NIV English-Greek New Testament, The

Rating:
Summary: good, with caveats
Review: This book is a great idea and useful tool for aiding one's efforts to do word studies. Using this one can go straight to the Greek-English concordance in this Zondervan series and study the usages of the word, and armed with the Kohlenberger-Goodrick/Strong's number, one can use number-keyed lexicons like Thayer's, Vine's, etc. (though these are not the most recent and accurate lexicons).

However, the Greek word order in the Greek NT is a very significant part of the author's style and meaning, and because the Greek text here has been rearranged to fit the English translation (NIV) word order, the user of this volume will not be working with the NT Greek text as it was written.

This volume makes it much easier for the non-Greek reader to be able to find the corresponding Greek word and then do further research. And, the parsing information is very useful -- it eliminates the need to buy an analytical lexicon, and saves a step in one's word study, i.e., one can go straight from this volume to the Greek-English Concordance and then, armed with the lexical form of the word, to a Greek lexicon like BAGD/BDAG. But one should also have a regular interlinear at hand to see the actual Greek text word order, to see which words/elements the author has "fronted" or emphasized.

Also, I think that a more literal word-for-word translation might lend itself better to this kind of reverse interlinear than the NIV, but I know this volume is part of Zondervan's complete student library of Greek language tools based initially on Mounce's popular grammar (which I learned from). Since Zondervan owns the rights to the NIV translation, all their Bible study tools in this (and other) series use, by default, the NIV text.

I am looking forward to Mounce's book on GREEK FOR THE REST OF US (due March 2003), which supposedly complements this book.

Rating:
Summary: It's about time!
Review: When we study God's Word we have a responsibility to take it seriously. For some this means investing many long years in Theological Education. For others this means locating and utilizing the proper tools which help us to plumb the depths of God's Word in their original languages. Dr. William Mounce has created a valuable tool for helping to study the New Testament in its original language.

In the past interlinear Greek New Testaments worked from the Greek to the English. This approach proved cumbersome and unnatural at times. Dr. Mounce has reversed the order. This reversal is based on the simple fact that today most people's minds are more comfortable working from the English to the Greek.

Also, for those more advanced in Greek the parsing tools are a great help. This book is a solid addition to any library. However, it more than likely will not remain on your shelf!

Rating:
Summary: It's about time!
Review: When we study God's Word we have a responsibility to take it seriously. For some this means investing many long years in Theological Education. For others this means locating and utilizing the proper tools which help us to plumb the depths of God's Word in their original languages. Dr. William Mounce has created a valuable tool for helping to study the New Testament in its original language.

In the past interlinear Greek New Testaments worked from the Greek to the English. This approach proved cumbersome and unnatural at times. Dr. Mounce has reversed the order. This reversal is based on the simple fact that today most people's minds are more comfortable working from the English to the Greek.

Also, for those more advanced in Greek the parsing tools are a great help. This book is a solid addition to any library. However, it more than likely will not remain on your shelf!

Rating:
Summary: Tremendous Resource!
Review: William Mounce has once again provided us with a most helpful resource for study of the New Testament. If you do not intend to learn Greek, you can at least memorize the Greek alphabet and this excellent work will allow you to follow the exegesis in any commentary on the Greek text (although you will not understand all of the nuances, you can certainly get the gist of the writer's exegesis). There is a very helpful preface and a section on general guidelines that will get you started. Appendix A "Detailed Guidelines" is almost a junior basic Greek course for those who know ~some~ Greek. Appendix B changes the GK numbers to Strongs if you need it.

Look for Mounce's "Greek for the Rest of Us" which will provide a course on "Baby Greek."