Early Christian Views on Greek and Scripture
Early Christians treated the Greek Scriptures as an important translation of the Hebrew books and used them for teaching, reading, and debate. Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Clement of Alexandria all link the Scriptures to Greek translation, while Origen and Dionysius show concern for language, wording, and clarity. Bible passages also stress that Scripture is to be searched, understood, and heard in many tongues.
110 early-church witnesses · 197 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about the Greek Language and Scripture?
Early Christian writers taught that the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek, especially in the Septuagint tradition, and they treated that translation as useful for the church. Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Clement of Alexandria all connect the Greek Scriptures to the Jews’ translation work under Ptolemy, while Origen and Dionysius of Alexandria show that Christians also cared about Greek wording, translation accuracy, and clear language.
The Bible passages tied to this topic add that Scripture was read, searched, and explained for understanding, and that God’s word was heard in many tongues. The evidence is broad and fairly consistent, but some cards are only about Greek as a language or about word meanings, so they are background rather than direct teaching about Scripture itself. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Early Christian writers often pointed to the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures as a real and trusted text.
- Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Clement of Alexandria all connect the Scriptures with Greek translation work.
- Origen and Dionysius show that Christians cared about exact wording and good Greek style.
- Bible passages in this topic stress reading, searching, and understanding Scripture.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians say the Scriptures were translated into Greek?
Several early Christian writers say the Law and the Prophets were translated from Hebrew into Greek, usually in connection with the Ptolemaic period and the Jewish elders at Alexandria. These sources present the Greek version as a real translation of older Hebrew Scriptures, not as a separate origin story.
-
Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching
... that the Scriptures of both the Law and the Prophets were translated from the Hebrew language into Greek during the reign of Ptolemy, the son of Lagos, or, according to others, during the reign of Ptolemy called Philadelphus. Demetrius Phalereus worked on this task with the greatest zeal and used careful accuracy with the materials for the translation. At that time, the Macedonians still ruled Asia, and the king wanted to decorate the library at Alexandria with every kind of writing. So he asked the people of Jerusalem to translate the prophecies they possessed into Greek. Since they were subjects of the Macedonians, they chose seventy elders from among the most respected men, men skilled in the Scriptures and also skilled in the Greek language, and sent them to him with the divine books. Then each man translated each prophetic book separately. When all the translations were compared together, they agreed in both meaning and wording. For this was God's plan, carried out for the benefit of Greek listeners. It was not contrary to the inspiration of God, who gave the prophecy, also to bring about the translation and make it, so to speak, a Greek prophecy. Since the Scriptures had
-
Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Direct teaching
...meritorious writings. He requested the people of Jerusalem to have their Scriptures translated into Greek. At that time, they were still under Macedonian rule and sent seventy of their elders, who were well-versed in the Scriptures and both languages, to fulfill Ptolemy's request. Ptolemy wanted to test them individually, fearing they might conceal the truth by consulting together, so he separated them and asked each one to write the same translation. He did this for all the books. When they gathered before Ptolemy and compared their interpretations, God was glorified, and the Scriptures were acknowledged as truly divine. All of them read out the common translation in the same words and names, so even the Gentiles present perceived that God inspired the translation. It was not surprising that God did this, as He had, during the captivity under Nebuchadnezzar, inspired Esdras the priest to recast the Scriptures corrupted during the captivity and re-establish Mosaic legislation with the people when the Jews returned to their land after seventy years in the time of Artaxerxes, king of the Persians.
-
Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching
And when their contents were found to be unintelligible to the Egyptians, he again sent and requested that men be commissioned to translate them into the Greek language.
-
Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching
Wherefore also the Scriptures were translated into the language of the Greeks, in order that they might never be able to allege the excuse of ignorance, inasmuch as they are able to hear also what we have in our hands, if they only wish.
-
Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
And they being the subjects of the Macedonians, selected from those of highest character among them seventy elders, versed in the Scriptures, and skilled in the Greek dialect, and sent them to him with the divine books.
-
Justin Martyr, Hortatory Address to the Greeks Supporting witness
and wishing to know their contents, he sent for seventy wise men from Jerusalem, who were acquainted with both the Greek and Hebrew language, and appointed them to translate the books;
-
Justin Martyr, Hortatory Address to the Greeks Supporting witness
If anyone claims that the writings of Moses and the other prophets were also written in Greek, let them read secular histories and learn that Ptolemy, the king of Egypt, after building the library in Alexandria and gathering books from everywhere, discovered that very ancient histories written in Hebrew were carefully preserved. Wanting to know their contents, he summoned seventy wise men from Jerusalem who knew both Greek and Hebrew and appointed them to translate the books. To ensure they could complete the translation quickly without disturbance, he had built, not within the city, but seven stadia away (where the Pharos was built), as many small huts as there were translators, so each could work independently. He instructed the officers responsible for this task to attend to them but prevented them from communicating with each other so that the accuracy of the translation could be verified by their agreement. When he learned that the seventy men not only conveyed the same meaning but used the same words, without disagreement even to one word, he was amazed and believed the translation was done by divine power, realizing that the men were worthy of all honor as beloved of God. He
-
Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
And they—for at that time they were still subject to the Macedonians—sent to Ptolemy seventy of their elders, who were thoroughly skilled in the Scriptures and in both the languages, to carry out what he had desired.
-
Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
But he, wishing to test them individually, and fearing lest they might perchance, by taking counsel together, conceal the truth in the Scriptures, by their interpretation, separated them from each other, and commanded them all to write the same translation.
-
Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
But it was interpreted into Greek by the Jews themselves, much before the period of our Lord’s advent, that there might remain no suspicion that perchance the Jews, complying with our humour, did put this interpretation upon these words.
-
Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
It was not alien to the inspiration of God, who gave the prophecy, also to produce the translation, and make it as it were Greek prophecy.
More related quotations from this section 9 shown
-
Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching
Now he who in the Hebrew language is named Satan, and by some Satanas — as being more in conformity with the genius of the Greek language — signifies, when translated into Greek, adversary.
-
Dionysius of Alexandria, Miscellaneous Fragments Supporting witness
... the Revelation on the other. The first writings were composed not only without actual error in the Greek language, but also with the greatest elegance in their expressions, their arguments, and their whole style. They are very far from showing any barbarism, grammatical mistake, or any kind of vulgar expression in their wording. For, as might be expected, the writer had the gift of both kinds of discourse, since the Lord had given him both abilities: knowledge and expression. However, I do not deny that the author of the latter saw a revelation and received knowledge and prophecy. I only observe that his dialect and language are not exact Greek, and that he uses barbarous forms of speech, and in some places also grammatical mistakes. Still, there is no need for us to point these out at present. And I do not want anyone to think that I have said these things in a spirit of ridicule, for I have said them only to set right this matter of the dissimilarity between these writings.
-
Dionysius of Alexandria, Miscellaneous Fragments Supporting witness
For the former are written not only without actual error as regards the Greek language, but also with the greatest elegance, both in their expressions and in their reasonings, and in the whole structure of their style.
-
Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness
...the case of men. If we were to translate the name of someone who from birth was called by a certain Greek name into Egyptian, or Roman, or any other language, we could not make him do or suffer the same things he would have done or suffered under the name first given to him. Indeed, even if we translated into Greek the name of a person who had originally been invoked in the Roman tongue, we could not produce the result that the incantation claimed it could produce if it had kept the name first given to him. And if these things are true about the names of men, what should we think about names that are transferred, for whatever reason, to God? For example, something is transferred from the name Abraham when it is translated into Greek. And something is signified by the name Isaac, and also by the name Jacob. So if anyone, either in an invocation or in swearing an oath, were to use the words, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, he would produce certain effects, either because of the nature of these names or because of their powers. For even demons are conquered and become subject to the one who speaks these names. But if we say, the god of the chosen fat
-
Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness
If a Greek wished by wholesome instruction to benefit people who understood only Egyptian or Syriac, the first thing that he would do would be to learn their language;
-
Tertullian, Against Marcion Background
We must at the outset hold fast the meaning of the Greek scripture, which has afflatus, not spirit.
-
Dionysius of Alexandria, Miscellaneous Fragments Background
Only I perceive that his dialect and language are not of the exact Greek type, and that he employs barbarous idioms, and in some places also solecisms.
-
Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Background
(The translation from the Greek is designedly literal, that the difference between the original and the paraphrase of Rufinus may be more clearly seen.)
-
Origen, Commentary on John Background
But there were two cherubim in Dabir, a word which the translators of the Hebrew Bible into Greek failed to render satisfactorily.
How did early Christians think about Greek language in relation to Scripture?
Early Christian writers discuss Greek as a language used for Scripture, translation, and public explanation, while also recognizing that translations and names can change form across languages. Some passages praise clarity or elegance in Greek; others note limits or differences in wording.
-
John 19:20 Direct teaching
This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.
-
1 Corinthians 14:10 Supporting witness
There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance.
-
Acts 22:2 Supporting witness
And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. Then he said:
-
1 Corinthians 14:21 Supporting witness
In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.”
-
Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness
For what says the Scripture? That every man heard the apostles speak in his own language through the Spirit, the Paraclete.
-
Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Direct teaching
... has ever seen you do it? O Persian barbarian, you have never been able to know the language of the Greeks, or of the Egyptians, or of the Romans, or of any other nation. Only the Chaldean tongue has been known to you, and truly that is not a language used by any great number of people. You are not able to understand even one person of another nation when he speaks. But the Holy Spirit is not like that. God forbid. He gives to all, and knows every kind of language, and understands all things, and becomes all things to all people, so that even the thoughts of the heart cannot escape His knowledge. For what does the Scripture say? It says that every man heard the apostles speak in his own language through the Spirit, the Paraclete. But why should I say more about this? Barbarian priest and crafty helper of Mithras, you will only be a worshipper of the sun-god Mithras, who, as you think, gives light to places of mystical meaning and is a self-aware deity. That is, you will behave as his worshippers do, and you will celebrate his mysteries, though with less elegance, so to speak. But why should I take all this so angrily? Is it not fitting that you should multiply like the tares unt
-
Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness
but the Greeks use Greek names, the Romans Latin names, and every one prays and sings praises to God as he best can, in his mother tongue.
Common Questions
Did early Christians use the Greek Old Testament?
Yes. Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Clement of Alexandria all speak of the Hebrew Scriptures being translated into Greek and used among Christians.
Did early Christians care about Bible translation accuracy?
Yes. Irenaeus and Origen both discuss translation, and Dionysius of Alexandria comments on Greek wording and style.
Did early Christians think Scripture should be understood, not just read?
Yes. Bible passages like Acts 17:11, John 5:39, and 2 Timothy 3:16 stress searching, learning from, and being taught by Scripture.
Source Index for the Greek Language and Scripture
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 197 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 110
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 87
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.