Should pastors be required to know original Biblical languages?

[Yeshua1]

Should those who study theology and church history be required to know German?

yes, and latin would be helpful, as that gets them right into the original works of that time!

 

[Yeshua1]

And French.

So much of John Calvin’s output is still unavailable in English, having yet to be translated, after hundreds of years. Sad, isn't it?

books.google.com/books?id=sGHKcZI3XAMC&pg=PA2

“To anyone lacking Latin or Renaissance French, much of the writings of John Calvin must remain inaccessible....many of his...sermons, letters, tracts, polemics, writings on liturgy and church regulations—are not.”

That proves my point, certain areas of theology would require knowledge of other languages, such as german and latin and French, while pastors would be Biblical greek and Hebrew!

 

[Yeshua1]

I'll go further, any teacher of the Word in a local congregation or in an official capacity must be able to engage the original languages in a productive way. At least considering how easy it is to get books and information on the bible and languages in our time.

Ever since I switched to NASB, Mounce Interlinear, use of Concordance, and use of biblical dictionaries of the New and Old Testament. I feel that the bible makes so much more sense.

Understanding Textual Criticism, but in no way Higher Criticism, helped too. I still need to engage more commentaries, get the biblical world better, know hermeneutics better, and learn true exegesis from the original languages, and I feel all of that is important if I want to be an able teacher of the Word in my local congregation one day.

the pastor/teacher need not geta phd in original languages, but should know the basic of Bilbical greek/Hebrew, and know how to use lexicons, Dictionaries, and commentaries addressing original languages.

 

[Yeshua1]

A working familiarity with the Original Languages is a priceless tool to have in the box for pastors.
One thing I believe the Church is lacking is a focus on pastors as iheologians. Pastors need to be educated. The local church is the pillar and ground of the truth, not a popular commentator or even Logos Bible Software (which I use and love).
One problem with simply suggesting that the amount of resources such as commentaries etc. available remove the need for language training is that pastors will not have the wherewithal to be able to discern bunk from quality. What will occur is that popular and unaccountable non-pastors will be the go-to for biblical questions and exegesis. Local Churches will become effectively taught by Academia instead of the men God actually called to teach them.....their pastors.

It is obvious in Christendom that Original language knowledge can and is abused. But it's abuse is not relegated solely to those with a mere cursory knowledge of the language. It is also abused by experts or by perceived experts. I, like many with formal training, have just enough knowledge to be dangerous, but am no expert. But that same training has given me the ability to sniff out a lot of bunk as well. MANY times commentators and Theologians try to effectively rewrite a Biblical text by removing it from your English Bible and telling the unsuspecting that what the text really says is_____________.

If pastors do not have the ability to see when a commentator is abusing original languages, then they are simply repeating to their flocks what the "experts" have said. Paul's comments to Timothy about studying the text diligently as a workman which need not be ashamed is in the context of his role as a pastor or teacher.....

2 Ti 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

IS NOT a general encouragement for all Christians. Although I would say all Christians should study diligently. Paul's larger concern in context was for Timothy to protect the flock from heresy, bad teaching etc.... Paul had a preacher-boy and his role as a teacher in mind when he wrote this......to Timothy incidentally, not you or me.

If pastors are not the well-prepared, knowledgeable well-schooled persons the flock can look to for sound exegesis than Christendom is enslaved to a small (and incestuous) cadre of an Academic elite, a Papacy of the popular or well-connected. They will teach your congregation instead of the pastors God called for the task..... through a medium....the unarmed and poorly educated pastors. This does not mean that pastors must have tons of letters behind their name, nor does it mean that offering education to him after a prospective call isn't a viable option as well.

I just think that we have watered down the principle that a man called of god to be a pastor, or to teach say in a Seminary, ought to be able to at least have a working knowledge of biblical greek and Hebrew!

 

[George Antonios]

The suggestion that they must, is close to Satanic.
The underlying principle behind such a suggestion is a humanistic/naturalistic approach to the word of God.
It approaches it the way 19th century higher criticism did - as a natural book.
There IS NOT ONE verse in that Book, from cover to cover, wherein God tells us that an understanding of the original languages is necessary for proper Bible understanding.
Is it a rational suggestion? Yes. Is it a Biblical suggestion? No.
The Bible repeatedly makes the case that translated copies - yes, translated copies - are given by inspiration.
I can read and write 4 languages, one of which is Arabic, and I can make out some Hebrew, but the idea that Hebrew and Greek is necessary is not a Christian idea, it's a humanistic idea which the serpent has fed a naive, education-worshiping, church.
Can it be helpful? In certain situations, yes.
Should it be necessary? Absolutely not.

 

[Yeshua1]

In your case you must be able to read and understand the English language.

I can, as that would be the primary reason hold to using formal translations!

 

[Yeshua1]

Your pastor reads from the NIV2011 in the pulpit.

Yes, but he also uses Esv and Nas, as he did not like how gender inclusive at times it got!

 

[Yeshua1]

As good as that can be, it is no guarantee.

The pastor/teacher would have to have a working knowledge of the Greek/Hebrew to get the gist of what being aid on the more technical commentaries!

 

[Yeshua1]

Someone with 4 classes in Greek is going to do a better job?
Teams of true expert translators give us our Bibles. You can take what is equal to an elementary knowledge of Greek and do better than they did?

I get so annoyed by the crowd who insists on higher degrees.

I am just suggesting that the pastor/teacher should be able use all the tools that God wants to quip them with!
There must be a real reason that he gave the scriptures to us in greek and Hebrew for study use...

 

[Yeshua1]

The suggestion that they must, is close to Satanic.
The underlying principle behind such a suggestion is a humanistic/naturalistic approach to the word of God.
It approaches it the way 19th century higher criticism did - as a natural book.
There IS NOT ONE verse in that Book, from cover to cover, wherein God tells us that an understanding of the original languages is necessary for proper Bible understanding.
Is it a rational suggestion? Yes. Is it a Biblical suggestion? No.
The Bible repeatedly makes the case that translated copies - yes, translated copies - are given by inspiration.
I can read and write 4 languages, one of which is Arabic, and I can make out some Hebrew, but the idea that Hebrew and Greek is necessary is not a Christian idea, it's a humanistic idea which the serpent has fed a naive, education-worshiping, church.
Can it be helpful? In certain situations, yes.
Should it be necessary? Absolutely not.

Only the originals were divinely inspired to us by God, and he gave those to us in Greek and Hebrew, so why would a pastor not desire to learn from the source texts themselves?

 

[37818]

Only the originals were divinely inspired to us by God, and he gave those to us in Greek and Hebrew, so why would a pastor not desire to learn from the source texts themselves?

There is an on going war on which texts to use. Most settle for the so called Critical Text.

 

[Yeshua1]

There is an on going war on which texts to use. Most settle for the so called Critical Text.

regardless of using the TR/MT/Bzt/Ct, the pastor/teacher can still glean insight from any of them!

 

[Reynolds]

I am just suggesting that the pastor/teacher should be able use all the tools that God wants to quip them with!
There must be a real reason that he gave the scriptures to us in greek and Hebrew for study use...

You are completely out of touch with normal people.
Pastors should spend much more time being shepherds to their flock, witnessing to lost in the community, and in general fulfilling the Great Commission. They should spend much less time worrying about Greek.

 

[Reynolds]

There is an on going war on which texts to use. Most settle for the so called Critical Text.

Or they could apply what they know and be a Shepherd instead of simply a scholar.

 

[Steven Yeadon]

You are completely out of touch with normal people.
Pastors should spend much more time being shepherds to their flock, witnessing to lost in the community, and in general fulfilling the Great Commission. They should spend much less time worrying about Greek.

I definitely see where you are coming from. Pastors are shepherds and evangelists every bit as much as bible teachers.

2 Timothy 4:5
5But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Also, the pastoral epistles are full of teachings on how to shepherd a flock. Paul spends a lot of time in all of his epistles solving problems with his flock, instead of just answering questions or teaching them from the Word and revelation.

I don't think one has to go to seminary to be a scholar of the bible. That can be done on ones own over time, or better yet it can be taught by a mentor, such as a senior pastor. Given the cost of seminary it seems churches should send and help financially those they send to seminary to ultimately be Pastors.

What I am getting at, is that through private and mentored study, a teacher of the bible in a church must be an expert in the Word to teach it well. The debates we have here on the BB and elsewhere show me that all the time.

 

[Yeshua1]

You are completely out of touch with normal people.
Pastors should spend much more time being shepherds to their flock, witnessing to lost in the community, and in general fulfilling the Great Commission. They should spend much less time worrying about Greek.

Its not an either/or thing here!

 

[Yeshua1]

Or they could apply what they know and be a Shepherd instead of simply a scholar.

You mean like a Calvin or Luther, think they knew quite a bit on this issue!

 

[Yeshua1]

I definitely see where you are coming from. Pastors are shepherds and evangelists every bit as much as bible teachers.

2 Timothy 4:5
5But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Also, the pastoral epistles are full of teachings on how to shepherd a flock. Paul spends a lot of time in all of his epistles solving problems with his flock, instead of just answering questions or teaching them from the Word and revelation.

I don't think one has to go to seminary to be a scholar of the bible. That can be done on ones own over time, or better yet it can be taught by a mentor, such as a senior pastor. Given the cost of seminary it seems churches should send and help financially those they send to seminary to ultimately be Pastors.

What I am getting at, is that through private and mentored study, a teacher of the bible in a church must be an expert in the Word to teach it well. The debates we have here on the BB and elsewhere show me that all the time.

I am speaking mainly towards the qualifications of a pastor, one who primary charge would be to give forth the doctrines of the scriptures into their members, should they not know as much as possible in order to do that?
places like Yale and Harvard had all students required to teach Latin, some Greek regardless of their majors originally!

 

[Reynolds]

You mean like a Calvin or Luther, think they knew quite a bit on this issue!

You really want to use either of those as an example of a pastor?

 

[Yeshua1]

You really want to use either of those as an example of a pastor?

Were they pastors?