Why should I learn New Testament Greek?

There are so many excellent Bible translations around today that you may well ask! However, translations often differ significantly in how they interpret the Greek text, and unless you can read it for yourself, you will always be at their mercy. If you have ever been drawn into a debate about what a particular passage of scripture really means, a knowledge of Greek can get you a long way towards finding a resolution.

Isn't NT Greek a very difficult language to learn?

No. Of course it's not easy either - no language can be mastered without effort . Greek only looks harder than most at first because it uses an unfamiliar alphabet. But even if you only learn four letters a day, you'll have it mastered in a week, with Sunday off for good behaviour! And in fact, most of the New Testament was composed in a very clear and simple style which bears no resemblance to the Shakespearean English of the King James Bible. It's often referred to as 'koine' (common) Greek, the language of the ordinary people. Though it is very similar to Classical ('Ancient') Greek, it is much more straight-forward to learn.

Why can't I just order the textbook and teach myself, without the bother of emailing a tutor?

Of course, you could. But I have myself tried on a number of occasions to learn Hebrew by this method. I've used different text books, as well as CD-Roms and websites. Every time, I have ground to a halt because there has been no one available to explain something I don't understand or clear up some misconception, or simply reassure me that I'm tackling the exercises in the right way. It makes all the difference to have someone to email for help and affirmation.

Then wouldn't I be better off doing a hi-tech course with video conferencing facilities where I can talk to my tutor and classmates in real-time?

You might, if you have an up-to-the-minute computer to match, and lots of technical know-how. But these courses are extremely expensive, and can be quite restricting: you have to start when their semester starts, keep up with the pace of the class, meet homework deadlines regardles of other commitments, etc..

Who will my tutor be?

For the time being I shall be undertaking all the tutoring in person. I have a starred first class honours degree in Classics and Theology from Cambridge University, where I won prizes for Greek Prose Composition. I am also a fully accredited and experienced teacher; I have taught Classics and Religious Studies for many years in schools. I am an A level examiner in Classsics with the OCR, and a tutor for the Cambridge Schools Classics Project, which runs a course similar to this one but for Latin. So I have plenty of experience of tutoring 'on-line' as well as face to face.

What can I expect from my tutor?

I shall give you advice on how to get started with the text book; after that I shall be involved chiefly in marking your work regularly, offering suggestions as to how to improve it, and in answering any questions (by email) which you can't find an answer to in the text book.

How can I write in Greek letters on a normal computer keyboard?

You can download a Greek font for free. There is a bewildering variety of these to be found on the Internet; I shall advise you as to which is the simplest to download and to use for your studies.

How will my work be marked?

Some of the exercises in the book you can mark yourself from the answers given in the back. Other exercises are deliberately not supplied with answers. When you have completed one of these exercises, you will send it to me as a 'Word' attachment to an email. I shall mark and return it to you within a few days.

Will I get a certificate at the end?

There are various nationally and internationally accredited examinations which you could take when you have finished the course. But the main aim isn't to get a certificate; it's to read the New Testament in its original language! So I shall give you advice on which version/s to buy or download, whether in book form or for computer.

Why is this service being provided for free?

Because it is new, and I want to see how it goes before expecting anyone to pay for it! However, the text book you will be using, although only published in 2005, is the latest edition in a long line stretching back for almost a hundred years. Thus the course-material itself has certainly been tried and tested.

So how do I begin?

Just send me an email, with no obligation, saying you're interested. My email address is jillfhudson@hotmail.co.uk. I shall email you back in a day or two and we'll take it from there.

Last updated 7th July 2009