Basics of Biblical Greek: Grammar [Hardcover]

- Mounce tries to minimize the amount of memorization required. Greek is a difficult language, no two ways about it: but the way the material is presented can make learning easier or harder. For those of us who come at it as adults, memorization is difficult. Some grammars require massive amounts of rote memorization; Mounce takes instead the tack of giving you a number of rules to apply, then only requiring memorization where the rules don't apply. Using this method, the amount of memorization is cut dramatically, and the effort required is reduced accordingly.

- To ease the remaining memorization, Mounce includes lots of good vocabulary helps. Unfortunately, vocabulary acquisition is usually another rote memorization affair. Mounce includes either derivations or cognates in other languages (drawing in some cases on Metzger's "Lexical Aids for Students of New Testament Greek"), or silly little memorization aids. An example of the latter is Mounce's memorable word play on the word ELPIS (="hope"): "Some people HOPE that ELVIS did not die." I think I can safely say I will never forget the meaning of ELPIS.

- In many ways (including the previous two items) Mounce includes the fruit of his years of experience as a teacher of New Testament Greek. Many books that I'm sure would be just fine when learning from a professor completely fall apart when an autodidact (like myself) attempts to use them. With this book, it's almost as good as Mounce being right there.

- Although I would not have believed it, Mounce has successfully integrated devotional sections at the beginning of most chapters. A combination textbook/devotional? Yes, believe it or not. The section for chapter 10, for example, is simply amazing - building off John 1:14, KAI hO LOGOS SARX EGENETO ("And the Word became flesh.") This answers another big problem for autodidacts, which is that you don't have much of an inducement to continue when the going gets tough. These devotional sections (I am assuming a Christian student, of course) add greatly to your experience and make you look forward to new chapters.

The end result is that this book makes it possible to learn New Testament Greek on your own to just about the same depth as you would get at a seminary. That's an amazing feat in itself.

But be aware, this book has no exercises in it. Rather, you need to buy the companion workbook, which has all the exercises.

There are many positive dimensions, which set Mounce's grammar above the rest. First, for today's modern reader he does not assume that English grammar is known. He has two chapters (5 & 15), which provide broad overviews to English grammar, and its correspondence to Greek grammar. Then each chapter also contains introductory English grammar and shows it relationship to Greek.

Secondly, this work is generally very clear and understandable. A student seeking to learn Greek on his own should with the grammar, workbook, and included CD-Rom be able to successfully master the concepts of beginning Greek. Another advantage is the amount of tools and commitment to progress exhibited by Mounce and Zondervan in this series. It is clear that they want the student to learn Greek in order to glorify God. Such resources would include the companion workbook, the CD-Rom and the additional materials found on the website (see below).

A basic chapter flow is as follows: Each chapter is introduced with an "Exegetical Insight." A well-known scholar provides an insight into the significance of the Greek grammar about to be discussed in the chapter. It helps show why learning Greek is important to understanding the Bible. Secondly, the English grammar concepts are introduced and then the Greek grammar closely follows. Paradigms and explanations are provided in the Greek grammar section. Next, there is a helpful chapter summary which sums up all of the important concepts covered in the chapter. Following is the vocabulary to be memorized. Lastly, there may be a section on advanced information, which is usually not essential material to be mastered.

As previously mentioned, one of the most helpful aspects of this grammar is the many companion tools. The CD-Rom contains software programs called Flashworks and Parseworks. The Flashworks program is basically an electronic flashcard system, which allows the user to tailor the vocabulary to the specific vocabulary in the Mounce chapter. Personally, Flashworks was a big help in providing another medium to learning the vocab. Parseworks was not as helpful. While I would encourage the student to work with Parseworks I often became tired of having to select each tense, voice, mood, etc... from the drop down menus. It was not as user-friendly as Flasworks.

The website ... also has a good amount of helpful resources. There you will find chapter revisions (definitely download the revision for chapter 20 - it will make a lot more sense!). You can also download the Language Learning Tools (Flashworks and Parseworks); and a very helpful 35-page summary of the first 25 chapters of Mounce's grammar. There is also a revision of the workbook, which allows for an early introduction of verbs. The teacher will find downloadable overheads, quizzes, and the answers to the workbook.

A few negative comments: First, in his attempt to bring together a textbook which incorporates both a deductive and inductive method of learning there is a tendency to de-emphasize memorization. While Mounce is at pains (in sympathy with the student) to minimize needless memorization sometimes it just has to be done. There is no avoiding the vast amount of memorization in learning a language. Painful as it may be I believe it is the key to learning the language.

Secondly, while Mounce is usually clear he is not always concise. He tends to lose the forest for the trees. In the footnotes it is clear that he loves morphology, but it is questionable as to how this will help the beginning student. The beginning student is already facing information overload and such excursions as interesting as they may be may prove unhelpful at this time for the student.

How then should this text be used? Following are a few suggestions, in no particular order, which I found helpful in my study of Biblical Greek. First, use the companion workbook. The grammar and the workbook were meant to go together. Secondly, the workbook section should be treated as a test. One should not progress to the workbook until the corresponding chapter has been mastered. Only then should one tackle the workbook. When the workbook section has been completed then check your work with the grammar and a good English translation.

Thirdly, use the software. Flashworks is easy to use and vocab is best memorized through a variety of mediums. Parseworks can be tedious but still helpful to use. The rest of the CD-Rom is less useful. Fourthly, review, review, and review. I found it helpful to read the chapter numerous times and then also outline the chapter in my own words (even writing out the full paradigms). Repetition is the best way to get the material to sink in. I would suggest not buying vocab cards, but cutting 3x5 index cards into quarters (1/4) and writing them out on your own. Then carry these cards with you wherever you go and whenever you have a chance pull them out to review. You should also pick up Jonathan T. Pennington's New Testament Greek Vocabulary on CD. These two CDs encompass all the words in the New Testament 10x and up. I only wish I had discovered this resource earlier.

Remember, Mounce is not the end but only the beginning. Move onto immersing yourself in the New Testament. Pick up Mounce's Graded Reader of Biblical Greek and Wallace's Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics.

Most of all seek God in prayer. After all you are learning Biblical Greek to be able to read the New Testament in its original language. Learning Greek is to be an act of worship! Study therefore to the glory of God.