Student's Answer Guide: Complete Answers to J. Gresham Machen's New Testament Greek For Beginners

By Shawn Burton

This is a student's answer guide to all the exercises found in New Testament Greek For Beginners by J. Gresham Machen, updated on February 12, 2023. This entire text can also be found if you purchase the book New Testament Greek For Beginners - With Student's Answer Guide. The value of this separate book will be for those who already have the text and wish just an answer guide. Machen wrote the defining introductory Greek text that served students for the majority of the 20th century.  Today a number of texts are available to the Greek student.  However many who have been exposed to both Machen and some of the modern text will freely admit that Machen was and still is exceptional.  It if for good reason that his text was the standard for many decades.  Both this answer guide and the full book with answer guide serve to make this wonderful resource available to learners today.

Included in this text is both Machen's exercises and answers.  In many cases variants are included with occasional discussions on alternatives.  Also, reproduced at the end of the answer guide are the full set of paradigms that Machen includes in his text as well as the vocabularies.

 

ΚΑΤΑ ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΝ 24:35 Ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ παρελεύσονται, οἱ δὲ λόγοι μου οὐ μὴ παρέλθωσιν.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shawn Burton
• Release date: Mar 3, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224431892

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Lesson II: Answer Guide

I. Write the following verb forms with the accent, and then pronounce them:

1. ἐλύομεν, ἐλυόμην, ἐλύσω.

2. ἐλύου, ἔλυε, ἐλυσάμην.

3. δίδασκε, διδάσκονται, διδασκόμεθα

4. λῦε, λύου, λύουσι.

5. λῦσαι, λύσω, λύετε.

II. Accent the following forms of the nouns whose nominative singular is (1) ἀπόστολος, (2) κώμη, (3) πλοῖον:

1. ἀποστόλοις, ἀποστόλους, ἀποστόλου, ἀπόστολοι, ἀποστόλῳ.

[Note: As discussed in section §10, diphthongs are always long with two major exceptions; αι and οι when they occur as the final two letters of a word, they are considered short.  Thus in ὧραι the αι is short but in ὥραις the same letters αι are long because the are not the last two letters of the word.  Similarly, δοῦλοι and δούλοις.  The οι is short when they are the last two letters but if the ς or any other letters are added to the end, the diphthong becomes long. In this example ἀπόστολοι ends in οι which is short while all the other endings are long]

2. κώμαις, κῶμαι, κώμας, κώμῃ.

[the α in κώμας could be long or short, see section §3, but the ας ending is very common and the α is always long when it is followed by ς at the end of a word]

3. πλοῖα, πλοίων, πλοίοις, πλοίου, πλοίῳ, πλοῖον.

III. Are the following words accented correctly, so far as the general rules of accent are concerned? If not, tell in each case what rule (or rules) has been violated. Then accent each of the words in all the ways which the general rules of accent would permit.

1. ἔδιδομεν - No, general rule 1 requires an acute to be on one of the last three syllables. ἐδίδομεν is correct based on the rule of verb accent but ἐδιδόμεν or ἐδιδομέν would be allowed based on the general rules.

ὥραι - No, general rule 4 requires a long penult to have circumflex if the ultima is short. ὧραι is correct but ὡραί would also be allowed based on the general rules.

πρόφηταις - No, general rule 3 prohibits the antepenult from having an accent if the ultima is long.  If the penult is accented it must be an acute. προφήταις is correct. προφηταίς or προφηταῖς would also be allowed based on the general rules.

2. δόξῃ - Yes, this is correct. δοξῇ or δοξῄ would also be allowed based on the general rules.

ἐρῆμου - No, general rule 3b requires an acute over the penult if the ultima is long. ἐρήμου is correct although ἐρημοῦ and ἐρημού would be allowed based on the general rules.

οὖρανον - No, general rule 1 prohibits a circumflex on the antepenult. οὐρανόν is correct. οὐράνον would also be possible based on the general rules.

3. ἔρημος - Yes, this is correct. ἐρῆμος or ἐρημός would also be allowed based on the general rules.

βουλαί - Yes, this is correct. βοῦλαι would also be allowed based on the general rules.

λὺε - No, general rule 4 requires a circumflex if the penult is long and the ultima is short. λῦε is correct although λυέ would also be allowed. (The υ can be both long and short, see §3.  Words like λῦε will be learned later in the text, but in this case the υ is long.)

Lesson III: Answer Guide

I. (Greek to English )

1. βλέπεις, γινώσκεις, λαμβάνεις.

thou seest, thou knowest, thou takest.

2. γράφει, ἔχει, λέγει.

he/she writes, he/she has, he/she says.

3. λύει, διδάσκει, βλέπει.

he/she looses, he/she teaches, he/she sees.

4. λαμβάνομεν, ἔχομεν, γινώσκομεν.

we take, we have, we know.

5. βλέπετε, λέγετε, γράφετε.

ye see, ye say, ye write.

6. δάσκουσι, λαμβάνουσι, λύουσι.

they teach, they take, they loose.

7. γινώσκετε, γινώσκεις, γινώσκομεν.

ye know, thou knowest, we know.

8. βλέπομεν, διδάσκουσι, λέγει.

we see, they teach, he/she says.

9. ἔχεις, βλέπουσι, λαμβάνομεν.

thou hast, they see, we take.

II. (English to Greek)

1. We are knowing, we see, we are seeing.

γινώσκομεν, βλέπομεν, βλέπομεν.

2. They are loosing, they loose, he looses.

λύουσι, λύουσι, λύει.

3. He is loosing, ye have, thou knowest.

λύει, ἔχετε, γινώσκεις.

4. I am taking, we know, they say.

λαμβάνω, γινώσκομεν, λέγουσι.

5. He has, we are writing, they see.

ἔχει, γράφομεν, βλέπουσι.

Lesson IV: Answer Guide

I(Greek to English )

1. ἀδελφὸς βλέπει ἄνθρωπον.

A brother sees a person.

2. δοῦλος γράφει λόγους.

A servant writes words.

3. ἀπόστολοι διδάσκουσιν ἄνθρωπον.

Apostles teach a person.

4. ἀπόστολοι λύουσι δούλους.

Apostles loose servants.

5. δοῦλος λαμβάνει δῶρα.

A servant takes gifts.

6. λαμβάνουσιν υἱοὶ οἴκους.

Sons take houses.

7. δούλους καὶ οἴκους λαμβάνουσιν ἀδελφοί.

Brothers take servants and houses.

8. βλέπομεν ἱερὰ καὶ ἀποστόλους.

We see temples and apostles.

9. δούλους βλέπετε καὶ ἀδελφούς.

Ye see servants and brothers.

10. γράφεις λόγον ἀποστόλῳ.

Thou writest a word to an apostle.

11. διδάσκει ἄνθρωπον.

He/she teaches a person.

12. ἀδελφὸς λέγει λόγον ἀποστόλῳ.

A brother says a word to an apostle.

13. ἀδελφὸς ἀποστόλων γινώσκει νόμον.

A brother of apostles knows a law.

14. δοῦλοι γινώσκουσι νόμον καὶ λαμβάνουσι δῶρα.

Servants know a law and (they) take gifts.

15. γινώσκουσιν ἄνθρωποι θάνατον.

People know death.

16. λαμβάνομεν δῶρα καὶ ἔχομεν ἀδελφούς.

We take gifts and we have brothers.

17. ἀποστόλοις καὶ δούλοις λέγομεν λόγους θανάτου.

We say words of death to apostles and servants.

18. ἀδελφοὶ καὶ δοῦλοι γινώσκουσιν καὶ βλέπουσιν ἱερὰ καὶ δῶρα.

Brothers and servants know and see temples and gifts.

19. γράφει ἀπόστολος νόμον καὶ λέγει λόγους υἱοῖς δούλου.

An apostle writes a law and (he) says words to sons of a servant.

20. υἱοὶ ἀποστόλων λέγουσι λόγους καὶ λύουσι δούλους.

Sons of apostles say words and (they) loose servants.

II (English to Greek)

1. Α servant is writing a law.

δοῦλος γράφει νόμον.

2. A son sees words.

υἱὸς βλέπει λόγους.

3. Brothers are loosing servants.

ἀδελφοὶ λύουσι δούλους.

4. Sons take gifts.

υἱοὶ λαμβάνουσι δῶρα.

5. An apostle sees a servant and a gift.

ἀπόστολος βλέπει δοῦλον καὶ δῶρον.

6. Servants and sons are saying a word to a brother.

δοῦλοι καὶ υἱοὶ λέγουσι λόγον ἀδελφῷ.

7. We see gifts and servants.

βλέπομεν δῶρα καὶ δούλους.

8. Men see words and gifts of a brother and houses of apostles and sons.

ἄνθρωποι βλέπουσι λόγους καὶ δῶρα ἀδελφοῦ καὶ οἴκους ἀποστόλων καὶ υἱούς. (the final υἱούς is here put in the accusative which would mean it links back to the verb see as in Men see sons.  It is also possible for it to be genitive υἱῶν so that it means houses of sons.

9. Words and laws we write to brethren; a word of death we say to a servant.

λόγους καὶ νόμους γράφομεν ἀδελφοῖς· λόγον θανάτου λέγομεν δούλῳ.

10. A son is seeing temples and houses.

υἱὸς βλέπει ἱερὰ καὶ οἴκους.

11. Ye know death.

γινώσκετε θάνατον.

12. Thou takest an apostle’s gift (= a gift of an apostle).

λαμβάνεις δῶρον ἀποστόλου.

13. Thou art writing a brother’s word to a servant.

γράφεις λόγον ἀδελφοῦ δούλῳ.

14. I loose servants and say words to sons and brothers.

λύω δούλους καὶ λέγω λόγους υἱοῖς καὶ ἀδελφοῖς.

15. A son sees death.

υἱὸς βλέπει θάνατον.

16. They know laws and teach servants of an apostle.

γινώσκουσι νόμους καὶ διδάσκουσι δούλους ἀποστόλου.

Lesson V: Answer Guide

I(Greek to English )

1. ψυχὴ βλέπει ζωήν.

A soul sees life.

2. βασιλεία γινώσκει ἀλήθειαν.

A kingdom knows truth.

3. ἄνθρωπος γράφει ἐντολὰς καὶ νόμους.

A person writes commandments and laws.

4. ἀπόστολοι λαμβάνουσι δούλους καὶ δῶρα καὶ ἐκκλησίας.

Apostles take servants and gifts and churches.

5. ἀπόστολοι καὶ ἐκκλησίαι βλέπουσι ζωὴν καὶ θάνατον.

Apostles and churches see life and death.

6. υἱὸς δούλου λέγει παραβολὴν ἐκκλησίᾳ.

A servant’s son says a parable to a church.

7. παραβολὴν λέγομεν καὶ ἐντολὴν καὶ νόμον.

We say a parable and a commandment and a law.

8. βασιλείας γινώσκετε καὶ ἐκκλησίας.

Ye know kingdoms and churches.

9. ἐκκλησίαν διδάσκει ἀπόστολος καὶ βασιλείαν δοῦλος.

An apostle teaches a church and a slave (teaches) a kingdom. (the final δοῦλος is a nominative and seems to not have a verb associated with it. The verb διδάσκει is understood to be repeated as in the answer given.)

10. νόμον καὶ παραβολὴν γράφει ἄνθρωπος ἐκκλησίᾳ.

A person writes a law and a parable to a church.

11. καρδίαι ἀνθρώπων ἔχουσι ζωὴν καὶ εἰρήνην.

People’s hearts have life and peace.

12. φωνὴ ἀποστόλων διδάσκει ψυχὰς δούλων.

A voice of apostles teaches souls of servants. (Notice ἀποστόλων is plural while φωνὴ is singular)

13. ὥρα ἔχει δόξαν.

An hour has glory.

14. φωναὶ ἐκκλησιῶν διδάσκουσι βασιλείας καὶ ἀνθρώπους.

Voices of churches teach kingdoms and people.

15. βλέπεις δῶρα καὶ δόξαν.

Thou seest gifts and glory.

16. γράφει ἐκκλησίᾳ λόγον ζωῆς.

He/she writes a word of life to a church.

17. λέγει καρδίαις ἀνθρώπων παραβολὴν καὶ νόμον.

He/she says a parable and a law to people’s hearts.

18. γράφει ἐκκλησίᾳ υἱὸς ἀποστόλου.

An apostle’s son writes to a church.

II (English to Greek)

1. A kingdom takes glory.

βασιλεία λαμβάνει δόξαν.

2. Churches are saying parables to hearts of men.

ἐκκλησίαι λέγουσι παραβολὰς καρδίαις ἀνθρώπων.

3. A heart of a man is teaching an apostle, and a voice of an apostle is teaching a servant.

καρδὶα ἀνθρώπου διδάσκει ἀπόστολον, καὶ φωνὴ ἀποστόλου διδάσκει δοῦλον.

4. We have writings of apostles.

ἔχομεν γραφὰς ἀποστόλων.

5. Churches have peace and glory.

ἐκκλησίαι ἔχουσιν εἰρήνην καὶ δόξαν.

6. A day sees life and death.

ἡμέρα βλέπει ζωὴν καὶ θάνατον.

7. Apostles take temples and kingdoms.

ἀπόστολοι λαμβάνουσιν ἱερὰ καὶ βασιλείας.

8. We see houses and temples and churches.

βλέπομεν οἴκους καὶ ἱερὰ καὶ ἐκκλησίας.

9. A servant says a parable to hearts of men.

δοῦλος λέγει παραβολὴν καρδίαις ἀνθρώπων.

10. We know voices of churches and words of truth.

γινώσκομεν φωνὰς ἐκκλησιῶν καὶ λόγους ἀληθείας.

11. A voice of an apostle says a parable to souls of men.

φωνὴ ἀποστόλου λέγει παραβολὴν ψυχαῖς ἀνθρώπων.

Lesson VI: Answer Guide

I(Greek to English )

1. ἀγαθὴ ἡ ἐκκλησία καὶ ἡ βασιλεία κακή.

The church is good and the kingdom is bad.

2. ἡ κακὴ καρδία τῶν ἀνθρώπων γινώσκει θάνατον.

The bad heart of the people knows death.

3. οἱ ἀπόστολοι βλέπουσι τοὺς μικροὺς οἴκους καὶ τὰς κακὰς ὁδούς.

The apostles see the small houses and the bad roads.

4. οἱ δοῦλοι οἱ κακοὶ λύουσι[1] τὸν οἶκον τοῦ ἀποστόλου.

The bad servants destroy the apostle’s house.

5. οἱ κακοὶ λύουσι τὸ ἱερόν.

The bad people destroy the temple.

6. ὁ κύριος τῆς ζωῆς[2] ἐγείρει τοὺς νεκρούς.

The Lord of life raises the dead.

7. οἱ λόγοι τῆς ἀληθείας διδάσκουσι τοὺς ἄλλους ἀποστόλους.

The words of truth teach the other apostles.

8. οἱ δίκαιοι λαμβάνουσι τὰ δῶρα τοῦ κυρίου τὰ καλά.

The righteous take the good gifts of the Lord.

9. ὁ κακὸς βλέπει τὴν ἔρημον καὶ τοὺς ἐσχάτους οἴκους.

The bad one/man sees the desert and the last houses.

10. πρῶτοι οἱ δοῦλοι· ἔσχατοι οἱ κύριοι.

The servants are first; the lords are last.

11. τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τῇ μικρᾷ γράφει ὁ κύριος λόγον ἀγαθόν.

The Lord writes a good word to the small church.

12. τοὺς πιστοὺς βλέπει ὁ πιστός.

The faithful one/man sees the faithful people.

13. ἔσχατοι οἱ δοῦλοι οἱ κακοί· πρῶτοι οἱ υἱοὶ οἱ ἀγαθοί.

The bad servants are last; the good sons are first.

14. ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἐσχάτου ἀδελφοῦ βλέπει τὰς καλὰς ἐκκλησίας τοῦ κυρίου.

The son of the last brother sees the Lord’s good churches.

15. ἄλλην παραβολὴν λέγομεν τῂ κακῇ βασιλείᾳ.

We say another parable to the bad kingdom. (this use of the dative τῂ κακῇ βασιλείᾳ could also be translated ‘we say another parable about the bad kingdom’

16. πρώτη ἡ ἐκκλησία· ἐσχάτη ἡ ἄλλη βασιλεία.

The church is first; the other kingdom is last.

17. ταῖς πισταῖς λέγει ὁ κύριος παραβολὴν καλὴν καὶ τοῖς πιστοῖς.

The Lord says a good parable to the faithful women and to the faithful men.

18. ὁ ἀγαθὸς γράφει ἀγαθά· ὁ κακὸς κακά.

The good person writes good things; the bad person (writes) bad things. (Here ὁ ἀγαθὸς and ὁ κακὸς are masculine and so a translation of good man – bad man is more literal, however if the statement is genaric and not refering to a specific man but to any good or bad person the Greek would use masculine while the English translation should not be masculine specific – thus person has been used.

19. ἀγαθὸς ὁ δοῦλος καὶ λέγει καλά.

The servant is good and says good things.

20. ἡ ἀλήθεια πιστὴ καὶ ἡ ὥρα κακή.

The truth is faithful and the hour is bad.

II (English to Greek)

[Note: for this lesson both ἀγαθός and καλός mean good.  In the answers below καλός is used with ἀγαθός in parentheses.  Either would be correct.]

1. To the first church the Lord writes the first parable.

τῇ πρώτῃ ἐκκλησίᾳ ὁ κύριος γράφει τὴν πρώτην παραβολήν.

2. The good woman sees the ways of the desert.

ἡ καλὴ (ἀγαθὴ) βλέπει τὰς