Over this fall semester, I’ve been taking part in a Greek Reading Class, offered by Reformed Theological Seminary. We’ve been outlining, translating, and discussing Romans 1-7. It is by for one of the most challenging classes I have ever taken, and at the same time, one of the most rewarding. Here are the big things I’m learning.
- Learn to be hermeneutically self-aware. As I understand it, this means that I should pay attention to the assumptions that I bring to the table when I read the Bible. Before this class, I had not considered the number of assumptions or interpretations with which I come to the Bible. You hear a sermon on a passage, and that becomes the way you read that passage. So it’s important to be aware of the assumptions you’re making.
- Slow down. Another thing I heard in class was the saying that the benefit of learning to read the Bible in Greek is that it makes you slow down. And while it certainly shouldn’t be the only benefit that you should derive from studying Greek or Hebrew, it is valid. The process of reading and analyzing the Greek often forces you to think more deeply about a word or a clause or passage.
- Outlines are indispensable. The professor has mentioned on more than one occasion that the way you outline a passage reveals your understanding of that passage. Outlining each chapter of Romans has forced me to ask, “what is the main argument Paul is making?” and “how do these things relate?” as well as many others. And I’m sure this is a skill that most students, ministers, and pastors have developed, but is new to me. And it has been extremely helpful.
These are not the only things I’ve learned in seminary, but they are some of the most valuable.