Aramaic Light on the Gospel of John [Paperback]

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

Book Description

Publication Date: September 22, 2002

Aramaic Light on the Gospel of John, like its predecessors Aramaic Light on the Gospel of Matthew and Aramaic Light on the Gospels of Mark and Luke, carries you back into the Near Eastern, Semitic times of Jesus of Nazareth. It is unique in that it provides insight into the Aramaic language and Semitic customs of almost two thousand years ago. If you instinctively shy away from "commentaries"—This one will surprise you. No dull theological seminary textbook, the approach is simple, informative, and scholarly, without using specialized theological terminology. This inimitable commentary acts a Near Eastern guide, revealing to the Western mind a more intimate picture of the socio-religious and psychological environment of the period. It offers an understanding of the character and behavior of Near Eastern Semites. This is the field of Dr. Errico's and Dr. Lamsa's research and expertise. They bring clarification to many misunderstood passages and sayings of Jesus. Learn the Semitic meanings behind such terms as "the Word," "Light," "Life," "Christ." Understand what Jesus meant when he said "No man comes to the Father except through me" and many other sayings that appear to be sectarian and exclusive. This volume is more than a revision of Dr. Lamsa's commentaries, Gospel Light, 1936, and More Light on the Gospel, 1968. Dr. Errico has edited, expanded and annotated these previous works in the new format that Dr. Lamsa desired. In addition, this book contains unpublished material that the two of them outlined just before Dr. Lamsa died in 1975. Dr. Errico completed these comments and has added information derived from his continual research in Near Eastern Semitic studies.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

DR. ROCCO A. ERRICO, Ph.D., D.D., is an ordained minister, author and lecturer and one of the nations'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 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: 284 pages
• Publisher: Noohra Foundation (September 22, 2002)
• ISBN-10: 0963129287
• ISBN-13: 978-0963129284
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #423,756 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wisdom and Truth, Personification of God's Creative Mind-Energy, June 10, 2006

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Donna Gordon "lost in wonderland" (Orofino, Idaho USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Aramaic Light on the Gospel of John (Paperback)

This book is like fresh air! Breathe in wisdom and understanding. Clear and lucid are the teachings of Jesus when you find them in his own language, Aramaic.

If you like reading about Hidden Gospels, and Lost Books of Christianity, and Wisdom teaching, then this book is a definite must-read. A civilization with customs, manners and language almost identical to those in the time of Jesus with similar idioms and parables, and untouched by the outside world for 1900 years was home to author George M. Lamsa. Only at the beginning of the 20th century did his isolated segment of the once great Assyrian Empire learn of the discovery of America and the Reformation in Germany. Likewise, this early culture of early Christians was unknown to the Western world, and the Aramaic language was thought to be dead. But in this so-called "Cradle of Civilization" in the basin of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, primitive biblical customs and Semitic culture, cut off from the world, were preserved.

This book is a treasure chest of gems of new understanding and insight. In John 20:22, we read that Jesus blew his breath on his disciples: "He breathed on them." This means that he encouraged them. It seems that it is a rope, rather than a camel, that has such difficulty going through the eye of a needle.

Easy to read and enjoyable and very informative, this book is definitely one you should have in your library.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Aramaic Light on the Gospel of John, September 23, 2004

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Nathan Hui "Nathan Hui" (ON Canada) - See all my reviews

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

Not really a commentary. It provides easy-to-understand Aramaic backgrounds on the text of the Gospel of John, especially for non-Aramaic readers. However, one has to be open-minded and ready to accept new concepts when reading the book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutly outstanding, September 4, 2007

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E. Bonny "On the path" (NJ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Aramaic Light on the Gospel of John (Paperback)

Mr. Errico absolutely sheds Great Light and Understanding on the Gospel of John. His insights plus blend of Aramaic customs and idioms absolutly solidify what the Christ was teaching...