Advanced Greek Reading

This course combines intensive study of the Letter to the Hebrews with advanced Greek reading. We will read Hebrews in Greek, paying attention to the way in which the grammatical and syntactical structure of the Greek serves the letter’s rhetorical effect and illuminates meaning. Hebrews grounds its argument in the Hebrew Scriptures, and so we will read also relevant excerpts from the LXX, paying attention to the characteristics of Septuagintal Greek and the way in which Hebrews uses its scriptures. The interplay with Hebrews’ scriptures is fundamental to the course. Hebrews weaves its argument out of the cloth of Israel’s history, cult and hope. Where, then, does it locate that cult, that history and hope in relation to Jesus Christ? Against the background of Christian supersessionism and violence against the Jewish people and their claim and hope, it is a pressing question. This course seeks to explore that question by a close reading of Hebrews in the Greek, with attention in particular to its use of its scriptures in Greek. Along the way we will reinforce and expand the students’ knowledge of grammatical and syntactical elements of Hellenistic Greek.