The Self-Emptying: Greek Grammar in the Descent of Christ

Posted on July 2, 2021 by New Testament Greek
Ἀλλ’ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσε μορφὴν δούλου λαβών, ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος (Philippians 2:7)

But he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.

Philippians 2:7 stands at the center of the famous “Christ Hymn” (Philippians 2:6–11), portraying Jesus’ voluntary humility. The verse — ἀλλ’ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσε μορφὴν δούλου λαβών, ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος — contains two aorist participles that unpack the main verb ἐκένωσε (“emptied himself”). The grammar intensifies the mystery: the eternal Son of God empties himself not by subtraction, but by taking — taking the form of a servant, becoming like us.

Grammatical Highlights ἀλλ’ — adversative conjunction; “but,” marking contrast with the previous verse.… Learn Koine Greek
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Legal Dominion and Human Life in Romans 7:1: Rhetorical Question and Juridical Syntax in Pauline Argument

Posted on July 1, 2021 by Biblical Greek
Ἢ ἀγνοεῖτε, ἀδελφοί· γινώσκουσι γὰρ νόμον λαλῶ· ὅτι ὁ νόμος κυριεύει τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐφ’ ὅσον χρόνον ζῇ; (Romans 7:1)

Or do you not know, brothers: I am speaking to those who know the law, that the law rules over a person as long as he lives?

Disjunctive Introduction and Rhetorical Provocation: Ἢ ἀγνοεῖτε, ἀδελφοί; Ἢ: Disjunctive particle—”Or.” Used to introduce a rhetorical question that assumes a negative answer or challenges the audience’s knowledge. Functions as a transition from the previous argument in Romans 6. ἀγνοεῖτε: Present active indicative, 2nd person plural of ἀγνοέω, “do you not know?” Implies the information is assumed to be known, inviting reflection.… Learn Koine Greek
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Crasis in New Testament Greek

Posted on June 29, 2021 by New Testament Greek
Definition of Crasis

Crasis (Greek: κρᾶσις) is a linguistic phenomenon in Greek where two adjacent words, especially when one ends in a vowel and the next begins with a vowel, combine to form a single word. The term itself means “mixing” or “blending,” which captures the essence of this contraction process. Crasis primarily occurs to simplify pronunciation, creating a smoother flow of speech by avoiding the need to articulate two consecutive vowel sounds. In New Testament Greek, crasis is most commonly seen with the conjunction καὶ (“and”) blending with pronouns, articles, or particles that begin with vowels.

Function and Importance in New Testament Greek

The presence of crasis in New Testament Greek helps to streamline phrases, making them easier to say and, in some cases, more efficient to write.… Learn Koine Greek

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Anchoring in Ptolemais: The Movement and Fellowship of Acts 21:7

Posted on June 21, 2021 by New Testament Greek
Ἡμεῖς δὲ τὸν πλοῦν διανύσαντες ἀπὸ Τύρου κατηντήσαμεν εἰς Πτολεμαΐδα, καὶ ἀσπασάμενοι τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ἐμείναμεν ἡμέραν μίαν παρ’ αὐτοῖς (Acts 21:7)

And we, having completed the voyage from Tyre, arrived at Ptolemais; and having greeted the brothers, we stayed one day with them.

Acts 21:7 doesn’t dwell on drama or detail, but its Greek quietly communicates movement, completion, and the warmth of Christian fellowship. From the ship’s journey to the greeting of the brothers, the sentence is rhythmically tight—narrating transitions both geographical and relational.

Grammatical Foundations

The participle διανύσαντες (having completed the voyage) comes from διανύω, a compound verb stressing completion through or across something.… Learn Koine Greek

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Gentle Restoration: Syntax, Subjunctive Contingency, and Spiritual Vigilance in Galatians 6:1

Posted on June 1, 2021 by Advanced Greek Grammar
Ἀδελφοί, ἐὰν καὶ προληφθῇ ἄνθρωπος ἔν τινι παραπτώματι, ὑμεῖς οἱ πνευματικοὶ καταρτίζετε τὸν τοιοῦτον ἐν πνεύματι πρᾳότητος σκοπῶν σεαυτόν, μὴ καὶ σὺ πειρασθῇς. (Galatians 6:1)

Brothers, even if a person is caught in some transgression, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, watching yourself, lest you also be tempted.

Conditional Compassion Through Grammar

Galatians 6:1 opens Paul’s concluding ethical exhortations by urging believers to restore the fallen with gentleness. The verse is a rich example of how Koine Greek syntax combines conditional structure, participial reasoning, and reflexive admonition. A conditional sentence governs the whole thought, embedding within it a call to action and self-awareness.… Learn Koine Greek

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Discerning Discipleship: Testing All Things, Holding to the Good

Posted on May 21, 2021 by Exegesis & Hermeneutics
Πάντα δὲ δοκιμάζετε, τὸ καλὸν κατέχετε· (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

But test everything; hold fast to what is good.

The Command to Examine Everything

In 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Paul delivers a compact yet far-reaching exhortation: πάντα δὲ δοκιμάζετε — “But test everything.” The verb δοκιμάζετε (present active imperative) urges continual action: not a one-time judgment, but a lifestyle of evaluation. Derived from the domain of metallurgy, the word implies testing to determine authenticity or value. This is no superficial scanning, but an intentional and discerning process. The object of the verb, πάντα (“everything”), is striking in its scope—there are no exceptions or sacred cows.… Learn Koine Greek

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Not from Man, But from God: The Spirit-Borne Prophecy of Scripture

Posted on May 20, 2021 by Exegesis & Hermeneutics
Τοῦτο πρῶτον γινώσκοντες, ὅτι πᾶσα προφητεία γραφῆς ἰδίας ἐπιλύσεως οὐ γίνεται. οὐ γὰρ θελήματι ἀνθρώπου ἠνέχθη ποτὲ προφητεία, ἀλλ’ ὑπὸ Πνεύματος ἁγίου φερόμενοι ἐλάλησαν ἅγιοι Θεοῦ ἄνθρωποι. (2 Peter 1:20–21)

Knowing this first, that every prophecy of Scripture is not of one’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever brought by the will of man, but men spoke from God, being carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Exegetical Analysis

This densely packed pair of verses begins with the phrase τοῦτο πρῶτον γινώσκοντες — “knowing this first.” The participle γινώσκοντες (present active participle, nominative masculine plural) functions imperatively, meaning “you must know this above all.”… Learn Koine Greek

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Revelation 5:13 and the Greek of Cosmic Doxology

Posted on May 13, 2021 by Classical Greek
Καὶ πᾶν κτίσμα ὃ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ὑποκάτω τῆς γῆς καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης ἐστί, καὶ τὰ ἐν αὐτοῖς πάντα, ἤκουσα λέγοντας· τῷ καθημένῳ ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου καὶ τῷ ἀρνίῳ ἡ εὐλογία καὶ ἡ τιμὴ καὶ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. (Revelation 5:13)

And every creature that is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all the things in them, I heard saying: “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing and the honor and the glory and the power forever and ever.”… Learn Koine Greek

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Arrival Across the Sea: Narrative Precision and Geographical Framing in Mark 5:1

Posted on May 1, 2021 by Advanced Greek Grammar
Καὶ ἦλθον εἰς τὸ πέραν τῆς θαλάσσης εἰς τὴν χώραν τῶν Γεργεσηνῶν. (Mark 5:1)

And they came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gergesenes.

The Role of Transition in Mark’s Narrative

Mark 5:1 introduces one of the most memorable episodes in the Gospel: the healing of the Gerasene demoniac. The verse is a short transitional sentence: Καὶ ἦλθον εἰς τὸ πέραν τῆς θαλάσσης εἰς τὴν χώραν τῶν Γεργεσηνῶν — “And they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes/Gergesenes.” Although it looks simple, its grammar and vocabulary set the stage for a dramatic confrontation.… Learn Koine Greek

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Come and See: The Syntax of Testimony and Wonder in John 4:29

Posted on April 29, 2021 by New Testament Greek

John 4:29 is spoken by the Samaritan woman shortly after her transformative encounter with Jesus at Jacob’s well. After Jesus reveals her personal history and hints at his messianic identity, she leaves her water jar and runs back to the town, inviting others to come and see. This verse is not only a moment of personal testimony; it initiates the evangelization of an entire Samaritan village, prefiguring Gentile belief. The syntax of her invitation reflects both excitement and uncertainty — wonder wrapped in witness.

Structural Analysis

Δεῦτε ἴδετε ἄνθρωπον ὃς εἶπέ μοι πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησα· μήτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ Χριστός;

The sentence divides into three movements: (1) an imperative invitation Δεῦτε ἴδετε, (2) a relative clause identifying the man ὃς εἶπέ μοι πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησα, and (3) an interrogative clause μήτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ Χριστός; that poses a leading question about his identity.… Learn Koine Greek

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