What is Koine Greek, and why was the New Testament written in it?

Answer

Koine is simply the Greek term for “common.” Many individuals may be familiar with the term koine from the word koinonia, which signifies “fellowship.” Fellowship involves sharing something in common.

Koine Greek was the common language of the Mediterranean world in the first century. As Alexander the Great conquered the known world of his era, he disseminated Greek language and culture. Similar to how English is today, Greek became the predominant and widespread “international language” of that time. Because Koine was understandable to most people, it was exceptionally suitable for spreading the gospel worldwide.

Koine Greek was common not only in terms of its extensive use throughout the Roman Empire but also in the sense that it was not the language of the intellectual and academic elite. The educated class used Classical Greek. Koine Greek was the language of the common people, such as laborers, farmers, merchants, and homemakers—there was no air of superiority about it. It was the everyday, spoken language of that period. The significant literary works of Greek were composed in Classical Greek. Present-day scholars would typically not be interested in studying texts written in Koine Greek, except for the fact that it is the language of the New Testament. God desired His Word to be accessible to all, and He selected the common language of that time, Koine.

“Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. . . . Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God choseThe weak things of the world shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord’” (1 Corinthians 1:20-22, 26-31). Paul was not referring specifically to Koine Greek in this passage, but God’s use of a lowly common language to express the incredible truths of the gospel seems to fit the pattern well.