Luther on languages.

Studying Greek this week, I needed a pick me up of sorts.

This is a hard language to learn – very analytical, mathematical, precise. I got a jolt from my wife via e-mail, but then our professor handed an article out by none other than Martin Luther. He talks about the importance of learning the languages of the Scriptures – Greek and Hebrew. I needed a reminder as to why I’m doing this, Luther provided me with one:

“We should not be led astray because some boast of the Spirit and consider Scripture of little worth, and others… think the languages are unnecessary. Dear friend, say what you will about the Spirit, I too have been in the Spirit and have seen the Spirit, perhaps even more of it than those fellows with all their boasting will see in a year. Moreover, my spirit has given some account of itself, while theirs sits quietly in its corner and does little more than brag about itself. I know full well that while it is the Spirit alone who accomplishes everything, I would surely have never flushed a covey if the languages had not helped me and given me a sure and certain knowledge of Scripture. I too could have lived uprightly and preached the truth in seclusion; but then I should have left undisturbed the pope, the sophists, and the whole anti-Christian regime.“

Beautiful. Basically, Luther is saying the Holy Spirit is in the languages of the Scriptures – not removed from them. Luther is blasting the anti-intellectualism of his day (and ours), the pope, sophists (modern-day secular humanists), and atheism (aggressive atheism, not passive atheism).

Simply put, Luther is encouraging Christians to adopt the reality that our minds are connected to our spirits – our minds are not our enemies, they are our friends.

So trudge on Christian. Exercise that mind and take heart!