A Beginner's Reader-Grammar for New Testament Greek [Paperback]

Ernest Cadman Colwell (Author), Ernest W. Tune (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2001 | ISBN-10: 156563599X | ISBN-13: 978-1565635999

A Beginner's Reader-Grammar for New Testament Greek has two parts: a concise grammar and a series of readings. The included readings are based on the actual content of the Greek New Testament but constructed to begin easy and lead the student through basic vocabulary and grammar. The authors have abandoned the method that takes the student through a progression of grammar lessons, each concluding with a few sentences for translation. Rather, after learning the alphabet and the pronunciation of Greek words, the student begins immediately to read text, learning to find needed information in standard reference tools.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Greek

About the Author

Ernest Cadman Colwell, a life-long scholar of New Testament Greek, was Claremont School of Theology's first president, founder of Claremont's Institute for Antiquity and Christianity, and Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Claremont Graduate University.

Ernest W. Tune was Lecturer in New Testament Greek, Coptic, and Nubian at Claremont School of Theology and Claremont Graduate University, and an original member of the Nag Hammadi Coptic Gnostic Project Team at the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity. Currently he is a research scholar for the British-American International Greek New Testament Project and bibliographer and advisory board member of the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Hendrickson Publishers (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156563599X
• ISBN-13: 978-1565635999
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,458,616 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shortest Distance Between You and the New Testament, March 24, 2010

By 

Robert Wille "rwille" (Steger, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Beginner's Reader-Grammar for New Testament Greek (Paperback)

I purchased this book thirty years ago, and it's a permanent part of my library. It should be used in conjunction with an elementary grammar and a good lexicon (like Bauer-Arndt-Gingrich). It has "a precise and limited goal: to equip the student with a basic vocabulary, experience in reading, and skill in using a lexicon" (from the dust jacket).

This excerpt from the introduction explains the distinctive nature of the book. "This text departs markedly from the usual elementary Greek book in the centrality of its graded Reader. We have abandoned the method which takes the student through a progression of grammar lessons each concluding with a few sentences for translation. Rather, after learning the alphabet and the pronunciation of Greek words, the student begins immediately to develop skill in finding his way from a word as encountered in reading to its appropriate lexicon entry. From this point on he immerses himself in the Reader with lexicon in hand. All further grammatical principles are then brought in by way of explaining relationships observed by the student in his reading of Greek." (p.9)

The Reader "is carefully graded to permit the steady growth of skill and comprehension. It contains a vocabulary of 300 words, including all words that occur at least 50 times in the New Testament. The progressive mastery of this basic vocabulary builds confidence and enthusiasm in approaching the New Testament itself" (also from the dust jacket).

The book assumes that the student knows "no Greek at all" and also "that the student lacks a knowledge of English grammar and that he possesses little or no grammatical vocabulary" (from the Preface, p.7). It is a true primer; it starts at the beginning.

Colwell and Tune provided a great resource for gaining skill in reading. It deserves wider recognition.

I checked samples of the book on the Hendrickson Publishing website. The only change appears to be from hardcover to paperback. As far as I can tell, the text has not been edited.

5.0 out of 5 stars I owe much to this book., December 14, 2010

By 

T. M. Bosley "Friends call me Mark" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Beginner's Reader-Grammar for New Testament Greek (Paperback)

The key to reading the Greek New Testament is to know the 500 most used words so well that you couldn't forget them even if you tried. Every other NT Greek book does not provide enough reading exercises!!!
This book does. It will get you to that point where you have the basic vocab burned into your neurons.
It is not the only book you will need, but you do need it.
--someone who reads the Greek NT daily