Why don't Christian denominations encourage their members to learn Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek?

Question

All Jewish movements strongly encourage Jews to learn Hebrew, and Muslims are encouraged to learn Arabic . . . .

Answer 1

Why make it difficult when the Lord made it easy. He sent his son to heal us. Does it make a difference what languages you speak or can read? God said believe in me and trust me. The spirit within teaches us. 1 John 2.

Answer 2

Looking back the Protestant Reformation The Bible was only translated into Latin. Keeping only Clergy the ones who knew the Word of God. After Luther translated the Bible into German it became more focused on comman man reading and understanding. It has been that way ever since. Because the true message is Grace by Faith in Jesus Christ is salvation. Not works. Thus pushing the protestants further away from the Catholic Church. Islam and Judasim are fundementally based on works.

Getting back to the issue. It may not be directly encouraged to speak these other languages, but the studying of the original words of the Bible is often encouraged and also a direct result of studying and growing closer to God.

Answer 3

Hebrew is a good idea, because a lot of beauty of the language is lost in translation.

Greek isn't really important.

Muslims are encouraged to learn Arabic, I believe, because Islam is such an Arab-based religion. Holy places must be visited, prayer must be directed towards Mecca.

As followers of Christ, the language doesn't matter, and there really aren't 'required' holy places. Our savior left behind an empty tomb.

His spirit dwells in anyone who invites him in, no matter what the language, English, Spanish, Korean, or Arabic.

Our God isn't confined to a book, or a place, and he can't be offended by people who don't know him.

So what language should we learn, if the language of Christ is love, a language that transcends all time, space, distance and nationality?

Answer 4

Well the bible being in english what kinda sense would that make if I had to learn Aramaic when it's in english? Well wow I just acquired a language I will probably never use and the preacher is reading straight from the script in english? Maybe when I pull money from the ATM machine I can choose greek. Or maybe I can go ahead and opt for my monthly statements to be in japanese. Jews speak hebrew because what they practice is in hebrew and muslims speak arabic or what ever the hell they speak because their lit is in arabic. So lets say you want to get the Harry Potter book would you like it in Russky? your silly dude

Answer 5

While it would be nice to learn these languages, the Bible was meant for ALL people, not just people of a certain language. Also Christ made it clear our big goal should be in helping others to know about him.

That said often times at the meetings, I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses, we will discuss the meanings of the original Greek, or Hebrew, words used, and it can often be quite enlightening.

Answer 6

It would be nice to know, but our time now is so tight. It is hard enough to raise a family working all you can and taking care of their spiritual needs as well as emotional and financial needs as well.

There are many fine translations which mostly agree with one another with the exception of a few words. They agree with the oldest manuscripts available. The time comes in everyones life when they have to trust others. It is never easy. Each individual can not do it all.

Answer 7

The main reason that this is the case in the Catholic Church, is that we don't believe everyone has a theological vocation, and that the energy spent on learning the language would be better spent in prayer, mortification, and acts of virtue.

However, I'm currently learning Hebrew at the recommendation of one of my pastors, Fr. Rollie.

Answer 8

If they read the Bible in Hebrew they might stop believing in Jesus.

You won't find an interlinear Christian Bible with the original Hebrew - it would make it tooo obvious how screwy the Christian translations are.

Answer 9

I'm one of Jehovah's Witnesses, and our organization has a 'Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures.' Some people I know have learned Greek to be able to use it, including my Uncle. Our publications do use and quote from this version, that way we get a better understanding of certain words and phrases since they are translated from the original Greek.

Answer 10

Some denominations do offer courses in these languages, whether at their church, or in their colleges and seminaries. My church certainly doesn't prohibit its members from learning Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek or Latin, but doesn't necessarily emphasize it, either, unless one goes to seminary. It's left up to the individual parishioner whether he or she wishes to pursue studies in Biblical languages, or anything else.

Answer 11

My church strongly encourages learning Greek and Hebrew. They offer courses. I also know my aunts Russian orthodox church studies in Greek (Or tries to)... I think you're talking more mainstream Christianity, such as the baptists and such... Believe me... They don't even like their members to have high school education. I've had some of them tell me to watch out when going to school... Because some of the stuff they put in your head there will mess you up! LOL (Freakin' nutjobs)