The easiest way to read the Greek New Testament! (now even easier!)

There are two things that tend to hold people back from reading the Greek New Testament fluently. In this video, we'll discuss how to overcome them - or most particularly the main one!
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[@sethtbaguley]

I've had a wild june-december. I was long-distance with my wife due to VISA reasons and had to move back to the UK, work a supermarket job - to satisfy a UK VISA - whilst runnning my two businesses. I've worked 7 day weeks - across all 3 jobs - for 6 months. I wake up for work at 3:45am and only get home the same time in the afternoon for 45 hr's a week at the supermarket. Whilist there I manually shift 4,000kg of stock a day and average a half-marathon in walking a day. Yet amongst this, two habits have kept me grounded - meditative prayer with the scriptures and reviewing my MNTG flashcards. Getting to the end of this journey knowing that I've still been able to keep up on Greek memorization makes me feel such a sense of joy. I finish the supermarket job on Christmas Eve and all I can think about is diving straight back in to where I left off with my Tyndale GNT 6 months ago. This wouldn't be possible without the hard hours that Darryl put in to create this system which works, even during the busiests periods of life. Thanks Darryl and Happy Christmas!

[@bma]

Thanks Seth! This is a wonderful blessing to read! Keep up the great work!

[@noahc8217]

One of the best ways to learn I find is through daily dose of Greek app it breaks down the Greek verse by verse

[@ksnunema]

Great reminder of how great this system is. I started on January 5, 2022 using the system that Darryl outlines in this video. Almost 1 year in, and by year's end I will have read 13 books of the Greek New Testament without any vocabulary aids, and I already know a full 45% of the total NT vocabulary.

[@bma]

Wow! Thanks Ken! Great progress - keep it up!

[@wakeup858]

Wow!😮

[@bobgriffin316]

I normally read a Reader's Greek New Testament and look up the words I don't know at the bottom of the page. I think I will now read through all the words at the bottom of the page that occur rarely and try to memorise them and then read the chapter afterwards.

[@ReasonableFaithSA]

Very helpful. One of the problems I have is that Flashcards helps you memorise the lexical form. However, most of the words that you encounter when reading the text are not in their lexical form and often bare little resemblance to the lexical form making them barely recognizable. It seems desirable to learn the forms of the word at the same time as the lexical for to aid word recognition.

[@bma]

It would perhaps be helpful to have the infinitive serve the role of the lexical form since it is the simplest form of the word (ie it doesn’t have person or number). Or maybe the aorist since it is the most common form.

[@discoveringthegardenofeden7882]

The best approach is to use a frequency list and start learning the rarest words first. Yes. I said the "least frequent words first". The logic is simple: your brain works by recognition. Words which pass by frequently are easy to remember. Hence, you only need to learn the hardest ones. Another tip, from an international expat, is the following: find something you are very interested in via hobby or profession and use that topic as an inroad into the foreign language you want to study. The vocabulary will be easy for you (as it maps to vocabulary you repeat often: your passion-hobby) and grammar will be less of a challenge as you can read between the lines more easily. Start from there.

[@bma]

I started by learning words by occurrence, but it isn't the most effective. The better way is to learn book-by-book. I need to create an updated video on this, but you can watch an old one here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4vJYYWPbteWf7csi=7sJaoQikjjWc9Z0x

[@discoveringthegardenofeden7882]

@@bma Thank you for the link.

[@jimhellenic9643]

As a modern Greek speaker, I would suggest learning the modern Greek language first which comes directly from Koine Greek. The similarities in terms of vocabulary, cases and syntax are remarkable. Plus, I would suggest doing away with the artificial Erasmian pronunciation and use the modern Greek one. It sounds more Dutch and Germanic than it does Greek. If any pronunciation is close to the Koine Greek, it is the modern Greek language.

[@LivingLambsVeganKitchen]

Thank you, Jim! This is an encouragement to me. I have been learning modern Greek with Duolingo (since it doesn't offer Biblical Greek), and sometimes it's frustrating, becasue there are so many words you don't really care about (toast, newspaper, etc.), but, at the same time, I am learning endings and pronunciation. Which makes me want to thank you again for confiring the modern pronunciation is more similar to the Koine thant the Erasmian and that I don't have to change it depending on what I'm doing (Duo or NT). Very appreciative of your post! God bless you and yours!

[@user-pj7sq7ce1f]

@@LivingLambsVeganKitchen Erasmus way for koine is actually crap greek orthodox use only koine greek in church.the erasmians never say when we supposed change the way he said koine in church

[@LivingLambsVeganKitchen]

@@user-pj7sq7ce1f Thank you!!! I am glad to know! So the modern Greek pronounciation is the same (or more closely the same) as teh Koine, correct?

[@user-pj7sq7ce1f]

@@LivingLambsVeganKitchen well as I said greek orthodox christian world wide use koine greek in church in all our says hymns prays readings never modern greek. We ask those that believe the erasmus way to say koine when supposed we change the way we say our language? As we supposed follow a period Erasmus way .They never say ...

[@LivingLambsVeganKitchen]

@@user-pj7sq7ce1f Thank you! Then it appears there are three pronounciations: Koine, Erasmian, & Modern. I have heard that modern is closer to Koine than Erasmian. No one seems to be teaching the Koine pronounciations, specifically.

[@stormchaser9738]

In my opinion this may be the best video on the channel.

[@someperson9536]

I like your approach. It is better than reading a random list of Bible verses.

[@glossahouse]

Lots to think about.

[@catpocalypsenow8090]

Great system! Flashcards work.

[@jimmorris1560]

Thank you for the video and its encouragement. Our method for learning Greek New Testament vocabulary long ago was to learn the words in our Greek Grammars and then learn more words by their usage as you mentioned. However, I can see the wisdom in your approach. I am excited to try it in 2023! Well done! Thanks!

[@jacobsowles5500]

Would love to see a video like this breaking down the best way to tackle the books of the Hebrew Old Testament

[@ianpardue2615]

Gracias, senor, for the video

[@bma]

You are welcome

[@singgreekandhebrew]

Thanks for the excellent comparison of approaches. I’m biased, but yours wins! 🥳

[@bma]

Thanks Jeff!

[@crbgo9854]

this concept feels very appealing to do during my beginning Greek studies if I run across a paradigm I've yet to learn I should move on maybe but chapter by chapter seems appealing to do to just improve and feel comfortable during my begginer studies

[@bma]

Normally beginning Greek has you learn the most common words first. That is often enough during beginning Greek with paradigms and grammar to learn as well. If you finish those 330 or so common words quickly then start learning the vocab for 1 John. Thanks for watching!

[@Bobby__K]

This is great stuff! I'd be interested in seeing a similar approach to the Hebrew Bible. Thank you for the insight!

[@singgreekandhebrew]

Head on over and join us! the Hebrew success path is a work in progress. So far there’s Beginning Hebrew, then a reading Hebrew course begins in a few months, followed by an intermediate syntax course. And the vocabulary and reading for those courses will correspond to the first few milestones on the learning path through the Hebrew Bible.

[@bma]

We're working on Hebrew... but it might take a while.😉

[@StephenHarrisJr]

Dr. Burling, have you considered publishing an edition of the Greek New Testament ordered in this way, punctuated throughout with vocabulary lists for each upcoming chapter? It would be a wonderful way to make all of the work that you have done accessible on a much larger scale so that all of the already learned words will already be filtered out as one gets further and further into the book. If there were other bits of information you wanted to include before each new reading for things to be on the look out for with regards to grammar, syntax, or anything else, you could also do that. I think if you put together something like this, you would find an eager public ready to purchase it for independent study or even for seminary courses at the intermediate level.

[@StephenHarrisJr]

Additionally, have you made a similar plan for the LXX?

[@alexandersmith9385]

Just purchased your vocabulary system and reading 1 John.

[@charliebreal]

I'm super thankful for the system and structure you've developed. I'm near finishing the book of Ephesians in the order you recommend. Instead of using a flashcards app, I've just been using the Tyndale Greek New Testament Reader's Edition. I review the vocabulary words at the bottom of the page before reading, marking the harder to learn words with one or two dots (depending on difficulty), so I only review words which I still need to learn. I also review previously learned biblical books and read through an EGGNT to keep up with syntactical learning. Your videos are an encouragement to keep pressing on in this endeavor that I may know Christ and be conformed to His image. Soldier on, brother!

[@bma]

Thanks for your encouragement! Keep up the great work!

[@IvanAlvarezCPACMA]

Thank you brother! You give me a lot of hope. I just dropped Greek I and it was incredibly discouraging.

[@bma]

Come back to it when you can. It is a skill to develop, not just a set of facts to learn. That makes it qualitatively different to many other classes in college or seminary. Keep at it!

[@IvanAlvarezCPACMA]

@@bma I will definitely be joining your class as soon as I finish my last semester of seminary (I will be done by June 2023, Lord willing). Greek (and eventually Hebrew) is a skill I want to develop and use in my life. I was fortunate that I only needed a Biblical languages intro (just enough to do the dreaded "word studies").

[@pierreabbat6157]

I learned Greek by reading an interlinear, with no lexicon or grammar book. I've also read parts of Euclid's Elements and just read some of Aristotle's History of Animals, though some names of animals I had to look up. If you know π.χ. εκατον and αρχειν, you might could figure out what an εκατονταρχ[ο|η]ς is (both spellings occur in Acts); similarly εμοσχοποιησαν, though a hapax, is obvious from its parts. Do you adjust new word counts for already knowing parts of words? What do you suggest for learning the Aramaic NT, which is much bigger than half of Daniel? On top of which the language changed during the intervening centuries.

[@Occhiodiargento]

Hey, this is a great way to learn vocabulary. Beucause of my languange (Spanish) and how the economy is in my country (Argentina) I had to be creative. I use Quizlet for bulding flashcards. I put the words by frequency using a PDF I found in Academia where it list all the words of the NT with the frequency, the PDF is in Spanish thankfully making the creation of the flashcard way easy. Then I just order the intervals as I see it more fit and I work throuth it. Is a leanthy process but is the most effective form I found.

[@bma]

Great work - keep on making progress!

[@BoneyWhy]

Also, how can I use Logos or Accordance to build chapter, or, book-by-book vocabulary? Also, can you show how you actually use Flash Card Deluxe to do this?

[@franciscosantosaraujojunio2846]

Teacher, I'm from Brazil. Please, turn on the subtitles in English, só that I can study you videos. Thank you.

[@BoneyWhy]

Do you have any recordings of yourself reading the LXX or Greek NT?

[@storyofscripture]

Working on James, my 12th book in the GNT thank you for selling the student edition, are you planning to do that with Hebrew as well?

[@bma]

Congratulations on your great progress, Benjamin! We're hoping to do Hebrew too. Sorta in progress.... 😉

[@Joel4JC]

Sorry I’m a little late to this video. When creating the spreadsheet o vocabulary to import into flash card deluxe, where do find the complete list vocabulary for each book.

[@marcbrule3205]

Thank you for this! Question: How many hrs/week, or min/day are your timelines based on?

[@bma]

Vocabulary review starts with just a 2-3 minutes a day and grows depending on a variety of factors such as your own retention, how many new words you add per week, how much review you do, the review interval settings and more. The max I got to was about an hour per day, but that was with the full vocab of the Greek New Testament. Today I don't really spend much time reviewing vocab as I just don't need to 😎.

[@DunstanStLuce]

Is there a book on vocabularies which give us vocabulary on each book or you find it out yourself?

[@aaronhicks5620]

Does the biblical Greek course mastery Biblical Greek offer help a person with no biblical Greek background learn, read, translate, and know biblical Greek fluently from start to finish.

[@ing-mariekoppel1637]

What exactly is Hepaxtagometer? I do not find a translation.

[@catholictruth102]

Hapax Legoma? A word that’s only used a single time.

[@cynthiatucker2147]

Nope. I took beginner Greek in master’s program and it was taught so fast I couldn’t get it.

[@micharlflynn4404]

To read Greek Is to understand it, in to your own languages.

[@johanesayieko7627]

This sounds great, I'm a struggling self tutored student of the Biblical languages and I hope this innovation will be of great benefit . Thank you very much.

[@MarkCisneros]

I just wanna be able to read the Gospel in its original language(Greek), Cuz we need to listen to Jesus and if you obey Him you're saved

[@ChefNef]

Hi Mark, I want to commend your commitment to learning the original Greek Bible and following Jesus' commandments. I also wanted to encourage you that faith in Jesus' payment on the cross for our wrongdoings is the only thing that can save us. Out of this faith in His sacrifice, He gives us the Holy Spirit which sanctifies us and changes our desires to follow His commands more and more. Romans chapters 3 and 4, Romans 6:23, Philippians 2:13, and many other passages talk about this in greater depth. Stay strong in our Lord Christ Jesus, brother 😊

[@alexandersmith9385]

You mentioned not studying vocabulary every fifth week. Why is this?

[@raysalmon6566]

there is no fast way to learn Greek you just have to carve out some major time to study it

[@iggo45]

When there are 20.000.000 modern greek speakers worldwide, a good portion of whom are Christians and they read NT from the original, in modern pronounce, same syntax, same grammar, same rules, why we need to look the drunk Arkansas cowboy pronunciation ?

[@coactus9139]

This seems all a recipe for simply decoding Greek not learning Greek. Far more advisable to actually learn Greek via Greek then read the New Testament.

[@bma]

There is a sense in which you're right, but the point we're aiming for is fluency and vocab blocks that. Its really simple. If you're thinking about learning approaches, that is a different subject which I've addressed elsewhere. In short different learning approaches have pros and cons and there is no ideal way to learn ancient languages - though one way might suit you better than another way. 😀

[@mikeyoung8547]

How is learning modern Greek gonna help you read the New Testament?

[@coactus9139]

@@mikeyoung8547 I mentioned nothing about modern Greek (which is nonetheless more akin to Koine than Koine to "classical"). In any event, both Koine, or "classical" can be learned via its own medium. I am merely offering that to really know Greek to actually engage with the text itself requires more than the standard vocab lists and this-word-equals-that-word translation approach, both of which have a role to play.

[@NoeticInsight]

@@coactus9139what is the best method? I am learning atm but I feel like I’m just deciding grammar and not actually learning the language and understanding the language.

[@kiwihans100]

Paul said "God chose the foolish things of the world to put the wise men to shame" ( 1 Cor 1:27 ). Its a pity that it was these very 'wise me', greek scholars of greek philosophy who currupted the early Christian church resulting in doctrines and creeds that bore no resemblence to the true Gospel. ( Example 'Logos' 'Phsyke' 'hades' all three with a different meanings in greek and the New testement!)

[@christsavesreadromans1096]

What are you talking about?

[@kiwihans100]

@@christsavesreadromans1096 I am talking about the way that intellectuals and philosophers have dominated the discussions and theories about the relationship between God the Father and Christ during and after the 2nd century! This is just as Paul fortold at Acts 20:28-30. The Christian gospel is not an exclusive possession of clever people! Most of the apostles were "unlettered and ordinary men" unlike most of the 'church Fathers' Today a clergyman in the Anglican communion needs a degree in theology! Many of them dont identify and understand the parishioners in their community. People dont need greek e.t.c they need simple basic faith in Christ & God!

[@Owen-hp9lu]

Hi,Could you share the table shown in the video by "OrderComparison.pdf" ? Thank you!