Customer Reviews

Keep Your Greek: Strategies for Busy People

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a Greek instructor, I'm always looking for ways to help my students retain their Greek knowledge. Ok, let's be honest. I'm always looking for ways to retain my Greek knowledge too. So I was eager to read this book. Greek students and those out in ministry agree that original language study is important for helpful Biblical exegesis and exposition, but many of those in ministry's memory of Greek grammar and vocab is just that, faded memories. This book is helpful for both students wanting to keep their Greek from fading and those in ministry who desire to sharpen their memory of almost forgotten participles and pronouns.

This book began as a series of blog posts [...] back in January of 2009 and as a result the book has a very engaging, personal feel to it. The book is short (less than 100 pages) and a very quick read. I sat down with it the night I got it and finished it in less than a hour. A unique element of the book, due to the fact that it started as a series of blog posts, is that Campbell includes at the end of each chapter some of the comment conversation that the original posts received. This adds to its light, easy-to-read style.

The book consists of 10 short chapters (each only a couple of pages), a motivational appendix, and an annotated list of resources for pursuing Greek retention. Each chapter deals with one easy-to-implement principle for retaining (or regaining) your Greek. The ten principles are:
- Read some Greek every day
- Don't rely on interlinears
- Don't cheat with Bible study software
- Know your vocabulary like a good friend
- Practice, practice, practice, parsing
- Read fast to get the flow
- Read slow to get the details
- Immerse yourself in Greek with as many of your senses as possible
- It's easier to learn Greek the second time than the first
- Make a plan for how you will retain/regain your Greek

None of these principles are earth-shattering, but Campbell makes them easy to understand, and even better, easy to implement.

In the appendix, Campbell includes a motivational anecdote from Daniel Wallace, one of the foremost contemporary Greek scholars. He originally struggled with Greek, even failing his first class, but when took it seriously he began to excel. The message is that you too can excel, but you have to take it seriously. It's not easy, but it's worth it.

My only criticism is that book is so short. I would have loved to have gained more from it. Overall, this was a great book and I plan to recommend it to many of my students.

This little book is the best thing I know of for encouragement and advice for how to maintain and increase your ability to read and use Greek. I almost can't say too much good about this book- and it would make a great gift! As Greek teacher, I know encourage all my students to get this book.

One of the real challenges, of course, in preparation for ministry is, having taken Greek, to maintain Greek information and skills in the daily grind of ministry. In brief fashion Campbell covers key advice I have heard previously and more points I had not heard or thought of before. I really wish I had received this book 20 years ago and now hope all my students will get it. Campbell's key points are:

- Ready every day
- Burn your interlinear
- Use software tools wisely (don't jump to help too quickly)
- Make vocabulary your friend
- Practice your parsing
- Read fast
- Read slow (so vary your reading)
- Use your senses (sight, hearing, etc.)

Of course a simple list does not capture the power of the book. One great strength is Campbell's tone and approach. He is very realistic. It would be easy to suggest more work than anyone could do. Campbell's ideas though obviously emerge from the real life of his own practice and of encouraging others. Also, his breezy, encouraging tone is helpful. He will give the firm exhortation, but he typically comes across as a chief encourager.

Brevity is also a strength here. You don't get bogged down in this book. I loved reading the book and came away from it deeply encouraged and motivated.

This is great content in the right tone, at the right size and right price. It is the best thing around on this important topic. Read and be encouraged in your own wrestling with the New Testament as it was originally given.

It is interesting that we go to college, seminary, and graduate school to study Bible, Greek, Hebrew, and all the rest and have no plan for "keeping" what we learn. This is especailly true of the Biblical languages. Dr. Campbell has written a really needed help. However, the help comes in an interesting way. All of us as teachers of NTG and pastors who try to keep up with our Greek know just about everything he has reminded us of -- we need to read everyday, we need to continue with our flashcards and whatever else has helped us keep our vocabulary, review the paradigms and how words are formed, and the like. One very critical reviewer has said save your mone becaue the book can be summed up in a sentence: "get rid of your interlinear and read your Greek everyday." This is an oversimplication of what Dr. Campbell has attempted to do -- and, by the way, has done it very well! I read straight through -- first each big topic, then the sentence summary at the end of each chapter, the . . . and especailly here -- the Blog Responses. There are approximately 61 pages of instructions from Dr. Campbell and 27 pages of Blog Responses from readers of these great challenging-reminders. Herein lies the real help in the book -- the back-and-forth (most of the time)between Dr. campbell and his readers in the responses. Good tips on learning and a great deal of encouragement coming from those who have tried the several good tips and found them helpful. A good investment for anyone who needs helpful hints and encouragement in "keeping their Greek." Keep readingt, everyday, keep working with vocabulary learning methods, keep reviewing the paradigms and needed points of grammar and syntax -- you'll be glad down the road a piece. Two stories to conclude: while still a college student I was always asking active pastors and teacher, "How do you keep up with your studies after college, seminary, and graduate school, after you get active in your minsitry?" One young pastor, fresh out of seminary answered like this: "Everyday I read one verse from the Hebrew Bible and one verse from the Greek New testament -- know all the words, analyze the points of grammar needed for a good understanding of the text." My first thought -- "One verse; that's not very much!" That was in 1956. What if that young man (much older and retired by now) had kept that up all throught the years? Wow! Just think how much of Holy Scripture this pastor would have read during those years. Now, to conclude (I promise) -- a faculty friend of mine here at Wingate University plays the guitar, the banjo, the fiddle. We've joked that he can play anything with strings. He's good at it. His word to those who want to play, even if just for fun, is: "Don't hide your guitar away in a closet; prop it up in the hallway, and everytime you trip over it, pick it up and play a few chords." I've given my Greek students the same bit of advice for years. "Don't put your GNT on a shelf; leave it on the desk or table where you can see it, and everytime you pass by, pick it up and read a verse or two." The secret is to read, Read, READ, and READ some more. Dr. Campbell has written a challenging little book that will be a BIG help to all students of the GNT.

G. Byrns Coleman
Professor of Religion
Wingate University
Wingate, North Carolina

In ten short chapters plus an appendix and resource section, Campbell relates tips and suggestions for not letting one's Greek slip after leaving seminary or Bible school. In my experience, it is all too easy to let the pressures of jobs and families crowd out the skills that we have worked so hard to gain. But this does not have to happen. It doesn't take a lot of time to keep up one's Greek. Reading, reviewing vocabulary and paradigms, and not relying overly on tools are all suggestions that Campbell explains in more detail. Each chapter ends with brief excerpts from his blog on the topic.

I recommend this book for those who are finishing their language studies in seminary or Bible school as well as for those who are past their studies but are letting their skills slip. The book is not expensive - only $10 and the suggestions are all very doable and easily implemented. For a more detailed review, check my blog at [...]

Keep Your Greek: Strategies for Busy People

Of all the publisher's I follow, Zondervan Academic continues to stand out based on the number of useful original languages resources they continue to release year after year. The latest addition to their lineup of language resources is Constantine Campbell's Keep Your Greek: Strategies for Busy People (Zondervan, 2010).

As a blogger and social media enthusiast I appreciated the background story behind the book. In a sense, it all began when Dr. Campbell decided to take the tips he had been sharing in the classroom about how to keep your Greek going after college / seminary and turned them into a series of posts called "Keep Your Greek" on his now retired read better, preach better blog. The nine posts in that series actually served as the outline for this book. I especially liked that Dr. Campbell chose to share some of the comments dialog from his original blog posts at the end of each chapter. It was useful to see the types of questions posed by the original readers of the content and Dr. Campbell's responses. Maybe it is because I spend far too much time using social media, but the blog responses section at the close of each chapter drew me in and made me feel a part of the conversation.

Keep Your Greek: Strategies for Busy People is quite short at only ninety pages. The content is divided amongst ten chapters and the book closes with an appendix and a list of recommended resources. Each chapter introduces a new concept about how to enhance your ongoing study of Greek. You can get a good idea of each chapter's content from its heading and subheading. If you are a very serious and stodgy language student, try not to take offense as some of them are a bit tongue in cheek. They are as follows:

* Chapter 1: Read Every Day: Reading reminds, refreshes, and reinforces.
* Chapter 2: Burn Your Interlinear: The interlinear is a tool of the devil, designed to make preachers stupid.
* Chapter 3: Use Software Tools Wisely: Bible software can be a blessing or a curse-it's up to you.
* Chapter 4: Make Vocabulary Your Friend: You remember the names of your friends, right?
* Chapter 5: Practice Your Parsing: Practice makes perfect. Or aorist. Or present. Or ... What is that verb?
* Chapter 6: Read Fast: It's the vibe of the thing.
* Chapter 7: Read Slow: Slow and steady wins the race.
* Chapter 8: Use Your Senses: Greek is a language, not just words on a page.
* Chapter 9: Get Your Greek Back: If you did it once, you can do it again. And it will be easier this time.
* Chapter 10: Putting It All Together: Make it a part of life.

When it's all said and done, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There was a light-hearted tone that ran throughout the entire book, making what is sometimes a very mundane topic, enjoyable to read. Each chapter offers extremely practical advice, much of which I intend to put in place as I continue my quest to keep up my own Greek skills. And if you are more of a Hebrew or Aramaic guy, don't despair, these strategies will enhance for your ongoing language study as well. I would highly recommend this book for any Bible college / seminary student, pastor, or layperson who is interested in or who has ever studied Greek. Even if your interest in keeping up with your Greek studies is limited, you will find something of use here. Readers who enjoy this book should also consider picking up a copy of Dr. Campbell's Basics of Verbal Aspect in Biblical Greek (Zondervan, 2008).

Author Information:
Constantine R. Campbell (PhD, Macquarie University) is a senior lecturer in Greek and new Testament at Moore Theological College in Sydney, Australia. He is the author of numerous books, including Basics of Verbal Aspect in Biblical Greek. Dr. Campbell is a public speaker, musician, and author, and lives in Sydney with his wife and three children.

Disclaimer:
This book was provided by Zondervan for review. The reviewer was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.

Summary: Campbell's brief blook provides eight succinct, concrete, and realistic strategies for developing one's Greek (and Hebrew) skills after seminary. Maintenance requires at least 10 minutes per day. Development requires a bit more. Either way both can be done, and Campbell shows how.

Many seminarians encounter the biblical languages in much the same way that the hare encounters his race with the tortoise in Aesop's The Tortoise and the Hare: The life-long marathon that is learning biblical Greek is treated as a sprint race, and hence the would-be sprint runner is defeated before he or she has even begun.

Typically, after graduation one's use of the Greek New Testament slowly subsides. Mild guilt fuels random flashes of review, but such reviews quickly fade into straight neglect. Neglect breeds a flash or two of envy, and after envy has run its course one finally utters self-justifying phrases to themselves (and to others-funny how one cannot keep such sentiments to one's self), such as: "Why do I need Greek when I have [insert expensive Bible software of choice here]?"

In this light the most important part of this book is found in the parsing of its title: Present, active, imperative. To keep your Greek is to guard it from atrophy. Use it or lose it.

Doubtless this quip has been the hallmark of Greek teachers for countless eternities. My college and seminary Greek professors all said it to me. As a post-grad seminarian I find myself saying the same thing to seminary greenhorns, to pastoral colleagues, and even to myself. So, if this well-worn imperative is not new, then what is so special about Campbell's formulation of it?

First, "keep your greek" still needs to be said. Language acquisition truly is a marathon, not a sprint, and when it comes to Greek the tortoise really is the victor over the hare. Since repetition is the mother of learning, seminarians need to be reminded that if they hope to maintain their language skills they must walk repetition's way like the tortoise-slow and steady. Learning Greek and Hebrew is a way of life, a daily habit. It is achieved in small steps over long periods of time.

Campbell not only reiterates this point-one that every Greek student already knows-in a fresh and non-patronizing way, but also he provides eight concrete strategies for accomplishing this goal. Thus, if you are in a rut, Campbell shows you how to get moving. And if you are lost, he shows you the map.

Second, the imperative has not changed, but the tools of the trade have. Campbell deals frankly with how the digitization of linguistic tools has affected the method of learning the biblical languages. His approach is neither that of a luddite nor a technophile but a realist. Additionally, he includes a useful annotated list of digital language-learning tools at the end of the book.

Third, Campbell provides much needed hope for those whose former Greek skills have gone stone cold. The road back is tough, he admits, but it is doable (see ch. 9).

Anyone who has completed formal coursework in Greek and/or Hebrew will benefit from Campbell's succinct, well-written, and realistic strategies for maintaining one's facility in the biblical languages throughout a lifetime of ministry.

I just wanted to share several thoughts on the book rather than a detailed chapter by chapter review.

First, because of where I am in my walk with God, I can't help but read this book through a spiritual formation lens, asking what bearing the spiritual discipline of reading Greek has on our souls as we live before God. While in Seminary studying the languages, it seems that most of the reasons given for us to study Greek have to do with teaching and preaching, which of course is true and valuable. But what greater motivation can there be than to work out how it not only benefits our minds, but our imaginations and hearts as well? I would like to see Greek texts take into account the principles and processes of Christian spiritual formation; I would also like to see spiritual formation texts include spiritual disciplines that have to do with specifically the biblical languages.

Reading this book made me want to see a further book written entitled, Greek for Ragamuffins, which would describe how the discipline of reading and interacting with Greek would benefit those who are experiencing a particularly dark and confusing time in their lives. Would that be possible?

Second, what I appreciate most about the book is the amount of grace on the pages. Studying Greek and Hebrew in Seminary is such a rigorous, even legal affair; no wonder so many come out of it never wanting to keep it! There is so much to memorize in short periods of time, with limited benefit along the way. Language teachers that are harsh toward their students add to this negative experience. Judging from this book, Constantine Campbell would not be one of these teachers! He clearly has understanding and compassion for people who have a lot going on in their lives.

I remember having many great eye-opening experiences with the languages, and look forward to more. I can rely on Campbell's book to remind me that starting small and simple has greater long term effects than trying to go back to our seminary pace. It makes me want to take up my Greek NT again. Thanks Dr. Campbell!

I wish I'd had this during or before seminary. It's a quick read, but jammed packed with practical insights. I most appreciated his thoughts on the benefits of Greek study beyond showing it off in the sermon, all the while encouraging us not to be afraid to share things relevant from the Greek. He also reminds readers it's easier to resurrect Greek already learned than to get it the first time, an encouragement to backsliders to get back on the horse.

When deciding where to go to seminary, one of the factors I looked at was the school's approach to the study of ancient languages (mainly Hebrew and Greek). A few schools I looked at offered degrees or learning tracks that did not involve languages or instead taught how to use language software rather than the language itself. While I understood the rationalization for modifying the traditional approach to learning languages given the changing nature of ministry, I appreciated the (sometimes tedious and exhausting!) time and energy I spent learning Hebrew and Greek.

But now it's been nearly two years since finishing my last Greek exegesis course and the question now, as it was two years ago, is "How can I keep up with these languages?"

Lucky for me, Constantine R. Campbell recently wrote "Keep Your Greek: Strategies for Busy People" - a short and helpful collection of ten tips to keep connected with the Greek language (though most of the book would apply to Hebrew as well). The tips are basic - "Practice Your Parsing," "Read Every Day," etc. - and the book is more fun to read than you might imagine (Chapter 2's subtitle is called "The interlinear is a tool of the devil designed to make preacher's stupid"). Because the book originated from a series of blog posts, the author included a "comments section" after each chapter with interaction from readers engaging the material.

The book is filled with practical helps and advice, but it is not a magic bullet nor will it alone provide the time and energy needed to maintain (or, in some cases, relearn) a difficult language. The tips are helpful, but the fundamental problem I imagine most people will need to overcome is finding the time (and having the willpower to use the time) to spend regularly working through Greek parsings and translations.

Campbell devotes only two pages to discussing why you should keep up on Greek. It would be interesting to hear more on that question, particularly as more pastors find themselves in non-traditional contexts (bivocational, house churches, church plants, urban ministry centers, etc.) where the practicalities of keeping up a language (not to mention two) may make it seem nearly impossible, even with Campbell's helpful guidance.

Disclosure of material connection in compliance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: I received this book free from the publisher, though the opinions I have expressed are my own.

Some things are difficult to keep. Like keeping your children clean. Your hair. Sometimes your sanity. And your Greek, if you ever studied the language.

Seminary days were tough: learning and drilling verb paradigms, vocab (my Achilles' heel), translations...the endless days of Greek (not to mention watching My Big Fat Greek Wedding over and over-okay, I never really did that, but still...). At the end of it all, voilà, you're a Greek god(dess)...er...I mean, you know a lot of Greek and are able to read out of the Greek New Testament and, perhaps if you're excellent, from something like Michael Holmes' The Apostolic Fathers.

Sometimes your paradigms slip, though, and the fall down Mount Olympus is difficult, on your pride at least. You wander around, your hair disheveled, fragments of Greek words dripping down the side of your mouth, your hands clutching the plastic sheet of paradigms BibleWorks gives away free, and among your Greek peers you are suddenly crying out, "Unclean! Unclean!" Well, that's how I feel when the paradigms for Present Middle/Passive Singulars slip from my mind, I'm left drooling like a baby, and all my friends have to come near me and coo me back to mental health. Maybe it's actually not that bad (I wouldn't admit it, anyhow). But forgetting such simple paradigms leaves one a bit frustrated. We need a Prometheus to give us a little fire.

That's what Constantine R. Campbell does in Keep Your Greek: Strategies for Busy People. In 10 easy-to-read chapters, Campbell challenges busy pastors (or busy anybodies who once studied Greek, or those about to enter the world of Gyros and Baklava) to keep on keeping their Greek so their ministry in the Word of God will remain strong and vibrant. Four chapters cover reading Greek (from various angles), one covers using software, a chapter each for parsing and vocabulary (that Herculean feat), another on using your senses, one to encourage you, and the last to help you make it part of your routine. Each chapter begins helpfully with a quote from various New Testament scholars (the quote in the Appendix was well placed); they end with comments from Campbell's blog (the material in the book was originally blogged). Included is a list of resources at the end, which are worth the price of the book.

Campbell's writing style is non-formal and non-technical. He's not here to teach you Greek (unless you're one of his students), but to teach you how to retain it. The book is mostly well written (I'm not sure what grade I would have received if I'd used an emoticon in one of my papers-maybe it's an insignificant point, but it bothered me). The comments from his blog were sometimes helpful (especially some of the vocab ones), sometimes unnecessary (e.g., page 65). And the resources at the end were worth the price of the book (repetition is the mother of pedagogy, someone once said).

The chapters are simple, basic...and I wished I'd written the book and made Campbell's millions for him. His advice boils down to read the Greek text daily, review your paradigms, review your vocab-and do it for 10-30 minutes a day. There's no need to tax yourself to death (that's what the IRS is for!). As for reading Greek, Campbell wisely suggests beginning with smaller portions (after all, you wouldn't send a starving man to a buffet).

"Half an hour of reading Greek could do you more damage than good to begin with because the confidence factor is really important here," (16).

He's right, of course. I feel that way when I haven't worked out for a while. Starting is difficult and I know if I begin too heavily, I'll fall like Icarus. Campbell also suggests beginning with "`easy' Greek, like John's gospel," (16).

He then stubbornly demands we burn our interlinear (chapter 2). That just might be heretical (actually, I don't even own one). This could be some of the best advice (see also the similar advice when using software in chapter 3). The other chapters make a lot of sense, like daily reviewing your paradigms and vocab-after all, you should have done that in seminary when you first learned Greek. It's not that much difficult to do it again. This is almost counter-intuitive.

"An interlinear is like a crutch. Instead of relying on the Greek you know, an interlinear props you up and helps you to finish `the set' [earlier he compared it to cheating at weight-lifting exercises in the gym]. Instead of using the primary `muscle group' needed to read Greek-your memory!-the interlinear allows you to underwork your memory and rely on the stronger `muscle group'-the printed English vocabulary sitting right there under each Greek word," (21).

Though I don't have an interlinear, I've toyed with purchasing one. Thank you for saving me some money!

The reading chapters are the most important because, in a way, they're the most difficult. We're learning paradigms and vocab in order to read the text. Of course, reading the text is rewarding, especially reading both slow and fast as he prescribes (chapters 6 & 7, respectively). It's like getting the olive wreath at the New Testament reading Olympic game (that would be during the summer games; verb paradigms and vocab are during the winter). But it's the most intimidating. All those Greek words you've forgotten together with no English (unless you're using an accursed interlinear-but see above), in their Aorist and Perfect and Pluperfect verbal forms ("Unclean! Unclean!").

Follow Campbell's advice (all of it, not just about reading), and like Odysseus before the Sirens, you will not be lured into a Greekless pastorate. And perhaps after having done his duty to mankind, Campbell will not meet the same fate as Prometheus. But if he does, well, perhaps he can redeem himself by allowing us our interlinear back!

*Disclaimer: I received a complementary copy of Keep Your Greek: Strategies for Busy People (but no Baklava) from the publisher, Zondervan, in order to review it.