Customer Reviews

Readings in the Greek New Testament: Includes 2 Audio CDs

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"Readings in the Greek New Testament" is a welcome addition to the library of anyone studying New Testament Greek. While there are several excellent books on learning to read New Testament Greek (Koine Greek) but they all have the limitation inherent in any book about learning another language. No matter how well the author describes how to pronounce a word, where to put emphasis, or how to deal with diphthongs it is not the same a hearing it. On these two audio CDs Jonathan T. Pennington reads various passages in Koine Greek including the Sermon on the Mount, and the entire book of 1 John. If you have William Mounce's book "A Graded Reader of Biblical Greek" you will find all the passages mentioned there read aloud on this CD. While nobody is sure exactly how Koine Greek was pronounced, Dr. Pennington uses the most commonly accepted Erasmian pronunciation, which keeps the student in line with the majority of scholars. "Readings in the Greek New Testament" is highly recommended for anyone desiring to learn New Testament Greek and a great companion for anybody using William Mounce's book.

I have re-written this review twice as my attitude towards listening to Greek has changed. Bottom line, Pennington's Greek is very easy to understand. There is something seductive about other pronunciations or even Erasmianism with more flare, but I am convinced that for me, anyway, basic American Erasmianism is the easiest Greek to understand. Pennington speaks a bit fast. He is at his best when he gives his reading some dramatic flare, which he does from time to time, but maybe could do a little more of. He was one of the first Greek readers out there, and still one of the best.

These readings are marvelous. If you're learning koine Greek, you simply have to have these. As far as I can tell, Pennington's pronunciation, per the accepted guidelines, is just right. As such, this is for one a fantastic to get your pronunciation right, regardless of the talents of your teacher.

Pennington also reads these smoothly and quickly, as if in English. This is no halting, starting recitation. This is a well-inflected reading of the scriptures as if he were reading from your favorite English translation. As a first-semester student, I don't have all the vocabulary and grammar to understand everything in the Greek, but just following along in the Greek NT as Pennington reads is a great help in getting a grasp on the flow of the language. Following in your English translation is great, also, even after just a few months of Greek.

Great stuff! Don't do without.