FF00,0000,0000> From: "Steve Puluka" <<0000,8000,0000spuluka@hotmail.comFF00,0000,0000> > Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 02:57:20 PDT > > >From: Polychroni <<0000,8000,0000upb_moniodis@ONLINE.EMICH.EDUFF00,0000,0000> > > > >The LXX text of the psalm, repeated in the NT is: > > > >EULOHMENOS hO ERCOMENOS EN ONOMATI KURIOU > > > >Which I read as saying: > > > >Blessed [be] the Coming One in the name of the Lord. > > > >Not meaning that the Coming One comes in the name of the Lord, but > >that the Coming One is blessed [by us] in the name of the Lord. > > > Psalm 117:26 (118:26) is sung during the Liturgy of St.John Chrysostom > in the Orthodox tradition right before we receive communion. The > Priest presents the chalice with the bread and wine to the people and > declares "Approach with the fear of God and with faith!" The people > respond "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! God the Lord >has revealed Himself to us!" Clearly then, it is God the Lord who comes to us, and not something present only in His name. I may come in the name of King, but that doesn't make me the King.FF00,0000,0000 > > This Psalm verse is also used as the Prokeimenon to introduce the > epistle reading on Palm Sunday and on Theophany. Theophany is January > 6 and is the celebration of the Baptism of Jesus and the revelation of > the Trinity. > > This verse is also used as the communion hymn on Palm Sunday. We sing > this while the Priest and Deacons receive communion at the altar. > > Finally, on the Sunday after the Theophany this is the verse that we > sing during the little entrance. This is when the Gospel book is > brought through the Church and placed back on the altar. This is a > symbol for Christ coming to the world and returning to heaven. > > The Old Slavonic translation of the Greek reads: > > Blahosloven hrjadyj vo imja Hospodne. > > But we have recently seen that the Old Slavonic translations are not > necessarily accurate. I don't know Old Slavonic (or any Slavic language) so I can't speak to it; but the present translator of the "Lives of the Saints" from Old Slavonic to English tells me that the Old Slavonic sheds no light on the question.FF00,0000,0000 > However, since this verse in the Septuagint is very seen by the early > Church as speaking about Christ and his mission to earth, I tend to > doubt your reading in this case. The connection to both the Theophany > revelation and the Entrance as the King into Jerusalem tend to support > the traditional reading of this verse. These commemorations on Palm Sunday and Theophany seems to argue against the point your making, per St. John Chrysostom's _Commentary on n the Psalms_ (cf. ET, Vol II, Ps. 118), the point is that HE IS THE LORD, and not that he's someone coming in His name.FF00,0000,0000 > >PS. I have consulted the > commentaries of St. John Chrysostom (both on Matthew & the Psalms) and > St. Theophylactos (c. 1000 AD) and did not find support for the > traditional interpretation that "in the name of the Lord" modifies the > "Coming One." > I concur that Chrysostom would be an important witness to > the readings of the LXX Psalms. His text of the Divine Liturgy is > liberally peppered with Psalm quotes and allusions and this verse is > part of the standard text. Unfortunately, my scripture index of > Chrysostom does not list 117:26 (118:26) as cited in any of his > Homilies. Could you supply the name of the Homily and the chapter > reference? Homilies on Matthew, LXVI.3, where he remarks on the level of thought of the Jews on greeting His entry. (Mt 21:10-11, he passes over v. 9 entirely)FF00,0000,0000 0000,0000,0000Polychroni N. Moniodis Ypsilanti, Michigan --- B-Greek home page: http://sunsite.unc.edu/bgreek You are currently subscribed to b-greek as: [cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu] To unsubscribe, forward this message to leave-b-greek-329W@franklin.oit.unc.edu To subscribe, send a message to subscribe-b-greek@franklin.oit.unc.edu