Language Studies

Aramaic Thoughts

Aramaic Epistles - Part 3 - The Initial Greeting

The second part of the typical epistle, closely connected to the praescriptio, is the initial greeting. This normally involves some use of the word shalom (peace) and/or some form of the word barak (bless or blessing). To this may be compared the initial greetings in Paul’ epistles. These are as follows: Romans (1:7), "Grace to you and peace." 1Cor 1:3, "Grace to you and peace." 2Cor 1:2, "Grace to you and peace." This identical formula occurs in all of Paul’s letters to churches and in his letter to Philemon. The only variations are found in the pastoral epistles (Timothy and Titus): 1Tim 1:2, "Grace, mercy, and peace;" likewise 2Tim 1:2; and Titus 1:4, "Grace and peace." Thus Paul’s practice is consistent with that of the Aramaic epistles.

This initial greeting was sometimes omitted in official letters. One might think of the difference today between a business letter, which usually includes the initial greeting "Dear So-and-So," and a memo, which usually contains only the name of the addressee. Generally, however, the Aramaic epistles contain the greeting, which may be longer or shorter, but which may be distinguished into two categories: those that use shalom, and those that use barak. Notice that Paul’s usage differs, in that his greetings consistently use two terms, sometimes three. In addition, while he uses eirene (peace, the equivalent of shalom), he does not use eulogeo (bless, the equivalent of barak), but rather charis (grace, the equivalent of the Hebrew chen).

The greeting with shalom is much more frequent than that with barak, and is usually fairly extended. It follows more or less the form: "may God (or, the gods) be much concerned for your peace both now and at all times." In this, it much resembles the modern Christian benediction used at the close of worship services, adapted from the concluding section of one of the New Testament letters. In other examples, this greeting is quite short, and secularized, with no mention of God or the gods. So one reads, "I send you greetings and peace." Nothing else is added, and it ends up having the feeling of mere formula. That is, of course, a consideration of the understanding of these greetings: to what extent is it merely formulaic, and to what extent does it really express some personal attachment and affection. At this distance from the material, it is almost impossible to decide. It is a little like reading letters from the seventeenth century, with their flowery language. How much of that was simply convention, and how much expressed true regard and affection?

The barak greeting takes two forms. The first is of the form, "I bless you by (insert name of deity here)". The other is the passive expression of the same idea, "may you be blessed by (insert name of deity here)." As with the shalom greetings, these certainly partake to some extent of conventional formula, but each would have to be evaluated in its context for any sense of more emotional content.

Copyright Statement
'Aramaic Thoughts' Copyright 2024© Benjamin Shaw. 'Aramaic Thoughts' articles may be reproduced in whole under the following provisions: 1) A proper credit must be given to the author at the end of each story, along with a link to https://www.studylight.org/language-studies/aramaic-thoughts.html  2) 'Aramaic Thoughts' content may not be arranged or "mirrored" as a competitive online service.