Courses

Today, it is possible for preachers and teachers to examine the Greek New Testament using software tools or online resources. But users of these tools still need an understanding of Greek grammar, including not just the morphology of individual words but also the syntax that makes Greek sentences meaningful. For this reason, learning syntax is essential for a wide range of students, including not only those who hope to sight-read Greek but also those who do not anticipate learning to sight-read. For this reason, Greek Syntax is available to any student who has already taken Greek 1 (NT 1B03) or who has some existing familiarity with biblical Greek. The course is structured as a sequence of online modules to be completed within Avenue to Learn (A2L). Each module will begin with an intro video and some assigned reading that introduces some Greek grammar. On Wednesday, we will have a class tutorial via Zoom to discuss examples from the New Testament and to practice understanding actual wordings. Finally, you will work through some exercises to see how well you can apply your new knowledge of Greek. Throughout the course, we will be working through John 9 and 1 John, so that by the end of the semester you will be able to read through these texts and appreciate how their sentences have been constructed and how they mean what they mean.

Knowing

• Know some of the most frequent inflections in the New Testament;
• Know how individual words combine in order to make meaningful units;
• Know the main grammatical choices that enable the construction of Greek wordings;

Being

• Become self-aware as a modern reader of the Bible, recognizing the antiquity of the texts;
• Dispense with over-confidence (or lack of confidence) concerning knowledge of the biblical languages, adopting instead an attitude of life-long learning;

Doing

• Be able to talk intelligently about the structure of a specific wording by invoking alternative wordings (i.e. explain both what the wording means and why it means what it means);
• Be able to move cautiously from an analysis of Greek grammar to a preliminary understanding of an actual passage of scripture.