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Intermediate New Testament Greek

Module description

This module will not only equip you to read New Testament texts in their original language, but will also give you a clearer insight into the interpretative difficulties facing translators and interpreters of biblical texts.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module will enable you to apply and to develop your knowledge of New Testament Greek through work on a short set text and on further grammar. It will also enable you to engage in the translation and exegesis of the set text and to consider the issues involved in translation.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate knowledge of a biblical language by producing accurate, fluid translations of passages from the set text and from unseen passages, with the aid of a glossary or dictionary
• 2. Identify and comment on grammatical forms found in the texts
• 3. Demonstrate understanding of the issues and decisions involved in producing translations of New Testament texts
• 4. Compare different modern translations of the texts

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Demonstrate linguistic, translational and interpretative skills related to an ancient language
• 6. Awareness of the issues and decisions involved in producing translations of religiously significant texts
• 7. Demonstrate the ability to make careful use of core methods of study, including linguistic analysis

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 8. Undertake guided work within broad guidelines clearly in a written form
• 9. Participate appropriately in a learning group
• 10. Demonstrate understanding of the nature of language and the problems of translation

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:

• Further grammar and language work
• Continuing work begun in Elements of New Testament Greek, covering aspects of J Duff, The Elements of New Testament Greek, from chapter 13 onwards
• Translation of the set text
• Translation of unseen passages
• Comparison of various modern biblical translations of selected passages from the set text

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Set text: selected passages from the following set texts will be studied during the module:

• Mark 1-3; Mark 15.1-16.8; John 1-3; John 18-20

You will be provided with a free copy of The Greek New Testament (UBS 3rd or 4th edition) or Novum Testamentum Graece (Nestle-Aland 26th or 27th edition) donated by the Bible Society through the Department.

Students are required to purchase:

• J Duff, The Elements of New Testament Greek (Cambridge: CUP, 2005)

Students are also required to purchase one of the following:

• B Newman, A Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament (United Bible Societies, 1993)
• A Souter, A Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament (Oxford; reissued as a Classic Reprint)
• W Trenchard, A Concise Dictionary of New Testament Greek (Cambridge: CUP, 2003)

Other useful resources:

• S Kubo, A Reader's Lexicon to the Greek New Testament (Michigan: Andrews University Press, 1979)
• G Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1936)      
• B Metzger, Lexical Aids for Students of New Testament Greek (Edinburgh: T&T Clark,1986) 
• E Gentzler, Contemporary translation theories (London : Routledge, 1993)
• S Bruce, Introduction to New Testament Greek Using John's Gospel (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1999) 
• C K Barrett, The Gospel According to Saint John (London: SPCK, 2nd edition, 1978)
• G R Beasley-Murray, John (Waco, TX: Word, 1987) R Bultmann, The Gospel of John (Oxford: Blackwell, 1971)
• C A Evans, Mark 8:27-16:20: Word Biblical Commentary (Word, 2001)
• R T France, The New International Greek Testament Commentary (Eerdmans, 2002)
• R A Guelich, Mark 1:1-8:26: Word Biblical Commentary (Word, 1989)
• A Y Collins, Mark. (Hermeneia; Minneapolis: Fortress, 2007) 

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=2440 

Key words search

Greek, Bible