ABL 305: Advanced Greek Exegesis (Gospels & Epistles)

Full-Scale Seminary Exegesis of Johannine, Pauline, and General Epistle Texts

Course Description

Welcome to ABL 305: Advanced Greek Exegesis! In this culminating Level 3 course, students integrate New Testament textual criticism, verbal aspect theory, discourse grammar, sentence diagramming, semantic domain analysis (BDAG and Louw-Nida), and canonical synthesis to execute rigorous Greek exegesis of key passages in the Gospels and Epistles.

Interactive Companion Language Apps

• Hebrew Alphabet & Vowels Trainer — Interactive consonant, niqqud, and syllable practice
• Greek Alphabet & Grammar Trainer — Interactive alphabet, diphthong, and pronunciation practice
• Hebrew Vocabulary Flash Cards — High-frequency Old Testament Hebrew lexical drills
• Greek Vocabulary Flash Cards — High-frequency New Testament Greek lexical drills
• Manuscript Variant Analysis Platform — Compare MT, LXX, DSS, and Greek NT witnesses

Course Structure

This course is composed of an Interactive Syllabus and five comprehensive chapters. Each chapter includes a detailed Chapter Summary, five in-depth lessons with Lesson Check-in Quizzes, and a 10-question Chapter Test. The course culminates in a 30-question Final Course Exam (62 total learning steps).

Course Outline

Chapter 1: Comprehensive Method for New Testament Greek Exegesis

• Lesson 1: Textual Delimitation, Translation, and Resolving NA28/UBS5 Text-Critical Questions
• Lesson 2: Structural Analysis: Sentence Diagramming, Proposition Arcing, and Discourse Prominence
• Lesson 3: Advanced Verbal Aspect and Aktionsart Analysis in Narrative and Epistolary Genres
• Lesson 4: Lexical Analysis with BDAG, Louw-Nida Semantic Domains, and TLG/LXX Background
• Lesson 5: Biblical-Theological and Systematic Synthesis: Integrating Exegesis with BDA’s Concept Mapper

Chapter 2: Greek Exegesis in the Johannine Writings (John 1:1-18 & 8:58)

• Lesson 1: John 1:1-5: Pre-Existence, Distinct Personhood (pros ton theon), and Deity (theos en ho logos) of the Word
• Lesson 2: John 1:6-13: The Witness of John, the True Light, and Regeneration by the Will of God
• Lesson 3: John 1:14-18: Ho Logos Sarx Egeneto, eskenosen (‘Tabernacled’), and monogenes theos
• Lesson 4: Absolute Ego Eimi Declarations in John (John 8:24, 28, 58; 18:5-6) and Their Isaiah/Exodus Background
• Lesson 5: Exegesis of 1 John 2:1-2 and 4:7-10: Christ Our Parakletos and Hilasmos (‘Propitiation’)

Chapter 3: Greek Exegesis in the Pauline Epistles I (Romans 3:21-26 & 8:28-39)

• Lesson 1: Romans 3:21-22: Nyni de choris nomou dikaiosyne theou pephanerotai (‘Righteousness of God Manifested’)
• Lesson 2: Romans 3:23-24: Pantes gar hemarton, dikaiooumenoi dorean te autou chariti dia tes apolytoseos
• Lesson 3: Romans 3:25-26: Hilasterion (‘Propitiation/Mercy Seat’), En-Deixis of Divine Justice, and Dikaion kai Dikaiounta
• Lesson 4: Romans 8:28-30: The Golden Chain of Redemption (proegno, proorisen, ekalesen, edikaiosen, edoxasen)
• Lesson 5: Romans 8:31-39: Rhetorical Questions and the Unbreakable Love of God in Christ Jesus Our Lord

Chapter 4: Greek Exegesis in the Pauline Epistles II (Ephesians 1:3-14 & Colossians 1:15-20)

• Lesson 1: Syntactic Architecture of Ephesians 1:3-14: One 202-Word Periodic Sentence Structured by Three Refrain Clauses
• Lesson 2: Ephesians 1:3-6: The Father’s Eternal Election and Predestination to Adoption (huiothesia)
• Lesson 3: Ephesians 1:7-14: The Son’s Redemption by His Blood and the Spirit’s Sealing (esphragisthete) and Down Payment (arrabon)
• Lesson 4: Colossians 1:15-17: Christ the Eikon of the Invisible God, Prototokos (‘Supreme/Firstborn’) Over All Creation
• Lesson 5: Colossians 1:18-20: Christ the Head of the Church, Firstborn from the Dead, and Cosmic Reconciliation

Chapter 5: Greek Exegesis in Hebrews and the General Epistles (Hebrews 1:1-4 & Titus 2:11-14)

• Lesson 1: Rhetorical Period, Alliteration (polymers kai polytropos), and Syntax of Hebrews 1:1-4
• Lesson 2: Hebrews 1:3: Apaugasma (‘Radiance’), Charakter tes hypostaseos (‘Exact Imprint of His Nature’), and Katharismos (‘Purification for Sins’)
• Lesson 3: Exegesis of Titus 2:11-14: The Saving Grace of God Appeared (epephane), Training Us in Godliness While Awaiting Our Great God and Savior
• Lesson 4: Exegesis of 1 Peter 2:9-10: A Chosen Race, a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation (LXX Exodus 19:5-6 Applied to the Church)
• Lesson 5: Lifelong Habits for Maintaining and Growing Your Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic Fluency in Ministry

Assessments & Grading

• Lesson Check-in Quizzes: 25 short check-in quizzes following each core lesson to reinforce retention.
• Chapter Tests: Five 10-question Chapter Tests reviewing each chapter’s linguistic and exegetical concepts (80% passing score).
• Final Course Exam: A 30-question comprehensive Final Exam covering all five chapters (80% passing score).