Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Greek, and a little Aramaic. But if we have so many good English translations today, do the original languages still matter?
In this episode, we argue that Greek and Hebrew are not just academic extras for pastors and theologians. They are deeply connected to the health of the church, the clarity of Scripture, and the preservation of sound doctrine.
We’ll look at why the Reformers cared so much about the biblical languages, especially Martin Luther and John Calvin. We’ll also consider what happens when churches, pastors, seminaries, and Christians begin to downplay the importance of returning to the original text of Scripture.
Even if you never personally learn Greek or Hebrew, this episode explains why you should still care whether your pastors and teachers value them.
Article mentioned: The Reformers and the Original Languages (petergoeman.com/papers/reformers_and_original_languages.pdf)
Timestamps
0:00 — Introduction
3:22 — When Christians downplay the biblical languages
5:15 — The dumbing down of theological education
6:27 — Biblical languages as a barometer of church health
8:20 — Before the Reformation: Latin and the average churchgoer
9:47 — Wycliffe and the groundwork for reform
11:27 — Luther, Bible translation, and the languages
24:20 — Luther’s warning about neglecting the languages
27:29 — Modern examples of being swayed by attractive false teaching
29:44 — Calvin and the importance of literal interpretation
34:02 — Calvin’s Geneva Academy and language training
40:38 — Why English alone can sometimes limit interpretation
42:27 — Do modern translations and commentaries make languages unnecessary?
47:49 — Three problems when teachers lack biblical language tools
52:34 — Machen and Princeton Seminary
56:33 — Three benefits of studying biblical languages
1:04:32 — Final appeal: be strong advocates for the biblical languages
Shepherds Theological Seminary (where Peter Goeman teaches): https://shepherds.edu/
The Bible Sojourner Audio podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-bible-sojourner
More About The Bible Sojourner Host, Peter Goeman: petergoeman.com
The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Greek, and a little Aramaic. But if we have so many good English translations today, do the original languages still matter?
In this episode, we argue that Greek and Hebrew are not just academic extras for pastors and theologians. They are deeply connected to the health of the church, the clarity of Scripture, and the preservation of sound doctrine.
We’ll look at why the Reformers cared so much about the biblical languages, especially Martin Luther and John Calvin. We’ll also consider what happens when churches, pastors, seminaries, and Christians begin to downplay the importance of returning to the original text of Scripture.
Even if you never personally learn Greek or Hebrew, this episode explains why you should still care whether your pastors and teachers value them.
Article mentioned: The Reformers and the Original Languages (petergoeman.com/papers/reformers_and_original_languages.pdf)
Timestamps
0:00 — Introduction
3:22 — When Christians downplay the biblical languages
5:15 — The dumbing down of theological education
6:27 — Biblical languages as a barometer of church health
8:20 — Before the Reformation: Latin and the average churchgoer
9:47 — Wycliffe and the groundwork for reform
11:27 — Luther, Bible translation, and the languages
24:20 — Luther’s warning about neglecting the languages
27:29 — Modern examples of being swayed by attractive false teaching
29:44 — Calvin and the importance of literal interpretation
34:02 — Calvin’s Geneva Academy and language training
40:38 — Why English alone can sometimes limit interpretation
42:27 — Do modern translations and commentaries make languages unnecessary?
47:49 — Three problems when teachers lack biblical language tools
52:34 — Machen and Princeton Seminary
56:33 — Three benefits of studying biblical languages
1:04:32 — Final appeal: be strong advocates for the biblical languages
Shepherds Theological Seminary (where Peter Goeman teaches): https://shepherds.edu/
The Bible Sojourner Audio podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-bible-sojourner
More About The Bible Sojourner Host, Peter Goeman: petergoeman.com
