The Grammar of Offering: Eternal Ordinance in the Syntax of Service

Τὸν βραχίονα τοῦ ἀφαιρέματος καὶ τὸ στηθύνιον τοῦ ἀφορίσματος ἐπὶ τῶν καρπωμάτων τῶν στεάτων προσοίσουσιν ἀφόρισμα ἀφορίσαι ἔναντι κυρίου καὶ ἔσται σοὶ καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς σου καὶ ταῖς θυγατράσιν σου μετὰ σοῦ νόμιμον αἰώνιον ὃν τρόπον συνέταξεν Κύριος τῷ Μωυσῇ (Λευιτικόν 10:15 LXX)

The arm of the removal and the breast of the separation they shall bring upon the offerings of the fat portions as a separation to separate before the Lord, and it shall be for you and for your sons and for your daughters with you as a perpetual statute, as the LORD commanded Moshe.

Grammatical Insight

The verse of Leviticus 10:15 in the Septuagint is a masterclass in priestly syntax, revealing how grammatical structure mirrors sacred hierarchy.… Learn Koine Greek

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Reaching the Limit: Grammatical Precision and Apostolic Geography in 2 Corinthians 10:14

Οὐ γὰρ ὡς μὴ ἐφικνούμενοι εἰς ὑμᾶς ὑπερεκτείνομεν ἑαυτούς· ἄχρι γὰρ καὶ ὑμῶν ἐφθάσαμεν ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, (2 Corinthians 10:14)

For we are not overextending ourselves as though not reaching to you, for we did come even as far as you with the gospel of Christ.

Paul’s defense of his apostleship in 2 Corinthians is as much grammatical as theological. In this verse, he argues that his authority legitimately extends to the Corinthians because his ministry has already reached them through the gospel. The sentence is syntactically intricate: a negated comparative clause (οὐ ὡς μὴ ἐφικνούμενοι), a middle verb of extent (ὑπερεκτείνομεν), and a completed action verb (ἐφθάσαμεν) together create a dynamic blend of metaphor and precision.… Learn Koine Greek

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Peace That Moves: Conditional Syntax and the Return of Blessing

Καὶ ἐὰν μὲν ᾖ ἡ οἰκία ἀξία, ἐλθέτω ἡ εἰρήνη ὑμῶν ἐπ’ αὐτήν· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ᾖ ἀξία, ἡ εἰρήνη ὑμῶν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐπιστραφήτω. (Matthew 10:13)

And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.

Two Conditions, One Peace

In Matthew 10:13, Jesus gives his disciples a striking instruction about the transferability of peace. The sentence is built on two parallel conditional clauses—one positive and one negative—each governed by the particle ἐάν and the subjunctive of εἰμί (ᾖ). The syntax enacts the teaching: peace goes forth, yet peace returns.… Learn Koine Greek

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Declensions of Blessing: Case Usage in Matthew 10:12

Εἰσερχόμενοι δὲ εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν ἀσπάσασθε αὐτήν λέγοντες· εἰρήνη τῷ οἴκῳ τούτῳ. (Matthew 10:12)

And when you enter the house, greet it, saying: “Peace to this house.”

Declension Analysis Table Greek Form Morphology Case & Function Notes τὴν οἰκίαν 1st declension feminine accusative singular with article Accusative object of preposition εἰς Indicates the destination of entry — “into the house.” αὐτήν 3rd person pronoun, accusative feminine singular Accusative direct object of ἀσπάσασθε Refers back to οἰκίαν; “greet it.” εἰρήνη 1st declension feminine nominative singular Nominative subject (of implied verb “be”) The greeting itself: “Peace.” The nominative is used in a formulaic exclamation of blessing.… Learn Koine Greek
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Grammatical Resistance: Pharaoh’s Syntax of Control in Exodus 10:11

Μὴ οὕτως πορευέσθωσαν δὲ οἱ ἄνδρες καὶ λατρεύσατε τῷ θεῷ τοῦτο γὰρ αὐτοὶ ζητεῖτε ἐξέβαλον δὲ αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ προσώπου Φαραω (Exodus 10:11 LXX)

Let them not go thus. Only the men—go and serve God, for that is what you are seeking. And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.

Grammatical Insight

This verse in the Septuagint crystallizes Pharaoh’s strategy of partial compliance, framed entirely in the precision of Greek command forms. The text opens with a prohibitive expression: μὴ οὕτως πορευέσθωσαν — “Let them not go thus.” The use of μὴ with a third person present imperative (πορευέσθωσαν) conveys prohibition in the form of royal command.… Learn Koine Greek

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The Accusation in Quotation: Pauline Perception and Koine Rhetoric

Ὅτι αἱ μὲν ἐπιστολαὶ, φησί, βαρεῖαι καὶ ἰσχυραί, ἡ δὲ παρουσία τοῦ σώματος ἀσθενὴς καὶ ὁ λόγος ἐξουθενημένος. (2 Corinthians 10:10)

For “his letters,” they say, “are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is of no account.”

ὅτι…φησί: Introducing Reported Accusation

The verse begins with the subordinating conjunction ὅτι, introducing reported speech or a causal clause. The verb φησί (“he says” or “they say”) is present active indicative, third person singular, used impersonally or parenthetically in Koine Greek to introduce commonly held opinion or quotation. The usage here introduces a critical report or claim about Paul’s character — likely quoting his opponents.… Learn Koine Greek

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Healing and Heralding: The Grammar of Kingdom Nearness

Καὶ θεραπεύετε τοὺς ἐν αὐτῇ ἀσθενεῖς, καὶ λέγετε αὐτοῖς· ἤγγικεν ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ. (Luke 10:9)

And heal the sick in it, and say to them: The kingdom of God has drawn near to you.

καὶ θεραπεύετε τοὺς ἐν αὐτῇ ἀσθενεῖς: Imperatives of Compassion

The verb θεραπεύετε is a present active imperative, second person plural of θεραπεύω, meaning “to heal” or “to treat medically.” Its imperative mood shows that this is not a suggestion but a commanded action for Jesus’ disciples. The present tense emphasizes ongoing, habitual action — not a one-time miraculous burst, but consistent ministry. The direct object τοὺς…ἀσθενεῖς (“the sick”) is accusative masculine plural, with the embedded phrase ἐν αὐτῇ (“in it”) referring to the city previously mentioned (from verse 8).… Learn Koine Greek

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The Word Near You: Syntax, Faith, and the Internalization of Truth in Romans 10:8

Ἀλλὰ τί λέγει; ἐγγύς σου τὸ ῥῆμά ἐστιν, ἐν τῷ στόματί σου καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου· τοῦτ’ ἔστι τὸ ῥῆμα τῆς πίστεως ὃ κηρύσσομεν. (Romans 10:8)

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we proclaim.

Romans 10:8 sits at the center of Paul’s argument for accessible righteousness through faith. Quoting and reapplying Deuteronomy 30:14, Paul uses Koine syntax to collapse the space between divine speech and human reception. This verse is deceptively simple but grammatically rich, combining a rhetorical question, spatial prepositions, and relative clause constructions to embody the nearness of the Gospel.… Learn Koine Greek

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Synonyms: Image and Likeness: εἰκών, ὁμοίωσις, and ὁμοίωμα in the Greek New Testament

The Greek nouns εἰκών, ὁμοίωσις, and ὁμοίωμα all convey the concept of resemblance or representation, yet each carries a distinct shade of meaning. εἰκών focuses on visible image or representation, ὁμοίωσις on the process or quality of becoming like, and ὁμοίωμα on the form or pattern of similarity. Together, these terms form a rich triad expressing how humanity relates to God’s image and how Christ reveals that image perfectly.

Lexical Definitions and Origins εἰκών – Derived from the verb εἴκω (“to resemble, to be like”), meaning an image, likeness, or visible representation. It can denote a statue, portrait, or figurative manifestation of a reality.… Learn Koine Greek
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Obedience and Retaliation: Conditional Justice and Grammatical Warfare in 2 Corinthians 10:6

Καὶ ἐν ἑτοίμῳ ἔχοντες ἐκδικῆσαι πᾶσαν παρακοήν, ὅταν πληρωθῇ ὑμῶν ἡ ὑπακοή. (2 Corinthians 10:6)

And being in readiness to punish every disobedience, whenever your obedience is fulfilled.

The Apostle Paul’s language in 2 Corinthians 10 is militarized, metaphoric, and measured. Verse 6, in particular, reflects a strategic pause within a broader rhetorical battle plan. The grammar sharpens theological action: punishment waits for disobedience, but only when obedience is complete. This isn’t just Pauline rhetoric—it’s Pauline syntax. Through careful use of participles, subjunctives, and conditional temporal markers, Paul builds a theology of discipline embedded in grammar. This article explores how the Koine Greek of this verse conveys not only sequence and readiness but also eschatological restraint.… Learn Koine Greek

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