[B-Greek] Diagramming of Greek Sentences
Rod Rogers
rngrogers at mybluelight.com
Sun Dec 5 21:26:14 EST 2004
I usually find it more satisfying to listen than to speak on this list and
yet I think I'll break silence. I don't think anyone on this list would
place Greek, an inflected language, on the same level as English when it
comes to diagramming. Diagramming for me manages word order, and like Steven
said, "It makes you account for EVERY word". Knowing how to translate each
verse in Ephesians Chapter One and being able to follow the flow of thought,
word patterns, and account for each antecedent are two completely different
things, at least to me.
I can not explain the excitement that diagramming has brought to me as I
have worked through the first fourteen verses of Ephesians One. It has
brought a confidence to me in knowing what the text actually says that I
lacked before. Diagramming has brought a precision to my exegesis, or maybe
just a confidence of that precision that I did not have.
I'm confident that diagramming is not for everyone. Very few things are, but
for me, diagramming is something that is well worth my time. I plan to
diagram the rest of Ephesians an would be interested in hearing (off list)
from those of you who share a like passion for diagramming the GNT text.
I'll mention two recourses that I think are worth while. The first is "A
Handbook For Grammatical Diagramming Based On Philippians" by Dr. John A.
McLean. Gramcord carries this and I think it is still $25.00. The second is
KoineWorks Diagramming by Lexel. Dallas Theological book store used to carry
it for $20.00, I think. Lexel has a good glossary where you can quickly find
definitions for the syntax and diagramming terms you are looking for. I have
a lot of the other recourses mentioned but if I had to give them all up but
one, I would keep, "A Handbook For Grammatical Diagramming Based On
Philippians" by Dr. John A. McLean. It would be hard to live without it.
That's my two cents worth.
rod rogers
bargersville, in
----- Original Message -----
From: "Barry Hofstetter" <nebarry at verizon.net>
To: "Steven Lo Vullo" <themelios at charter.net>
Cc: <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2004 7:28 AM
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] Diagramming of Greek Sentences
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steven Lo Vullo" <themelios at charter.net>
> To: "Barry Hofstetter" <nebarry at verizon.net>
> Cc: <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
> Sent: Saturday, December 04, 2004 9:56 PM
> Subject: Re: [B-Greek] Diagramming of Greek Sentences
>
>
> > On Dec 4, 2004, at 1:51 PM, Barry Hofstetter wrote:
> >
> > Barry, I agree with you more often than not, but I strongly disagree
with you
> > on this one.
>
> That preface is one of the more encouraging ones that I have heard, Steve.
>
> >> I am sure these are very good suggestions, but I personally have never
been
> >> able to get into diagramming.
> >
> > I am an absolute diagramming addict, so allow me to offer the
perspective of a
> > fanatic...
>
> An addict, huh? You could "just say no..." :)
>
> > Yes, the purpose of diagramming is primarily to "connect the dots,"
i.e., to
> > indicate the relationships of words, phrases, clauses, etc. one to
another in
> > a sentence. But I would submit that proficiency at reading Greek does
not
> > necessarily translate into understanding **all** the relationships in a
> > sentence. I'm proficient at reading English, but to tell you the truth,
if I
> > had to explain the grammar and syntax in every detail or be shot, I
would be a
> > dead man.
>
> Yes, but how often do you find it necessary to diagram an English
sentence, and
> why would you bother to do so, apart from your 7th grade English teacher's
> insistence? In our recent exchange, which of my sentences did you diagram
in
> order better to see all the relationships in the sentence? I wonder if
Paul or
> Matthew diagrammed sentences in the Hebrew Bible?
>
> As for the rest of your post, if diagramming helps anyone get a more
accurate
> understanding of the Greek text, I'm all for it!
>
> N.E. Barry Hofstetter
>
> Fecisti nos ad te et inquietum est cor nostrum, donec requiescat in te...
> -- Augustine, Confessions 1:1
>
> http://mysite.verizon.net/vze1yfx7/
>
> ---
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