Posted on 08/18/2015 11:36:30 AM PDT by LearsFool
Is the ability to read Greek necessary to understanding the Bible? Or is access to Greek scholarship necessary for avoiding the pitfalls of the translations from men?
No doubt reading Chekov or Baudelaire or Julius Caesar in their original tongues adds a richness otherwise missed. And understanding the "Hebraisms" and Hebrew poetic devices found in the Scriptures enhance our enjoyment. As the saying goes, there's often something lost in the translation. But what is it? Can TRUTH be lost in the translation of the Scriptures?
God did not leave us at the mercy of Greek scholars and "experts" for our understanding of His revelation to us. Just as He was able to preserve His Word despite attempts to destroy it physically, He is able to preserve its meaning despite attempts to twist it by mistranslation. Let's look at a couple of examples, beginning with Matt. 16:19, which varies in translation:
KJV: "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
NASB: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”
A bit of research will explain why the NASB has the present perfect tense "shall have been bound" instead of the future-tense-sounding "shall be bound". But we needn't worry too much about all that. Because, again, we're not dependant on the translators for our understanding of what Jesus meant. All we need to do is have patience and let God teach us through His Word, and He'll correct any mistaken preconceptions and assumptions we've acquired.
So how does this binding and loosing work then? If we don't know Greek, how can we ever understand it?
As we read on in the Bible, we find Jesus in Matt. 18:18 saying the very same thing to the disciples that He had said to Peter, and in John 20:20 saying something very similar. Then, beginning in Acts 2, we find the keys of the kingdom of heaven being wielded, as Christ's apostles announce the conditions of entry into the kingdom. We find that they spoke as inspired by the Spirit, as Jesus had promised them (in John 16, Matt. 10, etc.), binding and loosing on earth the things revealed from heaven by that Spirit. We find them declaring God's conditions for the forgiveness of sins, and consequently the conditions for the retention (non-forgiveness) of sins.
If we didn't know what Jesus meant when we first read Matt. 16:19, we're beginning to understand, aren't we, after seeing the story unfold?
Let's look briefly at one more example: baptism. If we didn't know what baptism was, if (for instance) our copy of the Bible had a inaccurate translation of the word, or if we had been taught it was but a sprinkling of water on the forehead, or if we were confused about its purpose, would all be lost? Would there be no way to ever remedy our ignorance and correct our error?
The Bible tells us what the form and the function of baptism are, so that in every passage addressing it, we learn more about it. The result is that no matter how much the translator or teacher has tried to disguise the truth about baptism, with each encounter we peer a bit deeper through that disguise, and God's truth shines through. So if we didn't know what baptism was all about when we first encountered it, our understanding grows as we read through the Bible.
No, knowing Greek is not necessary. God's Word will correct all our misunderstandings. But it will do so only if we're willing to set aside our preconceptions and be taught by Him. A few are able to do this. Are you one of them?
Learn Greek or learn Glock?
Greek is not necessary to understand the Bible (and I am fluent in both Greek and Hebrew) However, a basic understanding helps greatly esp when coupled by the ability to properly use grammar tools and lexicons.
Far too often, in my dealings with cults, the false teachings come from a misunderstanding of what words mean or how they are used.
I learned Mandarin Chinese as an adult. I know a DOD consultant who is a China expert. He’s written books. He and I agree: the China “experts” who didn’t learn Chinese can’t really be totally expert because they have to rely on others’ interpretations. It’s like taking someone’s word for it. Many times I find these English-only experts put their presuppositions into their translations. I’m not saying there are no good translations of the Bible. I’m saying that there’s some real juicy stuff when you see the rhyming, the double entendre, the power of a word or phrase in the original language. You will never be a total expert unless you have Greek and Hebrew. Who has that kind of time? I pray the Holy Spirit may enlighten our minds as to the saving Truth found in God’s Word.
How is your Greek, LF?
In the Presbyterian Church (don’t get me started on PCUSA - our church is leaving the denomination) both Greek and Hebrew are mandatory. I have Bible software that shows the three side-by-side. As the poster above states it is sometimes good to revert back to the Greek for word form to give you a deeper meaning rather than rely on the translations that have occurred through the years. A case in point - In the KJV the commandment reads “Thou shalt not kill” whereas the Greek reads “You shall not murder” which, arguably, is a subtle but significant difference.
My contention is that the Bible itself corrects mistranslations and misunderstandings.
I also contend that no one is led into a false doctrine by a mistranslated Greek word. We get into false doctrines by following men rather than God. And for that poison, Greek is not the antidote.
Mandatory for ministerial training.
Thank God somebody did.
Could this be sour grapes?
Yes, it’s interesting to note the wide academic interest in Greek culture and language - even among those who care nothing about the Bible. God surely knew what He was doing in having the Scriptures written in and translated into Koine Greek, so that His Word would forever be readable.
I will agree with you that arrogance in regard to one’s education is no virtue, but will add that neither is arrogance in regard to one’s lack of it. The bottom line is that a sound knowledge of Hebrew and Greek is a good thing; and remains good so far as one does not set it against the plain meaning of the text of Scripture.
//I also contend that no one is led into a false doctrine by a mistranslated Greek word. //
And 20 years of witnessing to Mormons and other cultists, as well as new Christians, shows me otherwise. The lack of basic Greek and Hebrew leads many to misunderstand basic doctrine.
I see your point.
But, when you read the story of the man caught picking up sticks on the Sabbath, and God’s command to the Israelites to stone him to death, didn’t that help you understand what “Thou shalt not kill” meant?
In other words, did you need the Greek to understand God? Or just more reading? :-)
Nowadays corrections come in the form using the pronoun she for God.
Good luck with your program!
The act of reading is an act of interpretation, and there is more than one reader.
Every translation of a book into a different language is an interpretation.
And every living language is a constantly changing interactive interpretation of external reality.
You are assuming quite a bit.
//My goal is to encourage people to let the Bible interpret itself. I//
The two are not mutually exclusive, but if you think of the bible as being only in English with an English understanding, your interpretation can be and often in flawed.
Again, is it necessary, not entirely but it helps a great deal. This is not arrogance but simple fact. There is a reason that seminaries require it.
Odd that Koine, Aramaic or Hebrew was not mentioned among the qualifications in I Timothy or Titus. Like so many other things that are helpful they are not core. With today's electronic tools the language benefits can be largely gained with a program like BibleWorks, Accordance or Logos. A little grammar training and an expert scholar in your contacts folder is a great help. One of the best uses for seminaries is for graduates to occasionally use the scholars for their expertise to augment the other duties of a pastor/bishop.
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