The idea behind the alphabet - that language with all its wealth of meaning can be recorded with a few meaningless signs - is an extraordinary one. So extraordinary, in fact, that it has occurred only once in human history: in Egypt about 4000 years ago. Alpha Beta follows the emergence of the western alphabet as it evolved into its present form, contributing vital elements to our sense of identity along the way. The Israelites used it to define their God, the Greeks to capture their myths, the Romans to display their power. And today, it seems on the verge of yet another expansion through the internet. Tracking the alphabet as it leaps from culture to culture, John Man weaves discoveries, mysteries and controversies into a story of fundamental historical significance.

If you’d love to learn Greek so you can study your Bible better, then this newly revised second edition of Greek for the Rest of Us is foryou. Developed by renowned Greek teacher William Mounce, this revolutionarycrash-course on “Greek for the rest of us” will acquaint you with the essentials of the language and deepen your understanding of God’s Word. You’ll gain a sound knowledge of Greek, and you’ll learn how to use tools that will add muscle to your Bible studies. This book is divided into three major sections (Foundational Greek, Church Greek, and Functional Greek), each of which builds on the previous section and takes you to the next level. Depending on which levels you take, the book will teach you how to: Read and pronounce Greek words Learn the fundamentals of the Greek noun and verb system Conduct effective Greek word studies Learn the basics of Greek exegesis for biblical interpretation Decipher why translations are different Read better commentaries Be comfortable using reverse and traditional interlinears Understand the information displayed by biblical software