So I’ve finally got around to compiling my list of books and ideas on to paper. I’ve kind of got an idea of a three tiered approach to teaching myself Greek and am going to post it for feedback. I’d like to hear from those with experience, especially if you’ve ever used any of the books I’m planning on using. Also, I’m organizing my references around the use of the G/K numbering system, though I do have a Strong’s. Here is the first stage:
A.
I already own these books, and use some of them for reference with my Bible. I plan on learning the Greek alphabet, pronunciation, and both English and Greek grammar. This stage is pretty well set in stone and I’m already over budget, so not likely to alter anything here unless it’s free.
Essential English Grammar
Greek for the Rest of Us
Interlinear for the Rest of Us
New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology: Abridged
NIV Exhaustive Concordance
Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary
B.
Whether I purchase the next book from Mounce and the workbook depends on whether I decide to continue pursuing the Greek. I will likely buy the concordance this summer, but I’m completely open to suggestions here.
Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar
Basics of Biblical Greek Workbook
Basics of Biblical Greek Vocabulary Cards
Greek-English Concordance to the New Testament
C.
Assuming I get this far, I will make it a goal to be able to pick up and stumble my way through the Greek New Testament. I’d also like to read the Septuagint, but I have no idea on how to go about attempting this really. Suggestions on the LXX would be great, and also I’m not listing the Lexicons as I’m already familiar with them. There is the possibility of taking classes as well, but I want to see how much I can learn on my own first.
A Graded Reader of Biblical Greek
Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics
Greek New Testament (need explanations as I don’t know what to look for)
Septuagint (ditto)
Okay, so that is my basic idea. All advice is welcome. I am going to try to get some basic grammar down, and then try to learn via vocabulary and the NT text itself. I know there are sources on the web, but I don’t know which ones are worth using. Thanks in advance.
[update] I’ll probably be picking up the UBS Greek New Testament: A Reader’s Edition based on this review by Rick Mansfield.
March 13, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Can’t really help you out, except with the GNT and Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary. MCED is a great reference tool to use, it goes more in-depth than your regular dictionary at the back of your GNT, but it’s definitely not as thorough as a lexicon. Eventually, if you keep at it, you’ll want to pick up the BDAG or some other lexicon. That’s where I’m at, saving up for a lexicon.
There are two main Greek New Testaments (GNT), the NA27 and the UBS4. There is -no- difference in the greek text at all in these versions. The differences lay in the “apparatuses” at the bottom of the pages that tell you about textual variants. The NA27 (Nestle-Aland) simply goes more indepth with textual variants, while the UBS only gives you what they think is the most ‘important’ variants. I have the UBS4, both are perfectly fine. Also, you can pick up the Westcott and Hort GNT, but that it does not contain the Greek that backs most of our translations today because it is a fully western text type, where our translations today are eclectic. Same with the Majority Text Greek Bibles.
March 14, 2008 at 6:51 am
I would suggest dumping the interlinear, if you ever want to truly learn Greek. The other suggestion is that you might want to consider joining the B-Greek e-mail list; Google for it.
For Greek resources at a discount, watch the Eisenbrauns website for back-to-school specials every August/September.
James
March 14, 2008 at 7:30 am
I know there are reader’s additions to the NT, and ones that have word definitions so you don’t have to carry a dictionary around, etc. Any recommendations on specific ones? Also the interlinear has the Greek at the bottom of the page so I’ll be using that at first. You can see what I’m talking about in this sample. Also I have seen the B-Greek list but haven’t had a look there yet.
March 14, 2008 at 12:08 pm
If you go with a reader, I would suggest the UBS Reader. It’s more expensive, but it’s based off the NA27/UBS text, and the footnotes are a lot easier to read.
March 14, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Duncan Forbes reviewed a couple of vocabulary CDs that might be of interest. He links to amazon.co.uk, but amazon.com has more user comments.
I’m glad you are blogging this. I’m beginning to learn Greek too (in the ’setting up’ stage of finding out what is available).
March 14, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Thanks for posting. Also, I vaguely remembered reading some articles on This Lamp about the Reader Editions of the GNT. I just finished searching and found them both, they are very helpful. Here they are:
A Reader’s Greek New Testament, 2nd Edition: Hands On Review
The UBS Greek New Testament: A Readers Edition (A Hands-On, Comparative Review)
I’m almost certain now that I’ll be picking up the UBSRE
March 15, 2008 at 12:42 pm
If you’re looking for a good free online introduction to Greek then I’d suggest Jim West’s Elementary Greek course. Also, if you do decide to persue further studies then Mounce’s grammar is great. I benefited from it a lot when I was teaching myself Greek but then I lost interest. Esteban Vázquez offered to teach me Greek over the phone and we had a couple of sessions which were great, but alas, my head just isn’t in it at the moment. But we were using Mounce’s grammar and it was going along splendidly.
Oh, and when you pick up the UBSRE be sure to blog about it. I’ve been eyeing it for a while but can’t afford it at present. I’d love to hear your take on it.
March 15, 2008 at 1:07 pm
I’m not sure if I’ll pick up the UBSRE this month or wait until my economy-stimulus-tax-bonus thing arrives later this year. Thanks for the link, I’m not sure if I need to download the fonts though.
March 15, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Just found this!
Maybe something here will help give your budget a little breathing room: Links for Greek Texts Online.
There are links to other resources for Greek studies as well.
March 15, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Ah yes! I’ve read most of the articles about the modern English bible translations there. I never bothered to visit the main site and look through the other resources there. Thanks for linking
March 17, 2008 at 4:42 pm
[...] 2008 Starting on the Greek alphabet Posted by Nathan Stitt under Greek I mentioned in a previous post the books from which I plan to learn Greek. Well, Greek for the Rest of Us just arrived in the mail [...]
March 30, 2008 at 10:10 pm
[...] enjoyed Mounce so far so I’m looking for good reasons not to go with him. My original plan is here. [...]