[B-Greek] Greek for laymen

Paul Schmehl pschmehl at sbcglobal.net
Mon Mar 8 21:23:35 EST 2004


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Barry" <nebarry at verizon.net>
To: <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Monday, March 08, 2004 10:03 AM
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] Greek for laymen
>
> I personally wasn't offended, but I think we all wanted to flesh out the
> parameters of what we were talking about.  Your concern is a valid one:
those us
> who really have drunk deeply of the Pierian Spring have usually more than
once
> interacted with those who think a knowledge of the alphabet and the use of
> Strong's makes them Greek experts.  Lately, I have had several email
> interactions with those who have read intermediate grammars such as
Wallace
> fairly carefully, but then consistently misapply what they have read in
> attempting to exegete actual passages of Scripture.  They sound as though
they
> know what they are talking about, initially, but then it becomes clear
they have
> very little experience actually reading Greek.
>
Yes, but....we humans learn by failure...at least we're supposed to.

Perhaps my history might be instructive.  I got involved in a ministry (many
years ago) that encouraged learning Greek and understanding what the Bible
"really" says.  So I learned how to use Strongs and and an Interlinear and I
learned the "meaning" of some words.  Eventually I realized that I wasn't
satisfied with the knowledge that I had, so I took a 3 month course offered
by a local church.  (The pastor had taught Greek in a seminary for nine
years.)  That whet my appetite for more *and* made me realize that I wanted
to learn *non* Bible Greek so I could understand the language better.  So I
took two semesters of Attic Greek at the college where I work.  Then I
learned about this list and subscribed.

I have since achieved the lofty goal of realizing that I know much less than
I'd like to, but such is life.  I'm very busy and can't dedicate a great
deal of time for Greek.  I have to catch it in smatterings here and there,
and I have many books which I long to read (some of which I've read more
than once already) so that I might understand the language better.

I tend to be a skeptic of sorts, so I seldom take anyone's word for what the
Bible "means".  I check and recheck and often come to the conclusion that I
just don't know the answer, nor is it important for me to know today.
Perhaps I'll "know" someday.  I suppose my number one answer when asked
about a passage of scripture (many of my friends consider me "the Greek
expert") is "Well, that depends."  If I've learned anything about Greek it's
that many so-called experts and scholars tend to squeeze the very last ounce
of "meaning" from passages to support their beliefs.  (I have several of
Wuest's books and still sit in amazement at what he can squeeze out of a few
words.)  So my knowledge of Greek has at least served me well in that
regard - I can "smell a rat", if you will.

Will I ever be an "expert"?  Absolutely not.  Frankly there are very few on
this list I would consider experts.  Carl is obviously one, but he's spent
the better part of a lifetime teaching and reading Greek.  Not many have
that luxury.

Should I have been discouraged from learning Greek when I was first
introduced to it (and misled a great deal about the language)?  I would hope
the answer is a resounding "No!"

Paul Schmehl
pschmehl at sbcglobal.net
http://www.utdallas.edu/~pauls/




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