Paul McDonald

Report #18: Greek and Hebrew

Dear brothers and sisters at Washington Heights, 

I know that quite a bit of time has past since I last wrote to you (report 17 was written on July 25). Whatever the case, I have do not forgotten you and I continue to hold you in my heart.  

My prayer for you today that “your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” This continues to be the prayer that comes to my mind when I think of you. 

Though this letter is somewhat rushed due to my need to do Hebrew homework for tonight’s class (FRIDAY NIGHT HEBREW!), I shall try not to be scatter-brained and organize my thoughts (and this letter) into 3 segments: 1) Thank you; 2) Reflection; and 3) Academics. 

1. Thank you 

Thank you so much for you ongoing prayers for me throughout these past two years. I am convinced that Christ has used the training grounds of Toronto Baptist Seminary and Grace Fellowship Church bring me low and to better equip me for His interests. I thank God for you. I know that you have not neglected to pray for me over the past two years. You have lifted up all kinds of requests for me and I am thankful for the love of God that is demonstrated through you. 

Thank you for praying for my summer preaching ministry at Grace Fellowship Church. By the grace of God, I preached the Word. By the grace of God, I preached the Gospel. By the grace of God, He continued to humble me. By the grace of God, His people were blessed. By the grace of God, His people endured. By the grace of God, I am learning that I have much to learn. By the grace of God, I labored in the Word and prayer. By the grace of God I am what I am. Thank you for partnering with me in the work of the Gospel. I believe that your prayers were influential in the dispensing of God’s grace to me.  

Thank for praying for my preaching engagements at my girlfriend’s church (Chapel Place) in Toronto and at Binbrook Baptist Church (near Hamilton). By the grace of God, people seemed to be strengthened, encouraged, and enlightened by Word. May He continue to feed His precious people through the faithful under-shepherds who pastor them. 

2. Reflection 

Recently, I was reminded of my need to labor hard at my seminary training for the sake of Christ’s people. I recall this being the driving force of my motivation when I first started seminary two years ago. On September 14, 2006, I wrote to you: 

Brethren, please pray for me – that I would be faithful to His interests. If Christ is to return or take me home in the midst of my training, I desire to be able to look at Him in the face without shame. The prayer of my heart is, “to not be at all ashamed, but that will full courage, now as always, Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death” (Phil. 1:20), and to train with utmost diligence so as to maximize my ability to contribute to progress and joy of the saints (Phil. 1:25) – and all of this, to the glory, splendor and renown of Christ. 

Again, I say, “Brethren, please pray for me” that I would “train with utmost diligence so as to maximize my ability to contribute to progress and joy of the saints (Phil. 1:25) – and all of this, to the glory, splendor and renown of Christ.” 

3. Academics 

This section on Academics has two parts: a) now; and b) later. 

a)      Now:

I am currently doing two courses: 3^rd year Greek (5^th semester) and 2^nd year Hebrew (3^rd semester). As for the Greek, we are studying Philippians this semester! By the grace of God I am learning much. Please pray that the Lord may open my eyes to behold wonder things in his Word and that I may grow in my understanding of the Greek language. 

As for Hebrew, I am finding it very tough. Please pray for God to significantly bless my memory. I devote many hours to memorizing vocabulary and reading the rules of grammar, but I am finding it very hard to retain much of what I am studying. Doing two languages at once has its challenges, but God is bigger than the difficulties of the languages that He designed. Please pray for me. Also, as a note of encouragement, our Hebrew professor this semester is a world-renowned Hebrew scholar. We fly him in to teach us from Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville. His name is Peter Gentry.  

b)      Later:

I plan to begin work on my Thesis in November. I will be doing my thesis on Galatians 4:1-7 (or possibly vv. 1-11). I will have from November to the end of January to do my proposal along with reading and research. February and March will be devoted to the writing process. Please pray for me in this very challenging endeavor. I really desire for the Lord to significantly bless my reading, research and discernment concerning this glorious text of Scripture. I am hoping to graduate in MAY!!!!! (Lord-willing). 

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ help you to glory in the Gospel. Amen.