Category Archives: Grammar

New Testament Greek Grammar

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 …..

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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

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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 …..

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“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 …..

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“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

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“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 …..

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“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 …..

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“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

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“λαβοῦσαι τὰς λαμπάδας αὐτῶν”: Aorist Participial Sequence in Matthew 25:3

Introduction: What They Took—And What They Didn’t Matthew 25:3 reads: Αἵτινες μωραὶ, λαβοῦσαι τὰς λαμπάδας αὐτῶν, οὐκ ἔλαβον μεθ’ ἑαυτῶν ἔλαιον. “Those who were foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with themselves.” Here Study more …..

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“Αἵτινες μωραὶ…”: Indefinite Relative Classification in Matthew 25:3

Introduction: Those Who Were Foolish In Matthew 25:3, part of Jesus’ parable of the Ten Virgins, the foolish group is introduced with the phrase: Αἵτινες μωραὶ, λαβοῦσαι τὰς λαμπάδας αὐτῶν, οὐκ ἔλαβον μεθ’ ἑαυτῶν ἔλαιον. “Those Study more …..

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“ἐγένετο” as Divine Narrative Marker: The Aorist Middle in John 2:1

Introduction: The Beginning of Signs John 2:1 begins with an event introduction: “Καὶ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ γάμος ἐγένετο”—“And on the third day there was a wedding.” The seemingly ordinary statement hinges on the verb ἐγένετο {egeneto}, an aorist middle … Continue reading

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Greek Grammar Lesson from John 3:16

Οὕτω γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ’ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. (John 3:16) Focus Study more …..

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No One Annuls or Adds: Greek Grammar and the Inviolability of a Covenant

In this introductory statement to a deeper argument on the Abrahamic promise, Paul appeals to a human analogy. The Greek in Galatians 3:15 — Ἀδελφοί, κατὰ ἄνθρωπον λέγω· ὅμως ἀνθρώπου κεκυρωμένην διαθήκην οὐδεὶς ἀθετεῖ Study more …..

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Divine Intention and Participial Purpose in Matthew 3:13: A Greek Grammatical and Theological Analysis

Τότε παραγίνεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰορδάνην πρὸς τὸν Ἰωάννην τοῦ βαπτισθῆναι ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ. Introduction Matthew 3:13 introduces the solemn moment when ὁ Ἰησοῦς voluntarily Study more …..

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“γέγραπται” as Scriptural Formula: The Perfect Passive Indicative in Mark 1:2

Introduction: The Authority of What “Is Written” In Mark 1:2, the evangelist introduces a prophetic quotation with the phrase Ὡς γέγραπται ἐν τοῖς προφήταις — “As it is written in the prophets.” The central verb γέγραπται {gegraptai}, from γράφω {graphō}, … Continue reading

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The Gospel in Motion: Participles and Divine Partnership in Mark 16:20

ἐκεῖνοι δὲ ἐξελθόντες ἐκήρυξαν πανταχοῦ, τοῦ Κυρίου συνεργοῦντος καὶ τὸν λόγον βεβαιοῦντος διὰ τῶν ἐπακολουθούντων σημείων. ἀμήν. — Mark 16:20 Participles with Purpose This Study more …..

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Greek Grammar Lesson from 1 Corinthians 12:8

Verse in Greek ᾧ μὲν γὰρ διὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος δίδοται λόγος σοφίας, ἄλλῳ δὲ λόγος γνώσεως κατὰ τὸ αὐτὸ Πνεῦμα, Focus Topic: Dative of Advantage and Correlative Conjunctions (μὲν…δὲ) This verse presents Study more …..

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“Ἰδόντες”: Aorist Participle of Perception and Fulfillment in Matthew 2:10

Introduction: The Joy of Seeing Matthew 2:10 opens with a participle of perception—ἰδόντες {idontes}, from ὁράω, “to see.” The clause reads: “Ἰδόντες δὲ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα” —“And when they saw the star, Study more …..

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New Testament Greek Grammar Analysis of John 1:2

Οὗτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν Θεόν. Greek Syntax and Sentence Structure in John 1:2 The verse John 1:2 follows the highly structured and theologically rich opening of the Gospel of John. It is a short but dense statement that … Continue reading

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New Testament Greek Grammar Analysis of John 21:25

Ἔστι δὲ καὶ ἄλλα πολλὰ ὃσα ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, ἅτινα ἐὰν γράφηται καθ’ ἕν, οὐδὲ αὐτὸν οἶμαι τὸν κόσμον χωρῆσαι τὰ γραφόμενα βιβλία. Greek Syntax and Sentence Structure in John Study more …..

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