Overview
Southwestern Journal of Theology 2023 Book Award (Honorable Mention, Biblical Reference/Biblical Backgrounds)
Often students want to maintain their Biblical Greek when they're between courses, but they don't know where to start. This book provides ninety days of guided reading and brief exercises to help students retain or revive their knowledge and skill in reading and interpreting Biblical Greek.
Noted language expert Benjamin Merkle guides readers through level-appropriate texts selected from across the New Testament canon, encouraging them to read and analyze one or two verses a day. The book begins with easy texts and gradually increases in difficulty through the 90 days. Each reading ends with a section called "For the Journey," which provides a practical application or reflection on the text, and an answer key so that students can check their work.
This follow-up to Merkle's Exegetical Gems from Biblical Greek is ideal for Greek language students after their first year of study and for those who want to revive their knowledge and love of Biblical Greek. A companion volume on Hebrew is forthcoming.
Often students want to maintain their Biblical Greek when they're between courses, but they don't know where to start. This book provides ninety days of guided reading and brief exercises to help students retain or revive their knowledge and skill in reading and interpreting Biblical Greek.
Noted language expert Benjamin Merkle guides readers through level-appropriate texts selected from across the New Testament canon, encouraging them to read and analyze one or two verses a day. The book begins with easy texts and gradually increases in difficulty through the 90 days. Each reading ends with a section called "For the Journey," which provides a practical application or reflection on the text, and an answer key so that students can check their work.
This follow-up to Merkle's Exegetical Gems from Biblical Greek is ideal for Greek language students after their first year of study and for those who want to revive their knowledge and love of Biblical Greek. A companion volume on Hebrew is forthcoming.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Journey 1: Easy
Route 1: John 1:1-9
Route 2: John 1:10-18
Route 3: Revelation 1:4-9
Route 4: Revelation 7:9-17
Route 5: Matthew 5:43-48
Route 6: John 8:39-44
Journey 2: Intermediate
Route 7: Luke 2:1-8
Route 8: Luke 2:9-15
Route 9: Romans 1:11-17
Route 10: Ephesians 2:1-10
Route 11: Ephesians 2:11-18
Route 12: 1 Timothy 2:1-7
Journey 3: Difficult
Route 13: Mark 8:31-37
Route 14: James 2:18-26
Route 15: 1 Peter 4:12-19
Route 16: Jude 17-25
Route 17: Hebrews 3:1-6
Route 18: Hebrews 13:20-25
Appendix: Supplemental Vocabulary
Indexes
Journey 1: Easy
Route 1: John 1:1-9
Route 2: John 1:10-18
Route 3: Revelation 1:4-9
Route 4: Revelation 7:9-17
Route 5: Matthew 5:43-48
Route 6: John 8:39-44
Journey 2: Intermediate
Route 7: Luke 2:1-8
Route 8: Luke 2:9-15
Route 9: Romans 1:11-17
Route 10: Ephesians 2:1-10
Route 11: Ephesians 2:11-18
Route 12: 1 Timothy 2:1-7
Journey 3: Difficult
Route 13: Mark 8:31-37
Route 14: James 2:18-26
Route 15: 1 Peter 4:12-19
Route 16: Jude 17-25
Route 17: Hebrews 3:1-6
Route 18: Hebrews 13:20-25
Appendix: Supplemental Vocabulary
Indexes
Endorsements
“Students can forget a great deal during the long summer between the end of Greek II and a fall semester exegetical course. This book provides an excellent remedy for the problem, combining regular daily exercises with exegetical observations and theological insights that will remind students of the value of persevering in order to actually master Biblical Greek. It incidentally sets in motion what could become a deeply enriching lifelong habit—that of spending just ten minutes each day in the Greek New Testament. The variety of styles and levels of difficulty in the reading selections prepares students well for their next course, whether it be the Johannine Letters or the Letter to the Hebrews.”
David A. deSilva, Trustees’ Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek, Ashland Theological Seminary
“Merkle’s Exegetical Journeys is a well-structured resource to guide students in developing their Greek knowledge after their basic language courses are done. It emphasizes that facility in reading actual texts in Greek is the key to skilled use of the language in interpretation. With graded readings from across the New Testament—including translation helps, notes on vocabulary and syntax, and devotional reflections—the book provides instruction as well as motivation. Highly recommended!”
Buist Fanning, senior professor emeritus of New Testament studies, Dallas Theological Seminary
“Merkle provides a 90-day guide that is perfect both for students eager to sharpen what they’ve learned in their classes and busy ministers intent on picking back up what they’ve forgotten. What’s more, Merkle’s five-step presentation helps bridge the growing gap between the seminary classroom and the pastor’s study. I highly recommend this resource for those who want to continue on or return to their Biblical Greek journey.”
Joseph R. Dodson, Craig L. Blomberg Chair of New Testament, Denver Seminary
Author
Benjamin L. Merkle
Benjamin L. Merkle (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the Dr. M. O. Owens Jr. Chair of New Testament Studies and research professor of New Testament and Greek at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He is the author, coauthor, or editor of more than forty books, including Greek for Life, Exegetical Gems from Biblical Greek, Linguistics and New Testament Greek, Beginning with New Testament Greek, and Going Deeper with New Testament Greek. He is also the editor of Southeastern Theological Review.