Things To Do (And Not Do) When Learning A Biblical Language
One of the most significant challenges that seminary and Bible college students face is learning biblical languages. However, Southern Seminary and Boyce College Online is committed to supporting and encouraging you as you embark on this journey. Toward that end, here are some things to do (and not do) when learning the biblical languages.
Do commit to learning the languages for immediate use in your ministry; Don't expect yourself to become an expert with only 1-2 classes.
Many students begin their first classes in the original languages expecting to master them in a short time. However, just like learning a spoken language, learning the biblical languages requires a hearty investment for students. You must enroll in a course, invest a significant amount of money in tuition and textbooks, study a foreign alphabet and grammar, and commit to regular homework, quizzes, and exams. Most students will find that their classes in the original languages require more time and effort than any other course they take in seminary. So, what is the purpose of all of this? If you begin your first term expecting to read unaided from the original languages in just a few weeks, you will be disappointed. Instead, biblical language acquisition is a long-term process that needs to be nurtured by realistic goals. Plan long and short-term goals that will set you up for success in your future study. Thus, enroll in these courses with the commitment, both personally, spiritually, and academically, to learn the biblical languages for the purpose of applying them. An unfortunate number of students invest years in original language study with the result of leaving their biblical language resources on the shelf, never to be used in their practical ministry. Don’t let this be your story! Instead, commit from your first semester to study with the purpose of reading, applying, and teaching the Word better.
Do commit to beginning with the basics; Don’t compare your learning pace with others.
When I started my Ph.D. studies in Old Testament, I felt like I was coming into the program with a high level of Hebrew proficiency. While I had already studied the language for several years, this pride was quickly squashed when I saw the watertight grammatical understanding of my colleagues. While I was using Hebrew regularly for many years, I needed to go back and review the basic paradigms and building blocks of the language to sure up my foundation.
For many students, memorizing paradigms and grammar seem removed from engaging with the original languages of the Bible. Since we did not learn our native language this way, it is often challenging to see how memorizing charts and vocabulary will affect how we read. While memorizing paradigms may not seem immediately relevant, a solid grammatical foundation will serve as the building block for growing in the language. When memorizing paradigms, trust that this is an investment for the future. It is worth mentioning that there are many supplemental resources that can help all different types of biblical language learners. See my previous post for additional resources to use when learning the language.
Do commit to reading in the original languages for a set time every day; Don’t commit to reading a chapter a day.
Since the thrust of this post has been to encourage you to learn the biblical languages to read the Bible better, it may seem counterintuitive to caution reading one chapter a day. However, this is a common pitfall that I see many students make when they are (wisely) trying to read their Bibles as much as possible. The problem with trying to read one chapter a day is that it is unreliable. For instance, while you may read Ruth 1 in about thirty minutes, Luke 1 may take several hours to read. This issue is not merely concerning the length of a chapter but also the difficulty of the grammar and vocabulary.
Thus, instead of committing to read a certain amount each day, choose to read for a set time. Even committing to reading just five minutes a day in each testament will produce a great amount of fruit. And when committing to a set time each day, you may be pleasantly surprised at how fast you pick up speed in your reading. I would encourage students to use a Hebrew and Greek reading plan that increases in difficulty, as this will allow you to reinforce basic vocabulary as you move on to more difficult texts. As you are reading, you may choose to read the text aloud and translate to the best of your ability using a reader’s edition or Bible software for assistance. However, the goal in this process is straightforward: build a routine of original language reading that will be a stewardship for your future ministry.
Do use the biblical languages to bless others; Don’t use them to build up yourself.
Anyone engaging in theological studies can share how it is both a blessing and a sacrifice that few people get the privilege of experiencing. Part of this sacrifice means that a significant amount of work and effort is necessary to invest in this training. Since learning the languages is a difficult process with which few church members can relate, it is tempting to translate one’s long hours of disciplined study and memorization into a prideful platform from which to stand behind. Thus, it is common for new students of the biblical languages to employ them in ways that are not always helpful. This may look like quoting Greek and Hebrew excessively from the pulpit, openly criticizing English translations or just a general pompous attitude to the level of understanding that you have of the Word of God on account of your privileged studies. This common scenario reveals a misunderstanding of the purpose of learning the biblical languages, namely to bless others with a greater and more relatable understanding of the Word of God.
In contrast to learning the languages to build oneself up, the biblical languages should bless others. Most of the time, this investment happens in one’s personal study, unannounced to others and perceived only by the soundness of one’s exegesis. Even from early on in one’s language study, it is always helpful to attempt to read any passage you are teaching from the original languages. While this may not always produce impressive insights which may be proclaimed from the pulpit, this will allow you to interpret the Word of God with more discipline and attention. Not only will you understand the meaning of the grammar and syntax of the passage better, but this will also allow you to engage more deeply with commentaries and other literature.
We hope that these simple steps are helpful for you as you learn how to love the biblical languages and apply them to your ministry. If you have not already read my previous post on this subject, you can find it here.
