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Greek Lessons
- The Eye That Spoke: Verbal Aspect and Narrative Shame in Genesis 9:22
- The Command of Silence: Aorist Authority in Luke 9:21
- The Touch of Faith: Participial Description and Narrative Tension in Matthew 9:20
- Freedom in Service: Paradoxical Grammar in 1 Corinthians 9:19
- Mercy and Hardening: Parallel Clauses in Romans 9:18
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Category
Category Archives: Syntax
“οὐ γὰρ ἐκάλεσεν ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς ἐπὶ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ, ἀλλ’ ἐν ἁγιασμῷ”: Called to Holiness, Not Impurity (1 Thessalonians 4:7)
Οὐ γὰρ ἐκάλεσεν ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς ἐπὶ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ, ἀλλ’ ἐν ἁγιασμῷ. (1 Thessalonians 4:7)
“For God did not call us to impurity, but in holiness.”
The Nature of the CallPaul admonishes the Thessalonians regarding sexual purity and sanctification. In verse 7, he anchors his ethical exhortation in the theology of divine calling:
οὐ γὰρ ἐκάλεσεν ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς ἐπὶ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ, ἀλλ’ ἐν ἁγιασμῷ.
This contrast establishes the goal and sphere of Christian living, expressed through two distinct prepositions: ἐπὶ (implying purpose or result) and ἐν (implying the moral environment of sanctification).
Morphological Breakdown οὐ – Form: negative particle; Meaning: “not”; Usage: negates the finite verb ἐκάλεσεν γὰρ – Form: coordinating conjunction; Meaning: “for,” “because”; Usage: introduces a theological rationale for the previous exhortation.… Learn Koine GreekPriestly Lineage and Named Authority in Acts 4:6: Apposition, Lists, and Genitive Identification in Narrative Greek
Καὶ Ἅνναν τὸν ἀρχιερέα καὶ Καϊάφαν καὶ Ἰωάννην καὶ Ἀλέξανδρον καὶ ὅσοι ἦσαν ἐκ γένους ἀρχιερατικοῦ, (Acts 4:6)
And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and all who were from the high-priestly lineage.
Coordinated Proper Nouns and Appositional Structure καὶ: Coordinating conjunction—”and.” Ἅνναν: Accusative singular of the proper name Ἅννας, referring to Annas, the former high priest. τὸν ἀρχιερέα: Accusative singular masculine noun with article—”the high priest.” Appositional to Ἅνναν: specifying his office or title Καϊάφαν: Accusative singular proper name, referring to Caiaphas, who was the acting high priest at the time. Ἰωάννην and Ἀλέξανδρον: Accusative singular proper names, likely members of the priestly aristocracy.… Learn Koine Greek
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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 6)
And angels who did not keep their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling—he has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day.
Jude 6 paints a vivid, almost apocalyptic picture of divine judgment. The Greek grammar is dense and carefully layered: participles build a charge, prepositions stack with intensity, and a perfect verb holds the entire scene in place. These fallen angels aren’t described with flourish—they’re bound in theological precision.
Grammatical FoundationsThe main subject is ἀγγέλους—“angels”—with the particle τε linking it back to previous examples of judgment.… Learn Koine Greek
“μνείαν σου ποιούμενος ἐπὶ τῶν προσευχῶν μου”: Participial Thanksgiving and Remembrance in Philemon 4
Paul opens his letter to Philemon with this tender line:
Εὐχαριστῶ τῷ Θεῷ μου πάντοτε μνείαν σου ποιούμενος ἐπὶ τῶν προσευχῶν μου. (Philemon 4)“I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers.”
Gratitude in the Form of PrayerThe participial phrase μνείαν σου ποιούμενος explains how and when Paul expresses his thanksgiving. The present tense of both the main verb and the participle expresses continual action, and the grammar reveals Paul’s relational depth and spiritual consistency.
This verse combines:
A present indicative verb of gratitude (Εὐχαριστῶ) A present middle participle (ποιούμενος) explaining the manner or circumstance of that thanksgiving A genitive object (μνείαν σου) — “remembrance of you” A prepositional phrase indicating location/context (ἐπὶ τῶν προσευχῶν μου) Morphological Breakdown Εὐχαριστῶ {efcharistṓ} – Root: εὐχαριστέω {eucharistéō}; Form: present active indicative, 1st person singular; Meaning: “I give thanks”; Notes: Regular epistolary opening for Paul; expresses ongoing gratitude.… Learn Koine Greek“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 πρὸς αὐτὸν, λέγει πρὸς τὸν Φίλιππον· πόθεν ἀγοράσομεν ἄρτους, ἵνα φάγωσιν οὗτοι;This verse, John 6:5, is full of rich Greek grammar, but let’s focus on the subjunctive purpose clause introduced by ἵνα:
πόθεν ἀγοράσομεν ἄρτους, ἵνα φάγωσιν οὗτοι;
“From where shall we buy bread, so that these may eat?”
The clause ἵνα φάγωσιν οὗτοι contains a classic purpose clause formed with ἵνα plus the aorist subjunctive verb φάγωσιν, with the subject οὗτοι (“these”) in an emphatic position at the end.… Learn Koine Greek
“ἐξετίθετο”: The Imperfect Middle of Reasoned Defense in Acts 11:4
Ἀρξάμενος δὲ ὁ Πέτρος ἐξετίθετο αὐτοῖς καθεξῆς, λέγων· (Acts 11:4)
But Peter, having begun, began to explain to them in order, saying,
Unfolding the AccountThe main verb here is ἐξετίθετο, from ἐκτίθημι, meaning “to set forth, to explain, to lay out systematically.” The imperfect middle indicative form is rich with nuance, portraying continuous, personal, and deliberate exposition. Luke employs this verb in settings that involve careful explanation, reasoned defense, or theological instruction.
Morphological and Semantic Breakdown ἐξετίθετο – Root: ἐκτίθημι ; Form: imperfect middle indicative, 3rd person singular; Tense: imperfect (past, ongoing action); Voice: middle (emphasizes the subject’s engagement in the act); Mood: indicative (factual); Translation: “he was explaining,” “he laid out.”… Learn Koine Greek“Ἀρξάμενος… ἐξετίθετο”: Participial Introduction and Imperfect Exposition in Acts 11:4
Ἀρξάμενος δὲ ὁ Πέτρος ἐξετίθετο αὐτοῖς καθεξῆς, λέγων·
But Peter, having begun, explained to them in order, saying,
Here, we’ll examine the aorist middle participle ἀρξάμενος and how it works with the imperfect middle verb ἐξετίθετο, along with the adverb καθεξῆς. This construction is a classic example of narrative initiation in Greek storytelling—where a main action is preceded by a temporal participle that adds flow, continuity, and emphasis.
Peter Begins to SpeakActs 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 combination of aorist participle + imperfect main verb is a standard literary pattern in narrative Greek.… Learn Koine Greek
“ἐγένετο” as Divine Narrative Marker: The Aorist Middle in John 2:1
Καὶ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ γάμος ἐγένετο ἐν Κανὰ τῆς Γαλιλαίας, καὶ ἦν ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐκεῖ. (John 2:1)
And on the third day, a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
John 2:1 opens the narrative of the wedding at Kana with a subtle but theologically rich description. For this lesson, we’ll focus on the aorist middle indicative form ἐγένετο (“there was” or “it happened”), a verb that often signals narrative transition, divine appointment, or the unfolding of significant events in Johannine literature.
Introduction: The Beginning of SignsJohn 2:1 begins with an event introduction: “Καὶ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ γάμος ἐγένετο”—“And on the third day there was a wedding.”… Learn Koine Greek
Fleeing the Fires of Youth: A Grammatical Journey through 2 Timothy 2:22
Τὰς δὲ νεωτερικὰς ἐπιθυμίας φεῦγε, δίωκε δὲ δικαιοσύνην, πίστιν, ἀγάπην, εἰρήνην μετὰ τῶν ἐπικαλουμένων τὸν κύριον ἐκ καθαρᾶς καρδίας.
(2 Timothy 2:22)
Flee youthful desires, but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart.
Verbal Commands: The Grammar of UrgencyThe verse is structured around two main imperatives:
φεῦγε – “flee!” (present active imperative, 2nd person singular from φεύγω) δίωκε – “pursue!” (present active imperative, 2nd person singular from διώκω)The use of present imperative suggests ongoing, habitual action. Paul isn’t commanding Timothy to flee once and be done—it is a constant fleeing and a continual chasing.… Learn Koine Greek
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Christ Versus Empty Philosophy: The Grammar of Colossians 2:8
Βλέπετε μή τις ὑμᾶς ἔσται ὁ συλαγωγῶν διὰ τῆς φιλοσοφίας καὶ κενῆς ἀπάτης, κατὰ τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, κατὰ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου καὶ οὐ κατὰ Χριστόν· (Colossians 2:8)
Paul’s warning in Colossians 2:8 is an urgent call to theological clarity and spiritual vigilance. With razor-sharp syntax and loaded vocabulary, he contrasts the truth of Christ with the dangerous pull of human traditions and worldly philosophies. This article explores the rich grammatical structure and theological implications of the verse in its original Greek, offering insights into both form and function.
Watch Out! The Imperative Force of ΒλέπετεThe verse begins with the present active imperative plural verb Βλέπετε — “See to it,” “Watch out,” or “Be careful.”… Learn Koine Greek
