Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 84:335 (Jul 1927)
Article: The Book In The Greek
Author: John Vallance Brown

BSac 84:335 (July 1927) p. 255

The Book In The Greek

John Vallance Brown

A little story, please; an old, old story, now; and a parable for the centuries.

When he started to college he wanted—“no Greek.” He told his father so. He said he never expected to be a minister; and of what use otherwise could a study so remote possibly be? Well, “the pater” went with him to the president’s office; and when they came away, there on the enrollment card was the “useless” Greek. The boy endured it five months and then quietly dropped it. Why not? It took time from athletics, general reading; it cost “evenings out” and “sleep-o’-nights” at home. And he had heard, even then, of “snap” courses!

Came another year; and, again, his father; and registration day the second. And when they came away that time son had two Greeks on the list—the one he had dropped and its successor. How inconsiderate the ministerial parent is! All right! The boy gritted his teeth and “stuck it out” the full four years. And he and his “pal” became by way of example to the class. Once a year, turn about, through the course they were excused from reciting—and from the room! Curtain, please!

After graduation he thought he had a Latin job but when he came to Tarkio it was less Latin, more Greek. But—patience, patience! At the end of the year he surely would slip over into the Latin chair. Did he? He did not! He asked President Thompson if he mightn’t have all the Greek.

And so for more years than he cares to say he has lived more or less with the Greek. Why? The easiest reason in the world. He loves it and more and more.

And here and now he warns you that if you “expose” yourselves to it ever so little at the first, and if it “takes” but moderately, it will get you. At the last you will have

BSac 84:335 (July 1927) p. 256

to say—if he may reverently mangle Julian’s bitter quip —“O” Greek, “thou hast conquered.” Only you will be no “Apostate” then; you will say with me: “I love it and more and more.”

I have in my hand a little Book. It slips readily into my coat-pocket. And yet it is the hand-book of our Christian civilization, our hope of better things here, our eternal assurance. And it is your high privilege in special to see that it is not—“The Book Nobody Knows.”

This little Book is printed in Greek. Yes, the materialist’s reaction is perfectly familiar. “Greek? Oh, Greek! Isn’t Greek dead?” But the idealist’s retort is nearer truth. “Greek will never die. It waxes and it wanes. It passes but it comes again.”

And its cycle is fairly constant. At it...