Is it wrong to learn Greek?

You missed it!

Moi genoito is in EVERY Greek text in Romans 6:2. It always has meant, will mean, and still means "May it not be".

No one reading the AV would have a CLUE what God really said in His Word. The AV "sucks out of the royal thumb" language like "God" and "Forbid" that have NO BASIS in the Word of God. </font>[/QUOTE]"May it not be" is way, way to anemic to properly convey the negated optative mood of the Greek.

 

And some have a much better understanding of English than others. But even studying another language helps you to learn your mother tongue better.

But sometime look at Jn 14:6 in the English and then in the Greek tense. The intensity is just not there in the English.

Better yet look up James 2:16 and compare what it means in the Greek text and English translation. The English does not even come close. Especially where it talks about being warmed and filled. The English is so watered down by comparison. We do not have a middle voice in English. So we must take a different route to try and get there.

 

Now rsr, I wouldn't call her "uppity", worthy of respect, yes, uppity no.


Sister Russell,
I apologize for calling your "dear", if I had known you thought it condescending I would never had used that term, I hope you will forgive me. I do believe you're being a little too sensitive though, but all the same, I will bite my tongue next time. If I knew a similar word in the Greek to refer to you as in like manner, not condescending, maybe it would have fit to your liking better?

Dr. Bob,

Thank you for calling me wise, I didn't know people with half a brain were still considered wise by those who know Greek.

Michelle, I wouldn't consider it out of the way if you had called me dear! But now my wife might need some council. Also I don't mind what you've said one iota!

Timothy 1769, Right on!

GB, I'll be back to you later, Lord willing.

Hi,Ed!

 

All I have ever seen is those Bible Picklers promote themselves to be above others in their disdain for education (good ole boys), but then the facter of the pride that goes along with it is go ungodly and repulsive.

 

It is a common insult by innuendo (IMO) for KJVO folks to denigrate those of us who gave up the time and expense and exercised the discipline to learn the languages of the Bible and the tools and methods of translation. They have on occasion also judged our motives as self-serving.

They therefore also slander the KJV translators who were also skilled in these disciplines.

Yet these same "simple" folks (as some have claimed or indicated), have learned enough of the the secular science of Information Technolgy along with a host of software tools to connect with the internet, post, navigate, cut, paste, insult, slander and calumniate their brethren (sometimes with graphics) and their brethren's ["snipped"] Bibles so-called here at the BB "defending" the Word of God by causing strife and division.

HankD

 

If you claim to have poor memory, but Greek sticks with enough repetition, I must have half of a brain

 

Ditto.

Hank I don't have one problem with anyone learning Greek, or any other language for that matter. What I see so many times by those who know Greek, or say they do, is that the attitude towards those who are not as well versed are put down, called ignorant, etc.

Now if you really want what you've said to be considered as a credible bit of reproof, then I'll ask you to not denigrate others in the process.

You persist in coming across with this underhanded accustaion quite often, at least 4 or 5 times, and maybe even more.

If it is the motive to force me to learn Greek just to have a decent reputation amongst you "brethren", I'm sorry, but I have more important things at hand i am already busy with, learning Spanish is one. I come in contact with more Spanish speaking people in a week's time than I have ever run into people who speak Greek.

I don't know everything about the Bible and neither does any Greek scholar. I do know enough to get home and how to lead others into God's Truth so they may be saved as well.

I'll be spending even less time on BB to your aproval I'm sure. The weathwer is much nicer now and more people are out in the market place where I can go witness more. I had time to witness to two people on a one on one basis today. I wanted to speak to several Mexicans but I asked if they could speak English, they said ,"Leetle".

Maybe I should have spoken to them in GreeK?

 

I think the better question should have been; "Is it wrong to learn?"

I am sure many people have heard others talk as if they are proud of their ignorance. They are unwilling to learn. But I am reminded of the saying, "If you think education is expensive try ignorance."

I find it interesting that if one looks up the word for disciple in Hebrew, it is one "who really learns".

How can we be a disciple if we do not learn of Him. If we do not study to learn of Him then we go against the teaching in 2 Timothy.

 

No, GB, of course it's not wrong to learn, but if you spend all your time learning you fail to submit to the Lord's command to go and tell others in your own language.

 

I agree gb93433. We MUST do what we can to learn more about God's Word, about Him, and about the Gospel. Unless we do so, it is quite possible that we will not have an answer for those who are lost who are looking for answers. I don't know why anyone would refrain from learning, especially when given the change.

 

Precepts said, "I'll be spending even less time on BB to your aproval I'm sure."
Orvie replies- "Please don't go, Reading your post can be most entertaining"
Precepts "The weathwer is much nicer now and more people are out in the market place where I can go witness more. I had time to witness to two people on a one on one basis today. I wanted to speak to several Mexicans but I asked if they could speak English, they said ,"Leetle"."
Orvie-"If you lead them to Christ praise Him, but don't force on them the KJV:kjb...don't force on them the silly Spanish version that's out there based on the KJV:kjb, instead of the Originals."
Precepts in his sarcastic wisdom said-"Maybe I should have spoken to them in GreeK?"
Orvie replies-"That's what good translations are for, since ya speak un poco Espanol"
Thanx again for your entertainment, and if you want to keep sending funny PM's go ahead, I enjoy the laugh

 

That is the reason why I share my faith regularly. Knowledge and practice can be separate but they shouldn't be. The Pharisees knew about God but they didn't know Him.

If it's only head knowledge then you have not learned.

I think you must understand that for some to not learn the languages would be sin. For others God has not called them to the task of teacher and it may not be of any importance. But a teacher must be an excellent student so as to not mislead others. An ignorant preacher misleads his followers. I have dealt with a lot of poor theology by people as I am sure many other pastors can attest to.

Humility says, "I will listen because I will learn more than I do now."

 

A few reflections about grammar...

I've spent hours upon hours upon hours with grammar of Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Arabic. I'm no Benjamin Davidson or A T Robertson but hey - I just thought I'd toss some perspective out here!

It's great for a believer to familiarize himself/herself with languages. It can be enlightening to see mechanically how the original languages line up with English. But we have to be careful about taking to much at face value. The nuances of a language are NOT learned easily - especially not with a Vine's Greek book for a few hours here and there!

The John 21 passage mentioned before is a good example. The Greek words "phileo" and "agapao" are used - both are translated love in English. Now these words do have different nuances and CAN mean different things. But just as often they are interchanged stylistically!. Remember back to English in high school when the teacher would tell you to get out the thesaurus instead of repeating the same word over and over?

In addition language is filled with idiomatic speech - way more than we would initially think. How often do we use figures of speech? ALOT!

Now don't get me wrong - there's nothing wrong with learning Greek. The average believer will be rewarded with a nice little insight into the way the Bible was actually written. But for one to say something like, "without knowing Greek you completely miss the point of this passage" is a little misguided. THAT kind of knowledge of a language takes BIG TIME dedication and time. In truth most lack the time/ability for this. God would not have given us something that was incomplete. The Gospel is plenty understanable without original languages. That being said the languages are still my biggest hobby!

 

The vast amout of pride over ignorance being evidenced on this thread astounds me.

I do not know Greek, but I do know enough to be able to open a book or click a mouse on my computer.

I do hope to one day to have to opportunity to study Greek (and wife hopes to be able to do so as well). But for now I have to be content to stand on the shoulders of those who penned their knowledge for us.

Oh yeah, thanks for the list of lexicons. My wish list just got a little longer...

In Christ,
Trotter

 

Uh, no, try SpanisH.




HankD

 

Be careful what you say Charles, one poster from "B_____ L___" might think you are talking about his grandmother looking in the mirror! (especially how he totally misconstrued Ed's post about his own sister)

 

Well, my own language is NOT Elizabethan English, so I proclaim the Gospel in the language with which I'm most familiar-CONTEMPORARY English.