Aramaic Light on the Gospel of Matthew [Paperback]

George M. Lamsa (Author), Rocco A. Errico (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 2000

This inimitable commentary carries you back almost two thousand years, providing a clear perspective of Jesus in the light of his own language, people and times. It acts as a Near Eastern guide, taking you through the heart of the gospel, illuminating difficult and puzzling passages and offering unparalleled insight into the character and behavior of Near Eastern Semites. Dr. Errico has not only edited, expanded and annotated Dr. Lamsa's commentaries, Gospel Light and More Light on the Gospel; he has also added information derived from his continual research in Aramaic word meanings and Near Eastern Studies and completed unpublished material that the two of them had only outlined just before Dr. Lamsa's death in 1975.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...solid Gospel wisdom, based on the language and culture in the Near East of the First century. -- Frank C.Tribbe, Journal Editor: Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship

Aramaic Light on the Gospel of Matthew is superb. -- Rev. Carol E. Parrish-Harra, Sancta Sophia Seminary

Most challenging and informative creation. Excellent! We are telling all our St. Thomas Christians about this vital resource. -- Patriarch Mar Joseph Vredenburgh, The Federation of St. Thomas Christians

About the Author

Rocco A. Errico, Th.D., D.D., is an ordained minister, author and lecturer and one of the nation's leading biblical scholars working from the original Aramaic texts. Dr. Errico is the recipient of numerous awards and academic degrees, including a doctorate in Letters from the College of Seminarians, The Apostolic Succession of Antioch and the Church of the East—American See, a doctorate in Divinity from St. Ephrem's Institute in Sweden, and a doctorate in Philosophy from the School of Christianity in Los Angeles. For ten years he studied intensively with Dr. George M. Lamsa, world-renowned native Assyrian scholar of the Scriptures. In 1970 Dr. Errico established the Noohra Foundation, which is dedicated to helping people of all faiths to understand the Near Eastern background and Aramaic interpretation of the Bible.

George M. Lamsa, Th.D. (1892-1975), was born in a civilization with customs, manners and language almost identical to those in the time of Jesus. His native tongue was full of similar idioms and parables, untouched by the outside world in 1900 years. Dr. Lamsa's formal education began under the priests and deacons of the ancient Church of the East and he later graduated with the highest honors ever bestowed from the Archbishop of Canterbury's Colleges in Iran and in Turkey. After arriving in the United States, he devoted his life to translating the Holy Bible from the Ancient Eastern Text and also authored numerous biblical commentaries

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Noohra Foundation (May 15, 2000)
• ISBN-10: 0963129260
• ISBN-13: 978-0963129260
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #907,618 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I almost said: Fun to read!, May 15, 2001

By 

Hans-Juergen Maurer (Freiburg Deutschland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Aramaic Light on the Gospel of Matthew (Paperback)

This book is called a commentary and that's exactly what it is. But don't be fooled: if you think commentaries must be dry and boring, you should read this book. I'd even recommend you to take this book on your holidays, because it is not only extremely learned but also written so wonderfully well that you almost think it is entertainment. Jesus and his times become alive. Customs, traditions and idioms are explained and not only that, Dr. Rocco Errico, Master student of the world renowned Assyrian Scholar George Lamsa (Lamsa-Bible!) translated the Gospel of Matthew anew considering exactly the mentioned idioms, the psychology, the customs and most importantly: the Aramaic language, which was Jesus' language. I am a translator myself, nothing sophisticated, "just" English into German, but I see the problem of translating idioms, how quickly one is trapped as a translator. How much more difficult must it be if you translate from Aramaic into Greek into Latin into English. And even more a few thousand years ago! Yes, I know, the common opinion is that sacred scriptures have only survived in the Greek language. But this is not true. But that's beside the point here. Important is that Biblical scholars nowadays acknowledge at least that the Gospels were originally written in Aramaic (even if they don't believe we still have these manuscripts, but we do). A doctor of Theology in Germany admitted to me a while ago that biblical scholars indeed do re-translate the Greek text into Aramaic and then certain passages begin to make sense. But again, Lamsa and Errico do not base their work on re-translations from Greek into Aramaic, not at all! The Church of the East always had the old manuscripts, handed down from their author's times, unaltered, but meticulously copied and kept well (read New Testament Origins by Lamsa). "Aramaic Light on the Gospel of Matthew" is scientifically founded stuff, alive, fascinating - a real page turner.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Readable, scholarly, and practical, January 23, 2006

By 

Dr. C. H. Roberts (USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Aramaic Light on the Gospel of Matthew (Paperback)

As a seminary graduate and having studied Greek and Hebrew, I have found Dr Errico's book on Matthew (and all of his other works) excellent additions to my library. In my work I regularly do research and prepare lectures from the Bible and other religious texts, and Dr. Errico's scholarly yet practical writting style is immensely helpful. There is indeed true and real light thrown onto the words of Jesus when they are read and understood in the language which he, himself, spoke. I find Dr Errico's comments and applications of the text wonderfully encouraging. Thank you, Dr Errico!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mind Expanding, January 11, 2007

By 

happygal "happy" (Paradise) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aramaic Light on the Gospel of Matthew (Paperback)

He was from the Middle East,studied at Oxford and came home and reinterpreted the text understanding the idioms of the language
that no westerner could.
Mind blowing.Mind Expanding.A must read.