Why Christians Should Study New Testament Greek

By: Justin Angelos | March 29, 2022

An analytical Greek lexicon can be a wonderful tool to use, and it can also become a person’s enemy. For a Pastor with very little time to prep a sermon, it can save him time from having to parse a lot of Greek words, it can help prevent a translator from making translation errors and provide a layperson some access into the Greek New Testament.[1] Greek scholar William D. Mounce suggests that even first year Greek students should not use a Greek Lexicon, instead they should become proficient in learning Greek paradigms. He also suggests that those who know very little Greek can be a dangerous thing because it is only through prolonged exposure a person can learn the complexity and beauty of the language. For example, “just because a verb is an aorist tells you nothing, necessarily, about its meaning” again it is through prolonged exposure with adequate guidance.[2] When a person studies Greek, they learn the syntax, the tense, voice, (passive, middle active, future active, indicative). My professor of New Testament Greek said, “if Christians do not have at least a basic understanding of the Greek language, they will always be at the mercy of those who claim to know.” [3]

There is a difference between 1. ὁ λόγος (the word) and 2. ὁι λόγοι (the words) logos is singular and logoi is plural. If logos is nominative plural for example, it is usually translated as “of the words.” ὁι λογοι του Ἰησου Χριστού “the words of Jesus Christ.” One of the passages in the New Testament that is attacked is John 1:1 “and the word was God.” Certain religious groups will say that John 1:1 in Greek proves that Jesus is not God. Here are various John 1:1 translations or various ways people try to translate John 1:1 in defense of a heretical view of Jesus Christ.

και ὁ λόγος ἦν ὁ θεός

“And the Word was the God.” (i.e., the father of Sabellianism)

και ὁ λόγος ἦν θεός

“And the word was a god.” (Arianism)

και θεός ἦν ὁ λόγος

“And the Word was God.” (orthodoxy) [4]

The nominative case is the case that the subject is in. When the subject takes an equative verb like “is” “The Word” is the subject because it has the article, (ὁ) and we translate it “and the Word was God.” A very important theological question to answer is, why was Θεός put forward or in front of and why does it lack the article? “It’s emphatic position stresses its essence or quality: what God was, the Word was.” [5] So, in other words the lack of the article (ὁ) keeps us from identifying the person of the word (Jesus Christ) with the person of God (the Father). The word order tells us that Jesus Christ has all the divine attributes that the Father has, and that Jesus Christ is not the Father. Daniel B. Wallace says, “Jesus Christ is God and has all the attributes that the Father has. But He is not the first person of the Trinity. All this is concisely affirmed in και θεός ἦν ὁ λόγος.”[6]

I AM (ἐγώ εἰμι) One of the most debated topics is, “did Jesus claim to be God?” Many people say that Jesus never made that claim. Let’s investigate Exodus 3:14 and John 8:58 where Jesus uses the phrase ἐγω εἰμι Ι ΑΜ. When God speaks to Moses in Exodus 3:14 what makes I AM distinctive in God’s declaration to Moses in Exodus 3:14 is that it does not have a predicate nominative, a predicate nominative is the second half of the sentence.[7] For example, I AM the light of the world is a predicate nominative. A predicate nominative is a noun that follows a to be verb and describes the subject, it is two things equal to each other. So, when Jesus uses the I AM saying in John 8:58 it is without a predicate nominative, I AM stands alone and shows that His use of I AM (ἐγω εἰμι) is about His deity. Jesus was claiming to be God in that verse. Whereas other I AM sayings like in John 15 is more about other important aspects of His identity like Jesus being the only true vine that God tends to.[8] This is why it is important for Christians to study Greek, although it is not necessary to become a PhD in New Testament Greek but, having at least a basic understanding of the rules of Greek grammar, syntax and vocabulary can be very useful because, certain religious and even non-religious groups can come up with some very persuasive false arguments against the deity of Christ, especially when they claim to know Greek. I love to think of learning New Testament Greek like seeing an old classic movie for the first time in color and seeing a lot of hidden details and nuances that were missed when seeing the movie in black and white.

Case endings in Greek singular and plural masculine[9]

Nom. Sg. λογ-ος subject “the word” λόγ-οι “the words”

Gen. sg. λογ-ου possessive “of the word” λογ-ων “of the words

Dat. Sg. λογ-ῳ indirect object “to the word” λογ-οις “to the words”

Acc. Sg. λογ-ον object of the sentence “the word” λογ-οι “the words”

Mounce stresses the importance of learning and memorizing case endings because without them, you will never be able to translate anything. Cases endings are triggers, showing you how the word functions in a sentence.[10] It is important to keep in mind that the New Testament was originally written in Greek, and not English. There are a lot of really good, inexpensive resources out there to study Greek grammar especially if a person does not have the time or the resources to learn in a seminary or university.

Ἐν ἀρχῃ ἦν ὁ λόγος, και ὁ λόγος ἦν προς τον θεόν και θεός ἦν ὁ λόγος

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. (John 1:1 GNT)[11]

About the Author

As one of the newest members of Bellator Christi, Seattle native Justin Angelos brings a passion for evangelism and discipleship along with theology and apologetics. He has studied at Biola University and Liberty University. Justin focuses on providing help for those who suffer from emotional and anxiety issues.