-
Greek Lessons
- Ascending to Teach: Grammatical Setting and Theological Foreshadowing in Matthew 5:1
- Rhetorical Inquiry and Comparative Teaching in Mark 4:30: Hortatory Subjunctives and Parabolic Framing in Greek Narrative
- The Quiet Escape: Classical and Koine Greek Meet in Luke 4:30
- Grant Boldness: Grammatical Petition and Apostolic Courage in Acts 4:29
- Fury in the Synagogue: A Sudden Turn in Luke 4:28
-
Category
Stirring the Crowd: Manipulated Justice in Mark 15:11
οἱ δὲ ἀρχιερεῖς ἀνέσεισαν τὸν ὄχλον ἵνα μᾶλλον τὸν Βαραββᾶν ἀπολύσῃ αὐτοῖς
Mark 15:11 delivers a moment of tragic persuasion: the chief priests successfully sway the crowd to ask for the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. Study more .....
Hear and Understand: A Call to Discernment in Matthew 15:10
καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος τὸν ὄχλον εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· ἀκούετε καὶ συνίετε
In Matthew 15:10, Jesus turns from confrontation with the Pharisees to address the gathered crowd directly. The Greek text captures both a shift in focus and a summons to Study more .....
When Perfection Waits: The Grammar of Humble Aspiration
In today’s lesson, we dive into a short but profound expression of spiritual humility through New Testament Greek grammar: ἀδελφοί, ἐγὼ ἐμαυτὸν οὔπω λογίζομαι κατειληφέναι from Philippians 3:13. This small segment of Paul's letter reveals striking Study more .....
Near with Lips, Far in Heart: Hypocrisy Exposed in Matthew 15:8 (citing Isaiah 29:13 LXX)
ἐγγίζει μοι λαὸς οὗτος τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν καὶ τοῖς χείλεσίν με τιμᾷ, ἡ δὲ καρδία αὐτῶν πόρρω ἀπέχει ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ
Matthew 15:8 presents Jesus’ quotation of Isaiah 29:13 in the Septuagint. The Greek Study more .....
A Veil Over the Heart: Ongoing Blindness in 2 Corinthians 3:15
ἀλλ’ ἕως σήμερον ἡνίκα ἂν ἀναγινώσκεται Μωϋσῆς, κάλυμμα ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτῶν κεῖται
In 2 Corinthians 3:15, Paul continues his powerful contrast between the old and new covenants. The verse evokes a somber image: Study more .....
Council and Consensus: Grammatical Coordination and Ecclesial Deliberation in Acts 15:6
Gathered to Decide: Literary and Theological Context of Acts 15:6
Acts 15:6 — Συνήχθησαν δὲ οἱ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ἰδεῖν περὶ τοῦ λόγου τούτου.
(“And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider Study more .....
Greek Grammar Lesson from Mark 3:5
Verse in Greek
καὶ περιβλεψάμενος αὐτοὺς μετ’ ὀργῆς, συλλυπούμενος ἐπὶ τῇ πωρώσει τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν, λέγει τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ· Ἔκτεινον τὴν χεῖρά σου. καὶ ἐξέτεινε, Study more .....
Submission, Humility, and Divine Favor in 1 Peter 5:5: Participial Structure and Ethical Reciprocity in Koine Greek
Ὁμοίως νεώτεροι ὑποτάγητε πρεσβυτέροις, πάντες δὲ ἀλλήλοις ὑποτασσόμενοι τὴν ταπεινοφροσύνην ἐγκομβώσασθε· ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται, ταπεινοῖς Study more .....
“ποιεῖ καὶ βαπτίζει”: Compound Present Indicatives of Growth in John 4:1
Introduction: A Ministry in Motion
At the center of the Pharisees’ concern in John 4:1 is the report that:
Ἰησοῦς πλείονας μαθητὰς ποιεῖ καὶ βαπτίζει —
“Jesus is making and baptizing more disciples.”
The Greek here uses two coordinated present active Study more .....
“ἤκουσαν οἱ Φαρισαῖοι”: Aorist Perception and Reported Knowledge in John 4:1
Introduction: Who Heard—and What That Meant
In John 4:1, a nested series of clauses brings us to the moment of narrative tension:
Ὡς οὖν ἔγνω ὁ κύριος ὅτι ἤκουσαν οἱ Φαρισαῖοι…
“When the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard…”
The clause ἤκουσαν Study more .....
“πλείονας μαθητὰς ποιεῖ… ἢ Ἰωάννης”: The Grammar of Growth and Comparison in John 4:1
Introduction: When the Crowd Begins to Shift
John 4:1 opens with a report of what the Pharisees have heard:
“Jesus is making and baptizing more disciples than John.”
This comparative construction—πλείονας μαθητὰς… ἢ Ἰωάννης—carries both grammatical precision and Study more .....
“Ὡς οὖν ἔγνω ὁ κύριος…”: Aorist Knowing and Temporal Sequence in John 4:1
Introduction: The Moment Jesus Knew
John 4:1 begins with a simple yet weighty statement:
“When the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard…”
The verb ἔγνω (“he knew”) governs the entire clause. It is not just a past action—it is a grammatical hinge that conveys divine awareness and Study more .....
Saved Through Fire: Grammatical Nuance and Eschatological Theology in 1 Corinthians 3:15
Trial by Fire: Literary and Theological Context of 1 Corinthians 3:15
1 Corinthians 3:15 — εἴ τινος τὸ ἔργον κατακαήσεται, ζημιωθήσεται, αὐτὸς δὲ σωθήσεται, οὕτως δὲ ὡς διὰ πυρός.
(“If anyone’s work is burned Study more .....
Romans 15:2 and the Greek of Edifying Love
Romans 15:2
ἕκαστος ἡμῶν τῷ πλησίον ἀρεσκέτω εἰς τὸ ἀγαθὸν πρὸς οἰκοδομήν·
Let each of us please his neighbor for the good, for building up.
Exhortation and Syntax of Selflessness
ἕκαστος ἡμῶν – “Each of us.” Study more .....
“ἵνα σταυρωθῇ”: Divine Passive and Purpose in Mark 15:15
Introduction: The Purpose of Betrayal
The final words of Mark 15:15 record the intended outcome of Pilate’s decision:
ἵνα σταυρωθῇ — “in order that he might be crucified.”
This is a classic ἵνα-clause, which expresses purpose or result, but what stands out is the verb form: Study more .....
“φραγελλώσας”: The Aorist Participle of Brutality and Irony in Mark 15:15
Introduction: The King's Coronation Begins in Scourging
Mark 15:15 records Pilate’s final act of surrender to the crowd’s demand:
ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν, καὶ παρέδωκε τὸν Ἰησοῦν φραγελλώσας.
“He released Barabbas to them, Study more .....
“παρέδωκε τὸν Ἰησοῦν”: The Grammar of Surrender and Judgment in Mark 15:15
Introduction: When the Judge Becomes the Deliverer
Mark 15:15 reports Pilate’s final act:
καὶ παρέδωκε τὸν Ἰησοῦν φραγελλώσας· ἵνα σταυρωθῇ —
“And he handed over Jesus, having scourged him, so that he might be crucified.”
The verb παρέδωκε Study more .....
Posted in Grammar
Leave a comment
“ἀπέλυσεν τὸν Βαραββᾶν”: Legal Release and Narrative Irony in Mark 15:15
Introduction: The Inversion of Justice
Mark 15:15 includes this concise but pivotal clause:
ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν —
“He released Barabbas to them.”
This clause marks a dramatic reversal: Barabbas, a known insurrectionist (Mark 15:7), is set free, while Study more .....
“τῷ ὄχλῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι”: Idiom of Appeasement in Mark 15:15
Introduction: When Justice Bows to Crowd Control
Mark 15:15 opens with a participial phrase describing Pilate’s inner intent:
βουλόμενος τῷ ὄχλῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι —
“wishing to satisfy the crowd.”
This expression is built around the idiom τὸ ἱκανὸν Study more .....
Abounding with Purpose: Spiritual Zeal and Edification in 1 Corinthians 14:12
The Verse in Focus (1 Corinthians 14:12)
οὕτω καὶ ὑμεῖς, ἐπεὶ ζηλωταί ἐστε πνευμάτων, πρὸς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τῆς ἐκκλησίας ζητεῖτε ἵνα περισσεύητε
οὕτω καὶ ὑμεῖς: Drawing the Reader In
The Study more .....
