Purpose and Value:

The basic objective is to acquaint the student with the various lexicographical sources for establishing word meanings in Koine Greek. The designated sources cover several different kinds of lexicons and dictionaries. As a result of the paper, the student will have gained an awareness of these sources and their distinctive contribution to New Testament Greek studies.

The grade from this paper will be averaged with the grades from the major exams and the averages of the weekly exams and the written exercises. It will be an additional source for determining the semester grade. Check the Assignment Sheet for the exact due date.

Requirements:

        Form and style should be according to the 6th edition of Turabian. Length should be limited to no more than ten to twelve pages. The paper should be typed and double spaced on regular 8 1/2 X 11 typing paper. Concerning the typing of Greek and Hebrew, the best approach is to type in the Greek and Hebrew with a typewriter or with a computer software capable of producing Greek and Hebrew. If this is not possible then the Greek and Hebrew should be handwritten into the paper. The rule of thumb is to allow five blank spaces for every three letters of a Greek or Hebrew word. Unacceptable is the transliteration of the Greek or Hebrew into English letters.

If a computer word processing software is used, two matters must be given attention: (1) In the introduction of the paper identify the computer hardware including printer and the computer software used in the preparation of the paper; (2) if the software does not conform to Turabian style guides at certain minor points, then a content footnote must be placed at the beginning of the paper giving a detailed listing of the points of nonconformity to Turabian. These must be minor points of variance in order to avoid being graded down on style.

        Content requirements: Analysis of the chosen word should be made in each of the designated sources.¹ The areas of usage will include in the following order: the Greek writings (classical and papyri); the Jewish writings including the LXX translation of the Old Testament Hebrew text and the intertestamental period containing the rabbinical and the apocalyptic writings; the New Testament writers by literary types [Gospels — Synoptic and John; Acts; Epistles — Pauline and Catholic; Revelation]; and the early Church Fathers. Not every word will occur in each of the above categories of usage. A good starting point is Kittel's Theological Dictionary. Representative New Testament passages of the significant shades of meaning should be examined to see how the definition contributes to the interpretation of a particular passage. A summary statement should conclude the paper expressing the results of the research for understanding the importance of that particular term for biblical studies.

        Format of the paper:Two options (see table below) exist concerning possible format as follows: Either use the above categories [Greek- Classical, Papyri; Jewish-LXX, Apocalyptic, Rabbinical; New Testament-Gospels, Acts, Epistles, Revelation; Church Fathers] as the organizing topics; or, use the basic categories of definitional meaning [See Gingrich-Danker for specification of basic categories.]. If the etymological categories are used, then the basic shades of meaning must be examined under each division. On the other hand, if the definitional categories are the organizing divisions, etymological divisions must be examined as subdivisions. The choice of format will largely be determined by how extensive the range of meanings is. For those words with a wide range of somewhat unrelated meanings, the second format option is preferable; otherwise, the first option should be followed. The summary conclusion will come last. Include a frequency chart of the occurrences of the selected word group based on either Kurt Aland or Robert Morgenthaler.² No bibliography is required if only designated sources are used. Otherwise, a bibliography following Turabian form will come last.

The format options will create one of the two possible outline structures below:

Designated Sources:³
Aland, Kurt, ed. Vollständige Konkordanz zum Griechischen Neuen Testament. Vol. 2: Spezialübersichten. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1978. The section entitled "Wortstatistik" (Word Frequency) should be used for this assignment. Simply look up your word(s) listed alphabetically in Greek and then list the frequency according to the above designated categories of New Testament literature. (Aland)

Brown, Colin, ed. The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology. 3 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1975-1978. A theological treatment of selected Greek words. (Brown)

Gingrich, F. Wilbur, and Danker, Frederick W. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. rev. ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1979. (BAG)

Kittel, Gerhard, and Friedrich, Gerhard, eds. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Trans. Geoffrey W. Bromiley. 9 vols. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1964-1973. (Kittel; note spelling)

Lampe, G.W.H., ed. A Patristic Greek Lexicon. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1968. The standard lexicon for the church fathers. (Lampe)

Liddell, H. G., and Scott, Robert. A Greek-English Lexicon. 9th ed. Oxford: University Press, 1940. The standard lexicon for classical Greek literature. (L-S)

Louw, Johannes P., and Nida, Eugene A., eds. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains. 2 vols. New York: United Bible Societies, 1988. A very important new approach to Greek lexicography dealing with word groups of related meaning. (L-N)

Morgenthaler, Robert. Statistik des neuetestamentlichen Wortschatzes. 3rd rev. ed. Zurich: Gotthelf Verlag, 1982. Can be used the same way as K. Aland. (Morgenthaler)

Moulton, J. H., and Milligan, George. The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1930. The standard lexicon for the Greek papyri. (M-M)

Optional Sources:
Barclay, William. A New Testament Wordbook. New York: Harper and Brothers, n.d.

________________. More New Testament Words. New York: Harper and Brother, 1958.

Blaiklock, E. M. Word Pictures from the Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1969.

Hobbs, Herschel H. Preaching Values from the Papyri. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1964.

Thayer, J. H. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. rev. ed. New York: American Book Company, 1899.

Wuest, Kenneth S. Golden Nuggets from the Greek New Testament. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1944.

Vine, W. E. An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. Westwood, N.J.: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1940.

Word List (Choose only one.⁴):
Caution: Before the list of Greek words below will appear correctly on your computer monitor and print out correctly, you must  download and install the free BSTGreek True Type fontsfrom Bible Study Tools.  Follow their instructions regarding downloading and installing for either PC or Mac computer systems.
 

ajgavph, hJ  a[ggelo", oJ a&gio", -a, -on  ajdikiva, hJ  ai[wn, -o", oJ  ajlhvqeia, hJ  aJmartiva, hJ  ajmhvn  ajpovstolo", oJ ajpovllumi ajsqevneia, hJ  bavptisma, -ato", tov  basileiva, hJ  glw'ssa, hJ  gnw'si", -ew", hJ grafhv, hJ  diamovnion, tov diavbolo", -on diaqhvkh, hJ  dikaiosuvnh, hJ  dovxa, hJ  dou'lo", oJ  duvnami", -ew", hJ  ejkklhsiva, hJ ejlpiv", -ivdo", hJ  ejcousiva, hJ e[rgon, tov

eujaggevlion, tov  zwhv, hJ  qavnato", oJ  qevlhma, -ato", tov qeov", oJ iJerovn, tov  kairov", oJ  kardiva, hJ  karpov", oJ  kefalhv, hJ  khvrugma, -ato", tov krivsi", -ew", hJ  lovgo", oJ  maqhthv", oJ  marturiva, hJ  musthvrion, tov  naov", oJ  nou'", noov", oJ  nuvx, nuktov", hJ  oijkiva, hJ oujranov", oJ  parabolhv, hJ paravklhsi", hJ pavsca, tov pivsti" -ew", hJ pneu'ma, -ato", tov pneumatokov", -hv, -ovn

porneiva, hj presbuvtero", -a, -on proseuchv, hJ proskunevw profhteiva, hJ  rJh'ma, -ato", tov shmei'on, tov skovto", -ou", tov  spevrma, -ato", tov sofiva, hJ  staurov", oJ  sunagwghv, hJ  sw'ma, -ato", tov swthriva, hJ  tevlo", -ou", tov timhv, hJ  fivlo", -h, -on fovbo", oJ fw'", fwtov", tov carav, hJ  Cristov", oJ  yuchv, hJ

For a sample copy of a correctly completed paper done in the PDF format click on the icon.
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          ¹Be sure to treat the related forms as well. For example, if the chosen word is a noun, then treat also any existing verb and adjectival forms. Give first priority to the most immediately related words such as verbs, adejectives etc. directly built off the same stem. Of lesser importance, but not to be ommitted, are the compound forms derived from the root stem.

          Also very important is the identification of the semantic domain in which the selected word occurs. This can be identified through the Louw and Nida lexicon. Some treatment of synonyms etc. based on this lexicon needs to be included.

          ²This chart should reflect the above defined groupings of the New Testament literature. Also the basic categories of meaning determined for the usage in the New Testament should be identified for each of these words in the grouping. For example, Synoptic Gospels (25A, 2B, 10C = 37), John (2A, 25B, 0C = 27), etc. This will reflect the fact that meaning A is primarily found in the Synoptics while meaning B is mainly in John. Meaning C is found only in the Synoptics. This chart should be included in the Introduction of the paper and serve as a basis for discussing the word group generally in the paper and especially in the New Testament section.

          ³( ) at end of listing designates the required abbreviation for use in text notes. Some of these sources are not available in Dover Library, but can be used in Dr. Cranford's office.

          ⁴Other words may be used only if cleared beforehand with the professor.
 

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