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Greek Lessons
- Ascending to Teach: Grammatical Setting and Theological Foreshadowing in Matthew 5:1
- Rhetorical Inquiry and Comparative Teaching in Mark 4:30: Hortatory Subjunctives and Parabolic Framing in Greek Narrative
- The Quiet Escape: Classical and Koine Greek Meet in Luke 4:30
- Grant Boldness: Grammatical Petition and Apostolic Courage in Acts 4:29
- Fury in the Synagogue: A Sudden Turn in Luke 4:28
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Category
Category Archives: Grammar
Judgment of the Rebels: Grammar and Imagery in Jude 6
ἀγγέλους τε τοὺς μὴ τηρήσαντας τὴν ἑαυτῶν ἀρχὴν, ἀλλὰ ἀπολιπόντας τὸ ἴδιον οἰκητήριον εἰς κρίσιν μεγάλης ἡμέρας δεσμοῖς ἀϊδίοις ὑπὸ ζόφον τετήρηκεν Jude Study more …..
Bondage Before Adoption: A Grammatical and Theological Study of Galatians 4:3
Introduction Galatians 4:3 — οὕτω καὶ ἡμεῖς, ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι, ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἦμεν δεδουλωμένοι· (“So also we, when we were children, were enslaved under the elemental things of the world.”) This verse Study more …..
Found Faithful: Divine Expectations and Grammatical Precision in 1 Corinthians 4:2
Faithfulness as a Steward’s Mark: Literary and Theological Context of 1 Corinthians 4:2 1 Corinthians 4:2 — ὃ δὲ λοιπὸν ζητεῖται ἐν τοῖς οἰκονόμοις, ἵνα πιστός τις εὑρεθῇ. (“Moreover, what is required in stewards is that one be found Study … Continue reading
Authority Through the Lord: A Grammatical and Theological Study of 1 Thessalonians 4:2
Introduction 1 Thessalonians 4:2 — οἴδατε γὰρ τίνας παραγγελίας ἐδώκαμεν ὑμῖν διὰ τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ. (“For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.”) This verse belongs to the paraenetic section of 1 Thessalonians, Study more …..
Dislocation and Apposition: Royal Titling in Biblical Hebrew
Introduction to 1 Kings 4:1 This verse formally introduces the reign of King Shelomoh (Solomon) with a syntactically simple but rhetorically rich construction. The structure features a dislocated subject and appositional noun phrases, which combine to create a solemn and … Continue reading
Driven by the Spirit: The Temptation Prelude in Matthew 4:1
Τότε ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἀνήχθη εἰς τὴν ἔρημον ὑπὸ τοῦ Πνεύματος, πειρασθῆναι ὑπὸ τοῦ διαβόλου Matthew 4:1 opens the temptation narrative not with confrontation, but with movement—Jesus is led up into the wilderness. The grammar Study more …..
You Call Me Teacher and Lord: Identity Affirmed in John 13:13
The Verse in Focus (John 13:13) ὑμεῖς φωνεῖτέ με, ὁ διδάσκαλος καὶ ὁ κύριος, καὶ καλῶς λέγετε· εἰμὶ γάρ ὑμεῖς φωνεῖτέ με: Personal Address and Present Action The subject ὑμεῖς (“you”) is emphatic, Study more …..
A Life According to the Strictest Sect: Identity in Acts 26:5
Acts 26:5 προγινώσκοντές με ἄνωθεν, ἐὰν θέλωσι μαρτυρεῖν, ὅτι κατὰ τὴν ἀκριβεστάτην αἵρεσιν τῆς ἡμετέρας θρησκείας ἔζησα Φαρισαῖος προγινώσκοντές με ἄνωθεν: Study more …..
First of All: The Grammar of Intercession in 1 Timothy 2:1
1 Timothy 2:1 Παρακαλῶ οὖν πρῶτον πάντων ποιεῖσθαι δεήσεις, προσευχάς, ἐντεύξεις, εὐχαριστίας, ὑπὲρ πάντων ἀνθρώπων Παρακαλῶ οὖν: A Pastoral Urging The verb Παρακαλῶ is the present Study more …..
The Grammar of Humility: Jesus’ Arrival in Matthew 3:13
Τότε παραγίνεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰορδάνην πρὸς τὸν Ἰωάννην τοῦ βαπτισθῆναι ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ Matthew’s language is quiet but deliberate. Jesus doesn’t declare, explain, or teach Study more …..
“μνείαν σου ποιούμενος ἐπὶ τῶν προσευχῶν μου”: Participial Thanksgiving and Remembrance in Philemon 4
Introduction: Gratitude in the Form of Prayer Paul opens his letter to Philemon with this tender line: Εὐχαριστῶ τῷ Θεῷ μου πάντοτε μνείαν σου ποιούμενος ἐπὶ τῶν προσευχῶν μου “I thank my God always, making mention of you Study more … Continue reading
Greek Grammar Lesson from Luke 2:15
Verse in Greek Καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἀπῆλθον ἀπ’ αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν οἱ ἄγγελοι, καὶ οἱ ἄνθρωποι οἱ ποιμένες εἶπον πρὸς ἀλλήλους· Διέλθωμεν δὴ ἕως Βηθλέεμ καὶ ἴδωμεν Study more …..
Not in Vain: Participles and Persuasion in 2 Corinthians 6:1
The Verse in Focus (2 Corinthians 6:1) Συνεργοῦντες δὲ καὶ παρακαλοῦμεν μὴ εἰς κενὸν τὴν χάριν τοῦ Θεοῦ δέξασθαι ὑμᾶς· The Present Participle: Συνεργοῦντες The participle συνεργοῦντες comes from Study more …..
Joy Beyond Measure: Exploring Greek Intensification in Matthew 2:10
The Verse in Focus Ἰδόντες δὲ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα This verse from Matthew 2:10 is rich in both grammatical beauty and expressive emotion. A Closer Look at the Structure This vivid sentence from Matthew 2:10 captures the … Continue reading
Greek Verbal Nuance, Syntax, and Semantic Tension in John 21:16
Λέγει αὐτῷ πάλιν δεύτερον· Σίμων Ἰωνᾶ, ἀγαπᾷς με; Λέγει αὐτῷ· ναί κύριε, σὺ οἶδας ὅτι φιλῶ σε. Λέγει αὐτῷ· ποίμαινε τὰ πρόβατά μου. Introduction John 21:16 is the second of three similar Study more …..
“ἵνα φάγωσιν οὗτοι”: Purpose Clause and Aorist Subjunctive in John 6:5
Introduction: Bread for the Multitude John 6:5 introduces the setting for the feeding of the 5,000. Jesus looks up and sees the crowd approaching: Ἐπάρας οὖν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς, καὶ θεασάμενος ὅτι πολὺς ὄχλος ἔρχεται Study more …..
“τοῦ Ἰωανάν, τοῦ Ῥησά…”: Patronymic Genitives and Ellipsis in Luke 3:27
Introduction: A Lineage Without Verbs In Luke 3:23–38, the evangelist presents the genealogy of Jesus in reverse, going from Jesus all the way back to Adam. Each generation is presented in a minimalist formula: τοῦ [Name] — “of [Name]” Our … Continue reading
“ἐξετίθετο”: The Imperfect Middle of Reasoned Defense in Acts 11:4
Introduction: Unfolding the Account Acts 11:4 says: Ἀρξάμενος δὲ ὁ Πέτρος ἐξετίθετο αὐτοῖς καθεξῆς, λέγων· “But Peter, having begun, began to explain to them in order, saying…” The main verb here is ἐξετίθετο {exetítheto}, Study more …..
“Ἀρξάμενος… ἐξετίθετο”: Participial Introduction and Imperfect Exposition in Acts 11:4
Introduction: Peter Begins to Speak Acts 11:4 sets the stage for Peter’s explanatory defense before the Jerusalem believers: Ἀρξάμενος δὲ ὁ Πέτρος ἐξετίθετο αὐτοῖς καθεξῆς, λέγων· “But Peter, having begun, explained to them in order, saying…” This Study more …..
“οὐκ ἔλαβον μεθ’ ἑαυτῶν ἔλαιον”: Aorist Negation and Reflexive Emphasis in Matthew 25:3
Introduction: What They Failed to Bring The final clause in this verse exposes the foolish virgins’ core mistake: οὐκ ἔλαβον μεθ’ ἑαυτῶν ἔλαιον — “they did not take oil with themselves.” The verb ἔλαβον {elabon} is aorist active, and the … Continue reading
