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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
Declensions in Promise: Morphology in John 16:7
Ἀλλ’ ἐγὼ τὴν ἀλήθειαν λέγω ὑμῖν· συμφέρει ὑμῖν ἵνα ἐγὼ ἀπέλθω. ἐὰν γὰρ μὴ ἀπέλθω, ὁ παράκλητος οὐκ ἐλεύσεται πρὸς ὑμᾶς· ἐὰν δὲ πορευθῶ, πέμψω αὐτὸν πρὸς ὑμᾶς· (John 16:7)
But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
Declension Analysis Table Greek Word Morphology Case & Syntactic Role Notes ἐγὼ (first occurrence) 1st person pronoun, nominative singular Subject of λέγω Emphatic position — Jesus is the speaker τὴν ἀλήθειαν Noun, accusative feminine singular with article Accusative direct object of λέγω “The truth” — object of Jesus’ declaration ὑμῖν (first occurrence) 2nd person pronoun, dative plural Dative of indirect object To whom the truth is spoken — the disciples ὑμῖν (second occurrence) 2nd person pronoun, dative plural Dative of advantage “For your benefit” — marks the recipients of advantage ἐγὼ (second occurrence) 1st person pronoun, nominative singular Subject of ἀπέλθω Stresses Jesus’ agency in departure ὁ παράκλητος Noun, nominative masculine singular with article Subject of ἐλεύσεται “The Advocate” — title for the Holy Spirit ὑμᾶς (first occurrence) 2nd person pronoun, accusative plural Accusative object of πρὸς Target of the Spirit’s coming αὐτόν 3rd person pronoun, accusative masculine singular Accusative direct object of πέμψω Refers to the Advocate — the one sent ὑμᾶς (second occurrence) 2nd person pronoun, accusative plural Accusative object of πρὸς Again marks the recipients of the Spirit’s mission The Role of Datives in Relational TheologyThe repetition of ὑμῖν highlights both the intimacy and the intentionality of the promise.… Learn Koine Greek
Mark and Turn Away: Present Participles, Imperatives, and Doctrinal Vigilance
Παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, σκοπεῖν τοὺς τὰς διχοστασίας καὶ τὰ σκάνδαλα παρὰ τὴν διδαχὴν ἣν ὑμεῖς ἐμάθετε ποιοῦντας, καὶ ἐκκλίνατε ἀπ’ αὐτῶν· (Romans 16:17)
Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and stumbling blocks contrary to the teaching you learned, and turn away from them.
Guarding the Church through Grammatical ClarityRomans 16:17 is a pastoral appeal from Paul — not to embrace division, but to watch for it and reject it when it arises. The Greek text gives this warning with striking grammatical urgency: imperatives in the present tense, participles that define behavior, and a call to doctrinal discernment.… Learn Koine Greek
Declensions That Bless: Syntax and Identity in Galatians 6:16
Καὶ ὅσοι τῷ κανόνι τούτῳ στοιχήσουσιν, εἰρήνη ἐπ’ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἔλεος, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ Θεοῦ. (Galatians 6:16)
And as many as will walk by this rule—peace be upon them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Grammatical Blessings and Theological BoundariesIn Paul’s concluding benediction, the grammar is more than formal—it defines the recipients of peace and mercy. The verse pivots on a dative rule, accusative targets of blessing, and genitive identity. By tracking the declensions, we discover how grammar reinforces Paul’s radical redefinition of who truly belongs to the people of God.
Declension and Structure Breakdown Greek Word Morphology Case & Syntactic Role Notes ὅσοι Relative pronoun, nominative masculine plural Subject of στοιχήσουσιν “As many as…” — introduces conditional class of blessed ones τῷ κανόνι τούτῳ Dative singular noun + demonstrative adjective Dative of rule or standard “By this rule” — the norm or measure of gospel-centered life στοιχήσουσιν Future active indicative, 3rd person plural from στοιχέω Main verb of conditional clause “Will walk” — metaphor for aligning one’s conduct εἰρήνη 1st declension feminine nominative singular Subject of understood verb (“be upon them”) Abstract blessing—peace upon those who align with the rule ἐπ’ αὐτοὺς Preposition + accusative plural personal pronoun Accusative of direction (motion “upon”) Direct recipients of peace and mercy ἔλεος 3rd declension neuter nominative/accusative singular Subject or object in parallel to εἰρήνη Mercy—paired with peace in the blessing ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ Θεοῦ Preposition + accusative noun + genitive of possession Accusative of direction; genitive defines possession “Upon the Israel of God” — phrase of deep theological debate and identity Article-Noun Agreement and Semantic Precision– τῷ κανόνι τούτῳ: Dative singular article + demonstrative adjective show definiteness—this is not just a rule, but this specific standard (the gospel of the new creation).… Learn Koine Greek
Divine Redirection: The Spirit’s Guidance in Acts 16:6
Διελθόντες δὲ τὴν Φρυγίαν καὶ τὴν Γαλατικὴν χώραν, κωλυθέντες ὑπὸ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος λαλῆσαι τὸν λόγον ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ (Acts 16:6)
And having passed through Phrygia and the Galatian region, they were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in Asia.
Acts 16:6 narrates a significant moment when Paul and his companions, while faithfully carrying out their missionary work, are sovereignly redirected by the Holy Spirit. The Greek wording captures both their obedience in movement and their sensitivity to divine intervention.
Grammatical Foundationsδιελθόντες δὲ τὴν Φρυγίαν καὶ τὴν Γαλατικὴν χώραν—”And having passed through Phrygia and the Galatian region.”… Learn Koine Greek
Watch, Persist, Save: The Greek Grammar of Ministerial Perseverance
Ἔπεχε σεαυτῷ καὶ τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ, ἐπίμενε αὐτοῖς· τοῦτο γὰρ ποιῶν καὶ σεαυτὸν σώσεις καὶ τοὺς ἀκούοντάς σου (1 Timothy 4:16)
Pay close attention to yourself and to the teaching; persist in them. For by doing this, you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
This powerful instruction to Timothy emphasizes vigilance, teaching, and perseverance with future-oriented results. The verse — ἔπεχε σεαυτῷ καὶ τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ, ἐπίμενε αὐτοῖς· τοῦτο γὰρ ποιῶν καὶ σεαυτὸν σώσεις καὶ τοὺς ἀκούοντάς σου from 1 Timothy 4:16 — uses imperative verbs, a present participle, and coordinated accusative objects to show how careful persistence results in both personal and communal salvation.… Learn Koine Greek
Reading the Sky, Missing the Signs: Participles, Contrasts, and Prophetic Blindness
καὶ πρωΐ· σήμερον χειμών· πυρράζει γὰρ στυγνάζων ὁ οὐρανός· ὑποκριταί, τὸ μὲν πρόσωπον τοῦ οὐρανοῦ γινώσκετε διακρίνειν, τὰ δὲ σημεῖα τῶν καιρῶν οὐ δύνασθε γνῶναι; (Matthew 16:3)
The Sacred Irony of the Weather Prophets
Imagine standing under a brooding morning sky. The horizon glows red — an omen to ancient mariners and farmers alike. Jesus’ words tap into this age-old wisdom, and yet, with a sharp rebuke: you know how to interpret the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the weighty signs of the times.
In this verse, we are drawn not only into a confrontation of spiritual dullness, but also into a rich world of Greek grammar.… Learn Koine Greek
Comparative Greek Analysis: John 3:16 in Koine vs. Classical Greek
John 3:16
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.
Literal English TranslationFor in this way God loved the world, so that He gave His only-begotten Son, in order that everyone who believes in Him should not perish, but should have eternal life.
Grammar and Syntax Analysis (Koine Greek) Οὕτω γὰρ – The adverb οὕτω (“in this way”) is emphatic and points forward to the following clause. The particle γάρ introduces an explanatory statement, common in both Koine and Classical. The phrase as a whole conveys cause and manner: “For in this way…” ἠγάπησεν – Aorist active indicative of ἀγαπάω, 3rd person singular.… Learn Koine GreekDeclensions That Reveal the Heart: Grammatical Exposure in Luke 16:14
Ἤκουον δὲ ταῦτα πάντα οἱ Φαρισαῖοι φιλάργυροι ὑπάρχοντες, καὶ ἐξεμυκτήριζον αὐτόν. (Luke 16:14)
Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were hearing all these things, and they were ridiculing him.
How Grammar Discloses CharacterLuke 16:14 exposes the reaction of the Pharisees to Jesus’ teachings on money and faithfulness. But this revelation isn’t only in the content—it’s also in the grammar. The participles, pronouns, and declined nouns carry narrative weight. Greek declensions subtly reveal who the Pharisees are and what drives them.
Declension Analysis Table Greek Word Morphology Case & Syntactic Role Notes ταῦτα πάντα Demonstrative + adjective, accusative neuter plural Direct object of ἤκουον “All these things”—refers to Jesus’ prior teaching οἱ Φαρισαῖοι 2nd declension masculine nominative plural noun with article Subject of ἤκουον and ἐξεμυκτήριζον The religious group in view, cast in grammatically definite terms φιλάργυροι 2nd declension masculine nominative plural adjective Predicate adjective modifying οἱ Φαρισαῖοι “Lovers of money”—not incidental, but grammatically attached to their identity ὑπάρχοντες Present participle, nominative masculine plural Circumstantial participle modifying οἱ Φαρισαῖοι “Being” or “existing as” lovers of money—adds a continuous state of character αὐτόν 3rd person singular masculine personal pronoun, accusative Direct object of ἐξεμυκτήριζον Refers to Jesus—“they were ridiculing him” Nominative Chain: Layering Identity through DeclensionLuke doesn’t simply say, “The Pharisees heard and mocked.”… Learn Koine Greek
At Sunrise: Greek Grammar and the Movement Toward Resurrection
Καὶ λίαν πρωῒ τῆς μιᾶς σαββάτων ἔρχονται ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον, ἀνατείλαντος τοῦ ἡλίου (Mark 16:2)
And very early on the first day of the week, they come to the tomb, after the sun had risen.
This narrative verse from the resurrection account in Mark captures the early morning arrival of the women at Jesus’ tomb. With adverbial precision, participial temporal framing, and motion verbs, Mark 16:2 — καὶ λίαν πρωῒ τῆς μιᾶς σαββάτων ἔρχονται ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον, ἀνατείλαντος τοῦ ἡλίου — is rich with grammatical and theological nuance. The structure emphasizes timing, intent, and cosmic movement as the dawn of a new creation begins.… Learn Koine Greek
Speak, Encourage, Rebuke: The Triple Imperative of Pastoral Authority
Ταῦτα λάλει καὶ παρακάλει καὶ ἔλεγχε μετὰ πάσης ἐπιταγῆς· μηδείς σου περιφρονείτω (Titus 2:15)
Speak these things, and encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
This strong apostolic command from Paul to Titus combines three imperatives with a final charge against being disregarded. The verse—Ταῦτα λάλει καὶ παρακάλει καὶ ἔλεγχε μετὰ πάσης ἐπιταγῆς· μηδείς σου περιφρονείτω from Titus 2:15—models the full range of pastoral responsibility. The grammar blends imperatives, prepositional emphasis, genitive construction, and a rare third-person imperative of prohibition to express bold, Spirit-empowered leadership.
Grammatical Highlights Ταῦτα — accusative neuter plural demonstrative; “these things,” object of all three imperatives.… Learn Koine Greek