What is Aramaic Primacy?

Answer

The concept of Aramaic Primacy is informally used to suggest that the original language of the New Testament was not Koine Greek but a form of Aramaic. This idea is more commonly known as “Peshitta Primacy,” which refers to the ancient Aramaic texts of the Bible, specifically the Peshitta collection. The Aramaic Primacy Theory differs significantly from the consensus among historians and scholars of the New Testament, who maintain that the initial writings of the New Testament were indeed in Greek. While some researchers propose that the Gospels of Mark and Matthew may have been influenced by earlier Aramaic sources, the assertions of Aramaic Primacy extend beyond this.

Certain religious groups uphold Aramaic Primacy as a matter of faith, such as the Assyrian Church of the East. George Lamsa, an advocate of the Nestorian heresy, played a key role in promoting the idea that the New Testament was originally penned in Aramaic. Similar to other perspectives that challenge mainstream scholarship, Aramaic/Peshitta Primacy is mainly championed by a single individual, in this instance, Lamsa. Both Lamsa’s contemporaries and subsequent scholars have noted his tendency to conflate then-contemporary Syriac with ancient Aramaic, two closely related languages. Particularly concerning is Lamsa’s translation of the Bible from Aramaic, which was fully published in 1957. His translation is deemed inaccurate and includes subtle alterations to the text that undermine key doctrines such as the Trinity and the divinity of Christ, among others.

Scholars specializing in textual analysis have scrutinized the Peshitta and identified clear indications of influence from later translations. The dialect employed in the Peshitta belongs to a period subsequent to that of Jesus and His disciples. The Peshitta contains expressions that mask wordplay and metaphor, characteristics expected in a translation but not in an original manuscript. The extensive array of biblical manuscripts available shows that the Peshitta has undergone multiple revisions and updates over time.

Being able enables the recognition of differences, translation options, and more, across different periods and locations. To clarify, all existing indications suggest that the Peshitta is a subsequent translation, not an initial document. The concept of Peshitta Primacy, or Aramaic Primacy, lacks backing from evidence or academic research. Contrary to the customary belief of Syriac congregations, specific factions of Messianic Judaism, and the Hebrew Roots Movement, the New Testament was not initially penned in Aramaic.