What Language would be good to learn to help spread the gospel?

[johnnyjones]

Originally Posted by Trebor135

Most modern-day Aramaic speakers are Christians from Iraq and Syria, though there are going to be some Muslims who know the language as well, by living as the minority in Christian-majority villages where Aramaic is still used.

Yes it is, and the language is still ancient. There are levels of different Aramaic used and it remains particularly useful in spreading the gospel to middle easterners who need it badly..

http://www.mountlebanon.org/aramaiclanguage.html

[Trebor135]

Originally Posted by johnnyjones

Yes it is, and the language is still ancient. There are levels of different Aramaic used and it remains particularly useful in spreading the gospel to middle easterners who need it badly..

http://www.mountlebanon.org/aramaiclanguage.html

From that link:

"Use of the Aramaic language had become common by the period of the Chaldean Empire (626-539 B.C.). It became the official language of the Imperial government in Mesopotamia and enjoyed general use until the spread of Greek (331 B.C.). Although Greek had spread throughout these Eastern lands, Aramaic remained dominant and the linqua franca of the Semitic peoples. This continued to be so until Aramaic was superseded by a sister Semitic tongue, Arabic, about the 13th century A.D. to the 14th century A.D., when Arabic supplanted Aramaic after the Arab conquest in the 7th Century. However, the Christians of Mesopotamia (Iraq), Iran, Syria, Turkey and Lebanon kept the Aramaic language alive domestically,
scholastically and liturgically. In spite of the pressure of the ruling Arabs to speak Arabic, Aramaic is still spoken today in its many dialects, especially among the Chaldeans and Assyrians."

If Aramaic speakers--about five hundred thousand souls today--are already mostly Christian, how would this language be useful to the OP for evangelization among the Arabic-, Persian-, Turkish-, and Kurdish-speaking Muslims of the Middle East?

[johnnyjones]

Originally Posted by Trebor135

From that link:

"Use of the Aramaic language had become common by the period of the Chaldean Empire (626-539 B.C.). It became the official language of the Imperial government in Mesopotamia and enjoyed general use until the spread of Greek (331 B.C.). Although Greek had spread throughout these Eastern lands, Aramaic remained dominant and the linqua franca of the Semitic peoples. This continued to be so until Aramaic was superseded by a sister Semitic tongue, Arabic, about the 13th century A.D. to the 14th century A.D., when Arabic supplanted Aramaic after the Arab conquest in the 7th Century. However, the Christians of Mesopotamia (Iraq), Iran, Syria, Turkey and Lebanon kept the Aramaic language alive domestically,
scholastically and liturgically. In spite of the pressure of the ruling Arabs to speak Arabic, Aramaic is still spoken today in its many dialects, especially among the Chaldeans and Assyrians."

If Aramaic speakers--about five hundred thousand souls today--are already mostly Christian, how would this language be useful to the OP for evangelization among the Arabic-, Persian-, Turkish-, and Kurdish-speaking Muslims of the Middle East?

A concentrated area does not mean the gospel can not spread. "Already being Christian" is the helpful part. The gospel can be spread to other non Christians because there are many Muslims who know Aramaic as well as Arabic. In the Middle East some languages overlap. Muslims need the gospel. You are often posted in middle eastern countries in the military as my family can attest to.

I thought you were unsure of my mention of Aramaic being ancient, that it why I posted the link.

[TuAutem]

As far as covering a huge population and geographical area, and a population where the Church's presence is still minimal, I have to think Indonesian (which is essentially the same language as Malaysian) would be the most needed missionary language.

There are actually a heck of a lot of Catholics in mainland China. They are in need of our prayers, as the situation for the church there is very difficult (also true of Vietnam, by the way), but while Catholicism is still a minority religion in China it is by no means a small minority any more (praise God!). In Indonesia and Malaysia, though, there are very few Catholics, and both countries have huge populations.

[Trebor135]

Originally Posted by johnnyjones

A concentrated area does not mean the gospel can not spread.

True. But Iraqi Aramaic speakers have been leaving in droves for the past couple decades, especially since the 2003 Anglo-American invasion of their homeland. And one can expect their Syrian brethren to follow suit in the near future if the Bashar al-Assad regime is toppled and/or civil war drags on in the country.

Apart from the tragedy of the Christian exodus from Iraq, this 2008 New York Times article reports anecdotally that its people are so disgusted with the way things have turned out in an islamizing society that the appeal of their religion is actually waning.

"Already being Christian" is the helpful part.

I see where you're coming from. But the Aramaic speakers of Iraq and Syria haven't had much success in spreading the gospel to their Muslim neighbours for almost a millennium and a half now: a very long time, unfortunately. What reason do we have to believe that this trend will change?

The gospel can be spread to other non Christians because there are many Muslims who know Aramaic as well as Arabic.

That could occur, yes.

In the Middle East some languages overlap.

Indeed.

Muslims need the gospel.

Amen.

You are often posted in middle eastern countries in the military as my family can attest to.

But why not go with the language spoken by all Muslims and Christians alike, rather than a very small subset of the two communities? Outside of Iran and Turkey, this language is Arabic.

I thought you were unsure of my mention of Aramaic being ancient, that it why I posted the link.

Ahh, no, but thanks for sharing it.

[johnnyjones]

Originally Posted by Trebor135

True. But Iraqi Aramaic speakers have been leaving in droves for the past couple decades, especially since the 2003 Anglo-American invasion of their homeland. And one can expect their Syrian brethren to follow suit in the near future if the Bashar al-Assad regime is toppled and/or civil war drags on in the country.

Apart from the tragedy of the Christian exodus from Iraq, this 2008 New York Times article reports anecdotally that its people are so disgusted with the way things have turned out in an islamizing society that the appeal of their religion is actually waning.



I see where you're coming from. But the Aramaic speakers of Iraq and Syria haven't had much success in spreading the gospel to their Muslim neighbours for almost a millennium and a half now: a very long time, unfortunately. What reason do we have to believe that this trend will change?



That could occur, yes.



Indeed.



Amen.



But why not go with the language spoken by all Muslims and Christians alike, rather than a very small subset of the two communities? Outside of Iran and Turkey, this language is Arabic.



Ahh, no, but thanks for sharing it.

I see now that you are knowledgable to have know the tongue was ancient (lol). Good points. God bless.

[Trebor135]

Originally Posted by TuAutem

As far as covering a huge population and geographical area, and a population where the Church's presence is still minimal, I have to think Indonesian (which is essentially the same language as Malaysian) would be the most needed missionary language.

Indonesia is certainly in dire need of evangelization work: barely twenty-two million citizens of the country--the largest Muslim nation in the world--are Christian, and of those only about eight million are Catholic.

But we mustn't forget about Hindi/Urdu and Bengali speakers, who altogether comprise at minimum a staggering 620 million people--almost all Hindu or Muslim.

There are actually a heck of a lot of Catholics in mainland China.

Do you have any stats?

They are in need of our prayers, as the situation for the church there is very difficult (also true of Vietnam, by the way),

I'll keep that in prayer.

but while Catholicism is still a minority religion in China it is by no means a small minority any more (praise God!).

But I was under the impression that Protestant house churches were exploding in China, leaving Catholic parish churches in the dust.

In Indonesia and Malaysia, though, there are very few Catholics, and both countries have huge populations.

Well, Indonesia has around 248 million inhabitants, while Malaysia has about 29 million. The Christian presence in each country hovers around 9%. Let's get cracking, folks!

[Trebor135]

Originally Posted by johnnyjones

I see now that you are knowledgable to have know the tongue was ancient (lol).

Haha. I was a language geek several years ago.

Good points.

Well, thank you Good luck in your studies if you end up picking up Aramaic--or any other language for that matter.

God bless.

Same to you.

[austenbosten]

Originally Posted by maxdouglas402

Im joining the air force and I might very well be placed in a job where i will be required to learn a foreign language. I dont know what language i would choose. Any language the church has in need for to help evangelize?

Well since you are in the Air Force, then it's apparent that you will be in the Mid East. However Muslims don't appreciate proselytizing and I don't want anything to endanger your safety, but if you want to spread the Gospel their, then take Farsi or Arabic.

Otherwise, I say learn a European language, cause you know who needs the Gospel the most? Those Europeans who treat the Church as a Gym. Got the membership, but never go. Or come back here and help bring the Gospel back to California.

[Trebor135]

Originally Posted by austenbosten

However Muslims don't appreciate proselytizing

Few religious groups do. But point taken.

and I don't want anything to endanger your safety,

Exactly. Conversion from Islam can bring death. Little wonder then that Fr. Zakariya Boutros doesn't reside in Egypt anymore.

but if you want to spread the Gospel their, then take Farsi or Arabic.

Seconded. And alternatively, a Turkic language--not just Turkish, but also Azeri or Uzbek or the like--could work.

Otherwise, I say learn a European language, cause you know who needs the Gospel the most? Those Europeans who treat the Church as a Gym. Got the membership, but never go.

Well put! Though we can't forget about Quebec--and, to a lesser extent, other parts of Canada.

Or come back here and help bring the Gospel back to California.

That too.

[Hokomai]

Since my earlier posts I have been reading the Vatican website and I have a new proposal: English (plain).

[mangy dog]

Originally Posted by maxdouglas402

Im joining the air force and I might very well be placed in a job where i will be required to learn a foreign language. I dont know what language i would choose. Any language the church has in need for to help evangelize?

It depends on where you are stationed.

If in Portugal - Portuguese and Spanish

If in the US - English and Spanish

And so forth and so on.

[ProVobis]

Depends on where you are and whether the people there already know the Gospel.

[ProVobis]

Originally Posted by Hokomai

Latin?

Good for worship and unification once you get them converted. To spread gospel to, though, you need first to understand it yourself.