Introduction to Biblical Languages

THL100

This subject introduces students to rudimentary features of Biblical Hebrew and New Testament Greek. It acquaints students with the alphabets of both Hebrew and Greek, familiarises them with basic grammatical features of both languages and facilitates the learning of elementary vocabulary. The subject orients students to the range of grammatical and lexical tools available to support the use of scholarly resources based on Biblical Hebrew and New Testament Greek. It also raises student awareness of interpretive implications arising from cultural dimensions of biblical texts preserved in ancient languages.

Duration

One Semester

Availability

Semester 2 every year

Subject Points

8

Core/Elective

This subject can be used as the compulsory language subject for Bachelor of Theology (BTh)

Delivery Mode

On site at St Francis College Milton; or Externally – log in to listen and participate or view the lecture via video later.

Prerequisites

None

Accordance Bible Software

CSU has an arrangement with Accordance in which students can buy the program at half-price.

Prescribed Texts

Each language section (Greek and Hebrew) has two assessments: a test and a text report.

Assessments

Content

This subject will cover the following topics

  • Hebrew script and writing

  • Hebrew alphabet

  • Hebrew pointing (vowels)

  • Parts of speech

  • Basics of Hebrew grammar and vocabulary

  • Grammatical and lexical tools for Biblical Hebrew

  • Greek alphabet

  • Basics of Greek grammar and vocabulary

  • Grammatical and lexical tools for New Testament Greek

  • Information technology and biblical language studies

  • Interpretive implications of the preservation of the Bible in ancient languages

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

  • be able to recognise and reproduce the Hebrew and Greek alphabets;

  • be able to demonstrate an understanding of basic Biblical Hebrew and Koine Greek grammar;

  • be able to demonstrate recognition of elementary vocabulary in Biblical Hebrew and Koine Greek;

  • be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of relevant grammatical and lexical tools;

  • be able to translate simple phrases from Biblical Hebrew and Koine Greek into English;

  • be able to demonstrate awareness of interpretive implications arising from cultural dimensions of biblical texts as ancient documents; and

  • be able to demonstrate self-guided learning.