How to build a starter library for biblical Greek: What sort of books and which ones?

[@joakimrantanen3401]

Thank you for the helpful video! Maybe you missed it, but you definitely should have included a lexicon (probably BDAG) in the list of a basic greek library! It is probably the most important volume after the grammar. I suppose many get one in some kind of electronic form (like logos), but it still counts as a book, right?

[@bma]

That is a great suggestion. A poor mans alternative would be Abbott-Smith or Liddell-Scott. Thanks! Logos has BDAG on sale for just $90 right now: mntg.me/bdag

[@judithgardiner3898]

The concise Danker which Decker reccomends might be a good starter - a third of the price of BDAG and much more portable. Still very fond of Abbott-Smith which is even cheaper and is very good on LXX usage - pointing out which Hebrew words the LXX uses a particular Greek term to translate. And though Darryl will hate me I also think Mounce’s Analytical Lexicon is a good tool in beginning stages and it also contains the gist of his morphology book - so 2 for 1 . Not one to get over reliant on but useful if you are really stuck on a form. It also makes you work harder than a mouse over and with that I’m definitely with Darryl - there’s something about having physical tools that you have to get up to consult that helps you avoid laziness and ensures you get a bit of exercise and a screen break!

[@bma]

There are certainly benefits to physical books. 😉

[@d-bo6411]

What is your favorite edition of Abbott-Smith & Liddell-Scott?

[@bma]

Between the two I would be hard pressed. They are both good and also similar enough that deciding between them is tricky. I think that Abbott Smith May be a better choice initially though.

[@rbeehner2]

I appreciate the insights. When I studied Greek (ATS, 1998-2001) we used N. Clayton Croy's text but it hadn't been published yet so we used a spiral bound copy with his permission. The following text from my Greek Library have been helpful to me, especially, the last two listed: Moulton. Grammar of NT Greek 4 vols. Wuest. Word Studies in the Greek NT 4 vols Hewett. NT Greek: A beginning and Intermediate Grammar Wigram. The Englishman’s Greek Concordance of the NT Thayer’s. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. Moulton & Milligan. Vocabulary of the Greek NT. N. Clayton Croy. A Primer of Biblical Greek. Blass & Debrunner. A Greek Grammar of the NT and other Early Christian Literature. Arndt and Gingrich. A Greek-English Lexicon of the NT and other Early Christian Literature (BDAG)

[@SteveM0732]

Since you asked ... I would get my Greek New Testament from Trinitarian Bible Society. It is the text prepared by F.H.A. Scrivener and is $8 for a hardcover and shipping tends to be very affordable.

[@BiblicalStudiesandReviews]

They also had a really nice leather bound one. Unfortunately it’s been out of stock for a long time now.

[@bma]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@grahamedwards6581]

This was an interesting video. The one book my professor at university got me using was A Grammatical Analysis of the Greek New Testament by Max Zerwick and Mary Grovesnor. I have been using alongside it my Greek New Testament ever since. It is definitely one of the essential books in my Greek library.

[@wolfgangbinder7094]

I find the Pocket Dictionary for the Study of New Testament Greek by Matthew S. DeMoss very helpful.

[@bma]

Great suggestion! Thanks Wolfgang!

[@cross-examininggod482]

Hi Darryl, my name is Jonathon and love a first time pastor in North Dakota. I completed 4 semesters of Biblical Greek in my undergraduate program and haven’t done with anything with it sense. I have decided to go back and relearnNew Testament Greek. I choose “beginning with New Testament Greek” for my Grammar. I’m nervous and anxious about learning on my own but I know this will help my ministry in the future.

[@BiblicalStudiesandReviews]

The Master New Testament Greek Show! Haha I like it.

[@bma]

Others have said "No Way!" Fun to hear the feedback!

[@d-bo6411]

=) Master new testament Greek (= 'Cuz it's a life long journey, one that takes a lot of training. A journey that humbles a man into a little child, one that forces a man to deny himself and may cost him his life! But it's just as the time Jacob worked for Rachel. All that is lost on this journey will be repaid like the book of Job. His Word, He is the very One that keeps us alive to this day.

[@bromineandtungsten]

I totally agree with your analysis of Wallace’s Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics. It seems that many people I interact with have a misunderstanding of aspect in that what they think is verbal aspect is actually aktionsart. My view is that this popular misunderstanding has been perpetuated by Wallace. People don’t realize the richness they are missing by ignoring verbal aspect. But overall, I believe Wallace’s work is a serviceable and accessible grammar that is well worth adding to one’s library.

[@bma]

I agree! Thanks for your comments!

[@neilellson]

Great video Darryl. You’ve picked well because I’ve got them all bar the dictionary. Seriously though, some of the books I bought then they sat on my shelf. However being encouraged to read them through the Master New Testament Greek membership meant that I had extra incentive to get on and read. The opportunity to discuss on the community platform and in a live zoom call was so helpful. A great selection, thanks. What to buy and try to sneak past my wife next though?

[@numberman911]

Very funny, I like the "...try to sneak past my wife" part.

[@bma]

Thanks! I'm glad the membership is so helpful!

[@tardisadric]

I would concur that lexicons are missing from this list. While there are some interesting supplemental lexicons (Moulton and Milligan), I would recommend both BAGD and Louw and Nida. The organizational principle of Louw and Nida based on semantic domains makes it a wonderful contrast to the alphabetical approach of the BAGD. I find them both useful.

[@rabignall]

This is truly a great help to me! I have always wondered what books to get. Now I know the basics and what not to waste my money on. Thank you so much!

[@bma]

You're so welcome!

[@zondervangreek]

Very good video. I need to just man up and buy Dr. Burling's book.

[@bma]

Please do! If something is holding you back, let me know what it is.

[@MrJsteed2009]

Very nice recommendations.

[@IsaacHuntertheWriter]

You should call it a show. I watch it regularly!

[@d-bo6411]

I wish I could give this video👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 I'm excited for more videos like this! ...then again...i love all your work. Thank you very much!

[@bma]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@inthewoods1979]

Amazing video

[@FrankieGRAI]

Great list! In addition I would like to mention one Intermediate NT Greek that I had benefit in the past. (Could be a bit dated by now, but it did helped me). "Intermediate New Testament Greek: A Linguistic and Exegetical Approach" by Richard Young. It might not be as comprehensive as Wallace, but the approach is very pedagogical and easy to follow. What I like about this book is the exercises and a good explanation of sentence structure.

[@bma]

Thanks for sharing! I have Young on my list of Intermediate Grammars to review.

[@WilliamDicks]

Thanks for the rundown of what is needed for a basic library for Biblical Greek. Of the 13 recommendations, I only need the Reader's Lexicon, and the 2 Text Criticism books.

[@bma]

You are welcome! Thanks for subscribing to the channel! FWIW, you don't need to get both text criticism books for a minimum library, either will serve the purpose of a basic introduction well.

[@WilliamDicks]

@@bma I got both text criticism books. All I need now is the lexicon. But, I can imagine that that one is not cheap.

[@bma]

BRAG is on special at the moment, which a couple of others have noted is good and probably should be in the list. Http://mntg.me/bdag

[@Stoutman100]

I am using Beginning With New Testament Greek (really enjoying it). I have Basics of Biblical Greek but can't get through it. Don't know why but I enjoy Dr. Plummer's book more.

[@bma]

Your experience is shared with many, I'm sure! Thanks for watching!

[@csamuel76]

I love your videos! Have you ever planned or do you plan on reviewing David Alan Black's Learn to Read New Testament Greek 3rd ed??

[@bma]

Yes! That's the next grammar on my list to review. It should be out in February sometime (d.v.). Thanks for watching!

[@numberman911]

Thanks for the recommendation.

[@bma]

Any time!

[@ExploreTheology]

Thank You!

[@bma]

You're welcome!

[@ChristcentredNaturalgee]

I love your videos.

Thank you! Great video.

[@bma]

Thank you! I appreciate your feedback!

[@1689JeffChavez]

Thank you. Can you please do the same for Hebrew Language? I benefited a lot from your videos. SDG!

[@kendallroot6306]

This was a great video and I really appreciate your suggestions here. I've purchased a couple of things on your list and have added several others to my shopping list for the future. I am just finished my 2nd semester of biblical Greek and am preparing to start biblical Hebrew. I was wondering if you know of a list of resources (similar to what you have in this video here) for Hebrew.

[@bma]

These are few years old now so there may be better alternatives, but here goes: You’ll want a copy of HALOT (or Halliday if you can’t afford HALOT), probably a BHS (reader’s edition if you don’t intend to learn all the vocabulary), Waltke and O’Connor’s intermediate Grammar, and I really benefitted from Arnold and Choi’s A Guide to Biblical Hebrew Syntax. For a beginning Grammar, Kurtz and Josberger’s Learning Biblical Hebrew is good, as is Allen P. Ross, An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew. I hope that helps!

[@kendallroot6306]

@@bma Thanks!

[@luker290]

I’ve done a lot of work with beginning Greek. I actually think SM Baugh’s Greek workbook is probably the better place to start. Here’s an article I wrote on the topic: www.katakurion.com/blog/comprehensive-thoughts-on-learning-greek-and-textbooks

[@luker290]

But really enjoyed the video!

[@bma]

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll look at getting a copy of Baugh for a future review.

[@luker290]

Baugh’s is best for those who have just begun to study Greek.

[@micahclifford94]

Hi Dr Darryl! I just stumbled upon your channel very recently and loving it. Thank-you! I noticed your Kiwi accent instantly as I am an Aussie. I am 3/4 of the way through Duff's "Elements of NT Greek" and really loving it. For some reason, this seems to be the industry-standard first-year Greek textbook for Australian institutions, hence my choice of it. Have you done a review of this yet? I could not find it anywhere if so. With regards to this video, I am wondering if Duff would be an adequate substitute for Mounce's book on your list?

[@bma]

Not yet, but I'm going to do so soon. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@leonardisaksson9993]

Other worthy books on NT Greek Biblical Greek by Maximillian Zerwick, Idiom book of NT Greek C.F. D. Moule

[@tomfortune8136]

I am working through Jeremy Duffs basic grammar - The Elements of New Testament Greek and find it quite good. I haven’t seen any reference to this book in your videos. Any thoughts about it?

[@richardcasella2729]

Hello, in this KZbin video you recommend the Decker Beg. Grammer in another you suggest the Merkle/Plummer one. I'm not sure which one to get? Please advise. Thanks.

[@bma]

I recommend Merkle and Plummer for complete beginners and Decker or Mounce for a refresh.

[@globalrevival]

Perhaps what one needed depends on whether they are trying to learn it on their own, or if they will receive classroom or online instruction. It would be also helpful to know which Grammars you used in previous classes, and which you are using in your classes in 2021 so that prospective students don’t buy the wrong ones. Seems like you were leaning to Harris and Decker for your own teaching classes in this video, but is that what you will teach with in April 2021?

[@bma]

The Beginning Greek class we are starting in a week or so will be based on Mounce. Harris is in the works for next January.

[@jimmellema7487]

I am surprised that you did not include a lexicon, e.g. BDAG, in your list. Basic vocabulary guides usually just give glosses, sometimes context dependent ones, without giving any additional information about meaning. If you learn a gloss for a word in one context and then encounter it in a different context you may have trouble with it in the new context. Sometimes looking up a word in the lexicon may give you more information to help you in varying situations.

[@bma]

Yes. Someone else mentioned that. A more comprehensive lexicon would be a great addition to this list. Logos have a sale on BDAG at the moment - mntg.me/bdag.

[@omnitheus5442]

I concur that Mounce's Greek text isn't all that great.

[@tomfortune8136]

This is a general question. I have noticed that nearly all Greek grammars and related learning materials come out of the Protestant tradition. I am Roman Catholic, and while I don’t suppose it matters terribly much at the level of basic Greek language learning, I was wondering why this pedagogical bias exists. Thanks?

[@bma]

That is an interesting observation I hadn't made. It could be (assuming you're right) that it is due to the protestant desire to give people direct access to the Word rather than a more mediated access through the church and its traditions... but I'm not 100% certain without thinking it through more.

[@jcschroeder8190]

Great video! What do you think of Runge's Discourse Grammar? I have found it to be really helpful.

[@bma]

I love it! It is very helpful, and I would recommend it for a slightly less minimal library 😉

[@BillWalkerWarren]

This is great. One or two questions. I noticed that in other reviews you have done , some newer books have been released . So has this list changed? Especially on the beginning side of the grammars . Also do you suggest any apps at this point ? One other question you suggest to get two beginning and two intermediate grammars , do you suggest that one complete the first two before proceeding ? Blessings

[@bma]

Good questions. I'll create a video with everything you need for beginning Greek in the near future, but I recommend two beginning Greek grammars - one to work through and one as a reference, and then when you're close to done with those, get a good intermediate grammar that will take you to the next level.

[@curthayashida7985]

Thank you for the video. Do you have any reviews of classical greek grammars?

[@bma]

Not yet! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@thecutworx]

Do you know of anyone like you, but teaching and directing for Latin?

[@kevinclemens2492]

I'm an avid Verbum/Logos user and am currently embarking upon learning Greek. Do you find that having beginning/intermediate grammars (like Decker or Wallace) in Logos is helpful? Grateful for any thoughts on which resources you prefer to have digitally and which you prefer to have in print. (Found your KZbin channel about a month back and have really enjoyed working through the videos.)

[@bma]

Thanks Kevin! I appreciate you watching, it is a blessing to me! I really like to have my resources in Logos because it means I can search them all quickly using the tools in the platform. If I need a hard copy, I can always print it. There are a few that I like to have hard copies for. I like hard copies for devotional reading since this saves me becoming distracted, and I use hard copies for church when I can too. Beyond that, if I want to take notes in something for long term use (e.g. research), hard copy is great, but in these cases I'll also often double up and have an electronic copy as well. I hope that helps!

[@kevinclemens2492]

@@bma Yes - quite helpful. Thank you. If funds allow, I might snag both Wallace and the Mounce morphology texts during the current Back to School sale.

[@bma]

Good choices!

[@jacques3402]

Thank you very much for the list. I have just ordered the Tyndale NT that you suggested. I was also wondering what you thought of "New Testament Greek" by James Allen Hewett. Which category does it fall into (more toward the Decker or the Mounce), and would you recommend it?

[@bma]

I'll have to take a look! Thanks for suggesting it!

[@noelojendiz924]

GREAT VIDEOS! Do you recommend buying these books on physical or on logos software? Thank youuu

[@bma]

It depends on your personal preference. I like most of my books to be in Logos so I can search them, and mark them up easily, but I use physical copies for Bible reading and where I can't get an electronic edition.

[@leonardisaksson9993]

Do you plan to review Dana Harris' new 1st year introduction to NT and early Christian/LXX greek"?

[@bma]

Yes! in the new year. Watch for it in a few weeks!

[@alliec57]

This is probably a stupid question, but if someone is familiar with Athenaze by Maurice Balme and Gilbert Lawall, is it a suitable starting point for Biblical or Koine Greek, or is it better for Attic/other ancient dialects of Greek? I only ask because I have a copy and the text flips between excerpts of an Attic Greek story and passages from the NT. Either way I have motivation to continue my study with it, but I don’t want to confuse the dialects.

[@bma]

I'm not familiar with Athenzae, sorry. Perhaps another community member can help?

[@haydenbariss6444]

Brother, When you recommend using two grammars do suggest going through them simultaneously, one after the other, or one as a primary and the other as a reference? (Or option I haven’t suggested)

[@bma]

One as a primary and one as a reference. Thanks for asking!

[@user-hq9il8yq8t]

Thank you for your commitment to reach us with your lessons. I am attending Greek New Testament. Please, help me with your Video lessons (email).

[@abrotherinchrist]

Is it not ironic that the Tyndale House puts out a Greek Bible that rejects Erasmus' 1522 Bible, the one that Tyndale used for his English Bible? They leaned heavily on the Wescott and Hort foundation which relied on Vaticanus and Sinaiticus, and was the basis for the NA25, etc. Not that I'm criticizing any of the texts, but I thought that perhaps Tyndale might be turning over in his grave, especially because of the heavy leaning towards Vaticanus. I suppose irony never gets old. I'm not a KJV-only believer. Every Bible has issues. The whole story surrounding Sinaiticus and Vaticanus seems bit suspicious to me, though. Is it possible that Sinaiticus was in a basket to be burned for a reason? I understand it had up to 10 scribes that worked on it and over 14,000 alterations and corrections, many which are extremely sloppy. Erasmus was supplied with 365 transcripts from Vaticanus, yet his translation varies considerably from it. Frankly, I'm not convinced we can trust something that was sitting in the Vatican archives for so long. I don't trust anything that comes from the Vatican. I also don't really trust a Bible that is named after a king. Seems a bit narcissistic to me, especially since the book of James should be the book of Yaacov (Jacob). It seems a stretch that James is a proper transliteration of Yaacov, but then again Yahshua did become Jesus because men wanted His name to accommodate their own language.

[@jackiesindel5278]

Tyndale pursued new information I doubt he would have clung to a text that has verses that can be proven are no original research the addition in 1 john 5:7.i don't worry much about the Vatican conspiracies.i read what Catholics have to say for them selves while I don't agree with them on a lot of points I was disappointed at how many lies I have been told about them from preachers and other Christians who fail to check what they are being told usually because of an anti catholic prejudice we grew up with.spend time dig deep into the reasons for the changes.myself I prefer the majority text over tr or the critical texts.but let's not forget Erasmus the man who compiled tr was himself a Roman Catholic

[@theghastlygamer5326]

Still same recommendation for beginner after you have reviewed the new one?

[@bma]

I think it is feasible to swap Mounce for the new Plummer and Merkle grammar. :)

[@donaldslaughter3951]

You don't speak the authors' names clearly. Nor do you write them out.