Grammar Review: Should you be using Wallace's Greek Grammar: Beyond the Basics?

Dan Wallace's Greek Grammar: Beyond the Basics is the modern classic intermediate Greek grammar. But it isn't without its problems. Yet, there is much to like and a few things to be wary of in this grammar, and these play a role in how you might want to use it. In this video, we'll take a look at the things I like and don't like in this grammar and see why you should have a copy on your shelf.

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[randyrheaume]

Good review. Earned my ThM at Dallas Theological Seminary 1981-85. At that time Wallace’s grammar was in its prototype form (which I still own), and it was required and drilled into us. I loved it! And when it was published, I snatched it up and have been using it with great profit ever since—even as I earned my PhD in NT and beyond. Outstanding resource! Maybe it’s just the Greek geek in me, but I thought the extra detail did us no harm and in the long run was very much worth the effort. God bless you and Dan Wallace!

[BiblicalStudiesandReviews]

His focus on syntax as a foundation for exegesis is quite helpful.

[SergioCastriCar]

I am using this one along with Köstenberger-Merkle-Plummer (KMP), and I think it's a great pair. KMP let me know the basics of the topic, while Wallace let me know the nuances of it. Yes, it is quite detailed, but it gives extra info that is actually useful.

[clairegen]

I purchased this grammar in my first year of trying to learn greek. The information was so 'overwhelming' it almost caused me to give up. Admittingly I am in my 60's beginning to learn, so remembering everything was not as easy as in my 20's. After using Basics of Biblical Greek by Bill Mounce I am now refreshing my study with Robert Plummers Beginning Greek, which I am thoroughly enjoying. His method of teaching is far less complicated.

[RGGifford]

I had to go through this entire book in seminary as well. I remember having to have the quick reference sheet around to remember all of the categories.

[augustinian]

Wallace…brings back memories. Got linked here from the video on the church fathers. Went through Wallace over the course of two semesters of Septuagint and New Testament Greek the same year I took the Patristic Greek course. It was a bit of a wild year, Greek-wise; also took two courses on classical Greek that year.

[gabrielhammons]

As someone who was required to read this book my second year of Greek I completely agree. Thanks for this breakdown. I thought I might be alone in this opinion.

[williamprice]

I purchased Wallace's book and read it cover to cover as a layman it helped alot. I know greek grammar better than english, hated English in school, but when learning the Bilble I knew I had to learn Greek to have at least a good enough understanding to read a critical text.

[danleyduncan]

I find it very helpful. It's loaded but very helpful

[Simdumise]

My professor had us read the abridged version for class and use this one as a reference for intermediate Greek. I also found Going Deep and Matthewson grammars easier reads. Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics has been great for my exegetical papers and when doing exegesis for expository preaching. Thanks for this great review.

[faithfulapologetics]

I have a copy but am just now moving through beginning Greek. Can’t wait to start using it 😀

[aaron]

I think we actually took the same 2nd-year Greek class together and I loved going through Wallace over the year. However, I'm a grammar nerd with prior experience in foreign languages, so the 'grammarese' was comfortable for me and I liked the detail. Also keep in mind that it is only in the past few years that better alternatives have become available that are geared specifically for intermediate level and tend to extract the best out of Wallace. I just had to dust my Wallace off for some advanced study in article usage and really enjoyed the deep dive he provides on articles.

[britaom]

I am entirely self-taught when it comes to Biblical Greek. After going thru Mounce's Basics of Biblical Greek and doing all of the exercises in the accompanying workbook, I purchased Wallace's Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics, as I kept hearing that it was a "must have" for intermediate, 2nd-year Greek.

I went through it, chapter by chapter, but some chapters I simply skimmed over, choosing to focus more on the chapters where my comprehension was still pretty weak. Yes, he BOMBARDS you with examples, but those were very helpful. I've also found myself going back to it a lot after having come across a particular biblical verse where I want to have a better understanding of different possible ways of understanding it, so I've used that scripture index at the back of the book quite often.

Overall, I got a LOT out of Wallace, and I wonder if, based on my own experience and watching this video, if it might be more ideal for autodidacts than for a classroom setting? I also purchased Wallace's DVD lectures for the book, which go through each chapter, giving more of an overview and discussion of each chapter, with just a few of the examples from each chapter thrown in. I found the lectures very helpful as well and complemented the book nicely.

[PracticalBibleStudies]

If you are learning on your own, this is a great grammar. I like that there are a series of books and flash cards associated with it that you can get as you progress. From beginner to intermediate to advanced.

[sethtbaguley]

Amen, Amen and Amen. I love Wallace and his grammar - it truly is phenomenal. However, I used it for 2nd year Greek and in hindsight it was lost on me, and any sense that it was helpful has proven false since then. I'm still not sure why grammars such as this are prioritised over "reading" in seminaries. If I did language analysis in any other language that I can't read relatively smoothly, it'd be absurd! - Why on earth we take this approach with Biblical Greek is beyond me.

MNTG student edition got me reading books of the NT and thanks to Darryl's hard work, I can actually make real use of Dan Wallace's hard work!

[Kayokak]

Darryl started saying words at the 3:35 time stamp. Can confirm, didn't understand it one bit.

[brainfocuslab]

Hi, I would like to hear your opinion on studying classical ancient greek texts in order to understand exegetically the singular words that appear in the biblical text (hapax) like 'antanapleroo' in colossians 1:24? If you can make a video on the classical texts that were contemporary with the pauline epistles it would be much appreciated. Thank you very much!

[lookandsee]

I had to read this at TMS Greek. Who was your professor in Greek at TMS?

[aadschram]

Hi, I`am looking for an online conjugator of ancient greek verbs.

[solarjudgement]

I'm an American, why do you call the "book" a "grammar"? Just curious =) thanks for the video brother.