13 11 08 It's greek to me

It’s Greek to me 8 November, 2013 – Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea – Written by Tim Scott Taylor Tioja had been waiting three years to learn Greek. While attending Bible College, he listened to overseas instructors referencing words from the Greek New Testament. It didn’t take long for Taylor became fascinated by the depth of meaning that the Greek offered.

As they were teaching, they would normally quote some NewTestament words from the Greek and these words that they would interpret or translate had more meaning, a deeper meaning, than the English words that had been interpreted in my Ese Bible. -Tioja But his Bible College didn’t teach Greek, so he began to pray. He had been praying three years before he was able to attend the Introduction to New Testament Greek that was held at the Ukarumpa Training Centre. Studying Greek was not easy. Tioja says, “My mother tongue is my first language, English is my second language and Greek is the third. As you know, to learn a new language is very, very hard.”

This language has special challenges.

Greek has its own alphabet and some of the word order is unique and requires a new way of thinking about language. “When I first opened the Greek New Testament, I couldn’t read anything because when I looked at it, I was like a blind man.” Over time, Tioja learned to read the Greek and soon he was reaping the benefits of studying the Scriptures from the ancient texts.

Tioja wants to use this new knowledge to help the Ese translators of Oro Province revise their New Testament. He says, “Without knowledge of the Greek New Testament, people sometimes quote Scriptures and misinterpret them and that can mislead many, many people.”

He is thankful that he now has the tools to assist with translation. “I am so glad and so thrilled that this Greek New Testament will help me to interpret the truth and not to add or subtract from God’s Word. This will allow me to help people that work in translation and literacy to be able to share the message, so that they can deliver the truth of God’s Word accurately." – Taylor Tioja For more information on this release, contact ThePNGexperience, PO BOX 413, Ukarumpa, EHP 444, Papua New Guinea Phone: 011 + 675 + 537-3544 ext. 4431 or Email: thePNGexperience@gmail.com Pictures do not always depict actual event, activities or people.

“Tok Save” is the PNG “Tok Pisin” term for announcement or “For your information”. The English spelling conforms to Commonwealth English spelling.