[B-Greek] Greek without Guilt
John M. Linebarger
jmlineb at comcast.net
Wed Nov 21 14:32:14 EST 2007
I'm following the discussion of the merits of the UBS Reader's Edition GNT with great interest. I've lurked on this list for several months now and learned much from Carl's recommendations, especially the one about learning Attic Greek. I've almost completed Mastronarde's grammar as a result.
However, there seems to be an overlay of guilt attached to those who either use interlinears, or reader's editions, or diglot editions. Somehow it is seen as "not good enough" by the purists. I've struggled with this and tried to go cold turkey and immerse myself in the raw text of the UBS Greek Testament, but I simply am not at that level yet. Besides, the bulk of both the UBS edition and BDAG prevents me from simply lying in bed and enjoying the Greek New Testament.
So here's what I've decided: Fooey on the purists! Anything that gets me into the text is good, and the more text the better. Right now, the diglot edition of the NET Bible (which has NA 27 on facing pages) is doing the trick. I do two pages of Greek a day, and try to pick up the meanings of words in context. Quick glances at the English help keep me on track and plowing ahead.
In short, if this approach to learning Greek was good enough for John Brown of Haddington, it is good enough for me. Let's not be so pure in our approach that we discourage others that are not at our level. Greek without Guilt!
Eulogetai!
John M. Linebarger
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