Exegetical Gems from Biblical Greek: A Refreshing Guide to Grammar and Interpretation

by Benjamin L. Merkle

Learning Greek is a difficult task, and the payoff may not be readily apparent. To demonstrate the insight that knowing Greek grammar can bring, Benjamin Merkle summarizes 35 key Greek grammatical issues and their significance for interpreting the New Testament. This book is perfect for students looking to apply the Greek they have worked so hard to learn as well as for past students who wish to review their Greek.

Genres: Biblical Studies, Language, Theology

171 pages, Paperback

Published July 16, 2019

About the author

Benjamin L. Merkle (PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is professor of New Testament and Greek at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

Reviews

[Rohan · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like "exegetical polished stones from a riverbed" i.e. not mind blowing revelations but things that make you go "that's cool".

The first half was better when he showed different bible verses for aorist, present, subjunctives etc.
The second half was a bit of "even if I read in English I'd get this"

But I do recommend, as a little refresher of grammar between semesters. And I see there's a Hebrew edition, so maybe I'll dip my toe into it

[Joelendil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book targets a specific audience: people who have already studied at least a semester or two (or equivalent) of koine Greek. If that’s you and you’re looking to enhance your understanding and/or brush up on your long-neglected biblical Greek, I highly recommend this book. If you don’t fit into that category, this probably isn’t worth your time. It might give you a basic overview of the kinds of things that knowing koine Greek can (and can’t) help you with in New Testament exegesis, but the frequent Greek text and technical jargon will probably make it an exercise in frustration.

The book is divided into many short chapters that cover grammatical issues related to case, tense, voice, mood, etc. Each chapter describes the concept under discussion and provides an example of how understanding it can help in accurate interpretation in a sample passage. There were a few times where I would have liked to see a little bit more thorough argumentation in the interpretation section, but that is the price of brevity I suppose. I appreciate that the author carefully avoids reading more information into a grammatical construction or vocabulary choice than is actually warranted. The whole book illustrates how a knowledge of biblical Greek should be used in ministry, avoiding the pitfalls of common exegetical fallacies.

Overall, this is an excellent resource for sharpening your understanding and use of Koine. If I were a professor of biblical Greek this would be at the top of the collateral reading list for second year (or maybe even second semester) students.

[Peyton Mansfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a refreshing guide indeed. It is a light and easy read, calling back to mind priciples I learned in Greek II last year while keeping my attention by offering interesting exegetical nuggets along the way.

It fascinated me how Merkle was able to make me say "hm!" so many times -- all while teaching me grammar I already learned, presented alongside biblical truths for which he found multiple prior sources. The info may not be groundbreaking, but it's organized and presented so helpfully.

The book is simple and effective. Need a refresher in grammar? Are you learning it for the first time? Or do you need a reminder for why it matters? I'd recommend this.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent for anyone who has completed an introductory grammar course and is looking for intermediate reading and the practical application of grammatical concepts. I would suggest after reading this to get into "Intermediate Greek Grammar" by Mathewson/Emig for a bit more depth. This was a very good read indeed.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this a chapter at a time was a great way to revise and consolidate my NT Greek knowledge. It may be used as a quick reference too.

[SWM · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, I really don't think two starts is totally accurate but 3 seems to be just a little much. I wish there were a choice for 2.5 or so as that would be more fitting for this book.

The Good: 35 concise chapters with Scriptural examples to illustrate the point under discussion. I like that he draws on Runge/Levinshohn not just in the chapter on discourse but in at least one other chapter too. Also, many recent studies are referenced, indicating he is keeping up with the latest scholarship. In addition, he does not repeat the same error that Metzger did in using Colwell as prove on how John 1.1 should be rendered. He correctly notes in chapter 10 that “the context must determine whether the predicate nominative is definite.” (much more on John 1.1 below)

The Bad- well the questionable: At times, no doubt due to the concise manner in which the book is written, it comes across as dogmatic. For example, Merkle writes that “there are three main families of manuscripts.”- (chapter 2) It would have been better if he used scare quotes or had a footnote or something to alert the reader to the controversy that exists in dividing MSS into specific families with specific boundaries. One more example from the same chapter to illustrate the point. He states, "we have access to nearly 6,000 NT Greek manuscripts that date from AD 125..." From AD 125? How about from "about" or better yet around the second century? Paleography uses a range. (can be well over a 50 year span) He is no doubt referring to P52 but the date of AD 125 is very controversial, with it even being dated into the 3rd century.

In discussing the genitive case he says that in most instances it is easy to figure out a genitive. - (chapter 5) Such a comment gives the impression that ambiguous exceptions are few and far between which is not true at all. The genitive often allows for a great variety even if only a “few” examples are highlighted over and over again as being ambiguous. (righteousness of God; love of God). What does the revelation of Jesus mean as stated at Rev 1.1? From Jesus? Or about Jesus? Opinions vary, but these examples can be stated over and over again. The fact is, context often allows for different understandings and one can easily get lost in the different terms used in describing the types of genitives. Also, to add to the complexity is the fact that often these relationships involve abstract nouns or figure of speeches.

In a very recent review, the reviewer highlights the weakness he found in chapter 23 on participles. Chapter 23 is entitled “Periphrastic Participles” and Merkle uses Mathew 18.18 as his example. The reviewer noted that the author did not engage “in a close study of similar periphrastic construction in wider koine Greek” thus not examining all the evidence but only a narrow sample and then picking a conclusion that was based on his own theological beliefs not on sound linguistical principles.

The ugly: Chapter 3 has many errors that should not go without comment. Merkle clearly realizes that syntax/context is a key to John 1.1c. He states, "only the context determines whether the noun should be considered indefinite" but then he goes on to accuse another translation of "demonstrating its inconsistency" when they do the exact same thing (use context to come up with their rendering) but arrive at a very different theological conclusion. Most ironically, he does not allow the New World Translation (NWT) to use syntax even though they have publicly stated over and over that this is why they have translated it differently than most. With little effort, this information could have been readily found. Instead of using primary evidence, Merkle relies on a faulty study in which Robert Countess makes up a rule that the NWT must not consider context/syntax but always translate nouns (theos in particular) that are not articulate in the same way. This is pure non-sense! (Dan Wallace also makes this same grave error because of relying on the same faulty “study” of Countess instead of what the authors have actually said about their own renderings) The fact that syntax matters in translating John 1.1 has been clearly made for decades within the NWT and online for some time. (https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1...) While the NWT can certainly be criticized, to make a straw man argument is not scholarly to say the least. Spending just a little bit of time could have avoided a disastrous chapter like this. This raises a flag on whether he may have treated other issues shoddily too, though this can probably just be caulked up to allowing his personal bias/ prejudice to cloud good judgment. It can happen to the best of us!

His conclusion is that, "the Greek use of the predicate nominative is qualitative." This is the exact same conclusion that Jehovah's Witnesses make in regards to John 1.1! If this is correct, then adding "a" or "an" is the general way you would show that a noun is "qualitative." (eg. “she is an angel.” The exceptions that I can think of, would be when it is clear you are talking about a quality) To translate this clause as "God" can easily cause one to jump into the pan of Sabellianism, hiding the very distinction that the Greek makes and that is lacking in the traditional English rendering. 99.9% of the readers of John do think "God" is a noun of identity (as opposed to a qualitative noun) and do indeed equate Logos with God. Thus, if John 1.1 is "qualitative" then you would expect something similar or the same, as the NWT, Goodspeed's NT, or Moffatt's and not what the NIV, NASB, KJV, etc. has that reads as if this were a definite noun. Therefore, if this is a qualitative noun then why not show this in translation? In conclusion, context is king for all translations, even for the ones whose theology we might not agree with. So, while the scholarly world no longer uses Colwell for proof on John 1.1c, it appears that, sad to say, there are other errors that will continue for some time based on faulty chapters like this one. We can hope Merkle will correct this error in a future update.

[Conrade Yap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Studying Biblical Greek is a challenge for many of us trained in English. Not only must we grasp the challenges of grammar and a strange new pronunciation, we need to interpret the nuances that are revealed through different contexts. For those who are not gifted with language studies, the technical aspects of the language can be arduously dry. Author Benjamin Merkle designs this refresher of 35 examples to help three types of readers: Current Seminary students studying Greek; Former Greek students; and teachers of Biblical Greek. Current students would find the examples helpful to shed light and relevance in their studies. Former Greek students would be able to revisit what they had learned and forgotten. Greek teachers could use the examples to make their classes not only more interesting but more powerful.

Using a regular second year Greek syllabus format, Merkle titles each chapter according to the Greek syntax and exegesis course. While the book could be used like a reference book, for those who prefer to start from cover to cover, each chapter builds on the earlier ones. Readers get to learn or refresh themselves on the nature of koine Greek; interpretation from contexts and not just the texts; and the basic grammar and syntax to remember. As it is assumed that readers already have a knowledge of the Greek alphabet and the pronunciation, the Greek words in the book have not been transliterated. However, the meaning is often accompanied by an English translation in brackets. Like an able teacher, Merkle guides readers along with three clear sections: Introduction; Overview; and Interpretation. In Introduction, we get a gist of what the chapter is about. This is followed by an Overview with the key points reiterated with examples of how they are used in the other parts of the New Testament. The Interpretation portion is not only the longest, but comprises the main application of the concepts mentioned. Where appropriate, the author brings in exegesis and references from other sources to highlight the different ways to understand the grammar or how the grammar is used.


My Thoughts
For former students of Greek who have mostly lost touch of Greek grammar and exegesis skills, this book refreshes their memories. In some cases, it would bring back terms that one has totally forgotten. Language is something that needs to be used on a regular basis, otherwise it will be lost. That is why people say "Use it or lose it." This is so true for Greek studies. Even preachers who prepare messages regularly would tend to depend on secondary sources for Greek exegesis. Hopefully, this refresher book would help such people to go beyond these secondary sources to learn to exegete Greek a little bit more independently. Expectations however need to be set appropriately. This book may contain the concepts needed, but they are to be treated more like a pre-exam revision notes. Key points, acronyms, or pointers are there to open up a bigger reserviour of knowledge. If readers do not have that reserviour in the first place, these pointers would have limited help. For some, the concepts at the beginning might seem a little too intimidating. I would suggest such readers bring out their old Greek textbooks and notes for greater effect and learning, to use this book as a primer to unlock the old years of learning.

For current students of Greek, this refresher would be an immensely helpful supplement to ring in the grammatical concepts concisely. With the concepts fresh in their minds, they would be quick to move toward the application aspects. It would be good for such students to bring in their own illustrations and other texts to try to exegete on their own, alongside what is used in the book. This is one of the best ways to learn about the nuances of the Greek grammar. In other words, let them bring forth their own gems.

For teachers of Greek, this book would be a ready to use example to highlight the beauty and effectiveness of the language. One of the best times for me as a Greek student is to see the concepts come alive through the explanation of texts we often take for granted in the English translation. At the same time, we would grow to appreciate the difficulties translators have with regard to the choices they were forced to make.

Benjamin L. Merkle is Professor of New Testament at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Greek Editor of the Southeastern Theological Review. He specializes in the area of Biblical Studies. He is also a contributor to the ESV Expository Commentary series.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Academic and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

[Drake Hyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book while taking Dr. Merkle's Greek Syntax and Exegesis course. It is nearly an exact pair in terms of structure and content as his Intermediate Grammar, Going Deeper with New Testament Greek, and for that reason I thought it was going to be just a redundant repeat of the course content. It turned out to be quite enjoyable and helpful!

The book is intended as a review for past students of Biblical Greek, but it works quite well as a supplement for current intermediate students. The chapters cover every syntactic category in sufficient detail. The beginning of each introduces an exegetical question or problem to capture the reader's attention before delving into the relevant content for each grammatical feature (e.g. uses of the genitive case, types of prepositions, uses of the participle, etc.). Merkle then presents the most prominent viewpoints on the issue before presenting what he believes to be the best option. This structure works well to educate and engage the reader. You're given a problem, shown the possible solutions and then guided through the exegetical process.

Merkle does a fine job of taking a complex set of material and presenting it in a concise manner that invites the reader to uncover each of these opulent gems. I actually found the book hard to put down. As I finished each chapter, I felt more empowered and encouraged to dive deeper into my Greek studies. Nothing was so esoteric as to feel over my head, but instead it all felt intended for a more general audience, which I appreciated. My only critique is that, given the short format, occasionally the explanations are a bit too brief or lacking in examples. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this to first year Greek students as it assumes a good degree of prior knowledge, but I'd put it on the must-read list for intermediate students. (4/5)

[Chandler Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this as a devotional effort. This book is honestly so fun and so well written. Each chapter is an introduction to an important aspect of Greek grammar and a New Testament case study about the significance of the grammatical principle. Merkle’s approach to each case study also shows the reader the interpretive nature of Greek translation, but he is not afraid to argue his own interpretive decisions for each passage he exegetes. I don’t agree with him on all of his interpretive decisions in the book. For example, I disagree with his decision to divide the household codes section of Ephesians from Paul’s expression about mutual submission in Ephesians 5:21. I do think that Paul’s statement about mutual submission governs the household codes, and this is evident to me in the fact that Paul does not even use the verb for “submit” in 5:22, but expects the verb to be supplied from his usage in the previous verse.

However, the interpretive challenges posed by Greek grammar are what make the study of the Greek NT so fun for me and why I love studying various interpretive and theological approaches to the Scriptures. I am glad I read this work and felt that it was helpful for refreshing and retaining my knowledge of Greek. Hard to believe it has been two years now since I took Greek 3 and my way of reading the New Testament was forever changed.

[Philemon - · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book's intriguing premise is to explore examples where exegetical interpretation of a biblical verse depends on resolution of grammatical ambiguities. This exposes the reader to the nuts and bolts of textual criticism, procedures and conventions used by such critics in trying to determine from variant versions of a text -- each of which probably contains errors by scribes who, intentionally or not, miscopied it --what the original version most likely said.

On the whole, however, for me the book failed to deliver many cases where the questions to be resolved had more than very technical interest. The weight of which way to go on grammatical ambiguity seems slight at best as a component of overall theological interpretation. Crucial for a book publisher, perhaps, but nowhere near topmost in the minds of most readers of scripture engaged in prayer and meditation to receive a passage's God-intended message.

[Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book a very interesting look at Biblical Greek interpretation. It's a slow read, and I'm still plodding through the book, as I am only a beginner at learning Koine Greekr. In saying that, I still find the book useful for understanding a bit more about interpretation. I suspect it would be even more use for the book's target market - those with intermediate or advanced learning in Biblical Greek. The book is set out logically, and seems to provide excellent arguments for it's conclusions.

[Joey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overview, Example and Practice

I liked how Markle combined an overview and refresher of the fundamentals of Koine Grammar with practical examples illustrating and applying the specific grammatical points being covered in each chapter. Perfect as a refresher or bridge into intermediate Greek.

[Ian Newberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the whole, this was a helpful book. There were a couple chapters where it felt like Merkle was using his theology to make decisions about the grammar. If I wanted to refresh myself on a certain point of Greek Grammar without turning to text book, I would certainly pick this up and review the relevant chapter. It is written accessibly and succinctly.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read, even for non-Greek readers. Uses anecdotes to illustrate principles and inform, without the apparent drudgery of rote memorization. This seems backward to "learn the rule," then "make the application." The book is short, limiting the matters that are addressed, but if accepted not as a grammar, but as a support book, it should serve its purpose.

[Simon Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super helpful recap of intermediate grammar in 35 short chapters. Many of the main categories that you find in Wallace are touched on. Each chapter contains a case study showing the benefits of understanding greek grammar for biblical interpretation. Highly recommend.

[Justin Watkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s an ok book if you’re a Calvinist. If you are, like me, a believer in free grace, then this book may not be for you...

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does a good job in what it sets out to do. Very readable for the intermediate student in need of review of basic syntactical principles.

[Bfleegs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A helpful companion volume to a second-year syntax course. The over iews and examples clarify difficult concepts from grammars.

[James Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise but very dense in content.

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Serious students of the Bible often invest a great deal of time and energy in learning and holding on to the Biblical languages. Resources which assist students of the New Testament to retain and apply their Biblical Greek are sought after. Merkle’s Exegetical Gems aims to be such a resource. The book summarizes thirty-five Greek grammatical issues and seeks to describe their significance for New Testament interpretation by exploring key texts.

I found Merkle’s offering useful in its concise descriptions and explanations of these grammatical issues more than as a source of ‘exegetical gems’. He briefly explores alternative interpretations of various texts and details the grammatical options before stating his interpretive conclusion. However, the key deciding point is most frequently decided by context more than grammar. This is as it should be but is less supportive of the driving thesis behind the book.

The texts he explores represent a diverse set of passages from the Gospels (mainly Matthew), Pauline epistles and Hebrews. Some key texts explored include:

-Romans 5:1 ‘since we have been justified through faith, we have (or let us have) peace with God’.

-Ephesians 5:21-22 ‘Submit(ing) to one another out of reverence for Christ.’ Here Merkle argues that Αἱ γυναῖκες (Wives), in verse 22, although nominative is to be read as a vocative, and this is indicative of the beginning of a new section. This was an interesting argument, but I found myself convinced that both paragraphs which follow the ὑποτασσόμενοι of 5:21, one addressing Αἱ γυναῖκες and the next addressing Οἱ ἄνδρες (plus others which follow, e.g. Τὰ τέκνα, Καὶ οἱ πατέρες) also refer backward as well as forward.

-1 Timothy 3:6 ‘He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil’ explores the genitive τοῦ διαβόλου (as subjective or objective).

-John 1:1 where he explores why the Word ὁ λόγος has the article and θεὸς is anarthrous, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος.

-Matthew 16:24 where an understanding of verbal aspect is explored. This verse contains two aorist imperatives (ἀπαρνέομαι and αἴρω) and one present imperative (ἀκολουθέω). Merkle argues that interpretations which argue from the verb tense-forms that Jesus is teaching that we must decisively come to the point where we deny ourselves and take up our cross and then keep following Jesus (continuous discipleship) are not based on a right understanding of verbal aspect.

Exegetical Gems from Biblical Greek may prove a particularly useful resource for the Biblical Greek classroom with its concise explanations of various dimensions of the language and its interpretation and the key examples from key New Testament texts.

I thank the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.