Fall 2005/Pasadena
LG512A
Land
LG512A: BEGINNING GREEK. Darin Land.
DESCRIPTION: This course is the first of a three-course series 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. Students registering for this course should plan to
continue with parts B and C of the series, held in the Winter and Spring
quarters respectively. The courses combine the deductive approach with an
inductive study from the text of the New Testament.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have
demonstrated their ability (1) to read aloud in the language; (2) generally to
identify the varied nouns and pronouns of the language; (3) generally to
identify subjects, adjectives, direct and indirect objects, prepositional
phrases, and adverbs, when they read a text; (4) to use a lexicon to amplify
their understanding of words and to find words they do not know.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: One of the elements in interpreting the text of the
New Testament is understanding the language in which it was written. Students
who successfully complete the three courses 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 theological and
exegetical positions that purport to be based on some feature of the Greek
text.
COURSE FORMAT: The course meets two times each week for two-hour sessions.
REQUIRED READING:
- Either Nestle, E., and K. Aland. Novum Testamentum
Graece. 27th ed. Updated 8th printing. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelstiftung,
2001 [Nestle-Aland].
- Or Aland, K., et al. The Greek New
Testament. 4th rev. ed. United Bible Societies, 1993 (either with or
without dictionary bound in back).
- Kubo, S. A Reader's Greek-English Lexicon of the New
Testament. Zondervan, 1975.
- Mounce, William D. Basics of Biblical Greek: Grammar. 2d ed.
Zondervan, 2003.
- _________. Basics of Biblical Greek: Workbook. 2d ed. Zondervan,
2003.
- See also the Biblical Division bibliography "Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Program" available in the
SOT Academic Advising office.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Black, D. A. It's Still Greek to Me: An Easy-to-Understand Guide
to Intermediate Greek. Baker, 1998.
- Danker, F. W. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other
Early Christian Literature. 3d ed. Based on Walter
Bauer. . . . University of Chicago Press, 2000 [BDAG].
- Fee, Gordon D. New Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and
Pastors. 3d ed. Westminster John Knox, 2002.
- Van Voorst, Robert E. Building Your New Testament Greek Vocabulary.
3d ed. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2001.
- Wallace, D. B. Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of
the New Testament. Zondervan, 1996.
ASSIGNMENTS: Each student is expected to be present at all class sessions with
assigned lessons fully prepared. The course grade is based daily quizzes and
homework, as well as periodic tests and one final exam.
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.