[B-Greek] ? - please respond

Raymond Regalado fwgk5942 at mb.infoweb.ne.jp
Fri Dec 5 22:27:45 EST 2003


On 2003.12.6, at 09:24  AM, Carl W. Conrad wrote:

> Forwarded for: "Matthew Creeden" <charlottematt2 at hotmail.com>
> Subject: ? - please respond
> Date: Fri, 05 Dec 2003 19:08:42 -0500
>
> For the last three months I have been studying NT Greek at the 
> seminary.  I
> have a final on Monday which I do not think I will do well on.  I have
> found this endeavor, which I was very excited about at the beginning, 
> to
> truly be painful and almost wasteful in terms of time.
>
> All I did for nearly four months was memorize vocabulary words (few if 
> any
> I remember) and paradigms.  I have been praying for God to show me 
> (because
> the prof certainly has not) how on earth I am supposed to incorporate 
> this
> tool into my pastoral life.
<snip>

Dear Matthew,

Let me share my own experience (I am also a beginner in Greek) and I 
hope it may provide some encouragement.  I have been a Christian for 
many years, and I've always appreciated preachers who incorporate 
insights from the original languages in their expositions of Scripture. 
  I have always thought it would be a really good thing to learn Greek 
(and Hebrew) because supposedly (obviously?) a knowledge of the 
original languages would enable one to understand the Scriptures 
better.  However, I have also met quite a few pastors and Christians 
who say that it is not necessary to (waste time) learn(ing) the 
original languages to understand the Word of God because we have (at 
least in English) so many excellent tools -- commentaries, 
word-studies, etc. -- that would help us get to the real meaning of the 
original text *without* us needing to know Greek (or Hebrew).  For many 
years I have bought into that way of thinking (and so I have put off 
the study of the languages), but recently I came to realize that there 
must be something fundamentally wrong with that way of looking at it.  
I have also come to think that many theological questions, debates, 
disputes that occupy Christians hinge on one's understanding of the 
original languages (or lack of it).  And so, it is because I now 
believe that a knowledge of the original languages would help me 
understand the Scriptures better that I have decided to take the 
plunge.  Of course not every Christian has the time nor resources nor 
aptitude for studying langauges, and that's where learned preachers and 
scholars have a role to play.  In your case, since you are aiming to be 
a preacher, I would say that a knowledge of the original languages is a 
must for you.  Now, as to the approach to learning Greek, I basically 
approach it as I do any other language I have learned (I am fluent in 
three languages) -- get a grasp of the grammar, master the vocabulary, 
read and listen to lots of examples, and try to speak and write it as 
much as you can.  In the beginning it will be tough going, but then one 
day you'll wake up and as you stare at those mysterious letters on the 
page you will notice that they actually *make sense* and you will then 
experience joy unspeakable and full of glory.  After three months of 
learning Koine on my own, I am happy to say that it is starting to make 
sense.  ;-)

Blessings,

Raymond Regalado
Tokyo, japan




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