Hob's SemBlog

Notes, comments, thoughts on my studies at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
so my friends/family/supporters/whoever can keep tabs on my progress, and nag me to keep on top of things.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

"A minister must know the original languages"

A minister is called by God to preach His Word. Yet, few preachers fully do this. God's word was written in Hebrew and Greek [footnote: There is also some Aramaic in the Old Testament]. Translations are not the Word of God, they are the word of fallible men. "But!" some would say, "a translation is the Word of God inasmuch as it agrees with the original text." That is a legitimate statement. However, unless a minister knows the original languages, he is not capable of determining to what extent the passages he breaches from agree with the original. There is no such thing as a 100% accurate translation. A. T. Robertson points out that
there is much that cannot be translated. It is not possible to reproduce the delicate turns of thought, the nuances of language, in translation. The freshness of the strawberry cannot be preserved in any extract."
Thus, in order to be a reliable interpreter of the Scriptures, a minister must know the original languages. This does not mean that a minister who does not know the original languages is disqualified from preaching. It means that one who does know them is more qualified and truer to his call.
- S. D. Dyer, Ph. D.

I'm absolutely convinced that Dr. Dyer is correct there (and not just because he's my Greek professor!). This is why I find my struggles with Greek and Hebrew so troubling. Several ministers and laymen have encouraged me that it's not that big of a deal, just learn it long enough to pass the course, you won't need it in your pastorate--they/their pastors don't use it!

I find that so disheartening to hear. I know those people mean well, and are trying to help me. But...bah.

Frankly, I'm tempted to take that approach from time to time--particularly when battling some paradigm I just can't memorize. But it doesn't stick. I know it's wrong. No need to walk into the OK Corral with your six-shooter half empty.

Please pray for me as I try to get these languages down.

Hobster jotted this down on 11:57 AM. (( 11:57 AM
Comments: a name="115838085275960040"> Persevere. It does not mean you will master the languages (who can master them in two years!?), but you will have at least a functional understanding--enough to catch basic error and know the resources. You have the rest of your life to perfect it.

It's not always easy for me either. I meet with Dr. Coppes weekly to practice my translations in both languages.
Again: persevere!
# posted by polymathis : 10:27 PM Post a Comment

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