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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: Advanced Greek Grammar
Gentle Restoration: Syntax, Subjunctive Contingency, and Spiritual Vigilance in Galatians 6:1
Ἀδελφοί, ἐὰν καὶ προληφθῇ ἄνθρωπος ἔν τινι παραπτώματι, ὑμεῖς οἱ πνευματικοὶ καταρτίζετε τὸν τοιοῦτον ἐν πνεύματι πρᾳότητος σκοπῶν σεαυτόν, μὴ καὶ σὺ πειρασθῇς. (Galatians 6:1)
Brothers, even if a person is caught in some transgression, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, watching yourself, lest you also be tempted.
Conditional Compassion Through GrammarGalatians 6:1 opens Paul’s concluding ethical exhortations by urging believers to restore the fallen with gentleness. The verse is a rich example of how Koine Greek syntax combines conditional structure, participial reasoning, and reflexive admonition. A conditional sentence governs the whole thought, embedding within it a call to action and self-awareness.… Learn Koine Greek
Arrival Across the Sea: Narrative Precision and Geographical Framing in Mark 5:1
Καὶ ἦλθον εἰς τὸ πέραν τῆς θαλάσσης εἰς τὴν χώραν τῶν Γεργεσηνῶν. (Mark 5:1)
And they came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gergesenes.
The Role of Transition in Mark’s NarrativeMark 5:1 introduces one of the most memorable episodes in the Gospel: the healing of the Gerasene demoniac. The verse is a short transitional sentence: Καὶ ἦλθον εἰς τὸ πέραν τῆς θαλάσσης εἰς τὴν χώραν τῶν Γεργεσηνῶν — “And they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes/Gergesenes.” Although it looks simple, its grammar and vocabulary set the stage for a dramatic confrontation.… Learn Koine Greek
The Fellowship of Giving and Receiving: Declensions in Philippians 4:15
Οἴδατε δὲ καὶ ὑμεῖς, Φιλιππήσιοι, ὅτι ἐν ἀρχῇ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, ὅτε ἐξῆλθον ἀπὸ Μακεδονίας, οὐδεμία μοι ἐκκλησία ἐκοινώνησεν εἰς λόγον δόσεως καὶ λήψεως εἰ μὴ ὑμεῖς μόνοι (Philippians 4:15)
And you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone.
Declension HighlightsThis verse illustrates Paul’s masterful use of Greek declensions to frame his message of exclusive gospel partnership. There are 13 declinable forms, including nouns, adjectives, and pronouns, which span all three declension classes:
1st Declension: ἐκκλησία, ἀρχῇ, Μακεδονίας 2nd Declension: λόγον, εὐαγγελίου 3rd Declension: δόσεως, λήψεως Pronouns/Adjectives: ὑμεῖς (×2), οὐδεμία, μόνοιThese forms create a theological structure: Paul praises the Philippians’ exclusive participation in gospel support using emphatic plural subjects, a carefully constructed genitive phrase of financial reciprocity, and a dative temporal marker.… Learn Koine Greek
Declensions Framing the Teaching Scene: Morphology in Mark 4:1
Καὶ πάλιν ἤρξατο διδάσκειν παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν· καὶ συνήχθη πρὸς αὐτὸν ὄχλος πολύς, ὥστε αὐτὸν ἐμβάντα εἰς τὸ πλοῖον καθῆσθαι ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ· καὶ πᾶς ὁ ὄχλος πρὸς τὴν θάλασσαν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἦσαν. (Mark 4:1)
And again he began to teach beside the sea, and a very large crowd was gathered to him, so that he got into the boat and sat in the sea, and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land.
Declension Analysis Table Greek Form Morphology Case & Function Notes τὴν θάλασσαν (first occurrence) 1st declension feminine singular with article Accusative object of preposition παρά “Beside the sea” — locative sense with accusative after παρά.… Learn Koine GreekIn the Beginning Was the Verb: A Deep Dive into John 1:1c
καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος.
Let us begin with a phrase that has echoed through centuries of theological discourse, a sentence that is deceptively simple in form yet astonishingly rich in grammatical nuance and doctrinal weight:
> John 1:1c: καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος.
This final clause of the prologue to the Gospel of John—“and the Word was God”—has been at the heart of Christological debates since antiquity. Yet beneath its surface lies a grammatical structure that is both subtle and instructive: the subject-predicate nominative construction with the verb ἦν, the imperfect tense of εἰμί (“to be”).
In this lesson, we will explore how the syntax of this clause functions within the broader framework of Koine Greek grammar, especially focusing on the predicative use of the nominative case without the article, and what this reveals about the identity of the λόγος (Word) as presented by the evangelist.… Learn Koine Greek
Conditional Parallelism and Prophetic Syntax in John 15:20
Μνημονεύετε τοῦ λόγου οὗ ἐγὼ εἶπον ὑμῖν· οὐκ ἔστι δοῦλος μείζων τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ. εἰ ἐμὲ ἐδίωξαν, καὶ ὑμᾶς διώξουσιν· εἰ τὸν λόγον μου ἐτήρησαν, καὶ τὸν ὑμέτερον τηρήσουσιν. (John 15:20)
Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will also keep yours.
The Syntax of Conditional ParallelismThis verse presents a powerful example of conditional parallelism in Koine Greek: two clauses beginning with εἰ (“if”), each followed by a future main verb. The construction is carefully designed to deliver prophetic contrast between rejection and reception — persecution versus obedience — while reinforcing the identity of Jesus’ followers with Him.… Learn Koine Greek
Measured Speech and Integrity: The Syntax of the Diaconal Ethos
Διακόνους ὡσαύτως σεμνούς, μὴ διλόγους, μὴ οἴνῳ πολλῷ προσέχοντας, μὴ αἰσχροκερδεῖς, (1 Timothy 3:8)
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not attending to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.
Overview: Elliptical Syntax in Household CodesThis verse continues Paul’s instructions regarding church leadership, shifting to the qualifications for διάκονοι (deacons). The main verb is implied from previous context—specifically from verse 2’s verb “δεῖ” (it is necessary)—and so this line is structured elliptically (i.e., with missing but understood grammatical elements).
List of Traits: Coordinated Adjectival and Participial PhrasesEach qualification in this verse modifies the implied subject Διακόνους (deacons):
σεμνούς – respectful, dignified μὴ διλόγους – not double-tongued μὴ οἴνῳ πολλῷ προσέχοντας – not addicted to much wine μὴ αἰσχροκερδεῖς – not greedy for dishonest gainThe first two are adjectival modifiers, while the latter two are negative participial phrases, all agreeing with the accusative plural noun Διακόνους due to the ellipsis of the infinitive verb.… Learn Koine Greek
The Astonishment of the Familiar: Questions, Aspect, and Divine Wisdom in Mark 6:2
Καὶ γενομένου σαββάτου ἤρξατο ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ διδάσκειν· καὶ πολλοὶ ἀκούοντες ἐξεπλήσσοντο λέγοντες· Πόθεν τούτῳ ταῦτα; καὶ τίς ἡ σοφία ἡ δοθεῖσα αὐτῷ, καὶ δυνάμεις τοιαῦται διὰ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ γίνονται; (Mark 6:2)
And when the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue; and many hearing were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? And what is the wisdom that has been given to him, and such mighty works being done through his hands?”
When the Hometown Is ShockedMark 6:2 opens the scene in the Nazareth synagogue where Jesus, the carpenter’s son, teaches with divine authority.… Learn Koine Greek
Abide and Bear: Participles and Prepositions in the Vine Metaphor
Ἐγὼ εἰμὶ ἡ ἄμπελος, ὑμεῖς τὰ κλήματα· ὁ μένων ἐν ἐμοὶ κἀγὼ ἐν αὐτῷ, οὗτος φέρει καρπὸν πολύν, ὅτι χωρὶς ἐμοῦ οὐ δύνασθε ποιεῖν οὐδέν. (John 15:5)
I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who remains in me, and I in him, this one bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing.
Unpacking the Sacred Image: Overview of Grammar in John 15:5In this rich vine metaphor, Jesus uses grammatical constructions that emphasize union, fruitfulness, and dependence. The verse pivots on two main structures:
The participle: ὁ μένων (“the one abiding”) The prepositional phrase: ἐν ἐμοὶ and ἐν αὐτῷ (“in Me” and “in him”)These structures are not incidental — they carry significant syntactic weight and theological meaning.… Learn Koine Greek
Stay, Warn, and Ascend Not: Participles, Infinitives, and the Prepositional Force of the Spirit
Καὶ ἀνευρόντες τοὺς μαθητὰς ἐπεμείναμεν αὐτοῦ ἡμέρας ἑπτά· οἵτινες τῷ Παύλῳ ἔλεγον διὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος μὴ ἀναβαίνειν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα. (Acts 21:4)
And having found the disciples, we stayed there seven days; they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.
A Journey Paused, a Warning IssuedActs 21:4 offers a quiet moment of dramatic tension in the unfolding journey of Paul toward Jerusalem. Luke recounts that, upon finding the disciples in Tyre, they stayed for seven days, and during that time, the disciples, through the Spirit, urged Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
Behind this scene lies a tapestry of meaningful Greek grammar, including:
An aorist participle expressing temporal sequence A first person plural verb of persistence A relative pronoun with clarifying nuance A present infinitive in negated form The powerful agency construction διὰ τοῦ ΠνεύματοςThis verse blends syntax with spiritual urgency.… Learn Koine Greek
