Students interested in attending Concordia Seminary, St. Louis and who seek to gain proficiency in the biblical languages may enroll in a new online Greek course that will begin with the 2015-16 academic year.

The course is designed to serve two groups of students: First, those who have completed the Specific Ministry Pastor program (SMP) and are continuing their studies toward non-restricted certification in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Second, those who plan to enroll at Concordia Seminary in the Master of Divinity program but do not have access to residential Greek instruction. The course will help prepare both groups of students to take the Entry Level Competency Exam (ELCE) in Greek, an entry-level requirement for both the SMP Alternate Route program and the MDiv program. The ELCEs consist of up to five exams in Old Testament, New Testament, Christian doctrine, Hebrew, and Greek.

The course will be offered beginning this fall, led by pre-eminent Greek scholar Dr. James W. Voelz, graduate professor of exegetical theology. He is the author of Fundamental Greek Grammar and has taught Greek for 40 years. The schedule for this course consists of a two-hour live online tutoring session on Thursdays throughout the three quarters of the academic year. Students should plan to commit eight hours in additional study each week.

“I am excited to be part of this innovative presentation of Koine Greek,” said Voelz. “It will involve a ‘flipped classroom’ format, with students viewing newly recorded classroom sessions on their own first, and then debriefing with the instructor ‘live’ online. It will be hard work, but it will be fun, too.”

Registration is open here through Aug. 14, 2015, and the course fee is $800 per quarter. Class size will be limited to 15 students.

The course is designed primarily for current and prospective incoming students. If, however, space is available it will be open to anyone wishing to learn Greek. While it is a noncredit course with no prerequisites, a solid understanding of English grammar will be essential to success.

To request an application or get more information, contact Gina Matzenbacher in the Registrar’s office at 314-505-7107 or matzenbacherg@csl.edu. Residential summer term and fall term Greek intensive courses continue to be offered by Concordia Seminary. Taught over a 10-week term, these courses also prepare students for the Greek ELCE and for study of the New Testament in Greek during their seminary studies. For information on these classes, contact Rev. Bill Wrede, director of Admissions, at 314-505-7200 or wredew@csl.edu.

About Concordia Seminary
Concordia Seminary provides Gospel-centered graduate-level theological education for pastors, missionaries, deaconesses, scholars, and other leaders in the name of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). Since its founding in 1839, Concordia Seminary has equipped more than 12,000 graduates to serve Church and world. Today, a world-renowned faculty teaches more than 600 students in the classroom, off-campus, and online. Learn more at www.csl.edu.