Does κτίστης Mean “Creator”? The Lexeme κτι- and Its Implications in the Greek-Hellenistic Context
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Barbara Schmitz
Abstract
It is well known that the Bible speaks of God as the creator of the world (Gen 1:1-2:3; 2:4-3:26; Ps 8; 19; 104; Job 38; Isa 43:16- 21; 65:17-18 etc.). Besides these important texts, God is called κτίστης in the Septuagint (LXX). Traditionally, the expression κτίστης is rendered as “creator”. The paper argues that the Greek-Hellenistic context for κτίστης is not primarily the theology of creation, but the very specific Hellenistic concept of kingship in which the Hellenistic king as the κτίστης has the specific role of founding cities. The paper explores this meaning in the book of Judith, 2 and 4 Maccabees, the Letter of Aristeas and Genesis 14.
Abstract
It is well known that the Bible speaks of God as the creator of the world (Gen 1:1-2:3; 2:4-3:26; Ps 8; 19; 104; Job 38; Isa 43:16- 21; 65:17-18 etc.). Besides these important texts, God is called κτίστης in the Septuagint (LXX). Traditionally, the expression κτίστης is rendered as “creator”. The paper argues that the Greek-Hellenistic context for κτίστης is not primarily the theology of creation, but the very specific Hellenistic concept of kingship in which the Hellenistic king as the κτίστης has the specific role of founding cities. The paper explores this meaning in the book of Judith, 2 and 4 Maccabees, the Letter of Aristeas and Genesis 14.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Abbreviations VII
- Introduction 1
- Zum Gedenken an Otto Kaiser (1924–2017) 5
- In Memory of Alexander A. Di Lella (1929–2019) 9
- Heaven: Use, Function and Content of a Cosmic Concept 13
- Does κτίστης Mean “Creator”? The Lexeme κτι- and Its Implications in the Greek-Hellenistic Context 35
- Cosmos and Creation in Job 38 (Septuagint) 55
- Cosmic Events in the First and Last Additions to the Greek Text of the Book of Esther 77
- “Bless the Lord, Winter Cold and Summer Heat”. Cosmos and Creation in Greek Daniel 3:52–90 91
- Epiphanies: Cosmic Transcendence in 2 Maccabees 111
- “Gold from Heaven” in 2 Maccabees 129
- Creation and Humanity in the Book of Ben Sira 149
- Polarities in Creation (Sir 33:7–15) 179
- A Theology of the Creator and His Creation in Sir 42:15–25 201
- Creation and Cosmos in Greek Sirach 18:1–10 223
- Cosmos and Empire in the Wisdom of Solomon 245
- Creation and History in the Structure of the Book of Wisdom. ἡ κτίσις … ὑπηρετοῦσα (Wis 16:24) 271
- Philosophical Ideas about Cosmos and Creation in the Book of Wisdom 297
- God’s Conflict with the Chaos Monster in the Book of Tobit 319
- Cosmological Origins and Creation in 4QInstruction 331
- The Work of Creation in Early Rabbinic Prayers and Benedictions 345
- Ben Sira 42–50: An Antecedent of the Seder ‘Avodah Poems? 363
- Biographies of Authors 385
- Index of References 387
- Index of Authors 429
- Index of Subjects 435
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Abbreviations VII
- Introduction 1
- Zum Gedenken an Otto Kaiser (1924–2017) 5
- In Memory of Alexander A. Di Lella (1929–2019) 9
- Heaven: Use, Function and Content of a Cosmic Concept 13
- Does κτίστης Mean “Creator”? The Lexeme κτι- and Its Implications in the Greek-Hellenistic Context 35
- Cosmos and Creation in Job 38 (Septuagint) 55
- Cosmic Events in the First and Last Additions to the Greek Text of the Book of Esther 77
- “Bless the Lord, Winter Cold and Summer Heat”. Cosmos and Creation in Greek Daniel 3:52–90 91
- Epiphanies: Cosmic Transcendence in 2 Maccabees 111
- “Gold from Heaven” in 2 Maccabees 129
- Creation and Humanity in the Book of Ben Sira 149
- Polarities in Creation (Sir 33:7–15) 179
- A Theology of the Creator and His Creation in Sir 42:15–25 201
- Creation and Cosmos in Greek Sirach 18:1–10 223
- Cosmos and Empire in the Wisdom of Solomon 245
- Creation and History in the Structure of the Book of Wisdom. ἡ κτίσις … ὑπηρετοῦσα (Wis 16:24) 271
- Philosophical Ideas about Cosmos and Creation in the Book of Wisdom 297
- God’s Conflict with the Chaos Monster in the Book of Tobit 319
- Cosmological Origins and Creation in 4QInstruction 331
- The Work of Creation in Early Rabbinic Prayers and Benedictions 345
- Ben Sira 42–50: An Antecedent of the Seder ‘Avodah Poems? 363
- Biographies of Authors 385
- Index of References 387
- Index of Authors 429
- Index of Subjects 435
