From: WmHBoyd@aol.com
Date: Sat Dec 11 1999 - 20:02:24 EST
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From: WmHBoyd@aol.com
Full-name: WmHBoyd
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Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 20:01:29 EST
Subject: Re: "Why study Greek?"
To: cierpke@prodigy.net
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Here is an answer from a "little Greek."
1st. I thought it would help me understand the Bible better. NOT. There
are good translations, commentaries, and "Greek Helps" that I have not
learned anything from studying Greek that I could have not learned from these.
However, I have had a few plesant surprises.
1. I finally began to understand Engligh Grammar! (I thought I understood it
before I studied Greek, but not so. I think this would come from studying
any other language. This made me wish I had studies Latin.)
2. Although I did not learn anything I could not have otherwise learned, it
did give me more confidence in what I was learning.
3. I am not longer in awe or intimitated when someone starts trying to tell
me "what the Greek says." I found out there are a lot of little Greeks out
there that really know little of what they are talking about.
4. It humbled me. It is not only harder to learn this than I thought, it
made me much more careful about using what I have learned.
5. I have a sence of satisfaction that I can read the words that were given
by the Spirit.
6. I found out that I liked to copy the letters like an old scribe. ( I
taught myself by copying larde portions of text into a little copy book,
learning each word and part of speech, reading it out loud over and over
until I could say it with some expression. I did not know I would enjoy
copying Greek letters so much.)
7. I dissagree with Jim. I think a person can understand the Bible without
a knowledge of Greek. Sure, you have to believe what someone else said, but
that is what faith is anyway, the acceptance as the truth of the testimony of
a credible witness. There are many witnesses to cross examine in taking the
Greek to English, so credibility is not usually very hard to establish. I
think Jim is credibie, ...usually.
8. I tried with frustrating failure several times before I finally got a
foothold on this ancient tongue. I do not know how I could have done it
without all the help I have received both on and off list from this this
B-Greek list.
God bless you every one.
William Boyd
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