MA Religions and Theology / Course details

The aim of this course is to enable you to use digital and print resources to master the basic grammar and vocabulary of koine Greek as a basis for critical interpretation of the Greek New Testament and for further study of the language beyond this unit. You will be expected to build on these foundational platforms and apply them to NT exegesis. As well as language acquisition, this involves gaining familiarity with, and understanding of, digital and printed Greek NT texts and of digital and print resources for understanding those texts.

A particular aim is to learn to critically navigate online digital resources, which have differing characteristics and are often supplied by providers with particular religious or other interests. You will be expected to offer MA level critical analysis of both the resources and the New Testament texts that you study.

• Have learnt the vocabulary most commonly found in the New Testament; 
• Have become familiar with the basic rules of inflection, being able to identify and parse both regular and irregular word-forms
• Have acquired experience in using Greek and a range of scholarly tools (e.g., lexicons and standard grammars) for purposes of critical exegesis and interpretation of the New Testament.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. demonstrate familiarity with, and understanding of, digital and printed editions of the Greek New Testament and of related documents such as manuscripts.
2. demonstrate familiarity with, and understanding of, digital and printed resources for interpreting the Greek New Testament.
3. navigate and identify the word forms of the Greek New Testament.
4. translate sections of the New Testament and compare them with standard English translations.
5. analyse commentaries on the Greek NT text and evaluate scholarly arguments.
6. produce grammatically nuanced exegetical essays.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. grasp the key nuances of grammatical and syntactical analysis and deduce how they apply to hermeneutic methodology and to NT exegesis.
2. discern strengths and weaknesses in English translations of Greek texts.
3. critically assess available digital and printed resources for NT Greek.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. produce critically informed exegetical essays.
2. produce English translations of the Greek NT for research purposes.
3. successfully navigate and use a range of digital and printed resources

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. demonstrate critical analytical skills.
2. find, select and successfully use a range of digital and printed resources
3. demonstrate attention to detail, nuance and ability formulate best fit positions from range of positions.
4. demonstrate cultural sensitivity in placing accurate translations into diverse contemporary cultural contexts, noting development of language and evolution of meaning.

Assessment:

Test 1 - 10%

Test 2 - 10%

Exegetical Essay - 80%

Aland, B., et al. (eds). The Greek New Testament.5^threv. edn. Stuttgart, 2014.

Bauer, W. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3^rdedn, rev. F.W. Danker. Chicago, 2000.

MacNair, Ian. Teach Yourself New Testament Greek. Nashville, 1995.

Duff, J. Elements of New Testament Greek. 3^rdedn. Cambridge, 2005.

Porter, S.E. Idioms of the Greek New Testament. Sheffield, 1992.

Wallace, D.B. Greek Grammar beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, 1996.