Why Was the Christian New Testament Written in Greek?
In the early days of the Christian church, the selection of the language used to write the New Testament was crucial. The New Testament was written in a form of Greek called Koine Greek, making it accessible to a broader audience. This decision was strategic and rooted in historical and linguistic contexts.
Roman and Greek Influences on Early Christianity
The rise of the Roman Empire in the first century CE marked a time when Latin was becoming the dominant language. However, the Greek language was already widely spoken and understood across the Eastern Mediterranean region. This is due to the previously powerful Greek-speaking city-states, notably Athens and Sparta, and later the vast Greek empire under Alexander the Great. Greek had become a lingua franca, facilitating communication between different linguistic groups.
Centuries before the Christian era, the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek, forming the Septuagint. This translation made the Hebrew Scriptures accessible to the increasingly Greek-speaking Jewish population. Therefore, when the Koine Greek version of the New Testament was being compiled, it made sense to use this lingua franca to ensure the widest possible audience could understand it. The New Testament sources, such as the Gospel of Matthew, may have originally been written in Hebrew but then translated into Greek for this purpose.
Pilates' Inscription and Early Writings
A significant piece of evidence for the importance of Greek in early Christian literature is found in the Gospel of John. In John 19:19-20, we read that Pilate wrote a title in three languages on the cross: Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. This inscription, 'Jesus the Nazarene the King of the Jews,' is written in three languages to make it accessible to a diverse crowd, emphasizing the importance of Greek as a common language.
The New Testament was compiled and finalized at the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE, under the reign of Roman Emperor Constantine. The council aimed to address theological disputes, such as the Arian controversy, and to establish a unified Christian doctrine. The decision to use Greek was not only practical but also strategic, as it allowed the Christian message to spread more easily across the diverse population of the Roman Empire.
Athanasius and the Council of Nicaea
Following the Council of Nicaea, Emperor Constantine granted Eusebius of Caesarea (in 331 CE) a privilege to rewrite the Scriptures, ultimately leading to the creation of the "New Testament." Eusebius incorporated 18 books from Marcion's version, which were considered more orthodox and hence more acceptable. Marcion, a bishop from Sinope on the Black Sea, had introduced a radically modified version of the New Testament that was later rejected by the Church.
Athanasius of Alexandria, a key figure in the early church, played a significant role in the early development of the New Testament canon. Athanasius, known as Athanasius contra mundum (“ Athanasius against the world”), struggled against various theological and political controversies, including the Arian controversy and the struggle to establish the correct doctrine of the Holy Trinity.
Athanasius is credited with being the first person to list the 27 books of the New Testament canon that are in use today. He did this in his Easter letter of 367 CE. His works, such as his letters to Philemon on the divinity of the Holy Spirit and his Life of St. Antony, are still read today and have had a lasting impact on both Western and Eastern Christianity.
Conclusion
The decision to write the Christian New Testament in Greek was a strategic choice, reflecting the linguistic and cultural context of the time. The use of Greek not only allowed the message to spread more effectively but also solidified the New Testament's place in the canon of Christian scriptures. The influence of the Greek language and the importance of the early church leaders, such as Eusebius and Athanasius, continue to shape our understanding of early Christianity to this day.