Learning Greek

Bill Burks rwburks at flash.net
Tue Apr 23 18:21:41 EDT 2002


Brad,

I am sure that the understanding of Biblical Greek has changed in the last thirty
years or so.  I am not sure that an analytical lexicon and a Greek interlinear are
going to be a help in understanding the koine Greek well enough to "learn" it.  Also
classical Greek is very different than Biblical "koine" Greek.  In fact depending on
the period Greek has several different stages of development each somewhat different.
Modern Greek is very different from all the rest, I believe, at least that's what I
have read, and heard.

Many of the Lexicons and Interlinears really haven't changed that much in the last 30
years ... although there are some.  I don't believe I would spend the little money I
might have there.  Although I would keep the Analytical Lexicon for reference, and if
I had a small amount of money I would purchase a Thayer's it's not expensive and the
word definitions would be more complete, you can get one in paper back keyed to
Strong's concordance.

However as I said before that is not perhaps the best way to "learn" the language.

One of the grammars that has become "popular" in this day and age is "the Basics of
Biblical Greek" by Mounce.  It is the basis of another popular intermediate grammar by
Wallace.  These both treat the Greek language differently than the older authors.

Other's may disagree with me, but I still find the updated version of Summer's work
very helpful ... it is called "Essentials of Biblical Greek" ... his material even
though it is updated does present an earlier understanding of the case system of
nouns.  I recently found a copy of the older version of Summer's at a local seminary
library in mint condition that they wanted peanuts for, because it is not the current
text at that school.  ... If I didn't want to spend a lot of money and wanted a
grammar to learn from I would have purchased it ... but alas I already had one, and
didn't have use for two.

If you want to avoid "theology" and are not interested in koine Greek ... I am sorry
but I can not help you much there.

Brad Dollard wrote:

> Hello,
> I have recently been trying to learn Greek, unfortunately the only resources
> I have to assist me in this venture are a greek interlinear and an
> anylitical lexicon (both from the early 70's) as well as the not
> inconsiderable resources of available on the internet.   I have two
> questions.
> One - Has the understanding of biblical greek advanced enough in the last 30
> years to justify the buying of a new greek interlinear or lexicon.
> Two - How different is classical greek from biblical greek.  I saw in the
> b-greek archive that one person recommended the purchase of a classical
> greek text book so that one could learn greek reading the rather simpler and
> more amusing stories of the periods.  This seems to me to be a good idea not
> only for his reasons, but also becuase learning greek in this manner would
> allow me to learn greek apart from any bible specific materials which may or
> may not be theologically charged.
> Please, any help that you could give me on the subject would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Thank you,
> Brad Dollard
>
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