My Free Greek Reader Textbook Now Available (Gupta)

I am excited to announce the publication of Intermediate Biblical Greek Reader: Galatians and Related Texts. This book is an open-access textbook, which means that it is free to download and read through the George Fox digital commons. In the academic year 2017-2018, I taught an advanced Greek seminar with 8 students. Their main project was writing this Greek reader (via GoogleDocs). This textbook is designed for students who have already learned the basics of Biblical Greek grammar, syntax, and vocabulary. IBGR offers guidance for reading through the entire text of Galatians. Then, it guides the student through “related” Greek texts, such as the wider context of LXX passages that Paul quotes in Galatians, the faith/works section of James 2, and a reading from John Chrysostom’s homilies on Galatians. There are also chapters on the basics of textual criticism with examples in Galatians, and the book concludes with a short discussion of Marcion’s redaction of Galatians.

This textbook is designed for both group study (there are discussion questions in each chapter) and independent study. In each chapter, the Greek text is given, followed by study notes that include grammar and syntax helps and reminders, vocab for rare words, and other helpful textual notes. There are several lengthy theological “word studies” of important terms in Galatians such as faith, works of the law, and gospel.

This textbook was funded by the George Fox University library as well as the Open Textbook Network/Library. It is free to everyone forever. I am proud of Portland Seminary and GFU’s commitment to affordable education and the free sharing of knowledge. Please pass this book information on to teachers and students of Greek!