Journal: Conspectus
Volume: CONSPECTUS 36:1 (Oct 2023)
Article: Book Review: "The Rewards Of Learning Greek And Hebrew: Discovering The Richness Of The Bible In Its Original Languages"
Author: Anonymous

Conspectus 36:1 (October 2023) p. 105

Book Review: The Rewards Of Learning Greek And Hebrew: Discovering The Richness Of The Bible In Its Original Languages

McDowell, Catherine L., and Philip H. Towner. 2021. The Rewards of Learning Greek and Hebrew: Discovering the Richness of the Bible in its Original Languages. Peabody: Hendrickson Academic. xvii, 134 pp. ISBN: 978–1–68307–401–4. Approx. 195 ZAR (11 USD). Kindle.

Catherine L. McDowell is an Associate Professor of OT at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Charlotte, North Carolina). A classical Hebrew Lecturer with archeological field experience, and practical ministry involvement, McDowell has extensive publications on a variety of OT topics, including OT study notes for the ESV Archeological Study Bible (2019).

Philip H. Towner is a former Dean and Director of the Nida Institute for Biblical Scholarship at the American Bible Society (New York) and is currently a Professor of Translation Studies at Pontifical Urban University in Rome. He is a translation scholar with a particular focus on the Pastoral Epistles. His publications include contributions to the IVP New Testament Commentary Series (2010); the New International Commentary on the New Testament (2006); and the International Critical Commentary (A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles, 2004). Both authors are well experienced and qualified to speak authoritatively on their subjects of Hebrew within the OT context, and biblical Greek study respectively.

As the title suggests, the book’s primary purpose is to motivate the study of biblical Hebrew and Greek in order that Scripture may be better examined and understood. It is divided into two parts—the first being Hebrew (authored by McDowell) and the second Greek (authored by Towner). With catchy chapter titles such as “When God Uses Italics” and “A Preview of Coming Attractions,” and bite-sized chapter lengths, it makes for an easy read. One is drawn into exploring each chapter as its own contained lesson, which provides thought-provoking learning experiences. Strategically chosen Scriptures are used to explain key grammatical terms, but through the study, insight into those Scriptures is also given. This all engenders a desire to delve deeper into the study of God’s Word through the biblical languages.

The Hebrew section gives slightly more accessible learning points within the texts discussed than the Greek does, but that does not detract from the point being driven home; namely, that a reading knowledge of Hebrew and Greek is invaluable for good and intimate study of God’s Word. The authors are not reticent to interact with significant grammatical terminology such as inflection, anaphora, case, euphemisms, assonance, paronomasi...