recommendation

Jay Adkins JAdkins264 at aol.com
Mon Apr 5 07:59:09 EDT 1999


Dear William Noel <noelfam at iolok.com>
 You asked.
<<Does anyone have experience with Essentials of NT Greek by Ray Summers? 
The college I'll be attending (Tyndale, In Fort Worth, TX) uses it. Thanks 
in advance>>

I used Essentials of NT Greek by Ray Summers in Seminary some twenty years 
ago, it is a little dated in that it does not speak about verbal aspect and 
relies mainly on Aktionsart.  It has been revised since then though by 
Thomas Sawyer in 1995 and now has a workbook to go along with it which may 
be purchased separately.  The workbook does have additional information not 
in the text and is well laid out.  I think the book itself was well laid 
out to begin with though and the revised edition has a new chapter on 
syntax which was totally missing from the first edition.  Both include a 
Greek Verb Chart that detaches from the back of the book, very useful.

Overall, I would see it as a fine first year grammar.  Most of what you 
want to accomplish in the first year of study is a good understanding of 
accidence and the book does a good job of that.  The revised edition even 
helps give you a good head start on second year Greek with the added 
chapter on syntax.

I like the way it follows A.T. Robertson's case scheme which is based on 
function, with 8 cases instead of the normal 5 based on form.  This helps 
to get the first year student to look at context for the meaning and usage 
of case instead of relying solely on form.  There are those that disagree I 
suppose.

I am learning the real key to learning Greek in the first year is not the 
text book you use, but the frequency you attempt to read the NT.  Second 
year grammars on the other hand can make a difference and I have several to 
cross reference.

Jay Adkins



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