Content

This subject introduces students to Biblical Hebrew and New Testament Greek, and equips them with skills which will enable them to utilise language resources within commentaries and electronic resources. Students will learn the alphabets of both Hebrew and Greek, and be familiarised with basic grammatical features of both languages, and be equipped with an elementary vocabulary. An introduction to the interpretive implications of translation and textual considerations will provide a platform for further study in a particular language.

Unit code: AL8005W

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational

Unit discipline: Languages

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Whitley College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Recognise and reproduce the Hebrew and Greek alphabets and articulate an understanding of basic Hebrew and Greek grammar

2.

Identify and translate key vocabulary in Biblical Hebrew and Greek

3.

Demonstrate a working knowledge of relevant grammatical and lexical tools, including the resources of Bible software, for translation and interpretation

4.

Translate simple phrases from Biblical Hebrew and Greek into English with an awareness of both literal and vernacular possibilities, and of textual variants in the manuscripts

5.

Articulate issues that impact on the translation and exegesis of Biblical texts and their implications for interpretation

Unit sequence

Foundational unit (cannot be taken after passing other biblical language units)

Pedagogy

lectures, tutorials and workshops

Indicative Bibliography

  • = set texts recommended for purchase
  • Accordance Bible Software (with College discount) *
  • Duff, Jeremy. The Elements of New Testament Greek. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 3rd ed, 2005.
  • Silzer, Peter James and Thomas John Finley, How Biblical Languages Work: A Student’s Guide to Learning Greek and Hebrew. Grad Rapids MI: Kregel Publications, 2004.
  • Zacharias, H. Daniel, Assorted online language teaching aids and apps for learning biblical languages.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Short Answer Tests

Weekly Tests

3000 50.0
Exegesis

Translation and commentary on a short NT text

2000 25.0
Exegesis

Translation and commentary on a short OT text

2000 25.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Maggie Kappelhoff on 23 Sep, 2020

Unit record last updated: 2021-06-07 08:43:48 +1000