A bit of lace...

Rod Decker (rdecker@bbc.edu)
Thu, 29 Aug 1996 11:49:46 -0400

>From: "Carlton L. Winbery" <winberyc@popalex1.linknet.net>
>
>In the back of my mind I remember on old Greek Grammar that started the
>introduction with the statement, "Greek is like lace. Every man wants a
>little." I think that was back when men of learning often wore lace around
>their sleaves. Well men no longer wear lace do they?

You remember fairly well:

" 'Greek, Sir, is like lace; every man gets as much of it as he can.' This
remark seems originally to have been regarded as among the more penetrating
of Samuel Johnson's _obiter dicta_, though at present it is hard to believe
that it ever made much sense. Nowadays Greek is like lace in that few men
care whether they 'get' any or not."

Eugene Van Ness Goetchius, _The Language of the New Testament_ (NY: Charles
Scribner's Sons, 1965), xi.

_________________________________________________________________
Rodney J. Decker, Asst. Prof./NT Baptist Bible Seminary
rdecker@bbc.edu Clarks Summit, PA
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