• Biblical Languages

    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…

  • Biblical Languages,  Misc,  Scripture

    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…