Why I Love Koine Greek

I have a strange love-hate relationship with Koine Greek. And here’s why.



Many hours have been spent last semester studying well over 300 vocabulary words, memorizing mind-boggling case endings, and listing out the first three principle parts of Greek verbs ad nauseam. I have only made it through the first half of Mounce’s Introduction to Biblical Greek textbook, and I am overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information. I still have three more Greek classes to complete at Beeson Divinity School (oh, did I mention that I have to take four classes in Hebrews as well?). However, as strange as it may sound, I love studying Greek because it excites me. I love the feeling of achievement when I decipher a phrase in Greek. It challenges me to stretch my mind and deepen my faith. More profoundly, I have begun to appreciate Greek not only because of the unique challenges it presents but also because I learned an shockingly simple truth that bears great weight for all preachers and ministers of God's Word.

Here's a brief history, I promise. Koine (Κοινή) Greek literally means “common Greek,” and is the language used in the Greco-Roman world on a daily basis. Its roots can be traced back to about the thirteenth century B.C. Homer (8th Century B.C.) and Plato (4th century B.C.) used an ornate and eloquent form and style of Greek form in their writings called Classical Greek, which pre-dates Koine Greek. Classical Greek is capable of conveying exact meanings and suggestions noticeably absent in Koine Greek. Examples of Classical Greek writings can be found on various ruins throughout Greece. Interestingly, the people who carved the large letters onto statues and monuments were largely illiterate and only those who were educated in Classical Greek such as philosophers could read the sentences. Koine Greek is the language of the New Testament and used in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) and the writings of the Apostolic Fathers as well.

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Why did God choose Koine Greek as the language of the New Testament? To answer this, one must consider how the Roman Empire developed. By looking at the map on the right, the Roman Empire reached its enormous size with a formidable military force that brought the entire Mediterranean world under its dominion. Gradually, Rome erected many cities and established strong social, political, and economic structures. A common language (Koine Greek) was adopted by everyone in the Greco-Roman world. Finally, an expansive web of military roads connected the entire Empire that facilitated trade and easy travel for soldiers and commoners. By the time Jesus was born, Rome was in the midst of pax Romana (Latin for “Roman peace”) characterized by widespread peace and stability that spanned from 27 B.C. to 180 A.D.

Apostle Paul wrote, “when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son” (Gal. 4:4). Paul said that God sent Jesus here on earth at the most ideal time in accordance to his sovereign knowledge. After Jesus ascended to the Father and poured out the Holy Spirit on His disciples (Acts 1:6-2:4), the gospel was transmitted quickly throughout the entire Roman Empire. By 100 A.D., there were literally hundreds of Christian churches dotted across the Roman Empire!

As I thought about how rapidly the gospel was spread in a remarkably short period of time, an important lesson dawned upon me: many people received gospel and were saved immediately after Pentecost (Acts 2:41, 47) because, the gospel message was simple and easy for people to understand. Peter proclaimed to the crowd immediately after the Pentecost, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). A little later, Peter boldly told the Jewish leaders, “There is salvation in no one else [except Jesus Christ], for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (4:12). Finally, Paul and Silas shared with the Philippian jailer a simple message of how he and his entire household would receive salvation if he believed in Lord Jesus (16:31). Simplicity is the name of the game when it comes to boldly preaching the gospel.

Koine Greek can be a great tool for ministers to proclaim a simple and uncluttered message centered around the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and his role as our personal Savior and Lord. This message has eternal implications on the entire human race, and it was passed down to us in various translations originating from Koine Greek. If we want to faithfully discharge the duties of the office of preachers, that is, to proclaim Christ crucified (1 Cor. 1:23) by preaching the good news and handling the word of truth properly (2 Tim. 2:15; 4:2) and protecting the “good deposit entrusted” to us (1:14), we need to understand Greek enough (not necessarily perfectly) to not only interpret the original texts properly but also communicate the gospel accurately in simple terms to people. The message that we are proclaiming is not something to be ashamed of because "it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:16).