Why learning Biblical Greek is hard, and how to make it easier...

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[@ronaldmiller146]

I finished the Greek program (milestones) about a year ago. I am now on my second read through of the entire Greek New Testament. WOW. The program really helped.

[@puck2113]

I am in Dr. Burling’s Greek program. If you truly want to learn the Biblical languages you need to get into BMA!

[@papafranku6472]

I started to learn greek koine two weeks ago by my self, thank you for the video.

[@bma]

That's great! Focus on small steps... don't let the grammar make you feel like you have to learn everything all at once!

[@sethtbaguley]

I think you've done an excellent job with both diagnosing the problem and providing the cure with BMA. 30,000 subscribers isn't so much a reflection of "getting the algorithm" right - though it is part of it - but it is a reflection of meeting a need in the church in a meaningful way. 30k subs for a channel on Biblical Languages? That is insane! - And I'm so chuffed to see it. Really praying that your work here can continue to bring a revival of the biblical languages in this time when the church needs it most.

[@bma]

Thanks Seth!

[@DonaldPotter_ReadingZone]

H. P. V. Nunn's A Short Syntax of New Testament Greek presents an excellent study of English Grammar before taking up the Greek Grammar.

[@BrotherJLG]

Bill Mounce in his lectures mentions "the fog" of learning biblical Greek. You don't really feel like you have a grasp of things initially. But when you just do the work and look back several chapters then you see that you are grasping the concepts over time. I think that explanation helps to ward off discouragement.

[@AJearth]

I originally bought Decker's Reading Koine Greek, and I'll say it was information overload, so I took your advice and bought "? Beginning with New Testament Greek by Merkle and Plummer. Don't get me wrong, I did learn some things with Decker's book and I'll go back to it later but Merkle and Plummer's seems very manageable. I'm looking forward to your grammar, though.

[@joshuafarlow-wolgast8082]

I have taken several classes in Greek, and for me was the lack of really studying it. At the time, I was not in the best mindset for studying, and as a result, Once I passed the basics, I struggled a lot. I have tried going through New Testament Greek: A Whole Language Approach by Raju Kunjammen .but on my own, I needed something more. I get distracted too easily, but have kept trying to learn Greek for years. I am hoping that by doing this new BMA course you have, that I will be able to keep up with it, and see through it to the end.

[@bma]

We'd love to help! We're starting a new course based on BWNTG next week and one based on our own Beginning Greek course again in January. You can also self-study of course! Reach out at [e-mail] and we'll help you out!

[@joshuafarlow-wolgast8082]

I am currently taking the class., which has been a nice change of pace from the other grammars. I like the bite size lessons a lot. I do really like the concept of the Reading Koine Greek Grammar, just wish it was more byte size as well.@@bma

[@sayingitlikeitis]

Ask someone who speaks Greek...if i say to you translated to English the following phrase..""I WILL BREAK YOU TO WOOD"" what does that mean? in Greek it's very plain and straight forward but what does that phrase Mean? let me know and if you can't then yes you do need to know the Greek to understand certain things cause some phrases are similar kind of like the Tamarian Language and here is another example..darmok and jalad at tanagra .... if you you get what i am going with that.

[@Weet333]

Do you have any tips on how to learn vocabulary words? I am using Flashcards Deluxe right now which is helpful. However, we are getting 60 words per week right now in my seminary class right now and it's quite challenging. I am thinking about writing out each word and definition 5 or 10 times which will incorporate more senses but that will be quite time consuming. Any tips?

[@user-sp9zd9dw7c]

Just starting out now....and I'm find just pronunciation difficult.

[@bma]

You’re never alone!

[@rogercarl3969]

I would say that vocabulary and even pronunciation are more important than grammar. That said grammar is not inconsequential but it should come when the student is ready for it. My Greek studies did also help me understand English grammar ( as well as German grammar). That is because a general linguistics background which I study alongside Greek was more helpful to me than "grammar."

[@bma]

If you're only learning to read Greek, you can get away with much less grammar. However, if you want to be able to use exegetical works, you need to know the grammar to be able to evaluate and understand the arguments.

[@rogercarl3969]

@@bma Thanks for your reply but the fact is I am doing exegetical work and the grammar is not a problem since when in doubt there are very good interlinear among other resources. Vocabulary is still my biggest obstacle especially with the "learn the gloss" approach which does not give any latitude for words. I say this since modern translations still hold to the vocabulary of King James. Words have shifted and vocabulary needs more attention both for exegetical work and especially for learning,

[@pierreabbat6157]

Do you pronounce "parsing" and "passing" the same? I'm rhotic and don't have the trap-bath split, but I heard "passing Greek" until I figured out that "parsing" makes more sense.

[@bma]

Sorry. That would be my accent. In our country we don't do a very good job of pronouncing R's - so you're right - I'm saying parsing. :)

[@mikemccarthy6406]

Great stuff. Time. Time. Time. lol

[@hermonymusofsparta]

The reason it's so difficult for Biblical Greek students is because the approach is wrong from the ground up. Bible school students aren't learning Greek. They're learning grammar and how to use a lexicon. 99% of them graduate not being able to read a Greek NT fluently and the same is true for their professors. You don't learn a language in a classroom only by learning grammar. This is why a fluent native Modern Greek speaker can read and understand the lionshare of a Koine Greek NT, but a person studying Greek in a seminary for years cannot. Modern Greek and Koine Greek are mutually intelligible. The best method for learning biblical Greek is to get fluent in Modern Greek and then studying Koine afterwards which will then be an fairly easy adjustment. The use of Erasmian or Reconstructed pronunciation, neither of which have any practical use and neither of which are accurate by any real scientific standard (they're guesswork) is also a huge problem. That and trying to learn Greek in a different way than people learn any other language in the world is the other main issue.

[@christopherdonahoo1287]

Am I crazy or have you omitted your name intentionally on this site? I love your video's and I'm trying to cite one in a paper but CANNOT FIND YOUR NAME on any video or anywhere on the channel. I appreciate your humility but please list your name and credentials.

[@Strongtower]

I was able to find his name pretty quickly on his website. Dr. Darryl Burling spent 15 years in the IT industry working in a variety of roles before beginning his education. He completed a Bachelor of the Arts in Biblical Counseling at the Master's University in less than two years, and then graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from the Master's Seminary. He then went on to doctoral studies, earning a Master of Theology and a Doctor of Philosophy in Biblical Counseling with a minor in Biblical Spirituality from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He wrote his dissertation on "The place of union with Christ in the theology and practice of marriage."

[@bma]

bma.to 😀

[@ktermalkut8332]

NONE of these seminary folk tell you the BASIC TRUTH that The WILL OF THE LORD GOD is that we each have a PERSONAL Relationship with Him and that we know HIM as Our ONLY Father and Teacher - John 17, Matthew 23:8-10. The Established Principle is that The WORD of The LORD GOD is confirmed in the by two or 3 witnesses - 2Corinthians 13:1 (confirmed in Deuteronomy 17 etc.). When we OBEY The WORD of The LORD GOD (He is His SPOKEN WORD that is of The Spirit not the dead printed word - Revelation 19:13, 2Corinthians 3:6, Matthew 4:4, Deuteronomy 8:3) and go to The LORD GOD as Our ONLY TEACHER, He leads us and instructs us to HIS TOTAL BLESSING while exposing the lies of the enemy in the so called churches that reject THE INFILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT with the Evidence of praying in other Tongues (The LORD JESUS called this Reality The POWER - Luke 24:49) while NOT REJECTING the influences of PAGAN SUN GOD WORSHIP roman catholicism. We are COMMANDED to AVOID those who deny The POWER - 2Timothy 3:5 We are witnessing the CLEANSING OF THE EARTH as in the days of Noah and it is a Blessing to see, as an INTERCESSOR, many of the false evangelical pastors and teachers dropping like flies with the most recent cross dresser BAPTIST pastor exposed in Smith Station, Alabama. The man killed himself when the police pursued him.

[@polgonzales]

Yeah. Your ex is jerk. Sorry I still somehow loathe him to this day.