How to Study the Greek New Testament

Here are the details on the upcoming Class:

Where: Paihia Baptist Church: 77 Williams Rd, Paihia.
When: Starting on Sunday 20th March at 1:00—2:30pm and for the next 9 Sundays thereafter (final class: May 22nd).

The goal of the class is to promote a greater appreciation and understanding of the original Koine Greek New Testament and to help Christians realise that we have a duty to familiarise ourselves with it.

I intend to do this through a combination of basic Greek language instruction, such as learning how to read the language, and a non-pedant’s (I'll TRY, honest!) introduction to the mechanics of its grammar; particularly as it relates to our English translations. We will also explore sound techniques and methods of Bible study, such as an exploration of exegesis vs eisegesis, the use of concordances & analytical lexicons, online resources, “considering the source”scepticism, and even a look at the history of the Greek texts. All this comes with a goodly helping of eye-opening surprises for the poor English-only Bible readers among us (surprises like the Greek word δαιμονιον [daimonion], which is translated as "devil" or "demon" everywhere in the NT except Acts 17:18; where the plural form is rendered "gods"--and it turns out that that is the only time the word has been translated "correctly"!). Basically, this class will inverse the Why Learn Greek to Language Study-ratio of the last class.

Sounds like fun, doesn't it!

I think it'll be especially enjoyable for those of you who attended the last class--after all, you'll get even more out of it, and much more quickly, than those who haven't got any Greek at all.

So, along with inviting you to come and join us again, I'd like to ask you to pass this ευαγγελιον on to any other Christians you know in the BOI area who might be interested in exploring How to Study the Greek New Testament!


Thanks and God Bless,
Ιακωβος

Class is Starting...

...on the 20th of March 2011, at 1:30pm, at Paihia Baptist Church. That's only THREE Sundays from today. Time to make contact with any Christians you know who want to become familiar with the original Greek New Testament.

But HANG ON! It isn't going to be your typical language class--it isn't PBC Greek Class II. It's more of a How to Study the Greek New Testament Class. Υes, we will be learning some basic Greek, but the bigger emphasis will be on how to apply that language knowledge to gain a greater understanding of the Original Word of God.

Clear as mud?

Right.

Watch this space--more details to follow...


Χαρις,
Ιακωβος

Skoolz Owt

πεποιθως αὐτο τουτο ὅτι ὁ ἐναρξαμενος ἐν ὑμιν ἐργον ἀγαθον ἐπιτελεσει ἄχρις ἡμερας Ἰησου Χριστου•
ΠΡΟΣ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΗΣΙΟΥΣ 1:6

This particular work of God in us, the study of the Koine Greek of the New Testament, was begun six and-a-half months ago. Last Sunday, we gathered with family and friends to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the work. It was Graduation Day for the inaugural Course A of the Paihia Baptist Church Grεεk Class and a great time was had by all.

It was a day of fellowship, prayer, learning AND feasting! Spirit-filled Christians from four different churches came together to enjoy the wonderful Greek meal that all the students had a hand in preparing (and Sandy, who reminds us again that she is NOT learning Greek, prepared a most excellent lamb—thanks, Babe!); to listen to a special Why Learn Greek illustration, which hopefully gave the guests a small appreciation for the hard work and sacrifice all the students put into the course, and a glimpse of the wonderful rewards that come from it; as well as to congratulate the students in completing the course and earning the title of ΜΑΘΗΤΗΣ.


Congratulations to Colleen, Raewyn and Trish!

And I’d like to personally thank you for all the hard work you put in, for your patience with, and correction of, my many mistakes, and for your kindness towards me as I struggled to find my feet as a teacher—thank you, thank you! Each of you in your own way helped make the class a fun, encouraging and blessed place to spend a Sunday afternoon. I will miss you all and I ask God to be with you and keep you wherever He takes you until that glorious day of our Lord and Saviour, ὁ Ἰησους ὁ Χριστος.

God Bless,
Ἰακωβος

Lesson 18 and Why Learn Greek

Lesson 18 notes and the latest Why Learn Greek have been posted. As with last week's WLG, the latest incarnation is quite different from the in-class presentation, so it's definitely worth taking a look.

And, as always, if you'd rather have a hard copy, just post a request here or email me and I'll get one to you asap (in either MSWord or PDF format)!

Actually, saying that reminded me that I've edited the L18 notes since posting them here last night...I'll email you all a copy of those anyway.

God Bless,
Ἰακωβος

Upload Update Update

...okay, the latest Why Learn Greek has been written out and posted. Although it's on the same topic, the finished document is very different in form from the way it was presented last Sunday. So you might want to have a look. Let me know if you want a pdf or MSWord copy emailed to you.

Also, Lesson 17 is now posted--and btw, I had to put L1, 2, 3 & 4 together and L5, 6, 7 & 8 together.

God Bless,
Ἰακωβος

Upload Update

I've just loaded Lesson 15 & 16 and two more Why Learn Greek's.

Still have to upload L17 & yesterday's WLG, though.

Whew, there's always something!

God Bless,
Ἰακωβος

It’s All Downhill from Here

Χαρις ὑμιν,

I haven’t blogged for a while—been too busy having my head attacked by a masked-man with a knife and getting evicted....

Nearly a year-and-a-half ago, I sneezed far too forcefully and popped a nice, neat hole through 40 percent of my left eardrum and didn’t get the thing repaired until a few weeks ago. I’m pleased to report that the operation was an unqualified success. The skin-graft took hold just the way it should and there’s been no post-op infection (no pain or inflammation whatsoever). God is marvelous (and the doc played a blinder, too).

Moved house last Saturday—our landlord decided to move his dear old mum into the house we were renting and, as there wasn’t enough room for the three of us, Sandy and I had to go.

The shift went like clockwork. We were moving closer to the church and (most) of our friends (Trish, you really are going to have to move closer now.). It was a real church-family affair: We had the high-quality assistance of Pastor Bill and his wife Zak; church elder Steve; deacon & Greek student Trish; and prayer-partners & Greek students Larry & Jocelyn (who’s also the pastor at Kawakawa AOG) kindly let us use one of their trucks.

Thanks, guys, and God bless you all!

And I’d also like to thank Sandy for letting me off cleaning detail the next day so I could take the class. Isn’t she wonderful?

I’m blogging from the new house right now. It’s high on a hill and has heaps of room, five ranch-sliders, and a beautiful view of the Fall’s basin—or valley or…well, not sure what to call it, but whatever it’s called, it’s all downhill from here.

And speaking of “all downhill from here”, we’re nearing the end of the first ever Paihia Baptist Church Grεεk Class. This coming Sunday will be Lesson 17, leaving only three more actual lessons and one So What Happens Next day. Wow, can you believe it’s been six months already?

As for website business, I’ve still to post the latest Why Learn Greek and Lessons 15 & 16. I’ve also got to amend Lesson 14—need to add the Imperfect tense of εἰμι—hoping to get all those jobs done tomorrow.

Right, all for now. See you Sunday!

God bless,
Ἰακωβος