Fall 2013-Spring 2014/Pasadena
LG512A/B/C
Kiefer
LG512A/B/C: BEGINNING GREEK. David E. Kiefer.
DESCRIPTION: This three-quarter series of courses is designed to give students a foundational knowledge of the forms and syntax of New Testament (Koine) Greek. Students registering for LG512A must plan to continue with parts B and C of the series, held in the Winter and Spring quarters respectively. This course combines both a deductive approach to learning with inductive study directly from the text of the New Testament.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Understanding the original language of the New Testament is one of the most basic elements in interpreting the meaning of its various texts. Upon completion of this three-part course, you should be equipped, with the help of certain tools, to read and translate the Greek text of the New Testament and to consult the Greek text as part of the exegetical task.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of all three quarters of this course, you will (1) be able to identify all the relevant categories (i.e., to parse) 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; (2) know the most common meanings of about 350 words that occur most frequently in the Greek NT, and be able to use a lexicon to find words you do not already know; (3) understand and be able to discuss the basic grammatical structures of Koine Greek sentences as found in the Greek NT; (4) be able to use all of this to read and translate typical passages throughout the New Testament with minimal use of reference tools; (5) be able to use major references (grammatical and lexical) to explore and investigate words and structures more fully; and (6) understand the challenges, purpose, and value of learning to work with the New Testament in Greek.
COURSE FORMAT: The course meets twice each week for two-hour sessions.
REQUIRED READING:
Kiefer, David E. First Things First: A Prioritized Introduction to Reading and Understanding the New Testament in Greek. No ISBN; available only from the Fuller Bookstore. Price $45.00.
Aland, K.; M. Black; C. Martini; B. Metzger; and A. Wikgren, eds. The Greek New Testament, with Dictionary. 4th rev. ed., 15th printing including revised dictionary. Deutsche Bibelgeselleschaft, 2010. ISBN: 978-3438051370, Pub. Price $69.99.
LG512C: Burer, M., and Miller, J. A New Reader’s Lexicon of the Greek New Testament. Kregel, 2008. ISBN: 978-0825420092, Pub. Price $34.99 (Electronic version also available, ISBN: 978-0825493447, Pub. Price $30.99). For Spring Quarter only
RECOMMENDED READING:
Recommendations will be made during the third quarter of the course.
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.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: Daily reading, exercises, and quizzes on vocabulary, syntax, and translation. Students are expected to be present at all class sessions with assignments completed. This course normally requires a minimum of eight hours per week outside of class (two hours for each class hour) spent in studying the textbook lessons, learning Greek vocabulary and forms, and doing translation exercises. In the third quarter, more than half of the time will be spent translating selections (usually entire chapters) throughout the New Testament. Your grade will be based on your attendance and participation and the 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.