Preface

Summary

At a time when the student of the New Testament is confronted by its urgent social and theological issues, he may be tempted to question whether the writing of a monograph on its grammar can be justified. During the dozen years of continuous pressure from pastorate and lecture room since beginning this research, I have often faced this question. My affirmative answer to it stems from a conviction that a thorough understanding of the language of the New Testament is the key to its message. I am especially indebted for this conviction to my first teacher of Greek, Dr Philip Scoyle, and to Matthew Black who, as professor of biblical criticism in the University of St Andrews, suggested the topic and supervised the dissertation from which this book has grown. He inspired me by the suggestion that it could someday appear in print. I am grateful to Drs A.J.M. Wedderburn and Nigel Turner for reading the dissertation and offering valuable suggestions. Sympathetic scrutiny of my work by Professor R.McL. Wilson, Dr Margaret Thrall, and Professor G.N. Stanton of the Society for New Testament Studies accompanied its acceptance for publication in the Monograph Series. Their suggestions, along with those of the sub-editor appointed by the Cambridge University Press, have led to remarkable improvements which I appreciate. Thanks are due to the Seventh-day Adventist Church of the British Isles for making adjustments to my pastoral duties in order to accommodate my research.