The Role of Biblical Languages to Preserve and Perpetuate the Reformation (original) (raw)

2019, Journal of AIIAS African Theological Association

Abstract

Biblical languages are essential to interpret Scripture. A working knowledge of biblical languages (Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic) helps the student of Scripture understand the biblical text. This paper examines the role of Biblical languages during the Reformation period, notably how the Renaissance’s discovery of ancient sources led to the concept of ad fontes which in a religious context led to a return to studying biblical languages. Martin Luther and other magisterial Reformers consistently emphasized the importance of learning biblical languages. This paper examines how each of these Reformers, namely Luther, Melanchthon, Zwingli, and Calvin became active students of Scripture through the use of, and emphasis on the importance of understanding biblical languages as a vital part of Biblical studies. This study shows that the Sola Scriptura that reformers upheld strongly could not be possible without going back to the original languages of the Bible. When the church today disregards this, as shown in the weakening of emphasis in seminaries and negative attitude of the ministerial students toward biblical languages, they ignore the significant role of biblical languages in the reformation. It seems that there could have been no reformation without the reformers taking hold of the Word of God in its original languages. Keywords: Reformation, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, biblical languages, Martin Luther, Philipp Melanchthon, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, ad fontes, Erasmus, Reuchlin, Wittenberg, 95 Theses

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References (7)

  1. 2 Martin Luther Martin Luther had a copy of Reuchlin's grammar book De rudimentis hebraicis (1506) 26 and Erasmus' Novum Instrumentum (1516). 27 He used both of these books in translating the Bible into German. At Erfurt, Luther, including those who "participated in the humanist circle" (Justus Jonas, Johann Spangenberg, Justus Menius, and George Spalatin) appreciated the return "to original languages and texts" that is important "for the task of 21 Timothy George, Reading the Scripture with the Reformers (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2011), 84.
  2. George, Reading the Scripture with the Reformers, 85.
  3. Stephen J. Nichols, "A Gracious God and a Neurotic Monk" in The Legacy of Luther, ed. R. C. Spiral and Stephen J. Nichols (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2016), 24.
  4. Timothy George, Reading the Scripture with the Reformers (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2011), 88.
  5. Robert Kolb, Martin Luther and the Enduring Word of God (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2016), 137.
  6. Raeder, "The Exegetical and Hermeneutical Work of Martin Luther," 397.
  7. George, Reading the Scripture, 97.