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Greek Lessons
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Category Archives: Syntax
Greek Grammar Lesson from 1 Timothy 3:6
Μὴ νεόφυτον, ἵνα μὴ τυφωθεὶς εἰς κρίμα ἐμπέσῃ τοῦ διαβόλου. (1 Timothy 3:6)
Not a recent convert, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Subjunctive Purpose Clause with Aorist Passive ParticipleThis verse, part of the qualifications for overseers, demonstrates how Greek syntax expresses caution and consequence. It features a negative command, a purpose clause, and a passive participle indicating a precondition.
Adjective Used Substantivally: νεόφυτοννεόφυτον (“newly planted,” i.e., a recent convert) is an accusative singular adjective used substantivally. It is the object of an implied verb such as χειροτονείτω (“he must not appoint”) from the broader context.… Learn Koine Greek
Comparative Greek Analysis: Revelation 22:2 in Koine vs. Classical Greek
Ἐν μέσῳ τῆς πλατείας αὐτῆς καὶ τοῦ ποταμοῦ ἐντεῦθεν καὶ ἐκεῖθεν ξύλον ζωῆς, ποιοῦν καρποὺς δώδεκα, κατὰ μῆνα ἕκαστον ἀποδιδοῦν τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰ φύλλα τοῦ ξύλου εἰς θεραπείαν τῶν ἐθνῶν. (Revelation 22:2)
In the middle of its street and of the river, on this side and on that, a tree of life, producing twelve fruits, yielding its fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
Grammar and Syntax Analysis (Koine Greek) ἐν μέσῳ τῆς πλατείας αὐτῆς καὶ τοῦ ποταμοῦ – ἐν μέσῳ: “in the midst (of),” a compound prepositional phrase, frequently found in both Koine and Classical.… Learn Koine GreekHope in the Lord: A Pastoral Heart in Philippians 2:19
Philippians 2:19 begins a new section in which Paul outlines his travel plans and commends his coworkers, especially Timothy and Epaphroditus (vv. 19–30). After his Christological hymn (vv. 6–11) and ethical exhortations (vv. 12–18), Paul turns to practical matters — but his theology saturates even this logistics. Verse 19 reveals both his apostolic concern and his deep pastoral affection for the Philippians.
Structural AnalysisἘλπίζω δὲ ἐν κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ Τιμόθεον ταχέως πέμψαι ὑμῖν, ἵνα κἀγὼ εὐψυχῶ γνοὺς τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν·
The verse consists of (1) Paul’s expression of hope, (2) the content of that hope — sending Timothy soon, and (3) the purpose clause introduced by ἵνα, revealing Paul’s motivation: to be encouraged upon hearing news of the Philippians.… Learn Koine Greek
To Build, Not to Tear Down: Apostolic Authority in Koine and Classical Perspective
Διὰ τοῦτο ταῦτα ἀπὼν γράφω, ἵνα παρὼν μὴ ἀποτόμως χρήσωμαι κατὰ τὴν ἐξουσίαν ἣν ἔδωκέ μοι ὁ Κύριος εἰς οἰκοδομὴν καὶ οὐκ εἰς καθαίρεσιν. (2 Corinthians 13:10)
Because of this, I write these things while absent, so that when present I may not act harshly, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.
Koine Greek Grammar and Syntax Διὰ τοῦτο ταῦτα: Causal phrase combining a preposition and demonstrative pronouns. The reduplication is for emphasis — “because of this, these things.” Such redundancy is stylistic in Koine, less typical in Classical. ἀπὼν γράφω: Present tense verb γράφω with the circumstantial participle ἀπὼν (“being absent”).… Learn Koine Greek“The Participle That Binds Time: ὁ παραδιδοὺς αὐτὸν and the Temporal Anchoring of Betrayal”
ᾔδει δὲ καὶ Ἰούδας ὁ παραδιδοὺς αὐτὸν τὸν τόπον, ὅτι πολλάκις συνήχθη καὶ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐκεῖ μετὰ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ. (John 18:2)
Now Judas, the one betraying him, also knew the place, because Jesus often gathered there with his disciples.
A Subtle Web of Time and IdentityAt first glance, John 18:2 appears to be a straightforward narrative aside — a simple note about Judas’s knowledge of Jesus’ habitual meeting place. Yet embedded within this brief clause lies a profound syntactic structure that binds temporal logic, identity, and theological irony into a single grammatical thread. The participle ὁ παραδιδοὺς αὐτὸν, functioning as a substantive, is not merely a title for Judas but a dynamic temporal marker that links his present act of betrayal with the repeated past actions of Jesus.… Learn Koine Greek
Craftsmen, Courts, and Clause Shifts: Acts 19:38 Through the Eyes of Classical and Koine Greek
Εἰ μὲν οὖν Δημήτριος καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ τεχνῖται ἔχουσι πρός τινα λόγον, ἀγοραῖοι ἄγονται καὶ ἀνθύπατοί εἰσιν· ἐγκαλείτωσαν ἀλλήλοις. (Acts 19:38)
If then Demetrios and the craftsmen with him have a matter against someone, courts are held and there are proconsuls—let them bring charges against one another.
Koine Greek Morphological Analysis εἰ – conditional particle; introduces protasis (“if”). μὲν οὖν – discourse particles; “indeed then” or “so then”; μὲν balances with implied δὲ. Δημήτριος – proper noun, nominative singular masculine; subject. καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ τεχνῖται – “and the craftsmen with him”; – οἱ: article, nominative plural masculine; – σὺν: preposition + dative; – αὐτῷ: 3rd person dative singular pronoun; – τεχνῖται: noun, nominative plural masculine.… Learn Koine GreekDialogue and Persuasion: The Syntax of Sabbath Reasoning
Διελέγετο δὲ ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ κατὰ πᾶν σάββατον, ἔπειθέ τε Ἰουδαίους καὶ Ἕλληνας. (Acts 18:4)
And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath, and he was persuading both Jews and Greeks.
Sacred Speech in Sacred SpaceIn Acts 18:4, we observe Paul’s disciplined evangelistic rhythm in Corinth. Every Sabbath, he entered the synagogue not merely to preach, but to reason — to dialogue. The grammar of this verse carries the cadence of apologetic discourse and persuasive engagement. It reveals a pattern of interaction that is neither passive nor confrontational, but deeply rhetorical and structured.
Let us explore how the participle structure, imperfect tense, conjunctions, and case functions all contribute to painting this picture of faithful witness.… Learn Koine Greek
Recognized or Rejected: The Syntax of Fulfilled Prophecy in Matthew 17:12
Ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι Ἠλίας ἤδη ἦλθε, καὶ οὐκ ἐπέγνωσαν αὐτὸν, ἀλλ’ ἐποίησαν ἐν αὐτῷ ὅσα ἠθέλησαν· οὕτω καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου μέλλει πάσχειν ὑπ’ αὐτῶν. (Matthew 17:12)
But I say to you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished; likewise the Son of Man is about to suffer by them.
This verse is part of Jesus’ explanation following the Transfiguration, interpreting Elijah’s return in light of John the Baptist’s ministry. The grammar intertwines prophetic fulfillment with impending passion, using perfective tenses, adversative conjunctions, and prophetic futurity.
Emphatic Declaration: Ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖνThe personal pronoun ἐγώ is unnecessary for grammatical sense but here is used emphatically—“But I tell you.”… Learn Koine Greek
Faith the Size of a Mustard Seed: Conditional Syntax and Theological Hyperbole in Matthew 17:20
Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· διὰ τὴν ἀπιστίαν ὑμῶν. ἀμὴν γὰρ λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐὰν ἔχητε πίστιν ὡς κόκκον σινάπεως, ἐρεῖτε τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ, μετάβηθι ἐντεῦθεν ἐκεῖ, καὶ μεταβήσεται· καὶ οὐδὲν ἀδυνατήσει ὑμῖν. (Matthew 17:20)
In this verse, Jesus rebukes unbelief and sets forth a conditional statement that blends vivid hyperbole with theological assurance. The Greek construction moves from the cause of failure to the potential of faith, using precise grammar to underscore divine empowerment.
Cause Stated: διὰ τὴν ἀπιστίαν ὑμῶνThe preposition διά with the accusative expresses the reason: “because of your unbelief.” The definite article τήν makes ἀπιστίαν specific—this is not generic doubt, but a concrete failure in the present situation.… Learn Koine Greek
Descending with a Command: Temporal Clauses and Imperatives in Matthew 17:9
Καὶ καταβαινόντων αὐτῶν ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄρους ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγων· μηδενὶ εἴπητε τὸ ὅραμα ἕως οὗ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀναστῇ. (Matthew 17:9)
This verse follows the Transfiguration narrative and captures a moment of transition—physically from the mountaintop to the valley, and theologically from revelation to restraint. Its Greek syntax blends narrative action, direct discourse, and temporal limitation, creating a tense-filled scene.
Temporal Setting: καταβαινόντων αὐτῶνThe genitive plural present participle καταβαινόντων (“as they were coming down”) with the genitive pronoun αὐτῶν forms a genitive absolute. This construction sets the background circumstance independent of the main verb: the command takes place while the descent is in progress.… Learn Koine Greek
