This week I'd like to wrestle with the use of Hebrew and Greek in sermon preparation. For starters, is it reasonable or even desirable to expect pastors to study the biblical texts they preach in their original languages? Is this a wise investment or a poor investment of time?
Personally, I am convinced that it's both reasonable and desirable for pastors to devote time and effort to working in the Hebrew and Greek texts of Scripture. I offer the following convictions to promote discussion on this question. A few of them are disclaimers intended to provide balance.
1. It's inconceivable to me that those whose life-calling is to preach Scripture (and who devote as much as 20 hours a week to this calling) would not gain some familiarity with or proficiency in the original languages in which Scripture was written.
2. It's possible to preach a great sermon without studying a text in its original language (as many great preachers have demonstrated!), but studying the text in its original language (when done correctly) will always lead to a richer, fuller understanding of Scripture.
3. Devoting an hour or two of my study time to reading or meditating on the text in its original language can actually save me some time! It allows me to think through more quickly and more accurately the conclusions of other godly Bible teachers, particularly as I read their commentaries. It also helps me to see the structure or emphases of a text more quickly than if I simply read it in an English translation(s).
4. I must not use my commitment to study the text in its original language as an excuse for neglecting matters like application, fleshing out ideas with images or illustrations, or attention to using the language of the culture to connect with listeners. It's not either languages or relevancy, but both!
5. I don't need to achieve the same level of proficiency in Hebrew or Greek as my seminary professors in order to benefit from studying the Bible in these languages. I should devote a reasonable amount of time to improving and using my language skills, as limited as my time and abilities might be.
6. Studying the Bible in Hebrew and Greek will not necessarily draw me closer to God. I find it sobering that I can just as easily disobey the Hebrew Bible or the Greek New Testament as I disobey my English translation!
7. Usually, I will not talk about Hebrew grammar or Greek words in my actual sermon! My study in the languages informs and shapes my sermon, but it does not draw attention to itself. If I feel compelled to comment on a feature of the Hebrew or Greek text, I will work hard at putting it in compelling, contemporary language.
In my next post, I'll share some ideas about improving your language skills (especially if they are on life support!) and then using them in your sermon preparation.
Posted by Steve Mathewson at 2:03 PM on August 7, 2007
Comments
Amen! The original languages provide rich nuances that support theological (systematic or biblical) points, add color or style to the background of the passage, locate the main verb (which can be difficult in English translations), and help outline the flow of the passage. There is rarely a week that goes by that the original languages do not shape the way I preach and teach His Word.
Posted by: David Zook on August 8, 2007
Steve, your claims and disclaimers are very good, but what do they mean for someone like me? I probably represent a lot of preachers: in school I took many credits of Greek, did reasonably well, and today retain enough knowledge to use Greek language tools, although it would take me many hours to translate a passage. I find those tools very helpful.
In contrast, I took two required Hebrew classes, got As in both, sat in open-mouthed wonder at the beauty of my professor's exegesis, and knew I would never be able to do what he was trying to teach us. Today I can hardly remember the alphabet and get confused using BDB.
Help me, and try not to yell at me when you do it. :)
Guilty Preacher
Posted by: Guilty Preacher on August 10, 2007
GUILTY PREACHER:
I appreciate your candor. I'm not a good yeller, so I'll try to help instead!
Being able to use the tools is a HUGE advantage. Perhaps you could set a goal to learn enough Hebrew (alphabet, able to recognize words) so that you could use the tools like you do in Greek. A progam like HEBREW TUTOR would help. I forgot to mention this computer program -- as well as GREEK TUTOR -- in my previous post.
Unless you have a certain level of proficiency, translating a passage is a waste of time. You could use a program, though, like BIBLEWORKS to "read" through a verse or a section. You can go to a verse, put the cursor on any word, and get a translation and parsing. Basically, these programs function like an interlinear. Then, when you go back to the commentaries, you'll be able to interact with them more deeply.
I think your experience in Hebrew is similar to what alot of pastors have experienced. Some profs do superb exegesis, but they can't seem to break down the process for students. So don't feel guilty. Just do the best you can with the skills you have.
I love the mantra which Dr. David Osborn uses in the D.Min. program at Denver Seminary. He says: "Ask 'how can I use what I've got?' rather than 'how can I be what I'm not?' That applies to the bibilical languages. If your language skills are at a '1' on a scale of 0 to 10, then consider investing an hour a week to get them to a level '2.' But unless you have a strong compultion to get to level '5,' don't put unnecessary pressure (or guilt!) on yourself.
It's better to set realistic goals and make small progress than to set unrealistic goals, get frustrated, and quit. Just work with what you have and develop it to a reasonable extent. Do the best you can considering your situation, your gifts, your background. Make progress, but be realistic.
Posted by: Steve Mathewson on August 14, 2007