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. The course combines the deductive approach with an inductive study from the text of the New Testament.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will (1) be able to read aloud in the language; (2) be able to identify the various forms of the language; (3) have command of a basic vocabulary; (4) be able to use the standard exegetical tools in dealing with the original language; (5) be able to translate basic texts in the original language.

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 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 critically to evaluate theological and exegetical positions that purport to be based on some feature of the Greek text.

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

REQUIRED READING:

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].

Either Nestle, E., and K. Aland. Novum Testamentum Graece. 27th ed. Updated 8th printing. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelstiftung, 2001 (either with or without dictionary bound in back).

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 Programs" available at http://www.fuller.edu/sot/ecds/084/Ling-Exeg-Biblio.html.

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

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.