Fall 2008/Pasadena
LG512
Litwak
LG512: BEGINNING GREEK. Kenneth D. Litwak.
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.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the end of this course, a student should be able to do
the following: (1) Read aloud in the language. (2) Identify the varied
nouns and pronouns of the language. (3) Parse the "regular" verb forms in the
language. (4) Recognize the "irregular" verb forms in the language.
(5) Understand enough grammar to read a basic narrative text in the
language. (6) Identify subjects, adjectives, direct and indirect objects,
prepositional phrases, and adverbs, when reading a text. (7) Use a lexicon to
amplify his/her understanding of words and to find words he/she does not know.
(8) Use a reference grammar to investigate grammatical and syntactical issues
that he/she does not understand. (9) Understand the challenges, purposes, and
value of learning New Testament 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. 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.
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.
United Bible Societies, 1993.
- Or Aland, B. The Greek New Testament (UBS4)
with Greek-English Dictionary, Looseleaf edition. Deutsche Bibelstiftung.
Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishing, 2007.
- Or Nestle, E., and K. Aland. Novum Testamentum Graece. 27th
ed. Deutsche Bibelstiftung, 1993.
- 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].
- Kubo, S. A Reader's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament.
Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975.
- Mounce, William D. Basics of Biblical Greek: Grammar. Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 1993.
- _________. Basics of Biblical Greek: Workbook. Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 1993.
- _________. Biblical Greek. (Laminated Sheet). Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 2005.
- 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.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Black, D. A. It's Still Greek to Me: An Easy-to-Understand Guide
to Intermediate Greek. Baker, 1998.
- 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 on class
participation (10%), daily quizzes and homework (60%), and two tests and one
final exam (30%).
PREREQUISITES: Good standing. No audits.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Fulfills 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. (7/08)