Sept défis posés à une théologie de la Septante

Every translation is an interpretation. As a translation of a Hebrew Vorlage, the Septuagint too ineluctably shows traces of interpretation. It is hardly surprizing, then, that for a long time now, readers and scholars have been intrigued by the question concerning where and to what extent the Greek translators introduced peculiar theological ideas in their version of the Bible. The answer to this question, however, is not at all easy or unambiguous, even if general statements have often been made: the Septuagint is more Messianic, monotheistic or even anthropocentric than the Hebrew text. To answer the question 'Is there any specific theology within the Septuagint?', one must confront several stumbling blocks and challenges: Which Vorlage has the translator been using? How can one determine whether it was a Septuagint translator or a copyist of the Hebrew or Greek ‘original’ who has introduced a dissenting theology? To what extent could or should the 'translation technique' play a role in the quest for the Septuagint's theology? Did the Alexandrian, Palestinian or Antiochene background of the Septuagint translators influence their theological accents? Should one take into account that the Septuagint is the result of a three-century-long process of translation activity? How can a deviating theology be detected? Should one not distinguish between a theology in the Septuagint and a theological interpretation of the Septuagint?