Introduction to Sahidic Coptic

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Summary: A Stand-Alone Introduction into the Language
Review: Lambdin's textbook is really unique in its presentation; he divides the book into three parts: the first is broken into 36 lessons with vocabulary, grammar and practice exercises to assist the student in the study of Sa'idic Coptic; the second is a collection of Coptic writings (all religious) for the student to work on once he has finished the lessons in Part One; and the third part is a brief lexicon for those who don't want to spend $90 for Crum's Dictionary (although I highly recommend any serious student of Coptic acquire Crum's dictionary, which was reprinted last year by the Oxford University Press). When you finish this course, you really are ready to read original Coptic texts with the assistance of a dictionary. The E.J. Brill Press has put out a number of books with Coptic texts, including the Nag Hammadi library (see my review for more information) and a catalogue of the Coptic texts in the A.S. Pushkin Museum in Moscow, and there are other publications aimed at the Coptic Christian community, though many of these are in Bohairic, which you will need Crum's dictionary for.

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Summary: Thomas Lambdin and The Gospel of Thomas
Review: Those who are interested in the original language of the Coptic Gospel of Thomas, will find that there are not many grammars available for Sahidic Coptic. Thomas Lambdin, the official translator of the Gospel of Thomas in James Robinson's "The Nag Hammadi Library", has written one of the best. Beginning with the Coptic alphabet, which employs the entire Greek alphabet, plus 6 characters of its own, Lambdin proceeds thru a series of lessons introducing the basic elements of Sahidic Coptic, and giving the reader extensive exercises in reading the language. In addition to the grammar lessons, however, the book includes a 150-page glossary of Coptic words, and a 50-page section of reading selections, including Luke I-V, Apophthegmata Patrum, Wisdom of Solomon, and The Life of Joseph the Carpenter. As a personal aside, this book served as the basis of my own interlinear Coptic/English translation of the Gospel of Thomas. I would highly recommend it to others.