From: Theodore H Mann (thmann@juno.com)
Date: Sun Feb 14 1999 - 15:18:35 EST
Hi David:
Nice summary! And all true. However, I've maintained right along that
you have to become quite good at Greek before you can significantly enjoy
most of the benefits listed below. Unless one is dedicated to the task
of becoming really proficient, I question whether or not it is
particularly beneficial to dabble in the language (except, of course, for
the fun of it), and it might even be harmful. (The old saw: "A little
knowledge can be dangerous.:") As far as I can tell, nearly all of the
secrets hidden in the original texts have been explained very nicely in
English and other languages native to readers, so there is little reason
to learn Greek to uncover them. I have studied Greek on my own for some
time now, and I enjoy doing so, but I can't say that I've uncovered any
information that isn't available in English, if one knows where to look
for it (journals, etc.). And I still consider myself to be pretty much
at the mercy of translators, in spite of my knowledge of Greek. Who am I
to argue with the Winberrys and the Conrads?
Best,
Theodore "Ted" Mann
thmann@juno.com
On Sun, 14 Feb 1999 12:36:45 +1100 "One of the McKays" <music@fl.net.au>
writes:
>I really enjoyed the thread on "Why Study Biblical Greek?" and thought
>I
>would compile a list of reasons that were given.
>
>1. You are always subject to the choices of the translator(s) in doing
>Biblical studies if you do not know the original languages.
>
> a.. Even though you may trust those translators, nevertheless it is
>more
>useful in doing serious study to know the language yourself.
> b.. Unless you can read Biblical Greek, you have forever limited
>yourself
>to low-level study aids. The inability to research commentaries and
>lexicons
>that deal with the original language again means that you have decided
>to
>let someone else tell you what the Bible says: commentaries that are
>not
>based on the original languages are inadequate.
> c.. It gives you access to the best scholarly journals and books in
>biblical and theological studies.
> d.. It gives you a greater independence as an interpreter of
>Scripture
>2. It takes you a step closer to the people who used the language 2000
>years
>ago.
>
> a.. It gives you a broader and deeper understanding of the
>linguistic and
>cultural milieu in which the NT was written.
> b.. It gives you a new appreciation of the richness and depth of the
>sacred texts, which previously you have come to value even though you
>have
>perceived them only through a veil, dimly.
> c.. Studying the Bible in the original languages brings a new
>dimension to
>the scriptures that simply does not get portrayed in English. It
>allows you
>to interact with the scriptures in a new way.
>
>3. Studying the Greek NT provides a way to get a fresh look at what
>the text
>is actually saying. It may help to overcome some of our preconceived
>notions
>of what the English text says.
>
>4. Studying New Testament Greek should turn a good NT scholar into a
>better
>one. [But it wonāt turn a bad one into a good one!]
>
>5. It helps you learn the grammar of your own language, and hopefully,
>makes
>you a better communicator in that language.
>
>6. It is great intellectual training.
>
>7. But, most of all, itās fun!!!!!!!
>
>David McKay
>
>music@fl.net.au
>
>
>
>---
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>
>
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