20 weeks
Part-time | Online
Starts 17 September 2026; application deadline 30 August 2026.
Maryvale HIRS
Overview
When you open the New Testament, you are reading a translation. The words of Jesus, the letters of Paul and the prologue of John all reach us through the Koine Greek of the first-century Mediterranean world. Koine Greek for Beginners teaches the language of the New Testament from the very start, with no prior knowledge assumed. Over twenty weeks the course moves from the alphabet, through morphology and syntax, to short passages of the New Testament, bringing students by the end of the course to read the opening of St John's Gospel in the original. It teaches Greek as a tool for reading, aiming at steady literacy rather than scholarship. It is taught in-house by Dr Jack Bull.
Catechists, lectors, teachers of the faith, lay theologians, and any serious reader of Scripture who wants to return to the New Testament in the language in which it was first written.
Requirements
No prior knowledge of the language required
Computer or tablet with reliable internet access.
A working knowledge of English, minimum CEFR level B1. Non-native English speakers will need to provide written evidence of their level upon enrolment.
Course Fees
Six steps from first thought to enrolment. Take them at your own pace, and ask for help at any point.
2026 – 2027
£300
2027 - 2028
TBC
Structure & Modules
Twenty weeks of teaching, with a 75-minute weekly live lecture on Canvas covering instruction, questions, discussion and translation practice. The course follows a graded progression: the alphabet and pronunciation, basic morphology, syntax, and the steady building of vocabulary. By the closing weeks, students read short passages of the New Testament directly.
Live lectures are on Thursdays, 17:45 to 19:00 UK time. The course starts on 17 September 2026, with a maximum of 20 students. Course lead: Dr Jack Bull.
Set text, which students buy themselves: The Elements of New Testament Greek by Jeremy Duff.
Programme Director
Dr Jack Bull
BDiv Deputy Director
Assistant Director of the Bachelor of Divinity and a scholar of early Christian literature who teaches Church Latin and Koine Greek at FE level.
Course Tutors
Dr Jack Bull
BDiv Deputy Director
Assistant Director of the Bachelor of Divinity and a scholar of early Christian literature who teaches Church Latin and Koine Greek at FE level.
Supervision & Assessment
Assessment is by a single final written exam, a passage of Koine Greek to translate. The exam is optional. Students who wish to receive a certificate sit it; those who do not take the full course without it. The course leads to a Maryvale Higher Institute of Religious Sciences (HIRS) Certificate.
Accessibility
If you have a disability or any long-term condition that impacts on your day-to-day life, please download the Accessibility Form below, open and edit it in Acrobat Reader, and email or post the completed document to the Accessibility Coordinator (address included on the form), to ensure we can give you the best possible support during your course of study. Disclosing a disability will not be a factor in Institute’s decision as to whether or not to offer you a place on the course. However, it is important that the Institute knows if you have any specialist needs in order to provide you with appropriate support and facilities. This information will remain strictly confidential. For further information, please contact us to speak to the Accessibility Coordinator.
Contact us
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