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Greek Lessons
- Worse Than an Unbeliever: Conditional Grammar and Denied Faith
- When Darkness Cries Out: The Fear of Holiness in Mark 5:7
- Nets at the Breaking Point: Obedience and Overflow in Luke 5:6
- The Future Passive and the Inheritance of the Earth
- The Parable Begins: Greek Imagery and Eschatological Invitation in Matthew 25:1
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Category
Monthly Archives: March 2025
“οὐκ ἔλαβον μεθ’ ἑαυτῶν ἔλαιον”: Aorist Negation and Reflexive Emphasis in Matthew 25:3
Introduction: What They Failed to Bring The final clause in this verse exposes the foolish virgins’ core mistake: οὐκ ἔλαβον μεθ’ ἑαυτῶν ἔλαιον — “they did not take oil with themselves.” The verb ἔλαβον {elabon} is aorist active, and the … Continue reading
“λαβοῦσαι τὰς λαμπάδας αὐτῶν”: Aorist Participial Sequence in Matthew 25:3
Introduction: What They Took—And What They Didn’t Matthew 25:3 reads: Αἵτινες μωραὶ, λαβοῦσαι τὰς λαμπάδας αὐτῶν, οὐκ ἔλαβον μεθ’ ἑαυτῶν ἔλαιον. “Those who were foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with themselves.” Here Study more …..
“Αἵτινες μωραὶ…”: Indefinite Relative Classification in Matthew 25:3
Introduction: Those Who Were Foolish In Matthew 25:3, part of Jesus’ parable of the Ten Virgins, the foolish group is introduced with the phrase: Αἵτινες μωραὶ, λαβοῦσαι τὰς λαμπάδας αὐτῶν, οὐκ ἔλαβον μεθ’ ἑαυτῶν ἔλαιον. “Those Study more …..
“ἐγένετο” as Divine Narrative Marker: The Aorist Middle in John 2:1
Introduction: The Beginning of Signs John 2:1 begins with an event introduction: “Καὶ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ γάμος ἐγένετο”—“And on the third day there was a wedding.” The seemingly ordinary statement hinges on the verb ἐγένετο {egeneto}, an aorist middle … Continue reading
Greek Grammar Lesson from John 3:16
Verse in Greek Οὕτω γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ’ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. Focus Study more …..
Divine Intention and Participial Purpose in Matthew 3:13: A Greek Grammatical and Theological Analysis
Τότε παραγίνεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰορδάνην πρὸς τὸν Ἰωάννην τοῦ βαπτισθῆναι ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ. Introduction Matthew 3:13 introduces the solemn moment when ὁ Ἰησοῦς voluntarily Study more …..
Synonyms: Two Dimensions of Love: ἀγαπάω and φιλέω in the Greek New Testament
Few word pairs in the Greek New Testament have received as much theological and devotional attention as ἀγαπάω and φιλέω. Both are typically translated “to love,” yet their nuances differ significantly. While these differences can sometimes overlap, especially in Koine … Continue reading
Synonyms: Malice in the Heart: κακία and κακοήθεια in the Greek New Testament
Two Greek words—κακία and κακοήθεια—provide insight into the inner world of moral corruption in the New Testament. While both relate to evil or badness, their applications are distinct. κακία denotes general moral depravity or wickedness in character. κακοήθεια, however, Study … Continue reading
Synonyms: From Cowardice to Reverence: δειλία, φόβος, and εὐλάβεια in the Greek New Testament
Fear in the New Testament is expressed through multiple Greek terms, each with unique connotations. The words δειλία, φόβος, and εὐλάβεια represent three distinct responses to danger, authority, or the divine: cowardice, terror or dread, and reverence. Their careful usage … Continue reading
Synonyms: Servants in Function and Faith: θεράπων, δοῦλος, διάκονος, οἰκέτης, ὑπηρέτης in the Greek New Testament
The vocabulary of servanthood in the Greek New Testament is strikingly diverse. Rather than using a single term for “servant,” the Holy Spirit—through the inspired authors—employs a spectrum of words: θεράπων, δοῦλος, διάκονος, οἰκέτης, and ὑπηρέτης. These Study more …..
Synonyms: Truth in Essence and Truth in Reality: ἀληθής and ἀληθινός in the Greek New Testament
Ἀληθής and ἀληθινός are powerful and subtly distinct adjectives in the Greek New Testament. Though both are translated as “true,” their shades of meaning reveal significant theological depth, especially in the writings of John and the broader Hellenistic background. In the Greek … Continue reading
“γέγραπται” as Scriptural Formula: The Perfect Passive Indicative in Mark 1:2
Introduction: The Authority of What “Is Written” In Mark 1:2, the evangelist introduces a prophetic quotation with the phrase Ὡς γέγραπται ἐν τοῖς προφήταις — “As it is written in the prophets.” The central verb γέγραπται {gegraptai}, from γράφω {graphō}, … Continue reading