BLA 613 Advanced Greek: Pauline Literature
Cincinnati Christian UniversityTom Vollmer
Fall 2011, M 12:30-3:10
3 hrs
RATIONALE
Thorough interpretation of the New Testament requires knowledge of its original language. The Pauline corpus provides an essential influence upon the development of early Christianity. In addition, Paul’s writings have been crucial to the development of Christian theology through the years. A thorough study of one of Paul’s letters from the Greek text, 2 Corinthians, will prepare students to teach from this book and apply its principles to contemporary issues.
OBJECTIVES
The student who satisfactorily completes this course should …
1)be able to translate a large portion of 2 Corinthians and other relevant texts with the assistance of basic reference works;
2)be aware of major exegetical issues associated with 2 Corinthians;
3)be able to discuss the background of 2 Corinthians and major themes in the Pauline corpus.
LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND ASSIGNMENTS
Class Texts:
Black, David A. It’s Still Greek to Me: An Easy-to-Understand Guide to Intermediate Greek. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1998.
Mounce, William. The Analytical Lexicon to the Greek New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1993. Another lexicon can be selected if you prefer, but it needs to be of comparable quality. A print or electronic lexicon is acceptable.
Vollmer, Thomas A. Translation Pack for BLA 614: Advanced Greek.
Assignments:
1)Translation: Students will translate a large portion of 2 Corinthians and other texts relevant to class discussion. The texts under consideration will be located in the Translation Pack. The translations will be made during the student’s private study time in preparation for group discussion. Throughout the semester, the instructor will advise students of the approximate dates on which specific passages will be discussed. Each student must turn in a copy of the translation work on the date announced. The translations will not be graded in terms of content, but failing to complete them and turn them in will negatively impact the student’s grade (scale listed below). Submitted assignments that reveal a lack of effort, determined by the instructor’s judgment, will be counted as incomplete. Students who cannot commit the time and effort necessary to complete the translations are advised not to take the course.
2)During the semester two tests will be given, one near the middle of the semester and the other during final exam week. Both tests will include translation of specific passages of general grammatical and exegetical questions related to the passages. It is important to note that the translation sections of the texts may include any passages assigned for translation, whether or not these passages were actually discussed during class meetings.
3)Word Study: There is a notably high incidence of diakon-terminology in 2 Corinthians (diakoneō 3x, diakonia 12x, diakonos 5x), which together (20x) account for more than half of Paul’s own usage in his letters (35x) and one-fifth of diakon-terminology in the New Testament as a whole (100x).
a)Read the entry for the word diakonia in Danker, Bauer, Arndt and Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. Take notes on the key meanings listed.
b)Read the entry for the word diakoniain Liddell and Scott (Jones), A Greek-English Lexicon. Take notes on the key meanings listed.
c)Find the entry for the word diakoniain Hatch and Redpath, A Concordance of the Septuagint, and look up some of the Old Testament texts that use this term (you may use either an English Bible or the Greek Old Testament). Write a brief summary of the various ways that the word appears to be used in the Greek OT.
d)Read the word-group entry in Brown, The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology. Take notes on the article.
e)Read the word-group entry in Kittel, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Take notes on the article.
f)Based on your research, write a short (1000-1500 word) paper that outlines the possible meanings of the term diakonia and identifies the most likely meaning (in your view) of this term in the context of the Pauline literature, particularly in 2 Corinthians. What are the various possible meanings of the word in the New Testament? Why the high incidence of the word in Paul? Why is the diakon-terminology so important in 2 Corinthians?
g)All notes and the final paper must be typed, and should be submitted to the instructor via Moodle by October 10.
GRADING AND ATTENDANCE POLICIES
The final grade will be calculated on the following formula:
Attendance and Translation Preparation: 30%
Exam 1:30%
Exam 2: 30%
Word Study: 10%
As per CCU policy, students who miss more than 25% of scheduled course sessions will be dropped from the class and will receive a grade of “FA.” Students should keep personal record of all absences and personal documentation relevant to each absence. All students who are dropped from a course for excessive absences must apply for reinstatement through the Registrar’s Office, but only reported absences will be considered when evaluating the student’s application for reinstatement.
After the first absence, each absence will result in a loss of 4 pts. from the attendance grade. Each time a student fails to turn in a translation preparation, or submits an inadequate translation preparation, 4 pts. will be deducted from the final percentage grade. If a student misses class for an unexcused absence and thereby fails to submit a translation preparation, 4 pts. will be deducted from the attendance grade. Assignments are due on the day a student was absent may be turned in at the next class meeting without penalty.
NOTICE: This course plan, as distributed electronically via email and/or through the CCU website and/or in hard copy on the first day of class, overrides all earlier versions of the course plan for the same class. All terms and conditions stated in this course plan, including objectives, outline of contents, required texts, assignments, attendance policy, and grading scale, are subject to the professor’s unilateral revision at any point before, during, or after the semester.