An Introduction to Biblical Greek Grammar: Elementary Syntax and Linguistics

by Dana M. Harris

Publisher:

Zondervan

, 2020

Overview

An Introduction to Biblical Greek Grammar focuses on the linguistic and syntactic elements of Koine Greek to equip learners for accurate interpretation. Drawing upon twenty years of Greek teaching experience and the latest developments in linguistics and syntax, Harris introduces students to basic linguistic concepts and categories necessary for grasping Greek in ways that are clear and intuitive. This solid foundation enables students first to internalize key concepts, then to apply and build upon them as more complex ideas are introduced.

Several features are specifically designed to aid student’s learning:

• Key concepts are graphically coded to offer visual reinforcement of explanations and to facilitate learning forms and identifying their functions
• Key concepts are followed by numerous examples from the Greek New Testament
• Students learn how to mark Greek texts so that they can begin to “see” the syntax, identify the boundaries of syntactic units, and construct syntactic outlines as part of their preaching or teaching preparation
• Four integrative chapters, roughly corresponding to the midterms and final exams of a two-semester sequence, summarize material to date and reinforce key concepts. Here students are also introduced to exegetical and interpretive concepts and practices that they will need for subsequent Greek studies and beyond.
• “Going Deeper” and “For the Curious” offer supplemental information for students interested in learning more or in moving to advanced language study.

The accompanying workbook and video lectures (both sold separately) reinforce key concepts through additional contact with the material from each chapter of the grammar. All exercises in the workbook are taken from the Greek New Testament and the Septuagint and include extensive syntactical and exegetical notes to aid students.

Key Features

• Focuses on the linguistic and syntactic elements of Koine Greek
• Introduces students to basic linguistic concepts and categories necessary for grasping Greek
• Enables students first to internalize key concepts, then to apply and build upon them as more complex ideas are introduced

Contents

Top Highlights

“When considering Greek verbs, verbal aspect indicates how the speaker or writer wants an audience or reader to view the action—in other words, whether they are ‘sending’ a video or a photo. We will use these concepts in our discussion of tense-forms below.” (Page 46)

“With intransitive verbs, the action performed by the subject does not affect an object. In fact, intransitive verbs cannot take a direct object.” (Page 50)

“The imperfect tense-form only occurs in the indicative mood and can indicate an action that was attempted or habitual. It can sometimes indicate ‘background information’ in a narrative account.” (Pages 46–47)

“Inflection is any change in form to indicate a change in function. Inflection often involves adding morphemes to word stems.” (Page 19)

“The negative adverb οὐ (with the related forms οὐκ and οὐχ) is almost always used with indicative verbs. There is another adverb for negation, μή, that is used with nonindicative verbs (i.e., imperative, subjunctive, and optative) and nonfinite verbal forms (i.e., infinitives and participles).” (Page 53)

Product Details

• Title: An Introduction to Biblical Greek Grammar: Elementary Syntax and Linguistics
• Author: Dana M. Harris
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Publication Date: 2020
• Pages: 448
• Resource Type: Introduction
• Topic: Greek Resources

About Dana M. Harris

Dr. Dana Harris is Associate Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. Besides teaching at Trinity, she has taught extensively at retreats, conferences, and adult Sunday school classes, and her teaching has often taken her overseas. Prior to joining Trinity in 2001, Dr. Harris, a graduate of Stanford University (BA) and Trinity (MA, PhD), was the managing editor of the Hoover Digest, a quarterly academic journal covering public policy, economics, and foreign affairs, published by the Hoover Institution at Stanford. For the first five years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, she coordinated a program, funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, that brought young diplomats from former Soviet-satellite countries to Stanford for four-month study programs. Dr. Harris was also extensively involved in ministry before coming to Trinity.

She is currently writing the volume on Hebrews for the Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament series (B & H Academic). Recently, Dr. Harris wrote the article on ”Priest“ in the NIV Study Bible. Her research interests include Hebrews, Revelation, Greek syntax, linguistics, hermeneutics, Second Temple Literature (particularly apocalyptic literature), and archaeology. In July 2010 Dr. Harris became the editor of the Trinity Journal.