Biblical Greek (two semesters)

Transcription

1 Biblical Greek (two semesters) Instructor: Dr. Bill Mounce TA: Ed Taylor Class meetings: Internet COURSE DESCRIPTION This course introduces the basic grammar and vocabulary of biblical Greek, preparing the learner to translate, interpret, and apply Scripture, and use Greek in his or her biblical studies. You will learn the essentials of grammar and an adequate vocabulary by doing exercises, and by reading 2 John. COURSE OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this course you should be able to: 1. Understand the basic grammar of biblical Greek. 2. Know foundational Greek vocabulary words (about 320). 3. Translate from the New Testament with some helps. 4. Use biblical Greek as a tool for ministry to better understand and communicate God s Word. 5. Utilize commentaries and biblical resources that require knowledge of the Greek language. COURSE TEXTS Required Resources 1. Mounce, W. D. Basics of Biblical Greek: Grammar. 3rd edition (Zondervan) 2. Mounce, W. D. Basics of Biblical Greek: Workbook. 3rd edition (Zondervan) 3. Broadband internet access. Go to and confirm that your download speeds are at least 10 megabytes per second. This is necessary for video conferences. 4. Create a free account on Teknia.com and your login to thegreekprof@gmail.com. 5. Purchase access to the class in the store (teknia.com). 6. Create a free account at Zoom.us and your login to thegreekprof@gmail.com. We use Zoom for video conferences. 7. Create (if necessary) a free Gmail account so you can access the Google Plus page for discussions. The page is here: bit.ly/firstyeargreek2015. With Google Plus you will be able to have video hangouts with your classmates. Recommended Resources 1. Mounce, W. D. Basics of Biblical Greek: Flashcards (Zondervan). Helps with vocabulary. Some choose to make their own cards to further reinforce the words by writing them. Biblical Greek Syllabus ( ) page 1 of 8

2 You can also use the free computer flashcard program, FlashWorks, available at (which can also pronounce the words). 2. Basics of Biblical Greek Vocabulary Cards (ios app) 3. Mounce, W. D., Get an A+ Study Guides: Biblical Greek. Summary sheet of basic grammar. 4. Most students are anxious to buy a Greek Bible. There are two standard editions; both have the same text. a. Aland, Kurt, et al., eds., The Greek New Testament, 4th ed. New York: United Bible Society. b. Nestle, E., et al., eds., Novum Testamentum Graece, 28th edition, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft. 5. Lamerson, Samuel. English Grammar to Ace New Testament Greek. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. GRADING (PER EACH SEMESTER) 1. Quizzes. 10%. The lowest three will be dropped each semester. Quizzes are to be taken prior to or on the date for the chapter on the schedule. (They are available from the online course.) If you miss, it will count as one of your drops. I will use quizzes to see how you are doing and to make sure you are keeping pace with the class. You will grade your own quizzes with provided keys and record the grade in the class gradebook. 2. Tests are given after each review section of the workbook except the first review (see schedule). Their total is worth 50%. No makeup unless it is cleared with the teacher prior to the test. Testing is over everything assigned (i.e., they are cumulative), but will emphasize what you learned since the last exam. Tests are submitted electronically and graded by the teacher or TA. 3. Final exam. 40%. Comprehensive. No makeup unless it is cleared with the teacher before the final is given. Exams are submitted electronically and graded by the teacher or TA. CREDIT Teknia is not an accredited educational institution. However, we have a standing relationship with Faith Evangelical College and Seminary (Tacoma, Washington) and hopefully soon with Western Seminary (Portland, Oregon) and Asbury Seminary (Wilmore, Kentucky) to accept your class. If you want academic credit for the class, you will need to enroll in their program and send them the transcript Teknia will provide. There will be an additional charge on their part. TIME REQUIREMENTS The expectation is that students will study approximately 4-5 hours per chapter (including exercises and review sessions) for a total of 180 hours for both classes. EXTRA CREDIT None. Biblical Greek Syllabus ( ) page 2 of 8

3 GRADING SCALE A % B % C % D % F 0-62% A 95-98% B 85-90% C 75-80% D 65-70% A % B % C % D % CLASS PREPARATION AND TESTS This class uses the best of distance education technologies and online video conferencing. You will be able to work your own hours at (somewhat) your own pace, but will also meet with the professor, graduate fellow, and classmates for encouragement and help. We will video conference three times during the semester at each Section Overview. The purpose is to encourage you and to work on the review exercises. But even here the web is going to help, since at any time day or night you will be able to hear my discussion of almost every exercise in the workbook. The biggest danger of this approach is if you get behind, so it is critical that you stay up on the pace. I would encourage you to get a head start and try to stay ahead of the class schedule. WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU In order to keep the cost of the class down, you will not have constant, direct access to the teacher, and you are expected to use the web-based tools provided through Teknia. 1. You must use the Teknia website. Almost every question you are going to have is already answered there. Please do not ask for help without first making use of the online helps. 2. We will use the Google Plus community for Basics of Biblical Greek for forum discussions. 3. Agree to the code of conduct posted on the class orientation lesson. WHAT KIND OF HELP CAN YOU EXPECT? 1. The summary lecture helps you see the main points of the chapter. Do not skip this step; it will help keep you from drowning in the morass of details. These summary lectures are available online (teknia.com), or can be downloaded for your phone (from teknia.com). Fill out your Study Guide as you listen, and then memorize it. 2. Read the chapter in the textbook. 3. Listen to the full video lecture (included in your tuition payment). This is critical. It should function as a review, and I try not to just repeat the textbook but say things in a little different way. Confirm your Study Guide as you listen. 4. Memorize your vocabulary using the online helps (including hearing the words pronounced). Practice your vocabulary with the online version of FlashWorks or the downloaded app. 5. Do your exercises. There are many helps on the website; I don't want you to get stuck at 2 a.m., get discouraged, and quit. I take quitting very personally as my failure to help Biblical Greek Syllabus ( ) page 3 of 8

4 you through the material. So there are many helps on line, from colored coded answers to recordings of my discussion of each exercise. While the teacher is not necessarily available to answer questions about individual exercises, he will from time to time look through the discussion forums on Google Plus and may be able to help. 6. Take the quiz and then grade it using the key. Enter your score in your online grade book. By taking it after the exercises, it becomes a measure of what you do know (and not what you do not know). 7. You will also be able to communicate with fellow students, the TA, and at times your teacher. Use the forums on Google Plus to ask questions and help one another. 8. The teacher will work through the section reviews with you, exam reviews, and the final reading of 2 John. OTHER ISSUES Study Groups Because this is a hybrid course without traditional classes, your major challenges will be not getting behind and becoming discouraged. I strongly recommend that you make use of the student community on Google Plus. Lifelong friendships are often formed in Greek class, and they are well worth the time. Cheating Legal stuff I have to say; sorry. If you are caught cheating you will receive an "F" for that test. If it happens a second time you will receive an "F" for the course. There will be no reimbursement of tuition. Do not make copies of the exams. Exams The exams are generally placed the week after the Section overview. This is to give the data a chance to sink in. But the best way for the data is to start studying the next chapters. You will discover that around chapter 6 you will enter The Fog, and the fog will continue with you throughout the textbook; but wherever you are in the textbook, the fog lifts about two chapters back. So basically we are testing you after you have given the fog a chance to clear. Biblical Greek Syllabus ( ) page 4 of 8

5 Tentative Schedule The following schedule is based on a three hour, 14 week semester program, with two semesters to complete the textbook. Video conferences for reviews are generally scheduled on Tuesdays at 6 pm (Pacific Standard time). There may need to be some flexibility on these days, and the reviews are recorded so you can watch them even if you could not attend. FIRST SEMESTER Week 1 (Sept 7 11) Introduction to the class, and FlashWorks Rationale Chapter 1: The Greek Language Chapter 2: Learning Greek Chapter 3: The Alphabet and Pronunciation Week 2 (Sept 14 18) Chapter 4: Syllabification (reading exercises are on the website) Review #1 (chapters 1-4) video conference on Thursday, September 17, 6 pm (PST) Chapter 5: Introduction to English Nouns Week 3 (Sept 21 25) Chapter 6: Nominative and Accusative Week 4 (Sept 28 Oct 2) Chapter 7: Genitive and Dative Week 5 (Oct 5 9) Chapter 8: Prepositions Chapter 9: Adjectives Week 6 (Oct 12 16) Review #2 (chapters 6-9) video conference on Tuesday, October 13, 6 pm (PST) Chapter 10: Third Declension Nouns Week 7 (Oct 19 23) Chapter 11: First and Second Person Personal Pronouns Chapter 12: αὐτός Test #1 (through Review #2) due by Saturday, October 24, 2015 Biblical Greek Syllabus ( ) page 5 of 8

6 Week 8 (Oct 26 30) Chapter 13: Demonstrative Pronouns/Adjectives Chapter 14: Relative Pronouns Week 9 (Nov 2 6) Review #3 (chapters 10-14) video conference on Tuesday, November 3, 6 pm (PST) Week 10 (Nov 9 13) Chapter 15: Introduction to Verbs Chapter 16: Present Active Indicative Test #2 (through Review #3) due by Saturday, November 14, 2015 Week 11 (Nov 16 20) Chapter 17: Contract Verbs Vacation: Nov Week 12 (Nov 30 Dec 4) Chapter 18: Present Middle/Passive Indicative Chapter 19: Future Active/Middle Indicative Week 13 (Dec 7 10) Chapter 20: Verbal Roots, and Other Forms of the Future Week 14 Review #4 (chapters 15-20) video conference on Tuesday, December 15, 6 pm (PST) Final exam (through Review #4) due by Saturday, January 2, 2016 Biblical Greek Syllabus ( ) page 6 of 8

7 SECOND SEMESTER Week 1 (Jan 11 15) Chapter 21: Imperfect Indicative Week 2 (Jan 18 22) Chapter 22: Second Aorist Active/Middle indicative Week 3 (Jan 25 29) Chapter 23: First Aorist Active/Middle Indicative Week 4 (Feb 1 5) Chapter 24: Aorist and Future Passive Indicative Chapter 25: Perfect Indicative Week 5 (Feb 8 12) Review #5 (chapters 21-25) video conference on Tuesday, February 9, 6 pm (PST) Week 6 (Feb 15 19) Chapter 26: Introduction to Participles Chapter 27: Present (Continuous) Adverbial Participles Test #1 (through Review #5) due by Saturday, February 20, 2016 Week 7 (Feb 22 26) Chapter 28: Aorist (Undefined) Adverbial Participles Chapter 29: Adjectival Participles Week 8 (Feb 29 Mar 4) Chapter 30: Perfect Participles and Genitive Absolutes Week 9 (Mar 7 Mar 11) Review #6 (chapters 26-30) video conference on Tuesday, March 8, 6 pm (PST) possibly guest teacher Biblical Greek Syllabus ( ) page 7 of 8

8 Week 10 (Mar 14 18) Chapter 31: Subjunctive Test #2 (through Review #6) due by Saturday, March 19, 2016 Week 11 (Mar 21 25) Chapter 32: Infinitive Chapter 33: Imperative Week 12 (Mat 28 Apr 1) Chapter 34: μι Verbs; Indicative of δ ί δωμι Chapter 35: Additional mi Verbs; Nonindicative Forms Week 13 (Apr 4 8) Review #7 (chapters 31-35) video conference on Tuesday, April 5, 6 pm (PST) Week 14 (Apr 11 15) Reading in Mark 1-2, 2 John. Final exam (cumulative) due by Saturday, April 30, 2016 Biblical Greek Syllabus ( ) page 8 of 8