-
Greek Lessons
- Moved to Speak: Temporal Setting and Genitive Absolute in Mark 8:1
- The Hour Had Not Yet Come: Divine Timing and Aorist Action in John 7:30
- Because of This Word: Perfect Tense and Power at a Distance
- The Greatest and the Least: Superlative Contrast and Kingdom Inversion in Luke 7:28
- Who Made You Judge? Participle and Aorist in the Voice of Rejection
-
Category
Category Archives: Synonyms
Synonyms: Hard and Harsh: σκληρός and αὐστηρός in the Greek New Testament
The adjectives σκληρός and αὐστηρός both describe severity or inflexibility in the Greek New Testament, but they differ in tone, nuance, and context. One expresses inner harshness or moral hardness, while the other describes outward sternness and rigidity. This article explores the lexical roots, occurrences, and theological implications of both words as used in Scripture.
Lexical Definitions and Origins σκληρός – From the root meaning “dry,” “hard,” or “tough.” It refers to physical hardness or, metaphorically, inflexible or unyielding character. It can imply harshness, cruelty, or resistance to truth. αὐστηρός – Derived from a root meaning “rough” or “harsh to the taste” (like unripe fruit or strong wine).… Learn Koine GreekSynonyms: Sea and Deep: θάλασσα and πέλαγος in the Greek New Testament
Both θάλασσα and πέλαγος are used in the Greek New Testament to describe large bodies of water. While they are often translated simply as “sea,” each word carries a distinct nuance and usage pattern. This article explores their lexical origins, New Testament usage, and theological symbolism in light of Jewish and Greco-Roman maritime thought.
Lexical Definitions and Etymology θάλασσα – The most common word for “sea” in the New Testament. It refers to large bodies of water such as oceans, lakes (e.g., the Sea of Galilee), or metaphorical seas. Rooted in everyday Koine Greek, it corresponds to both geographical and symbolic “seas.”… Learn Koine GreekSynonyms: Two Dimensions of Love: ἀγαπάω and φιλέω in the Greek New Testament
Few word pairs in the Greek New Testament have received as much theological and devotional attention as ἀγαπάω and φιλέω. Both are typically translated “to love,” yet their nuances differ significantly. While these differences can sometimes overlap, especially in Koine Greek, their contextual usage in Scripture—particularly in the writings of John—suggests meaningful distinctions. This article explores the etymology, usage, and theological significance of these two key verbs.
Lexical Definitions and Etymology ἀγαπάω – Derived from ἀγάπη, this verb refers to love in a volitional, unconditional, or principled sense. It emphasizes action, commitment, and sacrificial goodwill. It is often described as the highest form of love, rooted in choice rather than emotion.… Learn Koine GreekSynonyms: Malice in the Heart: κακία and κακοήθεια in the Greek New Testament
Two Greek words—κακία and κακοήθεια—provide insight into the inner world of moral corruption in the New Testament. While both relate to evil or badness, their applications are distinct. κακία denotes general moral depravity or wickedness in character. κακοήθεια, however, highlights malicious intent—particularly a disposition of evil-thinking or malevolence toward others. This article traces their usage, meaning, and theological significance within the biblical framework of sin and transformation.
Lexical Definitions and Word Origins κακία – Derived from the adjective κακός (“bad,” “evil”), this noun denotes badness, wickedness, or moral evil. It is a broad term encompassing moral corruption, harmful behavior, and general opposition to the good.… Learn Koine GreekSynonyms: From Cowardice to Reverence: δειλία, φόβος, and εὐλάβεια in the Greek New Testament
Fear in the New Testament is expressed through multiple Greek terms, each with unique connotations. The words δειλία, φόβος, and εὐλάβεια represent three distinct responses to danger, authority, or the divine: cowardice, terror or dread, and reverence. Their careful usage by biblical authors reflects a deep theological understanding of the human condition before God, men, and adversity. This article explores their lexical range, usage in key New Testament texts, and how they frame a biblical theology of fear.
Lexical Definitions and Etymology δειλία – A noun from δειλός meaning “cowardly” or “timid.” It refers to fearfulness in the sense of lack of courage, a failure to act due to dread.… Learn Koine GreekSynonyms: Servants in Function and Faith: θεράπων, δοῦλος, διάκονος, οἰκέτης, ὑπηρέτης in the Greek New Testament
The vocabulary of servanthood in the Greek New Testament is strikingly diverse. Rather than using a single term for “servant,” the Holy Spirit—through the inspired authors—employs a spectrum of words: θεράπων, δοῦλος, διάκονος, οἰκέτης, and ὑπηρέτης. These words are not mere synonyms; they reflect differences in rank, relationship, responsibility, and spiritual significance. This article explores each term’s lexical meaning, biblical usage, and theological role in describing both literal and spiritual servitude. These five terms—θεράπων, δοῦλος, διάκονος, οἰκέτης, and ὑπηρέτης—all denote various kinds of servants in the Greek New Testament, but each carries a distinct social, spiritual, or functional nuance. Together, they form a rich vocabulary for understanding service, authority, and discipleship in early Christian theology.… Learn Koine Greek
Synonyms: Truth in Essence and Truth in Reality: ἀληθής and ἀληθινός in the Greek New Testament
Ἀληθής and ἀληθινός are powerful and subtly distinct adjectives in the Greek New Testament. Though both are translated as “true,” their shades of meaning reveal significant theological depth, especially in the writings of John and the broader Hellenistic background.
In the Greek New Testament, two adjectives—ἀληθής and ἀληθινός—are both commonly translated as “true.” Yet, in Koine Greek usage, and especially in the theological vocabulary of the apostles, these terms reveal distinct nuances. While closely related, they serve different rhetorical and theological functions. One describes factual or moral truthfulness, while the other points to ultimate, essential, or divine reality. This article explores their roots, differences, and roles in the Gospels, Epistles, and Revelation.… Learn Koine Greek
Synonyms: Justice and Correction in the Greek New Testament: τιμωρία and κόλασις
The Greek terms τιμωρία (timōria) and κόλασις (kolasis) are both associated with punishment, yet they diverge in motivation, context, and theological function in profound ways. While both τιμωρία and κόλασις are commonly translated as “punishment” in English, they carry distinct nuances in Greek. These differences were not only lexical but also philosophical and theological. The New Testament’s selective use of these words sheds light on divine justice, correction, and eschatological judgment. This article explores their etymology, usage in biblical and extrabiblical texts, and their implications for Christian theology.
Lexical Definitions and Etymological Roots τιμωρία – From the verb τιμωρέω (“to avenge” or “to take vengeance”), this noun denotes retributive punishment, typically for the sake of justice or retaliation.… Learn Koine GreekSynonyms: True and False Divine Speech: προφητεύω and μαντεύομαι in the Greek New Testament
Among the various Greek terms for divine communication, προφητεύω and μαντεύομαι stand as a deliberate contrast between true prophetic revelation and false, pagan divination. Though both relate to utterances about the divine or the future, their sources, motives, and theological implications are worlds apart. The New Testament—and especially Luke in Acts—employs both terms strategically to draw a stark line between the Spirit of God and demonic oracles. This article explores their definitions, historical background, usage, and theological significance.
Lexical Origins and Core Meaning προφητεύω – From πρό (“before”) and φημί (“to speak”). Literally: “to speak before,” but idiomatically, it means to speak on behalf of a deity—especially the God of Israel.… Learn Koine GreekSynonyms: Holy Devotion or Divine Curse? ἀνάθημα and ἀνάθεμα in the Greek New Testament
The Greek words ἀνάθημα and ἀνάθεμα are among the most striking examples of near-homographs with completely different meanings in the New Testament. Though both stem from the root ἀνατίθημι (“to set up, to dedicate”), their divergence in usage and theological weight is profound. One refers to what is dedicated to God, the other to what is devoted for destruction. This article explores the lexical history, scriptural usage, and spiritual significance of these two potent terms.
Lexical Forms and Etymological Roots ἀνάθημα – From ἀνατίθημι (“to set up”), this form denotes something offered or dedicated to a deity, often placed in a temple as a votive offering.… Learn Koine Greek