Language keeps springing surprises on us. Although I know a fair bit about languages, I was still surprised to learn recently that Greek consists not simply of ancient and modern. There is a range and a hierarchy of ancient Greeks, with distinct differences between the Greek of the marketplace (Koine) the Greek used by poets such as Homer (Epic), and that used by thinkers such as Socrates (Attic).
Unsurprising, though, is that God uses Koine Greek – Koine literally means “common” – as the main language of the New Testament and not the Greek of the thinkers or the poets, of the highborn or the highly educated. God’s promise to Abraham is that all peoples will be blessed through Him (Gen.12v3). All peoples. In giving His Word to everyone, God reinforces the dignity of humankind that bears His image, overturning the human constructs of hierarchy, and demonstrating that no one is outside of his love and grace.
What a gift it is, what a blessing, how respectful it is to others when we engage with them in a language which is familiar to them, better yet, in the language of their own hearts, even if only a little. Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again! Following the victory of the cross, why not spread the Good News of Jesus in the language that was readily accessible to everyone from everywhere in the eastern region of the Roman Empire at that time, whether it was their first language or not?
What did he command us? Yes: to be witnesses and to make disciples in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1v8). Imagine, for example, Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. How could that conversation possibly happen without a common language between them? God meets people where they are and speaks to them in a language that is familiar to them.
My favourite doctor was readily able to explain my medical conditions and how to resolve them without ever being patronising. Her notes and letters to medical professionals, however, left me stupefied, and that was even after things had been explained to me! I often reflect on the language we use in church contexts and the language we use when speaking with people who are not Christians. How often do we leave those with no church/ Christian connexion stupefied?
As God’s witnesses in the present day, would it not be wise to regularly take a moment to reflect on what we say and how we say it? Colossians 4v6 tells us that our conversations should always be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt so that we know how to answer each person.
