[B-Greek] Memorizing definitions

Terry and Gail Cook cookie99 at fuse.net
Tue Jun 22 23:00:33 EDT 2004


Michael wrote: "With most words I would suggest that you memorize the most
common definitions.  After that put most of your effort into reading the
Greek New Testament."
Forgive my ignorance, how does one read the GNT if one cannot define the
words? I ask this question as one who has just finished my 1st year of Koine
and am preparing to take a second year. I have a vocabulary of about 400
words, 100 of which are "loosey-goosey" (I cautiously recognize them in
their most common form).
I am passionate about the New Testament and the Christ presented there and
desperately want to understand the language in which it was written, but
when I read almost any passage of the GNT I quickly come to words I don't
recognize. If I have to stop and look every one of them up it sorta ruins
the experience, not to mention the huge investment in time. I don't mind the
time investment as it is a labor of love, but seeing as everyone has time
demands, I try to use it wisely!
So, I have a huge stack of flashcards which I go through everyday. I have a
summer workbook to practice translating and I do "read" the GNT, and that is
both frustrating and enjoyable, which brings me back to the question, how
does one read the GNT if one cannot define the words?
Terry Cook
sDg




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