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Common Mistakes New Testament Greek Students Make and How to Avoid Them

New Testament Greek students often face a range of challenges when learning the language. Here are some of the most common mistakes: 1. Misunderstanding Verb Tenses Aspect vs. Time: In Greek, verb tenses focus more on the aspect (how the action is viewed) rather than the time (past, present, future). For example, the aorist tense…

How to Become a Textual Critic or Textual Scholar

Becoming a New Testament textual critic involves a combination of education, research, and practical skills. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started: 1. Educational Background Undergraduate Studies: Begin with a bachelor's degree in theology, biblical studies, or a related field. Courses in Greek, Hebrew, history, and philosophy are beneficial. Advanced Studies: Pursue a…

Why Mastering New Testament Greek Matters

Mastering New Testament Greek holds immense significance for anyone interested in the study of the New Testament, theology, or biblical scholarship. Here are several key points that underline its importance: 1. Understanding the Text in Its Original Language Precision of Meaning: The nuances of Greek can provide deeper insights into the meaning of texts. For…

Why Students of New Testament Greek Should Use Modern Greek Pronunciation

Why Modern Greek Pronunciation is Closest to Koine Greek There are several compelling reasons to argue that Modern Greek pronunciation is closest to Koine Greek, despite some changes over the centuries. Here are the key points: 1. Continuity in Language and Speech Greek has undergone fewer phonological changes compared to other languages over time. While…

Comparative Overview of New Testament Greek Pronunciation Systems

In New Testament (Koine) Greek, there are three main pronunciation systems that people often use, depending on their preference or background: Erasmian, Modern Greek, and Reconstructed Koine. Each has unique features and is used for different reasons. 1. Erasmian Pronunciation This system was devised in the 16th century by the scholar Erasmus and is widely…

The Definite Article Before Another Definite Article

In New Testament Greek grammar, there is a common construction where a definite article is followed by another definite article in the genitive case. This construction is used to indicate possession or association between two entities. Structure: The pattern typically follows this form: Article + Noun (understood or implied) + Genitive Article + Genitive Noun…

Greek and Coptic Names of the Egyptian Months

(1) Θώθ - Ⲑⲱⲟⲩⲧ (2) Φαῶφι - Ⲡⲁⲱⲡⲉ (3) Ἁθύρ - Ϩⲁⲑⲱⲣ (4) Χοίακ - Ⲕⲟⲓⲁⲕ / Ⲕⲓⲁϩⲕ (5) Τῦβι - Ⲧⲱⲃⲓ (6) Μεχείρ - Ⲙⲉϣⲓⲣ (7) Φαμενώθ - Ⲡⲁⲣⲉⲙϩⲁⲧ (8) Φαρμοῦθι - Ⲡⲁⲣⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ (9) Παχών - Ⲡⲁϣⲟⲛⲥ (10) Παύνι - Ⲡⲁⲱⲛⲓ (11) Ἐπείφ - Ⲉⲡⲓⲡ (12) Μεσορή - Ⲙⲉⲥⲱⲣⲓ The Egyptian calendar, which has…

Learn Coptic Language

Alexander the Great conquered Egypt in 332 B.C. He established the city of Alexandria. After his death, in 323 BC, his empire was divided among his generals. Egypt was given to Ptolemy I Soter. However, Greek did not manage to impose itself in Egypt, for Egyptian (Demotic at this point, but later called Coptic) continued…

Itacism

The process of itacism, which resulted in the eventual identification of the sounds originally represented by ι, ει, η, ηι, οι, υ, and υι in /i/, was well advanced in Egypt by the beginning of the Roman period. ει and ι are alternate representations of /i/; η and ηι are identified; οι, υ, and υι…

Erasmus’ Greek New Testament

501 years ago (March 1, 1516), Desiderius Erasmus, one of the most influential figures of the Reformation, published Novum Instrumentum Omne, the first published New Testament in Greek, in Basel. Complutensian Polyglot was printed in 1514, but was not issued to the public till 1522. In his 1516 edition of the Greek and Latin New…