What was the Septuagint, according to the handbook?

### Why this is right The handbook identifies the Septuagint as the oldest and most important translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek. It says the translation began in the third century BC in Alexandria, Egypt, and was used in the earliest churches. ### The concept A translation carries a text into another language so it can be read by a new audience. The Septuagint is significant in the handbook’s account because it made the Hebrew Scriptures available in Greek. ### The other options - **B. The authoritative list of New Testament books**: This describes the canon, not the Septuagint. - **C. A collection of Hebrew manuscripts copied by medieval monks**: This confuses a translation with manuscript transmission. - **D. A translation of the New Testament into Latin**: The handbook describes the Septuagint as Greek and as a translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. ### Terms - **Septuagint**: An ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. - **BC**: Before Christ, a traditional way of dating years before the start of the Christian era.