DESCRIPTION: This course is the first section of a three-quarter sequence designed to give students a foundational knowledge of the essential grammar of New Testament (Koine) Greek, including an introduction to morphology, syntax, and other matters of beginning Greek grammar. Students registering for this course must plan to continue with parts B and C of the series, held in the Winter and Spring quarters respectively.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: A working knowledge of the original language of the New Testament will equip students with tools for informed interpretation of the Bible. 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 task, which in turn will enhance their own study of the Bible, teaching, and sermon preparation.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students successfully completing this course will have demonstrated the ability to (1) read aloud in Greek and to write legibly in its standard script; (2) comprehend basic vocabulary; (3) identify (i.e., to parse) various forms of the language including 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; (4) understand and explain basic Greek grammar and syntax; (5) use standard exegetical tools in translating and analyzing the original language; (6) translate basic texts in the original language.

COURSE FORMAT: The class meets twice each week for two-hour sessions.

REQUIRED READING:

Your choice of one of the following Greek New Testaments:

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

Nestle, E., and K. Aland. Novum Testamentum Graece (Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament). 27th ed. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelstiftung, 1993.

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

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

________. Basics of Biblical Greek: Workbook. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.

See also the Biblical Division bibliography "Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Programs" available at http://documents.fuller.edu/sot/ecds/094/Ling-Exeg-Biblio.html.

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. 3rd ed. Society of Biblical Literature, 2001.

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