Linguistics for Students of New Testament Greek: A Survey of Basic Concepts and Applications [Paperback]

David Alan Black (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2000

Introduces Greek students to the field of linguistics and shows how its findings can increase their understanding of the New Testament.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Greek --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

David Alan Black (D.Theol., University of Basel) is professor of New Testament and Greek at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and New Testament editor of the International Standard Version of the Bible.

Product Details

• Paperback: 236 pages
• Publisher: Baker Academic; 2 edition (August 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801020166
• ISBN-13: 978-0801020162
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #167,747 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Languages > Instruction > Ancient Greek

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Linguistics explains the secrets of New Testament Greek, September 19, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Linguistics for Students of New Testament Greek: A Survey of Basic Concepts and Applications (Paperback)

New Testament (Koine) Greek has long been taught as just another dead language. Black, an experienced teacher of Greek, changes the paradigm. Applying modern linguistic theory, Black shows how many of the so-called irregularities of Greek are actually normal and regular. The book covers the gamut: phonetics, morphology, syntax, semantics, etc. each section concludes with a short bibliography which can help students and teachers learn even more about linguistics and Koine Greek. An important text for newcomers and a useful review of Greek to sharpen rusty skills.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not bad (litotes--understatement), February 11, 2008

By 

L. M. Jordan - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Linguistics for Students of New Testament Greek: A Survey of Basic Concepts and Applications (Paperback)

Black invites the reader to apply the techniques of modern linguistics to the analysis of New Testament Greek. This excellent general introduction covers the phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and historical linguistics of koine Greek. It assumes no Greek or linguistics background.

I give the chapter headings and some subheadings:

1. Introducing Linguistics: The Landscape and the Quest
2. Phonology: The Sound of Greek (Phonetics and Phonemics)
3. Morphology: The Anatomy of Greek Words
4. Syntax: The Architecture of the Greek Sentence
5. Semantics: Determining Meaning (The real jewel in this work--Word and Concept, Semantic Classes, Ambiguity, Denotation/Connotation, Idioms, Rhetorical Language, Semantic Change, Discourse Analysis)
6. Historical and Comparative Linguistics: The Biography of Greek

In a Greek course I taught 2004/2005 based upon the Gospel of John (Beginning Greek: A Functional Approach) the class at one point wrestled with the disambiguation of a problematic participial phrase in John 1:9. ["That was the true light, which lighteneth every man that 'commeth into the world.'"]. Should the phrase "cometh into the word" go with "man" or "light"? Both are grammatically possible: the participle could be (1) accusative masculine singular or (2) nominative neuter singular. Do we use the proximity of "man" and "coming" to resolve the issue? Black explains (in discourse analysis) that the context with its emphasis upon the incarnation of Christ (see 1:14) settles the issue (2--"light commeth into the world"). However, I'm not convinced. John states later in 12:32 "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." So, Jesus will enlighten all men that come into the world. Modern translations tend to resolve these abiguities for you rather successfully or not. The hallmark of a good translation (KJV) is preserving them.

Highly recommended. Although it covers a lot of ground, the explanations are short and to the point and examples abound. A delightful 172 pages that would lay a great foundation for someone contemplating linguistics as a major or who wants to conscientously apply a knowledge of koine to NT interpretation.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Greek Linguistics, September 28, 2007

By 

Jerry Tim Winters "Tim Winters" (Henderson, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Linguistics for Students of New Testament Greek: A Survey of Basic Concepts and Applications (Paperback)

For any serious NT Greek student, this book is very insightful to the many phonemic changes in the language. It is not a definitive book on lingustics, which the author himself claims, but, it does get you started in the area of linguistics that might give you some insight into the English language. Black writes in a way that doesn't overwhelm the student with his scholarship, which he definitely has, but he writes in a way that even someone who is a beginner in the study of the language can understand. I recommend it for any beginner or intermedeate student who would like to get a better handle on why some things change in the Greek language that may have confused you before.