Learning Greek - Is it worth it?

[Tinker Boyd]

I was working on a passage in James and was struggling to figure out where his thought ended. He started on one idea, seemed to totally switch topics, but then returned to his main thought. I figured the 'new' topic must be related to the original thought after all. I then read the passage in several other translations and immediately noticed a huge difference. About half the translations inserted a conjunction that connected the two thoughts. So, I looked in the Greek and there was the conjunction as well. I then consulted some of my commentaries and those that worked from the original languages talked about the significance of the conjunction in linking the two thoughts.

This has happened to me several times where I have found that I get a slightly different feel or meaning to a passage when I do word studies and consult commentaries based off the original languages. It makes me wonder if I should get serious about learning at least Greek. However, I can't help but think that the scholars that translate our Bibles are also serious about learning the original languages and who am I to second guess them. My guess is that it must not be so clear in the original languages either.

So, here is my question. Is it worth learning the original languages? If I put the time into learning the original languages will I find myself right where I am now, still asking questions about the meaning, doing word studies, and consulting good commentaries to try to get the deeper meaning?

[Craig Laughlin]

Tinker,

You are to be commended for your careful examination of the text. I hated Greek in school and always struggled with it. (It used to be an entrance requirement for seminary) Today it is one of the most useful tools I have. When doing preaching prep I always walk through the text in Greek. There is nuance and flavor that simply can not be translated efficiently from Greek to English. However in preaching I can bring that out and it often enriches meaning as well as understanding.

As to your last line about asking questions, it will increase both your answer and your questions. I would say if you are going to be preaching all you life then at least Greek is very nice to have. I wish I had Hebrew.

[Bill Morrison]

Tinker,

You are to be commended for your careful examination of the text. I hated Greek in school and always struggled with it. (It used to be an entrance requirement for seminary) Today it is one of the most useful tools I have. When doing preaching prep I always walk through the text in Greek. There is nuance and flavor that simply can not be translated efficiently from Greek to English. However in preaching I can bring that out and it often enriches meaning as well as understanding.

As to your last line about asking questions, it will increase both your answer and your questions. I would say if you are going to be preaching all you life then at least Greek is very nice to have. I wish I had Hebrew.

My Dad, a Nazarene pastor for 43 years, would probably agree with you. When he was in his 50's and pastoring in Denver Colorado, he took some Hebrew at a seminary there. I remember him at that time expressing a real need and interest in understanding the Biblical languages better.

BILL

[Doug Ward]

Let me answer in two ways. Yes, of course it is worth it, for the reasons Craig outlined. You should always seek to bring meaning to the text, and the study of the language is one of those ways.

However, it is not as important as the study of the history, economics, social structure, and politics of the first century world. If post-modernism has taught us anything, it is language does not mean what the classical dictionary says - it means what the author meant when he wrote it. Without being anchored to a history, language can become a tangent.

[Ryan Scott]

It's important to have a more than familiar knowledge with translation tools, lexicons, and basic language. However, unless you're planning to go all the way and become fluent, I'm not sure it's worth it to spend too much time with the language. With the amount of tools available today for language study and understanding, it is less necessary than it was.

Again, it's better to know Greek and Hebrew when studying scripture, but the time it takes to really know them well enough to make your own judgments about texts and translations is not available to everyone.

[Dan Henderson]

Let me answer in two ways. Yes, of course it is worth it, for the reasons Craig outlined. You should always seek to bring meaning to the text, and the study of the language is one of those ways.

However, it is not as important as the study of the history, economics, social structure, and politics of the first century world. If post-modernism has taught us anything, it is language does not mean what the classical dictionary says - it means what the author meant when he wrote it. Without being anchored to a history, language can become a tangent.

Agreed, its not just worth it, its becoming a necessity.

[Pete Vecchi]

So, here is my question. Is it worth learning the original languages? If I put the time into learning the original languages will I find myself right where I am now, still asking questions about the meaning, doing word studies, and consulting good commentaries to try to get the deeper meaning?

I'd say it depends on how much you think you will get into Greek yourself. I have generally found it pretty sufficient in my 18 years of ministry to rely on the information others provide. However, we will always need scholars, and I readily admit I am not one--especially when it comes to learning other languages (especially the nuances therein).

So, I don't think there's a "one-size-fits-all" answer to your question; I think it depends on what each individual sees as his/her needs and (most importantly) what God is calling a person to do when it comes to whether or not to invest the time, effort, and money into learning Greek.

[David Graham]

For me personally, I find a little knowledge of Greek is another tool I can use in the interogation of a particular text.

So yes it is useful; but it is not essential.