Tom Vidal in GK101 Introduction to Biblical Greek

A year ago — Edited

I missed Tommar Franklin’s post from earlier this year, but made the same discovery after submitting my translation of John 1:1-18. I just finished the course last weekend. I started and stopped many times, but made a commitment to myself to get it done. I’m so glad that i did. It took me 10-1/2 hours or so to do the translation but I loved every minute. Here is what I wrote to the certificate people (including my very rough translation). I also welcome any feedback. By the way, I also worked through Mounce’s book, which was a helpful supplement. —- —- —- Ladies and Gentlemen: I completed the Greek 101 (Foundational Study Bundle) and was informed that I could earn a certificate of completion by translating the first 18 verses of the Gospel of John. It is not clear what format you need the translation in; so, I am just pasting i here. If you need it in another format (or need to have me “show my work,” e.g., parsings) let me know and I will gladly provide it. This was such a fun translation assignment, but it was a ton of work. My goodness. I struggled the most with John 1:15. That seemingly simple verse took me about three hours and forced me to read about 6 critical commentaries. Before taking this course, I never touched the critical commentaries because I didn’t understand a word of them. Now, I found myself actually “getting it.” I know I’m just at the beginning of my journey with Greek but I’m in tears as I write this because I’ve dreamt for so long of being able to read the New Testament in Greek. Logos made that possible. Thank you so much. —- —- —- TRANSLATION —- —- —- Pericope: John 1:1-18  Greek Source: Scrivener 1881 My translation: 1.     In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God. 2.     This one was in the beginning with God. 3.     Everything was created through him, and without him nothing was created which was created. 4.     In Him was life and the life was the light of men. 5.     And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it. 6.     came into existence a man sent from God whose name is John 7.     This man came for a witness in order that he could bear witness concerning the light In order that through him everyone would believe. 8.     Not that he was the light, but in order to bear witness to the light, 9.     the true light that lights all men coming into the world 10.  He was in the world and the world through Him was created and the world did not know Him 11.  He came into his own, and His own did not receive Him. 12.  Now, as many as received Him, gave He them the power to become children of God to those who believed in his name, 13.  who were created, not from blood and not from the will of flesh and not from the will of man, but of God 14.  And the word became flesh, and dwelt to us (and we beheld the glory of him, the glory as of the father’s only begotten (lit. one and only) son) full of grace and truth. 15.  John bears witness concerning Him and had cried out saying this was Him of whom I spoke, he that is coming after me came into being before me, for he was before me. 16.  And from his fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17.  For the law given through Moses, the grace and the truth, came into being through Jesus Christ. 18.  Nobody has seen God at any time, the only begotten son being in the bosom of the father, expounded him. —- —- —- END TRANSLATION —- —- —- I am so grateful to have been able to take this course and am glad Logos created it. Now on to the summer Greek reader before I start on intermediate Greek. Thanks John Schwandt. I wanted to say one of the thing. One of the things I love the most about your videos, was that you almost always would say something like enjoy studying these participles, or enjoy learning these second aorist indicative middle/passive forms. You didn’t just teach Greek, you taught us to enjoy Greek. I appreciate that. I can’t believe that I translated 18 verses of the gospel of John. I’m pinching myself.