"Exegetical Journeys in Biblical Greek" (Benjamin L. Merkle)

TITLE: Exegetical Journeys in Biblical Greek
AUTHOR: Benjamin L. Merkle
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2023, (288 pages).

One of the challenges of learning any language is the frequency of usage. The old adage "Use it or lose it" is particularly true for languages. Even for those who grow up in their native languages, lack of usage will impact fluency. Learning the ancient biblical languages is the same. Whether it is Hebrew or Greek, constant practice makes perfect. For many who had studied the biblical languages in seminary, chances are, they would have lost their learning through lack of usage in an English-speaking world. Author Benjamin Merkle calls this "linguistic apostacy." This book is about helping seminarians, and those who had learned biblical Greek at some point in their lives to practice its use over a period of 90 days. It is a follow-up to "Exegetical Gems from Biblical Greek" published in 2019. The journey is arranged from elementary (Gospel of Mark and John) to advanced (later part of the New Testament) levels of reading. Comprising three journeys labeled "Easy," "Intermediate," and "Difficult," readers have 90 lessons to work through. The hope is that this guide gives one a starting torque toward making such journeys a way of life. Each day comprises a sequence as follows:

"The Second Testament" (Scot McKnight)

TITLE: The Second Testament: A New Translation
AUTHOR: Scot McKnight
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2023, (312 pages).
 

Over the years, we have a wealth of English translations of the Bible. Whether it is a literal translation, a paraphrase, or the popular dynamic equivalence type, they have all been helpful for those of us unfamiliar with the original languages. For all the competent scholarship and attempts to update the transalations, there is a nagging concern about context. Sometimes, the translations can be so good that English speakers might have mistakenly thought that the Bible was written for the English-speaking world! What if modern readers who do not know the original languages can in some way perceive what the original hearers were hearing? What if we can get closer to Greek ears and still maintain the English text? This is precisely what author and professor, Scot McKnight is trying to do. Understanding the meaning is one thing. Locating the meaning within the original contexts is often another. Moreover, there are certain words in Greek that are hard to translate. Often, this forces translators to choose between literal and contextual. Even in the translation of meaning, too many words might muddle the interpretation. This is McKnight's attempt to help us understand the words within the Greek context. This is what I call a more contextual translation of the New Testament. He begins with a brief introduction to each book, which not only gives us an overview but also unique themes that we can connect with the rest of the Bible. For example, in the introduction to the synoptic gospels, we see clear connections to the other gospels to help us prepare for the road ahead. The same applies to the epistles of Paul. The maps also enable readers to get a feel of the geographical contexts as described in the text. Called "The Second Testament," this new translation of the New Testament complements the "First Testament" which uses similar translation principles for the Old Testament.

"Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God" (Gordon D. Fee)

TITLE: Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God
AUTHOR: Gordon D. Fee
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2023, (240 pages).
 

The Holy Spirit is God's Empowering Presence. Paul teaches and lives it. He urges the people of God to do the same. How do we not only learn more about the Holy Spirit? Is it possible to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit, maybe like what the Early Church had experienced? Perhaps, before we move into the actual application, we need to learn more about the continuity and discontinuity gap between the Old and New Covenant. Recognizing the struggles to link these two important truths, well-respected professor, Dr. Gordon Fee has written his Magnus opus on the Holy Spirit from the perspective of Pauline theology. From Paul's window into the Holy Spirit, he draws out the connection between what Paul says and what we experience in our present life in Christ, before extending it to the relevance of the Holy Spirit's work in the lives of the Church. For that to happen, we need to draw a series of connections between the past and the present. This includes relationships between:

• Understanding and experiencing the Theology of the Holy Spirit;
• The old covenant and the new;
• The Individual and the Community;
• Present and Future
• Soteriology and Eschatology;
• Conversion to Covenant;
• and more...

"John's Letters: An Exegetical Guide for Preaching and Teaching" (Herbert W. Bateman IV and Aaron C. Peer)

TITLE: John's Letters: An exegetical guide for preaching and teaching (Big Greek Idea)
AUTHOR: Herbert W. Bateman IV and Aaron C. Peer
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2018, (448 pages).

Every English Bible translation is in itself an interpretation. Unless one is trained to read the Scriptures in their original language and context, it would be difficult to fully comprehend the Bible merely by using English. The next best thing would be to get closer to the original by learning or gaining more insights from a Greek perspective. This book is one such channel of insight. The "Big Greek Idea Series" is a collection of guides specifically for pastors, professors, and seminary students trying to bridge the gap between the ancient Greek and the modern English culture. This volume focuses on the letters of John; namely the Johannine letters (aka 1, 2, 3 John). The authors suggest this book be used in three ways.: 1) as a grammatical commentary; 2) as an interlinear; and 3) as inspiration for exegetical nuggets.

There are many features in this book. It combines exegesis with thought-for-thought analysis. There is careful unpacking of "transitional and structural markers" to help us keep track of any big ideas within it. There are detailed grammatical explanations that could be too technical for some of us. Getting a grammatical refresher before reading this book would be ideal to ensure seamless reading. Those who are in a rush would benefit from the underlined clauses and words accompanied by explanations. The authors help us pay attention to the syntax. By detailing the grammatical, syntactical, and semantic functions, readers get to do both exegesis as well as hermeneutics and to link them together. The Introduction provides a summary of some of the grammatical terms to be used. It is essential to read this before plunging into the rest of the book. This is the grammatical heavy-lifting that would bring dividends when approaching the rest of the book.

"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.

"The Biblical Greek Companion for Bible Software Users" (Mark L. Strauss)

TITLE: The Biblical Greek Companion for Bible Software Users: Grammatical Terms Explained for Exegesis
AUTHOR: Mark L. Strauss
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016, (112 pages).

Studying the original biblical languages can be a very challenging discipline. Students often have to memorize as much vocabulary as possible, the alphabets, the numbers, the case endings, and the various grammar associated with genders, moods, aspect, voice, and to note the nuances of each word and phrase. Even the punctuation marks can be important expressions of biblical communications. With the invention of Bible software, many of these things are memories of the past. As the power of the software increases, the costs of owning Bible software decreases, making it more affordable to study the ancient languages without struggling through the tough work of memorization. Unfortunately, this often leads to a lack of foundation in grammatical basics. What are the differences between verbs and participles? What is the meaning of aorist? What about the dative and vocative cases? Is there a way to derive exegetical insights from the grammar? This book anticipates such questions and poses even more for those of us who had done some introductory Greek or knows a little bit of New Testament Greek. Arranging each grammatical term in alphabetical order, the book is an easy reference for readers to understand the definitions, the meaning, the case endings, and how to see the difference between the various nuances of the grammar. We learn about what the word and grammar looks like. We understand what it does and how it is used in the Bible. The exegetical insights in every chapter brings out the beauty and relevance of biblical exegesis.

As more students are moving away from traditional rote learning of the ancient languages, books like this are going to be more important with the use of Bible software. One can also see this book as the flash cards that students used to have. Meant as a companion to Bible software users, it provides a very quick and precise reference to clarify lingering questions about what the grammar means and how it is used. The Greek language is powerful because it is able to express important ideas merely from the language itself. Those of us in the English speaking world will often have to use more words and phrases just to express the same thought, and even then, the transmission relatively inferior. That is why the Greek remains the defacto standard for interpretation. With the use of Bible software, plus this companion book, while we may lose out in terms of diluting our natural memorization skills, we gain in terms of speed in getting to the meaning with the help of computers. Moreover, we would make lesser mistakes when we misread certain endings. At the end of it all, while the computers and software can provide the science of reading and analyzing, we will still need to do the hard work of interpretation and application. Hopefully, as the software helps take care of the grammatical meanings, we can spend more time connecting the grammar, the ancient contexts, and the opportunities for modern applications.

Mark Strauss is Professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary in San Diego California. He has authored many books on Bible study methods, interpretation, and all things New Testament. He holds a PhD from the University of Aberdeen and is a member of the Bible translation committee for the New International Version.

Rating: 5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me courtesy of Zondervan Academic and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Linguistic Analysis of the Greek New Testament" (Stanley E. Porter)

TITLE: Linguistic Analysis of the Greek New Testament: Studies in Tools, Methods, and Practice
AUTHOR: Stanley E. Porter
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2015, (448 pages).


[Note: This review is more technical and is intended for those who have some knowledge of Greek and linguistics]

There are many people who try to exegete the Greek text but lack the knowledge of the interpretive and linguistic issues behind the ancient language. While they cannot be faulted with the intent, many unfortunately err on the side of ignorance about basic linguistic issues. This is what the Professor of New Testament at McMaster University, a well-known proponent for the SFL (Systemic Functional Linguistic) approach toward linguistic analysis is concerned wit. Simply put, this SFL method affirms that the lexicon is part of the grammar and semantics are selected on the basis not only the morphological, the lexical, or the syntactical aspect, but also the discourse of the language and contexts concerned. In other words, many works focus on the technical aspect of the language but few look, or does not do enough onlooking at the overall bigger picture flow and contexts. Such a method is focused not only at the micro-details of the language but the macro picture of the linguistics used.

"A Reader's Lexicon of the Apostolic Fathers" (Daniel B. Wallace)

TITLE: A Reader's Lexicon of the Apostolic Fathers
AUTHOR: Daniel B. Wallace
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2013, (256 pages).

It is one thing to be able to read the Apostolic Fathers. It is yet another to be able to read the ancient texts in their original languages. It is even better to be conversant in both the Greek as well as the English, in particular, for contemporary eyes and ears. Enters the lexicon that enables modern readers to better appreciate the meaning of the texts in their original. Designed to accompany "The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations," readers with some knowledge of Greek will benefit greatly from this lexicon, which gives alternative renderings of the original Greek in plain English. Some readers of the Bible, especially the New Testament Greek will find the AF very fascinating, and see a stark familiarity in the language used. Like many lexicons, several assumptions frame the scope of the lexicon.

• The words are limited to those that occur 30 times or less;
• The text based upon is on the Baker Academic 3rd edition of the AF: Greek texts with English translation;
• The notation needs some getting used to; like in {First Clement ἐπίσκοπος, ὁ [2] 4 • 76} essentially means: The word 'episkopos' occurs in chapter 42 of 1 Clement twice in the same verse; four times in the chapter; and 76 times in the AF.
• The Apostolic Fathers covered include: 
• First and Second Clement;
• Letters of Ignatius;
• Letter of Polycarp to the Philippians
• Martyrdom of Polycarp
• The Didache
• The Epistle of Barnabas
• The Shepherd of Hermas
• The Epistle to Diognetus and the Fragment of Quadratus
• Fragments of Papias
• Verbs used are in their infinitives form in order to distinguish them from the nouns; while nouns are introduced with their articles

With a vocabulary stock of nearly 80% of the New Testament, students of Koine Greek will find reading the AF rather familiar territory. There are three observations I want to make. First, the counting of words occurring within a verse, within the chapter, and within the AF, is an extremely helpful guide to the understanding of the importance of the message being stressed. Very often, the more something is used or stressed, the more readers need to pay attention to the point the writer is making. For example, in 1 Clement 1:3; {ἄμωμος 7 • 17 blameless} is used to describe character. Clement was writing to sanctified living, purity of conscience, and the faithful relationships expected within the family.  Second, the lexicon provides expanded meanings for many of the words used. It is almost like the way the Amplified Bible translates the Bible, where a word is given multiple descriptions in order to nuance the meanings as much as possible. For example, in the Didache is translated as "sexual immorality" in the Michael Holmes's text, but given additional explanations in the lexicon to illuminate the root meaning of the word porneia {πορνεία, ἡ 2 • 5 prostitution, unchastity, fornication} Third, the lexicon is written with the words semi-parsed to enable readers to know the tense and mood. For example, where the words are in the imperative, the lexicon states so.

Indeed, this lexicon cannot be read by itself. It will be most beneficial for those with some knowledge of Greek plus having access to the "Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations" Baker Academic, 2007 edition. Without these two requirements, the lexicon will not be very useful. I find myself transported back to the days I was doing Greek and reading the Greek New Testament with a lexicon. If you are a student of Greek, and feel that the New Testament alone is not enough, try the Septuagint. If the Septuagint is still not enough, try the Apostolic Fathers.

If your love for Greek is re-ignited or if your understanding of the AF is increased, then this lexicon would have worth every penny.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me courtesy of Kregel Academic in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Singing Grammarian" Video Bundle (H. Daniel Zacharias)

TITLE: Singing Grammarian 17 Video Bundle [Video Download]
AUTHOR: H. Daniel Zacharias
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2013.

With catchy melodies and sometimes humourous linkages of memory mneumonics, this package of videos makes learning Greek memorable and fun. It reminds us again that the study of Greek need not be dry or difficult. If we can be creative in our learning methods, chances are, we can make learning a meaningful experience. Using music, powerpoint transitions, highlighted Greek paradigms, parsing tools, grammatical highlights, vocabulary, pronunciation, and many other tips for learning the biblical Greek, Zacharias sings with an encouraging voice supported by a clear visual presentation.

How should this tool be used? For a start, it can be used by teachers just before the teaching of the grammatical topic, and again at the end of the lesson. In the middle, the student will need to do the hard work of writing down the actual Greek, to be familiar with the words themselves, and how the endings, the nuances of the language, and the way each Greek table is constructed. This is the hard work that needs to be done first, and the video cannot replace this actual learning. The video aids a little bit in terms of helping the student to remember. It cannot be used to replace the need to memorize the table in the first place. Secondly, students will benefit by using these videos to remind them of what they have learned. Especially helpful before any test or exams, the videos can instill a melody to pull out stuff at the back of our heads. That is where the hard work done initially will prove helpful. Learning melodies can be easy, but without the actual content to be reminded about, the melodies remain useless melodies. Thirdly, the tool is a good way to refresh previous Greek students who have long forgotten their introductory Greek. Finally, if you can let your creativity run while, there are many other possible uses of this video bundle. Let me share one creative gem. This is especially for those of us who are young parents. What do we do if we want to sing our kids a bedtime melody, and at the same time, we have to prepare for an upcoming Greek grammar exam the next day? Do not fret. Play the melodies by Zacharias over and over again to charm our kids to sleep. Such parents who are also Greek students will not mind playing the melodies over and over again. The kids will love it. The Greek student will savour it. Maybe, the spouse may not find it as amusing but, well, if the kids can sleep well, and the Greek can be learned well, why not?

The list of 17 videos covers:

1. Articles
2. Greek Alphabet 
3. Aorist Active and Middle
4. Future Active and Middle
5. First Declension
6. Second Declension
7. Third Declension
8. Imperatives
9. Infinitives
10. Liquid Verbs
11. Participles
12. Passives
13. Present Active Indicative
14. PluPerfect
15. Present, Middle and Passive
16. Secondary Endings
17. Subjunctive

I find some of the videos a little too quick, especially with all the different Greek characters coming in and out of the transitions. This should not be a problem with modern technology. With the pause and rewind on the computer, it is easy to either slow down, replay, or to pause at any time to pace ourselves. The first time may take some getting used to. After a while, it's a breeze. Hang on to the videos. Learning Greek need not be dry and monotonous. This singing grammarian puts the fun back into learning Greek.

Note that this item can be purchased from Christian Book Distributors here. It is not available on Amazon.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This resource is provided to me free by Kregel Publications without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"The Handy Guide to the New Testament Greek" (Douglas S. Huffman)

TITLE: The Handy Guide to New Testament Greek: Grammar, Syntax, and Diagramming (The Handy Guide Series) (Greek Edition)
AUTHOR: Douglas S. Huffman
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2012, (112 pages).

This little guide is a handy reference book for introductory New Testament Greek. Written primarily for the second year student, and also for pastors and teachers, it contains a collection of Greek helpful tables and reference that most (if not all) first year Greek students of the New Testament use. Part One contains revisions on grammar usage, case endings, pronunciation helps, nouns, pronouns, verbs, participles, adjectives, and other language considerations. Part Two summarizes the Greek syntax on the use of the article, the case and time, verb tenses and moods, as well as guiding readers through the tricky participles. Diagramming is also utilized to help students of Greek NT to visualize their parsing activities. That is particularly helpful in terms of synthesis after the exegesis of the original language. The bibliography and resource list at the end of the book is a bonus for anyone, especially those beginning their studies in the fascinating ancient language called Koine Greek.

Many people who have studied Greek during their years in seminary or Bible school know that the less they use, the more they forget. Over time, some may totally lose whatever they have learned. This has led to some seminaries abandoning Greek studies totally. That is tragic, for there is value in learning at least 1 year of Greek. Just because many have the tendency to forget what they have learned, does not mean that learning the language is useless in the first place. It cultivates discipline. It helps students to treat the original texts with more reverence. It enables one to remember that the Word of God is not something to be analyzed and solved, but to be engaged meditatively, intentionally, and patiently. In fact, it may very well be an antidote for the quick and easy culture many of us have gotten used to. What is needed is not an abandonment of the Greek language, but a way to refresh, to revise, and to remember them. Guide books like this, and the growing number of electronic resources will help students with a little knowledge of Greek immensely. Those who have not studied any Greek at all, will find this book a little difficult to appreciate.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free by Kregel Academic & Professional Publisher without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Prepositions and Theology in the Greek New Testament"

TITLE: Prepositions and Theology in the Greek New Testament: An Essential Reference Resource for Exegesis
AUTHOR: Murray Harris
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012, (304 pages).

This reference work is not about prepositions or about theology. It is about how the use of prepositions has contributed to the theological framework at various locations in the Greek New Testament. While it covers all 17 "proper" and 42 "improper" NT prepositions, the key emphasis in this book as about the theological significance the prepositions are presenting. Harris makes sure that the theological and literary contexts are addressed, together with the linguistic exercises needed to clarify the texts. While one needs to learn the "Big Four" of Greek grammar, namely, the aorist, the genitive case, the article, and the prepositions, the author feels that in order to "master" an in-depth knowledge of the Greek, one needs to master the prepositional system. In short, a preposition is a small word that ties relationships among words. Where it is placed, before or after the word makes a world of difference. What makes this study refreshing is the theological significance revealed after doing all the heavy lifting of word by word exegesis.

Murray takes special care to differentiate his book from the BDAG or the traditional textbooks on Greek grammar which focuses on the grammar. He gives a fascinating overview of the development of the Greek language.

1. Ancient Greek (as in the days of Homer)
2. Classical Greek from 450-330 BC;
3. Hellenistic/Koine Greek from 330BC to 330AD (also known as biblical Greek);
4. Medieval/Byzantine Greek from AD330 to 1453;
5. Modern Greek (AD1453 to present).

Then he dives into the structures and meanings of prepositions. Using a cube, the 17 "proper" prepositions:

• moving into (through, into, toward)
• Moving out of (away from, out of)
• On top (around, above, upon)
• Outside (with, in front of, opposite, beside)
• Inside (in)
• Under
• Up, Down.

When exegeting the grammar, care needs to be taken for the meaning of the preposition itself, the significance of the case used with the preposition, the context, and any irregular usage. Even as Murray highlights the many nuances and the details of each type of preposition, he cautions readers from becoming too eager in analyzing the details. He points out five dangers; first, the tendency to define each distinction too rigidly; second, failing to understand the style of the writer; third, missing the meaning for the style; four, missing out double meanings; and five, neglect of significant prepositions.

He then provides a chapter by chapter description of all the prepositions in the Greek NT, complete with examples and scriptural references. What is really helpful is the conscious effort of Murray to explicitly bring out the significance of each preposition. In some ways, the book reads like a concise commentary for the biblical texts chosen to highlight each preposition. For instance, in the exegesis of Hebrews 12:2, the grammar is an effective argument against any interpretation that Jesus died on the cross for the sake of receiving a heavenly reward. Rather, it is a conscious choice of willingly enduring the suffering on earth, instead of the heavenly joy. The former interpretation points to Jesus having a purpose of getting rewarded. The latter instead suggests to Jesus' love that overcomes all manner of personal gain or reward. It is a willing giving up of self-privilege or advantage that is the key meaning. Page after page, there are meanings and theological underpinnings that not only brings out profound insights of the Greek writers, it makes the study of Greek very interesting. Through examples, illustrations, comparison with other pericopes of the New Testament, this reference book is a big boon for the Christian world. I highly recommend this book for students of Greek, as well as anyone who needs to exegete the Greek texts on a regular basis. I wish I had this text when I was studying Greek.


Rating: 5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free by Zondervan and NetGalley without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Devotions from the Greek New Testament"

TITLE: Devotions on the Greek New Testament: 52 Reflections to Inspire and Instruct
AUTHOR:J. Scott Duvall and Verlyn D. Verbrugge (editors).
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012, (160 pages).

This book will be a great incentive for students studying Greek to see truths come alive as they study the Greek New Testament. As someone who has studied Koine Greek, or biblical Greek, I attest to the hard work and sometimes mundane process of digging through the various inflections and memorizing tail endings, and to determine the multiple nuances of the language. The scientific aspect can be easily mastered, just like memorizing formulas and steps. The artistic aspect is not so easy to see. It takes someone not only with a strong understanding of the Greek language, able to deconstruct the small details of the Greek, but also to reconstruct and make sense of both the ancient meanings and the contemporary applications. This book attempts to do both.

With 52 devotions drawn from a pool of 31 top language scholars, the editors have compiled devotional writings from exegeses of selected texts from nearly every New Testament book. The main purpose is to bring some meaning and purpose so as to encourage anyone aiming to study the Greek of the New Testament. It is a reminder that it is a living Word that leads to real life applications. This also helps to keep interest and motivation high. Hopefully, by showing the way, students will also learn to do their own devotions on the Greek text. Designed with a devotion a week in mind, each chapter begins with a title and a corresponding New Testament verse. Only the Greek text is used, possibly to challenge the Greek student to try and exegete the text first. The contributor of the article then brings out some interesting nuances of the Greek, and compares it to the normal English understanding. It also compares and contrasts the ancient contexts with contemporary times. We can see biblical theology coming alive before our eyes. We begin to notice the subtle meanings in the text. We see the importance of the verbs, nouns, participles, and the basic tenses of the grammar. The brevity of each chapter is also an advantage because it prevents any reader from rushing through the book. Instead, one learns more with less. One is able to still the hurried soul in order to sip, to contemplate, and to let the Word take root in our hearts.

When I was doing Greek, I remember looking forward to the introduction of the class where my professor will tell a story and the background of the texts concerned. The Greek textbook I use also contains a small application story which I appreciate, as it illuminates how the dry texts can come alive with real applications. I have longed for a book that gives more of such stories. This book fills the gap. It is full of such applications and will be a great encouragement to students of Greek who may be going through a dry process of Greek studies. If only, I had this book when I was a seminary student.


Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free by Zondervan and NetGalley without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.