-
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
Category Archives: Declensions
Declensions in Divine Imitation: The Grammar of Christlike Welcome in Romans 15:7
Διὸ προσλαμβάνεσθε ἀλλήλους, καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς προσελάβετο ἡμᾶς εἰς δόξαν Θεοῦ. (Romans 15:7)
Therefore welcome one another, just as also the Messiah welcomed us, for the glory of God.
Why Declensions Matter HereIn this compact verse, Paul commands imitation—not in abstract terms but in grammatical precision. The morphosyntactic alignment of subject, object, and preposition in the verse reinforces the mutuality of Christian love and the theocentric purpose behind it. From the middle imperative to the articular subject, each declinable element contributes to the theology of inclusion.
Detailed Declension Breakdown Greek Word Morphology Case & Syntactic Role Notes ἀλλήλους Reciprocal pronoun, accusative plural masculine Direct object of προσλαμβάνεσθε Mutuality emphasized: “one another” highlights equality and inclusion ὁ Χριστός 2nd declension masculine nominative singular noun with article Subject of προσελάβετο Emphatic by placement and article: the Messiah himself is the model ἡμᾶς 1st person plural personal pronoun, accusative Object of προσελάβετο Refers to believers—those formerly excluded but now received δόξαν 3rd declension feminine accusative singular noun Object of preposition εἰς Denotes goal or result: the entire movement aims toward “glory” Θεοῦ 2nd declension masculine genitive singular noun Genitive of possession Defines whose glory: not man’s glory, but God’s Case Functions that Reflect Theological Logic– The accusative ἀλλήλους reinforces mutual reception: both subject and object are the same collective body.… 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 GreekWhen Declensions Seal the Door: Grammatical Revelation in Matthew 25:10
Ἀπερχομένων δὲ αὐτῶν ἀγοράσαι ἦλθεν ὁ νυμφίος, καὶ αἱ ἕτοιμοι εἰσῆλθον μετ’ αὐτοῦ εἰς τοὺς γάμους, καὶ ἐκλείσθη ἡ θύρα. (Matthew 25:10)
Now while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and the ready ones went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.
Unpacking the Declined FormsThis powerful verse in the Parable of the Ten Virgins pivots on carefully declined words: articles, nouns, and participles that deepen the narrative with precision and tension. Let’s explore their morphology, syntax, and spiritual weight.
Case-by-Case Insight Greek Word Form & Morphology Case & Function Notes ἀπερχομένων Genitive plural masculine present middle/passive participle of ἀπέρχομαι Genitive absolute Used with αὐτῶν to form a genitive absolute clause: “while they were going away” αὐτῶν Genitive plural masculine personal pronoun Genitive absolute (subject) Refers to the foolish virgins; governs the participle ὁ νυμφίος 2nd declension masculine nominative singular noun with article Subject of ἦλθεν The bridegroom enters the scene at the critical moment αἱ ἕτοιμοι 1st declension feminine nominative plural adjective with article Subject of εἰσῆλθον “The ready ones”—emphatic through article + adjective construction μετ’ αὐτοῦ μετά + genitive pronoun Genitive of accompaniment They go in “with him”—refers to the bridegroom εἰς τοὺς γάμους Preposition + accusative plural masculine noun with article Accusative of motion toward Literal and eschatological: “into the wedding feast” ἡ θύρα 1st declension feminine nominative singular noun with article Subject of passive verb ἐκλείσθη The door becomes its own actor—passively closed Articular Emphasis: Articles That Speak– ὁ νυμφίος: The definite article stresses identity—this is the bridegroom, not a generic figure.… Learn Koine Greek
From Preparation to Pledge: Declensions in Divine Design (2 Corinthians 5:5)
Ὁ δὲ κατεργασάμενος ἡμᾶς εἰς αὐτὸ τοῦτο Θεός, ὁ καὶ δοὺς ἡμῖν τὸν ἀρραβῶνα τοῦ Πνεύματος. (2 Corinthians 5:5)
Now the one who prepared us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the pledge of the Spirit.
Theological Movement Through MorphologyThis compact verse moves from divine action in the past to divine guarantee in the present. Every element of the verse is wrapped in rich declension: nominatives identify the divine agent, accusatives mark the recipients, and genitives clarify possession. This is Pauline grammar in service of pneumatological assurance.
Declension Analysis Table Greek Word Morphology Case & Syntactic Role Notes ὁ…Θεός 2nd declension masculine nominative singular with article Subject of main clause The divine actor, named explicitly; repeated articular structure reinforces identity κατεργασάμενος Aorist middle participle, nominative masculine singular Modifies ὁ…Θεός “The one who prepared us” — expresses purposeful divine action ἡμᾶς 1st person plural personal pronoun, accusative Object of participle κατεργασάμενος Refers to believers as the object of divine preparation εἰς αὐτὸ τοῦτο Preposition εἰς + accusative neuter demonstrative pronoun Accusative of purpose or result “For this very thing” — likely referring to eternal life or resurrection (contextually) ὁ…δούς Aorist active participle, nominative masculine singular with article Appositional participle referring to Θεός “Who also gave…” — adds a second divine action: giving the Spirit ἡμῖν 1st person plural personal pronoun, dative Indirect object of δούς Believers again in focus — the recipients of the gift τὸν ἀρραβῶνα 2nd declension masculine accusative singular with article Direct object of δούς “The pledge” — referring to the Holy Spirit as a down payment or guarantee τοῦ Πνεύματος 3rd declension neuter genitive singular noun with article Genitive of specification or possession Defines the nature of the pledge — it is “of the Spirit” Article-Noun Coordination and Identity– The repetition of the article ὁ before both participles (κατεργασάμενος, δούς) identifies the same God as the source of both preparation and gifting.… Learn Koine Greek
Declensions in the Triumphal Entry Command: Morphology in Luke 19:30
Εἰπών· ὑπάγετε εἰς τὴν κατέναντι κώμην, ἐν ᾗ εἰσπορευόμενοι εὑρήσετε πῶλον δεδεμένον, ἐφ’ ὃν οὐδεὶς πώποτε ἀνθρώπων ἐκάθισε· λύσαντες αὐτὸν ἀγάγετε. (Luke 19:30)
Saying, “Go into the village opposite; in which as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one of men has ever sat; having loosed it, bring it.”
Declension Analysis Table Greek Form Morphology Case & Function Notes τὴν … κώμην 1st declension feminine accusative singular with article Accusative object of εἰς Destination of the disciples’ journey: “into the village.” ᾗ Relative pronoun, dative feminine singular Dative of location “In which” — referring back to κώμην, governing the participial clause.… Learn Koine GreekDeclensions That Proclaim Resurrection: Case Study in Acts 4:10
Γνωστὸν ἔστω πᾶσιν ὑμῖν καὶ παντὶ τῷ λαῷ Ἰσραὴλ ὅτι ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ Ναζωραίου, ὃν ὑμεῖς ἐσταυρώσατε, ὃν ὁ Θεὸς ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν, ἐν τούτῳ οὗτος παρέστηκεν ἐνώπιον ὑμῶν ὑγιής. (Acts 4:10)
Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in this one this man stands before you healthy.
Case Patterns as Rhetorical Architecture Datives (πᾶσιν ὑμῖν, παντὶ τῷ λαῷ, ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι, ἐν τούτῳ) set the framework of address and agency: to whom the speech is directed, in whose name the miracle occurs.… Learn Koine GreekDeclensions in Debate: Philosophers, Foreign Gods, and the Grammar of Paul’s Encounter
Τινὲς δὲ καὶ τῶν Ἐπικουρείων καὶ Στωϊκῶν φιλοσόφων συνέβαλλον αὐτῷ, καί τινες ἔλεγον· τί ἂν θέλοι ὁ σπερμολόγος οὗτος λέγειν; οἱ δέ, ξένων δαιμονίων δοκεῖ καταγγελεὺς εἶναι· ὅτι τὸν Ἰησοῦν καὶ τὴν ἀνάστασιν εὐηγγελίζετο αὐτοῖς. (Acts 17:18)
And some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him, and some were saying, “What might this seed-picker wish to say?” But others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign deities,” because he was proclaiming Jesus and the resurrection to them.
Declinable Elements That Shape the SceneLuke’s Greek in Acts 17:18 is full of vivid declinable forms—participles, articles, and nouns—that highlight conflict, identity, and rhetorical nuance in Paul’s encounter with Athenian philosophers.… Learn Koine Greek
Declensions of Arrogance and Retribution: The Grammar of Revelation 18:7
Ὅσα ἐδόξασεν αὑτὴν καὶ ἐστρηνίασε, τοσοῦτον δότε αὐτῇ βασανισμὸν καὶ πένθος. ὅτι ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῆς λέγει, ὅτι κάθημαι καθὼς βασίλισσα καὶ χήρα οὐκ εἰμὶ καὶ πένθος οὐ μὴ ἴδω, (Revelation 18:7)
As much as she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, give her that much torment and mourning. For in her heart she says, “I sit as a queen, and I am not a widow, and I will never see mourning.”
How Case Usage Frames JudgmentThis verse is a judicial pronouncement against Babylon, whose self-glorification is matched in measure by her judgment. The Greek declensions carefully frame the proportion (“ὅσα… τοσοῦτον”), the pronoun references, and the internal monologue of pride.… Learn Koine Greek
Declensions Framing Apocalyptic Paradox: Morphology in Revelation 17:8
Τὸ θηρίον ὃ εἶδες, ἦν καὶ οὐκ ἔστι, καὶ μέλλει ἀναβαίνειν ἐκ τῆς ἀβύσσου καὶ εἰς ἀπώλειαν ὑπάγειν· καὶ θαυμάσονται οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὧν οὐ γέγραπται τὸ ὄνομα ἐπὶ τὸ βιβλίον τῆς ζωῆς ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου, βλεπόντων τὸ θηρίον ὅτι ἦν, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι καὶ παρέσται. (Revelation 17:8)
The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to ascend from the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and will be present.… Learn Koine Greek
