Do you think Greek should be taught in Christian schools?

[av1611jim]

As an elective, teaching Greek in a Christian school might be a good idea.

That being said, however, I disagee with the possible benefits. I do not think it will help at all with getting kids/adults to understand their Bibles any better.
The reason I say this is basic.
First of all, don't the "christian" schools teach Bible? If this is true, then why are so many ignorant of the basic doctrines of the NT church? I submit, that although Bible is taught, the kids aren't learning like they should. I don't know why that is true, but it is. I do not believe it is because they aren't being taught the "grrreeeek". Perhaps it is because the schools and parents are not holding the kids' feet to the flame and making them work?

IF as the OP seems to imply, the purpose of teaching "grreeeek" is to improve kids'/adults' understanding of the Bible, then I submit; it won't help at all. If they can't/wont get it from the English, what makes you think they will get it from the Grrreeeek?

Do I sound sarcastic? It is intentional. I have had one year of College level Greek. I spent tons of time memorizing verbs, nouns, articles, participles, blah, blah blah. How much more of my English Bible would I know if I spent that time memorizing Scripture? And this is my point. Many folks today are ignorant of their Bibles because they have bought the lie that the Grrreeek will help you get the "deeper nuances blah blah blah of Scripture and have neglected memorizing Scripture in English.
"Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against Thee."
Perhaps, the so-called Christian schools need to do a better job of what they are already supposed to be doing? Perhaps!?

 

[Plain Old Bill]

Dear AV161Jim,
Please read the whole paragraph of the opening entry.

 

[Archeryaddict]

why not teach them Aramik as well?

 

[av1611jim]

POB;
I did. Hence my comments. What did I miss?

In HIS service;
Jim

 

[Plain Old Bill]

The part about Greek and/or Hebrew being taught as an elective, based on your comments.
I am sure some Christian schools exist as you describe them,I also know of Christian schools that do a very good job teaching Bible,Bible doctrine,& scripture memory.I even know of one Christian school that requires it's students to not only know Bible doctrine but to have 500 scripture verses memorized before they can graduate.
Now I don't know if you are involved in Christian education in any form so I can't say I like what these other guys are doing better than what you're not doing.So my question to you is what are you doing to make things better where you are?

 

[Circuitrider]

The earlier we start our children learning another language the better they will grasp it and be able to use it. Certainly learning Greek or Hebrew will benefit our study of the Word of God. However, we should also start our children in learning another spoken language. We are praying for missions and missionary work, so why not get our kids started by learning a foreign language as children? Once they learn any language, then learning a third language for a mission field will be much easier. Get a copy of the book "How to Learn Any Language" (we picked it up discounted at Barnes and Noble). It teaches you how to immerse yourself in the language so that you can learn to speak and even write it.

My daughter is learning Italian (home school) with plans to visit Italy this spring for her senior trip.

Unfortunately we have dumbed down our entire educational system ...modern math, creative spelling, etc. so that our kids are far behind those in other lands.

 

[Johnv]

Originally posted by Plain Old Bill:
I think it would be a good idea if Greek and Hebrew were taught in Christian schools, espescially Greek.

Sounds good to me. An elective in koine Greek and/or Hebrew/Aramaic sounds like a great idea.

 

[SaggyWoman]

yes.

 

[Johnv]

Originally posted by Circuitrider:
Certainly learning Greek or Hebrew will benefit our study of the Word of God. However, we should also start our children in learning another spoken language.

Very true. I've always been of the opinion that every elementary school, public or private, should teach a foreign language as a requisite, and that the language they teach should be the regional second language in the area in which that school sits. For example, in SoCal and Texas, the second language taught would be Spanish. In some states, it might be French, while in others, German, Italian, etc.

 

[HankD]

why not teach them Aramik as well?

Aramik? Do you mean Aramaic?

HankD

 

[Squire Robertsson]

I agree. The teaching of Greek would be an excellent addition to the program.

Remember, well into the 1800s a study of Greek and Latin were the sign of a well schooled man.

 

[Plain Old Bill]

So then it seems like many agree . Bless you all. I suppose the grass roots way to get this going is for those who agree to talk with thier pastors about it, then talk with the school administrators of the Christian schools.Start recruiting schools,pastors,& teachers. Let this thread build and then print it out so you can show many who agree with you and some who don't and why.

 

[Johnv]

Originally posted by donnA:
Thats like saying if you don't know Greek you can't read and understand the bible, I must be stupid then.

On the contrary. If you don't know Greek then you can't comprehend the scriptural source texts. Understanding the scriptural source texts is all-important when understanding the Bible.

You yourself have said that "scripture is God-breathed"? You say that because you understand that the koine Greek word translated "inspired" contextually means "God-breathed".

 

[GeneMBridges]

If this is true, then why are so many ignorant of the basic doctrines of the NT church?

Because they get a max of 30 minutes a day in most Christian schools, 4 days a week, with Fridays given to chapel, not Bible class. However, I take issue with you on this. I went to an IFB Christian school from first to twelfth grade. We were studying comparative religions and systematic theology all through high school, much of the same systematic theology that is in a good college or seminary level textbook today. The same is true in the Christian schools attached to the largest SBC church in this area. Granted I live in city that is home to no less than four Bible colleges and there is a fundamentalist / evangelical Christian church on every corner and lots of Christian schools. I fully understand this is not true in most areas.

Likewise, teaching Bible or Greek ultimately does nothing but teach intellectual facts unless God Himself changes the hearts of children. We can teach the Bible, but only God can change the heart. Perhaps children in Christian schools are "ignorant of NT doctrines" because they are unregenerate, not because of the quality of the education they receive. Children, even those in Christian schools, are still sinners and rooten to the core of their beings, by nature children of wrath, unable to understand spiritual things, haters of God, etc.

If the issue is the quality of education, then one can also say the same thing of many churches. How many churches do we all know that call themselves "conservative, evangelical, independent, fundamental" insert name of denomination here and, simultaneously, are full of anemic preaching and teaching in their pulpits and Sunday School classrooms from week to week? That's why I posted about the time of Johnathan Edwards. Just over 200 years ago, colonial Americans understood the NT better than we do AND they read it from their Greek New Testaments. How far we have fallen from those days. If we could, however, raise a generation of Christians more akin to them than our own contempories with regard to these skills, we would be raising the bar for our own teachers, preachers, and evangelists. I bet we know many a pastor or two that would cringe at the thought of congregation members who would say to them, "Great sermon, but it had nothing to do with the proper exegesis of the text." "How do you come to that conclusion, sir?" "Well, for one thing, I've been having my devotions in koine Greek since I was in sixth grade." "Oh..."

Many folks today are ignorant of their Bibles because they have bought the lie that the Grrreeek will help you get the "deeper nuances blah blah blah of Scripture and have neglected memorizing Scripture in English.

That's true, but then, to be quite honest, you are also a KJVO #4 or 5 believer, thus it's not really surprising you would not think is a good idea, since it would require the use of a critical textual apparatus, probably one that does not have your sect's stamp of approval. On the other hand, one could say, however, that knowing Greek from an earlier age would help persons with the translations debate, though probably not in favor of your position.

 

[Plain Old Bill]

Good entry Gene.

 

[av1611jim]

Posted by Gene:
quote:
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Many folks today are ignorant of their Bibles because they have bought the lie that the Grrreeek will help you get the "deeper nuances blah blah blah of Scripture and have neglected memorizing Scripture in English.
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That's true, but then, to be quite honest, you are also a KJVO #4 or 5 believer, thus it's not really surprising you would not think is a good idea, since it would require the use of a critical textual apparatus, probably one that does not have your sect's stamp of approval. On the other hand, one could say, however, that knowing Greek from an earlier age would help persons with the translations debate, though probably not in favor of your position.
________________________________________________
I did not mention the KJV at all. Your comment has no merit.
When you say "That's true, but then..." You demonstrate that you do not agree. Like saying I believe God said..., but then..."
Gene, leave your agenda out of this. My premise is true, regardless of how you wish to negate it based on my view of Scripture.
I submit to you this one fact. Memorizing of Scripture will go further in producing sound education that every greek book you could produce.
There was a time in this country that Biblical instruction was first in school, nay, it was exclusive. The sole purpose for education was to produce people literate enough to read and understand and memorize Scripture.
I maintain my point. So called Christian schools need to produce literate Christians. Greek deflects this purpose. We spaek English in this country, as you, yourself demonstrate by writing in English.
I see a backward trend in this Greek malarkey. It appears you Greek proponents would take the Bible away from folks rather than give it to them. When naught but the Greek scholars can understand Scripture you have resurrected Roman Catholicism!

In HIS service;
Jim

 

[Plain Old Bill]

Nobody wants to take the Bible away from anybody. Learning Greek which is the language the N.T. was written in is an enhancement to understanding, not a take away.
You are right about memorizing scripture.We should all memorize scripture but why would learning another language take away from that?
Studies have shown that students who take languages and music do better in the rest of thier studies.

 

[av1611jim]

Ok. I give up.
Let's just toss ALL English Bibles out and teach ONLY Greek and Hebrew. That way when the kids finally master those languages after three or four or even five years, then they can read the Bible and come to the knowledge of the Truth!
I spent tons of time memorizing all sorts of verbs, nouns, tenses, articles, participles, blah blah blah, so that I could pass my exams in Greek. I submit; That time would have been better spent memorizing Scripture instead.
That is all there is to it.
I had 4 years of Spanish in High School. Coupled with my experiance in Greek, I admit it takes great discipline to learn a language not your own. In light of that, I stand my ground. The time spent is more useful for the Great Commission if that time were spent in memorizing the English Scriptures.
Mention was made that memorizing Scripture is fine, but kids will still not get it if they are unregenerated. This is also true of Greek, therefore that argument is so much empty air.
In HIS service;
Jim

 

[Dr. Bob]

Cute, but invalid conclusion. Because YOU had problems with Spanish et al does not mean students would not benefit from it.

Circuitrider hit the nail. Our kids NEED exposure to spoken languages (French, Spanish, etc) to help them with missions.

We are talking school-age kids here. Telling them to memorize verse in ENGLISH instead of learning a foreign language is a false dilemma.

HAVE THEM DO BOTH.

 

[Johnv]

Originally posted by av1611jim:
I spent tons of time memorizing all sorts of verbs, nouns, tenses, articles, participles, blah blah blah, so that I could pass my exams in Greek. I submit; That time would have been better spent memorizing Scripture instead.

Any idiot can memorize scripture. Mormons, JW's, and KJVO's do it all the time, and look how warped and unscriptural their doctrine is.

Memorizing is not the same as understanding. How do you know that scripture is God-breathed? It is because you understand the Greek context of the word that is translated "inspired" in the NT.

Learning koine Greek does nothing to detract from scriptural understanding. In fact, it greatly adds to one's scriptural understanding, and I submit that it gives a person the ability to comprehend scripture more quickly and effectively than if they had not learned koine Greek.