Stumbling Blocks and Subjunctives: Volitional Grammar in 1 Corinthians 8:13

Posted on April 20, 2025 by New Testament Greek

διόπερ εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει τὸν ἀδελφόν μου, οὐ μὴ φάγω κρέα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, ἵνα μὴ τὸν ἀδελφόν μου σκανδαλίσω. — 1 Corinthians 8:13

The Syntax of Self-Denial

In this verse, Paul concludes his argument on eating food offered to idols with a striking personal resolution. The Greek grammar provides a powerful rhetorical structure: a conditional clause, a strong negative with the subjunctive, and a purpose clause—all carefully interwoven to express sacrificial love through precise syntax.

εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει…: The Conditional Clause

The sentence begins with a first-class conditional clause: εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει τὸν ἀδελφόν μου—“if food causes my brother to stumble.”… Learn Koine Greek

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Divine Encounters in Aorist and Indicative: A Grammatical Glimpse into Matthew 19:2

Posted on April 20, 2025 by New Testament Greek
καὶ ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ ὄχλοι πολλοί, καὶ ἐθεράπευσεν αὐτοὺς ἐκεῖ. — Matthew 19:2 Opening the Scene: Syntax in Action

This short yet vivid verse from the Gospel of Matthew paints a moment of intense public response and divine intervention. Two verbs dominate the sentence: ἠκολούθησαν (“they followed”) and ἐθεράπευσεν (“he healed”). Both are in the aorist active indicative tense, conveying actions that are complete and significant. Through the simplicity of the Greek structure, we are drawn into a movement from crowd action to divine response—all within a single breath.

The Aorist: A Tense of Completed Reality

The Greek aorist tense does not correspond precisely to the English simple past.… Learn Koine Greek

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The Origin of the Date of Pascha: A Historical and Theological Examination

Posted on April 20, 2025 by New Testament Greek

The determination of the date of Pascha—known as Easter in English-speaking countries—has been one of the most historically significant and controversial issues in Christian liturgical history. Despite its centrality in Christian faith—as the commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah—Christians around the world often celebrate this foundational feast on different days. This article explores the origin of the Paschal date, the divergent calendars and calculations of Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant churches, and how these differences emerged and persist to this day. Finally, we reflect on the profound spiritual message of unity found in the Greek text of Ephesians 4:3.… Learn Koine Greek

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Judge for Yourselves: Divine Obedience in Acts 4:19

Posted on April 19, 2025 by New Testament Greek
The Verse in Focus (Acts 4:19)

ὁ δὲ Πέτρος καὶ Ἰωάννης ἀποκριθέντες πρὸς αὐτοὺς εἶπον· εἰ δίκαιόν ἐστιν ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ ὑμῶν ἀκούειν μᾶλλον ἢ τοῦ Θεοῦ, κρίνατε

ὁ δὲ Πέτρος καὶ Ἰωάννης… εἶπον: A Unified Reply

The verse begins with a coordinated subject and response:

– ὁ δὲ Πέτρος καὶ Ἰωάννης — “But Peter and John.” The δὲ is contrastive, introducing their response to the Sanhedrin’s command to stop preaching. – ἀποκριθέντες — aorist passive participle of ἀποκρίνομαι, “having answered,” used deponently here. – πρὸς αὐτοὺς — “to them,” referring to the Jewish council. – εἶπον — aorist active indicative of λέγω, “they said.”… Learn Koine Greek

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Forgiveness Amid Cruelty in Luke 23:34: Imperatives, Ignorance, and Irony in Crucifixion Greek

Posted on April 18, 2025 by New Testament Greek

ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἔλεγε· Πάτερ, ἄφες αὐτοῖς· οὐ γὰρ οἴδασι τί ποιοῦσι. διαμεριζόμενοι δὲ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ ἔβαλον κλῆρον.

Imperfective Prayer of the Crucified: ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἔλεγε

– ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς: Nominative with article—”but Jesus.” – δὲ: Coordinating conjunction, continuing narrative with mild contrast. – ἔλεγε: Imperfect active indicative, 3rd person singular of λέγω, “he was saying.” – The imperfect tense here suggests ongoing or repeated action—Jesus may have uttered this more than once. – This phrase introduces a statement of immense theological and emotional weight.

Cruciform Intercession: Πάτερ, ἄφες αὐτοῖς

– Πάτερ: Vocative singular—”Father.” – Intimate address to God, echoing Jesus’ consistent filial relationship.… Learn Koine Greek

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Good Friday: Matthew 27:46, Greek Grammar, Calendar Calculations, and Historical Coincidences

Posted on April 18, 2025 by New Testament Greek

Good Friday is the day Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It marks the culmination of Jesus’s passion, occurring during the Jewish festival of Passover. In the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion, one of the most striking moments is captured in Matthew 27:46, when Jesus cries out from the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” This article examines the significance of that cry – including its original language and grammar – and explores how the date of the first Good Friday is determined (considering Gregorian vs. Julian calendar calculations) as well as several remarkable historical coincidences associated with that day.… Learn Koine Greek

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Manipulative Zeal and Paul’s Rebuke in Galatians 4:17

Posted on April 17, 2025 by New Testament Greek
Introduction: When Zeal Turns Toxic

Paul warns the Galatians about those who seek to manipulate their devotion:

ζηλοῦσιν ὑμᾶς οὐ καλῶς, ἀλλὰ ἐκκλεῖσαι ὑμᾶς θέλουσιν, ἵνα αὐτοὺς ζηλοῦτε “They are zealous for you, not in a good way, but they want to exclude you, so that you might be zealous for them.”

This verse uses present indicatives, a purpose clause, and an infinitive of result/purpose. It’s a masterclass in ironic exposure—the Judaizers appear “passionately concerned,” but their aim is control.

ζηλοῦσιν ὑμᾶς οὐ καλῶς, ἀλλὰ ἐκκλεῖσαι ὑμᾶς θέλουσιν, ἵνα αὐτοὺς ζηλοῦτε Morphological Breakdown ζηλοῦσιν {zēloûsin} – Root: ζηλόω {zēlóō}; Form: present active indicative, 3rd person plural; Meaning: “they are zealous for,” “they court,” “they are passionately interested in (you)”; Notes: Can be positive or negative depending on context.… Learn Koine Greek
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From Whom the Whole Body Grows: Unity and Function in Ephesians 4:16

Posted on April 16, 2025 by New Testament Greek
The Verse in Focus (Ephesians 4:16)

ἐξ οὗ πᾶν τὸ σῶμα συναρμολογούμενον καὶ συμβιβαζόμενον διὰ πάσης ἁφῆς τῆς ἐπιχορηγίας κατ’ ἐνέργειαν ἐν μέτρῳ ἑνὸς ἑκάστου μέρους τὴν αὔξησιν τοῦ σώματος ποιεῖται εἰς οἰκοδομὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἐν ἀγάπῃ

ἐξ οὗ: The Source of Growth

The phrase ἐξ οὗ (“from whom”) points back to Christ, the immediate antecedent in the previous verse. The preposition ἐκ with the genitive indicates origin or source. All that follows flows from Christ — the head from whom the body derives coordination, support, and growth.

πᾶν τὸ σῶμα: The Unified Whole

– πᾶν — “every” or “the whole.” – τὸ σῶμα — “the body.”… Learn Koine Greek

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The Custom of the Sabbath: A Greek Look at Luke 4:16

Posted on April 16, 2025 by New Testament Greek
Καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς Ναζαρέτ, οὗ ἦν τεθραμμένος, καὶ εἰσῆλθεν κατὰ τὸ εἰωθὸς αὐτῷ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῶν σαββάτων εἰς τὴν συναγωγήν, καὶ ἀνέστη ἀναγνῶναι. (Luke 4:16)

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and according to his custom he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read.

A Return Home with Purpose Καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς Ναζαρέτ – “And he came to Nazareth.” The aorist ἦλθεν from ἔρχομαι signals a completed journey. Ναζαρέτ is used without an article, functioning like a proper noun. The setting marks a return to familiarity, but as the narrative continues, it becomes a place of rejection.… Learn Koine Greek
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Sharing in the Gospel: Grammatical Partnership and Ecclesial Generosity in Philippians 4:15

Posted on April 15, 2025 by New Testament Greek
Οἴδατε δὲ καὶ ὑμεῖς, Φιλιππήσιοι, ὅτι ἐν ἀρχῇ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, ὅτε ἐξῆλθον ἀπὸ Μακεδονίας, οὐδεμία μοι ἐκκλησία ἐκοινώνησεν εἰς λόγον δόσεως καὶ λήψεως εἰ μὴ ὑμεῖς μόνοι, (Philippians 4:15)

And you yourselves also know, Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone.

Fellowship in Giving and Receiving: Literary and Theological Context of Philippians 4:15

This verse appears within Paul’s expression of gratitude for the Philippians’ financial support. More than a simple thank-you, it is a deeply theological reflection on partnership in the gospel.… Learn Koine Greek

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