Thursday, September 18, 2008

Knowing Greek to Enter Seminary

Dr. Couch, I guess you knew that years back, anyone going to a seminary had to know Greek in order to enter. Right?

ANSWER:  Absolutely. And you reminded me that John Quincy Adams could not get into Harvard until he had studied Greek. David McCullough writes that Adams had to get a tutor in order to know the language, in order to enter the school. This was common for those days. They also had to know Latin as well.

   Today, the schools that still teach and require a biblical language often only require one of the languages—either Greek or Hebrew, and then generally only with two years of study. What a poor education for "engineers of the Scriptures." Recently talking to a friend who is a Dean of a Christian college, he admitted that the kids coming to that school were smarter than kids entering before, but they are now far more ignorant of the Word of God. Their churches have failed them miserably in regard to Christian doctrine. He said when the issues of prophecy are taught, many of the students sit there with a blank look on their faces, with no idea of what is being discussed. Many pastors will have to answer before the Lord for not teaching the Word of God to a younger generation.

   The pastors themselves do not know the Bible from the original languages. They cannot exegete or explain properly a passage from the biblical languages. They have bought into the culture. They think that all a church needs to do is spoon out emotional goodies, loud music, and a lot of excitement, and that is all that is required of them.

   Because biblical ignorance is increasing, there will be no turning back!

   Thanks for your reminder!
   Dr. Mal Couch