Greek 101
Dr. Fred Kellogg
Emory & Henry College
Welcome! Greek courses at E&H help you learn to read material written 2,000 years ago. You won’t learn modern Greek, which has evolved over the centuries. But you’ll be able to understand many of the subtle implications in the gospels, Paul’s letters, and Revelation, which are usually lost in an English translation.
The main goal for Greek 101‑102 is for you to be able to look at an ancient book full of strange graffiti and know what it's saying. That doesn't mean that you'll understand every word, but after 101‑102, you'll be able to grasp the main ideas. Then, if you wish, you may develop your skill in advanced courses. If you go on to seminary or graduate school, you’ll have a solid foundation in Greek, ahead of most of your fellow students.
You'll find that as a byproduct you'll be mastering not only Greek grammar but also English grammar and vocabulary, because Greek and Latin are mother languages of English. In fact, you'll often find it easier to identify and remember difficult English words and technical scientific or medical terms, because you'll recognize their Greek roots!
What kind of language is this anyway? We'll be working with Koiné ("common" or "ordinary") Greek, which was used for the New Testament and which was the normal spoken language of the Mediterranean world in New Testament times. It is a simpler language than the more ancient Classical Greek used by Homer and Plato. A number of grammatical forms have almost disappeared. English is changing too; for instance, the subjunctive "I wish I were" is about gone, so Southerners sing, "I wish I wuz in the land o' cotton." Changes in Greek have continued over the past two millennia, so that modern Greek is even simpler in many ways than Koiné Greek.
Our grammar is by J. Gresham Machen, New Testament Greek for Beginners, revised by Dan G. McCartney, second edition (Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004). We'll use The Greek New Testament with Dictionary, edited by Barbara Aland et al, 4th revised edition (New York: United Bible Societies, 1998). Be sure to get the edition with the Greek‑English Dictionary built in! We'll also translate selections from Hellenistic writers such as Josephus, the great Jewish historian who lived in the first century A.D., and papyrus letters from New Testament times.
During both semesters we'll be interweaving grammar and translation. You'll have plenty of vocabulary quizzes and written assignments, so that you won't have any chance to get behind. We'll move only as fast as we find appropriate, not so fast as to overwhelm you or so slow as to bore you. (Please let me know if my speedometer is wrong!) I'm not outlining an exact schedule of assignments, but I hope that this semester we'll finish the first half of Machen’s grammar.
COURSE GOALS
In this course, you will learn to read aloud, with correct pronunciation, documents written in Koiné Greek script of the first century A.D.
You will develop a foundational understanding of Greek grammar: nouns, adjectives, primary tenses of verbs, and other key grammatical components.
You will build up a basic vocabulary for understanding Greek writings from the first century A.D., especially the New Testament.
You will develop the ability to translate simple Greek sentences into idiomatic English, and to analyze complex Greek sentences into simpler components for translation and understanding.
CLASS PARTICIPATION
A foreign language can be learned well only with careful day‑by‑day preparation and near‑perfect class attendance, for constant reinforcement of learning. But I don’t want you to come to class when you’re sick, for your own sake and for the sake of your fellow students.
Up to three absences, because of appropriate reasons such as sickness, college-sponsored trips or athletic events, or dangerous driving conditions because of serious weather problems, may be excused. Please don’t ask for an excused absence to deal with personal matters or family matters. If you would like for me to consider excusing an absence, please write your reason on the absence form that I will give you after any absence. I don’t grant excuses based on notes or email messages from coaches or doctors, or on your telling me why you missed class. Instead, I need you to give me back the absence form as soon as possible.
If your absence is excused, you are expected to do the following:
1. If you miss the day of a vocabulary quiz, arrange with me to take a makeup quiz.
2. If you miss the day of a written assignment, submit your translations of the exercises before we go over them in class.
You may count one absence as a personal absence, with no need to give me an explanation, no makeup work required, and no penalty. Reasons for a personal absence include such things as finishing a test in another class, attending a wedding, helping a friend, participating in a workshop or seminar related to your major, going home to take care of a family matter, or traveling to Greece to speak to people with your 2,000-year-old Greek language.
If you miss more than four times for any reason, you may do makeup work within two weeks of the absence, to avoid having your class participation grade reduced. Talk with me about appropriate makeup work, which will help you keep up with the rest of the class in your understanding. This may include your arranging a time to meet with me, so I can help you learn the material that we dealt with in the class session that you missed. Any unexcused absence will lower your class participation grade by 5 points.
HINTS FOR YOUR DAY-BY-DAY WORK
I recommend writing vocabulary words on blank flash cards, with Greek on one side and English on the other. The easiest way to make these is to cut 3x5 index cards in halves or thirds. You can learn the vocabulary in the lunch line ‑‑ or maybe even in the shower!
When you're translating, try to develop smooth, literal but not wooden renderings. Your work should resemble the style of the New Revised Standard Version or New International Version. Avoid translations which are not standard English, such as "the book of him" rather than "his book." Use inclusive language such as "he or she" or "they," instead of exclusively masculine personal pronouns.
NEVER write between the lines of any Greek text. You may make your New Testament or grammar look like the Talmud with notes in the margins, or you may make your notes on separate sheets of paper, but putting translations over or under the Greek words will ruin your linguistic ability. Avoid interlinear Greek‑English Bibles like the plague!
We'll have time in class to go over every written assignment and answer any questions that you have. I'll also be glad to help you personally with any problems that you run into with vocabulary, grammar, or translation. Just come by my office, phone me at extension 6150, or email your questions to fkellogg@ehc.edu.
EVALUATION GUIDELINES
1/6 Vocabulary quizzes, dropping the two lowest grades (including zeroes for any absences not made up).
1/6 Written assignments, dropping the two lowest grades (including zeroes for any assignments not turned in by the time we go over them in class).
2/6 Closed‑book tests 1 and 2. We'll try to find test dates which will be the least problematic for you, at appropriate intervals, somewhere around Sep. 28 and Nov. 2.
1/6 Open‑book final exam.
1/6 Class participation: attendance, evidence of preparation, and involvement in classroom activities.
My grading scale is:
A = 95 (90‑99)
B = 85 (80‑89)
C = 75 (70‑79)
D = 65 (60‑69)
F = 50 (0-59)
You are your own best evaluator of how comfortable you are in the language. When you reach a level of real competence, you can smile and say, "It's all Greek to me!"
Fred Kellogg
If you would like, you can send me e-mail: fkellogg@ehc.edu
To look at one of my other syllabi, go to my Home Page.
If you prefer, you may return to the Emory & Henry College Home Page.
Last updated: December 11, 2007