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Greek Lessons
- The Question of Eternal Life: Syntax of Testing and Inquiry in Luke 10:25
- The Grammar of Astonishment and Difficulty
- The Urgency of Flight: Syntax, Eschatology, and the Grammar of Mission in Matthew 10:23
- Provoking the Lord: The Peril of Presumption
- The Great Priest Over God’s House: The Foundation of Confident Access
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Category
Category Archives: Theology
When Two Sound as One: Conditional Prayer and the Grammar of Agreement
Πάλιν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἐὰν δύο ὑμῶν συμφωνήσωσιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς περὶ παντὸς πράγματος οὗ ἐὰν αἰτήσωνται, γενήσεται αὐτοῖς παρὰ τοῦ πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς. (Matthew 18:19)
Again, truly I say to you: if two of you agree on earth concerning any matter whatever they may ask, it will come to pass for them from my Father who is in the heavens.
A Seminar in the Syntax of Prayer (Q&A Style) Q: Why does the sentence begin with Πάλιν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν?A: The cluster Πάλιν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν forms a solemn discourse marker: “Truly, I say to you again.”… Learn Koine Greek
Posted in Exegesis, Syntax, Theology
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The Great Reversal: Syntax and Surprise in Matthew 19:30
Πολλοὶ δὲ ἔσονται πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι καὶ ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι. (Matthew 19:30)
But many who are first will be last, and last will be first.
A Chiasm in MotionThe structure of Matthew 19:30 is as elegant as it is provocative. This single verse forms a chiasm, a literary and syntactic mirror: πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι… ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι. This structure is not merely poetic. It is theologically loaded. Greek word order allows Matthew to emphasize both the subjects and the outcomes through deliberate inversion. The repeated adjectives — πρῶτοι (“first”) and ἔσχατοι (“last”) — are placed in different syntactic positions within each clause, showing a complete reversal not only of rank but of expectation.… Learn Koine Greek
Posted in Grammar, Syntax, Theology
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The Urgency of Ritual Purity: Final Clauses, Passive Subjunctives, and Coordinated Requests
Οἱ οὖν Ἰουδαῖοι, ἵνα μὴ μείνῃ ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τὰ σώματα ἐν τῷ σαββάτῳ, ἐπεὶ παρασκευὴ ἦν· ἦν γὰρ μεγάλη ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνου τοῦ σαββάτου· ἠρώτησαν τὸν Πιλᾶτον ἵνα κατεαγῶσιν αὐτῶν τὰ σκέλη, καὶ ἀρθῶσιν. (John 19:31)
So the Jews, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross during the Sabbath, because it was the Preparation, for that Sabbath day was great, asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken away.
When Timing Meets TheologyJohn 19:31 is not just a historical footnote — it’s a theologically dense verse about urgency, religious custom, and human action at the crucifixion.… Learn Koine Greek
Declensions in the Triumphal Entry Command: Morphology in Luke 19:30
Εἰπών· ὑπάγετε εἰς τὴν κατέναντι κώμην, ἐν ᾗ εἰσπορευόμενοι εὑρήσετε πῶλον δεδεμένον, ἐφ’ ὃν οὐδεὶς πώποτε ἀνθρώπων ἐκάθισε· λύσαντες αὐτὸν ἀγάγετε. (Luke 19:30)
Saying, “Go into the village opposite; in which as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one of men has ever sat; having loosed it, bring it.”
Declension Analysis Table Greek Form Morphology Case & Function Notes τὴν … κώμην 1st declension feminine accusative singular with article Accusative object of εἰς Destination of the disciples’ journey: “into the village.” ᾗ Relative pronoun, dative feminine singular Dative of location “In which” — referring back to κώμην, governing the participial clause.… Learn Koine GreekGreek Grammar Lesson from Matthew 19:9
Λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ὅτι ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ μὴ ἐπὶ πορνείᾳ καὶ γαμήσῃ ἄλλην, μοιχᾶται· καὶ ὁ ἀπολελυμένην γαμήσας μοιχᾶται. (Matthew 19:9)
But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Conditional Construction with ἂν and Subjunctive + Present Indicative ResultThis verse illustrates a conditional sentence formed with the particle ἂν and a subjunctive verb in the protasis, followed by a present indicative in the apodosis. It also highlights syntactical exceptions and participial usage with theological implications regarding marriage and divorce.… Learn Koine Greek
Shipwrecked by Conscience: Greek Grammar in Warnings of Faith
Ἔχων πίστιν καὶ ἀγαθὴν συνείδησιν, ἥν τινες ἀπωσάμενοι περὶ τὴν πίστιν ἐναυάγησαν (1 Timothy 1:19)
Having faith and a good conscience, which some, having rejected, have suffered shipwreck in regard to the faith.
In this passage, Paul weaves together participles, relative pronouns, and metaphors to issue a stern warning about moral integrity and belief: ἔχων πίστιν καὶ ἀγαθὴν συνείδησιν, ἥν τινες ἀπωσάμενοι περὶ τὴν πίστιν ἐναυάγησαν from 1 Timothy 1:19. The grammar mirrors the danger Paul describes — a subtle drifting that leads to spiritual catastrophe. Let us unpack this verse phrase by phrase.
Grammatical Highlights ἔχων — present active participle, masculine singular; describes the subject as “having” both faith and conscience.… Learn Koine GreekThe Grammar of Prayer: Temporal Clauses and Didactic Requests in Luke 11:1
Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐν τόπῳ τινὶ προσευχόμενον, ὡς ἐπαύσατο, εἶπέ τις τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ πρὸς αὐτόν· κύριε, δίδαξον ἡμᾶς προσεύχεσθαι, καθὼς καὶ Ἰωάννης ἐδίδαξε τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ. (Luke 11:1)
A Scene of Transition
Luke 11:1 opens the famous teaching of the Lord’s Prayer with a carefully structured narrative frame. The verse describes Jesus praying in a certain place, then records a disciple’s request: “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” Grammatically, Luke uses temporal clauses, participial constructions, and verbs of request to transition from narrative into discourse. Each form contributes to the reverent tone and theological significance of the moment.… Learn Koine Greek
Outside the Praetorium: Purity, Purpose, and the Irony of Avoidance
Ἄγουσιν οὖν τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἀπὸ τοῦ Καϊάφα εἰς τὸ πραιτώριον· ἦν δὲ πρωΐ· καὶ αὐτοὶ οὐκ εἰσῆλθον εἰς τὸ πραιτώριον, ἵνα μὴ μιανθῶσιν, ἀλλ’ ἵνα φάγωσι τὸ πάσχα. (John 18:28)
Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium. It was early in the morning, and they themselves did not enter the Praetorium, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.
The Irony of Ritual CleanlinessThis verse captures a piercing irony: those delivering Jesus to be judged are scrupulous about maintaining ritual purity, avoiding contamination from a Gentile place lest they be rendered unfit to eat the Pesaḥ (Passover).… Learn Koine Greek
Declensions That Proclaim Resurrection: Case Study in Acts 4:10
Γνωστὸν ἔστω πᾶσιν ὑμῖν καὶ παντὶ τῷ λαῷ Ἰσραὴλ ὅτι ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ Ναζωραίου, ὃν ὑμεῖς ἐσταυρώσατε, ὃν ὁ Θεὸς ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν, ἐν τούτῳ οὗτος παρέστηκεν ἐνώπιον ὑμῶν ὑγιής. (Acts 4:10)
Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in this one this man stands before you healthy.
Case Patterns as Rhetorical Architecture Datives (πᾶσιν ὑμῖν, παντὶ τῷ λαῷ, ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι, ἐν τούτῳ) set the framework of address and agency: to whom the speech is directed, in whose name the miracle occurs.… Learn Koine GreekThe Reflexive That Refutes: ἐφ’ ἑαυτοῖς and the Semantics of Self-Justification
Εἶπε δὲ καὶ πρός τινας τοὺς πεποιθότας ἐφ’ ἑαυτοῖς ὅτι εἰσὶ δίκαιοι, καὶ ἐξουθενοῦντας τοὺς λοιποὺς, τὴν παραβολὴν ταύτην· (Luke 18:9)
And he also spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised the rest.
A Pronoun That Reveals a Theological Fault LineIn Luke 18:9, Jesus addresses “some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt”. This verse introduces the well-known parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. Yet within its framing clause lies a syntactic structure of profound theological significance: the reflexive pronoun ἑαυτοῖς (“themselves”) in the phrase τοὺς πεποιθότας ἐφ’ ἑαυτοῖς.… Learn Koine Greek
