Module description
This module will provide students with a grammatical foundation in New Testament Greek. It will enable students to understand some grammatical elements of Koine Greek, and to read and translate selected biblical passages.
Assessment details
2-hrs unseen written exam (100%)
Alternative assessment for semester 1 only study abroad students: 4,000 word essay in lieu of exam (100%)
Educational aims & objectives
- To provide a grammatical foundation in either Biblical Hebrew or Koine Greek for the study of either the Hebrew Bible or the Greek New Testament.
- To enable students to understand some essential grammatical elements of either Biblical Hebrew or Koine Greek
- To enable students to read and translate, with assistance, selected biblical passages.
- To equip students with a foundational understanding of either Biblical Hebrew or Koine Greek so that they may advance to further study of the language.
Learning outcomes
Generic
- Demonstrate language-learning skills, especially skills related to learning an ancient language
- Develop skills in reading and translating primary texts written in an ancient language
- Develop and apply skills in interpretation of primary texts
- Develop an ability to engage critically with scholarship
- Confidently articulate ideas in written form
- Participate with confidence in classroom discussion
Module-specific
- Demonstrate an understanding of core elements of either Biblical Hebrew or Koine Greek
- Build a vocabulary of Biblical Hebrew or New Testament Greek words
- Read and translate (into good modern English) selected Hebrew Bible or New Testament texts in their original language
- Recognise problems and complexities in translating meaning from ancient language to modern English
- Analyse Hebrew or Greek words and grammatical structures
- Begin to develop skills in the interpretation of either New Testament texts in Greek or Biblical texts in Hebrew
- Engage with appropriate secondary literature
Teaching pattern
3 x 1-hour seminars weekly over 10 weeks
Suggested reading list
Jeremy Duff, The Elements of New Testament Greek, 3rd edition, CUP, 2005