What Language Did Jesus Speak? Why Does It Matter? An Introduction

Mark D. Roberts: What Language Did Jesus Speak? Why Does It Matter? An Introduction

… The fact that Jesus did not speak English serves as a reminder to those of us who do that we need to work hard if we wish to understand the original meaning of Jesus' teachings. Now, you don't have to spend the next several years learning ancient languages because English translations of the biblical text are quite reliable. Moreover, there are plenty of commentaries and teachers who can bridge the gaps in your linguistic understanding. In fact, careful study of the English text of the Bible will allow you to discern Jesus' true meaning in most instances, even if you don't know the language(s) he spoke. But this careful study requires time and effort. And it requires acknowledging the gap between Jesus' culture and our own. Many common misunderstandings of Jesus stem from the projection of English meanings and American culture onto Jesus' words and ways.

In the next few posts, I will offer a revised and improved (I hope!) version of my original series on the language of Jesus. I hope to show why most historians believe that Jesus spoke Aramaic, as well as to consider the possibility that he also spoke Hebrew and/or Greek and/or Latin. When I finish with my historical survey, I'll offer some further reasons why it matters to us what language(s) Jesus spoke.