Fall 2012-Spring
2013/Pasadena
LG512A/B/C
Kiefer
LG512A/B/C: BEGINNING GREEK. David E. Kiefer.
DESCRIPTION: This three-quarter series of courses is designed to give students
a foundational knowledge of the forms and syntax of New Testament (Koine)
Greek. Students registering for LG512A must plan to continue with parts B and C
of the series, held in the Winter and Spring quarters respectively. This course
combines both a deductive approach to learning with inductive study directly
from the text of the New Testament.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Understanding the original language of the
New Testament is one of the most basic elements in interpreting the meaning of
its various texts. Upon completion of this three-part course, you should be
equipped, with the help of certain tools, to read and translate the Greek text
of the New Testament and to consult the Greek text as part of the exegetical
task.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of all three quarters of this
course, you will (a) be able to identify all the relevant categories
(i.e., to parse) most regular forms and many of the irregular but frequent
forms of the articles, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and verbs that occur in the
Greek New Testament; (b) know the most common meanings of about 350 words
that occur most frequently in the Greek NT, and be able to use a lexicon to
find words you do not already know; (c) understand and be able to discuss
the basic grammatical structures of Koine Greek sentences as found in the Greek
NT; (d) be able to use all of this to read and translate typical passages
throughout the New Testament with minimal use of reference tools; (e) be
able to use major references (grammatical and lexical) to explore and
investigate words and structures more fully; and (f) understand the challenges,
purpose, and value of learning to work with the New Testament in Greek.
COURSE FORMAT: The course meets two evenings each week for two-hour sessions.
REQUIRED READING:
Kiefer, David E. First Things First: A Prioritized Introduction to Reading and Understanding the New Testament in Greek. No ISBN; available only from the Fuller Bookstore. Price: $44.00
Aland, K.; M. Black; C. Martini; B. Metzger; and A. Wikgren, eds. The Greek New Testament, with Dictionary. 4th rev. ed. with 2nd Revised Edition Greek-English Dictionary. United Bible Societies, 1993. ISBN: 978-3438051370. Pub. Price: $69.95.
LG512C (Spring Quarter): Burer, M., and Miller, J. A New Reader's Lexicon of the Greek New Testament. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-8254-2009-2. $34.99 (Electronic version also available, ISBN: 978-0-8254-9344-7, $30.99).
RECOMMENDED TEXTS
Recommendations will be made during the third quarter of the course.
See the Biblical Division bibliography "Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Programs" available at http://schedule.fuller.edu/sot/ecds/Ling-Exeg-Biblio.html.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: Daily reading, exercises, and quizzes on
vocabulary, syntax, and translation. Students are expected to be present at all
class sessions with assignments completed. This course normally requires a
minimum of eight hours per week outside of class (two hours for each class
hour) spent in studying the textbook lessons, learning Greek vocabulary and
forms, and doing translation exercises. In the third quarter, more than half of
the time will be spent translating selections (usually entire chapters)
throughout the New Testament. The final examination will represent 80% of the
grade each quarter. The remaining 20% of the grade is based on your attendance
and participation and my professional judgement regarding your understanding of
and ability to use the material we cover.
PREREQUISITES: None. No audits.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: The completed three-quarter sequence LG512A/B/C
meets the MDiv core requirement in Greek (GRK).
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to
modification. (September 2012)