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Should pastors be required to know original Biblical languages?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Yeshua1, Feb 11, 2020.

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  1. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    yes, and latin would be helpful, as that gets them right into the original works of that time!
     
  2. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    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!
     
  3. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    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.
     
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  4. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    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!
     
  5. George Antonios

    George Antonios Well-Known Member

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    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.
     
    #45 George Antonios, Feb 12, 2020
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2020
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  6. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    I can, as that would be the primary reason hold to using formal translations!
     
  7. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Yes, but he also uses Esv and Nas, as he did not like how gender inclusive at times it got!
     
  8. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    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!
     
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  9. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    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...
     
  10. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    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?
     
  11. 37818

    37818 Well-Known Member

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    There is an on going war on which texts to use. Most settle for the so called Critical Text.
     
  12. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    regardless of using the TR/MT/Bzt/Ct, the pastor/teacher can still glean insight from any of them!
     
  13. Reynolds

    Reynolds Well-Known Member
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    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.
     
    #53 Reynolds, Feb 12, 2020
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2020
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  14. Reynolds

    Reynolds Well-Known Member
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    Or they could apply what they know and be a Shepherd instead of simply a scholar.
     
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  15. Steven Yeadon

    Steven Yeadon Well-Known Member
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    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.
     
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  16. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Its not an either/or thing here!
     
  17. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    You mean like a Calvin or Luther, think they knew quite a bit on this issue!
     
  18. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    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!
     
  19. Reynolds

    Reynolds Well-Known Member
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    You really want to use either of those as an example of a pastor?
     
  20. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Were they pastors?
     
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