Religion for Breakfast presents:
Learning Coptic Through the Gospel of Thomas
with Dr. Lydia Bremer-McCollum
8 week online seminar
July 8th–August 26th
Learning Coptic Through the Gospel of Thomas
This course introduces the basic grammar and syntax of the Sahidic Coptic dialect through reading the Gospel of Thomas. Designed for beginners, students will learn the Coptic alphabet, basic grammar and syntax, and practice reading a 4th century Coptic text.
Do you love learning new languages?
Are you interested in Egyptian monasticism, the Coptic church, Nag Hammadi literature, Manichaeism, or Coptic magic?
Then, this introduction to Coptic language course is for you!
The course will use the Coptic Gospel of Thomas text to introduce Coptic language inductively, or through study and analysis of examples. Students will leave the class with basic reading competency in Sahidic Coptic and experience reading the Gospel of Thomas.
All students are welcome! The course requires no prior knowledge or experience with Coptic study or any other ancient language.
After taking this class, students will be able to gain elementary Sahidic Coptic reading competency through close study of the Gospel of Thomas, including basic grammar, syntax,
and vocabulary.
Class Schedule
Class 1: Introduction to Coptic Script, Grammar, and the Gospel of Thomas
Class 2: Nouns, Verbs, and Verb-like Things in Coptic
Class 3: Durative Sentences and Prepositions in the Gospel of Thomas
Class 4: Non-Durative Sentences in the Gospel of Thomas
Class 5: Nominal Sentences in the Gospel of Thomas
Class 6: Conversions the Gospel of Thomas Part A + Reading
Class 7: Conversions the Gospel of Thomas Part B + Reading
Class 8: Reading the Gospel of Thomas
Meet Your Instructor
Dr. Lydia Bremer-McCollum
Dr. Lydia Bremer-McCollum holds 10+ years of experience reading, translating, and teaching Coptic at Harvard and Princeton Universities.
She is an expert in ancient Christianities, with a special focus on the collection of texts found near Nag Hammadi and Pachomian monastic literature. In 2023-4, she served as a postdoctoral fellow with the digital platform the Coptic Scriptorium. She also runs a weekly open-access online Coptic reading group.
What students are saying about Religion Department seminars:
"This is exactly the class I’ve been looking for, for years. Better actually, with a skilled and accessible instructor, good pacing, easy to use medium and a reasonable price."
Josh G., Koine Greek with Dr. Chance Bonar
"The course was an excellent value, two months of university quality Greek instruction is not otherwise easy to come by, and the student community was engaged, friendly, and ranged across all skill levels. I would highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to begin learning to engage with Ancient Greek!"
CA Robinson,
Koine Greek with Dr. Chance Bonar
"Dr. Andrew Henry is both a world class scholar and an innovative communicator in the field of religious studies. If you love learning and want an intellectually rigorous yet accessible way to increase your religious literacy, you'll find no better place online than The Religion Department!"
Brandon F., Magic in the Ancient World with Dr. Andrew Henry
