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Greek Lessons
- Vindicated at the Table: How Speech Condemns and Grammar Acquits
- Carried, Not Carrying: The Grammar That Topples Boasting
- Spliced into Abundance: The Grammar of Displacement and Participation in ἐνεκεντρίσθης
- When the Heart Expands Toward Ruin: The Grammar of Self-Watchfulness
- Living, Begetting, Dying: The Grammar of Time and Continuity
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Category
Category Archives: Exegesis
Discerning Discipleship: Testing All Things, Holding to the Good
Πάντα δὲ δοκιμάζετε, τὸ καλὸν κατέχετε· (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
But test everything; hold fast to what is good.
The Command to Examine EverythingIn 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Paul delivers a compact yet far-reaching exhortation: πάντα δὲ δοκιμάζετε — “But test everything.” The verb δοκιμάζετε (present active imperative) urges continual action: not a one-time judgment, but a lifestyle of evaluation. Derived from the domain of metallurgy, the word implies testing to determine authenticity or value. This is no superficial scanning, but an intentional and discerning process. The object of the verb, πάντα (“everything”), is striking in its scope—there are no exceptions or sacred cows.… Learn Koine Greek
Not from Man, But from God: The Spirit-Borne Prophecy of Scripture
Τοῦτο πρῶτον γινώσκοντες, ὅτι πᾶσα προφητεία γραφῆς ἰδίας ἐπιλύσεως οὐ γίνεται. οὐ γὰρ θελήματι ἀνθρώπου ἠνέχθη ποτὲ προφητεία, ἀλλ’ ὑπὸ Πνεύματος ἁγίου φερόμενοι ἐλάλησαν ἅγιοι Θεοῦ ἄνθρωποι. (2 Peter 1:20–21)
Knowing this first, that every prophecy of Scripture is not of one’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever brought by the will of man, but men spoke from God, being carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Exegetical AnalysisThis densely packed pair of verses begins with the phrase τοῦτο πρῶτον γινώσκοντες — “knowing this first.” The participle γινώσκοντες (present active participle, nominative masculine plural) functions imperatively, meaning “you must know this above all.”… Learn Koine Greek
Come and See: The Syntax of Testimony and Wonder in John 4:29
John 4:29 is spoken by the Samaritan woman shortly after her transformative encounter with Jesus at Jacob’s well. After Jesus reveals her personal history and hints at his messianic identity, she leaves her water jar and runs back to the town, inviting others to come and see. This verse is not only a moment of personal testimony; it initiates the evangelization of an entire Samaritan village, prefiguring Gentile belief. The syntax of her invitation reflects both excitement and uncertainty — wonder wrapped in witness.
Structural AnalysisΔεῦτε ἴδετε ἄνθρωπον ὃς εἶπέ μοι πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησα· μήτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ Χριστός;
The sentence divides into three movements: (1) an imperative invitation Δεῦτε ἴδετε, (2) a relative clause identifying the man ὃς εἶπέ μοι πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησα, and (3) an interrogative clause μήτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ Χριστός; that poses a leading question about his identity.… Learn Koine Greek
Fully Convinced: Faith in God’s Power in Romans 4:21
Romans 4:21 is part of Paul’s exposition on Abraham’s faith, presented as the model of justification by faith. In verses 18–22, Paul describes Abraham’s unwavering trust in God’s promise despite his old age and Sarah’s barrenness. This particular verse emphasizes the nature of Abraham’s confidence: it was not blind belief, but conviction rooted in God’s power to fulfill what He had promised.
Structural Analysisκαὶ πληροφορηθεὶς ὅτι ὃ ἐπήγγελται δυνατός ἐστι καὶ ποιῆσαι.
The sentence is built around a participial construction (πληροφορηθεὶς) followed by a content clause (ὅτι…ἐστι). The subject of the clause is ὃ (“that which”), referring to the divine promise.… Learn Koine Greek
Strength in the Messiah: A Greek Look at Philippians 4:13
Πάντα ἰσχύω ἐν τῷ ἐνδυναμοῦντί με Χριστῷ. (Philippians 4:13)
I am able for all things through Christ who strengthens me.
The Power of Sufficiency πάντα ἰσχύω – “I am strong for all things.” The verb ἰσχύω (present active indicative) means “to be strong,” “to have power or ability.” The direct object πάντα (“all things”) is accusative plural neuter, covering every situation Paul has discussed—from hunger to abundance. The emphasis is not on external achievement, but on inner spiritual sufficiency. Means of Empowermentἐν τῷ ἐνδυναμοῦντί με Χριστῷ – “in Christ who strengthens me.”
ἐν + dative indicates means or sphere—“by” or “through.”… 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
The Unchangeable Gospel and the Weight of Anathema
Ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐὰν ἡμεῖς ἢ ἄγγελος ἐξ οὐρανοῦ εὐαγγελίζηται ὑμῖν παρ’ ὃ εὐηγγελισάμεθα ὑμῖν, ἀνάθεμα ἔστω. (Galatians 1:8)
But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim good news to you contrary to what we have proclaimed to you, let him be accursed.
The Gospel’s Inviolability DeclaredIn Galatians 1:8, Paul utters one of the most thunderous warnings in the New Testament. The sentence begins with ἀλλὰ καὶ – a strong adversative conjunction meaning “but even,” intensifying the contrast with the previous context. What follows is a startling hypothetical: ἐὰν ἡμεῖς ἢ ἄγγελος ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, “if we or an angel from heaven.”… Learn Koine Greek
The Unbreakable Scripture and the Word Addressed to Humanity
Εἰ ἐκείνους εἶπε θεοὺς, πρὸς οὓς ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ οὐ δύναται λυθῆναι ἡ γραφή, (John 10:35)
If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken,
Divine Speech to MortalsIn John 10:35, Jesus appeals to a moment in Scripture where certain individuals were referred to as θεοὺς (“gods”). The structure begins with a first-class conditional clause: εἰ ἐκείνους εἶπε θεοὺς—“if He called them gods.” The referent of ἐκείνους is drawn from Psalm 82:6, where human judges or rulers are metaphorically called “gods” due to their function as representatives of divine justice.… Learn Koine Greek
When He Comes in Glory: Glorification and Amazement in 2 Thessalonians 1:10
Ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐνδοξασθῆναι ἐν τοῖς ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ καὶ θαυμασθῆναι ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς πιστεύσασιν, ὅτι ἐπιστεύθη τὸ μαρτύριον ἡμῶν ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς, ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ.
This rich eschatological sentence from 2 Thessalonians 1:10 paints the day of the Lord’s return in stunning theological and grammatical detail. The Greek sets the moment in future expectation, marking a time when Jesus will be glorified among the saints and marveled at by believers. The structure balances temporal anticipation, passive voice theology, and a reminder of the reliability of the apostolic witness.
Grammatical FoundationsThe main temporal clause begins with ὅταν ἔλθῃ—“when he comes.” ὅταν introduces a future-looking time clause and governs the aorist subjunctive ἔλθῃ (from ἔρχομαι, 3rd person singular): “whenever he comes.”… Learn Koine Greek
The Sacred Trust and the Battle of Words
Ὦ Τιμόθεε, τὴν παραθήκην φύλαξον, ἐκτρεπόμενος τὰς βεβήλους κενοφωνίας καὶ ἀντιθέσεις τῆς ψευδωνύμου γνώσεως, (1 Timothy 6:20)
O Timothy, guard the deposit, turning away from profane empty sounds and oppositions of falsely-named knowledge.
A Personal Plea in a Pastoral EpistleThe verse begins with a rare and deeply personal vocative: Ὦ Τιμόθεε. This direct address, marked by the interjection Ὦ, conveys intensity, affection, and solemnity. It is the voice of a spiritual father appealing to his beloved son in the faith. What follows is not casual advice but an urgent commission. The imperative φύλαξον (aorist active imperative) commands Timothy to “guard” something specific: τὴν παραθήκην — “the deposit.”… Learn Koine Greek
