The Greek Languages

Greek is one of the oldest member of the indo-European family of languages. Other members of this family are Sanskrit, which is older, and Latin and its descendants (the Romance Languages: French, Spanish, etc), which are younger. English is derived from the Teutonic branch and Russian from the Slavic branch of the Indo-European family. Hebrew is found in a totally different family--Semitic Language (Aramaic, Akkadian, Ugaritic, etc.).

The Greek Language has developed through five stages:

1.  Formative Period: This period extended from "Linear B" (ca 1200 BC) down through the time of Homer (ca 900 BC).

2.  Classical Period: The classical period was from the time of Homer down to Alexander the Great (330 BC). There were three dialects during the period (Doric, Aeolic, and Ionic). Attic, a branch of Ionic, became the predominant form in which most of the famous classical Greek authors wrote, such as Plato and Aristotle.

3.  The Koine Period: As Alexander spread the Greek language and culture through the ancient world many of the subtleties of classical Greek were lost. Greek was simplified and changed as it interfaced with other cultures. This common language Greek came to be known as Koine (common) Greek. It was the language used from 300 BC to 300 AD. It was in this language that the Septuagint (The Greek translation of Old Testament), the New Testament adn the writings of the early Church fathers were written. The nature of Koine eluded scholars because of its implicitly when compared to Classical Greek, which led some scholars to explain it as a "Holy Ghost" language created just for the Bible. After the Egyptian papyri, inscriptions, and ostraca were found, scholars realized that the New Testament was written in the common everyday language of the people of those times. At points in the New Testament will manifest Hebraisms where the influence of Hebrew and/or Aramaic may be seen.

4.  The Byzantine Period: During the Byzantine Period (A.D. 330-1453), Greek was spoken in the eastern half of the Roman empire which was centered in Constantinople.

5.  The Modern Period: The modern period dates from 1453 to present. Modern Greek is closer to Koine than it is to classical Greek.

(Dana & Mantey, PP. 1ff.; Mounce, pp. 1f.)