Grace Fellowship Church
Here is a wonderful tool to lead you in loving thoughts toward your Maker!
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Guest Post! (On Learning the Bible's Original Languages)
The following is a guest post... actually, it was a comment made to another post I made, but I thought it was so much better than my post that I posted it here. Here are tomgee's thoughts on learning Hebrew and Greek:
"Here is Martin Luther who credits the (human) launch of the entire Reformation to knowing Greek and Hebrew:
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.
Or his poetic description of the "scabbard of the sword of the Spirit"?:
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; and as the gospel says, they are the baskets in which the loaves and fishes are kept to feed the multitude.
If we neglect the literature we shall eventually lose the gospel.
Personally, having just finished my first year of Greek and entering into my second year (exegesis), I enjoy the language courses immensely. It is a delight to be able to (very, very slowly) translate directly from the Greek. It isn't nearly as hard as people expect it to be, at least for the majority.
Even my children (5 and 7) have learned the Greek alphabet, several words, and a single phrase in Greek. You can do this!
(By the way, the phrase is "ego eimi hay anastasis kai hay zoe", which is "I am the resurrection and the life." And if you are studying your Greek, you'll recognize that saying "ego eimi" means that Jesus is emphatic about himself, "*I* am the resurrection and the life".)
And, to be very frank with fellow would-be pastors, if we're not willing to put forward the effort to learn the original languages, should we not question just how much we really value the Word of God? I mean, pastoring is a lot of work, preaching is a lot of work; we're going to be putting a lot of effort into our labour as a pastors. Where better to invest our effort at the beginning of our studies than in the word which feeds all of the other tasks required of a pastor?
Which book better deserves this effort? Leadership books by Hybels and Maxwell? Pastoring books by Petersen (who I enjoy) and Cymbala? Better to go to the source. Go to the Word, in the original!
Parting words from Martin Luther:
As dear as the gospel is to us all, let us contend with its language.
and John Newton:
The original Scriptures well deserve your pains, and will richly repay them.
and finally from the aforementioned Bitzer himself:
The more a theologian detaches himself from the basic Hebrew and Greek text of Holy Scripture, the more he detaches himself from the source of real theology! And real theology is the foundation of a fruitful and blessed ministry."
Thanks tomgee!
"Here is Martin Luther who credits the (human) launch of the entire Reformation to knowing Greek and Hebrew:
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.
Or his poetic description of the "scabbard of the sword of the Spirit"?:
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; and as the gospel says, they are the baskets in which the loaves and fishes are kept to feed the multitude.
If we neglect the literature we shall eventually lose the gospel.
Personally, having just finished my first year of Greek and entering into my second year (exegesis), I enjoy the language courses immensely. It is a delight to be able to (very, very slowly) translate directly from the Greek. It isn't nearly as hard as people expect it to be, at least for the majority.
Even my children (5 and 7) have learned the Greek alphabet, several words, and a single phrase in Greek. You can do this!
(By the way, the phrase is "ego eimi hay anastasis kai hay zoe", which is "I am the resurrection and the life." And if you are studying your Greek, you'll recognize that saying "ego eimi" means that Jesus is emphatic about himself, "*I* am the resurrection and the life".)
And, to be very frank with fellow would-be pastors, if we're not willing to put forward the effort to learn the original languages, should we not question just how much we really value the Word of God? I mean, pastoring is a lot of work, preaching is a lot of work; we're going to be putting a lot of effort into our labour as a pastors. Where better to invest our effort at the beginning of our studies than in the word which feeds all of the other tasks required of a pastor?
Which book better deserves this effort? Leadership books by Hybels and Maxwell? Pastoring books by Petersen (who I enjoy) and Cymbala? Better to go to the source. Go to the Word, in the original!
Parting words from Martin Luther:
As dear as the gospel is to us all, let us contend with its language.
and John Newton:
The original Scriptures well deserve your pains, and will richly repay them.
and finally from the aforementioned Bitzer himself:
The more a theologian detaches himself from the basic Hebrew and Greek text of Holy Scripture, the more he detaches himself from the source of real theology! And real theology is the foundation of a fruitful and blessed ministry."
Thanks tomgee!
Katrina Relief
Grace Fellowship Church in Toronto will be accepting donations this Sunday to send for Hurricane Katrina Relief Work. We will send all our money to the Sovereign Grace Fellowship of Canada, who intend to pass on the entire amount to Grace Bible Church in Olive Branch, Mississippi. Pastor Mark Webb and his elders will oversee the disbursement of funds.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Canadian Carey Family Conference
Canadian Carey Family Conference
Every year our family delights to head off to Ingersoll for Carey Conference. This year the speaker is Mark Webb - a returning favorite!
If you are unable to come for the week, why not run up for a night or two? Great fellowship, sweet singing, the powerful ministry of the Word - all in a pleasant (albeit rustic) setting. This might be the last year for Maple Grove... so be a part of history!
Every year our family delights to head off to Ingersoll for Carey Conference. This year the speaker is Mark Webb - a returning favorite!
If you are unable to come for the week, why not run up for a night or two? Great fellowship, sweet singing, the powerful ministry of the Word - all in a pleasant (albeit rustic) setting. This might be the last year for Maple Grove... so be a part of history!
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Cowboyology: On Teaching Greek To Seminary Students
Cowboyology: On Teaching Greek To Seminary Students
My friend, co-TMC one-time student, and co-worker (although he is full-time and big-time) at TBS, Clint Humfrey has a great little blurb here on "breaking" Greek newbies. I am more convinced than ever of the absolute necessity of knowing the original languages the Bible was written in - especially as more and more folks freely quote "from the Greek" without having a clue what they are saying.
Piper's chapter on using the languages (cryptically titled "Bitzer was a Banker" in Brothers, We Are Not Professionals) is must-reading for every student of the Word - but especially for every pastor and pastor-wannabe!
My friend, co-TMC one-time student, and co-worker (although he is full-time and big-time) at TBS, Clint Humfrey has a great little blurb here on "breaking" Greek newbies. I am more convinced than ever of the absolute necessity of knowing the original languages the Bible was written in - especially as more and more folks freely quote "from the Greek" without having a clue what they are saying.
Piper's chapter on using the languages (cryptically titled "Bitzer was a Banker" in Brothers, We Are Not Professionals) is must-reading for every student of the Word - but especially for every pastor and pastor-wannabe!
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Nearer Heaven for August 21
XXI.
Think of Jesus, who lived so near to God and learn of Him, however chequered your life, to dwell under the shadow of the Almighty.
"Abide in me." - John 15:4
My truest fellowship is with you, for You come closest to my heart.
O, that prayer were to me true converse with you - life's sweetest joy and the heart's holiest delight.
My life is so hurried I do not give You time to speak. Yet how much You have to say to my soul.
O, for the heart that comes to you not to ask favours, or urge further blessings, but that delights to abide with you out of a pure love for Your presence!
When I enjoy fellowship with you, my heart has no desire for fellowship with the world.
More and more I feel that the only way to be strong is to wait on You.
I sometimes rest more on what You have done than on what You are in Yourself; but, O, for the faith that rises to Your person!
Gracious Redeemer, will You not lead me up to some transfiguration mount and show me Your glory?
My life is lived on a common level, when it might be lived in the heavenly places with You.
I cannot enjoy You if I am not entirely Yours. I have only been half-hearted for You; and I know not the deeper joys that are given Your own.
When You forgive us You admonish us: "Go and sin no more."
How glorious are the privileges of the spiritual life - the privilege of being Yours, of following You, of communing with You, and glorifying Your holy name. It is because I dwell on these privileges so little that I think of my difficulties so much.
John Baird, 1884
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Fall Worship Class at Toronto Baptist Seminary
Here is a preliminary look at what we will be covering in "The Worshipping Church" - a class I will be teaching Friday mornings this semester at TBS...
Course Description:
In this course we will explore the theology, history and practice of Christian worship, as well as current trends. In addition, students are required to attend a 1 hour of practicum which is designed to develop techniques and tools for leading dynamic and expressive worship.
I intend to make the practicum part of the class time.
Course Objective:
For the student to understand and love Jesus more through understanding how He desires to be worshipped!
Textbooks:
Required:
· D A
· A
Recommended: (there will be some required reading from each text)
- Marva Dawn “Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down” Eerdmans, 1995
- Michael Horton “
PyroManiac Reviews Michael Haykin's Defense of the Truth: Contending for the Faith Yesterday and Today
PyroManiac
Phil Johnson gives our friend (and the Principal of Toronto Baptist Seminary where I teach part time) Michael Haykin an excellent review here.
Phil Johnson gives our friend (and the Principal of Toronto Baptist Seminary where I teach part time) Michael Haykin an excellent review here.
Carl Trueman on the New Perspective (Or, How Modern Scholarship is Twisting Church History)
Carl Trueman - New Perspective
I stole this link from Phil Johnson - a great article and worth a meditative and thoughtful read.
I stole this link from Phil Johnson - a great article and worth a meditative and thoughtful read.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Reason Over Scripture?
When I was a teenaged Christian, I had a lot of animosity for so-called Calvinists. I chimed in with my friends who suggested that Calvinism was just the result of esteeming logic over the Bible.
The fact is, I had not read much of the Bible at that time and what I had read was more in the realm of "favorite texts" as opposed to the "whole counsel of God." It wasn't until I was forced to really study through passage after passage as a teaching pastor that I began to see that "Calvinism" was really just short-form for what the Bible says - especially in the realm of how people are saved. (I understand you can take the term "Calvinism" and attach all kinds of meanings and agendas to it - I am not in love with the term for that reason - but I do love the Truth that the term represents. By that I mean what are commonly called, "the doctrines of grace" or "reformed soteriology." If you don't like the term "Calvinism" that is fine with me! I just want to be clear as to what I am referring to when I use it.)
I am curious though - and this is a totally honest question - how many open theists, emergents, post-moderns and liberals really read their Bibles regularly?
In my naivete, it just seems impossible that anyone who faithfully reads the text of the Word in order to commune with the God of the Word could end up, say, denying the absolute sovereignty of God.
I realize that might sound very offensive if you identify yourself by one of those labels. I am not sure how else to genuinely ask the question though. I am quite prepared to be wrong in my assumption, but I would really like some honest blogger to answer honestly. What place does the Bible take in your actual life? Do you read it systematically, regularly and with a view to meeting your God? Because it appears to me from what I read that most of those writing in defense of the "emerging church" (for example) place far more value on their intuition ("I can't concieve of a god like that") and reason ("I can't say who goes to heaven or not since I cannot perfectly know any person's heart") than they do to the simple revealed Truth of God in His Word.
I know I spent a long time in my life thinking this way - and in my experience it led to confusion, contradiction and no real answers for life's most important questions.
I am also interested to know of others whose story is similar to mine - in love with the Lord but not grasping much of His Word... then a big change in your spritual life when you started to regularly and thoughtfully read the Scripture.
The fact is, I had not read much of the Bible at that time and what I had read was more in the realm of "favorite texts" as opposed to the "whole counsel of God." It wasn't until I was forced to really study through passage after passage as a teaching pastor that I began to see that "Calvinism" was really just short-form for what the Bible says - especially in the realm of how people are saved. (I understand you can take the term "Calvinism" and attach all kinds of meanings and agendas to it - I am not in love with the term for that reason - but I do love the Truth that the term represents. By that I mean what are commonly called, "the doctrines of grace" or "reformed soteriology." If you don't like the term "Calvinism" that is fine with me! I just want to be clear as to what I am referring to when I use it.)
I am curious though - and this is a totally honest question - how many open theists, emergents, post-moderns and liberals really read their Bibles regularly?
In my naivete, it just seems impossible that anyone who faithfully reads the text of the Word in order to commune with the God of the Word could end up, say, denying the absolute sovereignty of God.
I realize that might sound very offensive if you identify yourself by one of those labels. I am not sure how else to genuinely ask the question though. I am quite prepared to be wrong in my assumption, but I would really like some honest blogger to answer honestly. What place does the Bible take in your actual life? Do you read it systematically, regularly and with a view to meeting your God? Because it appears to me from what I read that most of those writing in defense of the "emerging church" (for example) place far more value on their intuition ("I can't concieve of a god like that") and reason ("I can't say who goes to heaven or not since I cannot perfectly know any person's heart") than they do to the simple revealed Truth of God in His Word.
I know I spent a long time in my life thinking this way - and in my experience it led to confusion, contradiction and no real answers for life's most important questions.
I am also interested to know of others whose story is similar to mine - in love with the Lord but not grasping much of His Word... then a big change in your spritual life when you started to regularly and thoughtfully read the Scripture.
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