The module is aimed at introducing students to a selection of medium level New Testament Greek texts. Students are given opportunity

- to deepen their practice in reading, translating and interpreting New Testament Greek texts,

- to develop their grasp of Greek grammatical forms,

- to develop their ability effectively to use lexical, theological and other critical searches in their translation work,

- to understand and use the critical apparatus in Greek New Testament and/or other critical editions and to apply textual criticism

- to acquire basic critical and analytical skills to interpret New Testament and other Greek texts and to practice Biblical exegesis

- to acquire knowledge of relevant current and past scholarship, and critical and analytical skills to evaluate such scholarship

- competence in the New Testament Greek language sufficient to translate intelligently suitable seen and unseen passages

- an understanding of the principles of textual criticism and their development and an ability to determine between alternative readings

- an ability to offer coherent and informed exegesis of both seen and unseen New Testament Greek passages

- an awareness of current scholarship on the selected texts

This course will employ a variety of teaching methods, including:

•       Language teaching. Initially classes will begin with an examination of particular Greek grammatical forms, such as appear in the chosen selection of texts. For this the relevant textbook, lexical aids and handouts will be used.

•       Lectures. These will be on topics regarding historical setting, literary characteristics and content of the chosen texts.

•       Teacher led seminars. These will offer models for the student led seminars, when sections of text or topics are introduced by students.

•       Student led seminars modeled on the teacher led seminars.

•       Workshops. These provide opportunities to collaborate on text-critical and translation tasks.

•       There will be at least one feedback session per semester in which issues can be raised by students about either the content or the delivery of the course.

Knowledge and Understanding:

Ability to know a language and script quite different from English, to understand a different culture and mindset, in which this language is spoken, to know the contents of the literature which has been studied in the course of this module

Intellectual Skills:

Ability to learn and understand a language quite different from English, adapt to a different mindset, formulate ideas expressed in that mindset, develop independent and flexible thought and problem solving strategies, processing and organising large amounts of new data

Discipline Specific (including practical) Skills:

Time and work-load management, independent working, self-motivated working, handwriting, public speaking, self-discipline and self-reliance

Tansferable Skills:

Language learning, cultural learning, office-management, time-management, translation skills, grammatical and linguistic skills, analytical skills

(1) Formative, i. e. coursework with a summative value of 25 %

There will be two course work exercises, similar to essays but involving skills specific to this module, one (in autumn) involving the translation and interpretation of a set text (20%), the other (in spring) involving the discussion specifically of a set text-critical point (20%). Additionally, each student is required to prepare at least one passage of set text for presentation in class (autumn) and, either alone or in collaboration with another student, to prepare one student led workshop in spring (5%).

(2) Summative: examination with a summative value of 75 %

There will be a three hour exam, consisting of three sections:

• In part one the students will be able to choose one of two longer sections of text (up to ninety words). (Both passages will have been discussed in class.) The students will be asked to translate the chosen passage into English and discuss some text critical and grammatical items arising from the text. These will be clearly identified and should easily be tackled on the basis of what was taught in class. The students will also be asked to situate their chosen passage within a wider context and interpret it as to its literary form and historical and theological content. Again, this will be put as a question related to what was taught in class and set for further study and reading.
• Part two will consist of a selection of three shorter unseen pieces of text (ca. sixty words). The students will be asked to choose one of these, translate it into English, and analyse certain parts of it (underlined for that purpose) in terms of grammar and style – again on the basis of what was taught and set (for further reading and study) in class.

Part three will contain questions concerning various items of vocabulary, grammar and general knowledge arising from the study of the set texts, which can be answered discursively

Week 1                 Introduction

Weeks 2-6           Language study and text criticism

Week 7                 Workshop

Weeks 8-9            Lectures

Week 10               Teacher-led seminar on first portions of chosen text

Week 11               Teacher led seminar and student feedback

Semester 2:  Lectures, student or teacher-led seminars on the text and exegesis will occupy at least the first 9 weeks. The course ends with revision sessions in preparation for the examination

Please see Background Reading List for an indicative list.

W. F. Arndt, F. W. Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (CUP 2006)