Exegetical Gems from Biblical Greek: A Refreshing Guide to Grammar and Interpretation
Overview
Learning Greek is a difficult task, and the payoff may not be readily apparent. To demonstrate the insight that knowing Greek grammar can bring, Benjamin Merkle, a recognized expert in Greek, summarizes thirty-five key Greek grammatical issues and their significance for interpreting the New Testament. As Merkle presents exegetical insights from the Greek New Testament, he offers a strategic and refreshing way to review the essentials of Greek grammar.
This book is an ideal supplemental text for a variety of Greek courses. It is perfect for students looking to apply the Greek they have worked so hard to learn as well as for past students who wish to review their Greek. It also includes examples and illustrations to help professors strengthen their lectures.
- Provides a tool to help students of New Testament Greek prosper and ultimately succeed in using Greek
- Encourages and inspires without getting too deep into the details of Greek grammar and syntax
- Offers a collection of “exegetical gems,” loosely defined as substantial insights from NT passages gained by a proper knowledge and use of Greek
- Introduction
- Koine Greek - Matthew 18:8
- Textual Criticism - Romans 5:1
- Nominative Case - John 1:1
- Vocative Case - Ephesians 5:21-22
- Genitive Case - 1 Timothy 3:6
- Dative Case - Ephesians 5:18
- Accusative Case - Romans 10:9
- The Article - 1 Timothy 3:2
- The Granville Sharp Rule - Titus 2:13
- Colwell's Canon - 1 Timothy 6:10
- Adjectives - 2 Timothy 3:16
- Verbal Aspect - Matthew 16:24
- Present Indicatives - 1 John 3:6
- Imperfect Indicatives - Galatians 1:13
- Future Indicatives - Matthew 4:4
- Aorist Indicatives - Ephesians 4:20
- Perfect and Pluperfect Indicatives - John 19:30
- Subjunctive Mood - Hebrews 13:5
- Imperative Mood - Matthew 6:11
- Optative Mood - 1 Corinthians 6:15
- Adverbial Participles - 1 Peter 5:6-7
- Verbal Participles - Matthew 28:19
- Periphrastic Participles - Matthew 18:18
- Infinitives - 1 Timothy 6:17-18
- Pronouns - Luke 16:19-20
- Prepositions - Ephesians 4:12
- Adverbs - Romans 11:26
- Conjunctions and Particles - Philippians 2:12-13
- Conditional Sentences - Colossians 1:23
- Figures of Speech - Matthew 5:13
- Context - Philippians 4:13
- Word Studies - Ephesians 1:10
- Exegetical Fallacies - John 21:15-17
- Discourse Analysis - Hebrews 1:4-5
- Diagramming - Hebrews 6:4-6
Top Highlights
“The increased use of positive and comparative adjective forms used to express a superlative or elative idea.” (Page 3)
“The Granville Sharp rule states that when a single article governs two nouns (substantives) of the same case that are connected by καί, they refer to the same person. This rule applies only to nouns that are (1) singular, (2) personal, (3) nonproper, and (4) in the same case.” (Pages 39–40)
“• The increased use of prepositions rather than cases alone to communicate the relationship between words” (Page 2)
“Prefer the reading that best corresponds with the style and theology of the author” (Page 7)
“Prefer the reading that is supported by the majority of (significant) manuscripts” (Page 6)
The book is aptly titled: readers are indeed treated to exegetical gems from the Greek text. Merkle also provides a concise review of Greek grammar as he discusses particular biblical texts. This is a most helpful way to keep up or review one's Greek and to learn more about the biblical text at the same time.
—Thomas R. Schreiner, James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation and associate dean, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Merkle is passionate about helping people make progress in their study of the Greek New Testament, and nothing shows that better than this book. The author provides a treasure chest for current students, and those who want to refresh their Greek, by focusing on points of syntax and related issues while examining sample passages. The discussion is clear and provides solid, even profound help in Greek to benefit all readers of this work. Highly recommended!
—S. M. Baugh, professor of New Testament, Westminster Seminary California
Don’t be misled by the title. These are not random gems rolling around loosely in a jewelry box drawer. These brilliant gems have been carefully selected, ordered, and strung on a gold chain. Merkle thoroughly treats exegetically significant examples of the major grammatical categories covered in biblical Greek, following the order in which most students learn them. His explanations are clear, and his exegesis is insightful. This book is a very valuable guide for any student learning or relearning Greek.
—Charles L. Quarles, research professor of New Testament and biblical theology and Charles Page Chair of Biblical Theology, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Title: Exegetical Gems from Biblical Greek: A Refreshing Guide to Grammar and Interpretation
- Author: Benjamin L. Merkle
- Publisher: Baker
- Publication Date: 2019
- Pages: 192
- Language: Greek
- Resource Type: Grammar
- Topic: Languages