[B-Greek] Greek without Guilt
Carl Conrad
cwconrad2 at mac.com
Wed Nov 21 16:06:01 EST 2007
On Nov 21, 2007, at 2:32 PM, John M. Linebarger wrote:
> 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!
I'm all for it. Whatever floats your boat and heads you toward the
Promised Land. Guilt? Only if you're just bobbing up and down in the
water!
Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)
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