Catalogue 2008 Book - Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary

THE BIBLICAL DEPARTMENT
JOHN J. AHN, JOHN E. ALSUP, J. ANDREW DEARMAN,
LEWIS R. DONELSON, MONYA A. STUBBS
The various aspects of biblical study logically fall into one of four categories: Biblical
Languages, Introduction and Background, Exegesis, and Biblical Theology. The
courses offered in the Biblical Department are grouped accordingly.
I. BIBLICAL LANGUAGES
If the Scriptures are to speak in their own terms, biblical study presupposes facility
with the original languages. This facility can be gained through the following sequence:
Bi.108 Elementary Biblical Hebrew is taken during the January term of the fi rst year of
study. Students then enroll in Bi.118 The Interpretation of Old Testament Texts during
the spring term of the fi rst year. In the summer of the fi rst year of study students take
Bi.120 Elementary New Testament Greek. Then, in the fall of the second year, the study
of Greek is continued in Bi.216 The Interpretation of New Testament Texts.
A second exegesis course is required in either Old or New Testament and can be
taken after the foundational courses noted above. Students are expected to gain a
working knowledge of the languages and to reach a high level of profi ciency in biblical
interpretation in the course of their exegetical work.
Any student who has satisfactorily completed academic work in biblical Hebrew
or in classical or koiné Greek in an accredited college, university, or theological school
may be qualifi ed to enter the intermediate language course(s), thereby substituting
Bi.110 Intermediate Reading in Biblical Hebrew for Bi.108 Elementary Biblical Hebrew
and/or Bi.122 Intermediate Reading in New Testament Greek for Bi.120 Elementary New
Testament Greek.
By substituting the intermediate language courses for the elementary courses students
are able to gain opportunity for more elective credits. Further, a student may attempt
a placement examination in Greek and/or Hebrew. The successful completion of the
examination will qualify the student to substitute the intermediate reading courses for
the elementary work in biblical languages.
The Rev. John J. Ahn Dr. John E. Alsup
37