-
The Root Word Fallacy: Why Biblical Words Don’t Always Mean What You Think
Words have power, but not always the power we think they do. In biblical studies, it’s a common error to assume that the meaning of a word can be traced back to its ancient roots, as if the essence of that word has remained untouched through the ages. But language is not a fossil—it’s alive, evolving with each generation. Just as the word “nice” no longer implies ignorance, many words in Scripture have meanings that shifted over time. This dynamic nature of language can make interpreting ancient texts challenging, especially when we fall into the trap of the root word fallacy. In this article, we’ll explore why this common mistake can lead to misunderstanding in Bible study or preaching, and how recognizing it will aid our approach to Bible study. Introduction to the Idea of the Root Word Fallacy We’ve covered fallacies before, including the Red Herring Fallacy, The Strawman…
-
Resolving an Alleged Contradiction: Did Paul’s Companions Hear the Voice?
Scripture is often subjected to scrutiny when it comes to perceived contradictions, and one of the most debated examples involves Paul’s conversion experience as recounted in Acts. In Acts 9:7 and 22:9, we find two descriptions of the same event, but they seem to differ in the details—specifically, what Paul’s companions heard. This has led many to question whether the Bible contradicts itself on this point. By examining the original language and context, however, we can gain a clearer understanding of these passages. In this post, we’ll explore the nuances in the Greek text and discuss how these apparent differences actually harmonize, demonstrating that the Scriptures remain consistent and reliable. Let’s take a closer look at the issue and see if this is truly a contradiction or if there’s a more reasonable explanation. The Alleged Contradiction between Acts 9:7 and 22:9 “The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing…
-
Where Did the Hebrew Language Come From?
The Hebrew language is beloved by many Christians because it is the original language of the Old Testament. Thus, the Hebrew language makes up the majority of God’s revelation! Some people think Hebrew is a divine language. Others think Hebrew contains specialized codes from God. However, the history of the Hebrew language shows that it is not some mystical language with special codes. It is a real language that has had real development over time. Abraham and the Origin of the Hebrew Language Although some would argue Adam and Eve spoke Hebrew, that is unlikely. The first time we see the word “Hebrew” used is in reference to Abram in Genesis 14:13. Abram (later Abraham) was a sojourner from Ur of the Chaldees (Gen 11:31). Ur was a bustling Sumerian city-state, and during Abram’s time there he would have grown up fluent in Sumerian and Akkadian. Akkadian is the oldest…
-
Why the Idea of Literal or Dynamic Bible Translations Isn’t Quite Right
I am often asked what makes for a good Bible translation. To many people, the answer is simple—you just need a literal Bible translation (i.e., one that translates word-for-word from Greek or Hebrew into English). However, there is a little more complexity to the issue that needs to be considered. Literal and Dynamic Bible Translations Bible translations have traditionally been classified as literal-formal or dynamic equivalence. Dynamic equivalence is normally used to refer to translations which attempt to emphasize the meaning of phrases rather than each individual word (NIV is often used as an example). In these kinds of translations, there is a little more flexibility in how a word or phrase might be translated given the given context. Alternatively, a literal translation (or formal equivalence) is often touted as the best due to its word-for-word approach and its attempt to be more objective or consistent in its translation (KJV…
-
Faith is Not Enough To Save Someone
In the King James Version, James 2:14 reads, “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” This verse was quoted to me in high school by a Mormon who was arguing that faith alone is not what saves an individual. According to my Mormon friend, and others who perhaps read the KJV, James 2:14 teaches that faith alone cannot save an individual. Some readers will be initially discouraged to hear that the Greek language makes the point even more strongly. In Greek, the phrase, “Can faith save him?” is μὴ δύναται ἡ πίστις σῶσαι αὐτόν. The presence of the μὴ particle assumes a negative reply. This means that when we read the question, we are supposed to know that the answer is “Of course not.” In other words, James has telegraphed the answer to the question—faith is…
-
Martin Luther and the Original Languages
Martin Luther is well known for his role in starting the Reformation. It has always been of particular interest to me how Luther viewed the importance of Greek and Hebrew in his daily ministry. Since I teach language courses in a seminary setting, I’m always looking for good quotes to motivate the students to put in the effort and learn the languages. A couple quotes from Luther are especially worth sharing. If the languages had not made me positive as to the true meaning of the Word, I might have still remained a chained monk, engaged in quietly preaching Romish errors in the obscurity of a cloister; the pope, the sophists, and their anti-Christian empire would have remained unshaken. W. Carlos Martyn, The Life and Times of Martin Luther (New York: American Tract Society), 474. I know full well that while it is the Spirit alone who accomplishes everything, I…
-
A Proposal for a New Translation of Deuteronomy 4:29
This month an article that I have been working on for awhile was finally published in the journal The Bible Translator. The article is entitled, “Towards a New Proposal for Translating the Conjunction כי in Deuteronomy 4.29.” Although I am not allowed to post the published PDF, I have uploaded the prepublication version of the paper here. It is a fairly technical paper, discussing some of the intricacies of Hebrew grammar. The paper will likely not be very enjoyable for those who do not know Hebrew. However, in addition to drawing attention to it, I wanted to summarize the argument in layman’s terms. The Typical Translations of Deuteronomy 4:29 Deuteronomy 4:29 does not typically have much variation in translation. The only outlier is the CSB. Observe the following translations. But from there, you will search for the Lord your God, and you will find Him when you seek Him with…
-
Book Review: A Reader’s Hebrew and Greek Bible, 2nd ed. (Zondervan Academic)
Because I am involved in teaching the biblical languages at the seminary level, I am regularly asked about Greek and Hebrew Reader Bibles. I have not had much experience with Reader Bibles so I asked Zondervan to let me review their 2nd edition of A Reader’s Hebrew and Greek Bible. I hope this review will be helpful both to my students as well as the academically-inclined reader of the blog. The Aesthetics, Bulk, Weight, etc. First of all, I was impressed with the texture of the hard cover and the quality of the binding. Granted I am no expert on book bindings, but it seems very solid, and lays flat immediately. It is one of the more annoying things to have a book that doesn’t lay flat, so this is much appreciated! It is 4 LBS, and contains 2272 pages. It seems comparable my Biblia Sacra which is about…
-
Book Review: Dictionary of English Grammar for Students of Biblical Languages
I love teaching the biblical languages. It is extremely rewarding to help students learn Greek and Hebrew in order to better understand God’s revelation. However, one of the difficulties of being a language teacher is the inability of many students to think and speak grammatically about English. The Dictionary of English Grammar for Students of Biblical Languages is a helpful little resource (140 pages) which aims to help with this kind of problem. A couple years ago I remember reading a book on cognitive learning. One of my major takeaways from the book was that students cannot learn well if they are not using the same vocabulary as the teacher. That was very eye opening to me, and I have endeavored to help students use the same words as I from day one of the class so they are on the same page. That’s what makes this such a great…
-
Calvin and Luther on Greek and Hebrew
Almost two weeks ago I had the privilege of being a part of our Far West Regional ETS conference. I presented a paper on the importance of Greek and Hebrew for Martin Luther and John Calvin. It was a lot of fun researching, and I hope it encourages those thinking about ministry. In essence, the paper proposes that without attention to the original languages of Greek and Hebrew, the Reformation would never have happened. It was the return to attention to detail in the original languages that prompted the break from the Church of Rome, which had drifted into stark heresy. Although not everyone has the opportunity to learn Greek and Hebrew, those who can should learn it. It is a tremendous blessing from God to have all the resources for learning Greek and Hebrew available for us today. To get the full paper, look at the publications part of…