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Category Archives: Syntax
Written for Our Instruction: Purpose Clauses and the Function of Scripture in Romans 15:4
Ὅσα γὰρ προεγράφη, εἰς τὴν ἡμετέραν διδασκαλίαν προεγράφη, ἵνα διὰ τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ τῆς παρακλήσεως τῶν γραφῶν τὴν ἐλπίδα ἔχωμεν. (Romans 15:4)
For whatever was written beforehand was written for our instruction, so that through the endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
Paul compresses theology and pastoral encouragement into tightly ordered syntax. By repeating the same verb, employing a purpose clause, and highlighting key virtues, this verse outlines how the Scriptures serve as a wellspring of endurance, encouragement, and hope.
Relative Clause with Emphasis: ὅσα… προεγράφηThe verse begins with the neuter plural relative pronoun ὅσα (“whatever things”), casting a wide net over the whole body of Scripture.… Learn Koine Greek
“φραγελλώσας”: The Aorist Participle of Brutality and Irony in Mark 15:15
Ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος βουλόμενος τῷ ὄχλῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι, ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν, καὶ παρέδωκε τὸν Ἰησοῦν φραγελλώσας. ἵνα σταυρωθῇ. (Mark 15:15)
But Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released to them Barabbas; and after scourging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
The King’s Coronation Begins in ScourgingMark 15:15 records Pilate’s final act of surrender to the crowd’s demand: ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν, καὶ παρέδωκε τὸν Ἰησοῦν φραγελλώσας. “He released Barabbas to them, and having scourged Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.”
Here we focus on the participle φραγελλώσας {phragellōsas}, an aorist active participle of φραγελλόω—a loanword from Latin flagellum (whip).… Learn Koine Greek
Posted in Grammar, Syntax, Theology
Tagged aorist active participle, aorist participle, Mark 15:15
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“παρέδωκε τὸν Ἰησοῦν”: The Grammar of Surrender and Judgment in Mark 15:15
Ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος βουλόμενος τῷ ὄχλῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι, ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν, καὶ παρέδωκε τὸν Ἰησοῦν φραγελλώσας. ἵνα σταυρωθῇ.
But Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released to them Barabbas; and after scourging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
When the Judge Becomes the DelivererMark 15:15 reports Pilate’s final act: καὶ παρέδωκε τὸν Ἰησοῦν φραγελλώσας· ἵνα σταυρωθῇ — “And he handed over Jesus, having scourged him, so that he might be crucified.”
The verb παρέδωκε {paredōken} comes from παραδίδωμι, “to hand over,” and it is rich in judicial and theological nuance. It appears in both secular legal texts and biblical prophecy.… Learn Koine Greek
“ἀπέλυσεν τὸν Βαραββᾶν”: Legal Release and Narrative Irony in Mark 15:15
Ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος βουλόμενος τῷ ὄχλῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι, ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν, καὶ παρέδωκε τὸν Ἰησοῦν φραγελλώσας. ἵνα σταυρωθῇ. (Mark 15:15)
But Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released to them Barabbas; and after scourging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
The Inversion of JusticeMark 15:15 includes this concise but pivotal clause: ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν — “He released Barabbas to them.”
This clause marks a dramatic reversal: Barabbas, a known insurrectionist (Mark 15:7), is set free, while Yeshuʿ, the innocent one, is delivered to death. The verb ἀπέλυσεν {apelusen} is drawn from legal vocabulary, but in this context it functions with narrative irony and theological gravity.… Learn Koine Greek
“τῷ ὄχλῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι”: Idiom of Appeasement in Mark 15:15
Ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος βουλόμενος τῷ ὄχλῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι, ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν, καὶ παρέδωκε τὸν Ἰησοῦν φραγελλώσας. ἵνα σταυρωθῇ. (Mark 15:15)
But Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released to them Barabbas; and after scourging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
When Justice Bows to Crowd ControlMark 15:15 opens with a participial phrase describing Pilate’s inner intent: βουλόμενος τῷ ὄχλῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι — “wishing to satisfy the crowd.”
This expression is built around the idiom τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι, literally “to do the sufficient [thing],” or more naturally, “to appease / satisfy.” This polite Greek formulation masks the deeper tension of political expedience, and the grammar expresses Pilate’s willing participation in injustice.… Learn Koine Greek
Flattery, Framing, and the Grammar of a Trap
Οἱ δὲ ἐλθόντες λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· διδάσκαλε, οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἀληθὴς εἶ καὶ οὐ μέλει σοι περὶ οὐδενός· οὐ γὰρ βλέπεις εἰς πρόσωπον ἀνθρώπων, ἀλλ’ ἐπ’ ἀληθείας τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ διδάσκεις. εἶπον οὖν ἡμῖν· ἔξεστι δοῦναι κῆνσον Καίσαρι ἢ οὔ; δῶμεν ἢ μὴ δῶμεν; (Mark 12:14)
And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and that you do not care about anyone, for you do not look at the face of people, but in truth you teach the way of God. Tell us then, is it lawful to give the poll-tax to Caesar or not? Should we give or not give?”… Learn Koine Greek
Posted in Grammar, Syntax
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Greek Grammar and Syntactic Analysis of Mark 11:14
Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς, εἶπεν αὐτῇ· μηκέτι ἐκ σοῦ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα μηδεὶς καρπὸν φάγοι. καὶ ἤκουον οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ. (Mark 11:14)
And Jesus answered and said to it: Let no one eat fruit from you ever again. And his disciples were listening.
Aorist Participle ἀποκριθεὶς and Narrative FramingThe participle ἀποκριθεὶς (aorist passive participle, nominative masculine singular of ἀποκρίνομαι) introduces a typical Semitic-influenced narrative formula, often found in the Gospels: “And answering, Jesus said…” This construction is grammatically redundant in Greek but stylistically Semitic. It functions adverbially, indicating the manner or circumstance of the main verb εἶπεν.
Although ἀποκριθεὶς is morphologically passive, the verb ἀποκρίνομαι is deponent, meaning it has passive forms but active meaning: “he answered”.… Learn Koine Greek
The Value of Devotion: Passive Verbs and Misguided Indignation
Ἠδύνατο γὰρ τοῦτο τὸ μύρον πραθῆναι ἐπάνω τριακοσίων δηναρίων καὶ δοθῆναι τοῖς πτωχοῖς· καὶ ἐνεβριμῶντο αὐτῇ. (Mark 14:5)
For this perfume could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they were scolding her.
The Grammatical Voice of Economic CritiqueIn Mark 14:5, we encounter a moment charged with tension—devotion misjudged as waste. The grammar of this verse features two striking passive infinitives, a weighty monetary reference, and a final emotional verb that echoes with rebuke. The structure reflects not only economic reasoning but also reveals how linguistic choices can dramatize the blindness of human judgment when faced with divine acts of love.… Learn Koine Greek
Political Discourse and Future Verbal Strategy in Matthew 28:14: A Study in Conditional Syntax and Koine Greek Persuasion
Καὶ ἐὰν ἀκουσθῇ τοῦτο ἐπὶ τοῦ ἡγεμόνος, ἡμεῖς πείσομεν αὐτὸν, καὶ ὑμᾶς ἀμερίμνους ποιήσομεν. (Matthew 28:14)
And if this is heard by the governor, we will persuade him and make you free from worry.
Matthew 28:14 presents a case of political strategy expressed through conditional syntax and future-oriented verbal constructions. Spoken by the chief priests to the soldiers, this verse contains conditional modality, implied social manipulation, and legal nuance. The Greek grammar reveals a persuasive structure dependent on mood, aspect, and pronoun emphasis. Every clause is economically constructed yet dense with rhetorical power.
Conditional Clause: ἐὰν ἀκουσθῇ τοῦτο– The clause begins with ἐὰν, a conditional particle used with the subjunctive to form a third-class (future more probable) condition.… Learn Koine Greek
Declensions and Authority: Case Roles in Romans 13:4
Θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονός ἐστι σοὶ εἰς τὸ ἀγαθόν. ἐὰν δὲ τὸ κακὸν ποιῇς, φοβοῦ· οὐ γὰρ εἰκῇ τὴν μάχαιραν φορεῖ· Θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονός ἐστιν εἰς ὀργὴν, ἔκδικος τῷ τὸ κακὸν πράσσοντι. (Romans 13:4)
For he is a servant of God for your good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to the one who practices evil.
Declension Analysis Table Greek Form Morphology Case & Syntactic Role Notes Θεοῦ 2nd declension masculine singular Genitive singular, genitive of possession Marks God as the one to whom the servant belongs; repeated twice for emphasis.… Learn Koine Greek