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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