Episode 45: Suddenly Then Gradually with Edmon Gallagher

The conversation with Edmon Gallagher explores the growth and expansion of the Septuagint and its canon. The Septuagint refers to the Greek translation of the Old Testament, specifically the Torah. The traditional story is that King Ptolemy commissioned 70 Jewish scholars to translate the Torah from Hebrew into Greek. However, Gallagher argues that the Septuagint initially referred only to the Torah and later expanded to include other books. He discusses the sudden expansion of the Septuagint in the second century AD and the gradual growth that followed. The conversation also touches on the concept of canon and the different perspectives of Christians and Jews. The conversation explores the themes of the Septuagint, the Vulgate, and the canonization of biblical texts. It discusses the historical context of the Septuagint and its role as a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. The Vulgate, Jerome's Latin translation, is also examined, along with its status as the official Bible of the Roman Catholic Church. The conversation delves into the debates and arguments surrounding the inspired status of these translations. It concludes by highlighting the importance of understanding ancient perspectives on the Septuagint and the canon.