Re: CHAT dating the Gospels (was: Languages in Gibson's Passion)

Ray Brown wrote:
>
> [snip]
>
> But to return to where this thread started (and matters linguistic :) I
> think it is:
> - beyond all reasonable doubt that we'd have heard Koine Greek spoken;
> - the Sadducees and Pilate would almost certainly have communicated in
> Koine Greek;
> - any Latin we might have heard spoken in this hellenized part of the
> Empire would certainly not be in the later, ecclesiastical pronunciation;
> - it is not likely that Pilate would've bothered himself to learn Aramaic
> or even have been interested in doing so;
> - it is not at all likely that Jesus would have conversed with Pilate in
> Latin (and certainly not in a pronunciation not current at the time);
> - when Pilate addressed the crowd he would've done so in Greek and either
> used an interpreter or relied upon sufficient people in the crowd
> understanding Greek and thus doing whatever interpreting was necessary for
> those who didn't understand;
> - it is possible that Jesus growing up in this part of the Empire might
> have acquired enough Koine Greek in his 30 years to be able to converse
> directly Pilate - if this wasn't so, Pilate would've used an Greek-Aramaic
> interpreter.
>
> As for dating the Gospels, we both seem to be in agreement, so perhaps
> it's time to return to conlanging :)
I agree completely with all the points expressed above. Thank you, Ray.

--Ph. D.