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Greek Lessons
- Moved to Speak: Temporal Setting and Genitive Absolute in Mark 8:1
- The Hour Had Not Yet Come: Divine Timing and Aorist Action in John 7:30
- Because of This Word: Perfect Tense and Power at a Distance
- The Greatest and the Least: Superlative Contrast and Kingdom Inversion in Luke 7:28
- Who Made You Judge? Participle and Aorist in the Voice of Rejection
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Category
Category Archives: Ancient Greek
Fire and Justice: A Greek Look at 2 Thessalonians 1:8
2 Thessalonians 1:8
ἐν πυρὶ φλογός, διδόντος ἐκδίκησιν τοῖς μὴ εἰδόσι Θεὸν καὶ τοῖς μὴ ὑπακούουσι τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ,
In flaming fire, giving vengeance to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,
The Image of Flaming Judgmentἐν πυρὶ φλογός – “in flaming fire.”
ἐν + dative denotes manner or accompaniment: the judgment comes “in the midst of” or “by means of” fire. πυρὶ – “fire,” dative singular of πῦρ. φλογός – genitive singular of φλόξ, meaning “flame.” The genitive is descriptive (“fire of flame”), intensifying the vividness of the scene.… Learn Koine GreekStrengthened in Every Good Work: Classical and Koine Grammar in 2 Thessalonians 2:17
2 Thessalonians 2:17
παρακαλέσαι ὑμῶν τὰς καρδίας καὶ στηρίξαι ὑμᾶς ἐν παντὶ λόγῳ καὶ ἔργῳ ἀγαθῷ.
Literal Translation: to encourage your hearts and to strengthen you in every good word and deed.
1. Key Grammatical Features in Koine Greek παρακαλέσαι: Aorist active infinitive of παρακαλέω (“to encourage, comfort”). Koine frequently uses the aorist infinitive to express purpose or result, often following verbs of will, prayer, or petition—even if ellipted, as here. ὑμῶν τὰς καρδίας: Possessive genitive ὑμῶν (“your”) modifying the direct object τὰς καρδίας (“the hearts”). Koine preserves Classical genitive usage for possession but simplifies placement—frequently allowing pre-positioned possessives like this.… Learn Koine Greek2 Thessalonians 2:16 and the Greek of Consolation and Blessing
2 Thessalonians 2:16
Αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς καὶ ὁ Θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ ἡμῶν, ὁ ἀγαπήσας ἡμᾶς καὶ δοὺς παράκλησιν αἰωνίαν καὶ ἐλπίδα ἀγαθὴν ἐν χάριτι,
Literal English TranslationNow may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and gave eternal encouragement and good hope in grace,
Dual Subject, Singular Blessing Αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς καὶ ὁ Θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ ἡμῶν The double subject—ὁ Κύριος… καὶ ὁ Θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ ἡμῶν—unites Christ and the Father as the source of blessing. The word order gives prominence to αὐτὸς (“he himself”) for emphasis.… Learn Koine GreekSound Words vs. Strange Teachings: A Greek Look at 1 Timothy 6:2b–3
1 Timothy 6:2b–3
Ταῦτα δίδασκε καὶ παρακάλει. εἴ τις ἑτεροδιδασκαλεῖ καὶ μὴ προσέρχεται ὑγιαίνουσι λόγοις τοῖς τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ τῇ κατ’ εὐσέβειαν διδασκαλίᾳ,
These things teach and exhort. If anyone teaches differently and does not come to the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the teaching that accords with godliness,
Paul’s Imperatives to TimothyΤαῦτα δίδασκε καὶ παρακάλει – “These things teach and exhort.”
Ταῦτα – neuter plural demonstrative: “these things,” referring to the preceding instructions (including treatment of slaves). δίδασκε – present active imperative of διδάσκω, “keep on teaching.” παρακάλει – present active imperative of παρακαλέω, “keep on exhorting.”… Learn Koine GreekMark 13:9 and the Greek of Warning and Witness
Mark 13:9
Βλέπετε δὲ ὑμεῖς ἑαυτούς. παραδώσουσι γὰρ ὑμᾶς εἰς συνέδρια καὶ ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν δαρήσεσθε, καὶ ἐπὶ ἡγεμόνων καὶ βασιλέων σταθήσεσθε ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ εἰς μαρτύριον αὐτοῖς.
Literal English TranslationBut watch yourselves. For they will hand you over to councils, and in their synagogues you will be beaten, and before governors and kings you will stand because of me, as a testimony to them.
Imperative Alertness and Legal Threat Βλέπετε δὲ ὑμεῖς ἑαυτούς The present active imperative βλέπετε (“watch, be vigilant”) combined with the reflexive pronoun ἑαυτούς (“yourselves”) gives a strong warning: this is personal, not abstract. The explicit subject ὑμεῖς adds emphasis.… Learn Koine GreekMatthew 27:3 in Historical Greek Expression
Original Text
Τότε ἰδὼν Ἰούδας ὁ παραδιδοὺς αὐτὸν ὅτι κατεκρίθη, μεταμεληθεὶς ἀπέστρεψε τὰ τριάκοντα ἀργύρια τοῖς ἀρχιερεῦσι καὶ πρεσβυτέροις
Literal English TranslationThen Judas, the one who betrayed him, seeing that he was condemned, regretted it and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and elders.
Nuances in Greek Motion and Emotion ἰδὼν… ὅτι κατεκρίθη The aorist participle ἰδών (“having seen”) introduces the cause of his regret. The subordinate clause ὅτι κατεκρίθη uses the aorist passive κατεκρίθη (“he was condemned”), a forensic verb used both in Classical and Koine Greek for legal verdicts. In Plato or Lysias, it often appears in courtroom orations.… Learn Koine GreekHebrews 5:5 and the Language of Appointment and Honor
Hebrews 5:5
οὕτω καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς οὐχ ἑαυτὸν ἐδόξασε γενηθῆναι ἀρχιερέα, ἀλλ’ ὁ λαλήσας πρὸς αὐτόν· υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε·
Literal English TranslationSo also the Anointed One did not glorify himself to become high priest, but the one who spoke to him said: “You are my Son, today I have begotten you.”
Not Self-Glorified, But God-Spoken οὕτω καὶ ὁ Χριστός οὐχ ἑαυτὸν ἐδόξασε The phrase opens with οὕτω καὶ (“so also”), drawing an analogy to the preceding priestly principle: no one takes the honor upon himself. ἐδόξασε is aorist active indicative of δοξάζω (“to glorify, honor”), here with a reflexive pronoun ἑαυτὸν.… Learn Koine GreekComparative 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 GreekSorrow and Speech: A Greek Look at John 16:6
John 16:6
ἀλλ’ ὅτι ταῦτα λελάληκα ὑμῖν, ἡ λύπη πεπλήρωκε ὑμῶν τὴν καρδίαν.
But because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.
Cause and Emotional Response ἀλλ’ ὅτι – “But because.” The conjunction ἀλλά introduces contrast, while ὅτι (“because”) gives the reason. Together, they set up a shift from expectation to emotion: the disciples are not asking questions about Jesus’ departure (see John 16:5), but are overcome with grief.ταῦτα λελάληκα ὑμῖν – “I have spoken these things to you.”
λελάληκα is the perfect active indicative of λαλέω, “to speak.” The perfect tense emphasizes the abiding effect of Jesus’ words—what he said continues to weigh on them.… Learn Koine GreekRomans 15:15 and the Language of Apostolic Modesty
Romans 15:15
τολμηρότερον δὲ ἔγραψα ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, ἀπὸ μέρους, ὡς ἐπαναμιμνήσκων ὑμᾶς, διὰ τὴν χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ
Literal English TranslationBut I have written to you more boldly, brothers, in part, as reminding you again, because of the grace that was given to me by God.
Gentle Boldness in Greek Thought τολμηρότερον δὲ ἔγραψα The adverbial comparative τολμηρότερον (“more boldly”) reveals Paul’s self-awareness. In Classical Greek, τολμάω and its derivatives often carry the nuance of daring, sometimes negatively (e.g., Euripides: reckless courage). Here, the tone is tempered—he acknowledges audacity but cloaks it in pastoral affection. ἔγραψα is aorist active: the action is complete, but the tone is still deferential.… Learn Koine Greek