Reading Biblical Greek Part 2: Essential Vocabulary & Word Recognition

Introduction

Now that you can read Greek letters, let’s build your vocabulary with the most common words in the New Testament. We’ll learn to recognize different types of words and start understanding how they work together.

Learning Objectives

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• Learn 25 high-frequency New Testament words
• Recognize basic word types (nouns, verbs, articles)
• Identify word patterns and families
• Begin reading simple Greek phrases

Most Common New Testament Words

Essential Nouns

θεός (theos) – God
κύριος (kurios) – Lord
ἄνθρωπος (anthropos) – man/person
λόγος (logos) – word
ἡμέρα (hemera) – day

Common Verbs

εἰμί (eimi) – I am
λέγω (lego) – I say/speak
ἔχω (echo) – I have
ποιέω (poieo) – I make/do
γίνομαι (ginomai) – I become

Articles (Like English “the”)

ὁ – the (masculine)
ἡ – the (feminine)
τό – the (neuter)

Connecting Words

καί (kai) – and
δέ (de) – but/and
γάρ (gar) – for/because
οὖν (oun) – therefore
ἐν (en) – in

Important Pronouns

ἐγώ (ego) – I
σύ (su) – you
αὐτός (autos) – he/she/it
ἡμεῖς (hemeis) – we
ὑμεῖς (humeis) – you (plural)

Word Recognition Tips

1. Look for Patterns

• Many Greek words share common beginnings or endings
• Example: λόγος (word), λέγω (speak), λαλέω (talk) all relate to speech/words

2. Article Clues

• Articles help identify nouns
• Example: ὁ θεός (the God), ὁ λόγος (the word)
• Articles match their nouns (we’ll learn more about this later)

3. Word Families

Example Family: Love

• ἀγάπη (agape) – love (noun)
• ἀγαπάω (agapao) – to love (verb)
• ἀγαπητός (agapetos) – beloved (adjective)

Practice Phrases

1. ὁ θεὸς ἀγάπη ἐστίν
   (ho theos agape estin)
   “God is love” (1 John 4:8)
2. ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος
   (en arche en ho logos)
   “In the beginning was the Word” (John 1:1)
3. κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν
   (kurios ho theos hemon)
   “The Lord our God”

Reading Strategy: The Three-Step Process

1. Spot Known Words

• Look for words you recognize
• Circle articles (ὁ, ἡ, τό)
• Underline familiar vocabulary

1. Find Connections

• Look for connecting words (καί, δέ, γάρ)
• Notice word patterns
• Identify repeated words

1. Build Meaning

• Start with known words
• Use context clues
• Look up key unknown words

Practice Exercises

1. Word Spotting
   Find these words in John 1:1-5:

• θεός
• λόγος
• ἦν (was)
• καί

1. Pattern Recognition
   Group these words by pattern:

• λόγος, λέγω, λαλέω
• θεός, θεῖος, θεότης
• ἀγάπη, ἀγαπάω, ἀγαπητός

1. Simple Translation
   Practice with these phrases:

• ὁ θεὸς ἀγαπᾷ
• λέγω τὸν λόγον
• κύριος καὶ θεός

Homework

1. Vocabulary Practice

• Create flashcards for the 25 common words
• Practice writing each word 5 times
• Record yourself pronouncing each word

1. Reading Practice

• Read John 1:1-5 aloud
• Circle every article you find
• Underline words you recognize

1. Word Family Exercise

• Find 3 related words in your Greek New Testament
• Write them down and note their connections

Study Tips

• Review Part 1 alphabet daily
• Practice reading aloud
• Group similar words together
• Use flashcards or apps for vocabulary
• Read a few verses each day, looking for familiar words

Next Steps

In Part 3, we’ll explore basic grammar patterns and learn how words change their forms to show different meanings.

Additional Resources

• Paul’s Handkerchief Bible Search
• Daily Greek vocabulary apps
• Online flashcard systems

Remember: Focus on recognition rather than memorization. The goal is to start seeing patterns and understanding how words relate to each other.

Part 3: Part 3: Basic Grammar Patterns