Koine Greek: What is it? Where did it come from? And who should learn it?

Koine Greek, sometimes referred to as biblical Greek is the language throughout the Greco-Roman world from around the time of Alexander the Great through to the division of the Roman Empire in the 4th century AD. Koine Greek is different to Classical Greek, and strictly speaking isn't quite Attic Greek, though there are overlaps. In this video, we'll answer the question, "what is koine Greek?" and consider some of its history and how it is different from other ancient Greek forms.
You'll find some of this information in Rodney Decker's Reading Koine Greek.
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[@carlosacta8726]

KUDOS!!! Yours is the best and most detailed explanation of the different versions of Greek and how Koine came to be!

[@jsun6028]

No, the Persian army was not stopped at Thermopyle. Thermopyle (480 BC) was a Persian victory, letting the Persians take control of Phocis, Boeotia and Attica. The Persian army was defeated at the battle of Plataea (479 BC), one year after Thermopyle.

[@Phaedon53]

And in Marathon.

[@SpartanLeonidas1821]

Defeated after Thermopylae at Salamis, Plataea, Mycale...🇬🇷

[@Evagelopoulos862]

Persian army was defeated even at Thermopyle. If you are a free man , after 2500 years , you have to understand that.

[@exploringtheologychannel1697]

I am very glad I subscribed to this channel. There is a wealth of knowledge here.

[@bma]

I’m thankful you subscribed too! Thanks for watching!

[@markmarkster]

Extremely informative!

[@bma]

Thanks Mark!

[@paulakahn9384]

Thank you Dr. Burling for clarifying the definitions and timelines of classical and Koine. I was not sure whether Koine included the period of the LXX as well as that of the apostolic fathers. This was timely and useful information for me right now. I appreciate your high quality teaching on all your videos!

[@bma]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@polycarpus5304]

Love your library brother.

[@bma]

Thanks for watching!

[@shamgar56]

Thanks, Daryl. Very interesting

[@bma]

Very welcome

[@uraybbinyarub8495]

great video thanks peace and guidance

[@neilellson]

Very informative as usual Darryl. Many thanks. I wonder if a video exploring the history of the Greek alphabet might be useful at some point. It could appeal to beginners just learning their Greek alphabet and those wanting more detail.

[@bma]

Thanks Neil. Great suggestion!

[@alkishadjinicolaou5831]

Very good explanation

[@BoneyWhy]

Actually, it wasn't at the battle of Thermopylae that the Persians were stopped, but on land, it was the Battle of Plataea, on sea, an Allied navy destroyed the remnants of the Persian navy at the Battle of Mycale

[@graceurbanski]

😍Thank-You, Beautifully Explained Greetings 🇨🇦

[@adiktedsignsf3478]

You guys should learn Koine greek, I'm learning it and its realy cool to learn.

[@dinos9607]

I speak modern Greek so can read pretty much easily Koini Greek. It is closer to us 2000 later than to the eccentric Attic dialect (a strictly written, not oral, format of the dialect spoken in Athens - even the average Athenian did not speak like that). Fun-fact - the Koini Greek was influenced by Attic Greek but there was a lot of influence from the Macedonian dialect (a so-called Northwestern Greek dialect - the label is such since Epirotan and Maceodonian dialect were the original Dorian dialects as Dorians spruing out of the regions of Macedonia and Epirus in north Greece).

[@dailytheology1689]

Thank you for your videos have you ever considered getting a lapel mic or a nice boom mic it would really help the sound since you put so much effort into these they are well done sometimes hard to hear, 🙏👏

[@bma]

I have a lapel mic these days, but I've toyed with getting a shotgun mic. At some point I'll upgrade my studio again. Thanks for your feedback!

[@michaelstrauss6587]

New subscriber here; good stuff.

[@bma]

Thanks Michael!

[@ryanmcgrath7978]

As someone who is learning Greek, I reckon the biggest question that a beginner asks himself is, "will this eventually all make sense?" There is so many different endings, especially in the verbal system and as I am learning them, I wonder if I'll actually be able to recognise the case, gender, person etc etc, as I go along. Now the obvious answer to my question is, of course it will all become clear, but maybe a video encouraging those doing Greek will help them continue. I know mounce calls it "passing through the fog" but maybe you could do something similar in one of your videos for the future. Just a suggestion. God bless.

[@bma]

Thanks Ryan! I'll add it to the list for a future video. I recommend using an app like ParseGreek to work on identifying forms. I created a video on this here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXi1gKdsjJqYgq8. Thanks for watching!

[@neilellson]

Eventually you will not need to actually parse, the meaning will become intuitive especially if you know the vocabulary. You will only need to stop and think about unfamiliar words.

[@ryanmcgrath7978]

@@neilellson this is the sort of encouragement beginners like myself want to hear. Thanks!

[@ryanmcgrath7978]

@@bma Thanks Heaps!

[@neilellson]

Ryan McGrath Read in the wild (actual New Testament) and read again. The first time through will be a struggle, the second less so, the third time you’ll know what you are doing and it begins to become more natural. However it is back to square one for the next chapter so don’t worry. Eventually your first read through gets easier. Start with 1 John.

[@SpartanLeonidas1821]

*⬇️Modern Greek - Koine Greek Comparison ⬇️* Koine Greek: Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ Λόγος καὶ ὁ Λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν Θεόν καὶ Θεὸς ἦν ὁ Λόγος Modern Greek: Στην αρχή ήταν ο Λόγος και ο Λόγος είναι με τον θεό και θεος ήταν ο Λόγος Koine Greek Transliteration: En archi ein o Logos kai o Logos ein pros ton Theon kai Theos ein o Logos Modern Greek Transliteration: Stin archi itan o Logos kai o Logos einai me ton Theo kai Theos itan o Logos Koine Greek is 2,300 Years old.....🏛 ^^^The Conclusions are all Yours ✅ -Sebastianos the Philhellene 🇬🇷

[@Jimbo898]

What is the coat of arms on the card in your upper left, it looks familiar, but I can't place it. Southern Seminary?

[@camerongalloway518]

Are there any secular sources for learning Koine? I can't find any

[@glowstickministries2404]

Thank you bro! You talk fast like me.. I consume content at 1.75x on average and I had to slow you down to natural to listen and grasp 👊.

[@bma]

Haha! I’m still working on my speed. Thanks for watching!

[@philiptaylor1762]

A bit off track perhaps, but do you deal with pronunciation anywhere (I.e. Erasmusian vs. modern)?

[@bma]

No, but I'll add it to the list of possible future videos.

[@KingoftheJuice18]

One element you didn't note is how a number of writers during the Koine period, like Josephus, wrote in an Atticizing, classical style. Josephus is much harder to read for someone who only knows Koine than, for example, the NT.

[@dieskim675]

Thanks very much. I intend to learn Koine as soon as I go on pension in 20 months.

[@charadradam9985]

the linguistics know it... the koine greek was the simple made greek language of that time.. koine greek was used because of the expansios.. foreigners used to speak more and more the greek language and for that reason the traditional greek dialects gave their position to the koine greek that was more simply form than the previous dialects because it was used as lingua franca of that time. not only the nouns and names but the syntax, the vocabulary, the grammar were made more simple than they were in the dialect era.

[@paulakahn9384]

Question: If Josephus and other contemporaries wrote In koine, why did some scholars used to believe that koine was a special New Testament only or Holy Spirit language?

[@bma]

Good question! The only reason I can think of is that they didn't know the history. We have lots of good material available to us now that was either not published or even catalogued 50 or 100 years ago.

[@KingoftheJuice18]

There's also a tendency to idealize every aspect of one's Scriptures. Muslims, for instance, say that the Qur'an is written in unsurpassably beautiful Arabic. In (Jewish) Kabbalistic tradition, God is said to have created the universe by combining letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

[@SpartanLeonidas1821]

@@KingoftheJuice18 I don't think any Language is Holy or inspired by any God. I do however subscribe to the belief that the written Greek Language was by far and wide the most advanced Language of the day...able to describe Theological concepts & Metaphysical theories with great precision. This is due in part to the Ancient Athenians Literary Legacy.. Conquests of Alexander allowed Koine to develop and spread these words that described these concepts! Just my two cents..

[@KingoftheJuice18]

@@SpartanLeonidas1821 I have loved studying both Attic and Koine Greek. Greek is marvelous, but most linguists would not accept the notion that certain languages themselves are more "advanced" than others. It's true of course that the Greeks had a very well-developed literary, philosophic, and scientific tradition. Maybe this is what you're really talking about. But I don't think a good case can be made that other languages would not have been able to express the ideas and feelings found in the NT. Thanks for your reply and feel free to continue.

[@SpartanLeonidas1821]

@@KingoftheJuice18 What do you think I meant by advanced? Nowhere did I mention that no other language was capable or not capable of anything, this is an unfortunate assumption on your part my friend. Please, no politically correctness necessary...what I said has a lot of merit to it when considering the state of the Greek Language at that time. Hope that clears things up for you. Thank You! 👍

[@Steve-hu9gw]

Actually, Homeric Greek is an artificial literary language consisting of a hybrid of different Greek dialects, mainly Ionic and Aeolic.

[@donttakeitpersonal8704]

Some people say Marcus Aurelius wrote in Koine Greek and not Attic.

[@TubeVision2]

So Erasmus Greek is the same as Byzantine Greek? I understood them to be different.

[@bma]

Erasmian is the pronunciation often used for Koine Greek, not the form itself. Koine Greek (~300BC-~300AD) preceded and morphed into Byzantine Greek.

[@dimitriosnamiseniazei5072]

Only one mention. It's pronounced kini (keenee) not koine. It's written although Koine because it's derived from the greek word Κοινή which means common. Κοινή is pronounced kini (keenee).

[@newbrandacc5707]

Αν χρησιμοποιείτε νέα ελληνικά προφορά, τότε ναι, έχετε δίκιο.

[@newbrandacc5707]

@@D19DMO128D I am a fluent modern Greek speaker, and no, modern pronunciation is by now means accurate for a biblical Greek time period. My Greek only channel that I upload to is "Wesley Overton" if you have any interest.

[@ThreatenedSanity]

Exacly

[@abrotherinchrist]

It sounds like Koine was a dumbing down, if you will, of Attic Greek. Would that be somewhat accurate? As Hellenization spread the philosopher-type mindset gave way to a more lay mindset for the greater good?

[@bma]

I wouldn’t characterise it that way. It isn’t to say people became shallow or less philosophical, rather the use case for the written language changed from literary to common. Thanks for your question!

[@dinos9607]

Attic Greek was equally dumb as Koine if you went down to talk to the Athenian dock workers and slaves. LOL! It is just that the Attic Greek was a written literary language, not really spoken widely even in Athens. We do have a few extant phrases of Athenian commoners' talk and it is as "simplistic" as the simple texts you find in Koini. We need always to compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges.

[@stefan9_88]

Actually the oi in koine it makes e sound also e too

[@avadhutd1403]

Can Greek people understand Koine greek perfectly? Thanks for ur video 🥇💎

[@chrisg.k487]

Well the most words is quite similar with the neogreek.So yes.

[@asicdathens]

Koine Greek is almost identical to "Katharevousa" Greek, the official Greek language from the 18th century until 1976

[@melvinhathorn4988]

The problem with New Testament Greek is the there are no original manuscripts of the New Testament before 70ad. That was the book of Mark. We have no access to the original writings in Koine Greek, so how can one verify the original intent of the writers?

[@raysalmon6566]

The Majority Text The end of the twentieth century saw a resurgence of interest in the Byzantine text type among those who believe that the original text is best preserved in the vast majority of witnesses produced in the Middle Ages. This preference for the "majority text" can be found among a small but vocal group of critics who, like in a previous century, rejected Hort's view that the Syrian or Byzantine text is a later recension characterized by inferior, secondary readings and believed that God has preserved the essentially purity of the type of text that lies behind the KJV *Bruce Metzger* TNT pg 218 MeWe Learn Biblical Greek

[@christsagkas8385]

High thoughts demand high language. By learning Greek, the brain creates synapses that will allow a more complete and genuine understanding of allmost all science, art and philosophy, including theology which is the subject here.

[@MLP4242]

don't eat soap please

[@SpartanLeonidas1821]

Greek really helps in understanding medical terminology, physics, astronomy, Christian Theology and many other fields..👍

[@Hadrianus_Olympius]

Theologians should learn Hebrew or Aramaic.

[@Spartan19891]

First of all Athens did not stop Persia at the battle of Thermopylae. In that particular battle a league of Greek city states stood against the Persians but the battle was lost, that's where the famous 300 Spartans died along with 700 Thespians and 400 Thebeans. The Persians took control of Beotea and sacked Athens. None the less after the defeat at Thermopylae, the Athenians that had the largest fleet out of all the Greek city states managed to defeat the Persians at the naval battle of Sálamis, of course alongside with their allies. As for the Koine it's pronounced Keenee and Koene. To me as a Greek koine it's important because it would be the first form of a common language instead of several dialects. On the other hand this form of Greek eventually evolved to medieval Greek which posteriorly formed the modern Greek language. Each form of Greek is important for its own reason, but I assume that to a none Greek would matter for different reasons

[@Alusnovalotus]

Interesting that the New Testament was written in koine Greek than Hebrew.... and I believe it’s pronounced ‘Keeneh’ not ‘coin-eh’ Greek.

[@raysalmon6566]

what is majority text Byzantine text advocates' arguments which are related more directly to inspiration and inerrancy also falter. Dan Wallace Inspiration, Preservation, NT Textual Criticism 1970 alumni Azusa Pacific University Segerstrom Science Center

[@dimitriosnamiseniazei5072]

Only one mention . It's pronounced kini not koine. Koine is derived from tits pronounced he greek word Κοινή which me ans common and

[@hillerm]

I’d say Sparta working with Athens.

[@CountofHazelview]

ⲕⲟⲓⲛⲁⲉⲗⲗⲏⲛⲓⲕⲁ

[@raysalmon6566]

Jon Clark What evidence do you have that proves authority must come FROM an external source. The method of textual criticism that has been generally practiced by editors of classical Greek and Latin texts involves two main processes, recension and emendation. Recension is the selection, after examination of all available material, of the most trustworthy evidence on which to base a text. Emendation is the attempt to eliminate the errors that are found even in the best mss. *Bruce Metzger* TNT pg 205 *MeWe Learn Biblical Greek, Discussions, quizzes, TC history* 1970 Alumni Azusa Pacific University

[@akariito4579]

What koini is? Well not erasmian. Why are you promoting erasmian and dont take in account the statement of greek teachers and the Hellenic Republic and the Hellenic Republics Ministry of Education who condemn erasmian pronuncation. I am realy curious. Also why are you hiding comments which oppose your claims?

[@bma]

Hey thanks for your comments. Firstly, I don’t hide comments because they don’t agree with me. At worst, I hide them because they make unjustified accusations (like that I hide comments that I disagree with), but most of the comments I hide are removed because they are not in keeping with the kind of community I want to develop and support. Feel free to disagree with me, but provide your reasons, argue for the superiority of your position and let me respond (though I can’t respond to every comment now). There is no need for accusations or suggestions of wrongdoing over something like pronunciation. To answer your question, most Koine Greek teachers still use Erasmian pronunciation because it provides a distinct sound for each letter.Finally, if my using Erasmian pronunciation is really a bi problem for you, I’m sure there are channels that use modern pronunciation you can watch. Thanks again for your comments!

[@akariito4579]

@@bma First of my comment was hidden, my respect for you for unhide and answering. Well, you dont "need" to answer every comment but if you answer than answer please what was asked. I asked you why you dont take in account the statement of greek teachers and the Hellenic Republic and the Hellenic Republics Ministry of Education who condemn erasmian pronuncation. That, mostly, western teachers use erasmian is know. Why do you and them not listen to greak teachers. Its their language after all. Dont they know their language and the western teachers know better? Have ever asked the greek ministry of education? Doesnt their statements count?

[@SteveM0732]

2000 BC is roughly the time of the Tower of Babel. Maybe ancient Greek has its beginnings there.

[@SteveM0732]

@Αφροδίτη Σοφοκλέου I don't understand. The languages God created at the Tower of Babel were all semtic and thus he cannot be the author of the Greek language?

[@bma]

Thanks for watching! 2000 BC is roughly the time of Abraham. Babel was sometime before his time.

[@paulakahn9384]

Good point. All languages evolved from the 70 God created at Babel.

[@neilellson]

Paula Kahn How do we know how many languages existed after the Tower of Babel?

[@paulakahn9384]

Genesis chapter 10.

[@vojdankrstevski2544]

Does at that time Macedonia and Greece were separate countries?

[@bma]

Yes, they were. 😀

[@vojdankrstevski2544]

@Basil the 2nd of Macedon - the Vardaska slayer my god.. 🤣🤣🤣

[@Proud2bMakedon]

​@@bma No, they weren't. There weren't any "countries" in the modern sense. There wasn't any "Greece", actually, as a unified political entity, but only Greek city-states and kingdoms, Macedonia being one of them and achieving hegemony over the others. There was, indeed, some three centuries after Philip's death, a geographical "Greece", mentioned by Strabo, which included Macedonia. To consider "Greek", when speaking about ancient Macedonia of the 4th c. BC, only the Attic Greek dialect, so to easily claim a "Hellenization", is a bit deceiving. The ancient Macedonians of that century spoke a north-western dialect of Greek and even if "Macedonian" would've been "something else" than Greek, as some prefer to consider, it was, nevertheless, the closest language to Greek, or to the (other) ancient Greek dialects.

[@Phaedon53]

@@bma "Different countries"? I think you are wrong in any aspect in that statement of yours. Macedonia was a Greek kingdom , just like Epirus for example and Athens , Sparta , Corinth etc were Greek city states. There were no ethnic countries back then , but Greeks had a sense of connection and therefore had created the panhellenic games , festivals and institutions. And the Macedonians were part of them , just like every Greek tribe/ethnos. Unfortunetly that is not your only mistake in that video.

[@Phaedon53]

Diferent Greek entities , not countries.

[@heresmee9661]

You made a big mistake dude. Koine was invented by alexander and associates to use common words from ma y languages of that macesonian empire to make all the nations feel part of the empire. Koine is macedonian even today refers to koeno which means put together. It does not mean common. And if alexander really spoke much greek, why did the macesonian army including alexander himself, commonly used translaters when speaking to the greeks forced to join the army, who deserted as soon as they crossed into anatolia ??

[@aliqazilbash5231]

I hate bitcoin on the basis of personal risk, without the benefit of full disclosure, a bitcoin could only be a fraction of cash amount. literally no one that I know deals in bitcoin, what am I going to do with it? I'd rather take a mount everest of pennies, instead of crypto currency. I am a shitty cryptographer anyway, 😑

[@johnl1262]

You come on this channel trying to pronounce Greek yet the very first word, Koine, is wrong Oi in Greek is pronounced i as in it. So koine is ki- nee not coine.

[@bma]

Thanks for your feedback. I appreciate it.

[@eclipseeventsigns]

Your explanation of what koine Greek is does not match what actual linguistic scholars have determined. Koine Greek was never a spoken language. It actually only occurs in written form. In the Septuagint. And in the New Testament. Further, linguistic scholars have determined that the crass character, grammatical mistakes found in Koine Greek show telltale signs that it is the result of being translated. Obviously the Septuagint is translated from the Hebrew - trying to be word for word translation. The same can be said of the New Testament manuscripts. If one backtranslates the Greek word for word into Aramaic the result is perfectly grammatical and flowing and elegant Aramaic. It's quite obvious.

[@raysalmon6566]

really and just what scholars are you getting this from

[@eclipseeventsigns]

@@raysalmon6566 Look them up. Just what scholars are you listening to? Are they tenured to a certain institution? I bet you can trust them.

[@mpampismarketos2253]

lobotomy ?

[@eclipseeventsigns]

@@mpampismarketos2253 Check with your doctor. I'm sure he can suggest someone for you.

[@Ups_downs_life_funny]

Every Greek word in English sounds wrong you can just say common greek

[@bma]

Said like a native. Thanks for watching!

[@Evagelopoulos862]

@@bma No.Said with ridiculous Erasmus Pronunciation. Try Lucian Pronunciation. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqWcq2h9q9Vmg68

[@joew2842]

Cough cough hellenic language cough cough

[@zxzx191]

KOINE is the Greek word ΚΟΙΝΉ which means COMMON.