After completing beginning Greek, I discovered Darryl Burling's channel. I purchased his vocabulary product last year and now I am able to read nine NT books. What a joy it is to pick up a GNT and read it fluently!
@@alexandersmith9385 that's amazing! How is his vocabulary pack? Is it just a completed list of vocabulary needed, or is it more like flashcards? Darryl berling has been a huge influence on me as well!
@JohnMiles117 Burling's vocabulary pack organizes the words by book, the ones that occur less than fifty times. The VP works in Flash Cards Deluxe, a spaced repetition digital format. You learn the vocabulary for the chapter you want to read which enables you to read the chapter. Do the same for the next chapter and eventually read the book. It works!
Absolutely! I'm so glad it helped you! I'll be making part two soon. If you have anything in particular you want to know, feel free to let me know and I'll try and talk about it in the video.
The best way is immersion, as with any language. I studied Greek for 3 years in seminary, with intensive courses, and took exegetical courses as well (exams had to be partially written in Greek). I was basically a walking Greek grammar by the time I finished. But then I opened up my Greek NT one day to do some reading and realized... I don't understand a word of this, at least not intuitively. It's one thing to be able to dissect a language and transform its parts into something comprehensible (which is great as well). It's another thing to be able to read and intuitively understand. Master pronunciation (whichever one you choose; I recommend Kantor's Reconstructed Koine), then just start reading. Read as much as you can. A few hours a day if you have the time. Don't worry about comprehension at first. Focus on getting the pronunciation and cadence of the language right. After a few weeks of this, you'll naturally start to recognize common vocabulary and verb/noun forms. Go look those up, only as you encounter them and start to wonder about their meaning. Use grammar/vocab studies as supplements to your reading, focusing on things of interest to you as you notice them. They'll stick much better, and you'll start to intuitively recognize meaning in these things without having to think about your vocab glosses and grammar forms. And as you master those, keep reading until you notice more common patterns and words, then shift your supplementary studies to those. Continue the process until you die or perfect your knowledge (you'll die first). This isn't as "structured" of an approach as following a grammar book. I'm not suggesting doing so is a bad thing. But if you really want to be able to intuitively understand Greek, immerse yourself in reading the language, and appeal to grammar to supplement your studies.
Awesome to hear how you have been learning! I started right at the beginning of Covid. I found a Dallas Theological Seminary course that was free to watch through that went through Mounce's Grammar + workbook. I found "auditing" a course is really helpful because you get instruction from a teacher and also get to watch students ask questions, make mistakes, etc: and it feels more engaging then just doing it all solo. I then watched the Master's seminary 3 + 4th semester Greek on youtube while trying my best to do the homework without a syllabus lol. It might be worthwhile for you at this time to try and use that if you think it's a good time, it focuses on reading and applying Wallace's Greek grammar beyond the basics. I was able to do 1 year of seminary and tested out of first year Greek just from my self-study which was really cool and took a proper 3rd and 4th semester there. I would say I'm intermediate/beginning advanced but it still feels like there is much to learn haha. Sounds like you are doing great, and I really appreciate your comments at the end of the "reason" we are learning the languages, to better read and apply God's word in our lives! Blessings on you brother.
@@marshallschettler3846 Amen! Thank you for that valuable info. I've heard that both masters and Dallas offered free lectures about Greek, it's good to here that confirmed! Thank you for commenting, it really means a lot to me when I hear other people's stories and ideas. 👍
Great video. I just started Darryl Burling's Beginning Greek Step by Step and it is excellent. I am a very early beginner, but Darryl's method seems to be very very good. He also provides his insight into how to go about it and is committed to helping us learn personally. I too have a passion to understand what our Lord said in the original languages. One thing that occurred to me is that it takes so much time to exegete the meaning using lexicons, etc. I realized the effort to actually learn the Greek language fluently will save me countless hours in the future when I study the bible and will be invaluable the rest of my life.
@@dalevanderzee4086 Amen Dale! Good for you! Daryle has had a huge impact on me as well! I agree that knowing the actual vocabulary, although it takes longer at first, will save pay off big time in the long run.
Thanks for the encouragement. I'm a Dad, and my girls are observing me learning Koine Greek at Liberty Univ., as I (by God's grace) complete my Master's. I hope my girls (both teens now) someday look back with fond memories of me learning Greek as you did with your dad. Blessings John. - Steven (Psalm 1:3)
I started learning Greek using David Alan Black's videos in December 2023, and I use Darryl Burling's method to learn the vocabulary of the Greek New Testament. It took me three months to learn the grammar, but it will take me 2-3 years to learn the vocabulary. As of November 2024, I have read nine books of the Bible, many of them 2-3 times, and have 2,000 words in my vocabulary. I'm pushing myself a bit hard because I want to learn all 5,000 words of the Greek New Testament by the end of next year.
Just discovered your video-so glad I did! I’ve been studying Biblical Greek for some time now, 2 seminary semesters, but I’m always looking for more help in perfecting my Biblical Greek! I’m still use interlinear version. I really appreciate your help🙏🙏🙏
Really grateful for your video and insight on your journey in learning/reading the Greek New Testament. I'm on a similar journey and find it difficult to stay motivated sometimes, but I've been doing my best to buckle down and be more consistent. I've been learning from Daryll Burling as well, he has a great way of teaching Greek in small manageable ways. Thank you for the motivation, I love the Lord Jesus and as you've mentioned He's the primary motivator.
I myself started taking Greek seriously about 6 months ago, and now Im able to read some of the NT fluently. I think for me just focusing on reading and vocabulary way more than grammar has been extremely helpful. Its just wonderful being able to crack open the actual text with less and less helps
@@beliefbite That's awesome! There are definite advantages going for the linguistics approach for sure! Don't let anyone put you down by saying it's not effective. I myself (since I've already put in the time) am gonna finish learning the vocab. Did you have any experience in Greek before you started 6 months ago?
@@JohnMiles117 I had two semesters at university, which definitely helped me with a lot of the concepts. However, I forgot almost all of the vocabulary and grammar. I should also clarify, that I certainly think grammar has its place. In fact, my first 2 months back were spent grinding on grammar enough to start reading 1 John. Now I'm using a Darry Burling type method of going through the nt book by book from easiest to hardest and memorizing all the vocab in advance. My plan is to do that until I've read the whole nt, then use the same approach for the LXX. I figure, there's no way I won't be fluent by the end of the LXX. If not, then maybe il just make my own audio version of the New Testament for the sake of fluency and start memorizing passages.
@@beliefbite Right on! That is so cool! I'm sure by the time you reach the end of the LXX you'll pretty much know the entire vocab. I love stuff like this, so cool, good for you!
@@ScottLawson-uw1fh YES! I'm glad someone else has the same experience. For a long time it felt confusing, and then all of a sudden it just started making sense.
@@Dwayne_Green Thank you so much Dwayne! It really means a lot coming from you! I've learned a lot from you and your channel! Thanks again for the encouragement!
@@JohnMiles117 Thanks John! Keep up the good work, glad you did this little series :) I keep motivated by reading AT Robertson's book "A Minister and his Greek New Testament" every once in a while. If you don't already have it, definitely get it!
@Dwayne_Green Absolutely! Like I said Dwayne, it really means a lot coming from you, A.T Robertson is one of my heroes, I'll definitely give it a read! 👍
Interesting story. Like you, I am an autodidact in learning Koine (and Attic) Greek. As well as the NT, I am using books like Athenaze, which his used in classics departments, to learn by reading story. I am also using Logos Lingua Graeca per se illustrata, which is written entirely in ancient Greek, and assumes you know no Greek. I think reading as much as possible is the way to become fluent, not worrying so much about grammar, which you pickup by reading. I did do a one semester course in Koine Greek, but the grammar-translate method is very dry and does not teach you to become fluent. I have also decided to use modern Greek pronunciation, so can learn some aspects from modern Greek speakers. Also, Erasmian pronunciation sounds so artificial.
@@DrGazza Very cool! I agree that using the living language approach is definitely the fastest way to pick up the language. I've heard a lot of good things about Athenaze, I myself have never used it, but I don't know anyone who didn't like it. I think Erasmian pronunciation does sound VERY artificial, however I think that since its use is practically ubiquitous among Koine grammars it's probably the most useful to learn first (not to mention the easiest). I am definitely not opposed to using other pronunciation systems, such as modern, or modern reconstructed; I definitely wouldn't mind learning them down the road.
I’ve been trying to motivate myself to get back into the biblical languages for myself. I had a year of Greek and a year of Hebrew in seminary and sadly all the grammar is gone now. What a great word of encouragement! I look forward to checking out your other videos. Thanks!
this book is helpful to remember the vocabulary of the New Testament. "English derivatives from the Greek New Testament", Charles Van der Pool, Newport at the Apostolic Press". In this book you find for the word in Greek which have an English word, which helps to remember it. Only have the words of the New Testament are in this book. For example : for the Greek Word : therapeuo there is the English Therapy. It is not always so easy but it helps. I am working on make a word to word translation of the New Testament in Greek. Under the word to word translation there are idiomatic expressions. Under that there is a translation in modern language. I make a copy of the text and I take away the Greek text. I have also the same text without translation So I try to read it in Greek. I use my translation only when I cannot read the Greek Text. After that I try to translate my word to word translation into Greek. So I learn my Greek. Is it useful to you? thanks for the answer. Philippe De Vos
@@JohnMiles117 So that you understand me well, I make the method myself. In the book you find the Greek Words in alphabetical order with the English words to help memorize.
Translating on the fly and reading fluently are both good skills, but they are completely different skills. Make sure you pick the one you want to obtain and steer towards that one.
I think your quote from Metzger is wrong and goes further back to Luther. You should check, a lot of people drop that line and it has been said so many times before Metzger
@@ScottLawson-uw1fh someone else told me that Martin Luther also said something kinda like this quote? I guess Solomon was right, nothing is new under the sun lol
@@con_boy I agree with you about the Greek, just out of curiosity, why do you think Arabic is important to learn as a Christian? Is it for evangelistic purposes?
@JohnMiles117 yes. Preaching in Arabic and writing in Arabic is very hard for Islam to cope with. There are less books translated from English into Arabic (by the entire Arab world) than there are Greek books translated from English. Basically the entire (current) hellanic population copies more books than all of the Islamic world. They are incredibly under reached. But equally Internet and tv and radio (and books ) are.the way to reach them
@@con_boy Amen! Praise God that there are people out serving him faithfully in every language. I saw your video about how Christianity is an intellectual faith, not simply a fairy tale. I thought it was excellent. Well done sir.
Seems like the Lord Jesus gave us the same desire, I'm also trying to learn Arabic to engage with Muslims more by being able to read their sources in the original language. May the Lord continue to bless you in your outreach.
A lot of this is historical revisionism. We know for a fact that Jesus spoke in Hebrew and Aramaic. The only book in the NT that can be proven to have been written in Greek by a native Greek speaker was Hebrews ironically enough. Someone simply has their facts very wrong here!
@@malloyneil40 thanks for commenting. I didn't say that Jesus didn't speak Hebrew or Aramaic, I just said that the language God chose to inspire the New Testament in is Greek. Do you think the NT was written in Hebrew or Aramaic first?
CLICK HERE FOR PART 2
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I'm so thankful to hear that I was able to help you a little. Thanks so much for the shout out and congratulations on the great work! Keep going!
Thank you so much Daryl! It really means the world to me that you commented on my tiny channel 😂
After completing beginning Greek, I discovered Darryl Burling's channel. I purchased his vocabulary product last year and now I am able to read nine NT books. What a joy it is to pick up a GNT and read it fluently!
@@alexandersmith9385 that's amazing! How is his vocabulary pack? Is it just a completed list of vocabulary needed, or is it more like flashcards? Darryl berling has been a huge influence on me as well!
Wow! So cool! Keep it up! What a blessing!
@@bma Thank you Daryl!
@JohnMiles117 Burling's vocabulary pack organizes the words by book, the ones that occur less than fifty times. The VP works in Flash Cards Deluxe, a spaced repetition digital format. You learn the vocabulary for the chapter you want to read which enables you to read the chapter. Do the same for the next chapter and eventually read the book. It works!
@@alexandersmith9385 Bro, that sounds sweet! Keep me updated on how it works for you long term.
Thank you for making this video! I really want to learn Greek and this was an encouraging and motivating video. Can’t wait for part 2.
Absolutely! I'm so glad it helped you! I'll be making part two soon. If you have anything in particular you want to know, feel free to let me know and I'll try and talk about it in the video.
The best way is immersion, as with any language. I studied Greek for 3 years in seminary, with intensive courses, and took exegetical courses as well (exams had to be partially written in Greek). I was basically a walking Greek grammar by the time I finished. But then I opened up my Greek NT one day to do some reading and realized... I don't understand a word of this, at least not intuitively. It's one thing to be able to dissect a language and transform its parts into something comprehensible (which is great as well). It's another thing to be able to read and intuitively understand.
Master pronunciation (whichever one you choose; I recommend Kantor's Reconstructed Koine), then just start reading. Read as much as you can. A few hours a day if you have the time. Don't worry about comprehension at first. Focus on getting the pronunciation and cadence of the language right. After a few weeks of this, you'll naturally start to recognize common vocabulary and verb/noun forms. Go look those up, only as you encounter them and start to wonder about their meaning. Use grammar/vocab studies as supplements to your reading, focusing on things of interest to you as you notice them. They'll stick much better, and you'll start to intuitively recognize meaning in these things without having to think about your vocab glosses and grammar forms. And as you master those, keep reading until you notice more common patterns and words, then shift your supplementary studies to those. Continue the process until you die or perfect your knowledge (you'll die first).
This isn't as "structured" of an approach as following a grammar book. I'm not suggesting doing so is a bad thing. But if you really want to be able to intuitively understand Greek, immerse yourself in reading the language, and appeal to grammar to supplement your studies.
Truly a motivational video, gonna start learning TODAY
@@justinsankar1164 Yes! Do it dude!
Awesome to hear how you have been learning! I started right at the beginning of Covid. I found a Dallas Theological Seminary course that was free to watch through that went through Mounce's Grammar + workbook. I found "auditing" a course is really helpful because you get instruction from a teacher and also get to watch students ask questions, make mistakes, etc: and it feels more engaging then just doing it all solo. I then watched the Master's seminary 3 + 4th semester Greek on youtube while trying my best to do the homework without a syllabus lol. It might be worthwhile for you at this time to try and use that if you think it's a good time, it focuses on reading and applying Wallace's Greek grammar beyond the basics.
I was able to do 1 year of seminary and tested out of first year Greek just from my self-study which was really cool and took a proper 3rd and 4th semester there. I would say I'm intermediate/beginning advanced but it still feels like there is much to learn haha.
Sounds like you are doing great, and I really appreciate your comments at the end of the "reason" we are learning the languages, to better read and apply God's word in our lives! Blessings on you brother.
@@marshallschettler3846 Amen! Thank you for that valuable info. I've heard that both masters and Dallas offered free lectures about Greek, it's good to here that confirmed! Thank you for commenting, it really means a lot to me when I hear other people's stories and ideas. 👍
Great video. I just started Darryl Burling's Beginning Greek Step by Step and it is excellent. I am a very early beginner, but Darryl's method seems to be very very good. He also provides his insight into how to go about it and is committed to helping us learn personally. I too have a passion to understand what our Lord said in the original languages. One thing that occurred to me is that it takes so much time to exegete the meaning using lexicons, etc. I realized the effort to actually learn the Greek language fluently will save me countless hours in the future when I study the bible and will be invaluable the rest of my life.
@@dalevanderzee4086 Amen Dale! Good for you! Daryle has had a huge impact on me as well! I agree that knowing the actual vocabulary, although it takes longer at first, will save pay off big time in the long run.
This was so encouraging! Preach the word! Know it for yourself. Great advice.
@@KMMinwithKatherineMarshall Thanks Katherine!
Thank you posting this. I'm at the beginning of my Greek journey
@@HashimWarren Absolutely! You can do it, we're all in the trenches together!
Thanks for the encouragement. I'm a Dad, and my girls are observing me learning Koine Greek at Liberty Univ., as I (by God's grace) complete my Master's. I hope my girls (both teens now) someday look back with fond memories of me learning Greek as you did with your dad. Blessings John. - Steven (Psalm 1:3)
That awesome!! So cool, good for you!
You are crushing it man! You got this!
@@_sonicfive thank you so much!
From a fellow Greek Nerd...thank you for sharing your passion!
@@annagaiser5186 Absolutely! 😂
I started learning Greek using David Alan Black's videos in December 2023, and I use Darryl Burling's method to learn the vocabulary of the Greek New Testament. It took me three months to learn the grammar, but it will take me 2-3 years to learn the vocabulary. As of November 2024, I have read nine books of the Bible, many of them 2-3 times, and have 2,000 words in my vocabulary. I'm pushing myself a bit hard because I want to learn all 5,000 words of the Greek New Testament by the end of next year.
Thanks for doing this video, bro!
@@redeemedreads your welcome!
Just discovered your video-so glad I did! I’ve been studying Biblical Greek for some time now, 2 seminary semesters, but I’m always looking for more help in perfecting my Biblical Greek! I’m still use interlinear version. I really appreciate your help🙏🙏🙏
@@dontroutman6699 Absolutely! Thanks for sharing that, I love seeing comments like this, it helps encourage me to keep on going as well.
Awesome video. Thank you for taking the time to do this. Durban, South Africa
That's awesome! South Africa? That is so cool!
Really grateful for your video and insight on your journey in learning/reading the Greek New Testament. I'm on a similar journey and find it difficult to stay motivated sometimes, but I've been doing my best to buckle down and be more consistent. I've been learning from Daryll Burling as well, he has a great way of teaching Greek in small manageable ways. Thank you for the motivation, I love the Lord Jesus and as you've mentioned He's the primary motivator.
@@JasonLovesJesus Amen brother! Keep it up! We are in this together!
I myself started taking Greek seriously about 6 months ago, and now Im able to read some of the NT fluently. I think for me just focusing on reading and vocabulary way more than grammar has been extremely helpful. Its just wonderful being able to crack open the actual text with less and less helps
@@beliefbite That's awesome! There are definite advantages going for the linguistics approach for sure! Don't let anyone put you down by saying it's not effective. I myself (since I've already put in the time) am gonna finish learning the vocab. Did you have any experience in Greek before you started 6 months ago?
@@JohnMiles117 I had two semesters at university, which definitely helped me with a lot of the concepts. However, I forgot almost all of the vocabulary and grammar. I should also clarify, that I certainly think grammar has its place. In fact, my first 2 months back were spent grinding on grammar enough to start reading 1 John.
Now I'm using a Darry Burling type method of going through the nt book by book from easiest to hardest and memorizing all the vocab in advance. My plan is to do that until I've read the whole nt, then use the same approach for the LXX.
I figure, there's no way I won't be fluent by the end of the LXX. If not, then maybe il just make my own audio version of the New Testament for the sake of fluency and start memorizing passages.
@@beliefbite Right on! That is so cool! I'm sure by the time you reach the end of the LXX you'll pretty much know the entire vocab. I love stuff like this, so cool, good for you!
thanks so much for your video it was motivational and appreciated
@@nyhoyasaxa9404 Absolutely! Stick with it, you can do it! Greek is so rewarding.
For me there was point where the parts of language just clicked and came together for reading fluency
@@ScottLawson-uw1fh YES! I'm glad someone else has the same experience. For a long time it felt confusing, and then all of a sudden it just started making sense.
Great stuff! Appreciate this video from a fellow autodidact!
@@Dwayne_Green Thank you so much Dwayne! It really means a lot coming from you! I've learned a lot from you and your channel! Thanks again for the encouragement!
@@JohnMiles117 Thanks John! Keep up the good work, glad you did this little series :)
I keep motivated by reading AT Robertson's book "A Minister and his Greek New Testament" every once in a while. If you don't already have it, definitely get it!
@Dwayne_Green Absolutely! Like I said Dwayne, it really means a lot coming from you, A.T Robertson is one of my heroes, I'll definitely give it a read! 👍
Have you watched Matthew Everhards video on resolve? So good!
@@The_OG_MP yes I have. Is a great video
Thank you.
@@etjast thanks you so much!
Interesting story. Like you, I am an autodidact in learning Koine (and Attic) Greek. As well as the NT, I am using books like Athenaze, which his used in classics departments, to learn by reading story. I am also using Logos Lingua Graeca per se illustrata, which is written entirely in ancient Greek, and assumes you know no Greek. I think reading as much as possible is the way to become fluent, not worrying so much about grammar, which you pickup by reading. I did do a one semester course in Koine Greek, but the grammar-translate method is very dry and does not teach you to become fluent. I have also decided to use modern Greek pronunciation, so can learn some aspects from modern Greek speakers. Also, Erasmian pronunciation sounds so artificial.
@@DrGazza Very cool! I agree that using the living language approach is definitely the fastest way to pick up the language. I've heard a lot of good things about Athenaze, I myself have never used it, but I don't know anyone who didn't like it. I think Erasmian pronunciation does sound VERY artificial, however I think that since its use is practically ubiquitous among Koine grammars it's probably the most useful to learn first (not to mention the easiest). I am definitely not opposed to using other pronunciation systems, such as modern, or modern reconstructed; I definitely wouldn't mind learning them down the road.
I’ve been trying to motivate myself to get back into the biblical languages for myself. I had a year of Greek and a year of Hebrew in seminary and sadly all the grammar is gone now. What a great word of encouragement! I look forward to checking out your other videos. Thanks!
@@NickJonespastor AMEN!! I'm so glad to have helped! I'm right there with you!
this book is helpful to remember the vocabulary of the New Testament. "English derivatives from the Greek New Testament", Charles Van der Pool, Newport at the Apostolic Press".
In this book you find for the word in Greek which have an English word, which helps to remember it. Only have the words of the New Testament are in this book. For example : for the Greek Word : therapeuo there is the English Therapy. It is not always so easy but it helps.
I am working on make a word to word translation of the New Testament in Greek. Under the word to word translation there are idiomatic expressions. Under that there is a translation in modern language.
I make a copy of the text and I take away the Greek text. I have also the same text without translation So I try to read it in Greek. I use my translation only when I cannot read the Greek Text. After that I try to translate my word to word translation into Greek. So I learn my Greek.
Is it useful to you?
thanks for the answer.
Philippe De Vos
@@phesperanto That's fascinating! So it uses cognate words in English to help learn Greek? Very interesting.
@@JohnMiles117 So that you understand me well, I make the method myself. In the book you find the Greek Words in alphabetical order with the English words to help memorize.
Translating on the fly and reading fluently are both good skills, but they are completely different skills. Make sure you pick the one you want to obtain and steer towards that one.
@@tommyhuffman7499 Good advice!
I think your quote from Metzger is wrong and goes further back to Luther. You should check, a lot of people drop that line and it has been said so many times before Metzger
@@elliottfaure1226 Thank you so much! I'll check it out.
Bruce Metzger got that saying from a rabbi.
@@ScottLawson-uw1fh someone else told me that Martin Luther also said something kinda like this quote? I guess Solomon was right, nothing is new under the sun lol
Learning and Greek and Arabic is really important, and Christians neglect it at their peril
@@con_boy I agree with you about the Greek, just out of curiosity, why do you think Arabic is important to learn as a Christian? Is it for evangelistic purposes?
@JohnMiles117 yes. Preaching in Arabic and writing in Arabic is very hard for Islam to cope with. There are less books translated from English into Arabic (by the entire Arab world) than there are Greek books translated from English. Basically the entire (current) hellanic population copies more books than all of the Islamic world. They are incredibly under reached. But equally Internet and tv and radio (and books ) are.the way to reach them
@@con_boy Amen! Praise God that there are people out serving him faithfully in every language. I saw your video about how Christianity is an intellectual faith, not simply a fairy tale. I thought it was excellent. Well done sir.
Seems like the Lord Jesus gave us the same desire, I'm also trying to learn Arabic to engage with Muslims more by being able to read their sources in the original language. May the Lord continue to bless you in your outreach.
A lot of this is historical revisionism. We know for a fact that Jesus spoke in Hebrew and Aramaic. The only book in the NT that can be proven to have been written in Greek by a native Greek speaker was Hebrews ironically enough. Someone simply has their facts very wrong here!
@@malloyneil40 thanks for commenting. I didn't say that Jesus didn't speak Hebrew or Aramaic, I just said that the language God chose to inspire the New Testament in is Greek. Do you think the NT was written in Hebrew or Aramaic first?
That someone would be you.