A Journaling Greek New Testament?
08/01/2006 02:08 Filed in: Faith & Reason
Yesterday, I mentioned a great price on wide-margin NLT's and briefly touched on the value of a wide-margin Bible for personal note-taking. I still plan to write a more in-depth blog entry about wide-margin Bibles sometime in the near future.
In the comments from yesterday's post William Turner asked some very good questions relating to original language texts, especially the availability of wide-margin Greek and Hebrew texts. As I began answering him in the comments, I decided that others might be interested as well, and perhaps some of you could even help me answer his questions. I'll place William's questions and comments in bold and my answers will follow.
Do you know of anything like this for Greek or Hebrew? I know that UBS has A Reader's Greek New Testament but the paper is thin, the margins aren't really wide and there is vocab stuffed at the bottom. I guess what I am looking for it a Journaling GNT. I do have a really old (pre 20th century) two volume Hebrew Bible that has a blank page and then a text page, etc. So you always have one blank page to write notes. I am unaware of anything for Greek.
First, a word about A Reader's Greek New Testament: This Greek New Testament is actually from Zondervan, not United Bible Societies (UBS) and represents the Greek text underlying the New International Version (and perhaps the TNIV?). According to its introduction, it differs "from the standard text at 231 places" (p. 10). I have never taken the time to compare these differences from the Nestle-Aland (NA) text, but I can't imagine they would be of great significance. However, it is significant that we now have an alternative Greek text (besides something like Farstad's Majority Text NT) to the commonly used USB or NA texts (which are identical). Of course, if we think there is confusion now with so much choice in Bible translations, I wonder what it will be like if we begin to have a number of competing Greek texts? Over the years I've heard concerns as to what will happen to future editions of the standard Greek text once Bruce Metzger passes away and it is controlled by less conservative hands. Will we then start to see competing evangelical Greek New Testaments? It's an intriguing thought, but personally I hope not. It's regrettable that we can't agree on a standard translation anymore (yes, I find that regrettable, believe it or not), but I really don't want a multiplicity of original language texts, too.
Having said all that, I have a copy of A Reader's Greek New Testament and I carry it in my book bag to church on Sundays. Since it includes the vocabulary of all words that occur 30 times or less, it's quite handy for quick reference. I don't teach from it, but I use it to occasionally satisfy my own curiosity during the pastor's sermon or answer a question when I am teaching Sunday School. But, you're right, William; it does not really have enough space to take notes. And the text itself is in italics (like the UBS4), and in my opinion, that makes it harder to read. Nevertheless, it's good for what it does.
Now, to specifically answer your question... What I really recommend and like to use myself are the large print versions of the NA27 (ISBN 3438051036) and BHS (ISBN 3438052180). It seems that when the average person goes to buy an original language text for the first time, he or she is usually steered to one of the hand-size editions. In fact, these are the only editions most stores carry (if they carry such things at all).
The large print NA27 has about a half inch margin at the page's edge and a full inch at the bottom. There's even more room at the page's edge for texts that aren't over-burdened by cross-references. Plus there's just enough room between the lines of the Greek text that I can make tight notes above or below particular words. I've even known those who have taken one of these editions and written in the definitions of all words that occur ten times or less in the Greek text. There's enough room on the page that you could realistically do this.
The large print BHS (technically the standard size, actually) carries the same height and width dimensions as the large print NA27, but obviously much thicker. But because the are the same size, they nicely stand beside each other on a bookshelf. The BHS does not have margins as generous as the NA27, but there is still plenty of room to make notes between lines of text (if you can write small), and of course in poetic writings there's ample space. Although I might use pens and even dry highlighters in translations, I tend to only use a pencil for notes in my Greek and Hebrew texts. A sharpened lead or a mechanical pencil is perfect for fitting notes in tight places.
Incidentally, I have seen one professor who had both of these large print editions professionally bound together, like the hand-size Biblia Sacra, but it makes for too thick of a book in my opinion to recommend that.
Having said all that, there actually used to be a true wide-margin Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament. Basically, it was printed from the plates of the standard hand-size edition, but on the same-sized paper found in the large print. I'm almost positive this edition is no longer in print, and I've never seen anything more recent than the 26th edition of the NA in wide-margin anyway. While the margins weren't as wide as something like the ESV Journaling Bible, there was still plenty of room for lots of notations. Such things are the stuff of legends, but I've heard it told that decades ago when John Polhill was studying for his doctoral comprehensive final in Greek, he took a wide-margin Greek New Testament, and worked through all 27 NT books rendering his translation in the margins in just a few short months.
Perhaps someone reading this can provide an ISBN for the wide-margin NA26 or provide information about a newer edition if there is one in print. There are a variety of Greek texts available, but the descriptions at the ABS website are scant.
I made up a three column version with WORD for Rev. 1 in Greek, but it is a hassle to make. I am going to try it out in translating and see how it works. I have a smaller column on the left for notes on words then the middle column is the actual Greek text and then I have a third column for the actual translation.
When you translate do you have a specific method? That would be a good blog post by the way - I at least would be very interested in others translating habits.
I've often toyed around with the idea of making my own Greek New Testament and having it professionally bound. I have access to the entire Greek text in software and my laser printer features duplex printing capabilities, so while it would be time-consuming to set up, I certainly have the tools necessary. I'm certain that reproducing that much of the text would probably fall outside copyright limitations, but since it would be only for my own personal use, I could probably live with the guilt
William, I like your three-column layout and have used similar methods. I'll be honest that most of the time now when I translate for my own purposes, I simply use my Greek New Testament and a notebook. Nothing very fancy at all, but I do like to use a notebook because I want to keep what I've done. I know some guys swear by the need for diagramming--and I've done it before--but I'm too lazy to do it every time I translate (and frankly I don't feel I need to).
Now, when I was preparing translations for classes, I finally settled into a system similar to your three-column method. I would copy the text from a program like Accordance and then dump it into my word processor. I always liked to work with my page in landscape. I would create about an inch or more between every line of text and then leave about a three inch margin on the right. After printing it out, the space between my lines of text was enough room (using sharp lead or a mechanical pencil) to include parsing information and my own gloss. Then I would use the margin on the right to smooth out my final translation. Here's a link to an Adobe PDF file that shows Colossians 1-2 prepared in this format: Col 1-2
Sometimes I still make translation sheets like this when I'm doing serious work. My methods have never been too elaborate. I'd be interested in hearing from others as to their translation methods. I read somewhere that if you translate about 22 verses a day, you will translate the entire Greek NT in a year's time. I don't actually have time to translate that many verses everyday (I'm not yet fast enough!), but a while back I decided to try to do about ten verses a day. I figured this was a good way to stay fresh (since I'm no longer taking classes) and build my vocabulary at the same time. Granted, there are days I miss altogether, but it would be nice to translate completely through in say, three years.
What do some of you do? How do you keep your Greek (and/or Hebrew) fresh? Do you have translation goals? If so, what are they?
Also please post in the comments if you know of a particular wide-margin Greek or Hebrew text, or tell us if you have made your own text.
In the comments from yesterday's post William Turner asked some very good questions relating to original language texts, especially the availability of wide-margin Greek and Hebrew texts. As I began answering him in the comments, I decided that others might be interested as well, and perhaps some of you could even help me answer his questions. I'll place William's questions and comments in bold and my answers will follow.
Do you know of anything like this for Greek or Hebrew? I know that UBS has A Reader's Greek New Testament but the paper is thin, the margins aren't really wide and there is vocab stuffed at the bottom. I guess what I am looking for it a Journaling GNT. I do have a really old (pre 20th century) two volume Hebrew Bible that has a blank page and then a text page, etc. So you always have one blank page to write notes. I am unaware of anything for Greek.
First, a word about A Reader's Greek New Testament: This Greek New Testament is actually from Zondervan, not United Bible Societies (UBS) and represents the Greek text underlying the New International Version (and perhaps the TNIV?). According to its introduction, it differs "from the standard text at 231 places" (p. 10). I have never taken the time to compare these differences from the Nestle-Aland (NA) text, but I can't imagine they would be of great significance. However, it is significant that we now have an alternative Greek text (besides something like Farstad's Majority Text NT) to the commonly used USB or NA texts (which are identical). Of course, if we think there is confusion now with so much choice in Bible translations, I wonder what it will be like if we begin to have a number of competing Greek texts? Over the years I've heard concerns as to what will happen to future editions of the standard Greek text once Bruce Metzger passes away and it is controlled by less conservative hands. Will we then start to see competing evangelical Greek New Testaments? It's an intriguing thought, but personally I hope not. It's regrettable that we can't agree on a standard translation anymore (yes, I find that regrettable, believe it or not), but I really don't want a multiplicity of original language texts, too.
Having said all that, I have a copy of A Reader's Greek New Testament and I carry it in my book bag to church on Sundays. Since it includes the vocabulary of all words that occur 30 times or less, it's quite handy for quick reference. I don't teach from it, but I use it to occasionally satisfy my own curiosity during the pastor's sermon or answer a question when I am teaching Sunday School. But, you're right, William; it does not really have enough space to take notes. And the text itself is in italics (like the UBS4), and in my opinion, that makes it harder to read. Nevertheless, it's good for what it does.
Now, to specifically answer your question... What I really recommend and like to use myself are the large print versions of the NA27 (ISBN 3438051036) and BHS (ISBN 3438052180). It seems that when the average person goes to buy an original language text for the first time, he or she is usually steered to one of the hand-size editions. In fact, these are the only editions most stores carry (if they carry such things at all).
The large print NA27 has about a half inch margin at the page's edge and a full inch at the bottom. There's even more room at the page's edge for texts that aren't over-burdened by cross-references. Plus there's just enough room between the lines of the Greek text that I can make tight notes above or below particular words. I've even known those who have taken one of these editions and written in the definitions of all words that occur ten times or less in the Greek text. There's enough room on the page that you could realistically do this.
The large print BHS (technically the standard size, actually) carries the same height and width dimensions as the large print NA27, but obviously much thicker. But because the are the same size, they nicely stand beside each other on a bookshelf. The BHS does not have margins as generous as the NA27, but there is still plenty of room to make notes between lines of text (if you can write small), and of course in poetic writings there's ample space. Although I might use pens and even dry highlighters in translations, I tend to only use a pencil for notes in my Greek and Hebrew texts. A sharpened lead or a mechanical pencil is perfect for fitting notes in tight places.
Incidentally, I have seen one professor who had both of these large print editions professionally bound together, like the hand-size Biblia Sacra, but it makes for too thick of a book in my opinion to recommend that.
Having said all that, there actually used to be a true wide-margin Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament. Basically, it was printed from the plates of the standard hand-size edition, but on the same-sized paper found in the large print. I'm almost positive this edition is no longer in print, and I've never seen anything more recent than the 26th edition of the NA in wide-margin anyway. While the margins weren't as wide as something like the ESV Journaling Bible, there was still plenty of room for lots of notations. Such things are the stuff of legends, but I've heard it told that decades ago when John Polhill was studying for his doctoral comprehensive final in Greek, he took a wide-margin Greek New Testament, and worked through all 27 NT books rendering his translation in the margins in just a few short months.
Perhaps someone reading this can provide an ISBN for the wide-margin NA26 or provide information about a newer edition if there is one in print. There are a variety of Greek texts available, but the descriptions at the ABS website are scant.
I made up a three column version with WORD for Rev. 1 in Greek, but it is a hassle to make. I am going to try it out in translating and see how it works. I have a smaller column on the left for notes on words then the middle column is the actual Greek text and then I have a third column for the actual translation.
When you translate do you have a specific method? That would be a good blog post by the way - I at least would be very interested in others translating habits.
I've often toyed around with the idea of making my own Greek New Testament and having it professionally bound. I have access to the entire Greek text in software and my laser printer features duplex printing capabilities, so while it would be time-consuming to set up, I certainly have the tools necessary. I'm certain that reproducing that much of the text would probably fall outside copyright limitations, but since it would be only for my own personal use, I could probably live with the guilt
William, I like your three-column layout and have used similar methods. I'll be honest that most of the time now when I translate for my own purposes, I simply use my Greek New Testament and a notebook. Nothing very fancy at all, but I do like to use a notebook because I want to keep what I've done. I know some guys swear by the need for diagramming--and I've done it before--but I'm too lazy to do it every time I translate (and frankly I don't feel I need to).
Now, when I was preparing translations for classes, I finally settled into a system similar to your three-column method. I would copy the text from a program like Accordance and then dump it into my word processor. I always liked to work with my page in landscape. I would create about an inch or more between every line of text and then leave about a three inch margin on the right. After printing it out, the space between my lines of text was enough room (using sharp lead or a mechanical pencil) to include parsing information and my own gloss. Then I would use the margin on the right to smooth out my final translation. Here's a link to an Adobe PDF file that shows Colossians 1-2 prepared in this format: Col 1-2
Sometimes I still make translation sheets like this when I'm doing serious work. My methods have never been too elaborate. I'd be interested in hearing from others as to their translation methods. I read somewhere that if you translate about 22 verses a day, you will translate the entire Greek NT in a year's time. I don't actually have time to translate that many verses everyday (I'm not yet fast enough!), but a while back I decided to try to do about ten verses a day. I figured this was a good way to stay fresh (since I'm no longer taking classes) and build my vocabulary at the same time. Granted, there are days I miss altogether, but it would be nice to translate completely through in say, three years.
What do some of you do? How do you keep your Greek (and/or Hebrew) fresh? Do you have translation goals? If so, what are they?
Also please post in the comments if you know of a particular wide-margin Greek or Hebrew text, or tell us if you have made your own text.