-
Greek Lessons
- The Question of Eternal Life: Syntax of Testing and Inquiry in Luke 10:25
- The Grammar of Astonishment and Difficulty
- The Urgency of Flight: Syntax, Eschatology, and the Grammar of Mission in Matthew 10:23
- Provoking the Lord: The Peril of Presumption
- The Great Priest Over God’s House: The Foundation of Confident Access
-
Category
Author Archives: Classical Greek
Speaking Freely in the Grace of the Lord: A Koine and Classical Greek Comparison of Acts 14:3
Ἱκανὸν μὲν οὖν χρόνον διέτριψαν παρρησιαζόμενοι ἐπὶ τῷ Κυρίῳ τῷ μαρτυροῦντι τῷ λόγῳ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ, διδόντι σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα γίνεσθαι διὰ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῶν.
So they spent a considerable time speaking freely, relying on the Lord who bore witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to happen through their hands. (Acts 14:3)
Koine Greek Grammar and Syntax Analysis Ἱκανὸν…χρόνον — Accusative of duration of time. The adjective ἱκανός (“considerable, sufficient”) modifies χρόνον (“time”). μὲν οὖν — Though μέν…δέ is classical, the pairing μὲν οὖν often functions as a resumptive or transitional marker in Koine narrative. This specific usage becomes more stylistically prevalent in Koine, though not unknown in Classical prose.… Learn Koine GreekHeaven’s Council and Crowns: A Greek Look at Revelation 4:4
Καὶ κυκλόθεν τοῦ θρόνου θρόνοι εἴκοσι τέσσαρες, καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς θρόνους τοὺς εἴκοσι τέσσαρας πρεσβυτέρους καθημένους, περιβεβλημένους ἐν ἱματίοις λευκοῖς, καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς κεφαλὰς αὐτῶν στεφάνους χρυσοῦς. (Revelation 4:4)
And surrounding the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, and on their heads golden crowns.
Heavenly Council Imagery κυκλόθεν τοῦ θρόνου – “around the throne.” The adverb κυκλόθεν sets the spatial scene, evoking a circular, encompassing array. This kind of throne-circle imagery echoes Greco-Roman court assemblies and Jewish apocalyptic visions (cf. Daniel 7:9–10).θρόνοι εἴκοσι τέσσαρες – “twenty-four thrones.” The number 24 suggests fullness—possibly representing the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles, symbolizing redeemed humanity.… Learn Koine Greek
When Blasphemy Enters the Sanctuary: Participles, Power, and the Syntax of Usurpation in 2 Thessalonians 2:4
Ὁ ἀντικείμενος καὶ ὑπεραιρόμενος ἐπὶ πάντα λεγόμενον Θεὸν ἢ σέβασμα, ὥστε αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν ναὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ καθίσαι, ἀποδεικνύντα ἑαυτὸν ὅτι ἔστι Θεός. (2 Thessalonians 2:4)
The one who opposes and exalts himself above every being called god or object of reverence, so that he sits in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
Few New Testament passages combine syntax and eschatology as powerfully as 2 Thessalonians 2:4. This verse profiles the so-called “man of lawlessness” through an escalating series of participles and a climactic result clause. It uses Koine Greek not just as a descriptive medium, but as a theological weapon.… Learn Koine Greek
No More Curse: A Greek Look at Revelation 22:3
Καὶ πᾶν κατάθεμα οὐκ ἔσται ἔτι· καὶ ὁ θρόνος τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἀρνίου ἐν αὐτῇ ἔσται, καὶ οἱ δοῦλοι αὐτοῦ λατρεύσουσιν αὐτῷ (Revelation 22:3)
And there will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in her, and his servants will worship him.
The End of the Curse πᾶν κατάθεμα οὐκ ἔσται ἔτι – “There will no longer be any curse.” The neuter πᾶν (every, all) and the noun κατάθεμα (curse, accursed thing) together refer to the complete removal of anything under divine condemnation. The verb ἔσται (future of εἰμί) with the negative οὐκ and temporal adverb ἔτι (“no longer”) declares the final abolition of the Fall’s effects (cf.… Learn Koine Greek
Posted in Ancient Greek
Leave a comment
Who Tripped You Up? A Grammatical Race Through Galatians 5:7
Ἐτρέχετε καλῶς· τίς ὑμᾶς ἐνέκοψε τῇ ἀληθείᾳ μὴ πείθεσθαι;
You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? (Galatians 5:7)
1. Key Grammatical Features in Koine Greek Ἐτρέχετε: Imperfect active indicative second person plural of τρέχω (“to run”). The imperfect suggests continuous past action—”you were running”—which builds the metaphor of steady progress before interruption. καλῶς: Adverb meaning “well,” modifying Ἐτρέχετε. Koine often uses positive adverbs to frame moral or spiritual behavior metaphorically. τίς: Interrogative pronoun in the nominative singular, functioning as the subject—”Who?” Koine retains Classical interrogatives with similar placement at the head of the question. ὑμᾶς: Accusative plural pronoun, functioning as the object of ἐνέκοψε (“hindered”).… Learn Koine GreekThe Cry of the Rejected Prophet: A Koine and Classical Greek Comparison of Matthew 23:37
Ἱερουσαλὴμ, Ἱερουσαλήμ, ἡ ἀποκτείνουσα τοὺς προφήτας, καὶ λιθοβολοῦσα τοὺς ἀπεσταλμένους πρὸς αὐτήν, ποσάκις ἠθέλησα ἐπισυναγαγεῖν τὰ τέκνα σου, ὃν τρόπον ἐπισυνάγει ὄρνις τὰ νοσσία ἑαυτῆς ὑπὸ τὰς πτέρυγας, καὶ οὐκ ἠθελήσατε;
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you did not want it.
Koine Greek Grammar and Syntax Analysis Ἱερουσαλὴμ Ἱερουσαλήμ — Vocative repetition conveys emotion, urgency, and lament. Common in Hebrew rhetoric, preserved in Koine Greek. ἡ ἀποκτέννουσα… λιθοβολοῦσα — Present active participles in apposition to Ἱερουσαλὴμ.… Learn Koine GreekCrossing Sea and Land for Judgment: Classical and Koine Grammar in Matthew 23:15
Οὐαὶ ὑμῖν, γραμματεῖς καὶ Φαρισαῖοι ὑποκριταί, ὅτι περιάγετε τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ τὴν ξηρὰν ποιῆσαι ἕνα προσήλυτον, καὶ ὅταν γένηται, ποιεῖτε αὐτὸν υἱὸν γεέννης διπλότερον ὑμῶν. (Matthew 23:15)
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you go around sea and dry land to make one proselyte, and when he becomes so, you make him a son of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves.
1. Key Grammatical Features in Koine Greek Οὐαὶ ὑμῖν: Interjection Οὐαὶ (“woe”) followed by dative plural pronoun ὑμῖν (“to you”). A prophetic denunciation formula preserved from Hebrew usage, with the dative marking the recipient of the woe. γραμματεῖς καὶ Φαρισαῖοι ὑποκριταί: Appositional vocatives; γραμματεῖς and Φαρισαῖοι are modified by ὑποκριταί (“hypocrites”).… Learn Koine GreekYou Are Our Letter: A Koine and Classical Greek Comparison of 2 Corinthians 3:2
ἡ ἐπιστολὴ ἡμῶν ὑμεῖς ἐστε, ἐγγεγραμμένη ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν, γινωσκομένη καὶ ἀναγινωσκομένη ὑπὸ πάντων ἀνθρώπων.
You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all people. (2 Corinthians 3:2)
Koine Greek Grammar and Syntax Analysis ἡ ἐπιστολὴ ἡμῶν — Nominative singular noun with possessive genitive pronoun “our letter.” The article makes the phrase definite and emphatic. ὑμεῖς ἐστε — Independent pronoun ὑμεῖς (“you”) used for emphasis. ἐστε is present indicative of εἰμί, second person plural: “you are.” ἐγγεγραμμένη — Perfect passive participle of ἐγγράφω, nominative feminine singular, modifying ἐπιστολή: “having been written.” The perfect tense implies a completed action with lasting results.… Learn Koine GreekSelf-Interest vs. Devotion: A Koine and Classical Greek Comparison of Philippians 2:21
Οἱ πάντες γὰρ τὰ ἑαυτῶν ζητοῦσιν, οὐ τὰ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ.
For they all seek their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.
Koine Greek Grammar and Syntax Analysis οἱ πάντες — Nominative masculine plural: “they all.” The article οἱ generalizes the group as a class. γάρ — Causal particle: “for.” Introduces explanation or reason (linked to the preceding verse about Timothy’s unique character). τὰ ἑαυτῶν — Accusative neuter plural: “their own things/interests.” ἑαυτῶν is a reflexive possessive pronoun in the genitive plural. ζητοῦσιν — Present active indicative, 3rd person plural of ζητέω: “they seek.” Ongoing or habitual action. οὐ τὰ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ — Negated parallel clause.… Learn Koine GreekBound by the Spirit: Classical and Koine Grammar in Acts 21:11
καὶ ἐλθὼν πρὸς ἡμᾶς καὶ ἄρας τὴν ζώνην τοῦ Παύλου, δήσας τε αὐτοῦ τοὺς πόδας καὶ τὰς χεῖρας εἶπε· τάδε λέγει τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον· τὸν ἄνδρα οὗ ἐστιν ἡ ζώνη αὕτη, οὕτω δήσουσιν εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι καὶ παραδώσουσιν εἰς χεῖρας ἐθνῶν.
And having come to us and taken the belt of Paul, and having bound his feet and hands, he said: “These things says the Holy Spirit: The man to whom this belt belongs—they will bind him in Jerusalem, the Jews, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.” (Acts 21:11)
1. Key Grammatical Features in Koine Greek ἐλθὼν… ἄρας… δήσας: Aorist active participles (from ἔρχομαι, αἴρω, δέω) used sequentially to provide circumstantial background to the main verb εἶπε.… Learn Koine Greek