two models?
Michael Burer
burer at bible.org
Wed Oct 23 23:22:27 EDT 2002
Clay wrote:
-----Original Message-----
<snip>
GGBB is the book for folks who want to perpetuate the "Machen Model" for
another 100 years. If you want live in the past this is the right
choice.
<snip>
------------------------------------
I have to admit that reading posts of this nature frustrate me, mainly
because there is so much under the surface not expressed explicitly
which probably should be. It seems that people on this list tend to fall
into one of two camps (perhaps "models" is better, although I'm open to
an even better word): those who speak in terms of traditional
morpho-syntactical analysis and those who speak in terms of discourse
analysis. Inevitably someone makes a comment (like that made above)
which implies that one is better than the other or that at this point in
scholarship all reputable scholars are heading towards one at the
expense of the other. What I want to hear is justification for comments
like this.
Let me put my cards on the table: Most all of my Greek has been taken
under the tutelage of Wallace at Dallas Seminary. I am thoroughly
steeped in morpho-syntactical analysis. I like to talk about objective
and subjective genitives, gnomic presents, and the like. As I have
progressed in my education I have tried to learn about discourse
analysis and broader linguistic matters but I have not yet studied them
in depth. I know that this field is growing, but I am not initiated into
it yet.
Here's what I would like to see someone succinctly state: What makes
discourse analysis (or other comparable fields) better for studying NT
Greek than the traditional methods that I imagine most of us learned?
I'll make the first volley based upon what I know (which I'll admit is
limited), and I look forward to being informed further on this matter: I
do not see discourse analysis eclipsing morpho-syntactical analysis.
Instead, I see them as complimentary or perhaps as a pyramid. One must
learn accidence, morphology, and word formation in order to even start
reading anything of a Greek text (or any foreign language text for that
matter). Then one must learn syntax of words and clauses to make more
sense of a Greek text. Finally, one must learn to handle the discourse
on its broadest level to understand a Greek text. You can't learn Greek
without studying the words, phrases, and clauses, but you should not
stop there either.
I recognize that it is entirely possible that I misunderstood the
meaning of the quote I excerpted above, and if so I beg for correction
on this matter. Even so, though, I think this topic needs to be
discussed for myself and others who want to learn about these issues.
Grace,
Michael Burer
Ph.D. Student
Dallas Theological Seminary
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