Studying Greek

Hello!

I would like to begin the journey of studying Greek. Does anyone have any recommendations? I would be interested in books, audio/video teachings, or even correspondence classes. Right now I'm starting with little to no knowledge.

Thanks for the info!

You may find [url=http://www.amazon.com/New-Testament-Greek-Beginning-Intermediate/dp/0913573329]THIS BOOK[/url] helpful, you could use it to teach yourself the basics.

In Christ,

Ron

This book, [url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0310250870/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-1224664-8453623#reader-link]Basics of Biblical Greek[/url] by William Mounce is another great place to start. It will be a little more costly than Ron (inTheLight)'s recommendation but it comes with a CD and access to a web site. I have just started a refresher and to check the foundations is very useful. There is a whole industry of support and encouragement behind this book. You can also get a companion workbook. Tje CD has video/audio powerpoint type support and the atmosphere of the college is encouraging too.

If you prod that 'Surprise Me' button a few times it will be almost as useful as browsing in the store.

Question to add
Did learning Greek help a bunch? I am reading a guide to exegesis by Baker book company and one of the authors said he would not tell people to not take it, but he doesn't feel it's a necessity. So I guess a). should I learn b). learn some basics c). the English verses are goog
(note since becoming a Christian I have no life and really just read my Bible hours a day)
Lemme know please
Thanx
Thom

Ron B,

Is this the website the book gives you access to?

http://www.teknia.com

I agree, Basics to Biblical Greek by Mounce. We used it in seminary, and, having compared it to some other Greek grammars out there, I don't think there is a better system. Also, be sure to get the work book, so you can practice translating Greek from the New Testament from the very first chapter. Also, the book comes with a very good CD that has short 15 minute audio lectures on each chapter. Mounce also sells a full CD lecture series that he did at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary if you wanna fork up a few extra dollars for that.

I think it is a great idea to study original languages. I am getting ready to start hebrew studies. It really helps to catch the nuances in the scripture that I believe english doesnt get. Blessings

Thanks everyone!

philologos wrote:
This book, [url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0310250870/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-1224664-8453623#reader-link]Basics of Biblical Greek[/url] by William Mounce

I am studying NT Greek at Bible college this year, and we are using Mounces book for our study. Along with the work book.

Another resource to help understand the Greek meanings better (although not a Greek textbook) is Kenneth Wuest's set of word studies. He goes through the entire New Testament and really does a good job of explaining what the original meant. It is for the layperson as well as the "scholar."
I think studying the original languages are important.
May God bless your time of study.
In His service,
preacheraflame

Hello!

I've learned the alphabet and how to pronounce some things.

I would like to buy a Greek NT so I can start reading it. Now, I don't know what any words mean but I would like to work on pronouncing words.

Any suggestions?

I would like to buy a Greek NT so I can start reading it. Now, I don't know what any words mean but I would like to work on pronouncing words.

I had a Greek teacher who taught Greek for nearly 35 or 40 years. He was often asked, "Am I saying this word right?" To which he would reply, "I don't know!" Don't put a big emphasis on the pronunciation of Greek. Nobody has spoken Koine Greek in many many years. And it is seldom you will ever come across anybody else that actually knows how to read Greek either :) All you have to do is to learn enough for memorization purposes :)

I had a Greek teacher who taught Greek for nearly 35 or 40 years. He was often asked, "Am I saying this word right?" To which he would reply, "I don't know!"

As you say nobody knows 'although' (look at that for a word!!) all languages change and the nightmare of English spelling is caused by the fact that pronunciation has changes. Greek will have changed in pronunciation dramatically over the centuries, although there is a movement among some to standardise on modern Hellenistic pronunciation.

With very few exceptions no one is going to be speaking Koine (biblical Greek). It was the 'street Greek' of 2000 years ago. You may however sometimes want to quote it to others who have a smattering of the language so a standard form of pronuniation can help. William Mounce's pronunciation is pretty much standard for 'students and academics'. Josh, you may as well stick to his patterns.

I have the Interlinear NT by George Ricker Berry, and Hendrickson's Interlinear Bible. Hendrickson's has Strong's Numbers as well so you can look up the meanings of words in detail.

Indeed, Mounce's means of saying the Greek words is rather standard. And you will certainly go a long way in an academic environment if you can at least pronounce most of the words the same. Mounce's "syllabfication" method works great :)

It's interesting to note, but to date I have yet to ever come across a Greek NT at any Christian bookstore, unless it were an interlinear. Even at stores that sell Mounce's Greek books, not one Greek NT to be found! For translation purposes, these days most folks use the UBS4 (United Bible Society version 4) text.

An aorist is a sort of "past tense" that simply states something has happened in the past, but it says nothing about the duration of that event, or even if that event as a past event had a completion.

philologos wrote:
1. Do you have any strong feelings about the family Textforms?

Well, I haven't put lots of time learning about the different ones but I would lean towards the Byzantine textform.

2. Do you want an Interlinear with the English translation or do you want to go 'cold turkey'. Note: Many Greek tutors would encourage you to have a text which was just in Greek without English helps.

I took linguistics classes when I was in college and that is helping me catch on a littler easier.

4.You can practise a little Greek pronunciation with this William Mounce's [url=http://www.teknia.com/index.php?page=exer04]Chapter 4[/url]. It will put a Greek text on screen and read it while you imitate.

I haven't bought Mounce's textbook yet, but I have been looking over his site and I found another site where I can listen to the short lectures that are the same as the ones on the CD. I do plan on getting it eventually though.

I also found a greek textbook when I was in college at a college ministry. They were going to just throw it away. I dug it out and have been looking through it.

WOW! you really are going for broke!!

Well, to be honest I am a little excited about it. I hope it doesn't ware off too quick!

Don't put a big emphasis on the pronunciation of Greek. Nobody has spoken Koine Greek in many many years. And it is seldom you will ever come across anybody else that actually knows how to read Greek either :) All you have to do is to learn enough for memorization purposes :)

Yes, that's true. I think I may enjoy the challenge though. Again, we shall see how it all pans out. ;-)

Thank you to everyone on this thread! I am very thankful for your input! :-D

The only greek NTs I've ran across is Nestle-Aland's. I'm guessing this is the common (or only) choice?

Thank you for all your input! :)
I'm trying to learn some Greek, too. Do you know any bible greek forum where I could take my questions?

Edit:
I've found this site: http://www.inthebeginning.org/ntgreek/index.htm

http://www.biblicalgreek.org/forum/

Seems a little more active.

I recently got Mounce's Basics of Biblical Greek textbook and workbook. I'm not a Bible school student, just wanted to learn Greek for my own personal Bible study and I am loving it!!!

I want to get a Greek New Testament, but as someone else in this thread previously stated, none of the local Christian book stores carry them, so I will need to order one online. I don't know anything about how to choose one and would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks!!

The most common Greek text used for translation purposes is the UBS4 (United Bible Society, 4th Edition). It comes with a basic "critical" apparatus, for sorting through the major translation issues in the various Greek manuscripts. The more scholarly one is the NA27 (Nestle-Alland 27th Edition). Such will have a major text apparatus for more critical studies.

Neither are very user friendly. They were written by scholars for scholars :) Even though the NA27 is more complicated, I think it has a more "readable" font. The UBS4, while less cluttered, has a font that is a little more difficult on the eye.

I recommend doing what most Greek students do, own both texts :) We used UBS4 for Greek class in seminary, but utilized both for our interpretation/exegesis classes.