NT103 - Greek Grammar and Syntax: Part 1

Course Syllabus (Summer 2021)

Instructor: Dr. Mathukutty P M GTA: Pramod Cherian

Course Description

This course is an introduction to New Testament textual criticism and methods for
diagramming the Greek text of the New Testament. In the first part of this course, students
will learn how to create clausal layouts and grammatical diagrams using the English and
Greek texts of the New Testament. In the second part of this course, students will learn the
basic principles of New Testament textual criticism, including how to interpret the critical
apparatus of the Nestle-Aland and United Bible Societies Greek New Testaments and how
to evaluate textual problems.

Course Objectives

The course aims to prepare students to read and interpret the original language of the New
Testament. We will be building skills necessary for fluent reading and exegesis. By the end
of the course students should be able to:

1. Prove adequate knowledge of vocabulary occurring 50 times or more in the New

Testament, as well as the full set of λύω paradigms.
2. Translate portions of Greek text with parsing and basic syntactic analysis.
3. Interpret and use the information contained in the critical apparatus of the Greek
New Testament (Nestle-Aland and UBS).
4. Critically evaluate a text-critical problem in the Greek New Testament.
5. Analyze English and Greek clauses by drawing clausal layouts and grammatical
diagrams.

Required Textbooks/Materials

A copy of the Greek New Testament with a critical apparatus is recommended for
the course.

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• Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament 26 , 27 , or 28 edition
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• UBS 3 , 4 , or 5 edition
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• You can access the Greek text of the Nestle-Aland 28 edition on the
Nestle-Aland website: https://www.nestle-aland.com/en/read-na28-
online/
The reading materials will be provided and the students need to complete the reading
before the discussion in the class room.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
• Complete Reading Assignments
The reading assignments are listed in the course schedule. All reading assignments must
be completed by next class period.
• Written Assignments
The students will be assigned to write one or two papers to express their skill and
proficiency in the field of textual criticism and Clausal layout.
• Complete Clausal Layout and Diagramming Worksheets
• Structural Diagrams of Eph 1:3–6 in English and Greek
• Six Translation Assignments

Quizzes and/or Exams

• Grammar and Vocabulary Review Exam
• All students must pass a grammar and vocabulary review exam that covers the
basic elements learned in first year Greek. The review exam will have four parts
and it will cover 1) Greek vocabulary occurring 50 times or more in the NT, 2)
essential paradigms, 3) parsing, and 4) a little bit of translation. There will be two
chances (2 Exams) and among that one set must have passing score of 85%.

• Final Exam
The final exam for this class will consist of two parts: 1) the assigned reading material and
class lecture content, and 2) a translation component based on the six translation
assignments.
Course Requirements for Grading

• Reading and Class Assignments 10%

• Clausal Layout and Diagramming Worksheets 10%

• Six Translation Assignments 30%

• Grammar and Vocabulary Review Exam 25%

• Final Exam 25%

• Paper 10%