Show me, then, that justice is good for its own sake. Show me that it's good even if the person who practices it suffers for the practice of it--even if the unjust prosper. Show me that it's a good and a true thing. - Plato's Republic
Language
History
The antecedents of Greek are obscure, appearing in Mycenaean and Minoan documents that use three different scripts: Minoan hieroglyphic (earliest), linear A, and linear B (latest). Linear B is considered "pre-Greek," written in a sylabic script found on clay tablets discovered on the island of Crete and on the Greek mainland (1400-1200 B.C.)
Mycenaean civilization and script ended suddenly with the Dorian invasions (1200 B.C.), and writing disappeared for several centuries. Around the 8th century B.C., Greek writing appeared in a different script based on an alphabet presumably borrowed from the Phoenicians then adapted to the Greek speech sound system and direction of writing. Greek was first written from right to left like West Semitic languages, then in a back-and-forth pattern, and finally left-to-right.
Several dialects appeared during the archaic period (8th-6th centuries B.C.): Dorian, Ionian, Achaean, and Aeolic.
During the classical period (5th-4th centuries B.C.), Greek culture reached its literary and artistic zenith/ Classical (or Attic) Greek was characterized by subtlety of syntax and expressive use of particles. As the city of Athens attained cultural and political control, the Attic dialect gained prestige. With the Macedonian conquests, Attic Greek, combined with influences from other dialects (especially Ionic), became the international language of the eastern Mediterranean area.
The conquests of Alexander the Great encouraged the spread of Greek language and culture. Regional dialects were replaced by "Hellenistic" or "koine" (common) Greek, adding many vernacular expressions to Attic Greek. Simplifying the grammar also better adapted it to a worldwide culture, becoming the common language of commerce and diplomacy. The transition from classic to koine also took away the elegance and finely shaded nuance of Greek but not the strength, beauty, clarity, and logical rhetorical power.
(The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 230-232)
Dialects
Classical or Attic, Hellenistic or Koine, Dorian, Ionian or Ionic, Achaean, Aeolic.
(The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 231)
Character
Greek is beautiful, rich, and harmonious. It is suitable for vigorous thought and religious devotion. During its classic period, Greek was the language of a great world culture. Language, literature, and art flourished more than war. The Greek mind was concerned with ideals of beauty, and the language reflects artistry in its philosophical dialogues, poetry, and stately orations. It was also characterized by strength and vigor. It was capable of variety and striking effects, suitable for argument with its vocabulary and style that could penetrate and clarify phenomena rather than simply tell stories. Classical Greek elaborately developed many forms from a few word roots. Its complex syntax allowed intricate word arrangements to express fine nuances of meaning.
(The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 230)
Biblical Greek
The Bible is written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.
(The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 217)
Aramaic was a common language of Palestine during Jesus' day. New Testament names reflect Aramaic (Bartholomew, Bar-jonah, Barnabas), Greek (Andrew, Philip), Latin (Mark), as well as Hebrew. Aramaic, Greek, and Hebrew were widely used. Latin was probably limited to military and governmental circles. Mishnaic Hebrew was also used, and Mishnaic Hebrew documents were found with the Dead Sea Scrolls.
(The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 227-229)
Paul wrote his letter to Christians in Rome in Greek rather than Latin. The Roman Empire of that time was culturally a Greek world, except for governmental transactions.
(The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Biblical Languages by Larry Walker. Page 232)
Greek Alphabet
- Α α alpha, άλφα
- Β β beta, βήτα
- Γ γ gamma, γάμμα
- Δ δ delta, δέλτα
- Ε ε epsilon, έψιλον
- Ζ ζ zeta, ζήτα
- Η η eta, ήτα
- Θ θ theta, θήτα
- Ι ι iota, ιώτα
- Κ κ kappa, κάππα
- Λ λ lambda, λάμδα
- Μ μ mu, μυ
- Ν ν nu, νυ
- Ξ ξ xi, ξι
- Ο ο omicron, όμικρον
- Π π pi, πι
- Ρ ρ rho, ρώ
- Σ σ/ς sigma, σίγμα
- Τ τ tau, ταυ
- Υ υ upsilon, ύψιλον
- Φ φ phi, φι
- Χ χ chi, χι
- Ψ ψ psi, ψι
- Ω ω omega, ωμέγα