A Primer of Biblical Greek with CD
by N. Clayton Croy
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Book Summary Information
Author: N. Clayton CroyEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-10-02
ISBN: 0802860001
Number of pages: 277
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
Book Reviews of A Primer of Biblical Greek with CD
Book Review: What a good primer to ancient language should be like
Summary: 5 Stars
I studied koine Greek for 4 semesters in college. Two of those semesters we spent on introductory Greek, and for those two classes we used A Primer of Biblical Greek by N. Clayton Croy. I am glad that we did.
This book is a solid, informative introduction to biblical Greek. It is neither too simple nor too difficult. It is aimed at learning the basic New Testament vocabulary and the fundamental grammatical knowledge that will empower students to develop basic reading ability and construct a sturdy base for further study in Greek language. The book is divided into 32 lessons. At the beginning of each lesson, Croy gives students a vocabulary list to memorize. In the heart of the lesson, he focuses on a specific grammatical structure that he wants students to master. To test and reinforce learning, he provides four sets of exercises: (1) artificially crafted Greek sentences that students must translate into English, (2) sentences from the Septuagint that students must translate into English, (3) sentences from the New Testament that students must translate into English, and (4) English sentences that students must translate into Greek. All the translation exercises are targeted at the lesson vocabulary and grammar. The end of the book has a section of useful paradigms, a Greek to English vocabulary list, an English to Greek vocabulary list, and a bibliography pointing students to further language resources that will develop an advanced grasp of the language.
In his introduction, Croy says there are four strengths that define this textbook over against the competition. The first strength is an abundance of exercises. He does provide ample practice for students. The second strength is clarity and conciseness. Croy strove to explain concepts clearly and faithfully while avoiding both excessive detail and oversimplification. The third strength is the order of presentation. Croy does a good job of introducing students to the right grammar at the right time. Unlike Basics of Biblical Greek by William D. Mounce, Croy does not postpone verbs for a long time, nor does he insist on mastering every aspect of nouns before learning verbs. His verb presentation is very intuitive and helpful. The fourth strength is the generous use of inclusive language.
One crucial point to keep in mind is that this book is a textbook; Croy intended it to be used in a classroom under the guidance of a capable teacher, not as a self-teaching tool. While students can use the book in the latter way, they may find the material more difficult to master, considering that the explanations are brief and that the student edition does not contain an answer key. Furthermore, people who study Greek should not limit themselves to this textbook. For one thing, it is always good to get practice from multiple textbooks, and one that I also strongly recommend is New Testament Greek for Beginners, second edition by J. Gresham Machen (edited by Dan G. McCartney). For another, this book is a primer (as the title says), i.e. a basic introduction, not an end in itself. Consequently, interested students who develop a solid grasp of the material should consult Croy's bibliography for more technical and advanced study.
I wish Croy had included in his introduction reasons to study biblical Greek. While it should be obvious that the goal is to develop the ability to read and study the Greek Bible, many students have preconceptions about Greek and why they should study it. Some students get lofty visions of what Greek can do for the study of the Bible, and when the course does not meet those lofty expectations, students often become discouraged and dejected, give up, and drop out. Croy could help counter this trend by outlining realistic benefits of knowing Greek.
All in all, one of the best textbooks out there for learning koine Greek.
Summary of A Primer of Biblical Greek with CD
This carefully designed primer offers an effective, proven, single-volume introduction to biblical Greek. The new accompanying CD contains a teachers guid, answers to exercises, and more exercises, making Croys superb primer even better.Reference Books
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