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Greek Lessons
- The Gift of Tongues as Known Languages: Witness of the Early Church Fathers
- From Jerusalem with Scrutiny: Fronting and Focus in Mark 7:1
- Speaking in Tongues in the Bible
- Grace Beyond Demand: Participles and Imperatives in a Kingdom Ethic
- Reverent Burial and Narrative Simplicity: A Koine and Classical Greek Comparison of Mark 6:29
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Category
Category Archives: Exegesis
Power in Weakness: Divine Strength and the Subjunctive of Purpose in 2 Corinthians 12:9
καὶ εἴρηκέ μοι· ἀρκεῖ σοι ἡ χάρις μου· ἡ γὰρ δύναμίς μου ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ τελειοῦται. ἥδιστα οὖν μᾶλλον καυχήσομαι ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαις μου, ἵνα ἐπισκηνώσῃ ἐπ’ ἐμὲ ἡ δύναμις τοῦ Χριστοῦ.
The Grammar of Surrender and Strength
2 Corinthians 12:9 records the Lord’s personal word to Paul in response to his plea for relief. But the answer is unexpected and transformative: not deliverance, but grace. Not removal of weakness, but infusion of power. And it is Greek grammar—specifically the use of the perfect tense, present indicative, and subjunctive of purpose—that unfolds this paradox. In this verse, divine power is not revealed despite weakness, but through it, and the syntax itself teaches us to embrace God’s logic of grace.… Learn Koine Greek
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She Held a Grudge: Imperfects and the Tension of Unfulfilled Malice in Mark 6:19
ἡ δὲ Ἡρῳδιὰς ἐνεῖχεν αὐτῷ καὶ ἤθελεν αὐτὸν ἀποκτεῖναι, καὶ οὐκ ἠδύνατο· (Mark 6:19)
When Verbs Smolder: The Force of the Imperfect Tense
This compact verse in Mark captures the simmering hatred of Herodias toward John the Baptist. Its power lies not in a dramatic climax, but in the tension between desire and inability, sustained by the grammatical fabric of imperfect verbs. Every verb in this verse is in the imperfect tense, creating a cinematic effect: a long-burning resentment that cannot yet ignite into action.
This article explores:
The repeated use of the imperfect tense to express sustained hostility The lexical and emotional nuance of ἐνεῖχεν The contrastive structure ἤθελεν… καὶ οὐκ ἠδύνατο The narrative pacing and theological reflection embedded in the verbal aspect ἐνεῖχεν αὐτῷ – Grudge with a GripThe verb ἐνεῖχεν is from ἐνέχω, meaning “to hold against,” “to bear a grudge,” or “to be hostile toward.”… Learn Koine Greek
One Flesh by Divine Design: The Syntax of Union
ἕνεκεν τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα καὶ κολληθήσεται τῇ γυναικὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν; (Matthew 19:5)
Marriage and Morphology: A Sacred Syntax
In Matthew 19:5, Jesus reaffirms the Genesis foundation of marriage in response to questions about divorce. The verse presents a series of coordinated verbs and a dramatic prepositional phrase that climaxes in a profound theological declaration: the two shall become one flesh. This statement, while often quoted, reveals deeper grammatical layers that intensify its meaning—layers which reflect permanence, priority, and covenant unity in both form and content.
The Verbal Chain of Covenant: Three Core Actions 1.… Learn Koine GreekHope 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
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)
The Irony of Ritual Cleanliness
This 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). Yet they are simultaneously orchestrating the death of the Lamb of God. John’s Greek narration subtly sharpens this tension through his grammar, syntax, and word choice.
Thematic Grammar: Conjunctions with Contrast 1.… Learn Koine GreekCustom 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
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)
Opening the Verse: The Drama of Divine Revelation
John 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.
This article will focus on four key grammatical and syntactic features:
The emphatic placement and function of οὐδεὶς with Θεὸν The present participle construction ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον The force and aspect of the aorist verb ἐξηγήσατο The theological implications of the articular subject phrase ὁ μονογενὴς υἱὸς “No One Has Seen God at Any Time” – Negation and EmphasisThe phrase Θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε opens the verse with a subjectless construction.… Learn Koine Greek
Guarding the Doctrine, Turning from Division: A Greek Exegesis of Romans 16:17
Romans 16:17 appears near the conclusion of Paul’s monumental epistle, just before his final greetings. The verse stands out as a sudden and earnest pastoral appeal. Having expounded the gospel, issued ethical exhortations, and offered rich theological reflection, Paul now warns the Roman believers about those who disrupt the unity of the church. This is no generic admonition — it is tightly woven into the letter’s concern for doctrinal fidelity and communal harmony.
Structural AnalysisΠαρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, σκοπεῖν τοὺς τὰς διχοστασίας καὶ τὰ σκάνδαλα παρὰ τὴν διδαχὴν ἣν ὑμεῖς ἐμάθετε ποιοῦντας, καὶ ἐκκλίνατε ἀπ’ αὐτῶν·
The verse begins with an earnest appeal: Παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί — “Now I urge you, brothers.”… Learn Koine Greek
Strength Through Him: Present Tense and Empowered Endurance in Philippians 4:13
πάντα ἰσχύω ἐν τῷ ἐνδυναμοῦντί με Χριστῷ.
Strength in the Present Tense
Philippians 4:13 is often quoted but rarely studied with precision. Its grammar reveals a quiet, ongoing strength—not one of bravado or spiritual self-sufficiency, but of present, continuous empowerment. Paul does not speak of sudden miracles or overwhelming force. The verb ἰσχύω and the participle ἐνδυναμοῦντι form a grammatical partnership that underlines steady, God-given resilience. This verse teaches that Christ is not merely a source of strength—He is the one actively strengthening in every moment.
Grammatical Focus: Present Tense and Instrumental ἐν with a Participial PhraseThe core structure is: πάντα ἰσχύω (“I have strength for all things”) followed by the instrumental phrase ἐν τῷ ἐνδυναμοῦντί με Χριστῷ—“through the one strengthening me, Christ.”… Learn Koine Greek
