Read it in Greek: An Introduction to New Testament Greek [Paperback]

Mr. L. William Countryman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 8, 1993

In American seminaries today, there is a very limited amount of time available to most students for language study. And yet, a working knowledge of the original language of the New Testament is imperative for informed exegesis of the biblical texts. Written with this difficult situation in mind, Read It in Greek offers a concise, one-semester introduction to the Greek language of the New Testament. / Taking a unique, inductive approach to the study of Greek, this text focuses on reading the Greek-1 John is read through from beginning to end-yet also teaches enough syntax to enable students to interact with all of the New Testament. The book also integrates into the language course lessons in exegesis of the Greek text, resulting in immediate, usable skills that will allow students to look behind the facade of modern-language translations and to follow discussions in technical commentaries and other scholarly works. Students who go beyond the first semester to further study of the language will find it easy to refine the general concepts taught here. Those who do not will have begun reading the Greek New Testament and will have the resources necessary to continue doing so. / Originally published as The New Testament Is in Greek: A Short Course for Exegetes, this volume continues to be one of the best resources available for quickly-yet effectively-introducing students to the reading of New Testament Greek.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Professor of New Testament at Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley, California. His other books include The Mystical Way according to John and Biblical Authority or Biblical Tyranny: Scripture and the Christian Pilgrimage.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (September 8, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802806651
• ISBN-13: 978-0802806659
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #188,802 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #23 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Languages > Instruction > Ancient Greek

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent start for total beginners, May 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Read it in Greek: An Introduction to New Testament Greek (Paperback)

This book provides a very gentle introduction into NT Greek that should give even the worst language students little trouble. Despite the laid back teaching style the book does progress pretty quickly and gets you reading actual Greek text from I John in no time. Most importantly, the chapters also include lots of great tips on how to do good biblical exegisis, and how to move on in the study of Greek for those that become motivated to do more. Therefore this book provides a great introduction into the study of Greek.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Greek to me!, May 18, 2003

By 

FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Read it in Greek: An Introduction to New Testament Greek (Paperback)

It will be Greek to you, too, before long after using this book. Bill Countryman's short book, 'Read it in Greek' is an introduction to the language of the New Testament, admirably designed to help you to read sections of the New Testament in the original language.

This book starts from scratch--it assumes no prior knowledge of Greek. Prior language study would be helpful, or at the very least a basic knowledge of grammar; yet Countryman explains the less common parts of speech with English examples.

The text is designed to be used as a one-semester introduction. According to the preface, 'it does not claim to work miracles--for example, to convey a year's worth of Greek in a single term or to offer the kind of facility with language that can come only with years of reading.' As most who want to have a greater facility with the original language of the New Testament not so much to be able to read the New Testament in Greek, but rather to expand their ability to read and comprehend in English, this is a perfect volume.

The lessons concentrate on reading (Countryman uses Johannine writings, including the exquisite prologue to John's Gospel) from the very start. You won't have tables and rules and charts to memorise--Countryman believes in language study by habituation, the more natural way of language acquisition. Now, you will have to memorise a few things, but that is kept to a minimum.

This book aims a 'quick and dirty' translations rather than elaborate accounts (which are usually flavoured by the proclivities of the translators as much as the facility with language).

Included throughout the book are tips for those who wish to deepen their own biblical scholarship. For instance, in Lesson XXII Countryman has an aside entitled Basic Books for an Exegetical Library in which he lists several useful texts (good basic texts, study aids, grammars, Bible dictionaries, commentaries, and Greek-specific volumes).

'Read it in Greek' is a valuable aid to those who want to expand understanding of the New Testament. Countryman says, 'One of the delights of exegesis, in fact, is that one can return over and over again in one's lifetime to the same text and discover aspects of it that went unnoticed before.' This book will open up hidden depths, and be another tool in the never-ending study.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book provides a great base for the serious Greek studen, August 10, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Albany, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Read it in Greek: An Introduction to New Testament Greek (Paperback)

In this book the methods used by Mr. Countryman has the Greek student jumps right into the Greek of the New Testament. The Student will learn to use the Lexicon, and how to translate the passages. The Student will also begin to get an understanding of Exegesis, or "Good Bible Study" as Mr. Countryman says. Its one draw back is that it can leave the student lacking the developing the grammar and how to parse. I would reccomend that any good student get a well versed Greek scholar to assit in the tutoring. Overall, a great book.