It's Still Greek to Me: An Easy-to-Understand Guide to Intermediate Greek

by David Alan Black

Proof that learning grammar doesn't have to be boring. This easy-to-understand and humorous guide is for students in their second year of Greek study.

Genres: Biblical Studies, Language, New Testament, Nonfiction, Reference, Linguistics, Christian

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1998

Reviews

[Jacob Aitken · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is exactly what it advertises itself to be: it is a refresher guide to those students who have had at least two semesters of NT Greek. More importantly, though, it explains how language works. More importantly, the English language. This book could function as an English grammar. If you don’t know English, then Greek syntax will break you. To begin with, you must be willing to walk through the fire for English grammar. I write as an English teacher. This book might help you.

As noted above, David Alan Black assumes knowledge of first year Greek. There are diagrams at the back of the book, but usually not in the chapters. Each chapter ends with Greek exercises (sentences you should translate into English. A key is found at the back of the book). He expects you to know it. I found the following particularly helpful:

1. He gives detailed analyses of genitive and dative cases.
2.The “Tale of 12 Mice” cartoon. This explains how prepositions work. (Google it).
3. The differences between Koine and Classical Greek, and the Semitisms present in the former, for example:

NT Semitisms (Black 151-153)
* Word order (verbs tend to come verse)
* asyndeton (absence of a conjunction)
* Redundant pronouns
* Redundant use of prepositions
* Use of the positive adjective for the comparative or superlative.
* Redundant use of “saying.”
* Introductory egeneto
* Future indicative used as an imperative
* The use of idiou (“Behold”)

The book concludes with bibliographical suggestions.

[Aubrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this two years after taking introductory Greek, and one year after TA-ing for introductory Greek, as part of my prep for teaching a Greek-review course. I enjoyed the exercises at the end of every chapter, and I appreciated the succinct explanations of Greek grammar rules and the ways they are applied in the New Testament. It's a perfect in-between book. Helped me get my feet wet again.

Somehow it is described as funny. This is baffling to me, because it is not. But I don't need my Greek review to be funny, so I didn't feel personally offended by it. Just a heads up to other people.

[Bill Forgeard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was initially looking for a condensed refresher for introductory greek, but soon discovered that this wasn't it -- I had to re-read my basic Greek textbook for that. However, once my basic grammar was a little better, this was a very helpful (and nicely succinct) guide to intermediate Greek. That means no memorisation of declensions, grammar etc, but rather a tour through all the many features of Greek grammar as they are significant for New Testament exegesis. I won't say it was a page turner, but I did appreciate Black's effort to make things interesting.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent, even humorous, introduction to Greek grammar and syntax.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can honestly say about this book is that it straight up saved my life in my second year of seminary studies. I had changed schools/professors within the GTU due to a scheduling conflict, and found that the skill gap between "beginning" and "intermediary" levels of Greek study were far more profound than I was expecting due in part to a very vigorous instructor who threw us on the Wallace primer with very little warning. Without David Alan Black's kindly but thoroughly explained lifelines, I surely would have drowned, but we managed to somehow pull through with a B together. I went on to become (I think) a reasonably competent reader of Koine, but still enjoy popping open this text from time to time, as though visiting an old friend who happens to also be very smart. THANK you, David Alan Black!

[Kevin Higginbotham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This doesn’t claim to be a highly technical exploration of advanced aspects of Greek for the doctorate-level exegete. It’s just a great crash course/refresher for the beginning Greek student wanting to go a little further and be able to start doing some translation and exegesis. Great, handy, helpful.

[Finn Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect follow up to Mounce’s BBG! If you can write a book on grammar that is useful, funny, and engaging, you have my respect. Thank you Black for your diligent efforts. And the reminder that if I get silly and pretentious with my Greek that I should be shot like a lame horse.

[Ruth Dahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reviews for intermediate Greek.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book that couldn't seem to decide whether it wanted to be a scholarly work, or a popular book for the masses. The author often surprised with a wonderful sense of humour in the midst of some at times dry technical writing, and tried to make things understandable, yet about half way through each chapter, I found he lost me as he jumped to more complicated explanations. It was an OK read, but it's not laid out as a reference book. I doubt I'll be referring to it often, though it's short enough that I may re-read one day in its entirety.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A useful intermediate Greek grammar, although at times I would have appreciated a more detailed discussion of Greek grammar at certain points so that it could serve as a better reference grammar. It provides an easy to follow grammar to advance from 1st year Greek to understanding more detailed Greek syntax such as case usages, and uses of infinitives and participles,although not as detailed as Wallace or other intermediate Greek grammars which are more thorough.

[Christian Proano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sounds weird but is a very good "introduction" to "intermediate NT Greek." In other words, a good summary for intermediate students would do good as a transitional bridge or a good handbook to refresh the studied material.

[Jonathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is essentially the abridged glossary to an advanced grammar, written for students of intermediate Greek who were coddled in their first year.

[Matt Smith]

Too brief, but I think that was his goal with the book.

[Isaac Barton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only Greek grammar book that I think I could read cover to cover. And I had to do that twice for class. Not sure how often I will go back to it if I have better grammars on hand.

[Luís Branco · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book seams good. Nevertheless it is very badly diagramed, lots of sentences come together mixed up without proper separation between the words. It makes a mess!