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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
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Category
Category Archives: Exegesis
From Sleep to Strength: The Aorist Narrative Drive of Judges 16:3 LXX
Καὶ ἐκοιμήθη Σαμψων ἕως τοῦ μεσονυκτίου καὶ ἀνέστη περὶ τὸ μεσονύκτιον καὶ ἐπελάβετο τῶν θυρῶν τῆς πύλης τῆς πόλεως καὶ τῶν δύο σταθμῶν καὶ ἀνεβάστασεν αὐτὰς σὺν τῷ μοχλῷ καὶ ἐπέθηκεν ἐπὶ τῷ ὤμῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνήνεγκεν αὐτὰ ἐπὶ τὴν κορυφὴν τοῦ ὄρους ὅ ἐστιν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον Χεβρων καὶ ἔθηκεν αὐτὰ ἐκεῖ (Judges 16:3 LXX)
And Samson slept until midnight, and he rose about midnight, and he seized the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, and he lifted them up with the bar, and he placed them on his shoulder, and he carried them to the top of the mountain which is opposite Ḥebron, and he set them there.… Learn Koine Greek
Hope in the Lord: A Pastoral Heart in Philippians 2:19
Philippians 2:19 begins a new section in which Paul outlines his travel plans and commends his coworkers, especially Timothy and Epaphroditus (vv. 19–30). After his Christological hymn (vv. 6–11) and ethical exhortations (vv. 12–18), Paul turns to practical matters — but his theology saturates even this logistics. Verse 19 reveals both his apostolic concern and his deep pastoral affection for the Philippians.
Structural AnalysisἘλπίζω δὲ ἐν κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ Τιμόθεον ταχέως πέμψαι ὑμῖν, ἵνα κἀγὼ εὐψυχῶ γνοὺς τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν·
The verse consists of (1) Paul’s expression of hope, (2) the content of that hope — sending Timothy soon, and (3) the purpose clause introduced by ἵνα, revealing Paul’s motivation: to be encouraged upon hearing news of the Philippians.… Learn Koine Greek
Remaining within the Teaching: The Boundary of True Fellowship
Πᾶς ὁ παραβαίνων καὶ μὴ μένων ἐν τῇ διδαχῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ Θεὸν οὐκ ἔχει· ὁ μένων ἐν τῇ διδαχῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, οὗτος καὶ τὸν πατέρα καὶ τὸν υἱὸν ἔχει. (2 John 1:9)
Everyone who goes beyond and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God; the one who remains in the teaching of Christ, this one has both the Father and the Son.
Crossing the Line versus Remaining withinIn 2 John 1:9, the apostle contrasts two trajectories: “going beyond” and “remaining in.” The participle παραβαίνων (“going beyond,” “transgressing”) is present active, indicating an ongoing or habitual crossing of boundaries.… Learn Koine Greek
Outside the Praetorium: Purity, Purpose, and the Irony of Avoidance
Ἄγουσιν οὖν τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἀπὸ τοῦ Καϊάφα εἰς τὸ πραιτώριον· ἦν δὲ πρωΐ· καὶ αὐτοὶ οὐκ εἰσῆλθον εἰς τὸ πραιτώριον, ἵνα μὴ μιανθῶσιν, ἀλλ’ ἵνα φάγωσι τὸ πάσχα. (John 18:28)
Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium. It was early in the morning, and they themselves did not enter the Praetorium, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.
The Irony of Ritual CleanlinessThis verse captures a piercing irony: those delivering Jesus to be judged are scrupulous about maintaining ritual purity, avoiding contamination from a Gentile place lest they be rendered unfit to eat the Pesaḥ (Passover).… Learn Koine Greek
Custom and Kingship: Political Irony in John 18:39
John 18:39 occurs in the midst of Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate. After examining Jesus and declaring that he finds no guilt in him (v. 38), Pilate appeals to a Passover custom of releasing one prisoner. His question in this verse — whether the Jews want him to release “the King of the Jews” — sets the stage for their rejection of Jesus in favor of Barabbas. The verse is loaded with irony, as Pilate presents Jesus as king in a tone that is politically charged and theologically significant.
Structural Analysisἔστι δὲ συνήθεια ὑμῖν ἵνα ἕνα ὑμῖν ἀπολύσω ἐν τῷ πάσχα· βούλεσθε οὖν ὑμῖν ἀπολύσω τὸν βασιλέα τῶν Ἰουδαίων;
The verse consists of three parts: (1) a declaration of custom (ἔστι…συνήθεια), (2) the content of the custom expressed with ἵνα, and (3) a rhetorical question from Pilate asking if they want Jesus released.… Learn Koine Greek
Self-Testimony and Truth: Word Order and Legal Challenge in John 8:13
Εἶπον οὖν αὐτῷ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι· σὺ περὶ σεαυτοῦ μαρτυρεῖς· ἡ μαρτυρία σου οὐκ ἔστιν ἀληθής. (John 8:13)
The Accusation Framed: Syntax of Confrontation
John 8:13 features a sharp interjection from the Pharisees in response to Jesus’ earlier declaration, “I am the light of the world.” Their rebuttal is legal, grammatical, and tactically arranged. This verse shows how Greek word order, emphatic pronouns, and predicate structure work together to form a challenge rooted in Jewish evidentiary standards (cf. Deut. 19:15).
The Subject Speaks: εἶπον οὖν αὐτῷ οἱ Φαρισαῖοιεἶπον οὖν αὐτῷ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι “So the Pharisees said to him”
εἶπον – aorist active indicative, 3rd person plural of λέγω, introducing direct speech.… Learn Koine GreekPeace for Those Who Walk the Line: The Blessing on the Israel of God
Καὶ ὅσοι τῷ κανόνι τούτῳ στοιχήσουσιν, εἰρήνη ἐπ’ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἔλεος, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ Θεοῦ. (Galatians 6:16)
And as many as will walk by this rule, peace be upon them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Exegetical AnalysisThe verse opens with the coordinating conjunction καί (“and”), continuing Paul’s concluding benediction. The relative pronoun ὅσοι (“as many as”) introduces a conditional blessing. The verb στοιχήσουσιν is future active indicative, third person plural from στοιχέω, meaning “to walk in line with” or “to follow orderly conduct.” It’s a military or moral term implying conformity to a rule or standard.… Learn Koine Greek
Watch and Continue: Salvation Through Persevering Fidelity
Ἔπεχε σεαυτῷ καὶ τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ, ἐπίμενε αὐτοῖς· τοῦτο γὰρ ποιῶν καὶ σεαυτὸν σώσεις καὶ τοὺς ἀκούοντάς σου. (1 Timothy 4:16)
Pay close attention to yourself and to the teaching; continue in them, for by doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Exegetical AnalysisThe verse opens with the imperative ἔπεχε (“pay close attention”), a present active imperative from ἐπέχω, which conveys sustained attention or devotion. It governs two objects: σεαυτῷ (“yourself”) and τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ (“the teaching”), forming a double focus—personal conduct and doctrinal integrity. The second command ἐπίμενε (“continue, persist”) is also a present active imperative, from ἐπιμένω, reinforcing the need for constancy.… Learn Koine Greek
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Joy Multiplied: Shared Rejoicing in Philippians 2:18
Philippians 2:18 is the closing word of a mini-section (vv. 17–18) where Paul reflects on his potential martyrdom using the metaphor of a sacrificial offering. In verse 17, he compares his life to a drink offering poured out upon the sacrifice and service of the Philippians’ faith. Then, despite the ominous tone, he expresses gladness and invites the same response from his readers. Verse 18 echoes and intensifies this invitation: their joy should match his, even in suffering.
Structural Analysisτὸ δ’ αὐτὸ καὶ ὑμεῖς χαίρετε καὶ συγχαίρετέ μοι.
The sentence consists of three elements: a resumptive demonstrative phrase τὸ δ’ αὐτὸ (“and the same thing”), followed by two imperatives: χαίρετε (“rejoice”) and συγχαίρετε (“rejoice with”).… Learn Koine Greek
Into the Bosom of Meaning: Theological Disclosure and Greek Syntax in John 1:18
Θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· ὁ μονογενὴς υἱὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο (John 1:18)
No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.
Opening the Verse: The Divine RevelationJohn 1:18 is a climactic theological declaration in the prologue of the Fourth Gospel. It moves from the universal (“Θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε”) to the particular (“ὁ μονογενὴς υἱὸς”), describing an unparalleled event: the exegeting of God by the only Son. At the heart of this verse lies a rich convergence of Greek syntactic structure, verbal nuance, and christological depth.… Learn Koine Greek
