Biblical Greek: Best grammar for learning alone (how to learn New Testament greek)

Learning Greek alone is hard and so it is it important to get the right grammar. There are also a couple of other things I recommend if you're going it alone. In this video, we'll look at a number of grammars that you might be considering that you should probably avoid as well as some grammars that are very good for learning Greek by yourself.
Here are the links to resources I mentioned in order that I explain them in the video.
Mounce, Basics of Biblical Greek
My Review: • Grammar Review: Mounce...
Get it on Logos: mntg.me/bbg4
Get it on Amazon: amzn.to/2ZY7VFZ
Black, Learn to Read New Testament Greek
My Review: • Greek Grammar Review: ...
Get it on Logos: mntg.me/blackgr...
Get it on Amazon: amzn.to/3aFyfHd
Croy, A Primer for New Testament Greek
My Review: • NT Greek Grammar: This...
Get it on Logos: mntg.me/croygra...
Get it on Amazon: amzn.to/2Ohiy1I
Harris, Introduction to biblical Greek
My Review: • Beginning Greek: Is th...
Get it on Logos: mntg.me/harris
Get it on Amazon: amzn.to/39sQP4S
Decker, Reading Koine Greek
My Review: youtu.beWpp7XyJVwDM
Get it on Logos: mntg.me/decker
Get it on Amazon: amzn.to/2jgwRU7
Merkle and Plummer, Beginning with New Testament Greek
My Review: youtu.becHU-kz0cbZA
Get it on Logos: mntg.me/bwntg
Get it on Amazon: amzn.to/33JKIYV
Dobson, Learn New Testament Greek
My Review: • Learn New Testament Gr...
Get it on Amazon: amzn.to/3qlfdO8
Zacharias, Biblical Greek Made Simple
My Review: • Does this Biblical Gre...
Get it on Logos: mntg.me/bgms
Get it on Amazon: amzn.to/2xwsY5h
Want a tour of my library? • Books that shaped my t...
Get your roadmap to Mastery from mntg.me/roadmap
Follow me:
Twitter: / darrylb
Facebook: / masterntgreek

[@bma]

Update: I've now created my own Greek Grammar. Find out why at kzbin.info/www/bejne/joOlY4uAmsmZeqs, and check out progress on it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoLPnmB8faaNb7s and here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6mre36FbL6Xh7M

[@jimmorris1560]

I started my Greek studies in 1981 with Ray Summers' Essentials of New Testament Greek, and Dana and Mantey's A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament along with A.T. Robertson's huge A Grammar of the Greek New Testament in the Light of Historical Research. Later I bought Mounce's Basics of NT Greek 3rd ed. (grammar & workbook) and Wallace's The Basics of NT Syntax to use as updated refresher manuels. However, it was when I bought Decker's Reading Koine Greek per your recommendation that I really began enjoying Greek studies again! I really enjoy your videos, Darryl! Thanks! God bless you.

[@jamesbranscomb855]

I also whole heartedly recommend Merkle & Plummer's book, "Beginning with New Testament Greek" as the best choice for beginning self learners. I first studied Greek in Bible School more than fifty years ago. We used Machen's Greek grammar as our text book. It was good for that time period but so much has changed since then- especially in the concepts of verbal aspect and verbal deponency. For reference grammars I use Mounce, Black, Harris (and others) in order in order to gain a broader understanding of Greek grammar. I especially like Dana Harris' concept of the perfect tense. She believes that the perfect tense may be viewed as either a past completed action or as a continuous action with continuous results in the present. This opens up a whole number of additional possibilities concerning how Greek sentences can be interpreted. I would like to add one additional thought: some people treat the Greek as though it was the Holy Spirit. No matter language (including Greek) you read the Bible in you still need the Holy Spirit to reveal the meaning of the text--not the Greek alone. I hope this helps someone.

[@lufknuht5960]

I also suffered with Machen in Bible College, paradigm upon paradigm.

[@lbcf.1689]

I went from Mounce to David A. Black grammar and starting with the verbs was a game changer in Black book. Helped me understand the language way more.

[@l.d.barneske8qbi5]

Here is consideration. I had a very hard time learning English in high school (graduated in 1980) I didn't learn how to read until fifth grade. I said that to to say this, on my own I tried the book Beginning Greek, and about lost my mind with what I call technical jargon, genitive, dative, etc. I threw my hands in the air and walked away. I'm on staff at my church and my pastor encouraged me to give it another try, so I went with Learn New Testament Greek. I like it, especially with the translations in the column next to the Greek. All one has to do is cover that side up with a piece of paper, a deposit slip from a check registry works well. I write the Greek out in a notebook leaving a space or two to write the English translation below the Greek or what I hope the translation is. When I am finished translating the words I then uncover the translation in the book. Since my English is so bad, I am working at a snails pace, but I have the rest of my life. I've been at it for three months and am on chapter 17. It hasn't at this point bogged me down with the aforementioned technical jargon. Memorization unlike Mounce with rote memorization, as you work through this book, you'll see the words coming up over and over again and voila your memorizing the words. When I finish I'll most likely go on to one of the other books. Learn New Testament Greek is great for those of us who just don't have a good grasp on English. I call it remedial Greek. So if I can work through it most anyone else can.

[@alexandersmith9385]

I studied first year Greek using Mounce. You are right he does give a lot of advanced info. Using the grammar to refresh. Thanks for the pointers on focusing on the basics of each chapter.

[@jasonbaker2370]

I’d say Beginning With New Testament Greek is now my second favorite book of all time for self-learners . What a LOVE about it though is the mountain of free stuff that comes with it like the authors have free videos for every chapter and there are paid Flashcards app with audio for this too not to mention a great parsing practice app that ties in with this book. My current favorite Greek grammar is a tie between Biblical Mastery Academy’s new in house made course (love the small steps!) and Greek For All’s course (professionally done videos and a course book/reading book that has zero fluff, everything condensed and straight to the point)

[@mendyman]

I'm using Dobson. I enjoy his encouraging style. Long, long ago I did a year of Greek at college and we used Wenham. I revisited it, but found it very difficult. Now I have a bit more time I will take your advice to timetable and keep moving on, not perfecting every step first. Starting tomorrow! Great video. Thank you.

[@dexterplameras3249]

I just want to point out a correction. Black, Learn to Read New Testament Greek, has an answer Key at the back, plus he also provides FREE lectures on youtube on his Book.His book is good but his teaching style is even better, the combination of the two have made it easier for me to learn. Black also organizes his book from the most commonly used paradigms to the least which I find helpful. For learning Greek, Id prefer to be eased into it which Black does and then find other material later once I have enough under my belt. Bear in mind that Deckers book which you have rated as the best is 600+ pages and Blacks is 258. This won't be the only begging grammar Koine Greek grammar that I buy, I'll probably get Deckers too. I can surmise that I think Black is focused on beginners, I don't have anything else to compare it too but thats my gut feel.

[@billbienia5065]

I am planning to use Merkle and Plummer's Beginning with New Testament Greek

[@Kayokak]

I was formally a self learner but now use MNTG with Darryl. I have Mounce, Merkle and Plummer, Black, and Decker of the ones mentioned in the video. These are not the only ones I have... That being said, Black and Mounce are the two books I have gotten farther with, by measure of material covered. Full disclosure: I am in MNTG (Darryl's program) so there could be some bias. However, I can attest to multiple failures in self learning and you will benefit from some form of teaching aid. Mounce has a lot of material, but a lot of it is supplemental and cost more money. I just started using Merkle & Plummer, they provide a lot of the same materials Mounce does but no extra cost. Not having any experience using Decker I can't comment on it. Merkle & Plummer (all the free stuff) as a primary source and Mounce (grammar alone) as a supplement are working well for me. Darryl's point of consistency and constant forward movement *cannot* be overstated.

[@PhinAI]

Per your recommendation, just received Beginning with New Testament Greek today. ... so, here i go!...

[@lchav52]

I have an older edition of the Dobson grammar. I am impressed by your recommendation for Beginning With New Testament Greek. I will probably try to acquire a copy.

[@obakengafrica2919]

I'm using Mounce's Basics of Biblical Greek. I got it when I did Greek during undergrad. I want to brush up on my Greek.

[@jennifersjunkmail5935]

Thank you for your video! I just bought Merkle and Plummer, on your recommendation, to begin self-study of Greek and am looking forward to digging into it. I have to say, though, that I'm disappointed with the anti-Catholic bias that the authors demonstrate right out of the gate. On page 4, they point to the Catholic Douay-Rheims version as their example of the error of not including the article of previous reference in James 2:14, but are silent on the fact that both the contemporary KJV and the modern NKJV have the same exclusion. (The NABRE, preferred by the Catholic church today, includes the article.) Thank you for all your inspiring videos! I may sign up for your class at some point, and will almost certainly purchase your vocabulary pack eventually, but prefer to be self-paced, so will give this a shot first. 🙂

[@brendenashby6913]

Thanks for the video! It explains why I struggled with Mounce. I had great success with Dobson and I'll be picking up Merkle now.

[@NathanChilton]

This is encouraging. I haven't actually started it yet, but I bought a copy of the Merkle and Plummer book "Beginning with New Testament Greek" and I was relieved to see that this is the one you recommend.

[@glossahouse]

We’re partial to Fred Long’s Greek Grammer, but these are great too!

[@BrotherJLG]

I think there is a lot of hesitation when you begin also, because you keep thinking that another grammar will be "better" than the one you already have.

[@Kayokak]

I have 4 or 5 grammars because of this... (i didn't buy them all at once).

[@BrotherJLG]

@@Kayokak I've got quite a few, but not from my initial start. I started with Mounce's 3rd edition (the whole starter pack thing) and Dan Wallace's GGBB. Since then I've continued picking up grammars from a local thrift store run by a ministry that has a lot of good libraries donated from deceased ministers or churches. I've found many good books that way.

[@bma]

This is a perpetual problem. Also lots of people finish beginning Greek with one grammar but lack confidence so they start again. Moving forward regardless of feelings is critical. 😀 Thanks for watching!

[@ΓραικοςΕλληνας]

@@bma erasmius way to say greek is wrong.we greek orthodox Christian use in church only koine greek. The erasmiuns never tell us when supposed we change the way we say or language.actually not even erasmus himself used that way he supposed greek was said.

[@qiaochan]

I have started learning Greek years ago but failed. Two years ago I restart learning. To my delight, I managed to get through the initial stage. But sadly speaking the world has changed and I have not fully understood this until findings your channel and this marvelous video. During the previous attempt BBG is undoubtedly the most highly acclaimed and Black is also recommended by some sites and more highly reviewed in Amazon than BBG (now 4.7 stars which is the same as that of BBG). Regarding my current status, I am at Chapter 19 of Black (of course the portion I can recall is very small). As going through elementaty grammar again is nearly unavoidable due to my slow and casual attitude in this run. I have considered BBG as my second learning until now. I am still wondering which will be the best for me but I am choosing between Beginning Grammar and Reading Koine Greek. Nevertheless, the topics in Ch 19-25 of Black arw really Greek to me (puns intended), I think it will be better to start another book after I get the overall framework in one book. I will consider the choice during this short period. I think nothing express better than the Chinese idiom 相逢恨晚 (literally means "we" should have met earlier). But I am grateful it has not become too late (Because I have been really making effect for only a year). Thank you again for your ongoing great work!

[@bma]

Black with BBG as a reference sounds like a good way to review and develop your Greek! Keep it up!

[@Strongtower]

David alan black has all his Greek lectures free on KZbin if you haven't seen them yet.

[@cw8790]

Looking forward to your Grammar coming

[@brucehanify3892]

Good stuff. I'm speaking Greek already!

[@exiledhobbit1441]

Was going to start with Mounce's Btextbook and workbook published by Zondervan. I think i will find that book to be quite helpful. I have not thumbed throug it yet, but... I own the Basics of Biblical Hebrew Grammar: Third Edition (Zondervan Language Basics Series) and workbook and I like the format that editor Zondervan proposes in this series. I also borrowed Teach Yourself series, Complete New Testament Greek by Gavin Betts but it is too complex for the average beginner, although I'm sure it's great for certain learning situations for an English speaking Koine Greek (an intermediate Greek) learner. I echo one of the one star reviews "Too much grammar. Not enough phrases and practical usage. I don't know how anyone can learn a foreign language this way." And a four star review "It moved along at a nice pace for someone who has studied some basic koine greek" Maybe I'll go back to the Betts text after I mostly master the Mounce textbook.

[@dylanx9327]

What are the best phone apps to learn Greek? ...vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, reading, etc...

[@scripturial]

I love a good printed physical book, I love to hold it in my hand and flick through it. However, I have a strong suspicion that in 20 years time, no one will be learning using books any more. Im not sure if we will all be in VR but I do suspect our children will live in houses that don't have physical books. It'll be interesting to see how seminaries keep up with the technological trends.

[@freshbreadloaves]

Thanks for the video Darryl :) Just thought to inform that there is an answer key at the back of the book of Black's Grammar. Also, was hoping that there would be something like that for intermediate grammars :)

[@bma]

Intermediate grammars are on my "to do" list. Watch for some in the nearish future.

[@vancesnyder2426]

As always. Good news.

[@monmonmon333]

god bless you sir! thank you for this video 🤍💖❤

[@kevinjones2145]

Thanks for this video, Darryl!

[@bma]

Thanks for watching!

[@spanishfly7709]

This is going to be easy! I taught myself Spanish so this is no different.

[@bma]

I wish you all the best - 1 Kings 20:11 😉

[@phillewis3108]

I’m confused… you’re not giving us one, your giving us two, but we should get the third one first if we don’t have the other two, and the fourth is good as well. I know less about which to get now than before I watched!

[@georgcantor8859]

Just about to start Biblical Greek at CSU and previously went through a few chapters of Mounce. Should I ditch the Mounce book and exercises, or use them to supplement? Have subscribed because over the next year and a half, I suspect this channel will become super important😊 Cheers, SPB

[@bma]

If you're learning Greek in an academic environment, follow their curriculum and supplement with additional grammars. If they use Mounce, use that and supplement it with Merkle and Plummer and/or Decker. I hope that helps!

[@georgcantor8859]

Thank you. Hopefully I'll be joining you in the biblical Greek club. Blessings SPB

[@kevinobie1]

Another outstanding video as usual, thank you! As you become more familiar with these texts, do you ever find a need to update any of your previous review videos? Or do those still stand regarding details of caveats, what you like and dislike, etc.? Blessings!

[@bma]

Thanks for the great question! There is always room to improve, and I think some of the things I might have been more (or less) critical of earlier I might be different about now. The Harris grammar is an example. I really like it, but I can't bring myself to use it as a primary grammar. And perhaps I will update the reviews later on, and certainly the "round-up" type reviews such as the "top 10 grammars" video, I'll probably update once a year as I go through more grammars.

[@andreialves6260]

Excellent video! Thank you for all the knowledge you pour out for free on this chanel. From this list a have Decker (bought by your recomendation), and it has excellent explanations. He tries to give you the details but in a friendly way. I am gonig to buy Dobson's grammar to use in a course that i 'm planning to create. It has a translation for portuguese that i didn't knew.

[@Yeshuite]

Just bought Dobson and Plumber. Looking to self teach. Which should I keep?

[@ezrapound6063]

Got a digital version of Decker's on Logos.

[@rinkevichjm]

How about James Swetnam’s An introduction to the study of New Testament Greek vol 1&2 which is available on Verbum/Logos?

[@Aaron_Wells]

As an update on Decker, I do not think that this textbook works good for a first year self-learner. First, it has no answer Key. Of course, you can check scripture translations for your answers, but that kind of defeats the purpose of getting guidance from a Greek instructor. Second, it is not really an integrated workbook as much as it is a series of translation exercises with full or partial answers in the right hand column. Third, many of Decker's examples include low frequency vocabulary words that may overwhelm a first year student. Finally, the chapters themselves are extremely robust and suited really for an advanced or highly ambitious student. Chapter 6 includes adjectives, adverbs, uses of the 3rd person pronoun, comparatives and superlatives, along with some 3rd declension adjectives. However, I believe this is the ideal textbook to immediately follow up 1st year Greek, Along with the reader, because this would be a very comprehensive review that also includes readings beyond NT Greek.

[@bma]

Thanks for these thoughtful comments!

[@jamesbranscomb855]

When I reread my comment about Dana Harris' beliefs concerning the perfect tense I realized that I did not state it properly. So, let me correct this error: she believes that the perfect tense can either be interpreted as a past completed action or a past continuous action with continuing results in the present. 1 Peter 1:23, then (as a Perfect Passive Participle) could either be translated as, "Having been born again..." or as "Being born again..." as some Bible Versions have translated it. Also, 1 Cor. 1:2 (another Perfect Passive Participle) can be translated as either, "...having been sanctified..." or as "...being sanctified..." This means that the parafractive είμι verb would not be needed in these sentences in order to provide continuous action to the main verb. I know that I have stepped outside of the "coloring lines" of Bible interpretation and that many scholars would disagree with me. However, this is what I believe and I thank Dana Harris' for giving me another tool to work with.

[@storyofscripture]

I did Logos Greek 101 course, please review that! I then read Harris grammar and really liked it!

[@bma]

I'll have to take a look at the Greek 101 course in Logos. Is that the one that uses Schwandt?

[@storyofscripture]

@@bma yes it is

[@kevinsez6452]

I started learning Greek at the beginning of 2021. We were still pretty much “locked down” because of Covid and it was easy to devote the time needed to progress. Around June work picked up and requirements for spending complete days in the office. For some reason I also have had other things competing for my time since then as well. I am using Mounce. I have still made decent progress, but just as indicated in this video I have “bogged down” at chapter 20. Progress has stalled. I feel like the concepts and memory work are becoming too much. Not so much difficulty with vocabulary, but with the grammar itself. Lately I have reviewed the last few chapters and intend on just trying to move on and hope for the best. Even though I feel a bit overwhelmed I have not lost anything yet so that is good. I do have a copy of Merkle and Plummers grammar, but switching from Mounce in the middle is not really a workable idea. There is just too much difference in the things covered that it seems I would need to start over completely. I’m sure if I did that progress would be fairly quick because a lot would be review, but I still feel like my best option is to just move ahead in Mounce and hope that some of the concepts become clearer as I move on. I still have a goal of completing this and continuing learning. Since I am more than halfway thru Mounce I feel pretty heavily invested in it to give up.

[@jswagg193]

You are right about moving on. You can't force language learning when your brain won't accept it. I'm super into language learning. I've learned Chinese and am now learning Spanish plus Biblical Hebrew and Greek on the side. My first Greek grammar was David Alan Black's and by chapter 16 I wasn't remembering any paradigms or anything anymore. It was too much. Yet I just moved on and now I'm reading the Greek NT fine. I'm going through Decker now slowly as I read more things in context. Just move on and your brain will pick it up at some point as you see these things in context in the Greek NT or in a separate grammar. Part of the problem of memorizing all of this stuff without reading the Greek NT is you have no context to frame it in.

[@bma]

The most important thing is to just keep moving as James mentioned. I don't recommend switching grammars at this stage unless you've really dropped the ball. If you did want to switch later, do so after you've finished chapter 25 and can jump to participles in Merkle and Plummer. FWIW, lots of students run into problems in chapter 20 and 21 of Mounce, so it's not just you. The main thing in chapter 20 is to understand the why behind patterns 2 & 3. They will be fleshed out more in the next chapter.

[@jswagg193]

@@bma Put it much better than I would've! Yes to be clear I wasn't implying switching. I finished black before moving on to another one. Just saying that as you go through another one later the second one might make it more clear for you

[@jackiesindel5278]

I like this guy and love what he is doing but I wish he could get to the point a little quicker

[@storyofscripture]

lol that's why God predestined 2x speed

[@briteddy9759]

LOL, x2 speed is essential! There are a few exceptions and the Daily Dose of Greek is one. I find this a very useful drip of Greek.

[@bma]

It's hard to get a good balance sometimes. I sometimes get comments saying I talk too fast. Other times, perhaps I'm building a case beforehand. Certainly you're welcome to speed me up or skip forward. 😀 Thanks for watching!

[@briteddy9759]

Playing this at x2 speed is not a criticism. I play practically everything at double speed. That way I can get through twice as much. The different speed options gives flexibility. I actually retain more at a higher speed because I have to concentrate. At regular speed, my mind will easily wander…

[@larrycdalton]

Hi Darryl, Love the channel and content: I'm a self-learner that has gone about things in following way taking a longer term view (and knowing how to keep myself interested along with a sense of some achievement) I bought Mounces "Greek for the rest of us" and covered the first few chapters to get into the language - alphabet etc. I then bought Mounces Card Deck and learnt the 1000 words with an app that helps with pronunciation (Greek for all vocab). (I did this so that I could focus on the grammar when I got there and not having to invest in mastering vocab at the same time) I have now just started "Basic Greek in 30 mins a day" by James Found...have you encountered this book? Thoughts? I also bought your top 4 grammar books and will see which works for me and perhaps ebay the rest after I've covered off the above book. I tinker with a read-recognise approach, having started with Romans 1, using an interlinear and reverse interlinear - both ESV (one of the things that keeps me interested and is fun at the same time) Would love your thoughts on my approach and the book. Many thanks in Christ, Larry

[@bma]

I have Found’s book and hope to review it at some point. My recommendation is to select one grammar and use the other ones as reference. Don’t take too long to go through beginning Greek. There is a lot to learn and doing it too slowly will actually be counterproductive. I hope that helps!

[@nicolasrubio4226]

Anyone know if there is a video that looks like this one but on Biblical Hebrew grammars.

[@frankrecinos7158]

What do you think of Greek to Me by Story and Story? It uses funny cartoons to teach Greek grammar and vocabulary.

[@deercreekoutdoors]

I have just gotten Beginning with New Testament Greek by Merkle and Plummer. Is there an amount of chapters I should shoot for per week or perhaps per month? Thank you in advance

[@yoseffeigenbaum9639]

Which one do you recommend for reading LXX?

[@BrotherJLG]

Rodney Decker's might be good for that because he routinely uses examples from the LXX.

[@yoseffeigenbaum9639]

@@BrotherJLG Thanks! I'll look it up.

[@bma]

Yes, Decker is good for the LXX. There is also an older descriptive grammar for the Septuagint by Conybeare that you should consider looking at. You'll find it at mntg.me/conybeare.

[@dylanx9327]

7:03... video starts here...

[@catrandy7957]

What do you think of Mounces "Greek for the rest of us" as a way to get the basics first?

[@bma]

I haven't looked at this but I'll do that and perhaps create a video about it.

[@MB-gd6be]

Writing out Paradigms...?

[@bma]

Have you found a better way to learn them? I'd love to hear it!

[@lufknuht5960]

Learn morphs, rules: like Present stem is indicated by o/e suffix, reduplication with iota, or special infixes (like -(i)sk. Past indicative is indicated by prefixed -episilon. Primary & Secondary endings. -se/-so suffix for future. -sa for Aorist. reduplication with epsilon for perfect tense. Learn your vowel contractions & consonant assimilations.

[@Alaedious]

Why do you never consider Athenaze or Cambridge's Reading Greek?

[@bma]

Probably because I haven't seen them before? Thanks for the suggestions!

[@arthurodell3281]

Those both focus on Attic Greek rather than Koine Greek. They are grammars traditionally used in classics programs rather than seminaries, where the focus is on learning Biblical/Koine Greek specifically.

[@Alaedious]

There's very few differences between the two, and if the goal is to learn Ancient Greek, whether classical or Koine, they are probably the best methods out there.

[@Aaron_Wells]

@@Alaedious Not all Biblical Greek students want to learn the broader uses of the optative, along with the expanded vocabulary and syntax particular to Attic Greek. They are primarily engaged with the New Testament, and maybe some Septuagint and Church Fathers. Biblical Greek has a much stronger Semitic influence as well. Now if one intends to read Josephus, Philo, and writers of the second sophistic, then I would agree and get an Attic Greek grammar. Most scripture students won't have time for that because with any extra time for languages they are probably going to learn Biblical Hebrew. Finally, since this video is about the best self learning grammar for students of biblical Greek, I cannot think of one Attic Greek grammar that is sufficient for self-study other than maybe Hansen and Quinn.

[@albertritchot7181]

The presenter speaks much too fast. I had to put it on 75% of normal just to understand what he's saying. Thank you for the information though.

[@HenryLeslieGraham]

where The Elements of New Testament Greek???

[@bma]

I love your enthusiasm. I think if you search the channel for it, you’ll find it. Thanks for watching!

[@HenryLeslieGraham]

@@bma yes thats not what Im asking. you did not mention it in this video. which is why i asked.

[@carlageday9222]

I plan on Merkel I just stumbled onto this video so I haven't bought any one as yet

[@bma]

Great choice! Thanks for watching!