Lesson 2 | Vocab
Why Is Vocabulary Important?
You are now ready to learn some Greek words! Our goal in this class is to learn a good starter set of common words in the Greek New Testament. You will learn an average of 30 new words per vocab lesson. Most of these words and definitions are coming from a book by Warren Trenchard called Complete Vocabulary Guide to the Greek New Testament.
This will be hard work—I won't lie to you! But this is crucial work.
Here are two reasons why learning Greek is important, even for those who aren't in full-time ministry. And you can't learn Greek without learning Greek vocabulary!
It serves precise interpretation.
Martin Luther asked,
Do you inquire what use there is in learning the languages? Do you say, "We can read the Bible very well in German?" Without languages we could not have received the Gospel. Languages are the scabbard that contains the sword of the Spirit; they are the casket which contains the priceless jewels of antique thought; they are the vessel that holds the wine.¹
It is the very words of Scripture, in the original languages, that are perfect. No translation can express them completely, in all their richness, once for all. It is individual words that serve as the inerrant portrait of our Savior, Jesus Christ. No translation can paint him as gloriously, as brightly, as the original text given by God.
So if you want to interpret Scripture with depth and precision, there is no substitute for studying it in its original languages.
It saves pure faith.
Luther also asserted,
In former times the fathers were frequently mistaken, because they were ignorant of the languages and in our days there are some who, like the Waldenses, do not think the languages of any use; but although their doctrine is good, they have often erred in the real meaning of the sacred text; they are without arms against error, and I fear much that their faith will not remain pure.
What a warning! The further we get from the original languages, the further we get from pure doctrine, and the closer we get to the cliff of theological error.
In fact, Luther believed so strongly in the importance of the original languages that he gave this testimony:
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.
So if you cannot read your Greek New Testament, you will lose both precision and purity in your interpretation and teaching of Scripture. And the only way to read the Greek New Testament is by knowing a large number of Greek words! So commit right now to learn all the vocabulary in this course, for the sake of precision and purity, for the glory of Jesus.