Learn New Testament Greek

The Rev John Dobson (M.A. Oxon, B.D. London) is known around the world for his infectious enthusiasm in encouraging the learning of biblical Hebrew with meaningful understanding and enjoyment. Thousands of students have benefitted from his teaching, in colleges and universities in the USA and the UK and countries as far afield as Uganda and Pakistan. He is also the author of Learn New Testament Greek.

This is a wonderful introduction to ancient Greek. It composed of short lessons in which the author teaches you new vocabulary and tenses, always consolidating your new knowledge with extracts from the New Testament. It starts with the Greek alphabet, explaining the pronunciation and illustrating the easiest way to write the letters. It also explains the use of diacritics (little marks above the letters) and dipthongs. It progresses at a steady pace, never introducing more information than you can handle, as most lessons are no more than 2 pages long. There is a grammar reference and an index of words at the back for convenience. The font was perfectly readable also. This is a useful introduction whether one is studying classical Greek or if one just wants to read the New Testament.

At last a real helping hand for the home learner. A pleasant book and a no-nonsense CD. It really gets you started on the vital skill of looking at Greek with a concentration on the vital word endings. Sometime it is helpful, indeed probably essential, to learn paradigms and word lists but this method uses just a few items of grammar, syntax and vocabulary at each stage and makes sure they sink in. Thoroughly recommended.

Preface ix
Introduction xi
1. abg – Learning the Letters 1
2. ejn ajrch/’ – In the beginning 4
3. ejstivn – is h\n – was 8
Introduction to Lessons 4–6 12
4. levgw – I am saying, I say 13
5. levgomen – we are saying, we say 17
6. lovgo~ – a word oJ lovgo~ – the word 22
7. aujtov~ – he ou|to~ – this 27
8. levgwn – saying oJ levgwn – the person saying 34
9. kardiva – a heart hJ kardiva – the heart 41
10. hJmei`~ – we uJmei`~ – you o{~ – who 49
11. o}~ a]n levgh/ – whoever says
eja;n levgh/ – if he says
i{na levgh/ – so that he may say
levgwmen – let us say 56
12. e[rgon – a work to; e[rgon – the work
oJ, hJ, tov – the 63
13. poievw (poiw`) – I do, I make 71
14. e[legen – he was saying, he used to say | 78
15. ejpoivei – he was doing, he used to do | 85
16. A to W – Alpha to Omega 91
17. prov~, eij~, ejn, ejk, ajpov
e[rcetai – he comes, he goes 97
18. levgein – to say, to be saying 101
19. levgwn, levgousa, levgon – saying 104
Introduction to Lessons 20–25 111
20. poivhsa~ – having done 113
21. ejpoivhsa – I did, I made e[graya – I wrote, I did write | 120
22. balwvn – having thrown ejlqwvn – having gone 125
23. e[balon – I threw h\ra – I picked up | 132
24. ejsqivw – I am eating e[fagon – I ate |
levgein — to be saying eijpei`n — to say • 138
25. katabaivnonto~ aujtou` – while he was coming down
katabavnto~ aujtou` – when he had come down 143
26. ajkouvsw – I will hear balw` – I will throw 148
27. Questions: tiv~; – who? tiv; – what? why? 153
28. a[nqrwpo~ ajgaqov~ – a good man

29. givnomai – I become, I happen gin
genovmeno~ – having become gen 165
30. poihvsai – to do • ejkbalei`n – to throw out • 171
31. baptivzomai – I am being baptized
ejbaptizovmhn – I was being baptized | 176
32. ejbaptivsqhn – I was baptized |
baptisqeiv~ – having been baptized 186
33. pepivsteuka – I have trusted, I trust |→
gevgraptai – it has been written, it is written |→
oi\da – I know |→ 191
34. tivqhmi – I am putting divdwmi – I am giving
tiqeiv~ – putting divdou~ – giving
qeiv~ – having put douv~ – having given 202
Introduction to Lessons 35–52 208
35. kalov~ – good kalw`~ – well
ei|~, duvo, trei`~ – one, two, three 209
36. i{na – so that, that
i{na poihvsh/ – so that he may do •
i{na dw`men – so that we may give • 217
37. oJ Kuvrio~ – the Lord
to;n lovgon, th;n kardivan: the accusative case 224
38. w{ste – with the result that 234
39. tou` lovgou, th`~ kardiva~: the genitive case 240
40. tou`to poivhson – do this! 249
41. mh; klevyh/~ — do not steal •
mh; klai`e – do not weep, stop crying 255
42. tw’/ lovgw/, th/` kardiva/: the dative case 260
vi Learn New Testament Greek
43. eij ejmerivsqh – if it has been divided
eja;n merisqh/` – if it should be divided 269
Introduction to Lesson 44 274
44. divkaio~ – righteous dikaiosuvnh – righteousness
ajdikiva – injustice, wrong 275
45. nivptw – I wash (someone or something else)
nivptomai – I wash (part of myself) 284
46. Translating – Romans 1:1–7 288
47. ei\pe~ o{ti ejsqivei – you said that he was eating 293
48. The Influence of Hebrew and Aramaic 297
49. gevnoito – let it happen, may it happen
dedwvkei – he had given |→| 307
50. i{na hJ cara; uJmw`n h/\ peplhrwmevnh ACKP… 314
51. Culture and Translation 321
52. A[ gwmen ejnteu`qen – Let us go on from here 326
Key to Progress Tests 333
Reference Grammar & Accents 335
Appendix: Some Thoughts on the Teaching of Biblical Languages 351
Scripture Index 359
Index of Grammar & Constructions 365
Index of Greek Words 369