This verse from 1 Timothy reflects Paul’s pastoral wisdom regarding the visibility and timing of human sin: Τινῶν ἀνθρώπων αἱ ἁμαρτίαι πρόδηλοί εἰσι, προάγουσαι εἰς κρίσιν, τισὶ δὲ καὶ ἐπακολουθοῦσιν from 1 Timothy 5:24. Greek grammar here masterfully distinguishes between sins that are obvious now and sins that become apparent later. The syntax balances parallel clauses using genitives, participles, and present indicative verbs, all contributing to a profound theological and pastoral observation about the nature of judgment.
The Greek Text in Focus
Τινῶν ἀνθρώπων αἱ ἁμαρτίαι πρόδηλοί εἰσι, προάγουσαι εἰς κρίσιν, τισὶ δὲ καὶ ἐπακολουθοῦσιν (1 Timothy 5:24)
“The sins of some people are obvious, going before them to judgment, but for some, they follow after.”
Grammatical Highlights
- Τινῶν ἀνθρώπων — genitive plural; “of some people,” modifies αἱ ἁμαρτίαι.
- αἱ ἁμαρτίαι — nominative feminine plural; subject of εἰσι (“the sins”).
- πρόδηλοί — predicate adjective, nominative feminine plural; “evident, manifest.”
- εἰσι — present indicative active, third plural; “are.”
- προάγουσαι — present participle active, nominative feminine plural; “leading the way,” modifies αἱ ἁμαρτίαι.
- εἰς κρίσιν — prepositional phrase with accusative; “unto judgment.”
- τισὶ — dative plural; “for some,” subject of the second clause in dative of reference.
- δὲ καὶ — contrastive particle + additive particle; “but also.”
- ἐπακολουθοῦσιν — present indicative active, third plural; “they follow after.”
Predicate Adjective: Manifest Sins
The phrase πρόδηλοί εἰσι (“are obvious”) uses a predicate adjective with εἰμι to describe the subject αἱ ἁμαρτίαι (“the sins”). Greek often places adjectives after the noun in this construction. The present tense of εἰσι emphasizes a current state — these sins are openly visible now, not later.
Participle of Motion: προάγουσαι
The participle προάγουσαι means “going before” or “leading forward.” It agrees with αἱ ἁμαρτίαι and describes the action of those visible sins: they “go before to judgment.” The use of the present participle shows this as a continuous, active path — the sins lead the person forward into judgment, not merely accompany them passively.
Dative Contrast: τισὶ δὲ καὶ…
The contrast is introduced with δὲ καὶ — “but also” — and focuses on τισὶ, dative plural (“for some”). This dative of reference implies: “as for others…” The verb ἐπακολουθοῦσιν (“they follow after”) is present tense, suggesting delay. The sins of these people are not obvious now — they follow later. Greek uses the dative to highlight for whom this is true without needing to repeat the noun.
| Word / Phrase | Form | Function | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Τινῶν ἀνθρώπων | Genitive Plural | Possessive modifier | Of some people |
| πρόδηλοί εἰσι | Predicate Adjective + Verb | Main clause | Are obvious |
| προάγουσαι | Present Participle, Nom. Pl. | Describes the subject’s motion | Going before |
| εἰς κρίσιν | Preposition + Accusative | Direction of motion | Unto judgment |
| τισὶ | Dative Plural | Dative of reference | For some |
| ἐπακολουθοῦσιν | Present Indicative Active, 3rd Plural | Main verb of second clause | They follow after |
The Trail of Judgment
In 1 Timothy 5:24, Paul warns Timothy not to judge character too quickly — for some sins are visible now, while others trail behind. Greek grammar mirrors this wisdom: the contrast of participles, the shift from nominative to dative, and the precision of present tense all communicate that sin, whether public or hidden, will eventually meet judgment. Grammar becomes a compass of discernment — reminding readers that what is delayed is not denied.
