Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics [Hardcover]

Daniel B. Wallace (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 20, 1997

For seminary students, the goal of studying Greek grammar is the accurate exegesis of biblical texts. Sound exegesis requires that the exegete consider grammar within a larger framework that includes context, lexeme, and other linguistic features. While the trend of some grammarians has been to take a purely grammatical approach to the language, Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics integrates the technical requirements for proper Greek interpretation with the actual interests and needs of Bible students. It is the first textbook to systematically link syntax and exegesis of the New Testament for second-year Greek students. It explores numerous syntactical categories, some of which have not previously been dealt with in print. Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics is the most up-to-date Greek grammar available. It equips intermediate Greek students with the skills they need to do exegesis of biblical texts in a way that is faithful to their intended meaning. The expanded edition contains a subject index, a Greek word index, and page numbers in the Syntax Summary section.

Editorial Reviews

Review

''Students in second-year Greek (and beyond) profit immensely from the conception, organization, examples, and discussion of this book. Robertson is prolix and dated. BDF is uneven, great for scholars but not always fruitful for students. Other 'second year' grammars are less comprehensive. Students who work through the salient points of Wallace (with an instructor's guidance on what is salient) gain a grasp of classic categories, a sense for how language works, and a respect for how much more we all have to learn. Is it a perfect resource? No. Can it serve invaluable pedagogical ends? Absolutely!' Covenant Theological Seminary -- Robert W. Yarbrough <br><br>

From the Back Cover

For seminary students, the goal of studying Greek grammar is the accurate exegesis of biblical texts. Sound exegesis requires that the exegete consider grammar within a larger framework that includes context, lexeme, and other linguistic features.

While the trend of some grammarians has been to take a purely grammatical approach to the language, Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics integrates the technical requirements for proper Greek interpretation with the actual interests and needs of Bible students. It is the first textbook to systematically link syntax and exegesis of the New Testament for second-year Greek students. It explores numerous syntactical categories, some of which have not previously been dealt with in print.

Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics is the most up-to-date Greek grammar available. It equips intermediate Greek students with the skills they need to do exegesis of biblical texts in a way that is faithful to their intended meaning. The expanded edition contains a subject index, a Greek word index, and page numbers in the Syntax Summary section.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 860 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan; Enlarged edition (May 20, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310218950
• ISBN-13: 978-0310218951
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 2 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,211 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 81 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Grammar January 1, 2001

By Jonathan Bailey

Format:Hardcover

I actually found this book years ago when I knew no Greek at all and was looking for grammars of the Attic dialect. I had no idea that I would one day commit myself to the understanding of the bible. It is actually through an advertisement in the back of this book that I found the whole Zondervan line, including William Mounce's fantastic introductory grammar. Now, years later, as I prepare for seminary, I find that I am already equipped with most of the Greek textsbooks that I will need there.

This book is a real treasure. Long before I could read any Greek I combed over the excellent essays at the beginning about the nature of New Testament Greek and the issues of teaching and learning Greek in his "purpose of this book" essay. Also, the book is designed as a reference, giving you everything you ever wanted to know about cases in one swoop, then verbs in one swoop, etc., yet Wallace keeps the various components of the Greek language distinct from one another and is very meticulous in assuming greater knowledge from the student as one works through the book, indicating that it is designed to be methodically worked through from beginning to end in seminary courses. The result is a teaching aid that is a well-indexed reference, usable for one's entire lifetime. Also, Wallace includes a number of examples with each of his paragraphs, and each of the examples is translated from the Greek. This is a wonderful boon for someone like me who, though having started Greek 4 years ago before before learning any foreign language, has since learned to speak German and read Hebrew fluently, but never got the time to acquire great fluency in New Testament Greek. My daily biblical studies have prompted me to do many advanced word studies and pose a number of syntactical questions involving Greek, yet I have never really attained the vocabulary or fluency in the language as one who can just pick up a Greek New Testament and read it. In this respect, Wallace's clear language and numerous translated examples have helped me to no end.

I guess what I am trying to say is that this book is very user-friendly and makes a wonderful companion even to beginning students in the language, or for pastors whose Greek has gotten rusty.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Pleased User January 27, 2001

By William Arnold

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Wallace's grammar is excellent! It is very thorough and very detailed, but also very understandable and readable. (If you disagree, just try reading through A. T. Robertson's grammar to compare!) It is full of illustrations and charts and contains detailed explanations and offers many examples of syntactical categories. He also discusses many debatable and exegeticaly significant passages, giving the eveidence for different positions. To make it even more useful, there is an index of subject, one of Greek words and one of biblical passages. It is by far the most user friendly advanced grammar in print. It is part of the same series as Mounce's beginning grammar. (For more reviews on similar books.....

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars a great intermediate grammar ... October 18, 2000

By forehandshanker

Format:Hardcover

The knock on Wallace has been on the number of categories he uses, and some of the examples. I think that misses the point. Read the book, and begin to extrapolate from his examples an understanding of Greek syntax. His examples are just there for illustration, and I know he would admit they are not gospel.

It is telling that Wallace was asked to serve on the committe that will produce the next revision of the standard for advanced Koine Greek grammar, Blass-DeBrunner-Funk. Get this book, and then get BDF (or AT Robertson's grammar).