“IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME”

So spake Casca in Henry VIII by Shakespeare! And it’s Greek to me, too. Which is a shame. Because the New Testament was originally written in Greek, and reading it in that language often sheds added light on our English versions.

An illustration of this can be found in the word “MASTER” … that’s how the translators of the King James Version have it. But SIX different Greek words are used!!

And each one sheds a different light on the Person of the Lord Jesus.

********************

1. DIDASKOS

Translated as “Master” in Matthew 8:19; 17:24; etc., it is a Greek word that really means “Teacher”.

And Jesus was the Master Teacher!!

(a) He taught simply … “the common people heard Him gladly” (Mark 12:37).

(b) He taught authoritatively … not as the scribes! (Matthew 7:29).

(c) He taught visually … both with word pictures (parables) and sometimes with a literal visual aid, “Show Me a penny…” (Matthew 22:19).

(d) He taught Scripturally … what He had to say was oft-times peppered with Old Testament quotations (Matthew 22:29!! 21:42).

(e) He taught Exemplary … what He said and did were in perfect harmony. He left an example for us (I Peter 2:21), as well as His teaching.

Mark Hopkins sat on one end of a log

And a farm boy sat on the other.

Mark Hopkins came as a pedagogue

And taught as an elder brother.

If his Latin was small and his Greek was naught,

For the farm boy he thought, thought he,

All through lecture time and quiz,

“The kind of a man I mean to be

Is the kind of a man Mark Hopkins is.”

HHHHHH

2. RABBI

Translated “Master” in Matthew 26:25. It was a term of respect used by the disciples of a Jewish Teacher. And here it is on the lips of Judas!!

3. DESPOTЁS

It literally means “Owner” (II Timothy 2:21) … a reminder that we are His “slaves”. Paul describes himself in this manner (Romans 1:1).

The Old Testament story of the slave who refuses his freedom (compulsory in the 7^th year according to the Mosaic Law), is a delightful illustration of the believer who willingly yields himself to his new Despotёs (Exodus 21:5-6).

4. EPISTÄTES

This word is translated as “Master” six times. It really means “Commander” or “Chief”. See Luke 5:5; 8:24. It is a reminder that we are to give Him our obedience.

(5) KATHĒGĒTĒS

Used only twice in the New Testament (Matthew 23:10), it means “Leader”… Adam Clarke writes:

Neither be ye called masters. “Leaders.” God is in all these respects jealous of His honour. To Him alone it belongs to guide and “lead” His Church, as well as to govern and defend it.

6. KURIOS

Translated “Master” 14 times … but translated “Lord” over 700 times in the New Testament.

He is the One with all power and authority (the word was used of a human Emperor). But the apostolic Christians did not say “Caesar is Lord” … they said “Jesus is Lord” … the “Lord of Glory”!! (I Corinthians 2:8).

===========================================================