Why Your New Testament Greek Isn’t Improving—and How to Fix It
by Luca Quaglierini,
MA in Classics (Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany)
Head of Studies for Latin and Greek at the Swiss Institute of Theological Education
Over the past few years, I’ve spoken with countless students and theologians across Europe and the USA, and I keep hearing the same frustration: “I’ve been studying Bible Greek for so long, but I’m not making any real progress.” If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Let’s dive into the root of the problem and explore effective solutions.
The Real Reason You’re Struggling with New Testament Greek
Problem 1: You Can’t Truly Learn a Language from a Book You Already Know by Heart—in Translation
As a theology student or scholar, you likely know the New Testament inside and out in one or more translations. Here’s the issue: every time you read a sentence in the original Greek, your mind automatically reverts to the translation you’ve memorized. This reflex not only prevents you from engaging with the Greek text as it was meant to be understood but also distorts your interpretation, forcing it to fit within the confines of the translation you know. This approach isn’t just unscientific—it’s counterproductive to genuine exegesis.
Problem 2: You’re Limiting Yourself by Focusing Only on Koine Greek
Koine Greek is just one phase in the long evolution of the Greek language. To truly grasp it, you need to understand its origins. Think of Koine Greek as Attic Greek stripped of its Atticisms. Without a solid foundation in Attic Greek—the dialect of Plato, Thucydides, and the intellectual giants of ancient Greece—you’re missing the essential context needed to fully comprehend Koine Greek. It’s well-documented that the Apostle Paul was well-versed in Attic Greek literature and philosophy. Without this background, you’re only scratching the surface of the New Testament’s original language.
Effective Solutions to Master New Testament Greek
If You’re Just Starting Out:
Avoid the temptation to dive into books designed specifically for theologians. These resources often lock you into a narrow understanding of Greek, tailored to translation rather than true fluency. Instead, start with general textbooks focused on the Attic dialect, emphasizing the active use of the language. The best option currently available is Athenaze (in the Italian or Spanish edition!). However, be aware that this book isn’t geared towards absolute beginners in self-study. To get the most out of it, you should either enroll in a course or use it to build upon your existing foundational knowledge.
If You’ve Already Completed a Course in Biblical Greek:
and are therefore unable to understand anything on your own, you can retrain yourself with good books for classical scholars which encourage active use of the language, because no real reading comprehension is possible if you don't have an active command of the language to a certain extent. Your presumably great experience with morphology and your (just as presumably) tiny vocabulary can be reused. You can work through the already mentioned Athenaze (volume 1 at least). You can work through books like Greek Prose Composition because it's extremely important to activate your passive language skills. An interesting read is The Greek War of Independence, a textbook that uses vocabulary and idioms from Thucydides’ works. This book includes a compelling storyline, graded chapter difficulties, and exercises that challenge you to translate from English to Greek, supported by extensive notes for self-study.
Conclusion: Work Smarter, Not Harder
Success in mastering New Testament Greek isn’t about how much effort you put in; it’s about using the right strategies and materials. By setting clear, achievable sub-goals and choosing the appropriate resources, you’ll pave the way to a well-rounded and solid exegesis of the original texts of the New Testament.
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