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Greek Lessons
- “What to Us and to You?”: Demonic Recognition and Eschatological Grammar in Matthew 8:29
- Whispers of Identity: From Prophets to Pronouns in Mark 8:28
- The Field of Blood: Passive Voice and Temporal Clauses in Matthew 27:8
- Declensions in the Storm: Case Usage in Matthew 8:26
- Testimony on the Road: Aorist Participles and Mission Grammar in Acts 8:25
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Category
Category Archives: Grammar
Teaching, Preaching, Healing: The Triple Ministry in Matthew 4:23
The Verse in Focus (Matthew 4:23)
Καὶ περιῆγεν ὅλην τὴν Γαλιλαίαν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, διδάσκων ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν καὶ κηρύσσων τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ θεραπεύων πᾶσαν νόσον καὶ πᾶσαν μαλακίαν ἐν τῷ λαῷ
Καὶ περιῆγεν… ὁ Ἰησοῦς: The Traveling Messiah περιῆγεν is the imperfect active indicative of περιάγω, meaning “he went about” or “he traveled around.” The imperfect tense signifies continuous or repeated action in the past — Jesus habitually traveled. ὅλην τὴν Γαλιλαίαν — “all Galilee,” accusative of extent of space.The verb-subject order is emphatic: the action leads, and the subject ὁ Ἰησοῦς comes last, highlighting what he was doing more than who he was.… Learn Koine Greek
Greek Grammatical and Syntactic Analysis of Luke 4:22
καὶ πάντες ἐμαρτύρουν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐθαύμαζον ἐπὶ τοῖς λόγοις τῆς χάριτος τοῖς ἐκπορευομένοις ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔλεγον· οὐχ οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς Ἰωσὴφ;
Coordinated Imperfect Verbs: ἐμαρτύρουν and ἐθαύμαζον
ἐμαρτύρουν: imperfect active indicative, 3rd person plural of μαρτυρέω, “they were bearing witness”
ἐθαύμαζον: imperfect active indicative, 3rd person plural of θαυμάζω, “they were marveling”
The use of the imperfect tense for both verbs expresses continuous or repeated action in the past. The verbs are coordinated by καὶ and have the common subject πάντες (“all”), indicating communal response.
Subject: πάντες πάντες: nominative masculine plural of πᾶς, “all (people)”This plural subject governs both imperfect verbs.… Learn Koine Greek
The Grammar of Greeting: Sanctified Salutations in Philippians 4:21
Ἀσπάσασθε πάντα ἅγιον ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς οἱ σὺν ἐμοὶ ἀδελφοί. — Philippians 4:21
The Grammar of Grace-Filled GreetingsIn Paul’s final exhortations and farewells, grammar becomes a vessel for grace. This verse, simple on the surface, reveals layers of theological and communal depth through its verb forms, case usage, and prepositional phrases. The act of greeting (ἀσπάζομαι) becomes a marker of fellowship, unity, and sanctity—anchored firmly in the Messiah, Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.
The Dual Direction of GreetingTwo greetings appear here: one from Paul’s companions to the Philippians (ἀσπάζονται), and one from the Philippians to every holy one (Ἀσπάσασθε). Both verbs derive from the same root, creating a rhetorical inclusio that brackets the community in shared spiritual affection.… Learn Koine Greek
Stumbling Blocks and Subjunctives: Volitional Grammar in 1 Corinthians 8:13
διόπερ εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει τὸν ἀδελφόν μου, οὐ μὴ φάγω κρέα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, ἵνα μὴ τὸν ἀδελφόν μου σκανδαλίσω. — 1 Corinthians 8:13
The Syntax of Self-DenialIn this verse, Paul concludes his argument on eating food offered to idols with a striking personal resolution. The Greek grammar provides a powerful rhetorical structure: a conditional clause, a strong negative with the subjunctive, and a purpose clause—all carefully interwoven to express sacrificial love through precise syntax.
εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει…: The Conditional ClauseThe sentence begins with a first-class conditional clause: εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει τὸν ἀδελφόν μου—“if food causes my brother to stumble.”… Learn Koine Greek
Divine Encounters in Aorist and Indicative: A Grammatical Glimpse into Matthew 19:2
καὶ ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ ὄχλοι πολλοί, καὶ ἐθεράπευσεν αὐτοὺς ἐκεῖ. — Matthew 19:2
Opening the Scene: Syntax in Action
This short yet vivid verse from the Gospel of Matthew paints a moment of intense public response and divine intervention. Two verbs dominate the sentence: ἠκολούθησαν (“they followed”) and ἐθεράπευσεν (“he healed”). Both are in the aorist active indicative tense, conveying actions that are complete and significant. Through the simplicity of the Greek structure, we are drawn into a movement from crowd action to divine response—all within a single breath.
The Aorist: A Tense of Completed RealityThe Greek aorist tense does not correspond precisely to the English simple past.… Learn Koine Greek
Judge for Yourselves: Divine Obedience in Acts 4:19
The Verse in Focus (Acts 4:19)
ὁ δὲ Πέτρος καὶ Ἰωάννης ἀποκριθέντες πρὸς αὐτοὺς εἶπον· εἰ δίκαιόν ἐστιν ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ ὑμῶν ἀκούειν μᾶλλον ἢ τοῦ Θεοῦ, κρίνατε
ὁ δὲ Πέτρος καὶ Ἰωάννης… εἶπον: A Unified ReplyThe verse begins with a coordinated subject and response:
– ὁ δὲ Πέτρος καὶ Ἰωάννης — “But Peter and John.” The δὲ is contrastive, introducing their response to the Sanhedrin’s command to stop preaching. – ἀποκριθέντες — aorist passive participle of ἀποκρίνομαι, “having answered,” used deponently here. – πρὸς αὐτοὺς — “to them,” referring to the Jewish council. – εἶπον — aorist active indicative of λέγω, “they said.”… Learn Koine Greek
Forgiveness Amid Cruelty in Luke 23:34: Imperatives, Ignorance, and Irony in Crucifixion Greek
ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἔλεγε· Πάτερ, ἄφες αὐτοῖς· οὐ γὰρ οἴδασι τί ποιοῦσι. διαμεριζόμενοι δὲ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ ἔβαλον κλῆρον.
Imperfective Prayer of the Crucified: ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἔλεγε– ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς: Nominative with article—”but Jesus.” – δὲ: Coordinating conjunction, continuing narrative with mild contrast. – ἔλεγε: Imperfect active indicative, 3rd person singular of λέγω, “he was saying.” – The imperfect tense here suggests ongoing or repeated action—Jesus may have uttered this more than once. – This phrase introduces a statement of immense theological and emotional weight.
Cruciform Intercession: Πάτερ, ἄφες αὐτοῖς– Πάτερ: Vocative singular—”Father.” – Intimate address to God, echoing Jesus’ consistent filial relationship.… Learn Koine Greek
Good Friday: Matthew 27:46, Greek Grammar, Calendar Calculations, and Historical Coincidences
Good Friday is the day Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It marks the culmination of Jesus’s passion, occurring during the Jewish festival of Passover. In the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion, one of the most striking moments is captured in Matthew 27:46, when Jesus cries out from the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” This article examines the significance of that cry – including its original language and grammar – and explores how the date of the first Good Friday is determined (considering Gregorian vs. Julian calendar calculations) as well as several remarkable historical coincidences associated with that day.… Learn Koine Greek
Manipulative Zeal and Paul’s Rebuke in Galatians 4:17
Introduction: When Zeal Turns Toxic
Paul warns the Galatians about those who seek to manipulate their devotion:
ζηλοῦσιν ὑμᾶς οὐ καλῶς, ἀλλὰ ἐκκλεῖσαι ὑμᾶς θέλουσιν, ἵνα αὐτοὺς ζηλοῦτε “They are zealous for you, not in a good way, but they want to exclude you, so that you might be zealous for them.”
This verse uses present indicatives, a purpose clause, and an infinitive of result/purpose. It’s a masterclass in ironic exposure—the Judaizers appear “passionately concerned,” but their aim is control.
ζηλοῦσιν ὑμᾶς οὐ καλῶς, ἀλλὰ ἐκκλεῖσαι ὑμᾶς θέλουσιν, ἵνα αὐτοὺς ζηλοῦτε Morphological Breakdown ζηλοῦσιν {zēloûsin} – Root: ζηλόω {zēlóō}; Form: present active indicative, 3rd person plural; Meaning: “they are zealous for,” “they court,” “they are passionately interested in (you)”; Notes: Can be positive or negative depending on context.… Learn Koine GreekFrom Whom the Whole Body Grows: Unity and Function in Ephesians 4:16
The Verse in Focus (Ephesians 4:16)
ἐξ οὗ πᾶν τὸ σῶμα συναρμολογούμενον καὶ συμβιβαζόμενον διὰ πάσης ἁφῆς τῆς ἐπιχορηγίας κατ’ ἐνέργειαν ἐν μέτρῳ ἑνὸς ἑκάστου μέρους τὴν αὔξησιν τοῦ σώματος ποιεῖται εἰς οἰκοδομὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἐν ἀγάπῃ
ἐξ οὗ: The Source of GrowthThe phrase ἐξ οὗ (“from whom”) points back to Christ, the immediate antecedent in the previous verse. The preposition ἐκ with the genitive indicates origin or source. All that follows flows from Christ — the head from whom the body derives coordination, support, and growth.
πᾶν τὸ σῶμα: The Unified Whole– πᾶν — “every” or “the whole.” – τὸ σῶμα — “the body.”… Learn Koine Greek
