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The Bible: Exploring Facts and Myths About the Word of God  /  The Apostle's Bible (Part 1)  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 8
Bercot points to hostile Jewish crowds and institutions (John 6 quoting Ps 78; Stephen before the Sanhedrin using “75 souls” from Gen 46:27) as evidence that the Septuagint was familiar even in Palestine. How does that historical claim challenge common narratives about “the Jews preserved the Hebrew text perfectly, so Christians should default to it,” and what motives—good or bad—might cause Christians to resist that challenge?
Another way to ask: If the Septuagint was common even in Palestine, how does that challenge the claim that the Hebrew text was perfectly preserved and should always be the default? Why might Christians—good reasons or bad—resist that idea?

Direct Answer Bercot’s claim challenges the idea that the Hebrew-based Masoretic tradition was the obvious, universally recognized standard in Jesus’ day, since even opponents and the Sanhedrin appear comfortable with Septuagint readings. He suggests resistance often comes from “man-made tradition” and scholarly bias rather than from the New Testament evidence itself.

Support from Transcript:

  • John 6:30-31: a hostile crowd quotes “He gave them bread from heaven to eat,” matching Septuagint Ps 78:24 (“gave them the bread of heaven”), not the Masoretic wording (“grain of heaven”).
  • Acts 7:14: Stephen tells the Sanhedrin Jacob’s kindred were “75 souls,” while Masoretic Gen 46:27 says “70”; Septuagint says “75 souls.”
  • Bercot reasons Stephen would not use “75” on trial for his life if their Bible said “70,” implying the court knew the Septuagint.
  • He concludes the Septuagint was “the common Bible” even among first-century Jews in Palestine, though “the Masoretic text was also around.”
  • He criticizes scholars who acknowledge the apostles used the Septuagint but still “follow man-made tradition” and return to the Masoretic, sometimes writing “disparagingly” about the Septuagint.
Discussion Follow-ups Are we resisting the Septuagint because of evidence, or because we are used to a particular tradition of what feels “more original”?

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