After recently reading a testimonial post by the Bruce Lee of Biblical Hebrew[1], I decided that I would dig through my blog archives and re-post something that I wrote last year (in June to be exact). A reason for this re-post is that I have quadrupled my readership since writing that post, and I would like to interact with any new (or old) readers about this post. Another reason for this re-post, is because I am fascinated by the notion that van der Merwe is actually incorporating biblical software into his pedagogical methodology. From this testimonial, Christo seems to be getting positive results with this method, esp. since the majority of his students are continuing to use the biblical languages in their ministry. After (or before) you read my post, please look at van der Merwe article over on the Logos page.
I have been giving thought lately to the requirement of languages at seminaries. At Gordon Conwell, an M.Div student must take a year of Greek and Hebrew, an MA in Old Testament student must take a singular year of Hebrew (and that is it). This is not really unique to GCTS; many schools have a one year (two semesters) language policy. I know several seminary grads who are now veterans within ministry (10+ years), and not a single pastor that I personally know of uses both Hebrew and Greek in their ministry in a real way[1]. The Pastor of my church is a “Gospels” guy, and he does use his Greek every week. He translates a passage before he ever writes a sermon, but he is the only person I know that actively uses a language that he learned in seminary to enrich his ministry. When our colleagues find out that he uses Greek that frequently, they are usually shocked. A seminary graduate rarely uses the Biblical Languages once they leave the academic environment of the seminary, and this is the trend that seems to be on the rise.
Unfortunately I don’t see a way of correcting this trend. Keeping up with your languages or even working with the languages is the only way one is going to be able to retain their skill set. However “keeping up” with your languages takes time, and that is a precious commodity in the Pastorate. More and more pastors have taken on extra roles, which also can include being bi-vocational. In the context of a smaller church, pastors often become psychologists, worship leaders, chairs of the various administrative boards, cheerleaders at various sporting activities, lunch dates, heads of hospitality, civil servants providing religious pageantry to the masses, etc. But these are just one set of demands that are placed on those in the ministry, don’t forget the familial obligations of those in this profession. All of these obligations, self imposed or otherwise, leave little room for habitual use of the biblical languages, so eventually the grammatical chops that were acquired begin to atrophy until all that remains is a haunting paradigm chart that has been etched into your mind, but disconnected from any remembered meaning.
Seminaries could add more language requirements to their degree tracts, but I don’t see that being the answer. More stringent requirements do not address the problem of the appropriation of time within that Pastorate once their degree becomes nothing more than another piece of “art” or “memorabilia” that adorns their office walls. Higher expectations sadly do not change the future priorities of anyone, especially in the face of such a fragmented profession.
As someone who has hurled himself head long into the academic waters, this trend does sadden me. I obviously see the benefits of knowing the Biblical languages. I see how the use of biblical languages can enrich congregations. I would like all pastors to use the languages, but I am a realist and see this as a trend that will most likely not be bucked.
The above thoughts bring me back to my initial consideration of language requirements in seminaries. I DON’T think seminaries should drop their language requirements. So what could realistically help the situation? I don’t know, but maybe if language professors could integrate the use of computer aided software such as a Logos or BibleWorks into the mix, maybe then we might be able to show how pastors can easily incorporate the original languages into their devotional/preparatory time.
Now before everyone who reads this freaks out, hear me out first. Pastors are not using the languages anyways, so it’s not like this suggestion could make matters any worse, right? The ones that do use the languages, often abuse them horribly by doing awful word studies[2]. However, if a course is offered that integrates language theory (which is essential), basic conceptions of the particular language, and computer aided software; then maybe these future pastors will use this kind of knowledge in their future ministries? Who knows, maybe with frequency some of the language will “rub off” on these pastors by their constant use of these programs? I am completely aware that Logos and BibleWorks can be an awful crutch, and using them, often makes students lazy because they won’t have to remember things that students of an earlier age did remember, but is this any worse than the current state of affairs? You be the judge.
[1] I am not counting the pastor who will occasionally flip through their strong’s concordance to give their sermon the air of being well prepared, while completely raping a word by not limiting the semantic range of a word, by context, and forcing every usage as operative simultaneously in their passage.
[2] Think of all of the examples in D.A. Carson’s Exegetical Fallacies.
[1] This title was given to Christo van der Merwe by a couple of his students and fellow bibliobloggers, D&T.