Greek and a Boy Named Jim

“Work hard to be someone God is pleased with, who handles the word of truth well.” — from 2 Timothy 2

In the autumn of 1944, Betty went to Wheaton College, near Chicago. She chose to study Greek. That was unusual for a young woman in those days, but Betty had a good reason. The New Testament was first written in Greek. If she was going to translate the Bible one day, she wanted to read it in its very first language.

Greek was hard work. Betty learned long lists of words and grammar, over and over. But she had a careful mind and a good ear, and she came to love it. All her life she kept her Greek New Testament close by.

A year later, a new student came to Wheaton from Portland, Oregon. His name was Jim Elliot. Jim was strong and outspoken, with a big sense of humour. He was on the wrestling team, and he loved Jesus with all his heart. He studied Greek too! Jim’s best friend at college was Betty’s younger brother, Dave.

At Christmas in 1947, Dave invited Jim to come home with him to Moorestown. Jim joined in the Howard family’s hymns and prayers, and he felt right at home. After that, he began to notice Dave’s quiet, serious sister in a new way.

When college began again in January 1948, Betty and Jim found themselves in the same Greek classes, so they studied together. They talked about Greek, about the Bible, about missions and about what God wanted them to do. Both of them wanted to obey God more than anything else.

Betty worked hard at Greek because she wanted to give God’s word to other people. Your schoolwork can be a way of serving God too, when you do it carefully and well.

Dear God, help me to work hard at the things I learn, and to do them well for you. Thank you for good friends who love you. Amen.