Do you want to read the Greek New Testament?
There are many different types of Greek New Testaments available, each with its own advantages.
Here's a list of options, and some advice based on my experience reading the New Testament with them.
This post is about printed editions, not digital ones. You can find digital copies of Greek New Testaments in a variety of editions, but I prefer to read it in printed form.
It is easier to retain what you learn if you read it on a physical page. For the same reason it is easier to find things when you think "I saw that yesterday....near the top of the left-hand page in Revelation somewhere...."
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Contents
The list is in ascending order of difficulty. In other words, how much Greek you need to know to use it effectively.
1. Interlinear Greek-English
3. Parallel Greek-English
4. Greek only
Interlinear Greek-English
An interlinear Bible will have the original text (Greek or Hebrew) with English translations next to each word (or sometimes phrase).
They also usually have Strong's numbers so you can look up the word in a concordance and get a definition.
When you use the Interlinear, you can see what every word in the text means. So you don't have to know the original languages at all, and you can see the original word order and the Greek (or Hebrew) idioms word-for-word.
Interlinear editions are good tools for Bible study, though if you only want to use it for study and not read the original text, I would recommend a digital version, such as Blue Letter Bible.
Reading the Greek with an Interlinear is a great way to begin learning Greek. It is also a good way to read difficult texts where many of the words are unfamiliar.
After a while it can feel like cheating, however.
It is too easy to look at the translation when you are trying to read the Greek (or the Hebrew if you read Hebrew.)
I use the Interlinear Hebrew/Greek/English Bible*.
One advantage of this one is you get both Testaments in one. And they have a running English literal translation down the side.
The text is rather small, so you might need a magnifier. But this edition is quite affordable, compared to many of its competitors.
A more recent edition by Bill Mounce is the Zondervan Greek and English Interlinear New Testament (KJV/NIV)*. This one has Mounce’s own formal equivalent translation as the interlinear English text, GK numbers for the Greek (similar to Strong's numbers, but a modern, revised numbering scheme), and both King James and NIV texts running in parallel columns.
Reader's Greek New Testament
Reader's editions* have footnotes for the less common words, so a learner can keep reading without going to the dictionary every few words.
The one I have* is based on the NIV. It has "glosses" - basically possible translations - for every word in the text that is used less than 30 times. And there is a glossary in the back of all the words used more than 30 times.
If you know some Greek already, this is a great choice. Even if you don't, it will make the task of learning Greek easier.
When I first got my copy, I loved it. It is a great way to just read the Greek New Testament without needing to stop and look up words all the time.
It was rewarding to be able to recognize the words without the footnotes, and even some with footnotes.
Over time, however, I found it more difficult to learn the words with footnotes. Maybe because my brain started labeling the words with footnotes as "hard", and therefore it didn't want to learn them. Or maybe because I didn't need to remember them because I could just look at the bottom of the page to check their meaning.
But the next stage is the reward of knowing most of the words with numbers on them and not needing to look at the footnotes.
Quite a few words are only used once or twice in the New Testament, and many words you supposedly know can appear in very different forms sometimes, so a Reader's Edition* is a good way to read the Greek New Testament even if you are an advanced learner.
And if you are REALLY serious, there is also a Reader's Edition of the United Bible Society's 5th edition Greek New Testament*
Parallel Greek-English
A Parallel Greek New Testament, like a Parallel English New Testament, puts 2 or more versions in parallel columns. So you have a translation in another column next to the Greek text.
The Parallel KJV New Testament* has the Textus Receptus, the Critical Text, the King James and a retranslated King James (based on the Critical Text). Four in one. A good way to compare the traditional and modern texts in both Greek and English.
Depending on how you use a Parallel edition, it can be easier or harder than the Reader's Greek New Testament editions.
If you don't look at the translation, then it functions as a Greek-only version.
If you look at the translation often, it can function rather like an Interlinear (where you are comparing each word with the translation, though in this case it is in a different order) or a Reader's Greek edition, where you are just checking the meaning of words you don't recognize.
I started learning Greek with a parallel edition and still really enjoy reading it. I just try not to look at the translation unless I am really stuck.
So a Parallel Greek New Testament can be a good way to start learning Greek, a way to "cheat" by looking at the translation, or a good way to challenge yourself. Up to you.
Greek-only New Testament
The most challenging option is of course the Greek-only New Testament*. They usually have English headings, like the ones used in English Bible translations, which let you know which passage you are reading.
A Greek-only New Testament can easily be used as a Parallel, simply by opening a translation. Although it won't be lined up in the same way, this is an easy way to check the meaning in any language, or in your preferred Bible translation.
Greek-only versions like the United Bible Society (UBS) edition* are commonly used and not too expensive. You might be able to find a used one.
They also include the "apparatus". When there are significant variants (which could affect the translation), there will be a footnote listing the variant readings and which manuscripts have them (using standard abbreviations which are listed in the front matter.)
I particularly enjoy reading the variants, because it usually shows how small the differences actually are. And how infrequently there is any significant disagreement.
If you prefer a different Greek original text, you can get the Byzantine Textform* (also known as the Majority Text) or the Textus Receptus*.
Do you want to learn Greek?
Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links*. If you purchase something after clicking on the link I will receive a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
