Word Studies in the New Testament

Kolen Cheung

In the base package, there are 3 books about word studies:

Wuest (Word Studies in the Greek New Testament)

Vincent (Word Studies in the New Testament)

Robertson (Word Pictures in the New Testament).

Which one is better?

Thanks.

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si_cochran

In the base package, there are 3 books about word studies:

Wuest (Word Studies in the Greek New Testament)

Vincent (Word Studies in the New Testament)

Robertson (Word Pictures in the New Testament).

Which one is better?

Thanks.

I prefer Robertson. He explains the meaning and usage of words in a commentary style format. Also, Robertson was a world class Greek Scholar. He wrote the mammoth Grammar of the New Testament in Light of Historical Research http://www.logos.com/products/details/2479. Though a little dated, it is still a profitable reference grammar. I just purchased his Matthew commentary today with the March Madness discount http://www.logos.com/ebooks/details/COMMGOSMT, which is a helpful treatment of this Gospel (D.A. Carson quotes from it fairly consistently in his commentary on Matthew).

Jim

Which one is better?

Which one is better is going to depend upon what you want to get from them and your familiarity with Greek.

Vincent is the oldest, being first published in 1887 and relying on 19th century Greek texts and scholarship. Still has some good thoughts.

Roberston lived from 1863 to 1934 and most of his book was first published between 1930 and 1933.

Wuest first published in the 1950's.

When I was in seminary in the '70s I dreamed of being able to afford Robertson so I'm glad to have it at last. I gravitate toward his, but also look at Wuest and then sometimes Vincent. I'm sure others will add their experience and opinions to help you out as well.

While these three books are definitely good at exposing details of Greek, I find the United Bible Society's Manuals to be very useful in getting a quick overview of the range of ways people interpret passages and why as well as some considerations that are useful in communicating their meaning. They are rather expensive, but very useful. (They are part of the Gold package, but I picked my NT set at a discount at one of Morris Proctor's seminars)

Kolen Cheung

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/117668#Comment_117668

While these three books are definitely good at exposing details of Greek, I find the United Bible Society's Manuals to be very useful in getting a quick overview of the range of ways people interpret passages and why as well as some considerations that are useful in communicating their meaning. They are rather expensive, but very useful. (They are part of the Gold package, but I picked my NT set at a discount at one of Morris Proctor's seminars)

Thanks so much. I am planning to upgrade to Gold package in 5 years, hoping that within this period of time I can equip more on the original language. And I am also looking forward to seeing that Logos5 is out by that time.

Kolen Cheung

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/117663#Comment_117663

I prefer Robertson. He explains the meaning and usage of words in a commentary style format. Also, Robertson was a world class Greek Scholar.

Thanks. Then I guess his "A Harmony of the Gospels" is also a good reference, right?

Kolen Cheung

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/117668#Comment_117668

When I was in seminary in the '70s I dreamed of being able to afford Robertson so I'm glad to have it at last. I gravitate toward his, but also look at Wuest and then sometimes Vincent. I'm sure others will add their experience and opinions to help you out as well.

I try Heb 12:28 and see that Robertson's is very good.

By the way, do you mean that the modern correspondence of such kind of work is the UBS's Manuals? Are there shorter one?

Jim

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/117672#Comment_117672

I wouldn't say Roberston and UBS are equivalent. Robertson is more into grammar and is quite succinct. I find that gives me a quick insight into the Greek. A lot of the UBS series is written by Nida whose name is associated with the "dynamic equivalence" method of translation which has its pros and cons. That fact doesn't keep me from learning valuable insights from him, but I keep it in mind. Here's what UBS says on your test verse so you can get an idea of what it has to offer.

[quote]Hebrews 12.28.

Let us be thankful may be rendered as “We should be thankful” or “We should thank God.” The Greek phrase is common both in the New Testament (see 1 Tim 1.12; 2 Tim 1.3; Rom 7.25) and in non-Christian Greek literature of the same period.

The meaning of receive a kingdom is uncertain. On the meaning of kingdom, see comments on 1.8. Most commonly in the New Testament it refers to God’s rule over believers, and some older commentators have understood receive a kingdom to mean (a) “accept God’s rule over us in faith.” However, this seems both rather weak in itself and also difficult to fit in with the context (especially that cannot be shaken). It is therefore probably better to understand receive a kingdom as (b) “receive from God the right to rule with him,” as in Daniel 7.14, 18, and Gospel texts such as Matthew 19.28; 25.34; Luke 12.32; 22.30. (c) Elsewhere in Hebrews the writer speaks of Christians as being like Israel on the way to the promised land (3.7–4.12), and of believers looking for a permanent place to live (11.13–16). GeCL accordingly translates “We want to be grateful, because we receive a homeland which cannot be taken away from us.” In support of this use of “homeland” it may be noted that Deuteronomy 4.24, quoted in the next verse, occurs in a passage about the promised land.

The passages from Daniel and the gospels mentioned in the last paragraph suggest that receive a kingdom in this verse may include also the meaning “receive from God a heavenly ‘place’ in which to rule with him.” If so, an alternative translation would be “because we have been given the privilege of ruling, and this will never change.”

“Thus” (RSV), omitted by TEV, is literally “through which,” referring back either to “thanks” or to “kingdom.” If it is taken with “thanks,” RSV’s “thus” and NEB’s “and so” are adequate.

Let us be grateful and worship God may be rendered as “We should be grateful to God and worship him.”

In a way that will please him may be expressed as “in a manner with which he will be pleased” or “…which will cause him to be glad.”

Reverence and awe overlap considerably in meaning. In 5.7 TEV translates the same Greek word for reverence as humble and devoted. Awe is literally “fear.” One or two translations use “godly fear” (Mft) or “holy fear,” to avoid suggesting an unworthy, nonbiblical idea of being afraid of God. A single term may be used for reverence and awe if this is natural in the receptor language. Since in a number of languages the usual equivalents of reverence and “fear” are almost contradictory in meaning, it may be best to combine the meanings as “with great reverence” or “by showing great honor.”

Paul Ellingworth and Eugene Albert Nida, A Handbook on the Letter to the Hebrews, Originally published: Translator's handbook on the Letter to the Hebrews. c1983., UBS handbook series; Helps for translators, 316 (New York: United Bible Societies, 1994], c1983).

Kolen Cheung

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/117902#Comment_117902

A lot of the UBS series is written by Nida whose name is associated with the "dynamic equivalence" method of translation which has its pros and cons.

Here's what UBS says on your test verse so
you can get an idea of what it has to offer.

Thanks so much. I like it a lot. It helps me to see clearly what the vague ideas that has in my mind, after studying that verse for hours.

I think that it is really a great reference. But because of "budget issue", I can only get it when I upgrade to Gold.

By the way, what discount do you receive in the seminar?

Jim

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/117940#Comment_117940

By the way, what discount do you receive in the seminar?

It's been a few years, so I'm sorry I don't really remember. When you go to one of Mo's seminars he'll give you a price list of a large number of resources and offer discounted prices if you buy them there or soon after. One of the values of his seminar is that he comments on the comparative usefulness of various resources from the perspective of a working pastor. His advice is very helpful. Just be sure you set a firm budget with your spouse or church before you go. I was fortunate to go to one seminar with my Sr. Pastor who loves technology. He bought me quite a bit of stuff I wouldn't have been able to afford on my own.