“I now entered the first class of what today would be called the gymnasium for classical languages [Greek and Latin] ... In retrospect it seems to me that an education in Greek and Latin antiquity created a mental attitude that resisted seduction by a totalitarian ideology.”
~ Pope Benedict XVI, Memoirs
Why Learn Biblical Greek?
Why not? To understand the New Testament and the classics firsthand, in the language they were written, is a great gift. It helps to establish a strong foundation for Catholic education.
Top Ten benefits to learning a new language, specifically Biblical Greek:
- Knowledge is always increased in learning completely new things.
- Learning a new language, with a new alphabet, improves analytical and logic skills.
- The ability to read the New Testament in it's original language.
- To gain a new cultural perspective.
- A greater appreciation of language and its structure, including English.
- A greater knowledge of English vocabulary, as many English words contain Greek roots.
- Higher SAT and ACT scores.
- Biblical Greek followed by, or proceeded by, Latin benefits students in a unique way as both are the main root languages of our Western culture.
- The Greek language has a long and rich history stretching all the way from the thirteenth century BC to the present.
- Because the pope says it's a good idea!
“Hardly any lawful price would seem to me too high for what I have gained by being made to learn Latin and Greek.”
~C.S. Lewis
(click on course title to register)
Note: This is a 2-part course. Part Two will take plane in the spring semester.
Registration is limited to 15 students.
Class dates: Mondays, September 8 to December 15, 2014. No class Dec. 8 for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Total classes: 14
Starting time: 5:30 pm Eastern (4:30 Central; 3:30 Mountain; 2:30 Pacific)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: Basic English grammar.
Suggested grade level: 7th grade and up.
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Biblical Greek or foreign language.
Fee: $185 if you register on or before Aug. 1, 2014. $205 after August 1st for all 14 classes.
Instructor: Dan Egan (biography below).
Course description: In this course, we begin with the alphabet, which is not as frightening as might be thought. Then we will progress slowly into Nouns and adjectives. A part of the class will be given to Christian Greek symbols and their meanings. We will also focus on Greek roots found in English words to build our English vocabulary – an excellent boost for the SAT vocabulary section. There will be 10-15 minutes of homework every night and progress will be seen in a few short weeks. By the 3rd week we will be reading short passages from the Greek New Testament.
Course materials: Basics of Biblical Greek, Deluxe Edition (2nd Edition) by William Mounce, ISBN # 0310250870. Click on text title for text details and ordering information.
Homework: There will be homework every day from 10 to 15 minutes in duration.
“To read Latin and Greek authors in their original, is a sublime luxury. I thank on my knees him who directed my early education for having put into my possession this rich source of delight; and I would not exchange it for anything which I could then have acquired, and have not since acquired.”
~ Thomas Jefferson
