Rating: 
Summary: A trusted Resource
Review: I purchased my second edition back in 1976 while a seminary student. Although I have not proved to be a Greek scholar, I have found The Greek New Testament a trusted resource and helpful aid in my studies, especially in the realm of apologetics. Especially helpful are the textual variants listed on the bottom of the page, and the ratings given to them by the editors. Whereas a Greek scholar would prefer to make his or her own judgments and to the veracity of the variants, as a country preacher whose Greek skills, though rusty, were never very good in the first place, I find them a helpful aid. In an age where seminaries are increasing dropping the Hebrew and Greek requirements for the study of the ministry, a working knowledge of Hebrew and Greek is still a valuable skill for the preacher of God's Word. Though I seldom use my Greek New Testament, it still gets pulled of the self every so often to check out controversial passage that I have to comment on. After almost thirty years, my Greek New Testament still have an honored place on my library shelf.
Rating:
Summary: A trusted Resource
Review: I purchased my second edition back in 1976 while a seminary student. Although I have not proved to be a Greek scholar, I have found The Greek New Testament a trusted resource and helpful aid in my studies, especially in the realm of apologetics. Especially helpful are the textual variants listed on the bottom of the page, and the ratings given to them by the editors. Whereas a Greek scholar would prefer to make his or her own judgments and to the veracity of the variants, as a country preacher whose Greek skills, though rusty, were never very good in the first place, I find them a helpful aid. In an age where seminaries are increasing dropping the Hebrew and Greek requirements for the study of the ministry, a working knowledge of Hebrew and Greek is still a valuable skill for the preacher of God's Word. Though I seldom use my Greek New Testament, it still gets pulled of the self every so often to check out controversial passage that I have to comment on. After almost thirty years, my Greek New Testament still have an honored place on my library shelf.
Rating:
Summary: Versions
Review: I'm not sure what happened with the person who got the Spanish version. The standard version of Nestle Aland "Novum Testamentum Graece" is German plus English. A German introduction, followed by an English introduction followed by the Greek. German, because the book comes from Germany, and English because most people speak English. Probably it is the UBS version "The Greek New Testament" that contains the dictionary, mine doesn't have that, which makes it nice and compact.
Rating:
Summary: The Critical Edition of the Greek New Testament
Review: Many seem to be confused about what a critical edition is. A critical edition contains multiple texts, derived from many different manuscripts. The main text is what the editors assume to be the most likely original text, but there is always the possibility that they are wrong. In many cases choosing the "best" version is easy: all the most ancient papyri and uncials agree. In other cases the editors use their subjective judgment to choose the text. No assumption of infallibility on the part of the editors is implied! Alternative texts from different manuscripts are given in the footnotes, together with symbols representing the manuscripts that support them. The symbols for the various manuscripts are given in the little card included in the book (it is beige in my 3rd edition of the UBS Greek New Testament, ISBN 348051109). One needs to understand how to use the critical apparatus of the footnotes in order to get all the information contained in a critical edition. Learning how to use the critical apparatus is difficult enough that entire books have been written on how to do it. For instance the Alands "The Text of The New Testament" (ISBN: 0802840981) is mostly a guide to the use of the modern critical editions. This is the most useful part of the book: the introduction to the rules of textual criticism is the weakest part. The UBS New Testament does not give as many different versions as Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece, but the footnotes are easier to understand. The variants chosen represent the oldest papyri and codices. What is the point of including variants from tenth century (or later) miniscules? There seems to be a school of "thought" that considers later manuscripts preferable to the early ones. It is obvious were this strange belief comes from: the need of propping up cherished but obsolete translations.
Rating: 
Summary: Frustratingly, 4th edition leaves you missing the 3rd
Review: Martin Luther said the following on the importance of the original languages: "Without languages we could not have received the gospel. Languages are the scabbard that contains the sword of the Spirit; they are the casket which contains the priceless jewels of antique thought; they are the vessel that holds the wine; and as the gospel says, they are the baskets in which the loaves and fishes are kept to feed the multitude." If the languages do not remain then the Gospel will perish! It is necessary to learn the original languages of the Old and New Testaments. This Fourth edition of the United Bible Societies' Greek New Testament is the tool, which pastors and students need to learn and maintain competency in Koine Greek. It is an excellent edition of the Greek New Testament, which allows for exegetical study of the New Testament. The introduction is a helpful foundation for using this text. It provides a brief overview of the manuscripts used, abbreviations, and a select bibliography for further research. The textual apparatus (stuff at the bottom of the page) is not as detailed as the NA27 (Nestle-Aland 27th edition), but it is generally enough for the beginning-intermediate student and the pastor. Variant readings, punctuation apparatus, and cross-references are all included in the apparatus at the bottom of the page. The Synoptic Gospels have parallel segments listed above each section and there are subject titles, which seek to divide the passage into various trains of thought. In the back there is an index of quotations, an index of allusions and verbal parallels, and a list of the principal manuscripts cited in the textual apparatus. There is also a map index provided for the color map displayed on the very last two pages. Make sure to buy the edition, which includes Barclay Newman's A Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament in the back. This dictionary can also be purchased separately but it is helpful to have at hand all in one book. Overall this is a good edition to keep close at hand. However it is a tool, which again is rendered ineffective unless it is used. May such tools provide the foundation for our understanding of the glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is his word to us. It is the message of hope and life - it is the wisdom of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May we seek to study it, to understand it, and to hide it in our hearts that we may glorify him.
Rating:
Summary: Pastor / Student Greek New Testament
Review: Martin Luther said the following on the importance of the original languages: "Without languages we could not have received the gospel. Languages are the scabbard that contains the sword of the Spirit; they are the casket which contains the priceless jewels of antique thought; they are the vessel that holds the wine; and as the gospel says, they are the baskets in which the loaves and fishes are kept to feed the multitude." If the languages do not remain then the Gospel will perish! It is necessary to learn the original languages of the Old and New Testaments. This Fourth edition of the United Bible Societies' Greek New Testament is the tool, which pastors and students need to learn and maintain competency in Koine Greek. It is an excellent edition of the Greek New Testament, which allows for exegetical study of the New Testament. The introduction is a helpful foundation for using this text. It provides a brief overview of the manuscripts used, abbreviations, and a select bibliography for further research. The textual apparatus (stuff at the bottom of the page) is not as detailed as the NA27 (Nestle-Aland 27th edition), but it is generally enough for the beginning-intermediate student and the pastor. Variant readings, punctuation apparatus, and cross-references are all included in the apparatus at the bottom of the page. The Synoptic Gospels have parallel segments listed above each section and there are subject titles, which seek to divide the passage into various trains of thought. In the back there is an index of quotations, an index of allusions and verbal parallels, and a list of the principal manuscripts cited in the textual apparatus. There is also a map index provided for the color map displayed on the very last two pages. Make sure to buy the edition, which includes Barclay Newman's A Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament in the back. This dictionary can also be purchased separately but it is helpful to have at hand all in one book. Overall this is a good edition to keep close at hand. However it is a tool, which again is rendered ineffective unless it is used. May such tools provide the foundation for our understanding of the glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is his word to us. It is the message of hope and life - it is the wisdom of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May we seek to study it, to understand it, and to hide it in our hearts that we may glorify him.
Rating:
Summary: Poor Greek text, but helpful for textual studies
Review: Personally, I much favor the Majority Text (MT) or even the "Textus Receptus" to the Critical Text (CT) found in this book. However, this volume is very helpful for its textual apparatus. Where there are significant variants, at the bottom of the page are notations indicating which manuscripts support the reading found in the text, along with the manuscript support for other readings. And these other readings are often found in the MT or TR. So this book is helpful for doing studies on textual variants. In fact, I utilized this book extensively when I was working on my book "Differences Between Bible Versions." My book has a chapter looking at textual variants between the MT and the CT and another looking at variants between the MT and the TR. And in these chapters I cite the manuscript evidence from this Greek Testament. However, the conclusions I come to are often different than the ones the editors of the text came to. One reason for this difference is our differing opinions as to whether the handful of Alexandrian or the mass of Byzantine manuscripts are more reliable. The editors of this volume believe the former are while I believe the latter are. I discuss my reasons for preferring Byzantine manuscripts in my book, along with other issues separating those who favor these different Greek texts. So I would recommend this "Greek Testament" for its textual apparatus. But before accepting its conclusions on variants, consult a book like mine for a different opinion.
Rating: 
Summary: not quite up to the mark
Review: The Aland edition of the Greek New Testament (intended for translators, they say) is wide off the mark. This does not apply to the text itself (it is the Nestle-Aland 27th ed., and it's the best we can have) but to the critical apparatus offered. First of all, very few textual variants are chosen (and arbitrarily so), so that you may miss important evidence even for some crucial points. Of course, of these few variants we are told how all the Coptic versions stand, and what Athanasius (remember him?) quoted about. If the variants are chosen haphazardly, what is the point of all this, specially for translators? The third edition had a most elegant, big greek typeface, a delight to the eyes. In the fourth one, we've lost even that.
So, stand by (or even switch to) the Nestle-Aland 27th ed., just in greek or bilingual. The apparatus, the introduction and the appendixes make it a truly scientific feat!
Rating: 
Summary: Important Variant Readings Missing
Review: The apparatus of this edition lacks all variant readings which are important for someone interested in stylistic problems. The codex Alexandrinus on which this edition is heavily based is very much an atticised version of the New Testament. However, there are many manuscripts that are written in a more koine style. Like all the UBS editions this edition underestimates the importance of philological research as has been done, for instance, by Sturz and other philogists. Of course, style has never been a preoccupation of students of christianity.
Rating:
Summary: The authoritative Greek text used by most Bible scholars.
Review: The authoritative Greek text used by most Bible translators, scholars, and seminaries is the Nestle-Aland text, which is used in the United Bible Society's Greek New Testament, 4th edition, as well as the Nestle-Aland 27th edition. These two editions use the same text, but have different approaches to listing the variant readings found in the manuscripts. For more reviews of Greek New Testaments, lexicons, grammars, etc. see "http://www.mindspring.com/~jwrobie/littleGreek.html".
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