Today, we're pleased to share with you an audio essay written and read by Peter Williams,

entitled Ten Reasons Pastors Should Study the Bible in its Original Languages.

Peter served as an editor on the Greek New Testament produced at Tyndale House, Cambridge,

and is a member of the ESV Translation Oversight Committee.

Ten reasons pastors should study the Bible in its original languages.

By Peter Williams.

Every pastor who can should study the Bible in its original languages.

That does not mean every pastor should become a language expert or feel guilty about one more thing in an already punishing schedule.

What I mean is that within the time and opportunities available, pastors should study the text of the Bible in its original languages.

Here's why. Number one, because you love God.

People can be interested in biblical languages and not love God. People can love God and be useless at learning languages. People can also

love God and have their time so full of things God's calling them to do that they do not have time to

study the biblical languages. But you cannot love God and not be interested in what he says.

What we need to live by is every word that comes from the mouth of God, Matthew chapter 4 verse 4.

Truly loving God therefore involves being obsessed by the detail of what he actually says.

In other words, it's an obsession which cannot be separated

from the original languages. Number two, because it will set a good example. Most people in your

flock are not called to be linguists, but they're all called to treasure God's word in their hearts,

and they are called, like you, to have that Matthew 4-4 obsession.

When they see you taking your own Bible study seriously enough to use biblical languages,

it will also inspire them to Bible study.

Some may even study the Bible in its original languages.

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