Coptic Ostracon with Psalm 1 discussed and compared to Ancient Translations

koot van wyk Seoul South Korea 21 February 2009


On the 27th of May 1991, while at Andrews University, this researcher worked on an ostracon that was discovered at Der-al-Bahari and which was presented to the Egyptian Exploration Fund in 1900. It was published by H. R. Hall in 1906. The source for BM Ostracon 33127 is this book by H. R. Hall, Coptic and Greek Texts of the Christian Period from Ostraka, Stelae, etc. in the British Museum (London: British Museum, 1906), 74-75.

The context when these ostraca originated describes the period of the history of Imperial Rome between 500 and 600 CE. It includes the starting period of 538 CE with Justinian who with his notorious wife, Theodora, started interest in Theology more than in being a soldier. "Corrupt theologian" is probably a better term for Justinian from that year onwards. He changed his coins to depict him no longer with soldier weapons but with a cross in the hand. Also he added dating to his coin in that year, which was not there before. In Daniel 7, it is predicted that the 1260 years of reign would start from 538 CE and this was the "Little Horn" period when the Catholic Church gain the upper hand in Imperial Rome affairs to such an extend that it became the Holy Roman Empire.

This Ostracon originated during those times. There were official persecution as Hall makes clear in his introduction.

This researcher presents the results in his handwriting. He does not have the luxury of Harvard professors to have typists or assistants typing his manuscripts nor excessive funds and stipendia from the Administration to fund such works. Thus the annoying deciphering process.

What does one need to study this?

The Gottingen Edition of the Septuagint by A. Ralphs 1979. Hall's book with the ostracon. Patience and a love for old things. Kenneth Strands article in AUSS "A Further Note on the Sabbath in Coptic Sources" AUSS 6 (July 1968): 150ff. An online article by Robert Kraft on Sabbath in the Coptic sources. Greek and Coptic dictionaries. An elementary understanding at least of Coptic.

It was the purpose to compare the variants of the Ostracon BM 33127 with other Ancient Translations to see to what tradition the writer adheres.

These were the years when this researcher was not yet sure what textcritical theory to formulate but now looking back, this researcher may on some points have given a different explanation since he discovered his own textcritical paradygm that does not compare to the modern conventional one. Whereas the modern textcritical theory is eclectic in nature and procedure, this researcher prefers a standard text theory with the consonantal text of the Masoretic tradition as the main source.

Coptic of Psalm 1 Van Wyk a.jpgCoptic of Psalm 1 Van Wyk Notes (2).jpgCoptic of Psalm 1 Van Wyk Notes (3).jpgCoptic of Psalm 1 Van Wyk c.jpgCoptic of Psalm 1 Van Wyk Notes (5).jpg