On Latin

As a pastor you should have a wide range of interests.  Some new.  Some old.  A smattering of lots of things will provide a treasure house for ministry.  One of the things that you should have a smattering of is Latin.

There is nothing like a Latin phrase to help sell a point.  Lay people appreciate a well spoken and appropriately placed Latinism.  Occasionally.

Somehow a Latin phrase works better than anything in Hebrew or Greek.  Seminary training accents, for obvious reasons, developing a working knowledge of Hebrew and Greek, but it is Latin that sells.  Leave your Greek and Hebrew to your sermonic work. 

Maybe the Biblical languages sound too foreign.  We almost never see anything publically in Hebrew, although here and there you will pick up a Yiddish phrase.  The only Greek references we have in common culture are the names of sororities, fraternities and a few cities (Philadelphia, Arcadia, Attica, Clio, Marathon).

But Latin is around.  Every school kid knows, “Semper ubi, sub ubi.”  Most state mottos are in Latin.  We see it on old public buildings.  We use etc., et al. and ex officio:  all from Latin.  Ancient hymns and liturgical pieces keep Latin around:  Gloria Patri, Nunc Dimittis, Magnificat, etc. Latin has enough of an air of familiarity that, when spoken, it makes an impact.

Now even if you never formally studied Latin, through the course of your Seminary studies and with an ongoing study of theological works (which should be studied in an on going way even after the Seminary!), you should be able to have a number of Latinisms at the ready.

Here are some of my favorites:

Simul iustus et peccator:  at the same time sinner and saint.  This description of the Christian life can be used to wiggle out of lots of those “why” questions.  Why did that church treasurer abscond with the money?  Why did the Sunday School teacher curse out the six year olds?  Why did we see our pastor at the pub last Friday with a third beer?  (Yes, they do count.)

Absus non tollet usus:  the misuse of something does not nullify the proper use of it.  This explains why it is still helpful to use a Catechism in instructing young people even if your pastor bored you to tears with it when you were a kid. 

Cur alii, non alii:  Why some and not others?  Throughout your ministry you will be faced with the perplexing work of grace.  Why did this guy get saved and not that one?   This phrase makes the reality no less perplexing, but it gives it a much more philosophical ring.

Articulus stantis vel cadentis ecclesiae:  the article by which the Church stands or falls.  Of course this is the doctrine of Justification by Grace.  Indeed, without the Gospel there is no Church.  But it sure sounds more substantial in the Latin!

Reformata sed semper reformanda:  reformed and always reforming.  You will find this ever true of the Church.  No matter who worked to correct what when there will always be plenty for you to work on and work out as a pastor.

Hoc est corpus meum:  this is my body.  You may be able to catch catechism students’ attention for a bit when you explain the origin of the phrase “Hocus Pocus”—which, of course, is a bastardization of hoc est corpus meum.

Oratio, meditatio, tentatio faciunt theologum:  prayer, study and struggle make the theologian.  This will be your life.

Latin helps with vocabulary.  Latin helps with history.  Latin helps with grammar.  Latin helps with thinking.

And at least a smattering of it will help you!