Learning Coptic Through the Gospel of Thomas
- Level 2 -
with Dr. Lydia Bremer-McCollum
January 5th - February 23rd
Lectures recorded Mondays 9:00 AM EST
Register NowAre you ready to build on your Coptic foundation and strengthen your reading skills?
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Register now for Dr. Lydia Bremer-McCollum’s 8-week live seminar, beginning Monday, January 5th, 2026 at 9:00–10:30 AM EST!
The course will help students review and solidify Coptic grammar introduced in Level 1 of Learning Coptic Through the Gospel of Thomas. Students will learn how to read and study the Gospel of Thomas in Coptic and apply their grammar knowledge and vocabulary to read through the Coptic Gospel of Thomas and other Nag Hammadi and Sahidic Coptic texts on their own.
Through targeted review of key grammar concepts and close reading, this Level 2 seminar will equip students with intermediate reading skills.
Course Structure
Each 90-minute session is divided into two components:
- Review of key grammar concepts
- Close reading of selected sayings from the Gospel of Thomas
This course is designed for students who have completed Learning Coptic Through the Gospel of Thomas (Level 1) or who already have a basic foundation in Sahidic Coptic.
If you’re eager to strengthen your skills and keep building on what you’ve learned, this seminar will help you take the next step with confidence.
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✔ 8 live 90-minute lectures, Mondays at 9:00 AM EST, starting January 5th 2026
- âś” Lectures are recorded live with immediate lifetime access
- âś” Community Discussion Forum
- âś” Weekly Exercises
Class Schedule
Week 1: Reviewing Ways of Describing Nouns and Close Reading of Thomas
Week 2: Reviewing Present and Future Tense and Close Reading of Thomas
Week 3: Reviewing Past Tense and Close Reading of Thomas
Week 4: Reviewing Complex Clause Construction and Close Reading of Thomas
Week 5: Reviewing Commands and Close Reading of Thomas
Week 6: Reviewing Conversions and Close Reading of Thomas
Week 7: Even More Review of Conversions and Close Reading of Thomas
Week 8: Close Reading of Thomas (and Student Questions)
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:
"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
"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
"Dr. Lydia Bremer-McCollum is at wonderful and passionate teacher who truly invites you to feel the beauty and complexity of the Coptic language. It is amazing how you are able to navigate primary sources after just 8 weeks of classes."
Student,
Learning Coptic Through Thomas with Dr. Lydia Bremer-McCollum
Frequently Asked Questions
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An online seminar brought to you by Religion for Breakfast
From Andrew Henry's YouTube channel about the academic study of religion, the Religion Department connects world experts of religion to global learning communities. Our classes are designed to be engaging, entertaining, and to accommodate multiple learning styles and schedules.
