[B-Greek] Talking Points & Expectations: Why Learn (Biblical) Greek?
David Opderbeck
dopderbeck at gmail.com
Fri Aug 24 16:06:18 EDT 2007
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing" is only a truism when the knower
is unaware of his or her limits. As a beginning student of elementary
Biblical Greek in a seminary class, I'm finding that what I've already
learned has been useful in at least three ways:
1. It has helped me gain at least a basic sense of what the heck the
authors of my commentaries are talking about when they delve into the
meaning of a word or a grammatical issue. Very basically, I find it useful
to be able to know the alphabet so I can read words identified in my
commentaries, identify different parts of speech, and have a basic notion of
number, case, gender, etc. More specifically, it has helped me understand *
why* a commentary author might focus on a particular word or phrase, even if
I'm not able to fully evaluate the merits of the commentator's argument.
2. It has already given me a better "feel" for the cultural framework of
the NT writers. I've always known, of course, that the NT writers weren't
modern Americans, but trying to read their own thoughts in their own
language reinforces that for me in a meaningful way.
3. The mental exercise of learning vocabulary, paradigms, and grammatical
rules itself is useful. It helps build and maintain a sharp mind.
Of course, I'm not naive enough to think that I'm anywhere near capable of
translating the text accurately myself yet, or that I could argue any kind
of sophisticated grammatical question intelligently. But for the life of
me, I don't understand why you would think the sorts of things I mention
above aren't useful at all. They are useful for me, and one thing that is a
truism is that everyone is the judge of his or her own utility.
Finally, and perhaps just as importantly, I've found the study I've been
able to do so far edifying and enjoyable, though it certainly is hard work!
As Dr. Stephen Maturin, a character in Patrick O'Brien's sailing ship
novels, said, *"No matter what that prig Bentham says, there are countless
motives that have nothing to do with utility."* Right now,* *I
*enjoy*studying Biblical Greek, even though it's extraordinarily
unlikely that I'll
ever achieve any real level of expertise or that I'll be able to take the
most advanced courses. It's something I've always wanted to do, and I'm
glad I'm making whatever effort I'm able to make given my circumstances in
life to do it. I'll keep enjoying it, regardless of whether the experts
think it's best for me to do so.
On 8/24/07, Elizabeth Kline <kline_dekooning at earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> On Aug 23, 2007, at 10:39 PM, Aesop Coordinator wrote:
>
> > The ultimate goal of the first type of student is to read and think in
> > (bibilical) Greek (my goal for them is read, read, read..)
> >
> > The minimal goal of the second type of student is to "learn how to
> > intelligently use commentaries and reference works that will
> > produce more
> > beneficial Bible study with minimal knowledge of New Testament
> > Greek." (some
> > would say, 'Buy a good translation')
>
> I remember decades ago hearing this "minimal goal" being used as the
> objective for a "greek tools" course where the student learned the
> alphabet and was given some instruction on how to use BAG (1st
> Ed) ... ktl. I have come to think there is a significant flaw in this
> approach. The assumption that it takes less knowledge of Greek to
> "intelligently use commentaries and reference works" than it does to
> read in Greek, I am now convinced, is a false assumption.
>
> I have been working for several weeks in the epistle of James. I have
> at my disposal, J.B. Mayor, Alford, Huther, Adamson, Davids,
> Dibelius. Following the arguments, i.e,, "intelligent use" of Mayor,
> Alford, Huther, Dibelius requires a significant level of effort on my
> part. The notion that someone who has taken a "greek tools" course
> will be able to make "intelligent use" of commentaries like these is
> IMHO wrong. I might be tempted extend this generalization to include
> Danker (BDAG). Can someone make "intelligent use" of Danker who
> cannot read a sentence in Greek?
>
> I think we set people up for frustration and disillusionment by
> encouraging expectations which cannot be realized.
>
> Elizabeth Kline
>
>
>
>
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