"Exegetical Gems from Biblical Greek" (Benjamin L. Merkle)

TITLE: Exegetical Gems from Biblical Greek: A Refreshing Guide to Grammar and Interpretation
AUTHOR: Benjamin L. Merkle
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2019, (192 pages).

Studying Biblical Greek is a challenge for many of us trained in English. Not only must we grasp the challenges of grammar and a strange new pronunciation, we need to interpret the nuances that are revealed through different contexts. For those who are not gifted with language studies, the technical aspects of the language can be arduously dry. Author Benjamin Merkle designs this refresher of 35 examples to help three types of readers: Current Seminary students studying Greek; Former Greek students; and teachers of Biblical Greek. Current students would find the examples helpful to shed light and relevance in their studies. Former Greek students would be able to revisit what they had learned and forgotten. Greek teachers could use the examples to make their classes not only more interesting but more powerful.

Using a regular second year Greek syllabus format, Merkle titles each chapter according to the Greek syntax and exegesis course. While the book could be used like a reference book, for those who prefer to start from cover to cover, each chapter builds on the earlier ones. Readers get to learn or refresh themselves on the nature of koine Greek; interpretation from contexts and not just the texts; and the basic grammar and syntax to remember. As it is assumed that readers already have a knowledge of the Greek alphabet and the pronunciation, the Greek words in the book have not been transliterated. However, the meaning is often accompanied by an English translation in brackets. Like an able teacher, Merkle guides readers along with three clear sections: Introduction; Overview; and Interpretation. In Introduction, we get a gist of what the chapter is about. This is followed by an Overview with the key points reiterated with examples of how they are used in the other parts of the New Testament. The Interpretation portion is not only the longest, but comprises the main application of the concepts mentioned. Where appropriate, the author brings in exegesis and references from other sources to highlight the different ways to understand the grammar or how the grammar is used.


My Thoughts
For former students of Greek who have mostly lost touch of Greek grammar and exegesis skills, this book refreshes their memories. In some cases, it would bring back terms that one has totally forgotten. Language is something that needs to be used on a regular basis, otherwise it will be lost. That is why people say "Use it or lose it." This is so true for Greek studies. Even preachers who prepare messages regularly would tend to depend on secondary sources for Greek exegesis. Hopefully, this refresher book would help such people to go beyond these secondary sources to learn to exegete Greek a little bit more independently. Expectations however need to be set appropriately. This book may contain the concepts needed, but they are to be treated more like a pre-exam revision notes. Key points, acronyms, or pointers are there to open up a bigger reserviour of knowledge. If readers do not have that reserviour in the first place, these pointers would have limited help. For some, the concepts at the beginning might seem a little too intimidating. I would suggest such readers bring out their old Greek textbooks and notes for greater effect and learning, to use this book as a primer to unlock the old years of learning.

For current students of Greek, this refresher would be an immensely helpful supplement to ring in the grammatical concepts concisely. With the concepts fresh in their minds, they would be quick to move toward the application aspects. It would be good for such students to bring in their own illustrations and other texts to try to exegete on their own, alongside what is used in the book. This is one of the best ways to learn about the nuances of the Greek grammar. In other words, let them bring forth their own gems.

For teachers of Greek, this book would be a ready to use example to highlight the beauty and effectiveness of the language. One of the best times for me as a Greek student is to see the concepts come alive through the explanation of texts we often take for granted in the English translation. At the same time, we would grow to appreciate the difficulties translators have with regard to the choices they were forced to make.

Benjamin L. Merkle is Professor of New Testament at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Greek Editor of the Southeastern Theological Review. He specializes in the area of Biblical Studies. He is also a contributor to the ESV Expository Commentary series.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Academic and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.