13
votes
Accepted
In which language did Pontius Pilate communicate with Jesus?
There is reason to believe that the language Pilate communicated with Jesus was Greek. After all it was the language of commerce at that time throughout the Mediterranean world. Let us not forget that ...
- 65.8k
9
votes
Accepted
What version of the bible do Greek speaking Christians use?
The language has certainly changed. As such, translations into modern Greek are used.
Today's Greek Bible is often used, and translations by the Hellenic Bible Society have the Blessing and Approval ...
- 7,015
9
votes
Accepted
Is this distinction of biblical "love" terminology compatible with scripture?
The commonly held understanding is partially correct, but overstated. In reality, the semantic range of the words is broader.
Agape
It is true that the words ἀγαπάω (agapaó) and ἀγάπη (agapé) came ...
- 7,785
7
votes
What were the original languages of the Nicene Creed?
The lingua franca of the world during the early years of Christianity was Greek. Latin was the official language of Rome and used throughout the Empire for some official business, but even Rome used ...
- 37.2k
7
votes
Accepted
Does Christianity recommend learning other languages or dealing with non-christians?
Most Christian denominations accept, at least in some part, the teaching of what we call The Great Commission. There are many proof verses for this, but one of the most common is this:
Matthew 28:...
- 745
7
votes
When did the Church in the West begin communicating in Latin, instead of Greek?
The first major Christian theologian to write primarily in Latin was Tertullian (155–240): his association with a heretical movement is all that prevents him from being universally considered the ...
- 42.3k
7
votes
Accepted
What is LDS policy/teaching on not taking God's name in vain in languages where it is extremely common?
It may be helpful first to understand exactly what is mean by the word "vain." The NOAD defines vain as "producing no result, useless" and "having no meaning or likelihood of fulfillment." The use ...
- 472
6
votes
Accepted
Why did the Catholic Church adopt the use of Latin, the language of the crucifiers of Jesus?
Why has the Catholic Church adopted the use of Latin, the language of the crucifiers of Jesus?
Before going on I would simply like to point out two things.
First of all that the Language that ...
- 65.8k
5
votes
How do Mormon missionaries learn foreign languages so quickly?
I served as an Elder in the LDS church as a missionary. While I didn't serve a foreign mission, my brother and my father (the first in his family to join the church) did.
It's been mentioned several ...
- 51
5
votes
Accepted
Do all Catholic seminary schools require instruction in Latin and/or Greek?
Do all Catholic seminary schools require instruction in Latin and/or Greek?
Not all Catholic seminaries require their seminarians to learn Latin unfortunately. Greek is often an elective in many ...
- 65.8k
5
votes
Accepted
What is the Biblical Basis against the use of profanity?
Given your clarification, I would start by pointing out Ephesians 4 and 5 as condemning cussing.
Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification ...
- 186
5
votes
How would I write Jesus in in ancient Aramaic?
How to print out Jesus is God in Aramaic specifically the Aramaic Christ spoke?
The dialect of Aramaic Jesus spoke with his disciples was very different than the dialect of Aramaic spoken at Jerusalem....
- 65.8k
4
votes
Accepted
Do exorcisms need to be performed in a particular language?
Do exorcisms need to be performed in a particular language?
The short answer is no.
It may be true that the Devil and his agents hate the use of Latin within the Roman Rite, but an exorcism may be ...
- 65.8k
4
votes
In which language did Pontius Pilate communicate with Jesus?
Assuming they spoke without a translator, they almost certainly used Greek (Koine or common version). The Romans greatly respected Greek culture from who they derived so much of their culture, all ...
4
votes
Why the Western European style names?
They are not "Western European" names per se, instead these names are common in Western Europe, America, etc. specifically because they spread along with Christianity.
Names are transliterated ...
- 745
4
votes
Accepted
What language(s) was Christ likely to have spoken during his mortal ministry?
The answers to this question will vary according to the various perspectives.
Nevertheless, it is thought by some that Jesus spoke only Aramaic.
St. Thomas Aquinas seems to be of this opinion also:
...
- 65.8k
4
votes
What version of the bible do Greek speaking Christians use?
The majority of Greek-speaking Christians (Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and the diaspora) belong to the Orthodox Church. While some sectarians (i.e. non-Orthodox) may use some other text, to my knowledge ...
- 5,617
4
votes
Why did the Catholic Church adopt the use of Latin, the language of the crucifiers of Jesus?
Just like English, French, and German are the languages of choice in Protestant seminaries starting in the 19th centuries because the scholars speak those languages, the Western half of the Roman ...
- 21.8k
4
votes
What's the origin of this approach of trying to obtain meaning from the individual letters of Hebrew words?
Psalm 119 may have been an influence, the presentation of each Hebrew letter heading the twenty two sections of the Psalm. I have always taken this as a demonstration of reverence for the word of God, ...
- 22.8k
4
votes
What's the origin of this approach of trying to obtain meaning from the individual letters of Hebrew words?
In 2010 I found this interpretation of the meaning of the Tetragrammaton as given by a Messianic Jew:
YHVH : יהוה
Yod - י hand
Hey - ה Open Window, to reveal
Vav - ו Nail / Tent ...
- 28.7k
4
votes
What's the origin of this approach of trying to obtain meaning from the individual letters of Hebrew words?
The idea that individual letters mean something is very old.
Judaism has always regarded Hebrew as a sacred language, the medium of divine communication. For millennia, its sages and mystics have ...
- 12.8k
4
votes
How did Moses speak to the children of Israel & write the Torah if he was learned in all the ways of the Egyptians?
Moses’ mother, Jochebed was the daughter of a Levite, and she married Amram, another Levite (Exodus 2:1). The Hebrew midwives refused to participate in the infanticide decreed by the Pharaoh (Exodus ...
- 28.7k
4
votes
How did Moses speak to the children of Israel & write the Torah if he was learned in all the ways of the Egyptians?
Let me give the simple answer.
"Learned in the ways of the Egyptians" does not imply that he wasn't also learned in the ways of his own people as well. Many Egyptians would have known the ...
- 31.2k
3
votes
Accepted
How did Rahab speak the language spoken by Joshua’s spies
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived in Canaan before the Hebrew people moved to Egypt.
Moses lived for forty years in Midian before he led the people into the desert.
During the wandering in the desert, ...
- 11.2k
3
votes
Why did the Catholic Church adopt the use of Latin, the language of the crucifiers of Jesus?
The Latin language was sanctified by being nailed to the Holy Cross along with Hebrew and Greek:
Luke 23:38And there was also a superscription written over him in letters of Greek and Latin and ...
- 37.9k
3
votes
Why use Yeshua instead of Jesus?
Why use Yeshua instead of Jesus?
Besides the simplest and most obvious reason for doing so is because we can, I will give you the reason why I do this myself when I am alone and not hindered by being ...
- 65.8k
3
votes
Why are missionary priests allowed to fumble over liturgies in the vernacular?
Why are missionary priests allowed to fumble over liturgies in the vernacular?
I could also ask the question:
Why are traditional priests allowed to fumble over liturgies in Latin?
The problem here ...
- 65.8k
3
votes
Accepted
Do the teachings of Catholic Church prohibit the use of “Amen” for purposes other than prayers?
Do the teachings of Catholic Church prohibit the use of “Amen” for purposes other than prayers?
The short answer is no.
First of all, Our Lord employed Amen outside of prayer.
Amen, amen I say unto ...
- 65.8k
2
votes
Is Latin considered a holy language in the Catholic Church?
I would like to be more explicit on the content of the Apostolic Constitution Veterum Sapientia, which Ben mentions above. This document, written by Pope John XXIII in 1962, and subtitled "On the ...
- 4,591
2
votes
Are there any examples of sarcasm in the bible?
Matthew 11:7-8 Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: What went you out into the desert to see? a reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out to see? a man clothed in soft ...
- 2,570
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