New Testament Greek 1: module 3
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
This course has now started
- Course Code: RG405
- Dates: 16/04/24 - 25/06/24
- Time: 14:00 - 15:30
- Taught: Tue, Daytime
- Duration: 11 sessions (over 11 weeks)
- Location: Online
- Tutor: Jordan Dyck
Course Code: RG405
Duration: 11 sessions (over 11 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
The purpose of this course is to continue to learn basic Koine Greek, the language in which the New Testament and other early Christian texts were written. Though the New Testament is the main focus, other texts will be referred to, such as the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures read by early Christians) and the Apostolic Fathers (early Christian texts from during and just after the time of the New Testament). This course will set a very good ground in Greek grammar, including introducing the more recent academic discoveries about how New Testament Greek worked, concerning tense and aspect.
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
We will begin to move on from the basics, and spend much of this term getting acquainted with third declension nouns, before we begin to explore the depths of how Greek verbs work, which will occupy much of next year. This will be cemented by much more reading of the New Testament, both from the passages in the textbook and whatever other texts the group would like to be guided through by the teacher.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Recognise even the most difficult forms of third declension noun.
- Understand how third declension nouns came to look like they do, and the reasons for the patterns in them.
- Encounter absolutely any noun in the New Testament with a quick and easy sense of how it fits in with the sentence around it.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
You do not need to have any knowledge of Ancient Greek or ancient languages in general to attend this course, but you should either have completed the first term, or have done any amount of New Testament Greek in the past, whether in a university or an attempt at teaching yourself. As the class is taught in English, you should be able to follow verbal and written instructions in English and also take part in class and group discussions on readings. Please look at the rest of the course outline carefully to decide if you may benefit from support with your English skills to help you take part fully in this class.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The tutor will use the textbook, handouts and other teaching aids, and patiently work through the material taking questions and discussion, encouraging students along the way, in an open and productive manner that follows a pace set by the students. Questions and discussion are genuinely encouraged. You will need to do 30 minutes to an hour of homework minimum each week, but the more you put into it the more you will get out of it!
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
- Reading Koine Greek by Rodney Decker (Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, 2014).
- The New Testament text can be found at gntreader.com, but advice will be given on which editions are best to buy when the time comes.
- Good online dictionaries can be found at philolog.us and billmounce.com, but advice will be given on which dictionaries are best to buy when the time comes.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
New Testament Greek 2: module 1.
Jordan Dyck is a full-time ancient language enthusiast. He lectures philosophy at Staffordshire University and New Testament Greek at St. Augustine's College of Theology (Durham University). He also teaches Classical and Biblical Greek, Latin and Hebrew through his website and runs various reading groups, including one looking at LGBTQ-themed texts from throughout the Ancient Greek world. Jordan holds a BA (Wales) and MA (Durham) in Biblical Studies and Theology. His doctoral thesis for Staffordshire University (2017) is titled 'Finding Lacan: St Paul and the Paradox of Jouissance,' and uses continental philosophy and psychoanalysis to study the Bible. Over the past decade he has been increasingly interested in Classical languages, which now make up about half of his teaching. Other projects have included research into the experiences of LGBT African asylum seekers, and papers presented at academic conferences, mostly on St. Paul and philosophy. Though originally hailing from Canada, Jordan has lived in the UK since 2006, and is presently vice-chair of the board of directors of the Metropolitan Community Church of North London.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
