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- Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History contains other indications that the books of the New Testament were first written in Syriac (i.e. Aramaic!) and then later translated into other languages (such as Greek):
- 3Euseb. 38:2 Wherefore it has seemed reasonable to reckon it with the other writings of the apostle. For as Paul had written to the Hebrews in his native tongue, some say that the evangelist Luke, others that this Clement himself, translated the epistle.
- Thus, from all the evidence so far, it should be clear that “the native tongue” of Paul, a Jew from Tarsus, an Israelite indeed, was Aramaic. Therefore, Eusebius is saying that Paul’s extensive writings in the New Testament were written in Aramaic.