Ἀσπάζονταί σε οἱ μετ’ ἐμοῦ πάντες. ἄσπασαι τοὺς φιλοῦντας ἡμᾶς ἐν πίστει. Ἡ χάρις μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν· ἀμήν. (Titus 3:15)
All those who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
This closing verse blends personal affection with communal benediction. It emphasizes Christian fellowship and shared loyalty “in faith,” sealing the letter with a wish for grace and unity.
Koine Greek Breakdown
The sentence structure is simple yet rich in relational language, featuring middle-passive verbs, dative constructions, and an elegant benediction formula.
- Present Middle/Passive Indicative: Ἀσπάζονται — “they greet” (reflexive and social in tone)
- Imperative Middle: ἄσπασαι — “greet!” (second person singular command)
- Articular Participle: τοὺς φιλοῦντας — “those loving” as a substantive expression
- Dative of Manner: ἐν πίστει — “in faith” (expresses sphere of relationship)
- Prepositional Blessing Formula: Ἡ χάρις μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν — “Grace be with all of you”
Try parsing “ἄσπασαι”
Aorist Middle Imperative, 2nd Person Singular — “Greet!” (you, personally).
Classical Greek Comparison
A Classical Greek rendering would elevate the diction slightly and rearrange for formal grace. Some verb forms and expressions might change to reflect Classical idiom.
Χαίρουσίν σε πάντες οἱ μετ’ ἐμοῦ. Χαίρειν ἔρρησο τοῖς ἡμᾶς φιλοῦσιν ἐν πίστει. Ἡ χάρις πᾶσιν ὑμῖν εἴη. ἀμήν.
- Χαίρουσίν σε: A Classical alternative to Ἀσπάζονται, often used for greeting or well-wishing
- ἔρρησο: 2nd person optative or imperatival form — poetic or high-register way of saying “farewell” or “greet”
- εἴη: Optative of wish used in blessings (Classical style) vs. Koine’s verbless benediction
Think Like a Philologist: Why does Classical Greek prefer εἴη instead of leaving “ἡ χάρις μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν” verbless?
Suggested Answer
Classical Greek favors explicit verb forms in formal wishes. The optative εἴη (“may it be”) matches the mood of hope and politeness found in public and epistolary styles.
Semantic and Stylistic Shifts
Koine expresses warmth with simplicity. It avoids unnecessary flourish and assumes the reader knows the verb behind the blessing. Classical Greek, by contrast, inserts rhetorical flourish — using εἴη for a fuller, more elegant expression of blessing.
Koine is a friendly handwritten note; Classical is a calligraphed letter from a civic dignitary.
Cultural Insight
In both Koine and Classical society, letter closings were relational and formal. What’s distinct about the Christian epistolary style is how grace and faith frame the community — not just affection or civic duty.
Summary Comparison Table
| Koine Usage | Classical Usage | Learner Takeaways |
|---|---|---|
| Ἀσπάζονταί σε | Χαίρουσίν σε | Both express greeting; Koine uses relational verb, Classical uses well-wishing verb. |
| ἄσπασαι τοὺς φιλοῦντας | ἔρρησο τοῖς φιλοῦσιν | Imperative forms vary; Classical prefers stylistic variations like ἔρρησο. |
| Ἡ χάρις μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν | Ἡ χάρις πᾶσιν ὑμῖν εἴη | Koine drops the verb; Classical includes optative for formality and blessing tone. |
Glossary
- Middle/Passive Indicative: Verbs where the subject is involved or affected by the action (e.g., Ἀσπάζονται).
- Aorist Imperative: Command form expressing simple or single action (e.g., ἄσπασαι).
- Optative Mood: Classical mood expressing wishes or possibilities (e.g., εἴη = “may it be”).
- Articular Participle: Participles used with articles to function like nouns (e.g., τοὺς φιλοῦντας).
- Dative of Manner: Describes how something is done or the sphere in which it’s true (e.g., ἐν πίστει = “in faith”).
