Sanctification is without a doubt one of the most essential doctrines taught in the Scriptures. All Christians would agree on that. We know that a person is sanctified positionally when they are justified, they are consecrated, or set apart for the Lord. But, narrowing it down a little more, how are we sanctified progressively throughout our Christian lives? Jesus says in John 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth, your word is truth” (ESV). Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:3, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality” (ESV). The writer of Hebrews says in 12:14, “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness/sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.” (ESV) Sanctification is undeniably a necessity in the life of the believer. Without progressive sanctification and growth in holiness, there can be no assurance that justification has taken place. Okay, so we know that we are sanctified through the Word, and that our sanctification is God’s will. And, we know that sanctification is necessary if we are to enter into glory. But, there is one more verse to comment on regarding this, one which cannot fail to be mentioned. It does not use the word “sanctification”, but it certainly is talking about it. Let’s look at it:

2 Corinthians 3:18 ἡμεῖς δὲ πάντες ἀνακεκαλυμμένῳ προσώπῳ τὴν δόξαν κυρίου κατοπτριζόμενοι τὴν αὐτὴν εἰκόνα μεταμορφούμεθα ἀπὸ δόξης εἰς δόξαν καθάπερ ἀπὸ κυρίου πνεύματος.

Can NT Greek be learned without seminary? Can it be learned on your own at home by self-study using books? Can anyone learn New Testament Greek? Can the average person learn NTG?

These are good and valid questions, worthy of detailed answers. The short answer to these questions would be both yes and no.  Has it been done before? Is it possible? The answer would be yes.  New Testament Greek is not nearly as difficult and complex of a language as some may assume. It has been said to be slightly more difficult than Spanish (considered by many in the field of linguistics to be the easiest foreign language, especially for the native English speaker).  It is not nearly as difficult as Hebrew or a number of the Asian or Germanic languages today, including English.  As with any language though, learning largely depends on the student: their drive, desire, focus, determination, and motivation. If you are a person who is prone to begin many tasks, yet often grows discouraged, weary, and rarely finishes, the answer then would be, no it cannot be learned. As with any language, New Testament Greek takes devotion, time, discipline, resolve, perseverance, sacrifice… and the list goes on. It can be done if the time and desire is truly there. More on this later.

Objections to learning NTG:

Before going on, I believe it is important to consider some common misunderstandings and objections regarding the study of the biblical languages. First, if you are wondering, “Why should I learn Biblical Greek? We have great English Bible translations and exceptional computer programs, the likes of which previous generations did not have”, then, you are quite mistaken. It is true indeed that the Christian can know their Lord and make Him known through translation. I would not dare to venture and say that a man must know Greek to be a preacher or pastor.  Many men are able preachers, called and used by God, who do not have a knowledge of the New Testament language. But to know the oddities and intricacies, the nuances and deep secrets which translation does not and cannot reveal in any translation, these are reserved for the Greek New Testament.  The computer program can shed some knowledge and insight, though theoretical to the learner. A groom can kiss his bride through the veil, it is a kiss, though it is not as real, vivid, and personal, it is not the same as if the veil were lifted. And so it is taking instruction through a computer program or other second or third hand source, yet remaining intellectually unattached from the language of which you are being told.  In the end, when asked by our hearers “How?”, “Why?”, “What?” etc, we will simply be left saying, “Because so and so says so” or "Because the computer program...", for we will not be able to explain from a knowledgeable and informative stance what the Greek language is saying. We want firsthand knowledge of the Scriptures through its own language, not to always have to turn to second or third-hand witnesses telling us their view. This language can be learned, and we can have first-hand experiential knowledge of the New Testament Scriptures in its own language. People learn to read, write, speak, and translate foreign languages with great fluency; learning to read and understand Biblical Greek is no different.

The motives, intentions, and purity of the heart often mark the difference between right and wrong in the study of God's Word. This is no different when mentioning the study and correct use of the Biblical languages. There has no doubt been much abuse in the realm of New Testament Greek and its public presentation to the body of Christ. Satan would jump at the opportunity to take something so precious such as Biblical Greek and present the temptation to a man who is studying it to become prideful, causing him to think he is something because he possesses some knowledge that others don't.

There is much need for clarification on the topic, and that is what I intend to do here. There are two dangerous extremes which exist. First, the Greek language has been abused in the pulpit, particularly in some of what are commonly called "reformed churches", though not in all of them. Bold declarations such as these often sound forth from the pulpit: "In the Greek it says", "The English translators got it wrong here", etc. The listeners can be made to feel as though they are second class Christians. They may be left doubting their English Bible, or feeling that they cannot trust it as a result of the pastor/preacher misusing the Greek New Testament. The people in a way feel stripped of their own individual priesthood as the seminary graduate appears to be the only one with an inside view of the Bible, due to his knowledge of the original language. This sounds like Papery, and in a way it is. This is indeed a tragedy.

It is my desire that this blog would be used to encourage other Christians to study NTG, whether only the basics or fully, while at the same time fostering within them a love and appreciation for the New Testament in its original language. Personally, I do not view the study of NTG as merely an intellectual exercise or a means of gaining knowledge.  Nor, do I study it because I am enamored with the details of syntax and morphology, but rather I view the language as a way to know the one true God, His Son, and His Word in a deeper way than I currently do. Someone may study Latin and consequently be able to read the Philosophers. One may study Biblical Greek and read the New Testament! Because of the love and interest which God has given me for His Word, I have chosen the latter. This page is an outflow out of this love for His Word. Hopefully, through this small effort, some within the church will see that NTG is far more attainable and accessible for the the average person than is often believed.

What is the purpose of this blog?
Well, I am not a Greek Scholar, and you will not find a long list of formal educational accolades here. I am simply a student of my Greek New Testament, something I will be, Lord willing, until the day I die.  I do not have all the answers, nor do I pretend to have them. I hope to use this webpage to share resources, thoughts, insights, and to ask questions and have discussions along the lines of Biblical Greek, with a special attention given to self-teaching. It is my hope that more and more Christians will discover a love and passion for God's Word in the original languages, and that they will see that seminaries and Bible schools are not necessary in order to learn the language. If you are desiring or thinking about embarking on the journey of being a life-long student of NTG, please contact me, I would love to talk to you about it.