Beginning Greek: Is this the perfect Greek Grammar? Review of Dana Harris' Biblical Greek grammar

[@bma]

Have you read this grammar? If so, what do you think of it? Leave your comments below.

[@danaharris5095]

Thank you, Darryl, for reviewing my grammar! I appreciate your comments and think that the weaknesses that you identify are fair. I was already aware of them, but hadn't come up with good solutions in time for publication. I really appreciate the great work that you're doing!

[@bma]

Thank you so much for your comments Dr. Harris! I really appreciate your comments, your willingness to watch my review and your thoughtful humility. I look forward to utilizing your grammar in the near future, and also look forward to any revisions you might have opportunity to do in the future. Thank you again!

[@davidmcfather1884]

Her willingness to watch and respond says a lot about her character. Definitely will consider picking this grammar up

[@Nehmi]

@@davidmcfather1884 She was actually my Koine Greek professor in grad school. I took her intensive summer course and ended up testing into advance Koine for the fall. Great teacher.

[@isaacstropes3091]

I bought this grammar, workbook, and the videos separately on Logos. I’m on chapter 2 and was feeling overwhelmed! Your review helped me calm down and realize that I just need to see this chapter as an overview and keep moving. I LOVE how many words she has me learning! Epic. She is very clear and explains everything. I do wish she had me learning to translate more. That was my first thought this chapter. But no one is perfect and I’m grateful for the opportunity she provided me to learn at home! Thanks for all you do too!

[@bma]

Great to hear! Have you checked out our membership? I think you'd find it helpful for learning at home. Take a look at what we offer at bma.to/membership.

[@giannirussso]

I would like to hear your review of how well this grammar works in the classroom, Darryl. Thank you for the video!

[@roberttrevino62800]

Just picked this up. I enjoy it so far.

[@MiserableLittleDoomGoblin]

My takeaway is that Darryl is going to be writing an introduction to Greek grammar in the near future. 🙂

[@bma]

No way! there are plenty of great grammars, and besides, I don’t have time! Love your support though! Thanks!

[@TheJesusNerd40]

I too want Darryl to write his own grammar!

[@dustinmray]

I just got the grammar and workbook in the mail, and as a refreshing student, I'm really excited to go through it!

[@retireddoc6145]

Dr. Burling's has excellent supplemental study aids in his current courses, and I am sure he will be supplementing this text with his comprehensive set of exercises. Can't Wait!! Thanks for another excellent review.

[@bma]

Glad you find them helpful! Yes, I'll be creating more for this when I prepare to teach through it.

[@johnjialelim7570]

Great review ! New grammar is always welcomed . Hey Doctor Darryl Burling , are you planning to do video on comprehensive guide on how to use to BDAG or Greek lexicon ? I don't see a lot of quality videos on KZbin that provide in-depth guide on how to use BDAG . This could be very helpful to the community of devout Greek students :) .

[@bma]

Great suggestion! I did do a comparison of BDAG and the Brill lexicon (kzbin.info/www/bejne/foabga18btVsd9k). It sounds like you're asking for a guide on how to use them though, right?

[@stevenpretsel4099]

Currently reading through this for a refresher and love it. She certainly is very clear in her explanations and continually reminds students of previous concepts throughout. Thanks for another helpful review!

[@bma]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for your comments!

[@TheologicalQuest]

I had purchased this one and also Plummer's and Decker's Grammars early last December (already had mounce's 4th from previous year had never used). I had taken Greek in Seminary about 20 years ago but never really used it after and forgot almost everything so when I compared this grammar with the others here is what I thought: First as a 'beginner' I found Plummer's the most helpful and easy to understand Mounce was probably 2nd. Decker was more indepth than those two it seemed (but not difficult to understand). Harris' grammar though just confused the snot out of me. I tried reading that first chapter on Verbs and determined that her grammar would NOT be my main beginner grammar for learning greek. So my pattern now is to read the topic in Plummer, then mounce and if I still need/want more info in Decker's and lastly Harris'. I think if I had remembered more from my past classes (i.e. if this was more of a refresher course for me) then I would enjoy her grammar more. She does do a good job of explaining things.... once I have already read the terminology and explanations in the other texts she helps to solidify my understanding. To sum it up as a 'beginner' I would not recommend her grammar as the main text for a beginner, but it would definitely be good as a resource. On a side note, Plummer's Grammar comes with free videos for each lesson and they are excellent and keep my attention well. Zondervan made the videos for Mounce's 4th and also Harris' and the format they used is not as good I think as Plummer's. I don't want to be harsh but Harris' videos are rather dry (you can get a free 2 week membership to watch some of them ).

[@bma]

Your comments confirm what I was saying about that chapter on verbs at the beginning being a bit much. in a class I would be inclined to skip it and redistribute the material throughout. I’m planning to make my own videos for Harris.

[@JRMuse]

Thank you, so much for all the analysis you do on various Greek grammars. I'm about 1/3 of the way through an M. Div. program and am taking Greek by Mounce. However, I had purchased Harris' book on my own (and had an old "Elements of New Testament Greek" by Wenham). My confidence is growing in my learning. But I use Mounce primarily and supplement with Harris. I really like her approach, so thanks again.

[@bma]

You're very welcome! Keep up the great work!

[@19king14]

Here’s a curious question;.. Today in the English language, we take a sentence and break it down grammatically, subject, verb, predicate, prepositional phrases, etc...We create “rules of grammar” on how to structure sentences.. That said, Is there any indication whether the Greek speaking people in biblical times did the same sort of thing? Did they have “rules of grammar” to be followed or did they just sooner speak/write what was needed to be said in a way that simply made the point they had in mind? Also, can it happen, we English speaking people may apply our English “rules of grammar” into the Greek writings/translating that would make the thought differ from the Greek writers intent? Many of our English “rules of grammar” have exceptions. How can we be sure the Greek writers thoughts were also ‘exceptions to the rules’? Ray Morris

[@anthonyrivera8135]

Thank you for another great Greek grammar review! In addition to the grammar and the workbook, there is a DVD available as well - An Introduction to Biblical Greek Video Lectures: Elementary Syntax and Linguistics. Again, thank you. Keep up the great work.

[@bma]

Thanks for watching!

[@andrease8228]

Thanks for your Video, Darryl. Just in time. I was searching for information about this grammar just in this moment . That was really helpful.

[@bma]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@markmarkster]

Just bought it and looking forward to devouring it.

[@bma]

You’ll enjoy it. 😀

[@BiblicalStudiesandReviews]

Really enjoyable review!

[@bma]

Thank you, I appreciate your support!

[@micahclifford94]

Hi Darryl, I feel like I am spamming this channel of late. I am about to purchase this Textbook. My only concern is that I haven't heard you make any comments on the way Harris engages with morphology. Do you think this TB has a strong handle on Morphology? Or should I get another TB to supplement it? Thanks again. I really appreciate the time and effort you put in.

[@bma]

The best beginning Greek grammar on Morphology is Mounce’s Basics of Biblical Greek, but as a supplement to another beginning Greek grammar, you might prefer his Morphology of Biblical Greek instead - for the purposes of a supplement it is laid out better and is more detailed and exhaustive. Get it on Logos at mntg.me/mmbg.

[@user-tb2vc3gd5w]

Looks interesting! Thanks. Will you review Fundamentals of NT Greek by Porter, Reed, and O’Donnell?

[@bma]

Eventually! Thanks for the great suggestion!

[@BrotherJLG]

I just saw this one the other day and was wondering about it.

[@bma]

it’s worth having!

[@wst9584]

Love these grammar reviews. Have you been able to teach from this grammar? If so, what's your thoughts?

[@ianianianian219]

Hey I'm taking some course in Attic Greek at university right now and I'm thinking about using some New Testament reading to help practice and broaden my Greek. Have you considered making a video on how a non-believer could benefit from reading the New Testament in Greek? Thanks for the videos, some of them have been very helpful even though I'm studying a different dialect of Greek.

[@bma]

Thanks for your comment and for watching! I’m glad these have been helpful. I can certainly do something on why it is worth reading the Greek NT as literature. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@TheOtherPaul]

If you haven't already I reckon you should look at the work of Benjamin Paul Kantor at koinegreek.com, and the Biblical Language Center. They approach teaching Koine as a living language, where you actually learn to read, write, speak, and hear the language, which allows you to internalise the language like a living language, unlike the typical grammar/translation method. Ive been using this method for over a year now and it has been extremely rewarding.

[@bma]

Thanks, I've spent quite a bit of time thinking about the NLA and I know it has benefits, but I also know there are drawbacks for the study of the New Testament. At some point I'll look at doing a video on this, but not yet. Thanks for watching!

[@hisgrace4764]

Hi great video :) will you be reviewing intermediate Greek grammars like ‘it’s still greek to me’ by DA Black?

[@bma]

Yes indeed! Hopefully I’ll get some out this year.

[@andreialves6260]

Thank you for the review, Darryl! I am using Decker's grammar (almost finishing it) and i would like to buy another grammar to supplement it. I am really considering to get Dana's book. Would you recommend the workbook too, or do you think the grammar alone is sufficient (in my case)?

[@bma]

Just the grammar since you're almost finished with Decker. The only time I'd recommend the workbook is if a) you're learning Greek for the first time and b) you're working alone.

[@andreialves6260]

@@bma Yes, I understand. Thank you, Darryl.

[@2WheeledRakyat]

Hi Darryl, would this be a good book for self-study,, especially to refresh certain basics of Greek? I went through one year of Greek with Mounce's latest textbook, but still find myself a little bit rather confused with a lot of things.

[@bma]

Yes, this would be an excellent choice for a refresh!

[@carlosjuarez2938]

Is this greek grammar still worth it if you cant afford the workbook? Or would deckers be better in this case since it comes with a workbook. I ask as someone who isnt taking classes or anything like that but doing at home studies.

[@bma]

If you're studying alone, and you can only get one, I'd get Decker. I think this is a better grammar in some ways, but Decker's exercises are really good for self-study and they come with the grammar.

[@christopherskipp1525]

Sorry, what was your favorite grammar before the one your discussing here? Thank you.

[@bma]

It was Decker’s Reading Koine Greek. You’ll find my review of it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaHTaIuvf7uqeq8

[@christopherskipp1525]

@@bma Thank you.

[@uncareid5557]

Where do you start? I thought learning Koine Greek would be a worthy project in my new life. My wife and I were forced into early retirement by the virus. I am in a good spacious place and have time. I want to be a good steward of that time. Money is not a big issue, but I am challenged linguistically so I need to take it slow. I flunked high school German fifty years ago and am even weak in English grammar. Am I on a fool's errand? Thanks, Δαυιδ

[@bma]

Absolutely. Most people don’t know much English Grammar when they start. The key is to have a good process to follow. Get the details in my Roadmap to Mastery at month.me/roadmap.

[@tomholden494]

@@bma Hi - is there a working link to your roadmap?

[@Aaron_Wells]

This grammar has a lot to commend itself, but it does seem rather intense for an introductory text. There is just a lot of information. Interesting how some grammars are simply designed to get the person at the core vocabulary of 50 occurrences or more, the basic grammar, and the ability to start reading the Letters of John with a commentary that allows for vocabulary building and syntax development. This can all be done relatively quickly, but not with this grammar. This is a one-year commitment for the beginning student. This grammar almost seems like the ideal lower intermediate text to use when you begin reading entry-level New Testament texts and need to reinforce everything you learned the first time. I'm a little disappointed in the workbook, as pedagogically it does not seem all that exciting. As you said, not enough translation. I agree the instructor should just design their own exercises to supplement the textbook. Also the title is a bit misleading, as it seems the texts involved are much more weighted towards the New Testament than the Septuagint. I'll have to look at it in more detail. The integration chapters are quite impressive.

[@bma]

Thanks for your comments! I don't think the content overall is overwhelming, mostly just chapter 2. If you were to skip this chapter, the first few chapters would be comparable to Decker or Merkle and Plummer. Thanks for watching!