The theory of “inspired translation” and its criticism by St Jerome of Stridon

The article deals with the question of miraculous origin of the Septuagint and the theory of “inspirational translation”. The author considers the testimonies from the “Epistles of Aristeas to Philocrates”, writings of Aristobulus, Josephus Flavius, and especially Philo of Alexandria, who for first time formulated the theory of “inspirational translation” and equated the translators of the Septuagint to the prophets. Further the development of this theory is analyzed in writings of Early Christian authors of the II - III centuries, such as St. Justin, Clement of Alexandria, St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Tertullian, and in the “Cohortation to the Gentiles”. The author demonstrates that the legend of the origin of the Septuagint as the “inspired translation”, founded by Alexandrian Jews, reached its highest point in Fathers of the Church who viewed it as sacred tradition of the Church. The only Christian author who was critical of this tradition was St. Jerome of Stridon, who in the process of studying the question of the relationship between the Hebrew text of the Old Testament and his different Greek translations, came to conclusion that the Septuagint was not inspired and can only be used as one of different translations of the Bible...