GreekWords for Teach RoyB. Zuck TEACHINGof the Bibleshouldbe patternedafterteaching intheBible.Inotherwords,the principlesofteaching youfollowand thetechniquesyou use shouldbe inaccord withand not inconflictwiththoseprinciplesstatedor illus-tratedin the Bible. Thisis why a studyof the Hebrew1 and Greekwords for "teach"and"learn"are basictoeffectiveteaching.Several educationalprinciples are indicated by the followingwords in theGreekNew Testamenttranslatedby "teach,""learn," or related words. GNORIZO This verb is the casual form of ginosk,"to know." Ginosk means"to makeknown,to causeto know."Itsuggestscom-municating in such a way that those addressedknow what the communicatorwantsthemtoknow.Thiscommunicationof factsfromone person to anotheris indicated by the factthat theverbisoftenfollowedby an accusativeand adative of person.2 Itis interestingthatin abouthalfthe occurrencesofthis wordGod is the One makingsomething known. He has made knownHis powerthroughthe vessels of wrath(Rom.9:22), therichesof His gloryto the vesselsofmercy(Rom.9:23), andhas madeknownHis manifoldwisdom(Eph.3:10), the mysteryofHis will(Eph. 1:9), and the mysteryofChrist (Rom. 16:26, Eph. 3:3, 5, Col. 1:27). The idea of revealing previouslyunknownfacts is included in this verb gnoriz. Paul said he "declared" the gospel(I Cor. See"HebrewWordsforTeach,"BibliothecaSacra,121:228-35,July-September,1964. 2Forexample,"Wemadeknownuntoyouthepowerandcomingofour LordJesusChrist"(IIPet1:16). 158 GREEKWORDSFOR"TEACH" 159 15:1) ; theshepherdsspokeofthemessageaboutthebirthof Christ which the angels had made known to them(Luke 2:15) ; then the shepherds made known to others what they hadheard andseen(Luke2:17). Though gnoriz is not translated"teach" in the Authorized Version,thisverbdoes suggest thatteachinginvolvesthere-vealingoffactstoothersandthushelpingotherscometo knowthesefacts. DIANOIGO This word,whichmeans"toopen,"was thewordusedby ourLordwhenHe healedadeafman'sears(Mark7:34).In amorefigurativesense,thisverbisusedoftheopeningof one'seyes,mind,andheartsothepersonmayunderstand spiritualtruths.Thisstressesthedivineelementessentialin Bible teaching. Only Christ could open the eyes of theEmmaus disciplesso theywouldknow thatHewastheOne withthem (Luke24:31).OnlyChristcouldopentheScripturestothem so they would appreciate them and know theirmeaning(Luke 24:32).OnlyChristcouldopenthemindsofHisdisciplesso theycouldunderstandtheScriptures(Luke24:45). Only God couldopentheheartofLydia,thatis,"rousein(her)the facultyofunderstandingor the desireoflearning."3 Everyteacherofspiritualtruthmustrecognizethat whereas he mayapply the WordofGod toothersandseekto helpthemapplyittotheirlives, onlyGodHimselfcanmake thepupils' heartsopenorreceptive tothetruth. DIDASKO Thisis thecommon verb forteach.Itis interestingto ob-serve thatof the almostone hundredoccurrences ofthis verb, seventy-fiveareintheGospels andActs. Almost without exception, didask refersto the teaching of groups. Forexample Jesus taught the multitudes(Mark2:13 ; 4:2),thepeople(Luke5:2;John8:2),andHisdisciples (Matt.5:2;Mark9:31).ThefactthatHetaughtinthe synagogues(Matt.4:23;Mark1:21;Luke4:15; John6:29), andin the temple(Matt. 21:23;Mark14:29; John7:14),and inthevillages(Mark6:6),suggeststhatHisteachingwas 3 JosephHenryThayer,AGreek-English LexiconoftheNewTestament, p. 140. 160BIBLIOTHECASACRAApril,1965 directedtowardgroups.Paul,too,taught"everywherein everychurch"(ICor.4:17),andhetaughttheeldersofthe Ephesianchurch(Acts20:20).4Thustheusageofdidask indicatesthatthisverbmeanspublicinstruction,orteaching ofgroups.ThoughourLordoccasionallytutoredindividuals oneatatime,Hecertainlydidnotneglectfrequentoppor-tunitiestoteachpupilsin"classes."AndHisclassesvaried insizetoo fromtwelve(thedisciples)toseveralhundred. Didaskisusedinvariousways : sometimesintransitively (withnoobject),sometimeswiththeaccusativeoftheperson (usuallyplural,asalreadynoted),sometimeswiththeaccu-sativeofthe thing taught,andsometimes withtwoaccusatives onethepersonandtheotherthesubjectmatter.Thislater usagesuggeststhatteachingincludestheimpartingofdivine contenttopersons. Thecontentthatwasgiveninpublicdiscourseincluded "thewayofGodint rut h"(Matt.22:16;Mark12:14;Luke 20:21),"thewordoftheLord"(Acts15:35),"thewordof God"(Acts18:11),"thethingsoftheLord"(Acts18:25), and"thosethingswhichconcerntheLordJesusChrist"(Acts 28:31).Thus,withoutquestion,thecontentofBibleteaching istobeBible-basedandChrist-centered. ThepublicteachingofGod'sWordhaspurpose.Results aresought,beyondthemereacquisitionoffacts.Thisisillus-tratedbytheinfinitivethatoftenfollowstheverbdidask. Forexample,Christ'sdisciplessaidtoHim,"Lordteachus topray"(Luke11:1).AndChristcommandedthemtoteach others"observeallthingswhatsoeverIhavecommanded you"(Matt.28:20). Fivenounsrelatedtodidaskgiveadditionallightonthe meaningofthisverb.Theadjectivedidaktokos,whichoccurs onlytwice,means"aptorskillfulinteaching."Thisistobe aqualificationofbishops(ITim.3:2),andacharacteristic ofallservantsoftheLord(IITim.2:24). Didaktos,anotheradjective,alsooccursonlytwiceinthe New Testament,and both times itdescribessomeoneinstructed byGod(seeJohn6:45andICor.2:13). 4 Only threeofthealmost onehundred occurrences ofdidaskappear to be exceptionstothisobservationthatthisverbreferstotheteachingofgroups: John8:28("AsmyFathertaughtme") ;Romans2:21("Thou... teachest another");andRevelation2:14("Balaam... taughtBalak"). GREEKWORDSFOR"TEACH"161 Adidaskaloswasonewhopubliclyinstructedotherscon-cerningthethingsofGod.ThiswordisusedofJesus(itcor-respondstotheHebrewrabbi),ofJohntheBaptist(Luke 3:12),ofJewish learned men(didaskaloiis rendered"doctors" inLuke 2:46),ofPaul(ITim.2:7;IITim1:11)ofleadersin thechurch,includingBarnabas,Lucius,andManaen(Acts 13:1),andofothergiftedmeninthebodyofChrist(ICor. 12:28;Eph.4:11). Twoothernouns,didachanddidaskalia,seemsimilarin meaning.Theyarebothfrequentlytranslatedbytheword "doctrine."Perhapssomedistinctionbetweenthetwocanbe notedifdidachistranslated"doctrine"(suggestingwhatis taught)andifdidaskaliaistranslated"instruction"or"in-structing"(suggestingtheactofteaching). ThusthosewhopreachtheWordareto"rebukewi t h. . . doctrineIdidach]"(IITim.4:2).WhatChristtaughtthe contentofHisteaching didnotoriginatewithHimself.It wasthedoctrine(didach)ofGodtheFather,theOnewho sentHim(John6:16).Believersare to avoidthosewhocause divisions"contrarytothedoctrine(didach)which[they] have learned"(Rom. 16:17, also see Acts 2:42and Rom.6:17). Ifdidaskaliais translated"instruction"(ratherthan"doc-trine," as it is frequentlyrendered in the AuthorizedVersion), thenitismoreeasilydistinguished,fromdidach.*Thusbe-lieversareto"giveattendancet o . . .instruction"(theartof teaching;ITim.4:13),should"takeheed...untoinstruc-tion"(ITim.4:16),and should not be "carriedabout byevery windofinstruction"(Eph.4:14).Christiansareexpectedto speakofthingspertainingto"wholesome(orpure)instruc-tion"("sounddoctrine";Titus2:1). EKT1THEMI Thisverbliterallymeans"to setout,expose."Figuratively itmeans"toexplain,expound,setforththemeaningof."In thislattersense,ektithmiisusedonlythreetimes,allinthe bookofActs.Peter"expounded[thematter]byorderunto them"(Acts11:4).AquilaandPriscilla"expoundedunto [Apollos]thewayofGodmoreperfectly"(Acts18:26).In RomePaul"expoundedandtestifiedthekingdomofGod"to 5 Itisinterestingtonotethat15ofthe21usesofdidaskaliaareinthe pastoralepistles. 162 BIBLIOTHECASACRAApril,1965 many who came to him(Acts 28:23). Ektithmi,then,suggeststhatteachinginvolvessetting the meaning of truths before the minds of the listeners so that theymay understandthose truths.Beforepupilscan live out theWordofGod,itmustbesetbeforethembytheBible teacherinsuchawaythatitstruthsareunmistakablyclear andunderstandable.Explanationleadstounderstanding,and understandingmustprecede personalapplication. KATEKEO FromtheverbkatkewegettheEnglishword"cate-chism."Katkeoacompoundofkata("down")and hakeo ("tosound")literallymeans"to sounddownon." Fromthis thederivedmeaningis"toinform"or"toinstructorally." It is used seven times in the NewTestament. Luke wrote hisGospelso thatTheophilus might know the certaintyofthosethingsconcerningwhichhehadbeenin-formed orally or catechized(Luke 1:4). Apollos was catechized ororallyinformedabout the wayoftheLord(Acts18:25).6 The Jews had been orally informed by Paul(Acts21:21, 24). The Jews were taught orally out of the law(Rom. 2:18). Paul preferredtospeak five understandablewordsthantenthou-sandwords inanotherlanguage,so thathecould thenorally teachothers(ICor.14:19).God commandsthattheperson whohasbeenorallyinformedaboutHisWordshouldshare with him who orally teaches(Gal.6:6).7 Teaching, then, involves the oral passing on ofinformation about the things ofGod. It iscatechizing,informingby word of mouth. MATHETEO TheverbmatheteisusedonlyfourtimesintheNew Testament,butthenounmathtsisused228timesinthe Gospels and 28 times in Acts(256 timesin all).8 In Matthew 6 ThreewordsforteachareusedinActe18:25-26.Apolloswasorally informed(katke)aboutthewayoftheLord,hehimselfpubliclyanddili-gentlytaught(didask)thethingsoftheLord,andAquilaandPriscillaset before(ektithmi)ApollosthemeaningofthewayofGodmorethoroughly. Apolloswasquitealearner andteacher ! 7 Thethoughtofthisversemaybethatlearnersshouldhelpsupporttheir teachersfinancially,oritmaybethatthelearnersshouldsharewiththeir teachersinallvirtues,i.e.,theyshouldimitatetheirvirtues. * MathtsoccursnowhereelseintheNewTestamentotherthaninthe GospelsandActs. GREEKWORDSFOR"TEACH" IBS 27:57 mathte is used intransitivelyand means "to be a pupil ordisciple."JosephofArimatheahadbecomeadisciple ofJesus. Inthethreeotheroccurrences,mathteisusedtransi-tivelyandmeans"tomakeadiscipleof,toteachso thatone becomesadisciple."Christreferredtoscribeswhobecame disciplesofthekingdomofheaven(Matt.28:19).Pauland Barnabas"preachedthegospel"andmadedisciplesofmany peopleinthecityofDerbe(Acts14:21).Thepreachingof thegospelwasaccompaniedbythemakingofloyaldisciples. The use ofmathteinMatthew28:19is interesting.Itis the one command in Matthew 28:19-20 ; the other verbalforms ("go," "baptizing," and "teaching")are all present participles. "Goyetherefore"shouldberendered,"Thereforeasyeare going." Thesuggestionis thatwhereverthedisciplesgo, they shouldmakedisciples,andthewaytomakedisciplesisby baptizingthem(implyingandtestifyingtopersonalaccept-ance ofChrist)andinstructing(didaskontes)them. The mak-ing of a disciple ofChrist, then, includes leading him toChrist asSavior,helpinghimmakepublicprofessionofthatfaith, andteachinghimtoobserveorpracticeallthethingscom-mandedbyChrist.AsA.B.Bruceexplains:"didaskontes [isa]presentparticiple,implyingthatChristianinstruction is to be a continuous process, not subordinate to andpreparing forbaptism,butcontinuingafterbaptismwithaviewtoen-ablingdisciplestowalkworthilyoftheirvocationter ein: theteachingiswithaview nottognosis buttopractice ; the aim notorthodoxopinion butrightliving."? Thenounmathts,"discipleorpupil,"isusedofthe twelve disciples ofJesus(e.g., Matt. 10:1), ofJesus'followers ingeneral(e.g., Luke6:17),ofindividualssuchasAnanias (Acts 9:10),Timothy(Acts16:1), andMnason(Acts 21:16). IntheGospels"thedisciples" sometimesrefersto theTwelve (Matt.13:10).InthebookofActstheterm"thedisciples" usuallyreferstoChristiansingeneral(Acts6:1, 7). The word mathtoi suggests those who accept the teachings ofsomeoneandbecomehisfollowers.Itinvolvesnotonly learning about the teachings of the instructorbut being a loyal 9 AlexanderBalmainBruce, "TheSynopticGospels,"TheExpositor's Greek Testament,I,340. 16 UBIBLIOTHECASACRAApril,1965 followerofthatone andhis teachings. Suchare truedisciples ofChrist thosewhoknowHisteachingsandareloyal followersofHim. MANTHANO Sometimes manthan means "to learn in the sense ofstudy-ingorinsome wayincreasingone's knowledge."Othertimes itmeans"tolearninthesenseofpracticingorexperiencing habitually."The formermeaning is suggestedin ICorinthians 14:31,"Foryemayallprophesyonebyone,thatallmay learn."OurLordknewvariouswritingsthoughHenever studied(manthan)them(John7:15),forHeinHisomni-scienceknowsallthings.HetoldHisdisciplestolearna parable(Matt.24:32).PaulexhortedTimothyto"continue . . .in the thingswhichthouhastlearned"(IITim. 3:14),for he hadlearnedtheScripturesfromPaul. As forthesecondmeaningofmanthan,ArndtandGing-richsuggest thatitis to"appropriatetooneselflessthrough instructionthanthroughexperienceorpractice."10Forex-ample, Paul states that he had learned to be contentregardless of his circumstances(Phil. 1:11). Paulurges childrentolearn toshow pietyathome"forthatis good andacceptablebefore God"(ITim.5:4).Believersaretolearntomaintaingood works(Titus3:14).Christlearnedtheultimateinobedience by thethingswhichHesuffered(Heb.5:8). Itisinterestingtonotethatthislearningcantakeplace throughfollowingtheexampleofothers,aswellasthrough instructionbyothers(seeICor.4:6).Christurgesmento "learnfrom(apo)me"(Matt.11:29),thatis,tolearnHis teachingsandalso tolearnfromHisexample. TheultimateinChristianlearningisto"learnChrist" (Eph.4:20)notsimply tolearnaboutHim(thoughthatis certainlyessential), buttogo astepbeyondthatandtolearn Him.ThisiswhatPaulreferstoinPhilippians3:10,"that Imayknowhim." According to this verb manthan, learning is a matterofa pupil acquiring knowledge ofcontent througha teachertothe extentthatsuch knowledgeis experiencedinthelife. 10 WilliamF.ArndtandF.WilburGingrich,AGreek-English Lexicon oftheNewTestamentandOtherEarlyChristian Literature,p. 491. GREEKWORDSFOR"TEACH"165 KATAMANTHANO This verb, a compoundof the verbmanthan, "to learn by study or practice," means "to study carefullyso that one learns thoroughly." It is used only in Matthew 6:28 where it is trans-latedintheAuthorizedVersion,"Considerthe liliesof the field."Brucesuggeststhatitmeans"toobserve[the lilies] well that ye may well learn thoroughly the lesson they teach."11 InGenesis24:21theSeptuagintuseskatamanthan.Abra-ham'sservant"observed"Rebekah,thuslearning her disposi-tion by seeing her actions. PAIDEUO The verb paideu is translatedseveral times in theAuthor-ized Version by the word "chastise." But as Trench points out, thiswas not theoriginalmeaningoftheword.12"For the Greek,paideiawas simply'education'."^ButmanyGreeks felt,as Trenchpointsout, "thateffectualinstructionfor the sinfulchildrenof menincludesand implieschastening, or . . . 'correction'."1* Itisclearfromthecognatenounspais,achild,and paidion, a youngchild,thatpaideu pertains to children. The noun paideia(translated"nurture" in Eph. 6:4 ; "instruction" in II Tim. 3:16; and "chastening" in Heb. 12:5, 7,11)initially meant"the wholetrainingand educationofchildren(which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals)and employs for thispurposenow commandsandadmonitions,nowreproof andpunishment."1* In other words, paidembasically means "to bring up, train, oreducate." Moses was trainedor educated"in all the culture ofthe Egyptians"(Acts7:22),andPaulwas educated "ac-cording to the law of the fathers"(Acts 22:3). ThegraceofGod has"educationalbenefits."Itteaches (educates)us to the intentthat(hina),denyingungodliness andwordlylusts,weshouldlivesoberly,righteously,and godly(Titus2:11-12).And the WordofGod is profitablefor "education['instruction'intheA.V.]inrighteousness"(II Tim.3:16).Fathersare tobringuptheirchildren"in the "Bruce,op. cit., I,126. 12 RichardChenevixTrench,Synonyms of the OldTestament,p.111. 13 Ibid. M Ibid. 15 Thayer,op. cit., p.473. 166BIBLIOTHECASACRA April,1965 education['nurture'intheA.V.]andadmonishingofthe Lord"(Eph.6:4).* The corrective element in paideu is seen in I Timothy1:20. Hymenaeus andAlexanderwere given over toSatanthatthey might be trained(or corrected or chastened)not to blaspheme. God's servants mustin meekness corrector chastenthose who putthemselvesinoppositiontothetruth(IITim.2:25). WhomtheLordlovesHechastensorcorrects,muchasa fatherchastenshisownchildren(Heb.12:6,7,9-11;Rev. 3:19).Believerswhodo notjudgeandcorrectthemselvesare correctedby the Lord(ICor. 11:31-32). PARAT1THEM1 Paratithmi,"to set or place before or beside," is commonly usedwithregardto food "tosetfoodbeforesomeone."But inMatthew13:24,31Christset(paratithmi)aparable beforeHisdisciples asHetaught.Inotherwords,Heplaced the truthbeforethemso theycouldcomprehendit. Inthemiddle voiceparatithmimeans"tosetforthfrom orforone'sself."ThusPaulsetforthtotheThessalonians that Jesus was the Messiah(Acts 17:3, "alleging" in the A.V.). Nodoubthedidthisinsuchawaythattheyunderstoodit, because"someofthem believed"(Acts17:4). Paulset beforeTimothya charge(ITim. 1:18). AndPaul toldTimothythatthethingsthathe hadheardfromPaulhe wastosetbeforereliablemensotheywouldinstructothers (IITim.2:2).Thisisthe"endlesschainofteachertraining andGospelpropaganda."1? SUMBIBAZO This verbmeans"to bringtogetherorunite"(Eph.4:16; Col.2:2,19),"toconcludeinone'smindbyputtingfacts together"(Acts16:10),and"tocauseapersontounitewith oneinaconclusion,ortoprovebyputtingfactstogether" (Acts9:22).Perhapsthislastmeaningisthewaytounder-standthewordinICorinthians2:16,"Forwhohathknown 16Whereaspaideiasuggestseducation,withcorrective,disciplinarymeas-uresincluded,nouthesia(translated"admonition")is"trainingbyword by thewordofencouragement,whenthisissufficient,butalsobythatofremon-strance,ofreproof,ofblame,wherethesemayberequired"(Trench,op.cit., p.112). 17 ArchibaldThomasRobertson,WordPicturesintheNewTestament, IV,616. GREEKWORDSPOR"TEACH" 167 the mind of the Lord that he may instruct(sumbibaz)him?" Inotherwords, who can cause God to agree withhim, as ifhe canteachGod anything? Andofcourse theimpliedansweris "No one." Acts 9:22 and I Corinthians 2:16 are the only verses intheNewTestamentinwhichsumbibaz hasthismeaning ofteaching. Butin theSeptuagintthe word hasthismeaning severaltimes(cf.Ex. 4:12,15; 18:16; Lev.10:11;Deut.4:9; Isa.40:13-14; Dan.9:22). SUNIEMI This verbmeans"to understand,comprehend,gaininsight into something." The basic underlying meaning is "to putfacts togetherandthusarriveatanunderstanding." Several times in the Gospels sunimi is followed by an accu-sative,eachtimewithreferencetoChrist'steachings.Inthe parableofthesower,theseedinthegoodgroundrepresents thepersonwhohearstheWordandunderstandsit(Matt. 13:19,23). AfterChristspokeseveralparables,Hisdisciples said they understood them(Matt. 13:51). But when Christ told HisdisciplesaboutHisdeathandresurrection,they"under-stoodnoneofthesethings"(Luke18:34).ThenafterHis resurrection,Heopened(dianoig)theirunderstanding (nous)thattheymightunderstand(sunimi)theScriptures (Luke 24:45). AfterChrist told the parableofthe leaven to the disciples, Hehadtoexplainittothembeforetheyunderstood(Matt. 16:11-12). LikewiseHisdisciplesdid notunderstandHisref-erencetoElijahuntilHeexplainedtothemthatHemeant JohntheBaptist(Matt.17:11-13).Thisverbisalsousedin Ephesians5:17,"understandingwhat the will of the Lord is." Thustheverbsunimisuggestsinsightintoandcompre-hensionofthethingsofGod. Suchinsightcomes tobelievers as they are taughtby the HolySpirit. CONCLUSION TheseGreekwordsgive usseveralindicationsoftheedu-cationalphilosophyandpracticeofourLordandofchurch leaders. We would do well to heed andfollowthese principles. Teachingiscommunicatingfactsfromonepersontoan-other(orothers).Itincludes theexplainingoftruthssothat theyareclearandunderstandableby thepupils. Thisimplies 168BIBLIOTHECASACRAApril,1965 relatingBibletruthstothelearners'age-levelandlevelof comprehension. Teachingisa"helpingministry"helpingpupilsknow andliveGod'struths.Itincludesmotivatingpupilstolearn and helping them to be willing to receive and apply the content beingtaught. Teaching was oftendone in groups, but not to the exclusion of teaching individuals. Education is acatechetical process, an informingofothersbyoralinstruction. Teaching "the things of the Lord"(Acts 18:25)is to result in godly living. The aim ofsound doctrine is uprightpractice. Knowledge acquiredis to be experiencedin thelife. A disciple oftheLordis one who, in addition to learning factsaboutthe Lord,is aloyal followerofthe Lord,devoted tofollowingHis teachingsas well as comprehendingHis teachings. Learningisanactiveprocessinwhichthepupilseeksto understand,toconsidercarefully,tobereceptivetothebody oftruthbeingtaught. Teachersshouldteachbyexampleoflifeaswellasby oralinstruction. Theeducationofchildreninvolvestotaltraininginthe waysoftheLord,to be done primarilyinthe home. Christianeducationmustrecognizethedivineelement essential in Bible teaching. Only God can really open the hearts ofhearers toreceive and appropriateHis Word to their lives. ^ s Copyright and Use: As an ATLAS user, you may print, download, or send articles for individualuse according to fair use as definedby U.S. and internationalcopyright law and as otherwiseauthorizedunder your respective ATLASsubscriberagreement. No content may be copied or emailed to multiplesites or publicly posted without the copyrightholder(s)' express written permission. Any use, decompiling, reproduction, or distributionof this journal in excess of fair use provisions may be a violation of copyright law. This journalis made available to you through the ATLAS collection with permission fromthe copyright holder(s). The copyright holder foran entire issue of a journal typicallyis the journal owner, who also may own the copyright in each article. However, forcertain articles, the author of the article may maintain the copyright in the article. Please contact the copyright holder(s) to request permission to use an article orspecific work forany use not covered by the fair use provisions of the copyright laws or covered by your respective ATLASsubscriberagreement. For informationregarding the copyright holder(s), please referto the copyright informationin the journal, if available, or contact ATLA to request contact informationfor the copyright holder(s). About ATLAS: The ATLASerials (ATLAS) collection contains electronic versions of previously published religion and theology journals reproduced with permission.The ATLAS collection is owned and managed by the American TheologicalLibraryAssociation (ATLA) and receivedinitial fundingfromLilly Endowment Inc. The design and final formof this electronic document is the propertyof the American TheologicalLibraryAssociation.