While I’m blessed to be part of a church devoted to discipleship (including wonderful pastors willing to teach the original biblical languages), I know not everyone is so fortunate. Seeing as September is typically back to school month, I thought it might be helpful to provide information on the resources I’m using to learn Biblical (Koine) Greek. Whether you want to learn or you’re looking for something to incorporate into homeschooling, here’s a good place to start.
Learn to Read New Testament Greek (Third Edition) by David Alan Black
A great beginner’s text, Black’s book includes basic vocabulary, easy-to-follow grammatical charts, and translation exercises. There’s also a companion workbook if you want more practice.
Daily Dose of Greek
Daily Dose of Greek is a referential website on all things Greek by seminary professor Dr. Robert Plummer. He has been gracious enough to upload video lectures reviewing each chapter of Black’s book. These can be accessed at no charge and are a great resource to better understand the information in the book.
Readings in the Greek New Testament by Johnathan T. Pennington (Audiobook)
Those with an Audible membership should consider Pennington’s reading of select scriptures from the New Testament. Hearing the Greek words spoken is helpful in nailing down pronunciation. A bonus with Audible is that you can speed up or slow down the audio, making it easier for beginners to follow along. For those without Audible, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial entitling you to one free credit.
Logos Bible Study Tools by Faithlife (App)
I use the Greek New Testament: SBL Edition from the Logos Bible app because I can access it for free. It’s a great tool for scrolling along while listening to Pennington’s pronunciation. It’s also useful when searching quickly for a verse or passage. Through Logos you can also access a free Greek lexicon. Those who are interested in a physical copy of the Greek New Testament might want to consider either the Nestle Aland or this new edition produced by Tyndale House.
Biblical Greek Vocabulary (App)
I like making my own flashcards because I can color-code them by parts of speech and to distinguish between masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns, but if that sounds too extra for you, try out a Greek flashcard app. This one has flashcards for the top 2000 words used in the Greek New Testament at a pretty reasonable $2.99 price tag. The only drawback is that the flashcards by lesson feature doesn’t correspond to Black’s book, but it’s not a big deal if you’re simply looking to boost vocabulary. It’s a good resource for flipping through if you’re stuck in line at the grocery store.
Digital Greek Manuscripts
Those who are interested in textual criticism and want to further g(r)eek out should check out the digital archives at The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts. You can search the collection of papyri, find out where each manuscript is located, and even view images of the manuscripts. I’m already dream-planning a trip to the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin to view P45 and P46 in person.
Finally, if you’re studying Greek yourself, I’d recommend finding a few friends who also want to learn. Meet regularly to go over the material and practice the end of chapter translations together. It’s far easier to stay motivated when you are accountable to other people. Happy studying!
Bone of Bones 