Customer Reviews

Interlinear Greek-English New Testament

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My experience with the Bible began when my brother gave me a New International Version (NIV) of the Bible in March of 1983. I read though it three times before I became a Christian in the winter of 1986.

But then I purchased an interlinear--George Berry's Interlinear New Testament to be exact. The Greek text in it is the Textus Receptus (TR). The King James Version (KJV) is in the margin. Using this interlinear did two things for me.

First, it introduced me to the question of textual variants. At the bottom of almost every page are textual variant footnotes. They compare the TR to seven other published Greek texts. Now at first sight this looked like a lot. At least one variant on every page of the Bible! It can't be that reliable!

However, as I looked at these variants I found that for the most part they were not that significant. There were some that seemed to matter. But overall, the differences were more "nit-picking" to me than anything else. So my previous studies about the textual integrity of the New Testament were confirmed, not hurt by this information.

Second, I began comparing my NIV to Berry's word-for-word English translation below each Greek word. It did not take very long for me to realize that the NIV simply did not match up with this word-for-word translation.

The preacher of the church I was attending at the time used the New American Standard Bible (NASB). So I purchased the NASB version of Ryrie's Study Bible. Comparing the NASB with Berry's translation I found that it did match up much more closely than the NIV.

The above is taken from Chapter One of my book "Differences Between Bible Versions." In that chapter I go on to discuss how the use of this and other interlinears convinced me that dynamic equivalence versions like the NIV are not reliable. So I switched to using the NASB.

But as I studied the textual footnotes in this interlinear and the subject of the Greek text-types in general, I became convinced that the Textus Receptus was more accurate than the Critical Text. So I switched to using the NKJV as my primary Bible.

So this interlinear had an important effect on my Bible studies. As such, so I highly recommend it. I detail all of my experiences and conclusions in my Differences Between Bible Versions book.

This publication is the Textus Receptus (Authentic Recieved Greek Text) as it was originally created by New Testament writers constrained by the Holy Spirit. It is all I hoped it would be and clarifies all other English translations that do NOT follow it. Thank you. Interlinear Greek-English New Testament : With Greek-English Lexicon and New Testament Synonyms (King James version)

The print is so light most of it is unreadable for me. The same volume is available on-line to use for free.

This Greek Interlined New Testament has very small print & the readability problem is compounded by the worn out plates used to print the Greek text.

Obviously in a Greek text intended for study by persons whose first language ISN'T koine Greek, it is very important that the type be very crisp and clear so that the various Greek letters can be easily distinguished. This goal has been achieved in other study material for students of NT Greek but not in this particular reprint.

This book is cheap (& looks it) and commendably small but I couldn't recommend it to anyone since there are much better Greek interlined New Testaments out there. I own this and I DO use it but that doesn't mean I'm happy with it.

Many preachers and Bible students use the George Ricker Berry Greek to English Interlinear to double-check the KJV translation.

The reason it is wrong to use the Interlinear KJV Parallel Greek-English New Testament by George Ricker Berry to try to assure yourself the KJV is properly translated is because the REAL AUTHOR OF THIS INTERLINEAR --Plymouth Brethren leader, Thomas Newberry--regarded the Received Text as "faulty" and represented the KJV as having many inaccuracies, errors, and obscurities in renderings:

The Revised Version.-- This is the result of repeated expressions of dissatisfaction with the Authorised Version, repeated attempts to amend it, and repeated calls for its revision, on account of the faulty state of the original text it proceeded upon, the comparatively defective knowledge of the original languages on the part of the translators, and the proved presence of many inaccuracies, errors, and obscurities in the renderings.

(Quoted from The Newberry Reference Bible, Portable Edition, pg. 944)

The author of the George Ricker Berry Greek to English Interlinear boldly exalted the Revised Version over the KJV:

This Revised Version gives evidence of being the work of men well qualified as scholars for their task, and animated with an equally tender regard for both the original Scripture and the Authorised Version. It is certainly much more accurate in text and translation than the older version, but less pure and musical in its English. [Bold emphasis added]

(Quoted from The Newberry Reference Bible, Portable Edition, pg. 945)

Why would Thomas Newberry, a Plymouth Brethren leader, who like John Darby, regarded the Textus Receptus to be inferior to the minority Greek Text, translate the Received Text into English? The answer is obvious: to attempt to discredit the King James 1611!

It is no longer a mystery why the George Ricker Berry Interlinear reads like a MODERN VERSION in many places.

To those who either study Greek, or simply are curious about the meanings of the Scriptures, this is an excellently informative tool of insight. At this low price, every Christian can afford his own Greek Bible! I would encourage all to take advantage of the opportunity.