Suggestive Readings from the Syriac New Testament [pp. 650-660]

SYRIAC NEW TESTAM3fENT.
Syriac deliver me, Prukaini, and not give me life, akhaini. And
thus also our Lord himself in John xii. 27, "Father, save me
from this hour," uses the former of the two words denoting deliverance, "Father, deliver me from this hour." The same fact
is noticeable also, 3Iatt. xxvii. 40, MAk. xv. 30, where the people
cry, "Scave thyself and come down from the cross;" as also in
Matt. xxvii. 49, "Let be, let us see whether Elias will come and
save him," where we have the second of the two words denoting deliverance: "Let us see whether Elias will come and
rescute, deliver him," (L'miprk'eh). In some passages indeed
there would seem to be a confusion of usage, by which khaiee
to live, or ac/lee to give life, is used where Pari7c or Pasee to
deliver, might more reasonably be expected; and yet, in almost
every case, a probable reason for the choice may be found.
Thus in Acts xxvii. 43, "The centurion willing to save Paul"wishing Padl to live. In Matt. xxvii. 42, MIk. xv. 31, Lu. xxiii.
35, "He saved others, himself he cannot save;" "let him save
himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God," it is easy to see
the effect and evidence of the distinctive use of khaiee, akhee,
qcket, give lee, by Christ himself in speaking of his saving
work. It is as though, familiar with his custom and taunting
him with his own words, they said, "He gave life to others,
but himself is dying, he cannot give life to himself."
A similar usage, and similarly suggestive, though not by any
means so general, is to be observed in the words translated
Saviour. Of these by far the most frequent is J(lckhiyana (Jews)
the verbal noun from khaiee, to live or to cause to live, and thus
bearing the meaning of quickened, giver of life, or life giver.
Thus in Jn. iv. 47, "We have heard him ourselves, and do
know that this is the Christ, the quickener or life giver of the
world." The other term for Saviour (Par/cka), the verbal noun
from Parik, to deliver, occurs about half as many times, some times indeed where the other would naturally, according to the
thought, have been expected.
The modern Syriac is equally unfortunate with the English
version, in this, that the translators, not apparently observing
the usage, or the reason lor it, have frequently substituted the
latter for the former, so that in many passages the life giver is
made to disappear, and the simple deliverer becomes prominent,
as it is not in the ancient version. It is hardly necessary to;
1874.]
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