Unit information: Beginners' New Testament Greek (Trinity & Baptist College) in 2012/13

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Unit name Beginners' New Testament Greek (Trinity & Baptist College)
Unit code THRS11032
Credit points 10
Level of study C/4
Teaching block(s) Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director Dr. Bimson
Open unit status Not open
Pre-requisites

None
Co-requisites

None
School/department Department of Religion and Theology
Faculty Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

During the first half of the module much of the focus will be on grammar and syntax, but learning will, from the beginning, be related to passages of the New Testament. The second half of the course, while advancing the students' knowledge of grammar, will focus more on translation exercises based on New Testament passages.

Intended Learning Outcomes

The unit aims to

  1. introduce students to the basic essentials of Greek (and English) grammar and Greek syntax and vocabulary;
  2. introduce the problems and subtleties of translation work, and resources for further study.

On completion of the unit students:

  1. should be able to translate simple passages of the New Testament with the use of lexical aids;
  2. should be aware of some deeper issues involved in translation, and the implications of these for drawing exegetical conclusions from the passages;
  3. should have a working knowledge of the basic elements of Greek syntax and most vocabulary occurring over 100 times.

Teaching Information

The module consists of 20 class hours. It will take an inductive approach tailored to students with little or no linguistic background. The rate of progress will be slower than that in L22002 Elementary New Testament Greek; as a result the students in this module will not be able to progress to L32002 Intermediate New Testament Greek. The fact that less ground will be covered than in L22002 Elementary New Testament Greek is reflected in the module's lower credit rating.

In order that the students may encourage one another and that the tutor may gauge individual rates of progress, there will be a large amount of corporate participation in the classes; questions and answers in both directions, and some group work. Occasional five-minute tests will ensure that students commit to memory a small core of common vocabulary and some basic endings of nouns and verbs. Apart from the basic textbook, regular duplicated sheets will be supplied a) for userfriendly overviews of grammar; b) for translation or supplementary exercises.

The unit will consist of 20 contact hours in total: 2 hours per week over 10 weeks.

Assessment Information

Formative assessment will be through preparation for classes and participation in class exercises.

Summative assessment will be through two one-hour tests (50 % each), involving translation, grammar questions and questions of exegesis.

Reading and References

Duff, J., The Elements of New Testament Greek. 3rd ed., (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005).

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