Grammar: learnt in The Bible for Everyone

https://www.logos.com/product/168029/the-bible-for-everyone

Philippians 4:11 I’m not talking about lacking anything. I’ve learnt to be content with what I have.

Colossians 1:7 That’s how you learnt it from Epaphras our beloved fellow slave. He’s a loyal and faithful servant of the king on your behalf.

Learned is used in all the other verses.

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Comments

Colin

Hi Dale,

NT Wright is British and this is one of those words which varies in usage depending if you are from USA/UK. I'm sure it looks really odd to you - but it's correct on our side of the pond.

Just spare a thought for us poor British English speakers since Logos editions are almost always American ones!

Colin

MWW

The Bible for Everyone, including rednecks and hillbillies 🤠[;)]

Small Heath

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1088144#Comment_1088144

I'm just wondering why "learned" is used 5 times in the OT and 13 times in the NT, while "learnt" is only used 2 times in the NT. Seems inconsistent. I might do a word study.[8-|]

Colin

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1088156#Comment_1088156

Hi Dale,

I see what you mean about the inconsistency. I'm wondering if the difference is in the tense of the verb?

For example, I would instinctively say "I learn, I learned, I have learnt." Does that pattern match the usage?

Colin

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1088160#Comment_1088160

What is the past tense of learn? Consider the following sentence:

I learnt French last year.

Are you getting thoughts in your mind that say that this sentence has got something wrong in it? Maybe it’s the use of past form of learn. Is your inner nerd telling you that the learnt should have been learned in the above sentence? Well, if it is, then you are not to blame and nor has your inner nerd leading you to irrational decisions. Learn in its past form can be written as learnt or learned. This article will throw light on the correct usage and examples of learn along with some information on why the earth has blessed us with two past forms of learn knowing that our minds are indolent beasts.

Learn as verb:

Adapted from the Old English leornian, learn is used as a verb in English language which means to gain or acquire knowledge of or skill in (something) by study, experience, or being taught. The above example uses learn in the context of gaining skill. Learn also implies committing to a memory as in I'd learnt too many grim poems in school. Becoming aware of (something) by information or from observation is also known as learning.

She learnt that her mother has gone out.

Learned as adjective:

The similar meaning of learn is implied when the word is used as an adjective with an –ed at the end. A person who has acquired much knowledge through study is a learned person. A learned and intelligent woman. Learned is also acquired to symbolize a thing that has shown, required, or characterized by learning or is scholarly.

The learned article opened everyone’s eyes.

You must have noticed that this article has made use of learnt, whenever the verb is required in the past tense. The learnt and learned are both the acceptable forms of learn’s past tense and you are allowed to use any in your writings. Learned is the more common past tense and past participle of the verb learn. Learnt is a variant especially common outside North America. Learnt however is more common in British than America and Canada and is considered informal.

Small Heath

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1088191#Comment_1088191

All four of these seem to be past tense verbs. 3 from the same book and chapter.
Philippians 4:9 And these are the things you should do: what you learned, received, heard and saw in and through me. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:11 I’m not talking about lacking anything. I’ve learnt to be content with what I have.

Philippians 4:12 I know how to do without, and I know how to cope with plenty. In every possible situation I’ve learned the hidden secret of being full and hungry, of having plenty and going without, and it’s this:

Colossians 1:7 That’s how you learnt it from Epaphras our beloved fellow slave. He’s a loyal and faithful servant of the king on your behalf.

2 learned and 2 learnt. What am I missing? BTW, I'm half English (the other half is German), born in Texas.[:D]