Elementary Greek Grammar

Since the Bible is the only infallible guide to freedom, which is the goal of the liberal arts, students must align their lives with its revelation of the reality of who God is and who we are if they are to be truly free. Studying the New Testament in its original language is the most accurate way to understand and be formed by its truth. Thus, this course will introduce students to Koine Greek to give them a working knowledge of its grammar, vocabulary, and syntax for personal Bible reading and study.

During the first year of this course, students will explore Greek nouns, adjectives, pronouns, and be introduced to verbs. In the second year, they will complete their study of verbs, and learn about participles and infinitives. As time permits at the end of the second year, they will study and discuss readings from the New Testament, the church fathers, and ancient Greek literature.

This course is built upon the three columns of Mortimer Adler’s Paideia Proposal, as applied to classical Christian education by Dr. Robert Woods. There will be two classes per week. The first column of Paideia Proposal will be implemented with a 20- to 30-minute lecture on the textbook chapter being covered, followed by the second column as students are coached through workbook exercises. The next class will be a review of the homework completed since the previous class and further coaching. Students will also occasionally recite assigned Scripture memory and read out loud from the Greek New Testament. The third column will include a discussion of the details of a text of Scripture (including Greek and an English translation), which will take place approximately every other week.

This class will be comprised of students from the 9th to 12th grades. To help equalize learning outcomes, students will be placed in groups of 3-4 students across the grade spectrum. They will be required to meet online once per week for 1 hour to do homework and discuss it together. Thus older students will deepen their knowledge through helping younger students, and younger students will benefit from the guidance of older students.

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of both years of this class, the student should:

1. Have a working knowledge of basic Greek grammar and syntax.
2. Know the definition of Greek words used 50 times or more in the New Testament.
3. Be able to read the Greek New Testament out loud with accurate pronunciation and basic understanding.
4. Know how to accurately translate passages from the Greek New Testament, with limited vocabulary help, into modern English.

Texts:

• Fairbairn, Donald. Understanding Language: A Guide for Beginning Students of Greek & Latin. Washington DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 2011. ISBN-13: 978-0813218663
• Michael W. Holmes, ed. The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Lexham Press; Society of Biblical Literature, 2011–2013. http://sblgnt.com/download/
• Mounce, William D. Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar: Fourth Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019. ISBN-13: 978-0310537434
• Mounce, William D. Basics of Biblical Greek Vocabulary Cards: Second Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019. ISBN-13: 978-0310598763
• Mounce, William D. Basics of Biblical Greek Workbook: Fourth Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019. ISBN-13: 978-0310537472

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