The “Inside the PTS Curriculum” series gives you an inside look at what students are learning in their courses at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Each article focuses on one class, its subject matter, what students can expect to learn, the required texts, and the kinds of assignments students can expect. We’ll let you know whether the course is required or available for the Master of Divinity (MDiv), the Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies (MAPS), or Master of Theological Studies (MTS). Each article will include the professor’s bio.
This week’s course is: “Greek Grammar II and Exegesis.”
About Greek Grammar II and Exegesis
During this term, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary students will be learning about introductory Greek grammar and reading the New Testament with Dr. Tucker Ferda in the class “Greek Grammar II and Exegesis.” This course fulfills a requirement for students in the Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree program and is available to students in the Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies (MAPS) and the Master of Theology (MTS) degree programs.
This course is the second in a two-part sequence that covers the study of introductory Greek grammar, extends vocabulary memorization, and introduces the practice of exegesis. Students will gain skills in interpreting texts by giving attention to their literary, social, historical, and canonical contexts, and by articulating the meaning of these texts as Christian Scripture. Students will also learn to identify appropriate scholarly resources for biblical interpretation.
By the end of the course, students will be able to master the textbook’s remaining Greek vocabulary and grammar and to translate its exercises with confidence. They will be introduced to and explore various approaches to reading New Testament texts as Christian Scripture, and they will become acquainted with important resources for New Testament exegesis.
Assignments include translation exercises, vocabulary and grammar quizzes, and a final 15-20 page exegetical essay. The required textbook is S.M. Baugh’s A New Testament Greek Primer, 3rd edition, and it is recommended that students acquire a hard copy of the Greek New Testament (such as those by Nestle and Aland).
About the Instructor
Dr. Tucker Ferda began his position as assistant professor of New Testament in 2020 after served as visiting assistant professor of New Testament (2017-2020) and lecturer (2013-2017). He earned his Ph.D. in New Testament from the University of Pittsburgh, where he also served as teaching fellow. In 2015, he was named one of only three Society of Biblical Literature Regional Scholars, an award which “recognizes and promotes outstanding entry-level scholars.” Dr. Ferda has expertise in a wide range of areas in biblical studies, including the Gospels, the life of Jesus, the Old Testament in the New, the history of biblical interpretation, Hellenistic Jewish literature, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and biblical theology.