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LG 1200 Greek
INTRODUCTION TO GREEK GRAMMAR 
READING BIBLICAL TEXTS
Fall Semester 2000

GRADING OPTION (see Catalog p. 67): If a letter grade and/or written evaluation is desired for the course, you are to notify the instructor within the first two weeks of the term.

COURSE DESCRIPTION 

An Introduction to Greek grammar and syntax. Reading and analysis of selected New Testament texts explores the nature of translation and its relations to interpretation. Help is given in effective us of resources such as grammars, lexicons, concordances, parsing guides, and interlinears. Mastery of basic vocabulary is stressed. (Catalog, p. 72)

OBJECTIVES

• Introduction to basic Greek grammar and syntax. 
• Careful work in original language with New Testament texts selected for their central importance. · 
• Ability to relate issues of interpretation to the interrelationship of syntax and meaning. · 
• Sensitivity to the implications of the contextuality of language and meaning in reading biblical texts · 
• Facility in the use of resources for work with biblical texts in the original language: lexicons, concordances, parsing guides, interlinears,etc.

PART I: INTRODUCTION TO BASIC GRAMMAR - 

The first portion of the course focuses on the introduction to Greek grammar and syntax provided by the introductory text,. It then progresses to application of this basic grammar to the reading of the text of the First Epistle of John. Progress is monitored by periodic take-home Worksheets and Review Quizzes as outlined in the Course Schedule.

Students are also responsible for the mastery of a basic New Testament Greek vocabulary consisting of those words that occur 50 or more times in the NT. Mastery will be encouraged and monitored in two ways. In Part I of the course, there will be a series of 8 weekly quizzes over a portion of the vocabulary that roughly parallels the work in the introductory text. In Part II of the course, there will be a summary vocabulary quiz over the entire list. See course Schedule.

REQUIRED TEXTS FOR PART I

Clarence Hale and James Boyce, Let's Study Greek with exercises 
James Boyce, Grammar Notes for New Testament Greek Both available through Luther Seminary Duplicating Services (Ground Floor, Gullixson Hall)

Nestle-Aland, Novum Testamentum Graece, 27th ed. LS Book Store

Recommended: (available through seminary book store) 

"Greek Tutor" multi-media CD Rom (Parsons Technology) 
Logos Bible Software (on computers in Luther Seminary computer LABs)

Internet Resources: 

Resources for English Grammar from the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL) 
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/  See especially "Resources for Writers" > "Handouts"

"Resources for Learning New Testament Greek" by Corey Keating
Main Web Site: http://www.ntgreek.org
Table of Contents: http://www.ntgreek.org/table_of_contents.htm
Menu: http://www.ntgreek.org/index.html or  http://www.ntgreek.org/learn_nt_greek/grkindex.htm
Grammars: http://www.ntgreek.org/books/grambook.htm
References: http://www.ntgreek.org/books/refbook.htm

Greek NT Related Web Sites, by Dr. Mark Goodacre, University of Birmingham
Good resource & links; also check out home page for NT studies in general) http://www.ntgateway.com/greek.htm

Mounce Biblical Greek Web site: http://www.teknia.com

PART II: READING NEW TESTAMENT TEXTS.

This portion of the course develops proficiency in the application of grammar and syntax to the analysis and reading of selected NT texts. It fosters introductory skills in the use of lexical tools and in the practice of textual criticism, and introduces some of the range of resources that are available for study of the biblical text in the original language.

In this second portion of the course, each student will be responsible for assigned work in the following areas:

A. Grammar
A portion of class sessions will be devoted to continuing increase in facility in grammar and syntax through reading and translation of biblical texts following the outline on the Course Schedule. The primary class resource for this review will be Boyce, Grammar Notes. Further resources: the introductory text Let's Study Greek (check the index), any standard introduction to New Testament Greek, the resources listed below, and/or Internet Resources listed above.

GN=Boyce, Grammar Notes; DM=Dana,Mantey, Manual Grammar; BD=Blass, Debrunner, Greek Grammar; N=H.P.V. Nunn, Short Syntax; K=Kubo, Reader's Lexicon; G=J. Harold Greenlee, A Concise Exegetical Grammar

Syntax of Verbs:

Syntax of Adjectives and Cases:

B. Reading and Translation

Each student will be expected to prepare and translate the following passages for daily class sessions as assigned (Total, approximately 180 verses)

C. Vocabulary     oiJ lovgoi (words)

Each student will be expected to demonstrate mastery of the same basic New Testament Greek vocabulary worked on during Part I of the course through a summary examination over these approximately 300 words. A score of at least 80% will be necessary to satisfy this area of proficiency. See Course Schedule

D. Lexicon, Concordance, and other Tools     hJ levxi" (usage, ways of speaking)

Some class lecture time and written assignments will focus on increasing familiarity with the scope and use of various tools for study of the Greek text: in particular exercises introducing the use of the Bauer, Gingrich, Danker Lexicon (Parts I and II) and the use of a Greek Concordance. Use of these tools for scriptural study will be also be addressed in general class discussion. See Course Schedule due dates.

E. Textual Criticism      aiJ ceirografaiv (manuscripts)

Several class periods will be given to introduction and exercises in the practice of textual criticism. Attention will be given to issues of the manuscript tradition on which the Greek text of the NT is based and the issues raised by the practice of reconstruction of a textual basis for translation and interpretation.  In connection with this exercise students are to complete the following:

1.         READ: Bruce M. Metzger, The Text of the New Testament p. 207-246

            OR the following online introduction at:  http://www.skypoint.com/~waltzmn/intro.html (13 pgs.)

            OR also check other links at http://www.ntgateway.com/textcrit.htm

            SKIM THROUGH: Nestle-Aland, Novum Testamentum Graece, Introduction

2.         Introduction to and examples of the practice of textual analysis will be given in a class presentation. See Course

            Schedule. For this presentation online, see http://www.luthersem.edu/jboyce/TextCrit/

3.         Textual Criticism Assignment. See Course Schedule for due date.

            Examine the textual situation of Mark 1:1-3. Focus on the two variations -- "son of God" and "in Isaiah the prophet," and make a list of the various options and their manuscript support, and evaluate them as to "external" and "internal" considerations following the process outlined in class lecture. We will evaluate these variations together considering what difference they make in the reading and understanding the text.

4.         Study handout "Explanation of Signs"  There will be a brief take-home quiz over these signs, specifically the sections: "Critical Signs in the Text" and "Manuscript Witness Information." See Course Schedule.

F. Examinations     aiJ pei'rai (tests, experiments)

In Part II, there will be two take-home examinations, each covering assigned reading in Mark and Luke and focusing on ability to explain grammatical constructions in the Greek text, to translate into sensible English, and to make use of grammatical and lexical tools for analysis and explanation of the biblical text. These will be distributed in class and due according to the dates noted on the Course Schedule.

The final examination will consist of a take-home exercise of translation and interpretation (see "Sample") to be distributed on Monday, December 4, and to be completed by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 15.

G. Recommended Background Reading.

The following articles on the character of "Koine" or New Testament Greek are recommended as background reading: (Both available in Library Reading Room)

                        E.C. Colwell,"Greek Language," Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, Vol.II., pp. 479‑487. or

                        Lane C. McGaughy, "Greek, New Testament," Harper's Bible Dictionary, 359-361.

H. Required Texts for Part II

Bauer, Walter.Greek‑English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. ed. by Arndt, Gingrich, Danker. 2^nd/3^rd ed (as available)

Boyce, James. "Grammar Notes for New Testament Greek." Xeroxed.

Nestle,E. and Aland, K. Novum Testamentum Graece.

Kohlenberger, John, et al. Exhaustive Concordance to the Greek New Testament

I. Recommended Resources (also see handout-"Lexical and Grammatical Tools")

Aland, K.,Concordance to the Novum Testamentum Graece.

Alsop, John R., An Index to the Revised Bauer‑Arndt Gingrich Greek Lexicon

Blass, F. and Debrunner, A. A Greek Grammar of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature.

Dana, H.E. and Mantey, Julius. A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament.

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, & Neva F. Miller. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.

Greenlee, J. Harold, A Concise Exegetical Grammar of New Testament Greek

Kohlenberger, John, Goodrick, Swanson, The Greek English Concordance to the New Testament (NIV)

Kubo, Sakae. A Reader's Greek‑English Lexicon of the New Testament.

Louw, J.P. and Nida, E.A. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains

Metzger, B.M. Lexical Aids for Students of New Testament Greek.

Mounce, William D., The Analytical Lexicon to the Greek New Testament

Moulton and Geden. Concordance to the Greek New Testament.

Mueller, Walter, Grammatical Aids for Students of New Testament Greek

Nunn, H.P.V. A Short Syntax of New Testament Greek.

Rogers, Cleon, Jr & Cleon Rogers III. The New Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament.

Zerwick, M. Grammar of New Testament Greek.

Zerwick, M. and M. Grosvenor. A Grammatical Analysis of the Greek New Testament.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Section B - Boyce