The church today is built on the Reformation’s linguistic heritage yet is in danger of losing that strong foundation.

Many seminaries no longer require that their students learn the Biblical languages for their divinity degrees – some do not even teach them! Yet these are the basic tools of any study of the Bible, and if we don’t teach the Bible, then what is the church teaching?

If we need encouragement as to what can happen to our sermons and Bible study when we develop a knowledge of the languages that they are written in then Calvin is an excellent encourager.

John Currid, Carl McMurray Professor of Old Testament and chairman of the Biblical Studies Division at Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson MS, is in an excellent position to show us how Calvin used a knowledge of the Biblical languages to provide richness, depth and accuracy to his understanding of scripture - and his exposition of it.

If you want to develop a deeper ability to understand and explain God’s Word then let the two John’s guide you!

John Currid is Carl McMurray Professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, North Carolina.