Martin Luther On Studying Greek and Hebrew

"Truly, if there were no other benefit connected with the languages, this should be enough to delight and inspire us, namely, that they are so fine and noble a gift of God, with which he is now so richly visiting and blessing us Germans above all other lands. We do not see many instances where the devil has allowed them to flourish by means of the universities and monasteries; indeed, these have always raged against languages and are even now raging. For the devil smelled a rat, and perceived that if the languages were revived a hole would be knocked in his kingdom which he could not easily stop up again. Since he found he could not prevent their revival, he now aims to keep them on such slender rations that they will of themselves decline and pass away. They are not a welcome guest in his house, so he plans to offer them such meager entertainment that they will not prolong their stay. Very few of us, my dear sirs see through this evil design of the devil." –– Martin Luther on the importance of the biblical languages (quoted from the article made available by www.ntgreekstudies.com)

Martin Luther was keen to point out how Satan seeks to "offer [people] such meager entertainment that [the biblical languages] will not prolong their stay."

I hope we can work hard enough to turn the ebb of that tide to where perhaps more than one or two pew-warmers in church will sit eagerly with their Greek and Hebrew as they listen to sermons based on those sacred texts, first for our own edification and faith and then for the world's.

O Vathos - Romans 11:33-36 in Biblical Greek/Hebrew

I'm always looking for quality Koine Greek resources, so I was delighted to discover this very well done song on YouTube by Troy Mitchell, which is sung in both Greek and Hebrew. Troy's album "Yoke of the King" is available at the website ffoz.com. The song is based on the following passage in the Bible from Romans 11:33-36:

"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." (ESV)

Latin

Could there still exist a need for Latin translationem (translation)? or have such artifex (craftsmen) mostly gone the way of the antiqui (ancients)?

The languages known today as "Latin" (also known as "Romanic") have historical roots in the old language of Rome, which itself descended from an ancient Proto-Indo-European language. However, few who speak modern "Latin" languages can read and comprehend their progenitor (forefather).

Historical Usage

Latin was commonly used as an international language of communication until the 18th century and has long been the language of the Academy. It is also the official language of the Roman Catholic Church and was heavily influential in the protestant reformation and renaissance.

Current Usage

Even in recent times Latin has been the standard classical language taught in many schools where classical literature and classical forms of education are prominent. Its legacy continues among those who wish to keep it alive today through the Living Latin movement, which attempts to teach Latin both as a spoken and written form of communication. 

For Further Investigation

There are currently more Latin resources available on the internet than one can dinumerare (number). 

Here is an introductory list of some online Latin resources:

- The Cambridgre Latin Course has an Independent Learner's page and E-learning Resource page

- The Latin & Greek Study Groups page offers the Latin Study List

- There is a free online Latin Course for the Virtual School of Languages

- Wikipedia's Latin entry has some valuable information about past and present Latin

- There is also a Wikipedia entry that discusses Latin Grammar

- And be sure to take a look at the Latin Wikipedia where all the articles are written or translated in Latin!

- You can impress your friends with a little knowledge of Latin's influence in English

- You can even learn some conversational Latin on You Tube

- Or take a look at a list of Latin phrases

- Learn101.org has pictorial lists of body parts in Latin, pages with more grammar and audio, additional vocabulary with pictures and an exam is included