NT Greek worth the effort?

Question

Could anyone share from personal experience how superior is reading the New Testament in Greek and why? What are the advantages over reading the NT in English, apart from the obvious that no translation could ever be absolutely perfect? I would very much like to learn NT Greek, but I know it's years of hard study. Or is it? Also, would learning modern Greek be as good for reading the original NT or do I better focus on NT Greek?

Answer 1

It is like watching the same movie in color as compared to watching it in black and white. Same story just a little more detail and texture.

Answer 2

No it isn't years of hard study. There are many books out there that will get you started. Also, I found that familiarity with the NT helped make reading it in Greek much easier. What I personally found, is that it didn't help much. Also, I found that the NRSV version of the Bible closely followed the Greek. Probably you could just research specific references to the Greek of the NT to find those passages where the verbal nuances and such might make a little difference.

Answer 3

There is another option - You could obtain an interlinear Translation of the the NT. These have the top line in the Greek, and the line below that is word for word English, although the reading of that is rather awkward.

Two good ones are the The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures which you may obtain from Jehovah's Witnesses, and The Emphatic Diaglott by Benjamin Wilson.

Answer 4

NT Greek, Koine ( I think). I do not know it, but am very sorry I did not study it when I had a chance. I am so old now, I struggle with English, no way I could go back.
I do not know how old you are, or if you are in college-but, if you are a Christian and you have the opportunity to learn NT Greek-then JUMP ON IT. Do not be sloppy with it-make it your priority # 1.

I remember a course I took way back in the Gospel of Mark. Each student was given a chapter to explain. As we did so in class-the professor would follow us in his Greek text. I had another professor who did all his NT study in Greek. He strongly urged mt to do the Greek-but I was too stubborn. If you have the chance-take it.

Answer 5

I haven't studied the Greek. However, I have a father-in-law who taught himself Greek (and Hebrew) and he believes its the only way to read the Bible, because if you don't understand the original language, how can you understand the real meaning?

I'm not sure I agree with him, but there it is.

I've read a couple dozen of my father-in-law's papers for seminary class where he comments on the original Hebrew and Greek and explains its context in the culture, and everytime I read something by him it was eye-opening. So, I think that you're really prepared to spend that time studying and really understanding the Greek - aka, you're really a gifted scholar - its worth it.

I, too, am thinking about it...but time is a huge constraint.

Answer 6

Do it. Just do it. Do it if for no other reason than for dying to yourself. English is not good enough to really state what some of the verses mean in the Bible. If you want to be of some help to those who do not understand some of the verses that are in the Bible, learn whatever you can.

I would use the opportunity to learn NT Greek for the value of knowing God better. If it means that much to you.

Answer 7

I struggled with the same thing and I decided not to focus so much on languages and study more on the ability to teach and minister to people. With the vast availability of software packages and resources knowing how to read Greek is not as important as understanding how it is written. I would suggest reading a the first part of a book written by Black (forgot his first name) called Learn To Read New Testament Greek published by Broadman and Holman and finding a solid software package like Logos or WordSearch.

Answer 8

Koine Greek differs significantly from Modern (or even Ancient) Greek.

I learned it because I wanted to, not because I had to. It wasn't that hard. Hebrew was, for me, much more difficult.

You will find that when you learn Koine that you will next be wondering what NT manuscript to read.

Answer 9

the bible in original languages is a completely different book.