To the Household of God, Israel, and all those who go with... may you have peace!
On occasion I have been directed to post statements that some of the books of the NT (those by Matthew, John, James and Jude, including Hebrews, which was written by John, not Paul) were not originally written in Greek, but Aramaic. The reason most believe that Greek was in fact the original language of the entire NT is because most of what Paul wrote was written in Greek; however, this wasn't because Paul's primary language was Greek; it was because those Paul was sent to were primarily "Greek-speaking." Paul was a Roman, true (the city he was from, Tarsus, was under Roman rule), and the language of Rome at that time was Greek (the Greeks had been the previous world power and so most people spoke Greek; indeed, much of the Roman culture and beliefs had their origins in the Greek culture and beliefs). However, he was educated in the Law in Jerusalem, under Gamaliel.
In Jerusalem, and particularly in the school of the Law, however, the Jews primarily spoke Hebrew as their first languge. True, a few spoke Greek (merchants, etc., and their households), but doing so was considered as "selling out," per se, so that the majority stuck to Hebrew, particularly when it came to communmicating with one another. Matthew was among these, as was John... as was Paul. Until recently, I was only aware of Matthew and John; however, given a recent discussion on the matter with a dear one on another thread, where I asked that one to be patient, I have now been directed to the following rcorded at Acts 21:37-22:3 with regard to Paul:
"... as he was about to be led into the soldier's quarters, Paul said to the military commander, 'Am I allowed to say something to you?' He [the commander] said: 'Can you speak Greek?'"
Now, the fact that the commander asked Paul this indicates that Paul had NOT addressed him in Greek, but some other language. Why is this noteworthy? Because the commander... was a Roman and most probably spoke GREEK. If Greek were Paul's FIRST language, then certainly he would addressed a man of station such as Claudius Lysias, in that man's native tongue. Acts 23:26
Claudius then asks whether Paul is not in fact an Egyptian, to which Paul responded:
"I am, in fact, a Jew, of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. So I beg you, permit me to speak to the people."
So, okay, no big deal... yet. It is what is stated next that is of import:
"After he gave permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, motion with his hand to the people. When a great silence fell, he addressed them... IN HEBREW LANGUAGE, saying: 'Men, brothers and fathers, hear my defense to you now.' (Well, when they heard he was addressing them IN THE HEBREW LANGUAGE, they kept all the more silent and he said:) 'I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia... BUT EDUCATED IN THIS CITY AT THE FEET OF GAMALIEL, instructed ACCORDING TO THE STRICTNESS OF THE ANCESTRAL LAW...'"
This should be enough to help us understand what Paul's first language was, that it was Hebrew and not Greek. But it is Paul's words at Acts 26:14, as recorded by Luke, that make it clear:
"And when we had all fallen to the ground I heard a voice say to me IN THE HEBREW LANGUAGE, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'"
The word from my Lord, dear ones, and so the TRUTH, is that certain books of the NT were in fact originally written in Aramaic (Hebrew) and later translated to Greek. In order to be "consistent" (and "decrease opportunity for [further] confusion") the canon compilers chose to include ONLY the Greek versions, rather than both the Greek AND Hebrew versions. Both of which exist today.
I have shared this truth with you, just as it was given me by the Holy Spirit, my Lord, JAHESHUA MISCHAJAH, Son and Christ of the MOST Holy One of Israel, JAH of Armies... in a manner for those who need to see it in writing. May you now have ears to hear... and put faith in... the Spirit when HE speaks.
I bid you all peace!
YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,
SA