Fall 2013/Pasadena
LG517
Kiefer
LG517: GREEK READING. David Kiefer.
DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to help students develop and improve their ability to read and translate extended passages in the Greek New Testament with facility. Emphasis will be on vocabulary development; rapid recognition of Greek word forms, grammatical structures, and sentence patterns; and on development of good reading habits and strategies.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: One of the most basic 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 be able to make extensive use of the Greek text, with limited dependence on supportive tools, as part of the exegetical task.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students successfully completing this course will have demonstrated to the ability to (1) identify all the relevant categories (i.e., to parse) all regular forms and most of the irregular but frequent forms of the articles, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and verbs that occur in the Greek New Testament; (2) provide the most common meanings of about 700 words that occur most frequently in the Greek NT; (3) recognize the patterns of Greek word formation and put this to use in vocabulary development and reading; (4) understand and recognize the basic grammatical structures, sentence patterns, and styles of Koine Greek sentences as found in the Greek NT; and (5) read and translate extended passages throughout the New Testament with minimal use of reference tools.
COURSE FORMAT: The course will meet twice each week for two-hour sessions. The first class meeting of each week will be devoted to translation and discussion of a passage of Greek text for which students have prepared in advance. The second class meeting of each week will be devoted to translation and discussion of an unprepared passage. In this exercise the instructor will work with the students to help them develop sight-reading skills at the very time of their encounter with an unfamiliar text.
REQUIRED READING:
Aland, K., et al. The Greek New Testament. 4th ed. American Bible Society, 2000 [UBS4]. ISBN: 978-3438051103, Pub. Price $43.99; OR Nestle, E., and K. Aland. Novum Testamentum Graece. 28th ed. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2012 [NA28]. ISBN 978-3438051400, Pub. Price $45.99. Nestle, E., and K. Aland. Novum Testamentum Graece. 27th ed. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1998 [NA27] ISBN: 978-3438051004, Pub. Price $40.99 is also allowed.
Burer, M., and Miller, J. A New Reader’s Lexicon of the Greek New Testament. Kregel, 2008. ISBN: 978-0825420092, Pub. Price $34.99.
Robinson, Thomas A. Mastering New Testament Greek. Hendrickson, 2007. ISBN: 978-1565635760, Pub. Price $19.95.
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
RECOMMENDED READING: Other resources which may be of value in the use of the Greek New Testament or the development of Greek language skills will be recommended during the course.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: Each week’s assignment consists of preparation of a passage for the following week and rereading of the passages discussed in class the previous two weeks. In addition, vocabulary and grammar assignments will be given each week. Grades will be based on:
Reading notes (10%).
Reading in class (40%).
Quizzes (10%).
FINAL examination (40%).
PREREQUISITES: A basic working knowledge of Greek as evidenced by successful completion of LG512 Beginning Greek or similar full beginning Greek course or by a satisfactory score on the Greek Waiver Examination. No audits.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes. The final examination will consist mainly of translation, with questions about forms and grammar, of both familiar and unfamiliar passages.