DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to give the student a basic knowledge of the essential grammar of New Testament Greek as well as an introduction to morphology, syntax and other matters of intermediate grammar. It is an intensive course, the equivalent of three courses meeting in one quarter. It combines the deductive approach with an inductive study from the text of the New Testament.

COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who successfully complete this course should, with the use of various resources, be able to consult the Greek text as part of the exegetical (and ministerial!) task, and should be able to critically evaluate the theological and exegetical positions which purport to be based on some feature of the Greek text. Specific objectives include obtaining the ability to (1) read aloud in Greek; (2) identify the varied nouns and pronouns; (3) parse the "regular" verb forms; (4) recognize the "irregular" verb forms; (5) understand enough vocabulary and grammar to read a basic narrative text in the language, and in doing so, identify subjects, adjectives, direct and indirect objects, prepositional phrases, and adverbs; (6) use a lexicon to amplify understanding of words and to find words not known; (7) use a reference grammar to investigate difficult grammatical and syntactical issues; and (8) understand the challenges, purposes, and value of learning Greek.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: One of the elements in interpreting the text of the New Testament is understanding the language in which it was written. Being able to read, analyze and exegete the original languages of Christian Scripture will help students make wiser proclamations of God's good news.

COURSE FORMAT: The course meets three times each week for four-hour sessions.

REQUIRED READING:

Aland, K. et al. The Greek New Testament. 4th rev. ed. with dictionary. United Bible Societies, 1993.

Black, D. A. It's Still Greek to Me: An Easy-to-Understand Guide to Intermediate Greek. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998.

Mounce, William D. Basics of Biblical Greek: Grammar. 2d ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.

_________. Basics of Biblical Greek: Workbook. 2d ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.

Van Voorst, Robert E. Building Your New Testament Greek Vocabulary. 3d ed. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2001.

Danker, F. W. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3d ed. Based on Walter Bauer. . . . Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000 [BDAG].

Newman, Barclay M. A Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament. United Bible Societies, 1993. (Get this if the GNT above does not include dictionary.)

Wallace, Daniel B. Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996.

See also the Biblical Division bibliography "Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Program" available in the SOT Academic Advising office.