Assessment

Percentage contribution for learners who maintain an average of 70% in their formative assessments: Formative Exercises 100% / Percentage contribution for learners who do not maintain an average of 70% in their formative assessments: Formative Exercises 20% + Exam 80%

Module Aims

This module aims to introduce learners to the study of Biblical Greek, in order to enhance the understanding of Scripture, especially the New Testament. The course introduces the socio-linguistic background of Koine Greek, the Greek writing system, the typical word classes of Biblical Greek, major elements of Biblical Greek morphology and syntax, and the vocabulary of key words needed for translating simple Biblical Greek texts. To illustrate use of the language, one or two biblical passages are read in Greek, in addition to sentences from the assigned grammar book.

Indicative Syllabus

1. Greek Alphabet, breathings, diphthongs, iota subscripts, punctuation.
2. The Verb: Active Voice and Middle Voice Active Voice: Model Verbs λυω and φιλεω. Middle Voice/Deponent Verbs: Model Verb ῥυοµαι. Indicative Mood: Present, Future, Imperfect, Aorist Tenses. Other Moods: Imperative, Infinitive, Participle.
3. Compound Verbs
4. The Noun First Declension (feminine): Model noun ἀρχη (as well as variants δοξα and ἡµερα). Second Declension (masculine and neuter): Model nouns λογος and ἐργον. All cases, singular and plural: Nominative, (Vocative), Accusative, Genitive, Dative.
5. Biblical Greek vocabulary, morphology, and syntax. Note: the vocabulary found in Chapters 1–11 of Jeremy Duff, The Elements of New Testament Greek (see below) is considered indicative for the final examination.
6. The Definite Article: ὁ ἡ το.
7. Questions and Negatives.
8. Third Person Pronoun: αὐτος αὐτη αὐτον.
9. Common Prepositions: With one case: ἐις, προς, ἀπο, ἐκ, ἐνωπιον, ἐξω, ἑως, προ, ἐν, συν. With two cases: δια, κατα, μετα, περι, ὑπερ. With three cases: παρα, ἐπι.
10. Adjectives: attributive and predicative.
11. Translation of short texts from the New Testament.

Learning Outcomes

• — Translate a core vocabulary of key words in Biblical Greek, and also explain the basic elements of Biblical Greek morphology and syntax.
• — Articulate some major features of Greek grammar and indicate their impact on how major Biblical Greek texts are to be interpreted.
• — Translate a few basic Biblical Greek verses, and also apply Greek grammatical rules to conjugate other verbs and decline other nouns of a similar pattern.
• — Through a close attention to common Greek words, parse their grammatical form.
• — Demonstrate some discernment regarding diverse translations of key Greek words in modern biblical versions.

Bibliography

• — Jeremy Duff. The Elements of New Testament Greek. 3rd ed. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005).
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