The Classics Department of Augustana College
Classics and the Seminary
Augustana Goals for Our
Pre-Seminary Students
in Greek
After one year (Greek 101-102-103): The goal of access to koinê
and New Testament Greek. By "access" we mean the ability...
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To read the the Greek New Testament using a lexicon, and to know
what other resources can also contribute to a basic understanding of it.
(Yes, you're right: This is the level of morphology, syntax, and vocabulary--but
of many exciting insights, too.)
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To know the Greekness of the New Testament--especially the terms
that express moral values--in the original context of social function and
emotion of a First Century, Greek-speaking audience.
After more than one year (the Greek 200s and 300s): The goal of depth
in koinê and New Testament Greek. This is the goal
of ...
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Insight into the language as the nervous system of a complex culture rooted
in a thousand-year-old tradition of myth and heroic action
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Insight into the Greek of the New Testament authors, who knew that tradition
and who wanted to make their News intelligible to the children of that
tradition
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The fluency that results from these insights, which go deeper than sheer
grammar and lexicon. In particular we encourage enrollment in Greek 216,
The Literature of the Cosmopolis, which surveys the literary forms of the
turbulent and diverse Hellensitic period.
How well do Augustana graduates do via this curricular philosophy? Our
Greek students have succeeded--have usually distinguished themselves--in
all programs they entered, whether in nationally-based divinity and religion
graduate schools, or in denominational seminaries. We are proud of them.
And without exception they have told us to continue this philosophy of
education in Greek for those who will follow them.
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Please send communications about this page to:
Chair, Department of Classics
By post:
Chair, Department of Classics
Augustana College
Rock Island, IL 61201-2296
By fax: 309-794-7702
By voice: 309-794-7240
Last update of this Classics Pre-Seminary Page: 9 February 1997