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Greek Lessons
- Grammatical Resistance: Pharaoh’s Syntax of Control in Exodus 10:11
- The Accusation in Quotation: Pauline Perception and Koine Rhetoric
- Healing and Heralding: The Grammar of Kingdom Nearness
- The Word Near You: Syntax, Faith, and the Internalization of Truth in Romans 10:8
- Synonyms: Image and Likeness: εἰκών, ὁμοίωσις, and ὁμοίωμα in the Greek New Testament
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Category
Author Archives: New Testament Greek
Hope in the Lord: A Pastoral Heart in Philippians 2:19
Philippians 2:19 begins a new section in which Paul outlines his travel plans and commends his coworkers, especially Timothy and Epaphroditus (vv. 19–30). After his Christological hymn (vv. 6–11) and ethical exhortations (vv. 12–18), Paul turns to practical matters — but his theology saturates even this logistics. Verse 19 reveals both his apostolic concern and his deep pastoral affection for the Philippians.
Structural AnalysisἘλπίζω δὲ ἐν κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ Τιμόθεον ταχέως πέμψαι ὑμῖν, ἵνα κἀγὼ εὐψυχῶ γνοὺς τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν·
The verse consists of (1) Paul’s expression of hope, (2) the content of that hope — sending Timothy soon, and (3) the purpose clause introduced by ἵνα, revealing Paul’s motivation: to be encouraged upon hearing news of the Philippians.… Learn Koine Greek
Seeing No One Else: The Art of Exception Clauses and Partitive Constructions
Ἕτερον δὲ τῶν ἀποστόλων οὐκ εἶδον εἰ μὴ Ἰάκωβον τὸν ἀδελφὸν τοῦ κυρίου. (Galatians 1:19)
But I saw no other of the apostles, except James, the brother of the Lord.
Paul’s Personal Testimony and Apostolic DistinctionThis brief verse from Paul’s autobiographical defense in Galatians offers more than a factual statement about his travels — it is a masterclass in Greek syntax. Paul carefully crafts a statement to defend his independence from the Twelve, yet acknowledges one crucial exception: James, the brother of the Lord.
The Greek here demonstrates several elegant syntactic features, especially the partitive genitive, exception clauses with εἰ μή, and apposition.… Learn Koine Greek
Greek Grammar Lesson from Matthew 19:9
Λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ὅτι ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ μὴ ἐπὶ πορνείᾳ καὶ γαμήσῃ ἄλλην, μοιχᾶται· καὶ ὁ ἀπολελυμένην γαμήσας μοιχᾶται. (Matthew 19:9)
But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Conditional Construction with ἂν and Subjunctive + Present Indicative ResultThis verse illustrates a conditional sentence formed with the particle ἂν and a subjunctive verb in the protasis, followed by a present indicative in the apodosis. It also highlights syntactical exceptions and participial usage with theological implications regarding marriage and divorce.… Learn Koine Greek
Shipwrecked by Conscience: Greek Grammar in Warnings of Faith
Ἔχων πίστιν καὶ ἀγαθὴν συνείδησιν, ἥν τινες ἀπωσάμενοι περὶ τὴν πίστιν ἐναυάγησαν (1 Timothy 1:19)
Having faith and a good conscience, which some, having rejected, have suffered shipwreck in regard to the faith.
In this passage, Paul weaves together participles, relative pronouns, and metaphors to issue a stern warning about moral integrity and belief: ἔχων πίστιν καὶ ἀγαθὴν συνείδησιν, ἥν τινες ἀπωσάμενοι περὶ τὴν πίστιν ἐναυάγησαν from 1 Timothy 1:19. The grammar mirrors the danger Paul describes — a subtle drifting that leads to spiritual catastrophe. Let us unpack this verse phrase by phrase.
Grammatical Highlights ἔχων — present active participle, masculine singular; describes the subject as “having” both faith and conscience.… Learn Koine Greek1 Timothy 1:18 and the Language of Apostolic Charge
Ταύτην τὴν παραγγελίαν παρατίθεμαί σοι, τέκνον Τιμόθεε, κατὰ τὰς προαγούσας ἐπὶ σὲ προφητείας, ἵνα στρατεύῃ ἐν αὐταῖς τὴν καλὴν στρατείαν, (1 Timothy 1:18)
This command I entrust to you, child Timothy, according to the prophecies previously spoken about you, in order that by them you may wage the good warfare.
Entrusting, Not Ordering παρατίθεμαί σοι The verb παρατίθημι, here in the middle voice (1st person singular present indicative), literally means “I place beside” or “I entrust.” In Classical Greek (e.g., Thucydides), it often refers to setting forth facts or provisions. In Koine, particularly in personal letters, it takes on the tone of commissioning or entrusting responsibility.… Learn Koine GreekPaul Meets James: Greek Grammar in Apostolic Assembly
Τῇ δὲ ἐπιούσῃ εἰσῄει ὁ Παῦλος σὺν ἡμῖν πρὸς Ἰάκωβον, πάντες τε παρεγένοντο οἱ πρεσβύτεροι. (Acts 21:18)
And on the next day, Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.
In Acts 21:18, Luke describes Paul’s formal visit to James in Jerusalem. The verse — τῇ δὲ ἐπιούσῃ εἰσῄει ὁ Παῦλος σὺν ἡμῖν πρὸς Ἰάκωβον, πάντες τε παρεγένοντο οἱ πρεσβύτεροι — uses temporal participles, motion verbs, and collective subjects to capture a moment of leadership convergence. The grammar here emphasizes not only chronology, but the solemnity and unity of the church leaders in action.
Grammatical Highlights τῇ δὲ ἐπιούσῃ — dative feminine singular participle; “on the next day.”… Learn Koine GreekUnderstanding Correlative Pronouns and Adverbs in NT Greek
In New Testament Greek, correlative pronouns and adverbs play a significant role in connecting ideas and providing clarity in descriptions of place, manner, time, and more. These correlatives appear in various categories like demonstrative, interrogative, indefinite, and relative pronouns and adverbs, often forming pairs or groups that help establish relationships in the text.
Here’s a brief overview of these categories in NT Greek:
1. Demonstrative: These pronouns and adverbs point to specific things, people, or concepts (e.g., “this,” “that,” “here”).
2. Interrogative: These ask questions about identity, place, time, manner, and other qualities (e.g., “who?” “where?” “when?”).
3. Indefinite: These refer to non-specific entities (e.g.,… Learn Koine Greek
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Mastering Greek Verb Endings in the New Testament
Greek Verb Endings in the New Testament: A Quick Guide
In New Testament Greek, verb endings help us determine the grammatical person (first, second, third) and number (singular, plural), as well as the tense (e.g., present, future, aorist) and voice (active, middle, passive). This guide provides a comprehensive overview of verb endings in the main indicative tenses, organized by tense and voice. These tables will help you recognize verb forms in the Greek New Testament.
Present Tense Endings Active Voice Person Singular Plural 1st Person -ω -ομεν 2nd Person -εις -ετε 3rd Person -ει -ουσι(ν) Middle/Passive Voice Person Singular Plural 1st Person -ομαι -όμεθα 2nd Person -ῃ / -ει -εσθε 3rd Person -εται -ονταιFuture Tense Endings Active Voice Person Singular Plural 1st Person -σω -σομεν 2nd Person -σεις -σετε 3rd Person -σει -σουσι(ν) Middle Voice Person Singular Plural 1st Person -σομαι -σόμεθα 2nd Person -σῃ / -σει -σεσθε 3rd Person -σεται -σονται Passive Voice Person Singular Plural 1st Person -θησομαι -θησόμεθα 2nd Person -θησῃ / -θησει -θησεσθε 3rd Person -θησεται -θησονται
Imperfect Tense Endings Active Voice Person Singular Plural 1st Person -ον -ομεν 2nd Person -ες -ετε 3rd Person -ε(ν) -ον Middle/Passive Voice Person Singular Plural 1st Person -ομην -όμεθα 2nd Person -ου -εσθε 3rd Person -ετο -οντο
Aorist Tense Endings Active Voice Person Singular Plural 1st Person -α -αμεν 2nd Person -ας -ατε 3rd Person -ε(ν) -αν Middle Voice Person Singular Plural 1st Person -άμην -άμεθα 2nd Person -ω -ασθε 3rd Person -ατο -αντο Passive Voice Person Singular Plural 1st Person -θην -θημεν 2nd Person -θης -θητε 3rd Person -θη -θησαν
In New Testament Greek, understanding how to identify the different grammatical persons (first, second, and third) and numbers (singular and plural) is key for reading and interpretation.… Learn Koine Greek
Custom and Kingship: Political Irony in John 18:39
John 18:39 occurs in the midst of Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate. After examining Jesus and declaring that he finds no guilt in him (v. 38), Pilate appeals to a Passover custom of releasing one prisoner. His question in this verse — whether the Jews want him to release “the King of the Jews” — sets the stage for their rejection of Jesus in favor of Barabbas. The verse is loaded with irony, as Pilate presents Jesus as king in a tone that is politically charged and theologically significant.
Structural Analysisἔστι δὲ συνήθεια ὑμῖν ἵνα ἕνα ὑμῖν ἀπολύσω ἐν τῷ πάσχα· βούλεσθε οὖν ὑμῖν ἀπολύσω τὸν βασιλέα τῶν Ἰουδαίων;
The verse consists of three parts: (1) a declaration of custom (ἔστι…συνήθεια), (2) the content of the custom expressed with ἵνα, and (3) a rhetorical question from Pilate asking if they want Jesus released.… Learn Koine Greek
The Grammar of Trust and Despise: Setting the Stage for a Parable
Εἶπε δὲ καὶ πρός τινας τοὺς πεποιθότας ἐφ’ ἑαυτοῖς ὅτι εἰσὶ δίκαιοι, καὶ ἐξουθενοῦντας τοὺς λοιποὺς, τὴν παραβολὴν ταύτην· (Luke 18:9)
And he also spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others.
In this lesson, we explore a rich and subtle moment of New Testament Greek grammar found in Εἶπε δὲ καὶ πρός τινας τοὺς πεποιθότας ἐφ’ ἑαυτοῖς ὅτι εἰσὶ δίκαιοι, καὶ ἐξουθενοῦντας τοὺς λοιποὺς, τὴν παραβολὴν ταύτην· from Luke 18:9. Though the verse may seem like a simple introduction, it reveals intricate grammatical strategies that prepare the audience for a profound lesson through parable.… Learn Koine Greek
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