In John 5:26, Jesus makes a profound theological statement about the relationship between the Father and the Son. The grammar of the verse mirrors the theology: perfect symmetry, parallel verbs, and a deep claim about self-existent life. This verse is one of the clearest in the New Testament asserting the Son’s possession of divine life — not independently, but as granted by the Father.
Let’s explore how this majestic claim is structured in Greek syntax.
1.… Learn Koine GreekIn Matthew 25:25, the “wicked and lazy servant” explains to his master why he did nothing with the talent entrusted to him. His explanation is grammatically elegant yet theologically hollow. Through aorist participles, aorist indicatives, and an emphatic final declaration, the Greek text subtly exposes the servant’s fearful avoidance and faulty logic.
Let’s explore how the grammar itself participates in the rebuke.
1. Aorist Passive Participle: φοβηθείς φοβηθείς – Aorist Passive Participle, Nominative Masculine Singular of φοβέομαι, “to fear”Placed at the front of the sentence for emphasis, this participle reveals the cause of the servant’s inaction: “being afraid”.… Learn Koine Greek
In John 5:24, Jesus declares a truth so vital, He begins with the double solemn formula: ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν — “Truly, truly I say to you.” This introduction signals not just authority but deep spiritual urgency. The Greek construction that follows combines present participles, dependent clauses, and perfect verbs to express the immediacy and certainty of eternal life.
This is not a future promise only — it’s a present spiritual reality.… Learn Koine Greek
In this verse from Luke 5:23, Jesus confronts the scribes and Pharisees with a question that slices through unbelief with rhetorical force: “What is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?” While the surface meaning challenges human assumptions about divine authority, a deeper grammatical structure shapes the very way we perceive His power. In this reflection, we’ll examine how verb voice, word order, and Koine Greek syntax reinforce theological depth.… Learn Koine Greek
Ephesians 5:22 begins the section traditionally called the “household code” (5:22–6:9), which addresses relationships between wives and husbands, children and parents, slaves and masters. This particular verse builds directly on verse 21 — “submitting to one another in the fear of Christ” — and gives specific shape to how that mutual submission is expressed in marriage. Rather than grounding this command in culture, Paul roots it theologically: Christian wives are to submit to their own husbands as to the Lord.
Structural AnalysisΑἱ γυναῖκες τοῖς ἰδίοις ἀνδράσιν ὑποτάσσεσθε ὡς τῷ κυρίῳ
The sentence includes:
Αἱ γυναῖκες – “wives,” the subject, in the nominative plural.… Learn Koine GreekAnd 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. Astonishmentἀκούσαντες 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 GreekBut 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 Foundationsπάντα 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 GreekModern 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 GreekΕΝ ΑΡΧΗ ΗΝ Ο ΛΟΓΟC ΚΑΙ Ο ΛΟΓΟC ΗΝ ΠΡΟC ΤΟΝ ΘΝ ΚΑΙ ΘC ΗΝ Ο ΛΟΓΟC
Literal TranslationIN 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 GreekLuke 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 Focusκαὶ 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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