The Greek alphabet was derived from the Phoenician alphabet. The martyr is the ultimate Christian witness! Our English word martyr is a direct translation of the Greek word for witness. The disciples will become the witnesses of the Teachings, Cross, and Resurrection of Jesus, and will carry out his mission as his witnesses to the "ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Luke expresses discipleship in the Acts of the Apostles by the word witness, a form of which (nominative singular μάρτυς and plural μάρτυρες) occurs twenty-four times throughout Acts.
Jesus tells the disciples ἔσεσθέ μου μάρτυρες - you shall be my witnesses. The third example is the word witness in the Acts of the Apostles. Discipleship in Luke is conveyed by the verb ἀκολουθέω - I follow, a form of which occurs nineteen times throughout the Gospel, such as the key sentence of Luke 9:23, "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and ἀκολουθείτω μοι - let him follow me." The journey also provides an avenue to teach his disciples, those who follow Jesus on the way to Jerusalem. The Greek text fully dramatizes this event by expressing the determination of Jesus, reading "As the day was approaching for his Ascension, he πρόσωπον ἐστήρισεν - set his face on Jerusalem." Thus begins the journey to Jerusalem where he will accomplish his mission by redeeming mankind through the sacrifice of the Cross. Luke when Jesus begins his journey to Jerusalem (9:51), the place where he will be lifted up. Paul employs the word agapē!Ī second example is the pivotal passage in the Gospel of St. Paul referring to? στοργή - storgē refers to the natural affection parents have for their children ἔρως - erōs is romantic love φιλία - philia is friendship and ἀγάπη - agapē is unconditional love, the love God has for us. There are four Greek words for love! Which one is St. Paul's famous passage on love in his First Letter to the Corinthians.
GREEK ALPHABET FULL
Reading the Greek text allows one to capture the full impact of what the Gospel writer is hoping to convey in his narrative. It is helpful to have a knowledge of the Greek alphabet and language to appreciate the nuances of meaning in the Greek Septuagint Old Testament and the Greek New Testament of the Bible.