Proclaimer Blog
Learning Greek
If you want to learn Greek, there are lots of resources around. Corey Keating has a list of online resources here. Some of the links are worth following through. I learnt in a class using the classic Elements of New Testament Greek, now updated from the version I used. Truth is, I found this Basics of Biblical Greek workbook by Mounce more useful in its approach (which is more pragmatic than purist). Corey has a long list of many other resources and their various merits or otherwise here. The truth is, however, that the resource I use more than any other, is my Bible software. I use Logos, but other software gives you pretty much the same functionality. It allows me to click through to dictionaries, grammars etc very easily.
The danger, of course, is that such resources can make you lazy. So I still take a Greek Bible to church to read along every now and again (not every week). And when I print out a passage to work on I still print out a Greek column to refer to. To be honest, it's a discipline I find really quite difficult, but ultimately rewarding. Two points are worth emphasising:
- you're studying original languages to help you get to grips with the text better. That doesn't mean that Greek has to make it into your sermons. Our English Bible translations are good; you'd better have a good reason to undermine them in a sermon. And if it's just pride that's making you quote the original or say something like "it's slightly better in the original; let me give you my own translation" – then just STOP IT!
- I'm not sure (unless you're a highly disciplined scholar comfortable with languages) that there's any substitute for learning with someone. Even if it's a pair of you working through a book together, there's value. I'm very grateful for my friend Simon who – back in the day – always did better than me in Greek classes, but we sat next to one another and helped one another along. Cheers, mate!