New Testament Greek for Beginners (2nd Edition) [Hardcover]

J. Gresham Machen (Author), Dan G. McCartney (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 013184234X | ISBN-13: 978-0131842342 | Publication Date: October 11, 2003 | Edition: 2

This book is intended primarily for learners who are beginning the study of the Greek Testament either without any previous acquaintance with the Greek language or with an acquaintance so imperfect that a renewed course of elementary instruction is needed. This revision, over seventy-five years since the first edition was published, retains much of the character and organization of the first edition while accommodating readers today who lack an understanding of Latin and grammar necessary for fully comprehending the original edition. For an introduction to the Greek Testament.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This textbook is intended primarily for students who are beginning the study of the Greek Testament either without any previous acquaintance with the Greek language or with an acquaintance so imperfect that a renewed course of elementary instruction is needed. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

J. Gresham Machen's classic manual for students in biblical studies has been carefully revised and updated by Dan G. McCartney who holds the same academic appointment at Westminster Theological Seminary that Machen himself once held. Students who have no prior understanding of the Greek language will find this new edition eminently readable and valuable in their study of scripture.

New to This Edition:

• Glossary of basic grammatical and linguistic terms—Helps students recognize and understand frequently used terms and cross-reference with word roots
• Charts and figures on grammar—Includes a list of prepositions, a chart of vowel contractions, a regular verb formation chart, and several new paradigms
• Word list of 250 terms—Highlights the 250 words appearing most frequently in the Greek New Testament, prepared by Professor Bruce M. Metzger for this new edition
• Updated style—For example, substitutes 'you' for 'thee' and 'thou', in language familiar to today's students

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 2 edition (October 11, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 013184234X
• ISBN-13: 978-0131842342
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,790 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent, no-nonsense, no-frills introduction to NT Gree, August 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: New Testament Greek for Beginners (Hardcover)

Machen's book, though dated (c.1923) is still in use in leading theological seminaries and the text chosen by the Newark (NJ) School of Theology for its first and second year NT Greek courses. Machen is a no-nonsense, no frills, dead serious introductory text, but a student who has completed it will be able to read NT Greek. Each of the 33 lessons concludes with 20 Greek to English sentences and 16 English to Greek sentences to be translated. At the end of the first year of Machen, I discovered that Zodhiates (AMG Publishers, Chattanooga, TN) has published keys to these exercises, together with cassettes covering all 33 lessons, and a workbook with its own key booklet for each lesson. Gresham taught NT Greek at Princeton Theological Seminary in the early 20's and was a fundamentalist preacher there of considerable renown. I recommend Machen's text without reservation for serious students of NT Greek.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Its longevity testifies to its worth., January 7, 2004

By 

Philip J. Bohlken (Caldwell, Idaho) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: New Testament Greek for Beginners (Paperback)

I am a Lutheran pastor. Forty years ago I used Machen as the first year text by which I learned New Testament Greek. Over the years, I have used this text to teach a few interested persons New Testament Greek one-on-one. I tried another text once, but its arrangement of subjects seemed out of place. For me, the great feature of Machen is the numerous exercise sentences at the end of each chapter. Too many first year texts provide the students with too few exercise sentences by which they can practice what they have learned.

It is not really a book for self-study. But, with the help of a teacher who has studied New Testament Greek, it is simply the best book available after its nearly 80 years in print. That alone speaks much in its behalf.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Machen's Book is Still the Standard, April 30, 2004

By 

K.H. - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: New Testament Greek for Beginners (Hardcover)

The long ago departed J. Gresham Machen provided the academic world with the standard text for teaching Koine (common) Greek, often called New Testament Greek. This book is extremely well done, and after viewing two three separate Greek texts, this is the most detailed. He covers all the rules in Greek such as declensions, Present Actives, Participles, aorists, imperfects, Perfect tenses, subjunctives, etc. His vocabulary section in the back is great for the student as a quick reference or study tool for memorization. Further, as another reviewer noted, one can practice what they have learned in each chapter with Greek to English and English to Greek exercises. This is more difficult book than Mounce's text if one was trying to learn Greek alone. With a minor in Greek, I suggests one seek a teacher or someone with at least two years of Greek if using a book to learn Greek anyway.