Shepherding the Flock: Greek Imperatives of Willing Oversight in 1 Peter 5:2

Posted on February 5, 2020 by New Testament Greek

1 Peter 5:2 opens the final chapter of the letter with exhortations to elders, those tasked with guiding the Christian community during times of persecution and internal tension. The verse sits in a section that transitions from suffering to leadership, showing how shepherds are to model Christ’s care amidst communal trials. The shift from external suffering (chapter 4) to internal shepherding (chapter 5) marks a pastoral turn in the epistle’s trajectory.

Structural Analysis

The verse contains a main imperative and two participial expansions structured around a triple contrast:

ποιμάνατε τὸ ἐν ὑμῖν ποίμνιον τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐπισκοποῦντες (modifying ποιμάνατε) μὴ ἀναγκαστῶς, ἀλλ’ ἑκουσίως μηδὲ αἰσχροκερδῶς, ἀλλὰ προθύμως

The command ποιμάνατε (“shepherd!”)… Learn Koine Greek

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Testing Your Own Work: Grammar Crossroads in Galatians 6:4

Posted on February 1, 2020 by Νέα Ελληνικά
Τὸ δὲ ἔργον ἑαυτοῦ δοκιμαζέτω ἕκαστος, καὶ τότε εἰς ἑαυτὸν μόνον τὸ καύχημα ἕξει καὶ οὐκ εἰς τὸν ἕτερον· (Galatians 6:4)

Modern Pronunciation: to de Érgon eaftoú dokimazéto ékastos, ke tóte is eaftón mónon to kávchima éxi ke ouk is ton héteron.

Literal English: But the work of himself let each one test, and then to himself alone he will have the boasting and not to the other.

Word-by-Word Breakdown τὸ δὲ ἔργον – “but the work” – τὸ: nominative/accusative neuter singular article – δὲ: postpositive particle (marks mild contrast) – ἔργον: accusative neuter singular noun (“deed, work”) ἑαυτοῦ – genitive masculine singular reflexive pronoun (“his own”) δοκιμαζέτω – 3rd person singular present active imperative of δοκιμάζω (“let him test/prove”) ἕκαστος – nominative masculine singular adjective (“each”) acting as subject τότε – adverb (“then”) εἰς ἑαυτὸν μόνον – prepositional phrase (“to himself alone”) – εἰς: preposition + accusative – ἑαυτὸν: reflexive pronoun – μόνον: adverb (“only”) τὸ καύχημα – accusative neuter singular (“boast, boasting”) ἕξει – 3rd person singular future active indicative of ἔχω (“he will have”) καὶ οὐκ εἰς τὸν ἕτερον – “and not to the other” – negation οὐκ with prepositional phrase indicating contrast What Happens in Modern Greek?… Learn Koine Greek
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“διὰ τῶν ἐπακολουθούντων σημείων”: Participial Genitive of Means in Mark 16:20

Posted on January 16, 2020 by New Testament Greek
Introduction: Signs That Follow

The longer ending of Mark concludes with a beautiful note of divine validation:

τὸν λόγον βεβαιοῦντος διὰ τῶν ἐπακολουθούντων σημείων “confirming the word through the signs that followed.”

The prepositional phrase διὰ τῶν ἐπακολουθούντων σημείων functions to express the means by which the word was being confirmed. The participle ἐπακολουθούντων is present active genitive plural, emphasizing that these signs were not isolated miracles, but ongoing accompaniment—a continual aftermath of faithful preaching.

τοῦ κυρίου συνεργοῦντος, καὶ τὸν λόγον βεβαιοῦντος διὰ τῶν ἐπακολουθούντων σημείων.

Let’s now focus on the final phrase of Mark 16:20:

διὰ τῶν ἐπακολουθούντων σημείων — “through the signs that followed”

This phrase uses a genitive plural present participle (ἐπακολουθούντων) modifying the genitive noun σημείων, and the entire phrase functions as a prepositional genitive of means or agency.… Learn Koine Greek

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“βεβαιοῦντος”: Present Participial Confirmation of the Word in Mark 16:20

Posted on January 16, 2020 by New Testament Greek
Introduction: A Gospel Confirmed

The final line of Mark’s Gospel (long ending) says:

τοῦ κυρίου συνεργοῦντος, καὶ τὸν λόγον βεβαιοῦντος διὰ τῶν ἐπακολουθούντων σημείων “…the Lord working with them, and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.”

The participle βεβαιοῦντος {veveoúndos} is a present active genitive singular participle from βεβαιόω. It belongs to the second half of a double genitive absolute and describes God’s continuous, active confirmation of the apostolic message by supernatural means. The grammar is tight, vivid, and theologically rich.

Though the form βεβαιοῦντος looks like a present participle, it is important to distinguish it from the perfect participle form (βεβαιωμένος).… Learn Koine Greek

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“τοῦ κυρίου συνεργοῦντος, καὶ τὸν λόγον βεβαιοῦντος…”: Genitive Absolute and Divine Participation in Mark 16:20

Posted on January 16, 2020 by New Testament Greek
Introduction: Signs of a Cooperative Kingdom

Mark 16:20 concludes with a profound description of divine activity:

Ἐκεῖνοι δὲ ἐξελθόντες ἐκήρυξαν πανταχοῦ, τοῦ κυρίου συνεργοῦντος, καὶ τὸν λόγον βεβαιοῦντος διὰ τῶν ἐπακολουθούντων σημείων. “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the accompanying signs.”

The phrase τοῦ κυρίου συνεργοῦντος… καὶ… βεβαιοῦντος is a classic genitive absolute construction, independent from the main clause. It describes what God was doing concurrently with the apostles’ mission. This grammatical construction teaches that the spread of the gospel was not merely human effort—but divine-human synergy, empowered and authenticated by God Himself.… Learn Koine Greek

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The Appointed Time: Grammatical Revelation and Apostolic Commission in Titus 1:3

Posted on January 3, 2020 by New Testament Greek
God’s Word Revealed: Literary and Theological Context of Titus 1:3

Titus 1:3 — ἐφανέρωσε δὲ καιροῖς ἰδίοις τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ ἐν κηρύγματι ὃ ἐπιστεύθην ἐγὼ κατ’ ἐπιταγὴν τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Θεοῦ, (“But he revealed his word at the proper times through preaching, with which I was entrusted according to the command of God our Savior.”)

This verse continues Paul’s tightly constructed theological introduction to the letter to Titus. It connects God’s eternal purpose (v. 2) with the historical manifestation of that purpose through apostolic proclamation. The grammar balances aorist revelation, dative means, relative clauses, and prepositional agency to present a compact theology of preaching: God’s word is made visible through the divinely appointed mission of proclamation.… Learn Koine Greek

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Grammatical Incarnation: How Syntax Bears Divine Meaning in John 1:1

Posted on January 1, 2020 by Greek Insights
Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος. (John 1:1)

This verse isn’t just theology expressed in Greek—it’s theology through Greek. Every grammatical choice becomes a theological statement. Let’s dissect three linguistic miracles that shape this doctrinal foundation.

Three Pillars of Sacred Grammar 1. The Definite Article as Theological Marker: ὁ λόγος

The article ὁ transforms λόγος from abstract concept to divine person. Compare:

Construction Grammar Function Christological Impact ὁ λόγος Identifiable subject Personal, knowable Word λόγος (hypothetical anarthrous) Indefinite/conceptual Would imply impersonal force 2. ἦν: The Imperfect Tense as Eternity’s Verb

The threefold ἦν (imperfect of εἰμί) creates a grammatical trinity:

Aspect: Continuous action (no beginning/end) Theological Code: Echoes John 8:58’s divine claim “Before Abraham was, I AM” (πρὶν Ἀβραὰμ γενέσθαι ἐγώ εἰμι) Contrast: Compare with aorist ἐγένετο in John 1:14 for incarnation 3.… Learn Koine Greek
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Three Kinds of Eunuchs: Greek Grammar and the Call to the Kingdom

Posted on December 19, 2019 by New Testament Greek

This verse from Jesus’ response to his disciples reveals a deeply layered teaching about singleness, sacrifice, and the kingdom of heaven. Through repetitive structures, relative clauses, passive and middle verbs, and a rare optative imperative, the grammar of Matthew 19:12 communicates both clarity and challenge: εἰσὶ γὰρ εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες ἐκ κοιλίας μητρὸς ἐγεννήθησαν οὕτω· καὶ εἰσὶν εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες εὐνουχίσθησαν ὑπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, καὶ εἰσὶν εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες εὐνούχισαν ἑαυτοὺς διὰ τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν. ὁ δυνάμενος χωρεῖν χωρείτω.

The Greek Text in Focus

Εἰσὶ γὰρ εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες ἐκ κοιλίας μητρὸς ἐγεννήθησαν οὕτω· καὶ εἰσὶν εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες εὐνουχίσθησαν ὑπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, καὶ εἰσὶν εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες εὐνούχισαν ἑαυτοὺς διὰ τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν.… Learn Koine Greek

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Humility in Greek: A Grammatical Bridge from Classical to Koine in Philippians 2:3

Posted on December 1, 2019 by Classical Greek
Μηδὲν κατὰ ἐριθείαν ἢ κενοδοξίαν, ἀλλὰ τῇ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ ἀλλήλους ἡγούμενοι ὑπερέχοντας ἑαυτῶν. (Philippians 2:3)

Nothing according to selfish ambition or vain-glory, but in humility considering one another as surpassing themselves.

1. Key Grammatical Features in Koine Greek μηδὲν: A neuter accusative pronoun often used with implied verbs (like “do”)—a feature increasingly common in Koine, where elliptical constructions are more accepted. κατὰ + accusative: This construction expresses measure or standard (“according to”). It exists in Classical Greek but gains moral-ethical nuance in Koine writings. ἢ: Classical and Koine Greek both use this as “or,” but in Koine, it more frequently connects moral or rhetorical contrasts (ἐριθεία vs.… Learn Koine Greek
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Iron Sandals and Daily Strength: Nominal Fronting and Poetic Parallelism in Blessing Syntax

Posted on November 30, 2019 by Biblical Greek
Σίδηρος καὶ χαλκὸς τὸ ὑπόδημα αὐτοῦ ἔσται καὶ ὡς αἱ ἡμέραι σου ἡ ἰσχύς σου (Deuteronomy 33:25 LXX) Context and Structure of the Blessing

This verse comes from the blessing of Moses upon the tribes, specifically directed toward Asher (cf. Deut 33:24–25). The Greek rendering is compact but theologically rich, using nominal fronting, copular ellipsis, and poetic symmetry to emphasize security and sustained strength.

The verse contains two parallel statements, joined by καὶ:

σίδηρος καὶ χαλκὸς τὸ ὑπόδημα αὐτοῦ ἔσται ὡς αἱ ἡμέραι σου ἡ ἰσχύς σου

Let’s examine the grammatical beauty of each clause.

Clause 1: σίδηρος καὶ χαλκὸς τὸ ὑπόδημα αὐτοῦ ἔσται Word Order and Emphasis The predicate nominatives σίδηρος καὶ χαλκός (“iron and bronze”) are fronted, placed before the subject.… Learn Koine Greek
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