Do we need to know and use Hebrew when preaching today? Some say, ‘No, there are much more important things to think about.’
The number of people attending church is declining, with so many alternative activities available on Sundays, and traditional methods of communication – like standing up and talking at people for 20 minutes – are less appealing than they used to be. If we want to tackle this problem, surely it is more relevant to study effective communication in the twenty-first century, for example the use of audio, visual, and social media, and whole new ways of ‘doing church’? Many British theological colleges and university departments of theology now make the study of Hebrew and Greek optional. In North America, more theological students study the languages, though that does not guarantee they will keep them up after graduation and actually use them for preaching.
Why learn an ancient language?
Some may ask, ‘Is it really worth the time and effort to learn ancient languages if you are going to be a preacher?’ In 1524, Martin Luther answered a similar question like this:
‘There is a great difference … between a simple preacher of the faith and an expositor of Scripture … A simple preacher, to be sure, is in possession of so many clear passages and texts from translations that he can know and teach Christ, lead a holy life, and preach to others. But to interpret Scripture, to treat it independently, and to dispute with those who cite it incorrectly, to that he is unequal; that cannot be done without languages.’1
Today there are excellent Bible translations and commentaries. The scholars who produced them have done the language work and provide ready-made interpretations of difficult passages, so it is understandable if hard pressed preachers focus on how to communicate the message to post modern people rather than doing careful exegesis themselves. As Luther pointed out, it is possible to know Christ and preach the gospel without learning Hebrew or Greek. Nevertheless, I am quite sure that it is worth the effort to study biblical languages, if you are able to give the time. Even the best translation cannot compare with reading a classic in its original language. If we want to study the works of Goethe in depth, we would be sure to learn German, even though there is no shortage of translations.
