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Introductory Greek Texts
I have not taught Koine in a two semester regular class; normally I ask
students who want Koine to do one year of Attic after which I do a one-
semester tutorial in Koine. Occasionally however I have taught a quick
introduction in one semester using Machen. I have certainly found that Machen
works well enough, although I really despise this traditional approach thru
straight paradigms and one-sentence made-up readings (as opposed to graded
adapted long paragraphs of original Greek based on the assumption that the
paragraph, not the sentence is the real unit of discourse). But it is quite
true that the price is unreal now.And, if it is still in print, I think there
is a better alternative, although I've not had the opportunity to teach out
of it, and I'm referring to Funk's Beginning-Intermediate Grammar of NT Greek
(I think that's not the exact title, but it starts out that way). I don't know
if this is still in print, but it used to be available through Scholars Press.
In reading through Funk's book (two paperback volumes of lesson & reference
grammar chapters and one paperback appendix of morphological reference) I was
impressed by its realistic assumption that the student needs to understand
the English grammar of corresponding usage but probably doesn't, and still
more by the very practical presentation of the legitimate alternative ways
of expressing the same notions, such as [dat. = PROS + acc.] and [TOU + inf.
= EIS TO + inf. = HINA + subj., all for purpose and identical in meaning].
If one is not wedded to tradition but wants to learn or teach a practical
understanding of Koine usage that corresponds to the speech-levels of English
closest to those of NT Greek, this is really worth considering.
CARL W. CONRAD, C25001CC@WUVMD.BITNET OR C25001CC@WUVMD.WUSTL.EDU
Classics, Washington University, One Brookings Dr., St. Louis, MO 63130
Phone: (314) 935-4018