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Greek Lessons
- Measuring the Unmeasured: Sacred Distance and Prophetic Syntax in Revelation 11:2
- When the Teacher Moves On: The Rhythm of Instruction and Mission
- Stones in Their Hands: The Escalation of Hostility in the Presence of Truth
- When Heaven Draws Near: Cornelius and the Intersection of Prayer, Fasting, and Revelation
- Providence in the Smallest Places: Seeing the Father in the Fall of a Sparrow
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Category
Category Archives: Ancient Greek
Craftsmen, Courts, and Clause Shifts: Acts 19:38 Through the Eyes of Classical and Koine Greek
Εἰ μὲν οὖν Δημήτριος καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ τεχνῖται ἔχουσι πρός τινα λόγον, ἀγοραῖοι ἄγονται καὶ ἀνθύπατοί εἰσιν· ἐγκαλείτωσαν ἀλλήλοις. (Acts 19:38)
If then Demetrios and the craftsmen with him have a matter against someone, courts are held and there are proconsuls—let them bring charges against one another.
Koine Greek Morphological Analysis εἰ – conditional particle; introduces protasis (“if”). μὲν οὖν – discourse particles; “indeed then” or “so then”; μὲν balances with implied δὲ. Δημήτριος – proper noun, nominative singular masculine; subject. καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ τεχνῖται – “and the craftsmen with him”; – οἱ: article, nominative plural masculine; – σὺν: preposition + dative; – αὐτῷ: 3rd person dative singular pronoun; – τεχνῖται: noun, nominative plural masculine.… Learn Koine GreekExploring Greek Expression in John 12:34
Ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ ὁ ὄχλος· ἡμεῖς ἠκούσαμεν ἐκ τοῦ νόμου ὅτι ὁ Χριστὸς μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, καὶ πῶς σὺ λέγεις, δεῖ ὑψωθῆναι τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου; τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου; (John 12:34)
The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Anointed One remains forever; and how can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”
Contextual Reaction vs. Doctrinal Expectation We have heard from the Law… This reflects a collective interpretation, likely drawing from texts such as Psalm 89:4 or Isaiah 9:7. The phrase ὁ Χριστὸς μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα echoes a belief in the everlasting reign of the Messiah.… Learn Koine GreekJohn 3:18 and the Language of Belief and Judgment
Ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν οὐ κρίνεται· ὁ δὲ μὴ πιστεύων ἤδη κέκριται, ὅτι μὴ πεπίστευκεν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ μονογενοῦς υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ. (John 3:18)
The one who believes in him is not judged; but the one who does not believe has already been judged, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Present Tense with Eternal Stakes ὁ πιστεύων… οὐ κρίνεται The participle ὁ πιστεύων (present active nominative masculine singular) functions as a substantive—“the one who believes.” Present tense signals an ongoing or characteristic belief. The passive verb κρίνεται (from κρίνω) means “is judged,” with a legal or eschatological sense.… Learn Koine GreekFrom Tragedy to Healing: Classical and Koine Greek Face Off in Mark 3:5
Καὶ περιβλεψάμενος αὐτοὺς μετ’ ὀργῆς, συλλυπούμενος ἐπὶ τῇ πωρώσει τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν, λέγει τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ· ἔκτεινον τὴν χεῖρά σου. καὶ ἐξέτεινε, καὶ ἀποκατεστάθη ἡ χεὶρ αὐτοῦ ὑγιὴς ὡς ἡ ἄλλη. (Mark 3:5)
And having looked around at them with anger, being grieved at the hardness of their heart, he says to the man: “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored—healthy like the other.
Key Grammatical Features in Koine Greek Aorist Participles in Narrative: περιβλεψάμενος and συλλυπούμενος show how Koine uses participles to convey attendant circumstances or background emotion. These add narrative richness, replacing more complex Classical structures.… Learn Koine GreekColossians 4:18 and the Personal Voice of the Writer
Ὁ ἀσπασμὸς τῇ ἐμῇ χειρὶ Παύλου. μνημονεύετέ μου τῶν δεσμῶν. Ἡ χάρις μεθ’ ὑμῶν· ἀμήν. (Colossians 4:18)
The greeting is by my own hand—Paul’s. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.
Stylistic Identity Through Ancient Gesture Ὁ ἀσπασμὸς τῇ ἐμῇ χειρὶ Παύλου The phrase literally means “The greeting with my hand—Paul’s.” The word ἀσπασμός is a formal salutation, used often in letters. In Classical Greek, greetings were conveyed by scribes, but self-authentication via handwriting (τῇ ἐμῇ χειρί) was rare and reserved for important individuals (cf. Xenophon’s Cyropaedia 8.6.23). In Koine, it signals both authorship and affection. Paul often adds this personal touch in his letters to authenticate and to connect personally (cf.… Learn Koine GreekSwearing Truth in Two Worlds: Classical and Koine Greek in Romans 9:1
Ἀλήθειαν λέγω ἐν Χριστῷ, οὐ ψεύδομαι, συμμαρτυρούσης μοι τῆς συνειδήσεώς μου ἐν Πνεύματι ἁγίῳ, (Romans 9:1)
Truth I am speaking in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit.
1. Key Grammatical Features in Koine Greek Ἀλήθειαν λέγω: Object (truth) placed before the verb for emphasis. This is typical Koine word order flexibility, especially to highlight solemn assertions. ἐν Χριστῷ: Prepositional phrase indicating association or sphere. Koine expands “ἐν” to include mystical and theological relationships, a broader use than in Classical Greek. οὐ ψεύδομαι: Present middle/passive indicative of ψεύδομαι (“I lie”). Koine often uses the middle to express reflexive or subjective states, here asserting internal truthfulness.… Learn Koine GreekFear and Silence at the Tomb: Syntax and Emotion in Mark 16:8
Καὶ ἐξελθοῦσαι ἔφυγον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου· εἶχε δὲ αὐτὰς τρόμος καὶ ἔκστασις, καὶ οὐδενὶ οὐδὲν εἶπον· ἐφοβοῦντο γάρ. (Mark 16:8)
And going out, they fled from the tomb; for trembling and amazement had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Koine Greek Grammar and Syntax καὶ ἐξελθοῦσαι: Aorist active participle, nominative feminine plural of ἐξέρχομαι. It describes antecedent action — “having gone out.” The feminine plural aligns with the subject, the women at the tomb. ἔφυγον: Aorist active indicative 3rd plural of φεύγω, “they fled.” The main verb in this clause; tense indicates a punctual, completed action.… Learn Koine GreekStrengthened in Every Good Work: Classical and Koine Grammar in 2 Thessalonians 2:17
Παρακαλέσαι ὑμῶν τὰς καρδίας καὶ στηρίξαι ὑμᾶς ἐν παντὶ λόγῳ καὶ ἔργῳ ἀγαθῷ. (2 Thessalonians 2:17)
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. καὶ στηρίξαι: Coordinated infinitive (aorist active of στηρίζω, “to strengthen”).… Learn Koine Greek2 Thessalonians 2:16 and the Greek of Consolation and Blessing
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,
(2 Thessalonians 2:16)
Now 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. The singular verb in the next verse (v.… Learn Koine GreekSound Words vs. Strange Teachings: A Greek Look at 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, (1 Timothy 6:2b–3)
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 Greek