A Kiss of Fellowship: Classical and Koine Greek in 1 Corinthians 16:20

Posted on September 15, 2020 by Classical Greek
Ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς οἱ ἀδελφοὶ πάντες. ἀσπάσασθε ἀλλήλους ἐν φιλήματι. (1 Corinthians 16:20)

All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a kiss.

1. Key Grammatical Features in Koine Greek ἀσπάζονται: Present middle indicative third person plural of ἀσπάζομαι (“to greet”). Koine often uses the middle for reflexive or reciprocal social actions like greetings, blessings, or farewells. ὑμᾶς: Accusative plural pronoun serving as the object of ἀσπάζονται. Koine tends to explicitly include pronouns for clarity and emphasis in community-focused exhortations. οἱ ἀδελφοὶ πάντες: Subject phrase with definite article and adjective. Koine often places the adjective after the noun for emphasis—“the brothers, all of them.”… Learn Koine Greek
Posted in Ancient Greek | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Power of the Unexpected: Teaching through the Aorist

Posted on September 1, 2020 by New Testament Greek

In this lesson, we explore a fascinating feature of New Testament Greek grammar through the vivid scene captured in καὶ ἐλθόντες οἱ περὶ τὴν ἑνδεκάτην ὥραν ἔλαβον ἀνὰ δηνάριον from Matthew 20:9. This phrase, rich in grammatical treasures, highlights the power of the aorist tense, aspectual nuances, and the Greek sense of narrative time.

Καὶ ἐλθόντες οἱ περὶ τὴν ἑνδεκάτην ὥραν ἔλαβον ἀνὰ δηνάριον (Matthew 20:9)

“And those who came around the eleventh hour received a denarius each.”

Grammatical Highlights

This short phrase includes several important grammatical features worth close study:

ἐλθόντες — an aorist participle of motion (“having come”). οἱ περὶ τὴν ἑνδεκάτην ὥραν — a circumstantial phrase marking approximate time (“around the eleventh hour”).… Learn Koine Greek
Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Leave a comment

Conditional Parallelism and Prophetic Syntax in John 15:20

Posted on August 15, 2020 by Advanced Greek Grammar
Μνημονεύετε τοῦ λόγου οὗ ἐγὼ εἶπον ὑμῖν· οὐκ ἔστι δοῦλος μείζων τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ. εἰ ἐμὲ ἐδίωξαν, καὶ ὑμᾶς διώξουσιν· εἰ τὸν λόγον μου ἐτήρησαν, καὶ τὸν ὑμέτερον τηρήσουσιν. (John 15:20)

Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will also keep yours.

The Syntax of Conditional Parallelism

This verse presents a powerful example of conditional parallelism in Koine Greek: two clauses beginning with εἰ (“if”), each followed by a future main verb. The construction is carefully designed to deliver prophetic contrast between rejection and reception — persecution versus obedience — while reinforcing the identity of Jesus’ followers with Him.… Learn Koine Greek

Posted in Grammar, Syntax | Tagged | Leave a comment

A Covenant of Mercy: Future Tense, Double Negatives, and the Grammar of Divine Forgetfulness

Posted on August 12, 2020 by New Testament Greek
Ὅτι ἵλεως ἔσομαι ταῖς ἀδικίαις αὐτῶν, καὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν οὐ μὴ μνησθῶ ἔτι. (Hebrews 8:12) Mercy and Memory in the New Covenant

Hebrews 8:12 delivers the climax of the New Covenant promise — divine mercy and the complete removal of remembered guilt. The Greek is elegant and emphatic, relying on future tense verbs, the strongest negation in Greek, and parallel clauses to highlight both God’s mercy and His deliberate choice to forget.

Let’s walk through the grammar that anchors this promise in certainty.

1. The Conjunction of Reason: ὅτι ὅτι – “because” or “for,” introducing the basis for the covenant blessings previously described

This marks the reason for confidence: God will be merciful, and He will remember sin no more.… Learn Koine Greek

Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Leave a comment

Measured Speech and Integrity: The Syntax of the Diaconal Ethos

Posted on August 3, 2020 by Advanced Greek Grammar
Διακόνους ὡσαύτως σεμνούς, μὴ διλόγους, μὴ οἴνῳ πολλῷ προσέχοντας, μὴ αἰσχροκερδεῖς, (1 Timothy 3:8)

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not attending to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.

Overview: Elliptical Syntax in Household Codes

This verse continues Paul’s instructions regarding church leadership, shifting to the qualifications for *διάκονοι* (deacons). The main verb is implied from previous context—specifically from verse 2’s verb “δεῖ” (it is necessary)—and so this line is structured **elliptically** (i.e., with missing but understood grammatical elements).

List of Traits: Coordinated Adjectival and Participial Phrases

Each qualification in this verse modifies the implied subject Διακόνους (deacons):

σεμνούς – respectful, dignified μὴ διλόγους – not double-tongued μὴ οἴνῳ πολλῷ προσέχοντας – not addicted to much wine μὴ αἰσχροκερδεῖς – not greedy for dishonest gain

The first two are **adjectival modifiers**, while the latter two are **negative participial phrases**, all agreeing with the accusative plural noun Διακόνους due to the ellipsis of the infinitive verb.… Learn Koine Greek

Posted in Syntax, Theology | Tagged | Leave a comment

Lamps in the Upper Room: Atmosphere and Assembly in Acts 20:8

Posted on August 1, 2020 by New Testament Greek
Ἦσαν δὲ λαμπάδες ἱκαναὶ ἐν τῷ ὑπερῴῳ οὗ ἦμεν συνηγμένοι (Acts 20:8)

Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.

ἦσαν δὲ λαμπάδες ἱκαναὶ: Sufficient Light

ἦσαν — imperfect active indicative of εἰμί, “they were.” δὲ — mild connective, “and” or “now,” continuing the narrative. λαμπάδες — plural of λαμπάς, meaning “torches” or “lamps.” ἱκαναὶ — nominative feminine plural adjective, meaning “many” or “sufficient” — capable in number or quality.

This phrase sets the physical scene: the room was well-lit, suggesting readiness for an important gathering, even though it was night (as Acts 20:7 indicates).

ἐν τῷ ὑπερῴῳ: The Upper Room

ἐν — preposition indicating location: “in.”… Learn Koine Greek

Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Leave a comment

Calling the Workers: Grammar Echoes in Matthew 20:8

Posted on August 1, 2020 by Νέα Ελληνικά
Ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης λέγει ὁ κύριος τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος τῷ ἐπιτρόπῳ αὐτοῦ· κάλεσον τοὺς ἐργάτας καὶ ἀπόδος αὐτοῖς τὸν μισθὸν ἀρξάμενος ἀπὸ τῶν ἐσχάτων ἕως τῶν πρώτων. (Matthew 20:8)

Modern Greek Pronunciation: opsías de genomenís légei o kýrios tou ampelónos to epitrópō aftoú: kálese tous ergátes kai apódos aftoís ton misthón, arxámenos apó ton escháton éōs ton próton.

Literal English Translation: When evening came, the master of the vineyard says to his steward: Call the workers and pay them the wage, beginning from the last up to the first.

Koine Grammar Deep Dive ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης – genitive absolute construction: “when evening came”; – ὀψίας: genitive singular feminine of “evening”; – γενομένης: aorist middle participle of γίνομαι (“having come to be”).… Learn Koine Greek
Posted in Modern Greek | Tagged | Leave a comment

Identifying Adverbs in New Testament Greek: A Practical Guide

Posted on July 31, 2020 by New Testament Greek

Adverbs in New Testament Greek modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, providing detail on how, when, or where an action occurs. Recognizing adverbs is essential for accurate interpretation and translation.

1. Basic Function of Adverbs

Adverbs provide additional information about verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, often indicating manner, place, time, or degree.

Example: In κακῶς ποιεῖ (he does poorly), the adverb κακῶς (poorly) modifies the verb ποιεῖ (he does), describing how the action is performed.

 

2. Common Adverbial Endings and Patterns

Greek adverbs often have recognizable endings. Here’s a table summarizing common endings by adverb type, along with example meanings:

Adverb Type Common Endings Example Meaning Manner –ως καλῶς well Place –θεν, –ου ἐνθάδε here Time –ποτε, –νυν εὖποτε ever Degree various μάλιστα most

Thematic Vowels: Recognizing thematic vowels (often -o- or -e-) can help identify third-declension adverbs.… Learn Koine Greek

Posted in Grammar | Leave a comment

The Folded Cloth: Classical and Koine Greek in John 20:7

Posted on July 1, 2020 by Classical Greek
Καὶ τὸ σουδάριον, ὃ ἦν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ, οὐ μετὰ τῶν ὀθονίων κείμενον, ἀλλὰ χωρὶς ἐντετυλιγμένον εἰς ἕνα τόπον. (John 20:7)

And the face cloth, which had been upon his head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but folded separately in one place.

1. Key Grammatical Features in Koine Greek τὸ σουδάριον: Neuter singular noun with article; σουδάριον is a loanword (Latin sudarium, “face cloth”). Koine frequently incorporates such Latinisms in narrative vocabulary, especially in Roman contexts. ὃ ἦν: Relative pronoun ὃ introducing a relative clause with the imperfect indicative of εἰμί (“it was”). The imperfect ἦν expresses past continuous location or condition.… Learn Koine Greek
Posted in Ancient Greek, Syntax | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Ear at the Doorpost: Imperatival Futures and Ritual Symbolism in Exodus 21:6 LXX

Posted on June 21, 2020 by Biblical Greek
Προσάξει αὐτὸν ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸ κριτήριον τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ τότε προσάξει αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν ἐπὶ τὸν σταθμόν καὶ τρυπήσει αὐτοῦ ὁ κύριος τὸ οὖς τῷ ὀπητίῳ καὶ δουλεύσει αὐτῷ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. (Exodus 21:6)

His master shall bring him to the judgment of God, and then his master shall bring him to the door, to the post, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl, and he shall serve him forever.

From Court to Doorpost

This verse describes the ritual act by which a servant, choosing lifelong service, is publicly bound to his master. The language is composed of future indicatives with legal, imperatival force.… Learn Koine Greek

Posted in Septuagint Greek | Leave a comment


  1. NT Greek Pages:
  3. 1
  4. ...
  5. 38
  6. 39
  7. 40
  8. 41
  9. 42
  10. 43
  11. 44
  12. ...
  13. 93