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John's Letters: An exegetical guide for preaching and teaching
A new series from Kregel Academic, Big Greek Idea provides all the relevant information from the Greek text for preaching and teaching the New Testament. Each New Testament book is divided into units of thought, revealing a big Greek idea (the author's main idea in the passage), and individual clauses are displayed visually to illustrate their relationships, portraying the biblical author's logical flow. Greek clauses are accompanied by an original English translation.
Additional commentary explains how the syntax and vocabulary of each verse clarifies the biblical writer's intended meaning. The authors of each volume have scoured major reference works and commentaries on each book, saving readers countless hours of research. The series is ideal for busy pastors consulting the Greek text for sermons, instructors preparing lectures, and students looking for supplementary study aids.
Each volume in this series contains many practical
Additional commentary explains how the syntax and vocabulary of each verse clarifies the biblical writer's intended meaning. The authors of each volume have scoured major reference works and commentaries on each book, saving readers countless hours of research. The series is ideal for busy pastors consulting the Greek text for sermons, instructors preparing lectures, and students looking for supplementary study aids.
Each volume in this series contains many practical
448 pages, Hardcover
Published November 27, 2018
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Herbert W. Bateman IV
25 books2 followersBorn in Camden, New Jersey, Herb Bateman grew up in Pennsauken, a suburb of Camden. He attended and graduated from Pennsauken High School in 1974. During those years, he played the trombone in the school’s orchestra and marching Band as well as wrestled for their athletic department.
After graduating from high school, Bateman worked as manager of Kushner’s Hardware Store in Pennsauken. He spent five years developing skills in retail business before attending college. Although skeptical about his academic abilities, he graduated from Philadelphia Biblical University (PBU) in 1982. It was there that he met his wife, Cindy Ann (nee Ohner), and was married 1 September 1979. They celebrated their first anniversary in Jerusalem where Herb was completing a one-year study program at Jerusalem University College in Israel (1980-1981).
After graduating from PBU, Herb and Cindy moved to Dallas, Texas in 1983 to attend Dallas Theological Seminary where he earned a four year masters degree and subsequent doctorate degree in New Testament Studies. After living in Dallas for twelve years, he accepted a teaching position in northern Indiana where he taught predominately at Grace Theological Seminary. In 2008, he accepted a position at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, left the Midwest, and returned to Texas where he currently resides.
After graduating from high school, Bateman worked as manager of Kushner’s Hardware Store in Pennsauken. He spent five years developing skills in retail business before attending college. Although skeptical about his academic abilities, he graduated from Philadelphia Biblical University (PBU) in 1982. It was there that he met his wife, Cindy Ann (nee Ohner), and was married 1 September 1979. They celebrated their first anniversary in Jerusalem where Herb was completing a one-year study program at Jerusalem University College in Israel (1980-1981).
After graduating from PBU, Herb and Cindy moved to Dallas, Texas in 1983 to attend Dallas Theological Seminary where he earned a four year masters degree and subsequent doctorate degree in New Testament Studies. After living in Dallas for twelve years, he accepted a teaching position in northern Indiana where he taught predominately at Grace Theological Seminary. In 2008, he accepted a position at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, left the Midwest, and returned to Texas where he currently resides.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 30, 2019
Today’s book is part of a series that I think many pastors and students of the Bible will find useful. It is the “Big Greek Idea” series, and this volume is John’s Letters.
First, let’s take a look at some of the overall series features—the long-term plan here calls for the whole New Testament to be covered in differing volumes, and there are certain features that are intended as the definitive approach of the Big Greek Idea series. First, these are Greek-based works. Most traditional (English) Bible commentaries are English-based, with any work in the Greek used to explain the text, either correcting the chosen translation or supporting it, or amplifying it. Here, however, the primary text is the Nestle-Aland 28th edition Greek text. (Obviously, if it takes longer to produce the series than it takes for NA29 to come out, later volumes may use NA29.)
That may sound intimidating, but the text is given in a format similar to an interlinear as well as being presented in a clausal outline. Now, I know, we’re supposed to be so great at Greek that an interlinear arrangement (which shows a phrase in Greek, with a basic translation of that same phrase in English just underneath it) is unnecessary, but many people serving in ministry struggle with the vocabulary that left after the last final in seminary. This format enables the reader to clearly see the relationship between the Greek base text and the English translation. (And, if you like, you can always re-do the translation yourself.)
The use of clause-based outlines is also a beneficial arrangement. Rather than being sentence-driven or verse-driven, the text is broken down into units which are then shown in clauses. Each unit is headed by its “Big Greek Idea,” which is essentially the unifying concept in that section.
The unit is then also discussed in terms of the overview of the Greek structure. This notes any key repeated terms or important clauses. Further syntax explanations follow the clausal outline, with each clause broken down as well as significant portions of the syntax highlighted in ‘nuggets’.
Overall, the concept works well. The reader is given a mixture of seeing the basic Greek structure as well as seeing how the clauses and structure carry meaning in a larger unit. Do you need to know Greek to use this? It does help, but the clearly stated audience is people who are not great with Greek, and that is where I fit. This is perfect for me—uses and reinforces what I know and enables me to do better.
As to the specific volume: John’s Letters was an interesting introductory choice. There is more depth developed than I expected in 2 and 3 John, and the work through of 1 John, while not earth-shattering, was solid in explaining the text.
I think this series will be useful for ministers and Greek students.
I did receive a copy of this book in exchange for the review.
First, let’s take a look at some of the overall series features—the long-term plan here calls for the whole New Testament to be covered in differing volumes, and there are certain features that are intended as the definitive approach of the Big Greek Idea series. First, these are Greek-based works. Most traditional (English) Bible commentaries are English-based, with any work in the Greek used to explain the text, either correcting the chosen translation or supporting it, or amplifying it. Here, however, the primary text is the Nestle-Aland 28th edition Greek text. (Obviously, if it takes longer to produce the series than it takes for NA29 to come out, later volumes may use NA29.)
That may sound intimidating, but the text is given in a format similar to an interlinear as well as being presented in a clausal outline. Now, I know, we’re supposed to be so great at Greek that an interlinear arrangement (which shows a phrase in Greek, with a basic translation of that same phrase in English just underneath it) is unnecessary, but many people serving in ministry struggle with the vocabulary that left after the last final in seminary. This format enables the reader to clearly see the relationship between the Greek base text and the English translation. (And, if you like, you can always re-do the translation yourself.)
The use of clause-based outlines is also a beneficial arrangement. Rather than being sentence-driven or verse-driven, the text is broken down into units which are then shown in clauses. Each unit is headed by its “Big Greek Idea,” which is essentially the unifying concept in that section.
The unit is then also discussed in terms of the overview of the Greek structure. This notes any key repeated terms or important clauses. Further syntax explanations follow the clausal outline, with each clause broken down as well as significant portions of the syntax highlighted in ‘nuggets’.
Overall, the concept works well. The reader is given a mixture of seeing the basic Greek structure as well as seeing how the clauses and structure carry meaning in a larger unit. Do you need to know Greek to use this? It does help, but the clearly stated audience is people who are not great with Greek, and that is where I fit. This is perfect for me—uses and reinforces what I know and enables me to do better.
As to the specific volume: John’s Letters was an interesting introductory choice. There is more depth developed than I expected in 2 and 3 John, and the work through of 1 John, while not earth-shattering, was solid in explaining the text.
I think this series will be useful for ministers and Greek students.
I did receive a copy of this book in exchange for the review.
November 21, 2019
John’s Letters: An Exegetical Guide for Preaching and Teaching (Big Greek Idea Series) by Herbert W. Bateman IV and Aaron C. Peer is an interesting new volume – and beginning of a series – in the interpretation of the New Testament.
The series was created with the concern that most people don’t have a solid, working, understanding of biblical Greek. This series will be a help to the pastor who has some knowledge of biblical Greek, as well as “the overloaded professor,” and the seminarian (14). Although the authors provide their own translation of the text at the rear of the text, the book is designed to highlight “the big Greek idea” of each section of text and put the tools out there for these persons to use to interpret, explain, and preach the text. It is not for the average lay person – some knowledge of biblical Greek is necessary.
The text opens with a table of contents, charts and sidebars index, list of abbreviations used, and then a length introduction which explains how to read the text and the authors’ basing it on the use of the clausal outline of the text.
Then the text begins in earnest with an introduction to each letter before it, followed by the big Greek idea, structural overview, outline, and clausal outline for each section of text. Interspersed are syntactical, lexical, semantical, theological, text-critical and grammatical “nuggets” to help in understanding the translation and interpretation of the text.
The volume ends with a bibliography and a “nugget” index.
If you are looking for a commentary that gives your denominational interpretation, this is not it. If you are looking for a commentary that helps you work through the Greek to understand the bid ideas and, thereby, the text, you will find this very useful.
I am interested to see future volumes.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
[This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, Kregel, and Goodreads.com.]
The series was created with the concern that most people don’t have a solid, working, understanding of biblical Greek. This series will be a help to the pastor who has some knowledge of biblical Greek, as well as “the overloaded professor,” and the seminarian (14). Although the authors provide their own translation of the text at the rear of the text, the book is designed to highlight “the big Greek idea” of each section of text and put the tools out there for these persons to use to interpret, explain, and preach the text. It is not for the average lay person – some knowledge of biblical Greek is necessary.
The text opens with a table of contents, charts and sidebars index, list of abbreviations used, and then a length introduction which explains how to read the text and the authors’ basing it on the use of the clausal outline of the text.
Then the text begins in earnest with an introduction to each letter before it, followed by the big Greek idea, structural overview, outline, and clausal outline for each section of text. Interspersed are syntactical, lexical, semantical, theological, text-critical and grammatical “nuggets” to help in understanding the translation and interpretation of the text.
The volume ends with a bibliography and a “nugget” index.
If you are looking for a commentary that gives your denominational interpretation, this is not it. If you are looking for a commentary that helps you work through the Greek to understand the bid ideas and, thereby, the text, you will find this very useful.
I am interested to see future volumes.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
[This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, Kregel, and Goodreads.com.]
November 30, 2019
I enjoyed this textbook. But it was better suited for a person entering a Pastoral Program or a Seminary.
FTC Disclaimer"I received a complimentary copy of this textbook for Kregel Academic. I am only required to post a review though not necessarily positive or negative. ll opinions are solely therein my own." "I am disclosing this in accordance with The F.T.C. Title 16, Part 255, "Guidelines Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
FTC Disclaimer"I received a complimentary copy of this textbook for Kregel Academic. I am only required to post a review though not necessarily positive or negative. ll opinions are solely therein my own." "I am disclosing this in accordance with The F.T.C. Title 16, Part 255, "Guidelines Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews