New Testament Greek

Rest Yet to Come: Conditional Logic and Eschatological Rest in Hebrews 4:8

Posted on April 8, 2025 by Biblical Greek

If Jesus Gave Them Rest: Literary and Theological Context of Hebrews 4:8

Hebrews 4:8 — εἰ γὰρ αὐτοὺς Ἰησοῦς κατέπαυσεν, οὐκ ἂν περὶ ἄλλης ἐλάλει μετὰ ταῦτα ἡμέρας· (“For if Joshua had given them rest, then he would not have spoken afterward about another day.”)

This verse sits at a critical juncture in the argument of Hebrews 4, where the author is interpreting Psalm 95 and weaving it into an exhortation about entering God’s eschatological “rest” (κατάπαυσις). The mention of “Jesus” in the Greek text (Ἰησοῦς) refers to Joshua, the son of Nun, due to the shared Greek name. The verse constructs a second-class conditional statement to make a theological point: that the rest offered by Joshua in the conquest of Canaan was not the ultimate rest promised by God.… Learn Koine Greek

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Redeeming for Himself a People: A Greek Look at Titus 2:14

Posted on April 7, 2025 by Biblical Greek

Titus 2:14

ὃς ἔδωκεν ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, ἵνα λυτρώσηται ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης ἀνομίας καὶ καθαρίσῃ ἑαυτῷ λαὸν περιούσιον, ζηλωτὴν καλῶν ἔργων.

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all lawlessness and cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.

Voluntary Sacrifice and Purpose Clauses ὃς ἔδωκεν ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν – “who gave himself for us.” The relative pronoun ὃς refers to Jesus Christ. ἔδωκεν is the aorist active indicative of δίδωμι, a deliberate past act. The reflexive pronoun ἑαυτὸν (“himself”) stresses voluntary self-offering. The preposition ὑπὲρ with the genitive means “on behalf of” or “for the benefit of”—a standard expression of substitutionary action.… Learn Koine Greek

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Choked by Thorns: Fruitlessness in Mark 4:7

Posted on April 7, 2025 by Biblical Greek

καὶ ἄλλο ἔπεσεν εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας, καὶ ἀνέβησαν αἱ ἄκανθαι καὶ συνέπνιξαν αὐτό, καὶ καρπὸν οὐκ ἔδωκεν

Mark 4:7 continues the Parable of the Sower, presenting a scene of slow suffocation. Unlike the seed on the path or rocky ground, this one begins well—but is gradually overtaken. The Greek reveals a tragic progression: the seed falls, the thorns rise, and the potential is snuffed out. The structure builds a picture of fruitless promise, overtaken by competing forces.

Grammatical Foundations

ἄλλο ἔπεσεν—“another (seed) fell”—continues the narrative rhythm of the parable. The neuter singular ἄλλο refers back to the sown seed. The verb ἔπεσεν (aorist active indicative) marks a completed action.… Learn Koine Greek

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“οὐ γὰρ ἐκάλεσεν ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς ἐπὶ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ, ἀλλ’ ἐν ἁγιασμῷ”: Called to Holiness, Not Impurity (1 Thessalonians 4:7)

Posted on April 7, 2025 by Biblical Greek

Introduction: The Nature of the Call

Paul 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 “For God did not call us to impurity, but in holiness.”

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).

οὐ γὰρ ἐκάλεσεν ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς ἐπὶ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ, ἀλλ’ ἐν ἁγιασμῷ Morphological Breakdown οὐ {ou} – Form: negative particle; Meaning: “not”; Usage: negates the finite verb ἐκάλεσεν γὰρ {gar} – Form: coordinating conjunction; Meaning: “for,” “because”; Usage: introduces a theological rationale for the previous exhortation.… Learn Koine Greek

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Priestly Lineage and Named Authority in Acts 4:6: Apposition, Lists, and Genitive Identification in Narrative Greek

Posted on April 6, 2025 by Biblical Greek

καὶ Ἅνναν τὸν ἀρχιερέα καὶ Καϊάφαν καὶ Ἰωάννην καὶ Ἀλέξανδρον καὶ ὅσοι ἦσαν ἐκ γένους ἀρχιερατικοῦ,

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. These names occur in the list without further description but are included for their prominence.… Learn Koine Greek

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Divine Speech and Illuminated Hearts in 2 Corinthians 4:6: Participles, Prepositions, and the Revelation of God’s Glory in Christ

Posted on April 5, 2025 by Biblical Greek

ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς ὁ εἰπὼν ἐκ σκότους φῶς λάμψαι, ὃς ἔλαμψεν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν πρὸς φωτισμὸν τῆς γνώσεως τῆς δόξης τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν προσώπῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Causal Conjunction and Thematic Emphasis: ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς

– ὅτι: Conjunction introducing a causal or explanatory clause—”because” or “for.” – ὁ Θεός: Nominative singular subject—”God.” – This phrase links directly with the preceding verse (2 Corinthians 4:5), explaining why Paul and his companions preach Christ as Lord and not themselves.

Identifying God as Creator by His Speech: ὁ εἰπὼν ἐκ σκότους φῶς λάμψαι

– ὁ εἰπὼν: Aorist active participle, nominative masculine singular of λέγω, “the one who said.”… Learn Koine Greek

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The Shallow Ground: Quick Growth, No Root in Mark 4:5

Posted on April 5, 2025 by Biblical Greek

καὶ ἄλλο ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὸ πετρῶδες, ὅπου οὐκ εἶχε γῆν πολλήν, καὶ εὐθέως ἐξανέτειλε διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν βάθος γῆς

Mark 4:5 continues the Parable of the Sower with a new scene—this time not the hard path, but the shallow, rocky ground. The Greek is descriptive and causally tight: every clause builds on the last, showing cause and effect in the plant’s short-lived success. The rhythm is brisk, echoing the burst of early growth that ends in failure.

Grammatical Foundations

ἄλλο ἔπεσεν—“another (seed) fell”—resumes the parable’s structure from verse 4. The subject ἄλλο is neuter singular, referring to another portion of the scattered seed.… Learn Koine Greek

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A Glimpse of Power: The Devil’s Offer in Luke 4:5

Posted on April 5, 2025 by Biblical Greek

Καὶ ἀναγαγὼν αὐτὸν ὁ διάβολος εἰς ὄρος ὑψηλὸν ἔδειξεν αὐτῷ πάσας τὰς βασιλείας τῆς οἰκουμένης ἐν στιγμῇ χρόνου

This verse sets the stage for the second temptation in the wilderness. The Greek constructs the scene with visual sharpness and temporal tension. The movement upward, the flash of sight, and the universal scope all serve to intensify the drama. In just one verse, we see elevation, vision, and the allure of power—all conveyed through precise syntax.

Grammatical Foundations

The verse begins with Καὶ ἀναγαγὼν—an aorist active participle from ἀνάγω, meaning “having led up.” It’s nominative masculine singular, modifying ὁ διάβολος, the subject.… Learn Koine Greek

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The Seed on the Path: Structure and Symbolism in Mark 4:4

Posted on April 5, 2025 by Biblical Greek

καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ σπείρειν ὃ μὲν ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὴν ὁδόν, καὶ ἦλθον τὰ πετεινὰ καὶ κατέφαγεν αὐτό

This verse belongs to Mark’s version of the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:4), not Luke’s. The Greek delivers quick snapshots of action—sowing, falling, being devoured—with a narrative flow that moves as rapidly as the events it describes. Every verb is chosen to convey swiftness and loss, setting the tone for Jesus’ later explanation of hardened hearts.

Grammatical Foundations

Mark opens the sentence with καὶ ἐγένετο—“and it happened”—a narrative marker that introduces parabolic action. The phrase ἐν τῷ σπείρειν is a temporal clause using the articular infinitive with ἐν: “while he was sowing.”… Learn Koine Greek

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God Rested on the Seventh: Echoes of Genesis in Hebrews 4:4

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Biblical Greek

εἴρηκε γάρ που περὶ τῆς ἑβδόμης οὕτω· καὶ κατέπαυσεν ὁ Θεὸς ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ

Hebrews 4:4 quotes Genesis with theological intent. It’s not just repetition—it’s interpretation. The author reminds his readers that God’s rest was not metaphorical but decisive. The Greek reinforces this, using perfect and aorist tenses to root that rest in history, while pointing toward a deeper invitation for the present.

Grammatical Foundations

The verse begins with εἴρηκε, a perfect active indicative from λέγω, meaning “he has said.” The perfect tense highlights ongoing relevance—what God said in the past still speaks now.… Learn Koine Greek

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Rest Yet to Come: Conditional Logic and Eschatological Rest in Hebrews 4:8

Redeeming for Himself a People: A Greek Look at Titus 2:14

Choked by Thorns: Fruitlessness in Mark 4:7

“οὐ γὰρ ἐκάλεσεν ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς ἐπὶ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ, ἀλλ’ ἐν ἁγιασμῷ”: Called to Holiness, Not Impurity (1 Thessalonians 4:7)

Priestly Lineage and Named Authority in Acts 4:6: Apposition, Lists, and Genitive Identification in Narrative Greek

Divine Speech and Illuminated Hearts in 2 Corinthians 4:6: Participles, Prepositions, and the Revelation of God’s Glory in Christ

The Shallow Ground: Quick Growth, No Root in Mark 4:5

A Glimpse of Power: The Devil’s Offer in Luke 4:5

The Seed on the Path: Structure and Symbolism in Mark 4:4

God Rested on the Seventh: Echoes of Genesis in Hebrews 4:4

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