About Us

What is the Septuagint?

The Septuagint is the earliest Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible and the first major work of religious translation in history. It provides us with a significant window into the Jewish understanding of the Scriptures in the three centuries before the time of Jesus. Furthermore, it was the version of the Old Testament studied by the Church as it spread throughout the Graeco-Roman world and became distinguished from Judaism. The majority of Old Testament quotations in the New Testament are from this Greek translation. So the Septuagint functions as a unique bridge between Judaism and Christianity in relation to the interpretation of the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament, and it serves as the basic canon of the Old Testament for early patristic exegesis.

The Septuagint Institute at TWU

For many years, the University of Toronto was the recognized centre for Septuagint research in Canada, but since the recent discontinuation of the program in Septuagint Studies in Toronto the torch has been passed to Trinity Western University. On September 17, 2005, TWU and ACTS seminaries launched the Septuagint Institute—a hub for Septuagint research, including various translation and publication projects.

In Toronto, Septuagint Studies flourished under Prof. John Wevers and Prof. Albert Pietersma. Since their retirement, these world-renowned scholars have bequeathed their extensive and valuable personal libraries to support Septuagint research at TWU/ACTS. Additional resources for textual research include high-resolution digital images of more than forty Ge'ez codices and scrolls, generously donated by Prof. Stephen Delamarter of George Fox University.

At TWU/ACTS, the Septuagint Institute serves as a base from which to coordinate research resources, specific learning initiatives, scholarly colloquia, symposia geared to the larger university/seminary communities and the general public, applications for research funding, and publication projects. This Institute provides a context for both resident and visiting scholars to explore issues of hermeneutics, translation, semantics, and intertextuality. Master’s degree students in TWU’s Biblical Studies program and at ACTS have the opportunity to take courses, participate in seminars, and conduct thesis research in the area of Septuagint Studies.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Septuagint Institute (SI) on the campus of Trinity Western University (TWU) and the Associated Canadian Theological Schools (ACTS)—TWU’s Graduate School of Theological Studies—is to promote research in the Septuagint, the Old Greek version of the Jewish Scriptures and the Bible of many early Christians including the authors of the New Testament, with a particular focus on hermeneutical issues related to this biblical version.