Summer 2016 SOUTHERN EVANGELICAL SEMINARY BL 401 Biblical Languages COURSE SYLLABUS 3 credit hours Online I. DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE Professor: J. P. Lenhart M. A. E mail: jlenhart@ses.edu Phone: (704) 847 5600 x 235 An overview of the biblical languages with an emphasis on developing proficiency in the employment of the standard biblical language reference tools in the study of the Bible and the defense of the historic Christian Faith. II. ROLE OF THE CLASS IN PROGRAM OF STUDY Required for the B. A. in Religious Studies III. OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE After completing the course, the student should be able to: Read Greek and Hebrew phonetically Explain the basics of Greek and Hebrew grammar Name and use some of the major reference works and tools for original language study Apply original language tools for Bible study and the defense of the faith Use Logos Bible Software for original language study IV. REQUIRED RESOURCES FOR THE COURSE Fields, Lee M. Hebrew for the Rest of Us: Using Hebrew Tools without Mastering Biblical Hebrew. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008. Mounce, William D. Greek For the Rest of Us: Using Greek Tools without Mastering Biblical Greek. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003. Logos Bible Software (Starter Package).!1
V. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE 1. Students shall read the assigned textbooks in their entirety. The percentage of the text read will be recorded at the end of each section. 2. Students will take quizzes associated with each section. The 2 lowest scores will be dropped (one for Hebrew and one for Greek). 3. Students will write a paper addressing and refuting a claim made about the historic Christian faith that is based on a linguistic argument. For example, the student will address an issue such as that argued by Jehovah s Witnesses that argue from John 1:1 that Jesus is only a god. Students need to explain the claim and use appropriate resources to refute the claim. This paper is to be 6 to 8 pages in length and conform to Turabian format (8 th ed.). The student can choose any issue pertaining to the Bible; however, no two students shall do the same topic. The topic needs to be confirmed with the professor. This paper is due August 12 th. 4. Students will be assigned original language homework assignments throughout the semester. Logos will be utilized for this work. 5. Students will take an exam over Hebrew. 6. Students will take an exam over Greek. VI. GRADING Grading Scale Grade Percentages Summary 97-100 = A 83-85 = C+ Assessment Percentage Approx. Time 94-96 = A- 80-82 = C Attendance, Class Participation, and Textbook Readings 10% 50 hours (3.5-4 hrs/wk) 91-93 = B+ 78-79 = C- Quizzes 15% 15 hrs 88-90 = B 75-77 = D+ Homework 15% 10 hrs 86-87 = B- 72-74 = D Paper 20% 15 hrs 70-71 = D- Hebrew Exam 20% 15 hrs Below 70 = F Greek Exam 20% 15 hrs 120 hours* * An undergraduate student should be spending at least 2.5 hours a week for each credit hour, or 7-8 hours a week for a 3 credit-hour course. That represents 105-120 hours per semester per class. VII. GUIDELINES FOR THE PAPER See Section V as well as Guidelines for Paper and Turabian Template.!2
VIII. OUTLINE OF THE COURSE and CLASS SCHEDULE: Fall 2014 (Readings/Assignments/Exams with due dates) Lesson Topics Text Reading Assignments Section 1.1 Course Introduction Section 2.1 Hebrew Introduction HRU: 1-4 Alphabet Worksheet Quiz 1 Section 2.2 Hebrew: Roots, Clauses & Function Words HRU: 5-8 Worksheet Quiz 2 Section 2.3 Hebrew: Nominals HRU: 9-12 Worksheet Quiz 3 Section 2.4 Hebrew: Verbals HRU: 13-17 Worksheet Quiz 4 Section 2.5 Hebrew: Concluding Studies HRU: 18-21 Worksheet Quiz 5 Hebrew Exam Section 3.1 Greek Introduction GRU: 1-4 Worksheet Quiz 1 Section 3.2 Greek: Nouns, Verbs & Word Studies GRU: 5-10 Worksheet Quiz 2 Section 3.3 Greek: Nouns & Adjectives GRU: 11-14 Worksheet Quiz 3 Section 3.4 Greek: Verbs & Participles GRU: 15-19 Worksheet Quiz 4 Section 3.5 Greek: Conjunctions, Further Nouns, Pronouns & Adjectives GRU: 20-27 Worksheet Quiz 5 Section 3.6 Greek: Further Verbs GRU: 28-30 Worksheet Quiz 6 Section 3.7 Greek: Textual Criticism, Translations & Commentaries GRU: 31-33 Worksheet Quiz 7 Exam Section 4 Logos Training Live Logos Training Logos Assignment 1 Logos Assignment 2 IX. SCHOOL POLICIES: ATTENDANCE AND PLAGAIRISM Plagiarism and cheating, regardless of the reason, are considered unethical and a violation of the Southern Evangelical Seminary and Bible College student code of conduct. The first offense will result in an automatic academic failure for the assignment and/or the course by a decision of the professor and approval by the Academic Dean. A statement will be added to the student s file concerning the offense and consequence. A student may appeal this decision to the Academic Committee. Subsequent offenses or those involving a thesis or dissertation may involve suspension from the Seminary or Bible College upon recommendation of the Academic Committee and decision by the faculty for dismissal from the Seminary and/or revocation of a degree. Decision by the faculty is final.!3
X. OTHER SUGGESTED READINGS OR BIBLIOGRAPHY Old Testament Studies Garrett, Duane A. and Jason S. DeRouchi. A Modern Grammar for Biblical Hebrew. Nashville: B&H Academic, 2009. Jobes, Karen H. and Moisés Silva. Invitation to the Septuagint. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2000. Koehler, Ludwig and Walter Baumgartner. The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. Translated and edited by M. E. J. Richardson. NV, Leiden, The Netherlands: Koninklijke Brill, 2000. Stuart, Douglas. Old Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and Pastors. 3rd ed. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001. Tov, Emanuel. Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible. 2nd rev. ed. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1992. Van Pelt, Miles V. and Gary D. Pratico. The Vocabulary Guide to Biblical Hebrew. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003. Waltke, Bruce K. and M. O Connor. An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1990. New Testament Studies Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Edited by Frederick W. Danker. 3rd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000. Black, David Alan. It s Still Greek to Me: an Easy-to-Understand Guide to Intermediate Greek. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998.. Using New Testament Greek in Ministry: A Practical Guide for Students and Pastors. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1993. Burer, Michael H. and Jeffrey e. Miller. A New Reader s Lexicon of the Greek New Testament. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2008. Comfort, Philip W. Encountering the Manuscripts: An Introduction to New Testament Paleography and & Textual Criticism. Nashville: B & H, 2005.!4
. New Testament Text and Translation Commentary: Commentary on the Variant Readings of the Ancient New Testament Manuscripts and How They Relate to the Major English Translations. Carol Stream, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008. Fee, Gordon D. New Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and Pastors. 3rd ed. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002. Metzger, Bruce M. and Bart D. Ehrman. The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. Mounce, William D. Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003. Trenchard, Warren C. Complete Vocabulary Guide to the Greek New Testament. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998. Wallace, Daniel B. Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996. Wegner, Paul D. A Student s Guide to Textual Criticism of the Bible: Its History, Methods & Results. Downers Grove, Ill: IVP Academic, 2006. Apologetics Archer, Gleason L. Jr. New International Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties. Zondervan s Understanding the Bible Reference Series. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1982. Geisler, Norman L. and Ron Rhodes. When Cultists Ask: A Popular Handbook on Cultic Misinterpretaions. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1997. Geisler, Norman L. and Thomas Howe. When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1992. Rhodes, Ron. Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah s Witnesses. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1993.. Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Mormons. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1995. Martin, Walter. The Kingdom of the Cults. Rev. ed. Edited by Hank Hanegraaff. Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers, 1997.!5