1. Greek 1 Hybrid Weekend, Session 1
Why Study Greek?
Noah W. Kelley
Greek 1 Hybrid Weekend, Session 1
SEBTS
November 4, 2016

2. I. The Purpose of Studying Greek

3. I. The Purpose of Studying Greek
God speaks:
The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. (Ps 19:1)

4. I. The Purpose of Studying Greek
God speaks:
. . . the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (Rom 1:18-20)

5. I. The Purpose of Studying Greek
2. God speaks clearly to us in Scripture:
I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Rom 1:16)

6. I. The Purpose of Studying Greek
2. God speaks clearly to us in Scripture:
Scripture is necessary
. . . for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? (Rom 10:13–14)
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law. (Deut 29:29)

7. I. The Purpose of Studying Greek
2. God speaks clearly to us in Scripture:
Scripture is necessary
Scripture is sufficient
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16-17)
How blessed are those whose way is blameless,
Who walk in the law of the LORD. (Ps 119:1)

8. I. The Purpose of Studying Greek
3. Christian teachers (pastors, Bible teachers, parents) are to help others hear what God is saying to them in the Scriptures.
The job of the Bible teacher is to nourish God’s people by teaching them “to obey all that [Jesus] commanded” (Matt 28:20). This means teaching the Scriptures which are “able to make [them] wise for salvation,” and by which they can be prepared for “every good work” (2 Tim 3:15–17).
We are to teach the meaning and significance of Scripture.

9. I. The Purpose of Studying Greek
3. Christian teachers (pastors, Bible teachers, parents) are to help others hear what God is saying to them in the Scriptures.
Some ways not to decide what the text means (Hafemann):
Look to the experts and see which view is the most popular
Present all the options without making a decision
Spend your time looking for good illustrations and find a text that supports your point

10. I. The Purpose of Studying Greek
3. Christian teachers (pastors, Bible teachers, parents) are to help others hear what God is saying to them in the Scriptures.
Or, we can work thought the text on our own and discover what the text actually says.

11. I. The Purpose of Studying Greek
“The purpose of reading the Bible for ourselves is not, however, to out- commentary the commentaries Nor is it to out-translate the translators Rather, our own work in the text provides a window through which we can see for ourselves just what decisions have been made by others and why. Instead of being a second-hander, who can only take someone else’s word for it, a knowledge of the text allows us to evaluate, rather than simply regurgitate.

12. I. The Purpose of Studying Greek
This will not mean that we will be able to out-expert the experts. We all have different gifts and callings. It does mean, however, that we will be able to explain to ourselves and to others why people disagree, what the real issues are, and what are the strengths of our own considered conclusions. It will allow us to have reasons for what we believe and preach, without having to resort to the papacy of scholarship or the papacy of personal experience.”

13. I. The Purpose of Studying Greek
“The serious pastor, for whom the Bible is the most important book in the world, wants something more than an “average” understanding, especially if that pastor wants to be able to teach others its truths. . . An automobile driver does not need to understand the complexities of internal combustion, but the mechanic does. The physician must be able to diagnose the patient’s problem with far greater precision than the patient could. Is it, then, unreasonable for the church to expect expositors of Holy Scripture to derive practical help and illumination from the original text of Scripture?” (Black, Using New Testament Greek in Ministry)

14. II. What can you expect to get out of it
II. What can you expect to get out of it? Some specific benefits of Studying Greek

15. II. What can you expect to get out of it
II. What can you expect to get out of it? Some specific benefits of Studying Greek
You will learn grammar! This is the starting point for interpretation

16. II. What can you expect to get out of it
II. What can you expect to get out of it? Some specific benefits of Studying Greek
You will learn grammar! This is the starting point for interpretation
Being able to adjudicate opinions: knowing the languages allows you to be critically appreciative of the work of others.

17. II. What can you expect to get out of it
II. What can you expect to get out of it? Some specific benefits of Studying Greek
You will learn grammar! This is the starting point for interpretation
Being able to adjudicate opinions: knowing the languages allows you to be critically appreciative of the work of others.
Being able to make use of tools, such as Bible software

18. II. What can you expect to get out of it
II. What can you expect to get out of it? Some specific benefits of Studying Greek
You will learn grammar! This is the starting point for interpretation
Being able to adjudicate opinions: knowing the languages allows you to be critically appreciative of the work of others.
Being able to make use of tools, such as Bible software
Being able to teach the Scriptures better:
TC: What is the original text?

19. II. What can you expect to get out of it
II. What can you expect to get out of it? Some specific benefits of Studying Greek
You will learn grammar! This is the starting point for interpretation
Being able to adjudicate opinions: knowing the languages allows you to be critically appreciative of the work of others.
Being able to make use of tools, such as Bible software
Being able to teach the Scriptures better:
TC: What is the original text?
Word meanings

20. II. What can you expect to get out of it
II. What can you expect to get out of it? Some specific benefits of Studying Greek
You will learn grammar! This is the starting point for interpretation
Being able to adjudicate opinions: knowing the languages allows you to be critically appreciative of the work of others.
Being able to make use of tools, such as Bible software
Being able to teach the Scriptures better:
TC: What is the original text?
Word meanings
Grammar: the basis of theology

21. II. What can you expect to get out of it
II. What can you expect to get out of it? Some specific benefits of Studying Greek
You will learn grammar! This is the starting point for interpretation
Being able to adjudicate opinions: knowing the languages allows you to be critically appreciative of the work of others.
Being able to make use of tools, such as Bible software
Being able to teach the Scriptures better:
TC: What is the original text?
Word meanings
Grammar: the basis of theology
The structure and emphases of a passage: the basis for teaching and preaching

22. Conclusion
“The chief treasure of the Greek tongue is the NT. No toil is too great if by means of it men are enabled to understand more exactly the mind of Christ.” (A. T. Robertson, Grammar, 1207–1208).