Deliverance and Acceptability: A Koine and Classical Greek Comparison of Romans 15:31

ἵνα ῥυσθῶ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀπειθούντων ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ καὶ ἵνα ἡ διακονία μου ἡ εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ εὐπρόσδεκτος γένηται τοῖς ἁγίοις,

That I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my ministry to Jerusalem may become acceptable to the saints, (Romans 15:31)

Koine Greek Grammar and Syntax Analysis

• ἵνα ῥυσθῶ — Subordinating conjunction ἵνα introduces a purpose clause. ῥυσθῶ is aorist passive subjunctive, 1st person singular of ῥύομαι: “that I may be delivered/rescued.”
• ἀπὸ τῶν ἀπειθούντων — ἀπό + genitive expresses separation. ἀπειθούντων is a present active participle, genitive masculine plural from ἀπειθέω: “those who are disobedient,” often with the sense of active resistance or rejection (of the Gospel).
• ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ — Prepositional phrase indicating location: “in Judea.” Geographic specificity adds urgency to Paul’s request.
• καὶ ἵνα ἡ διακονία μου…γένηται — Second purpose clause, parallel to the first. διακονία is feminine singular subject: “my ministry.” γένηται is aorist middle subjunctive of γίνομαι: “might become.”
• ἡ εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ — Articular prepositional phrase modifying διακονία: “the one to Jerusalem.” Unusual use of preposition in an attributive phrase — a feature of Koine flexibility.
• εὐπρόσδεκτος — Predicate adjective meaning “acceptable” or “well-received.” Feminine singular to agree with διακονία.
• τοῖς ἁγίοις — Dative plural: “to the saints,” referring to the Jerusalem believers. Indirect object of εὐπρόσδεκτος.

Comparison with Classical Greek Usage

• ῥύομαι — Present and aorist passive forms are used in Classical Greek (esp. tragedy and Herodotus) with physical or divine rescue themes. However, Paul’s use in the context of spiritual/missional opposition is a Koine nuance.
• ἀπειθοῦντες — While the verb exists in Classical Greek, its NT usage takes on a sharper theological sense: not just disobedient but resistant to divine truth. Classical usage lacks this specific connotation.
• ἡ διακονία ἡ εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ — This double article + prepositional phrase construction is more idiomatic in Koine than Classical, where such attributive constructs are rare and typically handled with relative clauses or genitives.
• εὐπρόσδεκτος — Rare in Classical Greek. Compound adjectives of this kind appear occasionally in Attic, but Koine expands their moral and spiritual usage.
• τοῖς ἁγίοις — In Classical Greek, ἅγιος refers to something ritually pure or associated with the gods. In Koine it becomes a standard term for believers or the community of the faithful.

Semantic and Stylistic Shifts

• Koine dual ἵνα clauses — The verse features two parallel purpose clauses, a structure common in Koine epistolary prayers but less favored in Classical rhetorical prose.
• Theological connotations of disobedience — ἀπειθοῦντες in Classical Greek is behavioral; in Paul it implies resistance to divine authority.
• Communal emphasis — τοῖς ἁγίοις reflects the Koine shift toward viewing the faithful as a sanctified community. In Classical usage, ἅγιος would not describe everyday people.
• Missional tone — The vocabulary of διακονία and εὐπρόσδεκτος represents the practical and relational nature of Paul’s ministry, rather than philosophical abstraction.

Koine and Classical Comparison Table