HOLY GRAMMAR

And that from a child you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. –2Ti 3:15

A large proportion of the words of the English language are gotten from Greek; mostly indirectly via Latin or Latin-French routes. Their original denotations do not always remain however.

One of such words is GRAMMA from which our English Grammar is descended. The Greek Gramma is used severally in the New Testament, most notably in 2 Tim 3:15 where it appears in conjunction with “hieros” as Holy Gramma (“Holy Scriptures” in the KJV).

 “Holy Grammar” of course has a different meaning back then, (it actually meant “holy writings”), but I couldn’t help being fascinated with the prospect of the concept of its meaning in contemporary English: the concept of having a set of rules for speaking or writing the Faith Language we use as believers.

GRAMMAR is a branch of linguistics that deals with the form and structure of words and their interrelation in sentences. It is not just knowing the words of a language, but the PROPER ways to create, combine and use them in sentences in order to accurately express one’s self and not breach etiquette.

For example, to say “I has a red ball big on the backyard” is completely English, but BAD English. In the same way, many believers may know of several Bible-ish things to say and do, but as a result of a lack of Holy Grammar they end up misspeaking or even wishing the exact opposite of what they had in mind upon themselves. (A trivial example is the act by some Christians of Binding AND LOOSING demonic spirits in a place).

2Ti 2:15 says we should “Study to show yourself approved unto God... RIGHTLY dividing the word of truth.”

Praying and confessing the Bible is good, but sometimes a little “Holy Grammar” will do us a lot of good and spare us the use of much energy in the spiritual battles we face.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN