It’s an interesting question to consider whether or not just our pastors, but also our people in the pew, should know the original languages. My answer is not an all-or-none. My answer is: everybody who has the ability, whether that’s financial or intellectual, ought to learn as much Greek and Hebrew as they can. Whatever they learn will help them in their study of the Bible.

Everybody who has the ability ought to learn as much Greek and Hebrew as they can.

For example, when I started studying Hebrew as an undergrad, I only wanted to learn one thing; I wanted to learn how to sound out Hebrew words in commentaries so that I could better understand what the commentator was saying. If that’s all you ever do, learn the alphabet and the signs and the sounds, it’s going to enrich your Bible study.

Now I happened to go on to get a Ph.D. I never planned on that. Maybe you’re not planning on that either. Maybe God will take you down that path. But it’s not all or none. Whatever you can learn of Greek and Hebrew and Aramaic, even if it’s just the alphabet that will help you in your study of the Bible. Of course, the more you learn, the better off you’ll be. So take the challenge. Start with the alphabets.

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Dr. Mark D. Futato

Mark Futato (Ph.D., Catholic University of America) came to RTS Orlando in 1999 and serves as the Robert L. Maclellan Professor of Old Testament. He teaches core classes on Hebrew and Old Testament books. Dr. Futato served as Academic Dean of RTS Orlando from 2004 to 2012.