Translate the Bible With Me (TBWM) is a guided approach to reading the New Testament in Greek. These pages document my full translation work through entire books of the New Testament—along with the grammatical reasoning, diagrams, and field notes that shaped each decision. TBWM is organized into reading sequences that move from shorter, simpler texts to longer and more syntactically demanding ones
Where TBWM is headed
Johannine Epistles → Ephesians → Colossians
III John ✓ | II John ✓ | I John → In Progress
Ephesians → Next | Colossians → Early Summer
Current TBWM
We are presently working in 1 John with TBWM pages posting regularly: Translate I John with me.
Completed & Available
- Translate III John with me →
- Translate II John with me →
These books are fully available, including Greek text, grammatical diagrams, Syntax Sense notes, discourse analysis, and reader exercises.
Pipeline & Curriculum
Ephesians – Coming Next (launching 3/1/2026)
A sustained, verse-by-verse engagement with one of the New Testament’s most theologically rich and structurally complex letters.
Ephesians demands careful attention to long sentences, layered clauses, and tightly connected theological claims. TBWM will move through the letter in sequence, using grammatical diagramming and discourse analysis to surface how Paul’s argument develops across the whole work.
Full TBWM treatment will include Greek text, notebook-style diagrams, and field notes designed to help readers follow Paul’s reasoning with clarity and restraint.
Colossians — Following Ephesians
Often called the “Christ letter,” Colossians emphasizes that Jesus Christ is all-sufficient, divine, and supreme over all creation and the church with an intense but deeply pastoral tone. Because Ephesians and Colossians share significant thematic and verbal overlaps, they are often called “twin epistles.” Over 25% of Ephesians’ content is paralleled in Colossians making it an ideal follow-up once readers have built confidence in sustained Greek reading.
New to TBWM? Start Here
Translate the Bible With Me (TBWM) is a guided practice in reading extended portions of the New Testament in Greek, focused on structure, judgment, and careful attention to the text.
TBWM can be used in several different ways depending on your goals—translation practice, teaching, or guided reading.
Recommended Sequence: Study Like We’re in Class
This sequence builds naturally, letting the texts themselves set the pace and difficulty:
- Johannine Epistles (III → II → I John). Short, relational, and conceptually tight. These letters are ideal for learning to slow down, track grammar carefully, and follow theological argument without being overwhelmed. Start with III John — a focused 14-verse warm-up.
- Ephesians. Expands the scope: longer sentences, heavier discourse structure, and sustained theological reasoning. A natural next step once you’re comfortable reading whole letters.
- Colossians. Builds on prior skills while emphasizing dense argumentation, Christological precision, and discourse-driven exhortation.
Start small. Go deep. Take the time the text demands.
Tools & Reference
- Diagramming Guide → [How to read (and make) the notebook sketches]
- Pronunciation Guides → [Hear key words before reading] (under development)
- TBWM Index → [grammar, discourse, diagrams]
What Greek Text Do We Use?
I work primarily from F. H. A. Scrivener’s Greek New Testament (see why here).
If you prefer to work from a different critical text, that’s completely fine. TBWM is designed to support discussion and comparison—especially where textual choices affect translation decisions.
What Tools and Resources Do I Use?
As much as possible, I work from an “Island scenario”: my Greek notebook, BDAG, Smyth, and Wallace. This forces me to determine whether I actually understand the text, rather than relying on software to think for me.
Only after that initial work do I turn to digital tools to:
- check my conclusions
- see what I might have missed
- compare alternate analyses
If you’re curious, you can explore the full list here: My Greek Resources Library →
Why Devote This Much Energy to Reading the NT in Greek?
Reading the New Testament in Greek is not about proving translators wrong. Our English Bibles are trustworthy and carefully produced.
The value of reading Greek lies elsewhere:
- in seeing structure, emphasis, and connection that are often invisible in translation;
- in following an author’s argument as it develops;
- and in learning to let the text speak before rushing to conclusions.
- Many people learn enough Greek to use tools effectively—and that’s a worthwhile goal. But after investing the time it takes to learn Greek, many discover they want something more: the ability to actually read the text with care and confidence.
Systematically translating extended portions of Scripture does exactly that. It sharpens morphology, deepens vocabulary, forces attention to syntax, and trains judgment in how ancient Greek moves into modern English.
For many readers, this work becomes deeply absorbing—not because it is easy, but because it rewards sustained attention. Few experiences match the quiet satisfaction of following a passage in Greek and realizing you are no longer decoding it, but reading it.