A little greek can be a big distraction

[Revmitchell]

You don't have to reference Greek or Hebrew to study the Bible. It certainly helps, and more pastors should devote the time to learning and retaining the original languages. But you can observe, interpret, and apply using a decent English translation (such as the ESV or NET). And in some cases, knowing just a bit of Greek can actually distract you from careful study of a passage....


....Sure, the Greek (or Hebrew) text of Scripture occasionally reveals wordplay that doesn't translate well. Sometimes the structure of a passage or argument is clearer in the original language than in translation. And Greek and Hebrew are simply beautiful and fun. Again, I would encourage pastors not to settle for using online tools and instead devote themselves to truly understanding these biblical languages.

But the main point of a passage does not usually depend on intimate knowledge of the original languages.


http://thegospelcoalition.org/article/a-little-greek-can-be-a-big-distraction

 

[Crabtownboy]

There is also the problem that the meaning of a word has changed in English, charity for example is used in the KJ, but charity in KJ time carries quite a different meaning than now.

The same is true with the word believe. Before 1600 the the word believe was defined very closely to what we would now call beloved.

 

[Rippon]

Sometimes there are select folks who don't know the original biblical languages yet make pronouncements on they say are the proper renderings. I'm thinking of one poster here who has "word studies" in which he claims to use special words that are "the God-intended full message." That gets old after a while.

I liked the following paragraph by Peter Krol:

"The problem with this approach is that it assumes that each Greek word has a focused, specialized meaning. It approaches lexicons as technical manuals, almost as if there's a code to be broken, and the right tools offer the key. But no language works that way. Not English or German, Greek or Hebrew."

 

[Rippon]

There is also the problem that the meaning of a word has changed in English, charity for example is used in the KJ, but charity in KJ time carries quite a different meaning than now.

William Tyndale used "love" as I remember, in 1 Cor. 13.

The same is true with the word believe. Before 1600 the the word believe was defined very closely to what we would now call beloved.

I don't recall that. what is your source for that data? Belief, faith, trust and obey ran along the same ground then and now.

 

[John of Japan]

You don't have to reference Greek or Hebrew to study the Bible. It certainly helps, and more pastors should devote the time to learning and retaining the original languages. But you can observe, interpret, and apply using a decent English translation (such as the ESV or NET). And in some cases, knowing just a bit of Greek can actually distract you from careful study of a passage....


....Sure, the Greek (or Hebrew) text of Scripture occasionally reveals wordplay that doesn't translate well. Sometimes the structure of a passage or argument is clearer in the original language than in translation. And Greek and Hebrew are simply beautiful and fun. Again, I would encourage pastors not to settle for using online tools and instead devote themselves to truly understanding these biblical languages.

But the main point of a passage does not usually depend on intimate knowledge of the original languages.


http://thegospelcoalition.org/article/a-little-greek-can-be-a-big-distraction

A little knowledge (Strong's dictionary :tongue3 is a dangerous thing. :saint:

 

[percho]

A little knowledge (Strong's dictionary :tongue3 is a dangerous thing. :saint:

I knew there was a reason I am a terror.

 

[John of Japan]

I knew there was a reason I am a terror.

Or perhaps, "A little geek is a dangerous thing"?? :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Crabtownboy]

I don't recall that. what is your source for that data? Belief, faith, trust and obey ran along the same ground then and now.[/SIZE]

There is an excellent chapter on the word believe in Speaking Christian: Why Christian Words Have Lost Their Meaning and Power - And How They Can Be Restored by Marcus Borg.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

Marcus Borg is a unregenerate heretic, and I'm not surprised to see you praising him. He's another of the "progressive" Christianity that you seemed to work to distance yourself from, when it was found they ain't Christians, at all. Now it seems you don't really care, and only read people who DENY scripture. Saved people do not deny Christ was God. They accept his deity without question. No explanation is needed for the TRULY reborn person.

As far as the O/P, study guides, concordances, all seem helpful in the start of your Christian life, but I see most of us stop using them, and start relying on scripture solely.

 

[Revmitchell]

Marcus Borg was a member of the Jesus Seminar. He is a heretic.

 

[Revmitchell]

Marcus Borg became and remains one of the foremost leaders in what has become known as Progressive Christianity which differs from Evangelical Christianity in a number of important ways. Where Evangelical Christianity emphasizes life after death, sin and forgiveness, the substitutionary atoning work of Jesus Christ, and grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone as the only way of salvation, Progressive Christianity takes a historical and metaphorical (rather than literal) approach to the Bible, affirms that God can be known through every religion, is far more concerned with good behavior than orthodox beliefs, and pursues progressive social and political views.


http://www.challies.com/articles/the-false-teachers-marcus-borg

Hmmm... he is much like someone on this board.

 

[Revmitchell]

As one of the foremost Progressive Christians, Borg has been an influence on many of today’s Liberal and Progressives Christians. These would include Tony Campolo, Brian McLaren, Karen Armstrong, Shane Claiborne, Anne Lamott, Jim Wallis and many others. He has lent the weight of his scholarship to their attempts to renegotiate the place of Scripture in the Christian life and faith, and to rethink many of its most sacred doctrines. He is often quoted favorably by those who want to consider themselves Christians but without holding to inerrancy, the virgin birth, the resurrection, and others beliefs most Christians have long held sacred.

\

No surprise there.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

Crabtownboy should not be allowed to derail this thread. It's a good subject for discussion.

Only a true Christian could understand why we need a virgin birth, and a resurrection to fulfill God's promise of salvation for his own. Let's not waste any time otherwise.


Let's get back to this Greek thing.

 

[Van]

The point of this thread seems to be, don't study, let us tell you what scripture says. If you do word studies, but are not fluent in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic you might miss the mark. Well Duh. If you do not do word studies, you might miss the mark.

Hidden in the link was the claim John used agapeo and phileo interchangeably, which is questionable at best, and ludicrous at worst.

Again, word study methods are taught at many Christian schools and churches, and are widely accepted. Now a cult might disavow word study because their twisted view of scripture might be exposed.

 

[gb93433]

It is interesting what a friend of mine from Greece once told me about those who make such great claims.

This subject reminds me of the time when I was teaching and another professor and myself were talking about a conversation he had with a student. A student came to his office because he did not see a textbook listed for the class. The student asked if there was going to be a textbook and when he was told that there would not be one the student was bothered. The student persisted in asking the professor questions about why he chose not to have a textbook. The point behind the questioning was laziness. The professor finally answered the student by saying, "Young man see that book over there?" Once the student saw the book the professor asked him to remove the book from the shelf. The student did and the professor said, "While that professor was writing that book I was doing it." The student never said another word.

 

[Rippon]

Are you a professor?

 

[gb93433]

Are you a professor?

I was but not now.

 

[Yeshua1]

There is an excellent chapter on the word believe in Speaking Christian: Why Christian Words Have Lost Their Meaning and Power - And How They Can Be Restored by Marcus Borg.

He is a heretic though!

 

[Yeshua1]

It is interesting what a friend of mine from Greece once told me about those who make such great claims.

This subject reminds me of the time when I was teaching and another professor and myself were talking about a conversation he had with a student. A student came to his office because he did not see a textbook listed for the class. The student asked if there was going to be a textbook and when he was told that there would not be one the student was bothered. The student persisted in asking the professor questions about why he chose not to have a textbook. The point behind the questioning was laziness. The professor finally answered the student by saying, "Young man see that book over there?" Once the student saw the book the professor asked him to remove the book from the shelf. The student did and the professor said, "While that professor was writing that book I was doing it." The student never said another word.

That reminds me of the story my Pastor told that while at DTS studying original languages, the professor told the class that it took 5 years of knowing grek before they could make any real and true pronouncements on the Bible, and after 10 years, they would see why most of them were wrong!

 

[Yeshua1]

You don't have to reference Greek or Hebrew to study the Bible. It certainly helps, and more pastors should devote the time to learning and retaining the original languages. But you can observe, interpret, and apply using a decent English translation (such as the ESV or NET). And in some cases, knowing just a bit of Greek can actually distract you from careful study of a passage....


....Sure, the Greek (or Hebrew) text of Scripture occasionally reveals wordplay that doesn't translate well. Sometimes the structure of a passage or argument is clearer in the original language than in translation. And Greek and Hebrew are simply beautiful and fun. Again, I would encourage pastors not to settle for using online tools and instead devote themselves to truly understanding these biblical languages.

But the main point of a passage does not usually depend on intimate knowledge of the original languages.


http://thegospelcoalition.org/article/a-little-greek-can-be-a-big-distraction

Think far more important to use for study a good translation, and use good study techniques in order to understand the truths of god, and to then actually apply them...

Pastor and teachers should learn and use the Greek/Hebrew, but laity can really get a lot still from the english version with proper study ways, and a careful use of some Greek/hebrew study tools...