Questions for Greek scholars / those who do work with the Greek

The Lexham Syntactic Greek New Testament: Expansions and Annotations is helpful in figuring out the structure of a Greek sentence, the object compliment, modifiers, different types of phrases

Another good resource for the same reason is the Lexham Clausal Outlines of the Greek New Testament

The Cascadia Syntax Graphs are also good for figuring out the structure of a Greek sentence, the object compliment, modifiers, different types of phrases, etc.)

There is a resource called Diagrammatical Analysis that teaches you how to formally diagram.

There is no set of formal diagrams as pictured above in Logos. There is an individual that has formally diagrammed Acts-Rev and sells them. I can't provide the link since its against forum rules however if you google the phrase "greek nt diagrams," you should find it.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/147436#Comment_147436

Thanks for all the feedback. What is the major differences between these top three tools?

Also do you have any suggestions for how to set up my visual filters, and what a good way to layout my screen is for doing this sort of work?

(for example what resources do you suggest leaving open? NASV interlinear, NA27 interlinear, etc? Thanks.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/147450#Comment_147450

Thanks for all the feedback. What is the major differences between these top three tools?

Also do you have any suggestions for how to set up my visual filters, and what a good way to layout my screen is for doing this sort of work?

(for example what resources do you suggest leaving open? NASV interlinear, NA27 interlinear, etc? Thanks.

Put your NA27 on the left, your notes, BDAG, grammar on the right. If you want a translation, put it UNDERNEATH your NA27. Never, NEVER, NEVER use an interlinear.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/147457#Comment_147457

Really? why no interlinear?

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/147459#Comment_147459

Really? why no interlinear?

Because George is George [:D]

Seriously, George has a point. It is very easy to use Logos' tools as a wheelchair rather than a crutch - you'll never get walking on your own. I take a slightly more moderate view than George. If you are trying to learn Greek on your own, go as far as you can on your own then use the interlinear as you would the answer sheet at the back of the text. And remember that there can be errors in the interlinear just like typos elsewhere.

Oops George, am I in trouble?[:$]

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/147462#Comment_147462

Thanks! (and I wish I was just learning it on my 'own'!) I'm in a 4th semester Greek course right now...(a summer course at that - it's killer!)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/147459#Comment_147459

Really? why no interlinear?

Note that I didn't say "Don't use a translation." Use 5-6 translations if you desire, just don't have the translation "in your face" when you're trying to read the text. I'll guarantee that the English will unduly influence you if you do use an interlinear. Put the translation underneath and refer to it when really needed or when you want to confirm the conclusion you already reached.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/147464#Comment_147464

Thanks! (and I wish I was just learning it on my 'own'!) I'm in a 4th semester Greek course right now...(a summer course at that - it's killer!)

Cheer up ! You're just in beginning Greek. It will get better after you have spent some time reading lots of texts.

Alan Macgregor

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/147462#Comment_147462

It is very easy to use Logos' tools as a wheelchair rather than a crutch - you'll never get walking on your own.

Very well put. I couldn't agree more.

At best an interlinear is a bit like having an instant gloss on the verse you are reading. All too often, however, it flatters to deceive – you can fool yourself into thinking that you understand more Greek or Hebrew than you really do.

Moreover, they can be misleading – especially reverse interlinears. Sometimes the word which is being "translated" has a more usual meaning which is different from the one which the translators have chosen in their English version.

Furthermore, using an interlinear/reverse-interlinear hinders rather than assists your own memorisation of vocabulary and grammar.

I agree with George.

If you want a translation, put it UNDERNEATH your NA27. Never, NEVER, NEVER use an interlinear.

And I would add, if you want to use an English translation underneath, choose as literal a translation as you can get – e.g. NASB, ESV – rather than a dynamic equivalent translation – e.g. NIV, NLT.

The other tools are useful to save time, as long as you really understand how they work and what they are doing. In other words, use them only when you can achieve the same result without them. For example, I frequently use the Discourse Analysis tools but I could manage to do the same job without them; it would just take forever, so I use them and am very thankful for them. (God bless Steve Runge.)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/147470#Comment_147470

I agree.

If you put the NA 27 on the left, what about putting one of the Lexham tools on the right? structure layout, clausal layout, etc?

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/147470#Comment_147470

If you want a translation, put it UNDERNEATH your NA27. Never, NEVER, NEVER use an interlinear.

And I would add, if you want to use an English translation underneath, choose as literal a translation as you can get – e.g. NASB, ESV – rather than a dynamic equivalent translation – e.g. NIV, NLT.

A "literal" translation can sometimes be quite misleading. The phrase "Give glory to God ..." which has been noted on my home page as meaning "tell the truth" isn't quite "tell the truth" either. It is something more like "Confess ..." See Jn 9.24 or compare Josh 7.19. Sometimes the dynamic translations get the sense more correct. I would say that you should use both.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/147471#Comment_147471

I agree.

If you put the NA 27 on the left, what about putting one of the Lexham tools on the right? structure layout, clausal layout, etc?

While these can sometimes be helpful, aren't you really somewhat defeating the purpose of learning the original language by using them too much? You're allowing someone else's interpretation to influence your understanding. Of course, more often than not it will be correct since I'm inclined to think that any translation with differs markedly from all others had better have some very good arguments in its favor. We do, however, find from time to time that a passage has been basically misunderstood for centuries. Most of us though will not be the ones to set the record straight.