Should we study Greek?

[awalt]

While I always have interest in learning new things, and languages are included, I still get pretty confused by the nuances of the English versions of the Bible - what are they really saying? I also compare versions of the Bible, and that lends a lot of opportunities for…thought.

So whatever free time I would have to study a language, if thepurpose was to enrich my understanding of the Word, there are probably more effective uses of that time - more in-depth reading of the CCC and all its footnotes, reading more commentaries on the Bible, reading different versions of the Bible more, etc…

 

[anawim]

I plan on enrolling in a class in Greek next semester…although it will be in a Protestant seminary. I should probably have my head examined.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

anawim:

I plan on enrolling in a class in Greek next semester…although it will be in a Protestant seminary. I should probably have my head examined.

If Greek varied according as one was Catholic, Protestant, or whatever, maybe - as it doesn’t, there’s not a lot to worry about - apart from making sure one understands what one is taught.​

Is this going to be NT Greek, Patristic, OT, or what ? Or something of everything ?

All the best on your studies when they begin. ##

 

[Thal59]

Technically speaking, you’re wasting your time. I am studying modern Hebrew, but mostly to understand the Hebrew expressions that are used by modern day Rabbis and Jewish scholars when they talk about Judaism. (I am currently interested in the Jewish roots of Christianity.)

But I could never attain enough Hebrew to read and understand the original OT scripts. Even before Abram became Abraham, the original Hebrew was already pretty much like Latin is today; an obsolete language used by priests and scholars.

As for the Greek? Which Greek? Koine, Alexandrian, Byzantine majority, Stephen’s, Scrivner?

What this qustion comes down to is basically a lack of faith. People express a desire to learn Greek apparently because they feel if they read the NT Greek, they will gain something out of it that the church has missed. But we have had 2,000 years of Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic scholars in the magesterium do the work for us. Christ promised the “advocate” would bring to mind all that I have taught you, lead you into all truth, teach you all things, and be with you forever!

Sometimes I feel a desire to know the NT Greek is an admission in a lack of faith in what the church has taught for 2,000 years. We don’t need to keep going back to the instruction manual, we have a “living” tradition between the magesterium and the Holy Spirit.

I would hate to see us become like the Sola Scripturist Protestants who have virtually nothing but endless Bible study.

Thal59

 

[Shibboleth]

Studying the Biblical Languages is useful. Not so you can have your own private interpretation as some people allude to but so that you just have a little better understanding.

For instance Matt 26:27 in certain translations has it as:
“Drink ye all of it” or something to that effect. Now with only an English understanding one is going to be inclined to say that it means drink all of the liquid.

However, if you have a Basic Understanding of Biblical Greek you will know that it means – “Everyone drink this.”

Another example might be that when thinking about Genesis and Creationism it is useful to know that Hebrew doesn’t have a word for Billion or anything close.

The Magisterium has not really infallibly defined every verse in the Bible nor is it going to go into every single little detail.

More knowledge can give you more understanding but one must realize the limits of that knowledge and be able to properly apply it, properly admit when they do not know, and properly go to an authority on the matter when a question arises. This is what we call Wisdom…

Knowledge used without wisdom is dangerous… knowledge guided by wisdom is understanding.

By the way when people were listing languages to study they left out Aramaic.