As odd as learning Greek during high school may sound, Mr. Spotts’ classes in that subject are highly practical. Koine Greek II aims to provide students the ability to comfortably translate biblical texts into English. At the same time, the course broadens and deepens students’ understanding of the structure, function, and beauty of language. One of this year’s scholars, Emily Garig, remarks, “I find it fascinating how specific the Greek language is. . . . There’s so much more depth and precision, and, sadly, I have become quite addicted to Greek. In my mind, English will forever be second-rate.” The second installment in The Potter’s School’s series of Greek classes, Koine Greek II is designed for students who have a basic understanding of the language but want to refine their comprehension and translation skills. Though this class builds on TPS Greek I, Mr. Spotts also accepts students who have studied Greek through other venues. He offers a placement test to ensure prospective students have mastered “the six verb tenses in the different voices, as well as the three declensions of nouns and adjectives.” With this foundation, students should be well prepared for Greek II.
The class covers all the basics of Greek grammar, giving students the knowledge they need to translate passages of original text, especially from the Bible. Mr. Spotts and his students agree that Greek is an invaluable tool in Bible study. “I've had a number of students over the years contact me after Greek II or III and tell me that they can no longer imagine doing Bible study without looking at the Greek text,” Mr. Spotts explained. “Their understanding of Scripture is better informed by their understanding of the original text.” EmilyG agreed, speaking of her reluctance now to “take the Greek and make it English, because it takes so much away from the original meaning.” Thus the overall emphasis of Greek II, as Mr. Spotts says, is “learning to read the Greek New Testament carefully and effectively,” and he loves for his students to finish with the lifelong skill and thirst for reading the Bible in its original language.
As reading scripture is the final goal of the course, Greek II takes the Gospel of John as its primary text. Initially, students work through a lesson book in addition to doing some translation work. Later in the year, however, they graduate from this book and focus simply on the text. Part of the homework also involves reading Bible commentaries related to the passage at hand. Mr. Spotts expects sixty to ninety minutes of work daily, five days a week, from students as they complete homework. Yet, as the teacher points out, this time is (literally) Bible study and profitable for more than language skills. The work is challenging, sometimes downright hard, and the language is complex. For this reason Mr. Spotts recommends the course for high schoolers only. Despite the difficulty, EmilyG says that “as you reach each mile-marker, you're proud to be there. And I don't think we'd have that if [Mr. Spotts] didn't push us along that mile.”
Every week, class begins with the typical TPS assortment of mic checks, announcements, and prayer. Afterwards, study commences. In the first part of the year, Mr. Spotts spent some time each week discussing a Greek grammar lesson, but eventually the class moved to purely translation-focused classes. Now, the greater part of each class time goes to reading and translating John from the Greek. Comments, questions, and insights—from Mr. Spotts and students alike—punctuate this period of class, sometimes sparking interesting theological discussions. Mr. Spotts sees the classes as a workshop-like time in which he and his students “pick up the text and start reading. When [they] find something which doesn’t make total sense [they] dissect the grammar, make sure [they] can explain it, and continue in [their] study.” Due to the amount of material they cover each week, Mr. Spotts must ensure that classes are “structured” and focused. “That doesn’t mean that we don’t have fun,” one student commented. “We might have too much of it, actually.”
Though in some ways a challenging instructor, Mr. Spotts is also a considerate and well-loved teacher. His Greek classes are considered by many to be the highlight of the school week, and he appears truly to enjoy bringing out the best of his students’ abilities and insights for their own growth and one another’s. From their perspective, he thoroughly knows the material and teaches it well. He “knows how to push his students without utterly crushing them,” one remarked, yet he also knows where to pause, explain, and show patience. “To be honest . . . ,” EmilyG concluded, “you come out of his classes with a feeling of accomplishment.”
Undoubtedly, Greek II provides students with a great Bible study tool while also opening the door to a broader understanding of language and grammar. For those who have some experience in Greek and want to further develop their skills, Koine Greek II merits consideration. Mr. Spotts also offers a Greek III class to take his Greek II graduates to the next level. Ultimately, whether or not they look to continue their studies in college (as some do), students can use what they learn for personal edification. The words of one of this year’s students offer an apt conclusion to any discussion of the class: “I hope to find a Greek New Testament and read to my heart’s content! I almost can’t stand to read the New Testament in English anymore without at least looking at some words in the original Greek.”
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