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Armenian version

bible_version theological_term standard

An ancient Armenian translation of the Bible, important for Armenian church history and for the study of biblical transmission and textual history.

At a Glance

A historic Armenian translation of Scripture used in the Armenian Christian tradition.

Key Points

Description

The Armenian version refers to the historic translation of the Scriptures into the Armenian language. It belongs to the history of Bible translation and Christian reception rather than to doctrine in the strict sense. For readers of Scripture, it is relevant because early versions can illuminate how biblical texts were read, copied, and disseminated in different Christian communities. As with other ancient versions, care should be taken not to overstate what the translation proves about the original Hebrew or Greek text without supporting textual evidence.

Biblical Context

Scripture was translated and received across many languages as the gospel spread beyond its earliest Jewish and Greek-speaking settings. The Armenian version reflects that wider history of Bible translation and use.

Historical Context

The Armenian version is associated with the Christianization of Armenia and the development of Armenian Christian literature. It is valued in church history and in textual criticism as one witness to the Bible’s transmission.

Jewish and Ancient Context

It is not a Jewish source, but like other ancient versions it can help illuminate the broader world in which biblical texts were copied, translated, and read across the ancient Near East and Mediterranean world.

Original Language Note

The term refers to an Armenian-language translation of Scripture; it is not an original biblical-language term.

Theological Significance

Its theological significance is indirect: it bears on how Scripture was preserved, translated, and used in the life of the church, but it does not define a doctrine.

Philosophical Explanation

Ancient translations matter because meaning is communicated through language, and faithful translation can preserve the sense of the source text while serving new readers in their own tongue.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not assume every wording in an ancient version exactly reflects the Hebrew or Greek original. Textual conclusions should be drawn with comparison to the source languages and other manuscript witnesses.

Major Views

There are no major doctrinal views attached to the term itself; differences concern the date, textual character, and significance of the translation.

Doctrinal Boundaries

The Armenian version is a historical Bible translation, not inspired Scripture in the same sense as the biblical autographs. It should be used as a witness to textual history, not as a replacement for the Hebrew and Greek texts.

Practical Significance

It helps pastors, students, and scholars understand how the Bible was translated and received in an ancient Christian culture, and it can aid careful textual study.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Armenian version

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