A Case for Biblical Languages

Abstract

"Many of us have heard the expression, “It’s all Greek to me!” People use this expression when they face a puzzle, something they find too difficult to navigate through. It also means that Greek is no child’s toy. I have seen students who give up on Hebrew and/or Greek even before they learn the first letter of the alphabet because of their attitude towards biblical languages. Perhaps, without disregarding the unrelenting labour that these languages demand, we need a change of attitude as well as a clear articulation of the necessity of these languages. We need an attitude that asserts that we can learn Hebrew without harm; we can study Greek without grief. These languages are essential to our interpretative task. The pertinent question is: What interpretative difference does it make to know Hebrew and Greek?1 This question may be asked in support of or in opposition to the need for the knowledge of the original languages of the Bible. Our conviction throughout this article is that there are treasures that a minister of the Word of God can extract only if he is competent in Hebrew and Greek. Therefore knowing biblical languages is essential for exegetical accuracy and theological depth. We will first evaluate some of the objections or excuses people give for failure to seek competence in biblical languages."