DO NOT PANIC - Written in Large, Friendly Letters. How To Start Reading Greek,

ΚΑΤΑ ΜΑΡΚΟΝ 1 1550 Stephanus New Testament (TR1550)

1 αρχη του ευαγγελιου ιησου χριστου, υιου του θεου

2 ως γεγραπται εν τοις προφηταις ιδου εγω αποστελλω τον αγγελον μου προ προσωπου σου ος κατασκευασει την οδον σου εμπροσθεν σου

3 φωνη βοωντος εν τη ερημω ετοιμασατε την οδον κυριου ευθειας ποιειτε τας τριβους αυτου

4 εγενετο ιωαννης βαπτιζων εν τη ερημω και κηρυσσων βαπτισμα μετανοιας εις αφεσιν αμαρτιων

A. Start by learning the alphabet and reading the text out loud. We will read it out loud in class too.

B. Look for words you know or words based on the Greek. Mark 1:1 - I see archaeology - the beginning of history; Good News, also good and angel; Jesus Christ; theology.

Basic translating means - Translate the words you know and guess the rest. In simple passages we already know the other words - or at least we think we do. This approach gives us a sense for the Greek rather than that slow style of 

1. What does this word mean?
2. How do I parse it?
3. What is the grammar rule?

The slow style means that a few learn Greek or Latin or German in spite of the teacher. The fast style or immersion is used for quick, effective ability in the new language. We don't have the luxury of total immersion, but we can repeat how we first learned our language.

Children learn language by hearing it and learning what it means in its context. "No" to a small child means "Let's start debating."

PS - "DO NOT PANIC - Written in Large, Friendly Letters." That is the beginning of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, a great satire novel.

The article (the) tells us the case and number of the word it is with, making Greek especially easy.

The Gospel of Mark in Greek - Starts Ash Wednesday - Continues in MidWeek Lenten Services. Aimed at Beginners

Following the midweek services, which are recorded, we will study St. Mark's Gospel in Greek. I will simply move from the final hymn to the lesson.

I will save each video link in the Facebook page for Greek, but people can also look them up by date. We will continue when midweek services are over.

This set is aimed at beginners, so we will start slowly.

1. NT Greek is easy! It only needs time for the brain switch-over.
2. Start with the alphabet, then reading out loud.
3. Grammar is simple. I downplay grammar, emphasize time on the Greek text alone.
4. Do not write in the English words above or in the text.
5. Do not use an interlinear text (Greek-English).
6. Do not leave your KJV Bible open, but you may use it rarely for emergencies.
7. Paine covers the basic grammar issues, using John's Gospel. Get a used copy here - about $15 - 25. Or from Alibris - as little as $7 plus shipping. (Use the low to high price filter.)

Bethany New Testament Greek Lessons on Facebook



New Testament Greek is fun, easy, and gives us an enormous vocabulary in medicine and science. Our entire Western civilization is based upon the Golden Age in Greece (especially Athens) - and Alexander the Great spread this through conquest.

Greek was the universal language of commerce and culture at the time of Christ. Any decent Roman citizen knew Greek. Later, St. Augustine wrote in Latin but often quoted in Greek.

The Founders of America knew Latin and Greek.

"Rome had the drains, but the Greeks had the brains."

 The Parthenon in Athens