Silenced by Wisdom: A Greek Look at Matthew 22:22

Posted on May 21, 2025 by New Testament Greek
Καὶ ἀκούσαντες ἐθαύμασαν, καὶ ἀφέντες αὐτὸν ἀπῆλθον. (Matthew 22:22)

And when they heard, they marveled, and leaving him, they went away.

Reaction to an Unexpected Answer This verse records the response of the Pharisees and Herodians after Jesus answered their question about paying taxes to Caesar (cf. Matthew 22:21). The Greek expresses astonishment and quiet retreat—a common theme in confrontations with Jesus’ wisdom. Astonishment

ἀκούσαντες ἐθαύμασαν – “When they heard, they marveled.”

ἀκούσαντες – aorist active participle of ἀκούω, “having heard.” The participle marks temporal sequence. ἐθαύμασαν – aorist active indicative of θαυμάζω, “to marvel, be amazed.” Often used in the Gospels to describe reactions to Jesus’ words or works.… Learn Koine Greek
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Test Everything, Hold Fast to the Good: Discernment in 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Posted on May 21, 2025 by New Testament Greek
Πάντα δὲ δοκιμάζετε, τὸ καλὸν κατέχετε (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

But test everything; hold fast to the good.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 is a brief but powerful call to spiritual discernment. Nestled in a series of rapid-fire exhortations, this verse balances openness with critical evaluation: believers are not to accept or reject blindly but are to test all things and cling to what is good. The Greek is elegant in its brevity, making each verb imperative and memorable.

Grammatical Foundations

πάντα δὲ δοκιμάζετε—“But test everything.”

πάντα—accusative neuter plural of πᾶς, meaning “all things” or “everything.” It is the direct object of the verb.… Learn Koine Greek
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Surpassing Righteousness: Grammar and Warning in Matthew 5:20

Posted on May 20, 2025 by Νέα Ελληνικά
Λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν ὅτι ἐὰν μὴ περισσεύσῃ ἡ δικαιοσύνη ὑμῶν πλεῖον τῶν γραμματέων καὶ Φαρισαίων, οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν. (Matthew 5:20)

Modern Greek Pronunciation: légō gàr ymîn hóti eàn mē perisseúsi̱ i̱ dikaiosýni̱ ymōn pleîon tōn grammatéōn kai Pharisáio̱n, ou mḕ eisélthēte eis tēn basileían tōn ouranōn.

Literal English Translation: For I say to you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of the heavens.

Koine Greek Grammar Analysis λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν – “For I say to you”; – λέγω: present active indicative 1st singular; – γὰρ: explanatory particle, “for”; – ὑμῖν: dative plural pronoun, “to you.”… Learn Koine Greek
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John 1:1 Grammatical and Christological Exegesis: A Balanced Study from Arian and Nicene Perspectives

Posted on May 20, 2025 by Biblical Greek
Greek Text of John 1:1

ΕΝ ΑΡΧΗ ΗΝ Ο ΛΟΓΟC ΚΑΙ Ο ΛΟΓΟC ΗΝ ΠΡΟC ΤΟΝ ΘΝ ΚΑΙ ΘC ΗΝ Ο ΛΟΓΟC

Literal Translation

IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD AND THE WORD WAS WITH THE GOD AND GOD WAS THE WORD

1. Morphological and Grammatical Analysis Ἐν ἀρχῇ (en archē) – “In [the] beginning”. The preposition ἐν governs the dative noun ἀρχῇ. Echoes Genesis 1:1 in the Septuagint. Indicates that the Logos existed before creation. ἦν (ēn) – Imperfect active indicative of εἰμί (“to be”), 3rd person singular. Continuous existence in the past. Contrasts with ἐγένετο used of created things in John 1:3.… Learn Koine Greek
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Through the Roof: Greek Grammar and the Determination of Faith

Posted on May 19, 2025 by New Testament Greek

Luke 5:19 captures the dramatic moment when friends of a paralyzed man, unable to reach Jesus because of the crowd, creatively lower him through the roof. The grammar of καὶ μὴ εὑρόντες ποίας εἰσενέγκωσιν αὐτὸν διὰ τὸν ὄχλον, ἀναβάντες ἐπὶ τὸ δῶμα διὰ τῶν κεράμων καθῆκαν αὐτὸν σὺν τῷ κλινιδίῳ εἰς τὸ μέσον ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Ἰησοῦ is rich with participial sequencing, subjunctive deliberation, and vivid narrative flow.

The Greek Text in Focus

καὶ μὴ εὑρόντες ποίας εἰσενέγκωσιν αὐτὸν διὰ τὸν ὄχλον, ἀναβάντες ἐπὶ τὸ δῶμα διὰ τῶν κεράμων καθῆκαν αὐτὸν σὺν τῷ κλινιδίῳ εἰς τὸ μέσον ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Ἰησοῦ (Luke 5:19)

“And not finding by what way they might bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the midst before Jesus.”… Learn Koine Greek

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Scripture and Wages: A Greek Look at 1 Timothy 5:18

Posted on May 18, 2025 by New Testament Greek
Λέγει γὰρ ἡ γραφή· βοῦν ἀλοῶντα οὐ φιμώσεις· καί· ἄξιος ὁ ἐργάτης τοῦ μισθοῦ αὐτοῦ. (1 Timothy 5:18)

For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”

Introducing Scriptural Authority

λέγει γὰρ ἡ γραφή – “For the Scripture says.”

λέγει – present active indicative of λέγω, “says.” The present tense emphasizes Scripture’s enduring speech—it is still speaking. ἡ γραφή – “the Scripture,” a feminine singular noun used here as the subject of divine authority. By attributing speech to Scripture, Paul attributes divine voice to the text.… Learn Koine Greek
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Not to Abolish, But to Fulfill: Greek Grammar and the Mission of the Messiah

Posted on May 17, 2025 by New Testament Greek
Μὴ νομίσητε ὅτι ἦλθον καταλῦσαι τὸν νόμον ἢ τοὺς προφήτας· οὐκ ἦλθον καταλῦσαι ἀλλὰ πληρῶσαι (Matthew 5:17)

Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

In one of the most important programmatic statements of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses the nature of His relationship to the Law and the Prophets. The grammar of Matthew 5:17 — Μὴ νομίσητε ὅτι ἦλθον καταλῦσαι τὸν νόμον ἢ τοὺς προφήτας· οὐκ ἦλθον καταλῦσαι ἀλλὰ πληρῶσαι — is rich in negative imperatives, complementary infinitives, and parallel contrast. The syntax not only clarifies His intent but builds tension and resolution through repetition and emphasis.… Learn Koine Greek

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Not Like the Sin, but Greater: Greek Grammar and the Gift of Grace

Posted on May 16, 2025 by New Testament Greek
Καὶ οὐχ ὡς δι’ ἑνὸς ἁμαρτήσαντος τὸ δώρημα· τὸ μὲν γὰρ κρίμα ἐξ ἑνὸς εἰς κατάκριμα, τὸ δὲ χάρισμα ἐκ πολλῶν παραπτωμάτων εἰς δικαίωμα (Romans 5:16)

“And the gift is not like the result of the one who sinned; for the judgment came from one offense, resulting in condemnation, but the gracious gift came from many transgressions, resulting in justification.”

In Romans 5:16, Paul deepens the contrast between Adam and Christ by carefully juxtaposing legal and gracious outcomes. The verse — καὶ οὐχ ὡς δι’ ἑνὸς ἁμαρτήσαντος τὸ δώρημα· τὸ μὲν γὰρ κρίμα ἐξ ἑνὸς εἰς κατάκριμα, τὸ δὲ χάρισμα ἐκ πολλῶν παραπτωμάτων εἰς δικαίωμα — uses parallel syntax, particles of contrast, and genitive modifiers to show that the gift of grace far surpasses the condemnation brought by one man’s sin.… Learn Koine Greek

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The More It Spread: Greek Grammar and the Rising Fame of the Healer

Posted on May 15, 2025 by New Testament Greek
Διήρχετο δὲ μᾶλλον ὁ λόγος περὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ συνήρχοντο ὄχλοι πολλοὶ ἀκούειν καὶ θεραπεύεσθαι ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀσθενειῶν αὐτῶν (Luke 5:15)

But the report about him was spreading all the more, and large crowds were gathering to hear and to be healed by him from their diseases.

This verse from the Gospel of Luke captures the growing fame of Jesus and the response of the people using intensifying adverbs, imperfect verbs, and purpose-driven infinitives. The full verse reads: διήρχετο δὲ μᾶλλον ὁ λόγος περὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ συνήρχοντο ὄχλοι πολλοὶ ἀκούειν καὶ θεραπεύεσθαι ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀσθενειῶν αὐτῶν from Luke 5:15.… Learn Koine Greek

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You Are the Light: Visibility and Vocation in Matthew 5:14

Posted on May 14, 2025 by New Testament Greek

Matthew 5:14 is part of the Sermon on the Mount, immediately following the Beatitudes. In verses 13–16, Jesus uses metaphors to describe the disciples’ role in the world. After calling them the “salt of the earth,” he declares: “You are the light of the world.” This verse introduces the imagery of illumination, mission, and public witness. The second clause — about a city on a hill — intensifies the theme of visibility and influence.

Structural Analysis

Ὑμεῖς ἐστε τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου. οὐ δύναται πόλις κρυβῆναι ἐπάνω ὄρους κειμένη·

The verse contains two clauses: (1) a direct identification — “You are the light of the world” — with emphatic placement of ὑμεῖς, and (2) a proverbial truth — “A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” — illustrating the inescapable visibility of such light.… Learn Koine Greek

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