Biblical languages' grammars, like biblical languages' lexicons are
indispensable research tools for correctly interpreting the word of truth.
(cf. 2 Timothy 2:15) Accurately teaching the truth is one of the most important
responsibilities of the biblical exegete. Therefore, the student of the text should
use the best available resources that assist with an indepth analysis of the text.
As noted in a previous post titled Categorizing Biblical Languages'
Lexicons, sacred scripture was originally written in three languages. The Old
Testament was primarily written in Hebrew with relatively small portions in
Aramaic, and the New Testament was written in Greek.
The grammars of biblical Hebrew and Aramaic fall into three general
categories and they are elementary, intermediate, and advanced. The elementary
Hebrew grammars introduce the student to the alphabet and vowels, and they
delineate some of the basic "rules" of the language. A person must be extremely
careful not to build doctrinal theories on the "rules" listed in the elementary
grammars because there are notable exceptions to some of their "rules."
Examples of elementary Hebrew and Aramaic grammars are: A Practical
Grammar For Classical Hebrew by J. Weingreen; Biblical Hebrew A Text
and Workbook by Bonnie Pedrotti Kittel, Vicki Hoffer, and Rebecca Abts
Wright; A Modern Hebrew Grammar For Classical Hebrew by Duane A.
Garrett; Basics of Biblical Aramaic by Miles V. Van Pelt; and An Introduction
To Aramaic, Second Edition, by Frederick E. Greenspahn. Examples of
Intermediate Hebrew grammars are: Linguistics And Biblical Hebrew edited
by Walter R. Bodine; A Biblical Hebrew Reference Grammar by Christo
H. J. van der Merwe, Jackie A. Naude and Jan H. Kroeze; and Introduction
To Biblical Hebrew Syntax by Bruce Waltke and Michael Patrick O'Connor.
An example of an Advanced Hebrew grammar is: Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar,
Second English Edition, edited and enlarged by E. Kautzsch and A. E. Cowley
The grammars of biblical Greek are also categorized as elementary, intermediate,
and advanced. Th elementary Greek grammars introduce the student to the
alphabet, vowels, and some of the basic "rules" of the language. The student must
be be careful not to build a doctrinal system on the basic "rules" found in elementary
grammars because there are exceptions to the rules that are not explained in these
grammars. They are introductory and sometimes misguided in their approach to
the language.
Examples of elementary Greek grammars are: Beginner's Grammar of the
Greek New Testament by William Davis; An Introduction To The Study
Of New testament Greek by J. H. Moulton; Essentials Of New Testament
Greek by Ray Summers; New Testament Greek, and A Beginning and
Intermediate Grammar by James Allen Hewett. Hewett's grammar is probably
the most practical of those I have listed. Examples of intermediate Greek grammars
are: A Manual Grammar Of The Greek New Testament by H. E. Dana and
Julius R. Mantey; Basics Of Biblical Greek by William D. Mounce; and
Handbook To The Grammar Of The Greek Testament by Samuel G. Green.
Examples of advanced grammars of New Testament Greek are: A Treatise On
The Grammar Of New Testament Greek by G. B. Winer; Greek Grammar
Beyond The Basics by Daniel B. Wallace; A Grammar Of The Greek New
Testament In The Light Of Historical Research by A. T. Robertson; A
Grammar Of The New Testament And Other Early Christian Literature,
by F. Blass and A. Debrunner, translated and edited by Robert Funk; and
Grammar Of New Testament Greek, 4 vols., by James Moulton and Nigel
Turner. Though it is not strictly a grammar of New Testament Greek, Greek
Grammar by Hebert Weir Smyth, revised by Gordon M. Messing must be
mentioned because of its detail and it contains information that is relevant to the
study of New Testament Greek. It is an important reference grammar of ancient
Greek.
Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek grammars are generally well researched,
but they like lexicons were written by human beings and must be used with caution.
The "rules" they postulate are sometimes formulated by theological prejudices
instead of being substantiated by the facts. The truth-seeker will follow the road
where the facts lead because he doesn't have to hope for light at the end of the
tunnel. There is light in the path all along the way!
R. Daly
Copyright 2013
indispensable research tools for correctly interpreting the word of truth.
(cf. 2 Timothy 2:15) Accurately teaching the truth is one of the most important
responsibilities of the biblical exegete. Therefore, the student of the text should
use the best available resources that assist with an indepth analysis of the text.
As noted in a previous post titled Categorizing Biblical Languages'
Lexicons, sacred scripture was originally written in three languages. The Old
Testament was primarily written in Hebrew with relatively small portions in
Aramaic, and the New Testament was written in Greek.
The grammars of biblical Hebrew and Aramaic fall into three general
categories and they are elementary, intermediate, and advanced. The elementary
Hebrew grammars introduce the student to the alphabet and vowels, and they
delineate some of the basic "rules" of the language. A person must be extremely
careful not to build doctrinal theories on the "rules" listed in the elementary
grammars because there are notable exceptions to some of their "rules."
Examples of elementary Hebrew and Aramaic grammars are: A Practical
Grammar For Classical Hebrew by J. Weingreen; Biblical Hebrew A Text
and Workbook by Bonnie Pedrotti Kittel, Vicki Hoffer, and Rebecca Abts
Wright; A Modern Hebrew Grammar For Classical Hebrew by Duane A.
Garrett; Basics of Biblical Aramaic by Miles V. Van Pelt; and An Introduction
To Aramaic, Second Edition, by Frederick E. Greenspahn. Examples of
Intermediate Hebrew grammars are: Linguistics And Biblical Hebrew edited
by Walter R. Bodine; A Biblical Hebrew Reference Grammar by Christo
H. J. van der Merwe, Jackie A. Naude and Jan H. Kroeze; and Introduction
To Biblical Hebrew Syntax by Bruce Waltke and Michael Patrick O'Connor.
An example of an Advanced Hebrew grammar is: Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar,
Second English Edition, edited and enlarged by E. Kautzsch and A. E. Cowley
The grammars of biblical Greek are also categorized as elementary, intermediate,
and advanced. Th elementary Greek grammars introduce the student to the
alphabet, vowels, and some of the basic "rules" of the language. The student must
be be careful not to build a doctrinal system on the basic "rules" found in elementary
grammars because there are exceptions to the rules that are not explained in these
grammars. They are introductory and sometimes misguided in their approach to
the language.
Examples of elementary Greek grammars are: Beginner's Grammar of the
Greek New Testament by William Davis; An Introduction To The Study
Of New testament Greek by J. H. Moulton; Essentials Of New Testament
Greek by Ray Summers; New Testament Greek, and A Beginning and
Intermediate Grammar by James Allen Hewett. Hewett's grammar is probably
the most practical of those I have listed. Examples of intermediate Greek grammars
are: A Manual Grammar Of The Greek New Testament by H. E. Dana and
Julius R. Mantey; Basics Of Biblical Greek by William D. Mounce; and
Handbook To The Grammar Of The Greek Testament by Samuel G. Green.
Examples of advanced grammars of New Testament Greek are: A Treatise On
The Grammar Of New Testament Greek by G. B. Winer; Greek Grammar
Beyond The Basics by Daniel B. Wallace; A Grammar Of The Greek New
Testament In The Light Of Historical Research by A. T. Robertson; A
Grammar Of The New Testament And Other Early Christian Literature,
by F. Blass and A. Debrunner, translated and edited by Robert Funk; and
Grammar Of New Testament Greek, 4 vols., by James Moulton and Nigel
Turner. Though it is not strictly a grammar of New Testament Greek, Greek
Grammar by Hebert Weir Smyth, revised by Gordon M. Messing must be
mentioned because of its detail and it contains information that is relevant to the
study of New Testament Greek. It is an important reference grammar of ancient
Greek.
Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek grammars are generally well researched,
but they like lexicons were written by human beings and must be used with caution.
The "rules" they postulate are sometimes formulated by theological prejudices
instead of being substantiated by the facts. The truth-seeker will follow the road
where the facts lead because he doesn't have to hope for light at the end of the
tunnel. There is light in the path all along the way!
R. Daly
Copyright 2013
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