Content

In this course we will analyze, parse and translate significant parts of the Book of Revelation as well as the Septuagint text of some quotations and allusions of this this book. We shall also read select passages of 1 Corinthians.

• Study of the vocabulary of Revelation. 
• Study of the verb forms and noun forms in Revelation. 
• Comparison of the scriptural quotations with the Septuagint text. 
• Use of the most important scientific tools for the study of the New Testament (lexica, grammars, synopsis, concordance, critical apparatus of N27). 
• Study of the most important text-critical issues of Revelation.
• Study of some prevalent translation issue in Revelation.
• Some examples of the theological relevance of grammatical-philological issues in Revelation.

Aims

 
Knowledge:
Some of the most important primary sources of Christian faith and of theology were originally written in Greek: the Septuagint, the New Testament and some conciliar teksts.
Skills:
At the end of this course students are expected to be able to analyse, parse and translate any text of the Septuagint, the New Testament or councils making use of the available (printed and electronic) tools. Students are able to apply to new texts the paradigms and grammatical rules to translate sentences (of whatever level of complexity). Students are expected to look up sources in the library and on the internet. Students are expected to work with the university’s learning platform Toledo.

Attitude:
Students are expected to have an appreciation for the difference between original texts and their translations. They are expected to acquire the attitude of working with original texts in original languages as much as possible. Students are able to compare translations with the original texts and to compare translations with each other and to analyze the differences.

Description of learning activities

Regular class attendance; improve Greek reading skills; improve Greek writing skills; parsing and translation exercises of selected examples from Revelation to be completed in individual learning activities during the classes and as take home exercises (assignments); self-correction of the exercises making use of the keys provided on Toledo; analyze and translate Greek sentences making use the available printed and electronic tools; making use of Toledo; look up sources in the library and learn to use them.

Course material

 
Required

• J.W. Wenham, The Elements of New Testament Greek, Cambridge, University Press, 1965, many later reprints.
• K. Aland et al. (eds.), Novum Testamentum Graece, Stuttgart, Bibelgesellschaft, (27)1993 (N27).
• A. Rahlfs, (ed.), Septuaginta. Id est Vetus Testamentum graece iuxta LXX interpretes, Stuttgart, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1935, 1979.

• B.M. Newman, A Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament, Stuttgart, United Bible Societies, 1971.
• M. Zerwick & M. Grosvenor, A Grammatical Analysis of the Greek of the New Testament, Rome, Biblical Institute Press, 1988.
• J. Lust, E. Eynikel & K. Hauspie, A Greek-English Lexicon of the Septuagint, Stuttgart, 2003.
• B.A. Taylor, The Analytical Lexicon to the Septuagint. A Complete Parsing Guide, Grand Rapids MI, Zondervan, 1994.
• Greek Tutor, Multimedia CD-Rom. Parsons Technology.
• Gramcord, The Gramcord Institute (http://www.gramcord.org)
• Bible Works (www.bibleworks.com).