Bible Studies/Greek language

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Expert: - 9/8/2008


Question
In a recent Bible study group the leader made reference to 'formal' Greek and 'informal Greek'  What is the difference and how is it important in Bible study?

Thank you in advance for your support.

Answer
In the courses that I took learning Greek I never heard one form called "formal" or "informal".

 However, some might see Classical Greek as formal since it has many more rules of syntax while the Greek of the Bible is Koine Greek and was a less structured Greek. It could be seen as "common" because it was used by the non-educated all around the Mediterranean world.

Besides these forms there was also Ancient Greek used before the Classical.... and the Modern Greek spoken in Greece today.

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Dean Gade

Expertise

I can answer questions concerning the translating of specific words and translations of the New Testament. I can give the etemology of Greek words, primarily in the Koine Greek, but also in Classical Greek. I can also give explanations of much of the Bible having read it many times and written many Bible studies.

Experience

I studied Greek in earning my BA at a university and my DTh. and MDiv. at an accredited seminary. I was a diviity student at both the university and seminary, spending most of those eight years studying the Bible.

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