I learned Greek in order to read the New Testament in its original language. Occasionally the Greek reveals something a translation doesn’t show. For example this verse from Paul: “I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread,” (1 Corinthians 11:23). The words “handed on” and “betrayed” in Greek are forms of the same verb paradidomi. The root meaning has to do with giving something. In one case a teaching is given to followers and in the other Jesus is given over to his enemies. We don’t see this linguistic peculiarity unless the verse is translated something like: “For I received from the Lord what I also handed over to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was handed over took a loaf of bread.”

Perhaps Paul wanted to contrast the tragic betrayal of Jesus (something he himself had done by persecuting Christians) with the helpful passing on of the tradition that he now did.

What could this mean for us today? Christians aren’t likely to betray Jesus in a direct sense, but we have certainly failed him by not passing on his story. Twenty years ago I was astounded at how little college students knew about Jesus. Almost a whole generation has passed since, and the situation hasn’t improved. People will not know about Jesus unless we tell them. We have to hand on the Good News of Jesus. Anything less is a betrayal of the faith.

Read Matthew 28:18-20 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne