Have you seen the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding?

It has been my life. In 1992, I married my Greek husband, Mike (aka Minas). Little did I know what I was getting into.

On our wedding day, I had an Egyptian friend bring a pan of his famous baklava to my wedding reception as a gift. Watching all the Greek women surround that pan of baklava, smelling it and holding it to the light as they whispered in Greek, “What is this?” “Who brought it? It’s not Greek,” was embarrassing.

Moral of the story? Take nothing but Greek baklava to a Greek wedding or any other Greek get-together. Greeks know the difference.

When Mike and I got engaged, we went to a family party for his uncle. I have never had so many people kiss my cheeks in one day. About the time I met everyone, it was time to say our goodbyes and start the entire process again.

Just like the movie, Greeks name their children after someone else in the family, and as a result, they have many of the same names in one family. There are Louis 1, 2, and 3, and Louis 1’s daughter is Louise, who has a daughter named Mary. Mike’s mom is Mary and his cousin. Mike’s dad was Theodore. Then, is Mike Theodore, Anthony Theodore, Teddy, and T.J. (Theodore James.) There are two Michaels and one Mike, too. And, no doubt, I have missed some.

His family is wonderful! His parents, who have now passed, never made me feel anything less than family. They had big hearts with which to love all their children, in-laws, and grandchildren. They would do anything for you.

I learned a great deal about Greek culture and language living in this family. My husband likes to say, “Greeks are proud of their pride,” or is it, “They take pride in being proud.” Anyway, it’s true.

There are many Greek words that can’t be translated into English. Mike’s family owned a restaurant which I occasionally helped in. Mary spoke both Greek and English. With us, she would sometimes start in English and suddenly switch to Greek in the middle of the sentence because there was not a word in English to say what she wanted to say. When I asked her what she said, she would answer in two or more sentences to define the Greek word.

This knowledge helped me appreciate the language and culture of the New Testament. Word studies fascinated me, and they deepened my understanding of scripture.

However, I have learned there is a big difference between the Greek and Hebrew minds and thinking. It’s good to understand this when studying Scripture.

The Greeks were logical thinkers. Their (ancient) language is mostly nouns, and the pronouns used most often are “I” and “me.” The Greeks heavily influenced our culture and most of Europe, starting with Alexander the Great.

Greeks taught more about the mind than the heart. They believed only the state could teach children; parents were incapable.

The Hebrew mind, however, is quite different. Consisting of more verbs, their language is about doing.

The pronouns they use most often are “we” and “us.” They thought with their hearts, not their heads. In the ancient language, there was no word for mind, they included it in the word for heart. They also believed in teaching the child from home. Every son learned the skills of their father, like Jesus.

In Greek, the word believe is pisteuō, and it means, “to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in.” (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4100/kjv/tr/0-1/)

In Hebrew, a word for believe is aman. It is compared to a tent peg.

The word “believed” is the very same Hebrew verb aman. The picture we have from this is that Abram was firm in his devotion to God. Just as a stake planted in firm ground supports the tent, even in a storm, Abram will support God, even in the storms of life. … The Hebrew verb aman means more than just knowing something to be true. … The Hebrew in Genesis 15:6 does not say Abram believed God, it says he was firm in God. From Genesis 26:5 we see that he was firm in his obedience to God and his Torah.

https://www.ancient-hebrew.org/studies-interpretation/aman-believe.htm

The Greek word believe deals with what we think to be true, and where our confidence or persuasion lies, while the Hebrew meaning represents a firm foundation in God and His Word. Hebrew deals with action, not thought.

So many can say, “I believe in God” or “I believe in Jesus” without really putting their trust in Him. Unless there is an action or devotion and a firm foundation in God and His Word, belief can be little more than a thought process.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

~James 1:22-27 ESV

So, let’s consider whether we want to think like the Greeks or the Jews or both. 

Determine how you can be a thinker and a doer.

Heavenly Father, help me to be a doer of Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Genre: Bible study

Copyright 2019: Is it Greek to You?: Stephanie Pavlantos: All Rights Reserved