| |
|
|
Check out my "Peace Church Bible Study Home Page" at www.read-the-bible-org. Most of my Biblical Studies and Quaker Studies content is there; this one's just for classes and projects at the Earlham School of Religion and Bethany Theological Seminary (including the Brethren Academy). |
Susan JeffersProjects for the Earlham School of Religion, Bethany Theological Seminary, and Brethren Academy for Ministerial LeadershipThis web page was last updated on 12/15/2011
|
 |
EMail me at jeffesu@earlham.edu
Normally this course is offered in alternate years; the next time is scheduled to start in late August 2012. Check back as the time grows nearer, if you're interested.
Whether you're enrolled or not, you're welcome to use the material in the Greek I pre-course assignment to learn to pronounce the Greek alphabet and sound out words and sentences in New Testament Greek. For other online resources for learning the biblical languages, visit http://www.read-the-bible.org/LearnLanguages.html. For online help at any stage of biblical Greek studies, check out the Biblical Greek Forum, B-Greek.
This course is primarily for students in the TRIM (TRaining In Ministry) program of the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership. The next Orientation session is scheduled to begin in August, 2012, with the online Intro to Biblical Studies course lasting for 8 weeks after Orientation. Here is a typical pre-Orientation assignment, in case you'd like to get some idea what the course will be like. Please note that I have changed the required Bible Dictionary for courses beginning summer 2011, from the Oxford (and before that, Eerdmans), to the newly-revised HarperCollins. Two online resources I expect students in this class to use: my Biblical Studies Glossary and my reference sheet for interpreting the valuable NRSV Text & Translation Notes.
In recent years, I have taught online courses on the books of Judges, 2 Corinthians, and Isaiah. Coming up in February 2012, I am scheduled to teach "Matthew and the Brethren." These are continuing education type courses, available to Brethren Academy students and interested others (including Quakers). They are completely online and the cost is nominal. For courses on particular books of the Bible, I generally use volumes of the Believers Church Bible Commentary Series to complement our primary focus on the biblical text. In each course we also study a little bit of the original language, Hebrew and/or Greek as appropriate.
I continue to explore venues for helping persons with an interest in the Bible get started learning Greek and Hebrew. I generally include a short introduction to the Hebrew language in my OT courses, and the Greek language in my NT courses. I've prepared several workbooks and audio CDs, in an effort to help students learn enough to sound out words and appreciate thoroughly-explained examples. Here's one of my recent efforts -- even if you don't know the Hebrew alef-bet! First open the explanation document in one window, and then play the sound file to hear the verse pronounced. For other online resources for learning the biblical languages, visit http://www.read-the-bible.org/LearnLanguages.html; although I have to confess I've not updated it for quite some time! Oh -- and I've posted the powerpoint slides and additional resources from a presentation Sandra Hack Polaski and I made at the November 2005 Society of Biblical Literature meeting, called "Tips for Teaching Greek Online."
Other Activities
In my spare time, I also write websites for various individuals and groups, and some publications and other materials:
Peace Church Bible Study Home Page - my primary personal site
Automotive Engineering Consultants, Inc. Engineering experts in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Friends Theological College, Kaimosi, Kenya
Friendly Bible Study Online version of Joanne & Larry Spears pamphlet, long popular among Friends. I'm hoping to get permission to post others of my favorite print resources for public use.
Automotive Engineering Links to Resources Vehicle components, regulations and standards, fuel economy, and much more.
EMail me at jeffesu@earlham.edu