A Preparatory Grammar for New Testament Greek

by Sidney D. Dyer

Publisher:

Ambassador

, 2008

Overview

Sidney D. Dyer's A Preparatory Grammar for New Testament Greek is an introductory grammar to the Greek language. It follows a traditional approach to learning the language fostering a firm foundation of elementary grammatical concepts. With the idea in mind that proficiency in a language is gained through constant practice and repetition, Dyer provides us with a textbook heavy on practical application. It includes conjugation charts, a glossary of grammatical terms, and a diagramming manual to further aid language acquisition.

In the Logos edition, A Preparatory Grammar for New Testament Greek is more powerful and easier to access than ever before. You can not only read and search the book as a whole but also type the verse you are studying in the search bar and have an instant list of the sections with grammatical discussion appropriate to your verse—just click a link to go directly to a section. Integrated with other language resources in your library, the Logos edition will help you unlock the Greek language with ease.

Key Features

• Appendixes, Glossary, and Conjugation Charts
• Sentence diagramming examples and exercises
• Foundation-building exercises

Contents

• The Benefits of Knowing Greek
• A Survey of Basic Grammar
• The Alphabet, Classification of Consonants, Vowel Sounds, Diphthongs, Iota Subscript, Breathing Marks, Accents, and Syllabification
• Noun Formation, The Article, First Declension Nouns, Verb Formation, Present Active Indicative of λυ´ω, and Punctuation
• Second Declension Nouns, The Present Middle/Passive of λυ´ω, The Present Indicative of ει?μι´
• The Future of λυ´ω and Adjectives
• Personal Pronouns, αυ?το´ς as the Intensive Pronoun and the Identical Adjective, and Compound Verbs
• Demonstrative Pronouns, Deponent Verbs, and the Future Indicative of ει?μι´
• The Imperfect Indicative of λυ´ω and the Imperfect Indicative of ει?μι´
• Contract Verbs
• The Relative, Indefinite, & Interrogative Pronouns
• Third Declension Nouns
• The First Aorist Active, Middle, and Passive Indicative
• The Second Aorist and Defective Verbs
• Phonological Changes in Greek
• Liquid Verbs and Deponent Futures
• The Perfect Indicative of λυ´ω, the Pluperfect Indicative of λυ´ω, Principal Parts, & The Consonant Combination Chart
• The Subjunctive Mood
• Uses of the Subjunctive Mood, Reflexive Pronouns, and the Reciprocal Pronoun
• Irregular, Two-Termination, and Comparative Adjectives
• The Imperative Mood, the Two Forms of Prohibition, and the Operative Mood
• Infinitives
• Active Participle Forms of λυ´ω, Participle Forms of ει?μι´, and Uses of Participles
• Middle and Passive Participles of λυ´ω
• The μι Verbs
• Introduction to Case Uses
• Introduction to Tense Uses

Top Highlights

“The forms for the second aorist passive participle are produced by attaching the same endings to the second aorist stem. Thus, the nominative singular forms of the aorist passive of γράφω are: γραφείς, γραφεῖσα, and γραφέν.” (Page 138)

“Chiasmus is a literary device in which two or more items are followed by corresponding items in reverse order. It is sometimes described as inverted parallelism. If the number of items is uneven, the central item has prominence.” (Page 244)

“Since the closest possible antecedent is ‘grace’, that seems to be the likely choice. However, the case agreement in the Greek between ‘which’ and ‘word’ and not between ‘which’ and ‘grace’, shows that it is the ‘word’, rather than ‘grace’, that edifies and gives an inheritance.” (Page 8)

“The participial forms of second aorist verbs follow the regular pattern. The same endings for the present middle participle are attached to the second aorist stem. The nominative singular forms of the aorist middle of λαμβάνω are: λαβόμενος, λαβομένη, and λαβόμενον.” (Pages 137–138)

“The term aorist is from the Greek word ἀόριστος meaning undefined. The aorist primarily expresses simple occurrence and the kind of action is left undefined.” (Page 69)

Praise for the Print Edition

Another Grammar for the Koine Greek used in the New Testament? Yes, indeed. And the reason for such is the thoroughness with which the material is presented as well as the unique contributions which the author, Dr. Dyer, brings to this work. Try it, and see for yourself.

—George W. Knight III, ThD, adjunct professor of New Testament, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

I have begun combing through your text, especially in light of finishing up Machen’s grammar in a couple of weeks. Clearly your work is a more detailed and logical presentation. Also you have an emphasis on diagramming that Machen and many others do not. Although I’ll have to go back and master your diagramming methodology, I think I’ll be better for it in the long run.

—Dave Berry, former student

I really appreciate your grammar textbook. It is so concise and easy to follow. I’m having fun learning Greek—I’ve always wanted to be able to read the Scriptures in their original languages. . . . I’ve turned basically every single sentence in it into a flashcard because every sentence has very important things we need to know. You don’t waste any words and for that I am very grateful."

—Patrick Hines, former student

Dyer . . . has written a first year Greek grammar that has all the things one would normally expect in a Greek grammar but with the addition of many lessons on diagramming Greek sentences. . . . The simple map, or diagram, found in the following lessons, will enable the pupil to present directly and vividly to the eye the exact function of every clause in the sentence, of every phrase in the clause, and of every word in the phrase—to picture the complete analysis of the sentence, with principal and subordinate parts in their proper relations. It is only by the aid of such a map, or picture, that the pupil can, at a single view, see the sentence as an organic whole made up of many parts performing various functions and standing in various relations. . . . The diagram drives the pupil to a most searching examination of the sentence, brings him face to face with every difficulty, and compels a decision on every point. . . . That such a skill would be of immense use to the exegete is obvious. To the best of my knowledge, Prof. Dyer’s grammar is still the only print grammar that makes use of this forgotten skill. For this reason, I would place this grammar in the first rank of introductory Greek grammars.

—Chris Engelsma, Director of Distance Learning, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

Having personally made use of this text in teaching (beginning) Greek to some in my congregation I can attest to its functional and practical composition. What makes this book eminently usable for instruction is the availability of a teacher’s edition. That added feature of this grammar "includes keys for parsing exercises and translations for both the Greek to English and English to Greek translation exercises" (copyright page). . . A further bonus of Dr. Dyer’s introductory grammar is the inclusion of the course syllabus, quizzes, and tests. Thus, it is suitable for independent study as well as for private school or home school environments. . . . Dyer has provided a very handy tool for the busy pastor who desires to teach the rudimentary elements of Greek to those in his congregation who have an interest in the original language of the New Testament Scriptures. But beyond that, it is a very practicable resource for anyone desiring a textbook for teaching and/or learning the basics of Greek.

—Mark S. Melton, Christ Covenant OPC, Sheridan, Indiana

Product Details

• Title: A Preparatory Grammar for New Testament Greek
• Author: Sidney D. Dyer
• Publisher: Ambassador
• Publication date: 2008
• Pages: 257

About Sidney D. Dyer

Sidney D. Dyer is professor of Greek and New Testament at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.