (Mark 3:17)
  • Cephas [Aramaic “Keefas” meaning “stone” (John 1:42; 1 Corinthians 1:12; etc.)
  • Kurbuno [Corban, Aramaic meaning an offering for God] (Mark 7:11)
  • Momuno [mammon, Aramaic meaning riches] (Matthew 6:24)
  • Moran etha [Maranatha, Aramaic for our Lord comes soon] (1 Corinthians 16:22)
  • Nathan a el [Aramaic for God gave] (John 1:47)
  • Raca [Aramaic “reqa” meaning empty-headed, fool] (Matthew 5:22)
  • Tabitha [or Dorcas, Aramaic for gazelle] (Acts 9:36)
  • Talitha cumi [Aramaic for “Little girl, I say to you, arise”] (Mark 5:41)

21. Christ Spoke in Aramaic in His Last Moments of Agony

This final clincher PROOF was when Christ Himself was on the stake. Near His last moment of agony, Christ spoke in the Aramaic dialect of Hebrew when He said, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34).

NOTE: The original native speech of any man normally comes out at the moment of the most extreme crises — where all pretenses are cast aside. Here Christ clearly spoke in Aramaic!

22. The Voice From Heaven Still Spoke to Saul/Paul in Hebrew!

Many years later, when the still unconverted Saul/Paul was traveling with companions to Damascus to imprison believers there, at noonday, he was struck by a brilliant light which blinded him and threw him and his companions to the ground. And he heard a voice from heaven calling his name and which spoke to him with many instructions in the Hebrew language (Acts 26:14)!

23. Clues: The Rest of the New Testament Had Aramaic Originals

The writers of the New Covenant first made known the heavenly words to the Jews … in their native tongue, and afterward in the Greek language, but in doing so retained everywhere a flavor of Syriac [Aramaic].
~AENT, p. 725.

The “codeword” [password] of Paul is the AramaicMoran etho” [Maran atha], not only to authenticate his authorship amidst many spurious claims then, but also to demonstrate with sufficient proof that the speech of the first-century believers was then predominantly Aramaic (Prof. Neubuer, p. 54).
~AENT, p. 725.

Other Clues:

  • Use of “Abba” to the Gentile congregation in Rome (Romans 8:15)
  • Use of “Abba” to the Gentile congregation in Galatia (Galatians 4:6)
  • Use of “Maranatha” to the Gentile congregation in Corinth (1 Corinthians 16:22)
  • Mention of observing [kosher] “food or drink, festival, new moon, or Sabbath” among the Gentile congregation of Colossae is proof that these people were not only familiar with understanding the Hebrew Scriptures but were actually practicing these biblical [Hebrew] customs even during the “New Testament” period, and still being encouraged by Paul (Colossians 2:16).
  • Use of the equivalent of “Maranatha” (“even so, come Yahshua Yahweh [HRB]”) as previously addressed to the Seven Churches in Asia Minor (Revelation chapters 2 and 3; and in Revelation 22:20) is also proof that they understood Hebrew-Aramaic.
  • Likewise, as another proof, Luke clearly tells us that Moses [the Torah or the Hebrew Scriptures] was being read every Sabbath in all the synagogues in every city for a long time prior to, and even during the first century A.D. (Acts 15:21).

24. Mistranslated Accounts Based on the Greek text But Correct in the Aramaic Original

Camel Thru the Eye of a Needle?

The Aramaic word “Gamala” refers to a “heavy rope” rather than a “camel” which is both spelled: gimel-meem-lamed-alap. Greek scholars puzzled over this physical impossibility! The “heavy rope” lesson teaches the metaphorical need to “unravel” one’s fortune strand by strand first before one is able to enter God’s Kingdom (Matthew 24:19; Mark 10:25; Luke 18:25).

Did Simon the “Leper” Host a Party at His Home?

Matthew 26:6-7 talks about “Simon the Leper” hosting Christ together with many visitors for a meal at his home, where a woman also anoints Christ with a very expensive oil (perfume). This is an impossible scenario because even in Christ’s day, lepers are outcast from society (Leviticus 13:45-50). The simple solution to this puzzle is again a Greek misreading of the Aramaic word spelled: gimel-resh-beyt-aleph (GRBA). Since Hebrew and Aramaic have no vowels, it can be pronounced both as “gar-bah” which means “leper” or “gar-ah-bah” which means “jar-maker.” Obviously, this Simon was a successful “jar-maker” rather than an outcast “leper.”

25. There Are More Examples of Such Greek Textual Problems

The 424-page book, “Was the New Testament Really Written in Greek?” written by Raphael Lataster, compiles at least 152 specific discrepancies between the original Aramaic and the Greek text! You may access the website at http://www.aramaicpeshitta.com

There are also many other eminent Peshitta Aramaic scholars. Among some noted ones are Dr. George Lamsa, Dr. Rocco Errico, Dr. James Trimm, Glenn David Bauscher, Don Esposito, Andrew Gabriel Roth, Paul David Younan, Rob Vanhoff, plus many other unnamed ones.

Summary of the Evidence

Let us be reminded that:

  1. The original apostles took Christ’s instructions seriously, including going to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6). Christ mentioned about having “other sheep” which were not of that [Judean] fold then but will listen to His voice (John 10:16). To them, the apostles brought Christ’s message in their own Hebrew-Aramaic language to their distant lands.
  2. ALL the New Testament writers were Hebrews by blood, language, and culture. They went to their fellow Hebrew-Aramaic speaking peoples. Luke was actually a Semitic Greek, who long adopted the Hebrew way of life, and was also deeply converted. Otherwise, God would not have used him in such very special and powerful roles. His life was always in association with the Hebrew apostles and has been a constant traveling companion of the apostles, especially Paul. Thus, all the New Testament writers wrote in Hebrew-Aramaic.
  3. The original New Testament recipients of the writings were Hebrew God-fearers even if they dwelt in various far-off nations of the known world then (Acts 2:5-11). Therefore, why would a Hebrew, writing to another Hebrew, write in a completely foreign language? Since such is definitely illogical, the writings were obviously in the Hebrew-Aramaic language.
  4. The original believers (God-fearers) from nations in the known world then often visited Jerusalem which means they were familiar with the Hebrew and Aramaic language in that city. One special incident recorded by the gospel writer-historian Luke was on the Day of Pentecost when there was much more than a dozen nations and language groups gathered in Jerusalem (Acts 2:5-11).
  5. The Epistles of Paul were also addressed and sent to be read to the original core of early believers who were of Hebrew background, and therefore he wrote to them in their native Hebrew-Aramaic language. Paul’s letters were centuries later translated into Greek for the later generations, and for the rest of the world.
  6. Internal evidence shows that the preponderance of original Aramaic names of persons, places, phrases, and idioms needed to be interpreted into the Greek language. This clearly shows that Greek was NOT the original language used then.
  7. Comparing the Aramaic text with the Greek translation, the Aramaic is more accurate. Example: “Camel Through the Eye of a Needle” and “Simon the Leper,” etc.

Conclusion

We have just conclusively shown through this long article and its various links that indeed, the original language used in the New Testament was Hebrew-Aramaic as evidenced by many historical documents, plus numerous pieces of internal biblical evidence.

Therefore, the popular belief commonly taught that Greek was the original language of the New Testament is shown to be completely WITHOUT any basis or evidence whatsoever!

Appendix 1

One Added Commission (Matthew 28:19,20)

Go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you [plus a promise…]

NOTE: The “making” and “teaching” of disciples in all nations, was obviously possible only thru their writings, as we see now. It was simply impossible for all of them then (with each facing impending martyrdom), to physically go into all nations on earth (when not even all nations were formed yet). The word “even” is added, and the word “age” is substituted by the translators.

COMMENT: The “formula” for baptizing in the name of the “trinity” is a spurious (fake) addition invented by the Roman Catholic Church and inserted only toward the end of the second century. For full documentation of this fact, citing more than 50 pieces of historical evidence, please read the article on this website: “Has the Bible Been Tampered to Support a Certain Doctrine?

Appendix 2

Christ’s Life, Death, and Resurrection Were Known in Judea

Concerning the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ, the people of Jerusalem and Judea were already familiar with those events. Concerning events surrounding Christ’s birth, it was “widely known abroad” (Luke 2:17 KJV). Also, the events surrounding His miraculous deeds, His crucifixion, death, and resurrection became the talk of the town in Jerusalem when they happened, even as commented upon by a relative/disciple of Christ, named Cleopas (Luke 24:14,18).

Detailed Focus on Those Significant Events

Consider these surprising facts: When Christ was born in the middle of the night, as commanded by the angels, the shepherds had to go virtually from door to door inquiring for a baby that was born in a manger? (Luke 2:12). And when He was resurrected, long-dead saints miraculously arrived at many homes in Jerusalem, causing great unbelievable wonder to find out the main cause of this unusual event in the whole city that day (Matthew 27:52,53)!

Likewise, the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost caused “devout men from every nation under heaven” dwelling in Jerusalem that day to spread the news far and wide (“noised abroad”) about the day’s event (Acts 2:5,6 KJV).

Known Even to the Top Roman Authorities

Even at the highest level of the Roman government at that time, Paul mentioned that King Agrippa was an “expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews” (Acts 26:3). Considering the efficient intelligence-gathering-arm of the Roman government, Paul further stated before King Agrippa saying, “I am convinced that none of these things escapes his [King Agrippa’s] attention, since this thing was not done in a corner” and that Paul is somehow convinced that the King believes the prophets (Acts 26:26,27).

Appendix 3

Where Did the Israelite Tribes Go?

The Clue Is Revealed in the Letters of Peter and James:

James addressed his general letter “to the twelve tribes scattered abroad” (James 1:1).

Peter’s apostolic letter reveals where the “lost tribes of Israel” were located:

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,”
~1 Peter 1:1

If you look at most Bible maps, these stated regions are in the northern part of what is known as Asia Minor; located at the southern shores of the Black Sea. That geographical area is now part of modern-day Turkey.

Peter also greeted the scattered Jews left (or those who preferred to remain) in Babylon who also spoke the Hebrew and Aramaic language (1 Peter 5:12-14).

But Paul Preached Only in Southern Galatia

NOTE: Please know that there are two “Galatia” mentioned: the northern and the southern. Paul preached in southern Galatia area only in the cities of Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe (Acts 14).

Paul’s three missionary journeys did not include those northern regions of Asia Minor. In fact, there was one attempt of Paul to visit Mysia [in the northern region], but the Holy Spirit prevented him (Acts 16:7,8). Why?

Administratively, God designated the original apostles to concentrate on the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” [located in the northern regions], while the apostle Paul’s focus was on the Gentile lands [located in the southern regions] (Galatians 2:8). In his letter to the Romans, Paul said he was careful not to work in Israelite territory (Romans 15:20).

NOTE: Peter’s letter included the descriptive word “pilgrims” which means those Israelite tribes were strangers in those lands where they settled in (as Abraham was also a stranger in the land of Canaan). Further, Peter also used the descriptive word “Dispersion” which means those Israelite tribes were those previously uprooted from their native land of Israel by the Neo-Assyrian conquest many centuries earlier (2 Kings 17:23b).

This phenomenon exactly fulfills the prophecy of Balaam where the tribes of Israel continued to remain as “strangers and pilgrims” in the lands where they went to occupy when he said:

From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights I view them. I see a people who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations.
~Numbers 23:9, NIV

More details on this big topic are contained in the article: “Where Did the Twelve Apostles Go?” by Dr. Herman L. Hoeh.

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