Unit 1

The Greek Alphabet

Unit Description:
We will discuss why it is important to learn Greek for reading both the New Testament and
the Old Testament. What languages did the residents of Palestine speak in the 1st century
A.D.? Why was their Bible written also in Greek as well as Hebrew? How does the alphabet
connect East and West? We will read well-known names from both Testaments in Greek and
hear the opening verses of the Gospel of John.

New Words in this Unit 10

Total New Words 10

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 Vocabulary
English Greek Category
Apostle. One who is “sent
away” ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ
ΑΠΟ = away ΣΤΟΛΟΣ = sent
Beginning, head; as in
ΑΡΧΗ
archbishop, archaic, arch-villain
Creation, the first book of the
ΓΕΝΕΣΙΣ
Bible: Genesis
God. Together with ΛΟΓΟΣ,
ΘΕΟΣ Nouns
we get “theology” ΘΕΟΛΟΓΙΑ
Cosmos – the Universe, literally
means “order”, as in something ΚΟΣΜΟΣ
beautifully formed, “cosmetic”
Word, story. In a theological
ΛΟΓΟΣ
context, the Word of God.
Martyr, which originally meant
simply a “witness”; later, a ΜΑΡΤΥΣ
witness to the faith
FIVE, used as a compound in NUMBER,
ΠΕΝΤΕ
Pentecost and Pentateuch indeclinable
Christ, literally “the anointed
one” which is the equivalent of
ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ
the Hebrew “mashiach” = ‫משיח‬
hence the English “messiah” Pronouns
The pronoun, first person
singular: I ΕΓΩ
(also known as your “ego”!)

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 Homework
A. Practice writing the capital letters of the Greek alphabet, saying their names as
you do so. Write a full line for each letter:
A, alpha:
B, beta:
Γ, gamma:
Δ, delta:
Ε, epsilon:
Ζ, zeta:
Η, eta:
Θ, theta:
Ι, iota:
Κ, kappa:
Λ, lambda:
Μ, mu:
Ν, nu:
Ξ, xi:
:Ο, omicron
Π, pi:
Ρ, rho:
Σ, sigma:
Τ, tau:
Υ, upsilon:
Φ, phi:
Χ, chi:
Ψ, psi:
Ω, omega:

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B. Try to read these words out loud and match them with their English
pronunciation in the right-hand column:

ΣΚΕΛΕΤΟΝ ECCLESIA

ΘΕΟΣ GRAMMA

ΛΟΓΟΣ PETRA

ΘΕΟΛΟΓΙΑ APOSTOLOS

ΓΡΑΜΜΑ SKELETON

ΠΕΤΡΑ CHRISTOS

ΠΡΟΦΗΤΗΣ THEOS

ΦΩΝΗ LOGOS

ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ PROPHETES

ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ THEOLOGIA

ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ PHONE

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C. Unscramble the letters, and put them in their correct alphabetical order:

Δ ____A____ (to get you started!)

Ζ __________
Γ __________
Σ __________
Β __________
Ε __________
Χ __________
Ξ __________
Η __________
Α __________
Τ __________
Ι __________
Υ __________
Θ __________
Ο __________
Κ __________
Ν __________
Π __________
Μ __________
Ψ __________
Φ __________
Λ __________
Ω __________
Ρ __________

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 Homework Answers
Exercise B.

ΣΚΕΛΕΤΟΝ SKELETON

ΘΕΟΣ THEOS

ΛΟΓΟΣ LOGOS ( logic)

ΘΕΟΛΟΓΙΑ THEOLOGIA ( theos + logos = Theology)

ΓΡΑΜΜΑ GRAMMA ( grammar)

ΠΕΤΡΑ PETRA ( petrol; Peter = the Rock)

ΠΡΟΦΗΤΗΣ PROPHETES ( prophet)

ΦΩΝΗ PHONE ( phonetic)

ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ CHRISTOS

ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ APOSTOLOS ( apostle)

ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ EKKLESIA ( ecclesiastic)

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