Get Certified, Prove Your Knowledge!
Test out of Greek and leave translations in the dust!
Certification gives you confidence that you are reading and studying like a scholar!
Whether you're preparing for seminary, or just want clarity of competence, Biblical Mastery Academy Certification provides you with an objective standard to prove your knowledge of Greek.
Progress Through 3 Levels of Certification
Level 1
Level 1 certification demonstrates that you've learned the basics, gained confidence and experience translating and reading and have a solid starting vocabulary.
Achievements
- ~1000 word vocabulary
- Mastery of 7 New Testament Books
- Confidence translating and reading
- Grammatical competence
- About 1 year of consistent work*
- Renew or progress within 2 years**
Academic Equivalence
Completion of Level 1 certification is roughly the equivalent of what would be required in Greek to complete a Bachelor's of the Arts in Biblical Studies. Note that this is not the equivalent of a degree, which will include much more scope than just Greek. However, level 1 certification is equivalent to the Greek language requirements within the degree.
Level 2
Level 2 gives further experience reading the New Testament in Greek, providing mastery of 20 New Testament books, solid hermeneutical understanding and exegetical experience.
Achievements
- ~3500 word vocabulary
- Mastery of 20 New Testament Books
- Confident with exegesis and grammar
- Syntactical competence
- 2-3 years of consistent work*
- Renew or progress within 3 years**
Academic Equivalence
While many Master of Divinity programs do not require languages, completion of Level 2 certification is roughly the equivalent of a robust education in Greek at a graduate level. Note that this is not the equivalent of a degree, just the Greek language requirements within the degree, and should be more than sufficient for MDiv graduates without Greek to gain entrance into doctoral programs that require Greek.
Level 3
Level 3 certification requires the proficiency you'd want to be able to read the Greek New Testament daily and complete it in 6 months with little to no support from tools
Achievements
- ~5300 word vocabulary
- Mastery of all the New Testament
- Advanced exegesis & linguistics
- Experience in the LXX and Greek Fathers
- 3-5 years of consistent work*
- Perpetual (no renewal necessary)**
Academic Equivalence
Level 3 certification will provide similar or better proficiency with the Greek text than most New Testament PhD programs require at graduation. Note that this is not the equivalent of a doctorate, but is a fair representation of the Greek language requirements at a doctoral level.
* The amount of time may vary from student to student. Certification is self-paced but progress is objectively measured.
** See notes below about maintenence
Why Become Certified?
When you need an objectively demonstrable level of knowledge in the Greek of the New Testament, Biblical Mastery Academy certification delivers.
Many colleges and seminaries will allow students to waive language classes if they can demonstrate competence. Biblical Mastery Academy Certification is designed to provide clarity that professors and accrediting bodies can evaluate with confidence.
As Biblical Mastery Academy grows and evolves, additional benefits to certification will develop for certified members.
Who can become certified?
Biblical Mastery Academy Certification is currently an optional benefit of the Greek Mastery Membership. The primary focus of the Greek Mastery Memberships to develop a greater love for Christ and the Word through knowledge of the languages, so members are not required to complete certification, but certification is offered an optional add-on to the membership.
Certification is currently not available to non-members.
Requirements for Certification
Requirements for Level 1
Completion of Level 1 certification combines both work done with interaction on live calls with a qualified examiner.
| Requirement | Measure |
|---|---|
|
Completed Beginning Greek |
Evaluated by completion of subsequent requirements |
|
Completion of Reading Greek course |
Attendance and participation on calls |
|
Mastery of 7 New Testament Books |
Completion of Milestone 1 |
|
Translation and Parsing |
Demonstrate parsing competency on our spot translation exam |
|
Reading Completed |
Two page reading responses submitted |
Level 1 Required Reading
Beginning Grammar
Completed reading of any beginning Greek grammar. Simple yes/no is sufficient, no reading response required.
Greek for Life
Read and submit 2 page reading response to Greek for Life by Benjamin Merkle and Robert Plummer
Intro to the GNT
Read and submit 2 page reading response for the Introduction to the Greek New Testament Produced at Tyndale House Cambridge
Requirements for Level 2
Completion of Level 2 certification requires additional involvement in courses, additional reading and community involvement. Competency is evaluated over time through active engagement as well as written evidence.
| Requirement | Measure |
|---|---|
|
Mastery of 20 New Testament Books |
Completion of Milestone 4 |
|
Completed Greek Exegesis course |
Attendance and participation on calls |
|
Complete Interpretation and Text Criticism Courses |
Attendance and participation on calls |
|
Exegetical Competency |
Ability to explain syntactical concerns in Spot translation exam |
|
Reading Completed |
Two page reading responses submitted |
|
Written Essay |
10 page, formatted paper on NT studies topic |
* Courses currently being developed, and will include both hermeneutical and exegetical principles of Ephesians (epistolary), 2 Peter (prophetic) and Mark (narrative).
Level 2 Required Reading
Intermediate Grammar
Read and submit 2 page reading response for Mathewson and Emig's Intermediate Greek Grammar
Greco-Roman World
Read and submit 2 page reading response on James Jeffers' The Greco-Roman World of the Greek New Testament
Hermeneutics
Read Hermeneutics: Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation and complete special reading response.
Verbal Aspect
Read and submit 2 page reading response for Constantine Campbell's Basics of Verbal Aspect in Biblical Greek
Text Criticism
Read and submit 2 page reading response for Fundamentals of New Testament Textual Criticism by Stanley Porter and Andrew Pitts.
Requirements for Level 3
Completion of Level 3 certification requires additional involvement in advanced courses, completed reading (twice) through the Greek New Testament and demonstration of community leadership.
| Requirement | Measure |
|---|---|
|
Completed Greek Syntax course |
Attendance and participation on calls |
|
Completion of additional courses* |
Attendance and participation on calls |
|
Reading Competency |
Completed reading Greek New Testament in six months |
|
Reading Completed |
Two page reading response submitted (texts TBA) |
|
Mastery of New Testament |
Completion of Milestone 7, Spot translation examination anywhere in the Greek New Testament, and select LXX/AF texts. |
* Full Level 3 Requirements are still in development
How to get from here to there.
Here are the steps you’ll need to go through to become Level 1 certified.
Maintain Your Certification
Use it or lose it.
Experience shows that the lower your skills with Greek are, the more likely you are to forget what you’ve learned.
This experience drives the maintenance requirements for Biblical Mastery Academy Certification.
The greater your proficiency, the greater the chance you’ll use, retain and develop your knowledge.
Therefore, certification only needs to be maintained at level 1 and level 2. Level one certification, if not further developed needs to be renewed after 2 years. Level two certification after 3 years.
Once you attain Level 3 certification, you never have to renew your certification. After all, why read a translation when you’re proficient in the original Greek?
Level 1 certification automatically lapses after 2 years if you have not continued to develop or maintain your Greek. While you've developed good skill around the basics, your inexperience and low vocabulary keeps you from using Greek as much as you want to.
Level 2 certification automatically lapses after 3 years if you have not continued to develop or maintain your Greek. Your experience has developed significantly and you have a good working vocabulary, but you're still dependant on translations for parts of the New Testament.
Level 3 certification does not lapse. Read the New Testament in Greek once or twice a year with ease, read through the apostolic fathers and read the Septuagint. Read Greek with ever-increasing knowledge every day!
3 Simple Ways to Maintain
Level 1 & 2 Certification.
Ready to get started?
Dr. Darryl Burling
The Greek Mastery Membership opens to those on the Biblical Mastery Academy mailing list several times each year. Join the mailing list to find out more!