The title says it...what do you think of this resource...?
Valuable?
A must have?
Run away fast?
Just wanted some opinions...I've heard different things about it...
I don't have the electronic edition, but the paper edition is very helpful for quick translation and exegesis. It is similar to Cleon Rogers Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek NT. I've used Rogers much more, so I'm more familiar with it.
Zerwick has some nuggets. I would recommend it.
Bob,
When I was learning Greek, I found it indispensable.
But, it is essential to know that it is keyed to Zerwick's Grammar (a real Gem) which is unfortunately only available together with Swetnam's introduction to New Testament Greek (the volumes I had to use when learning Greek): http://www.logos.com/products/details/2803
If you tell me a passage that you're working on, I'll post screenshots...
thanks everyone; that helped.
Damian, I was just wondering in a general way...not a specific passage...
Someone recommended it to me and I was wondering what the scoop in it was.
I bought it along with the grammar so it will link together. Very nice set.
Just to help with your general wondering:
Damian,
thank you very much...that's too bad that it's keyed that way...ya gotta buy both volumes....
Thanks, Damian.
Hadn't noticed that was available. I've got the print version of Zerwick's grammar and have studied Swetnam.
I will make that purchase in the near future.
Damian, thank you very much...that's too bad that it's keyed that way...ya gotta buy both volumes....
Robert,
You won't regret owning Swetnam's volumes. They are also helpful.
I wonder if Logos has plans to make Smyth available?
thanks everyone...this goes in my "logos wish list" tool bar folder... [:D]
When I was learning Greek, I found it indispensable. But, it is essential to know that it is keyed to Zerwick's Grammar (a real Gem) which is unfortunately only available together with Swetnam's introduction to New Testament Greek (the volumes I had to use when learning Greek)...
But, it is essential to know that it is keyed to Zerwick's Grammar (a real Gem) which is unfortunately only available together with Swetnam's introduction to New Testament Greek (the volumes I had to use when learning Greek)...
I wonder why Logos doesn't sell both of Zerwick's books in a package deal... I'd get both in a heatbeat!
Damian, did you find Swetnam's materials useful?
This does make logical sense, but is likely an issue with the publisher. Editrice Pontificio Istituto Biblico may be unwilling to sell Zerkwick's grammar unbundled from Swetnam's grammar for the sake of selling more volumes of Swetnam. I have nothing against Swetnam (I have not read or used his grammar, though others report that it is a good resource), but for most Logos users he is probably not the first choice for an introductory Greek grammar. How do you sell more Swetnam? Bundle it with Zerwick. Personally, I have enough introductory Greek grammars, and cannot justify purchasing another. What I would benefit from most would be more reference grammars in Logos. I have Zerwick's grammar in paper (it is not real expensive as a soft cover book), but I would use it far more in Logos. So I love your suggestion, and would follow suit if Logos and Editrice Pontificio Istituto Biblico made Zerwick's Grammatical Analysis and Biblical Greek a bundled package.
I'd encourage anyone who does a bit of digging around in the Greek to get the Logos version of Zerwick/Grosvernor ("Max and Mary") Grammatical analysis. It's one of those resources that Logos brings alive/adds heaps of value to because Logos untangles the compression of detail that is packed so tightly into the abbreviations of the print version. I bought the Logos version a while ago after the frustration of trying to keep the print version open, propped on one knee next to my Greek testament while trying to unpack the mysteries of the Max and Mary system with its abbreviations and superscripts. Now Max and Mary sit in a Logos4 window next to UBS4, BDAG, Wallace, BDF and the Lexham Analytical Lexicon, working their magic (via Logos popups) with heaps of "Ah, so that's why!" moments.
It would be nice to have the Zerwick Grammar ("Biblical Greek by Examples") in my Logos library, because sometimes those hyperlinks in Max and Mary look really tantalising, and there's so many of them. Like Si Cochran, I don't need another introductory grammar (I have Mounce, Wenham and Nunn on my bookshelf already). A while back, Rick Brannan wrote a piece about the Max and Mary on the Logos Blog . I posted a comment asking if the Zerwick grammar could be separated from the Sweman's Greek primer for single sales. Rick replied that he would raise the issue with the publications department. Obviously nothing has come of it.
I studied under James Swetnam so it's a bit diificult for me to purely judge the textbook. It's written for the propedeutic year at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, in which a student does 5 days of only Greek and Hebrew. I'm not sure how useful it would be outside of that context and that level of intensity.
That said, it's truly comprehensive and his stuff on accents is excellent.