Beginner's Grammar of the Greek New Testament

PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION

The reception accorded the "Beginner's Grammar" has been more than satisfactory. A Spanish translation is now in preparation by Professor G. F. McKibben, Saltillo, Mexico.

To this edition I have been led by requests from many teachers to add Greek-English and English-Greek vocabularies. Also I have incorporated a short article on the formation of the perfect (and pluperfect) middle (passive) of mute stems.

I must record my thanks to Professor H. E. Dana, Fort Worth, Texas, Professor H. W. Provence, Greenville, S. C., Professor J. R. Mantey, Chicago, Ill., Professor G. F. Nicolassen, Oglethorpe University, Ga., Professor E. H. Merriman, Monteagle, Tenn., and Professor J. W. Patterson, Chicago, Ill., for correction of errors of many kinds and for valuable suggestions, many of which have been incorporated in the text.

W. Hersey Davis

Louisville, Ky.

PREFACE

Dr. A. T. Robertson wrote in the Preface to his Short Grammar of the Greek New Testament: "Three types of New Testament grammars are needed: a beginner's grammar for men who have had no Greek training, an advanced and complete grammar for scholars and more critical seminary work, an intermediate handy working grammar for men familiar with the elements of Greek both in school and in the pastorate." This book is designed to meet the need for the first type. It is intended for those who are beginning the study of the Greek New Testament or have an imperfect knowledge of the essentials of the Greek of the New Testament, and to serve as a preparation for A Short Grammar of the Greek New Testament (A. T. Robertson).

The book is a beginner's book. It is the result of class-room experience of many years. The need and preparation of a beginner's class in Greek has determined the method and order of presentation. The Greek of the New Testament is the Koiné of the first century A.D. It is presented as such in this book. The historical development of the Greek language has been kept in mind.

No forms or words are given which do not occur in the Greek New Testament. All illustrations and sentences for translation have been taken from the

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New Testament. These words which are of the most frequent occurrence are presented first.

In this book especial stress has been laid upon the meaning of the cases, the prepositions, and the tenses, wherein most beginner's books have been faulty.

The author wishes to record his great indebtedness to his teacher, Professor A. T. Robertson, D.D., LL.D., of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, for instruction and valuable assistance. Without his encouragement this work would not have been begun nor would it have been brought to completion. Whatever of worth this book may have, it owes much (if not all) to his rare scholarship and experience of many years as a teacher of the Greek New Testament. In fact his monumental work A Grammar of the Greek New Testament in the Light of Historical Research is the authority from which this book drew at all points. Of course he is not at all responsible for any faults or errors which this book may contain.

The names of many writers whose works were consulted, the author cannot here recount, except Brugmann-Thumb (Griechische Grammatik).

In conclusion the author wishes here to express his thanks to his colleage, Professor F. M. Powell, A.M., Th.D., for valuable criticisms of a great part of the book in manuscript, to his friend, Dr. A. R. Bond, for expert criticism and preparation of the Index, and to his father, Rev. Q. C. Davis, Albermarle, N.C., for his sympathy and guidance.

W. Hersey Davis

Louisville, Ky.

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