1. In order to begin coursework for the licentiate in the Biblical Faculty each student must demonstrate a sufficient knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. This knowledge is checked by means of examinations in Greek and Hebrew which take place during the regular examination sessions, in the months of February, June and October.

2. Only students who pass the qualifying examination in Greek or in Hebrew or who successfully complete both semesters of the propaedeutic courses in those languages (see n. 4) may enroll in the advanced courses of the corresponding language. In order to enroll in any of the courses in the exegetico-theological section or in seminars it is necessary to have passed the examinations in both Greek and Hebrew. The students who pass only one of the two examinations (either of Greek or of Hebrew) must pass the examination in the other language within a period of 18 months.

3. The preparation for the qualifying examinations is the responsibility of the student, and may be done privately or in any center of study.

For the private preparation of the examinations the following textbooks are recommended:

For Greek:

• J. Swetnam, An Introduction to the Study of New Testament Greek, Part I, Morphology, II edition (Subsidia Biblica 16; Pontificio Istituto Biblico, Rome 1998) [Italian translation by C. Rusconi: Il greco del Nuovo Testamento. Parte prima: Morfologia (Edizioni Dehoniane, Bologna 1995)]
• E. G. Jay, New Testament Greek. An Introductory Grammar (London 1979) [italian translation: Grammatica Greca del Nuovo Testamento (Casale Monferrato, AL, 1993)].
• M. Carrez, Grammaire Grecque du Nouveau Testament (Neuchâtel, Suisse 1966).

For Hebrew:

• T. O. Lambdin, Introduction to Biblical Hebrew (New York 1971).
• J. Weingreen, A Practical Grammar for Classical Hebrew (2 ed.; Oxford 1969).

4. For those who do not have a sufficient knowledge of Greek and/or Hebrew, instructors of the Biblical Faculty offer propaedeutic courses in those languages.

5. The qualifying examinations are presented according to the outline given below in point 7). They are graded by professors of the Biblical Faculty appointed for this purpose by the Dean of the Faculty.

6. Each of the qualifying examinations in Greek and Hebrew may be taken only twice. A third possibility to take an examination may be granted by the Dean of the Biblical Faculty, with consideration being given to the results of the preceding examinations. The grading of the examinations is in percentages. To pass an examination a minimum of 60% in each of the two parts of the examination is required. A grade below 60% in one of the two parts requires the repetition of all three parts.

7. Each of the qualifying examination has two parts:

The subject matter for the examination is as follows:

a) Written examination in grammar:

Grading of this part of the examination will be done on the basis of the following criteria: each correct answer is worth one point; a wrong answer is worth no point (even if the error is only partial).

b) For the written examination in translation a translation is asked, without the aid of a dictionary, of passages taken from the Gospels of Mark and/or John as regards Greek; and of passages taken from the Book of Judges (except Chapter 5) as regards Hebrew. In addition, the translation of a passage from another book of the New Testament in Greek and from Hebrew prose narrative from the Old Testament, with the aid of a dictionary, is asked.

The grading of this part of the examination is based on an overall assessment and takes into account the length of the passage translated, the quality of the translation, and the errors made.

N.B.:   The examinations may be done in one of five languages: English, French, German, Italian, or Spanish. A modern-language dictionary may be used during the written examination.

Sample of Greek Examination [PDF]
Sample of Hebrew Examination [PDF]

Dates

In 2009-10 qualifying examinations may be taken on the following dates:

Those who intend to take the qualifying examinations must register at the Secretary's Office of the Institute either in person or by mail.

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