The Indignation Within: Interrogating Waste and Worth in Mark 14:4

Posted on April 9, 2014 by New Testament Greek

Mark 14:4 is part of the account of a woman anointing Jesus with costly perfume at Bethany. This act, narrated shortly before Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, becomes a flashpoint for conflicting values: generosity vs. waste, worship vs. practicality. In verse 4, a group of bystanders reacts negatively to the woman’s action. Their inner indignation sets the stage for Jesus’ interpretation of the act as a prophetic preparation for his burial (Mark 14:6–9). Thus, the verse acts as a narrative pivot between human judgment and divine commendation.

Structural Analysis

ἦσαν δέ τινες ἀγανακτοῦντες πρὸς ἑαυτούς λέγοντες· εἰς τί ἡ ἀπώλεια αὕτη τοῦ μύρου γέγονεν;

The verse begins with a circumstantial clause: ἦσαν δέ τινες ἀγανακτοῦντες — “But there were some who were indignant.”… Learn Koine Greek

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It Is Not Lawful: Prophetic Confrontation in Matthew 14:4

Posted on April 1, 2014 by New Testament Greek
The Verse in Focus (Matthew 14:4)

ἔλεγεν γὰρ αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰωάννης· οὐκ ἔξεστί σοι ἔχειν αὐτήν

Imperfect with Ongoing Force: ἔλεγεν

The verb ἔλεγεν is the imperfect active indicative of λέγω — “he was saying.” The imperfect tense indicates repeated, habitual, or ongoing past action. John the Baptist didn’t confront Herod once — he kept telling him. This verb choice reflects prophetic persistence, an ongoing voice of conviction.

γὰρ αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰωάννης: Clarifying Subject and Recipient

The explanatory conjunction γὰρ (“for”) links this statement to the surrounding context — particularly Herod’s troubled conscience.

αὐτῷ is the dative singular masculine pronoun, meaning “to him” — referring to Herod Antipas.… Learn Koine Greek

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Productive Piety in Action: A Greek Study of Titus 3:14

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Biblical Greek
Titus 3:14

μανθανέτωσαν δὲ καὶ οἱ ἡμέτεροι καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι εἰς τὰς ἀναγκαίας χρείας, ἵνα μὴ ὦσιν ἄκαρποι.

And let our people also learn to devote themselves to good works for necessary needs, so that they may not be unfruitful.

Training the Church in Good Works μανθανέτωσαν – 3rd person plural present active imperative of μανθάνω, “to learn.” The imperative calls for an ongoing process of disciplined instruction. In Classical Greek, μανθάνω often meant “to understand” or “to become acquainted with,” but here it includes practical lifestyle formation. The use of the plural shows Paul’s concern for the entire community’s spiritual education.… Learn Koine Greek
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One Spring, Two Tastes? A Grammatical Meditation on James 3:11

Posted on March 11, 2014 by New Testament Greek
James 3:11 μήτι ἡ πηγὴ ἐκ τῆς αὐτῆς ὀπῆς βρύει τὸ γλυκὺ καὶ τὸ πικρόν;

Modern Greek Pronunciation: míti i pi̱gí ek ti̱s aftí̱s opí̱s vrýei to glyký kai to pikrón?

Literal English Translation: Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both sweet and bitter water?

Koine Greek Grammar Analysis μήτι – interrogative particle used for rhetorical questions expecting a negative answer (“surely not…”). ἡ πηγὴ – nominative singular feminine noun, “the spring, fountain.” ἐκ τῆς αὐτῆς ὀπῆς – prepositional phrase: – ἐκ = “from” + genitive; – τῆς αὐτῆς = “the same”; – ὀπῆς = genitive singular of ὀπή, “opening, hole, mouth.”… Learn Koine Greek
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The Bond of Perfection: Greek Grammar and the Crown of Love

Posted on March 8, 2014 by New Testament Greek

In this concise yet profound statement, Paul presents love not merely as one virtue among many, but as the cohesive force that perfects all others. The Greek of Colossians 3:14 — ἐπὶ πᾶσι δὲ τούτοις τὴν ἀγάπην, ἥτις ἐστὶ σύνδεσμος τῆς τελειότητος — uses a prepositional phrase, an appositional construction, and an explanatory relative pronoun to declare love as the ultimate unifying element of Christian maturity.

The Greek Text in Focus

ἐπὶ πᾶσι δὲ τούτοις τὴν ἀγάπην, ἥτις ἐστὶ σύνδεσμος τῆς τελειότητος (Colossians 3:14)

“And above all these, love, which is the bond of perfection.”

Grammatical Highlights ἐπὶ πᾶσι τούτοις — preposition + dative phrase; “above all these things.”… Learn Koine Greek
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Grammatical Contrast and Theological Hesitation in Matthew 3:14: Syntax and Voice in John’s Objection

Posted on March 1, 2014 by New Testament Greek
Ὁ δὲ Ἰωάννης διεκώλυεν αὐτὸν λέγων· ἐγὼ χρείαν ἔχω ὑπὸ σοῦ βαπτισθῆναι καὶ σὺ ἔρχῃ πρός με; Introduction

Matthew 3:14 records John the Baptist’s theological resistance to baptizing Jesus. The Greek syntax encapsulates a profound reversal of roles, expressed through tense contrast, passive voice, rhetorical questioning, and emphatic word order. Each grammatical element in this verse serves the narrative’s purpose: to portray John’s astonishment and theological insight regarding Jesus’ superior identity.

Main Clause: Ὁ δὲ Ἰωάννης διεκώλυεν αὐτὸν

– Ὁ δὲ Ἰωάννης: Nominative subject with definite article and postpositive conjunction. – ὁ: definite article, masculine singular. – δὲ: mild adversative conjunction—”but,” marking a narrative shift from Jesus’ approach (v.… Learn Koine Greek

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Political Discourse and Future Verbal Strategy in Matthew 28:14: A Study in Conditional Syntax and Koine Greek Persuasion

Posted on February 28, 2014 by New Testament Greek
Καὶ ἐὰν ἀκουσθῇ τοῦτο ἐπὶ τοῦ ἡγεμόνος, ἡμεῖς πείσομεν αὐτὸν, καὶ ὑμᾶς ἀμερίμνους ποιήσομεν. Introduction

Matthew 28:14 presents a case of political strategy expressed through conditional syntax and future-oriented verbal constructions. Spoken by the chief priests to the soldiers, this verse contains conditional modality, implied social manipulation, and legal nuance. The Greek grammar reveals a persuasive structure dependent on mood, aspect, and pronoun emphasis. Every clause is economically constructed yet dense with rhetorical power.

Conditional Clause: ἐὰν ἀκουσθῇ τοῦτο

– The clause begins with ἐὰν, a conditional particle used with the subjunctive to form a third-class (future more probable) condition. – ἀκουσθῇ is aorist passive subjunctive, 3rd person singular of ἀκούω, meaning “to hear.”… Learn Koine Greek

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The One Who Gave Himself: Greek Grammar and the Grammar of Redemption

Posted on February 7, 2014 by New Testament Greek

This densely packed verse from Paul’s epistle to Titus presents one of the clearest soteriological summaries in the New Testament. Every clause is loaded with purpose and theological intent, and the grammar of Titus 2:14 reflects it: ὃς ἔδωκεν ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, ἵνα λυτρώσηται ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης ἀνομίας καὶ καθαρίσῃ ἑαυτῷ λαὸν περιούσιον, ζηλωτὴν καλῶν ἔργων. The sentence is built around purpose clauses with subjunctives, a reflexive act of sacrifice, and a vision of God’s people as redeemed, purified, and eager to do good.

The Greek Text in Focus

ὃς ἔδωκεν ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, ἵνα λυτρώσηται ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης ἀνομίας καὶ καθαρίσῃ ἑαυτῷ λαὸν περιούσιον, ζηλωτὴν καλῶν ἔργων (Titus 2:14)

“Who gave himself for us, so that he might redeem us from all lawlessness and purify for himself a people of his own possession, zealous for good works.”… Learn Koine Greek

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Greek Grammar and Syntactical Analysis of Matthew 2:1

Posted on February 1, 2014 by New Testament Greek
Τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ γεννηθέντος ἐν Βηθλέεμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἐν ἡμέραις Ἡρῴδου τοῦ βασιλέως, ἰδοὺ μάγοι ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν παρεγένοντο εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα Genitive Absolute Construction: Τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ γεννηθέντος

This opening clause is a classic example of the genitive absolute, a syntactic feature where a genitive noun or pronoun and a genitive participle form a phrase independent of the main clause.

– Τοῦ Ἰησοῦ: genitive singular of Ἰησοῦς (Jesus) – γεννηθέντος: aorist passive participle, genitive singular masculine of γεννάω (to be born)

This construction functions temporally: “when Jesus was born”. The particle δὲ is postpositive, softening the transition rather than indicating contrast.

Locative Phrase: ἐν Βηθλέεμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας

– ἐν Βηθλέεμ: prepositional phrase indicating location; Βηθλέεμ is indeclinable.… Learn Koine Greek

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Participles in Motion: The Rhythmic Flow of Divine Revelation in John 1:14

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Advanced Greek Grammar

We now turn our attention to a verse that stands at the theological and stylistic apex of Johannine literature—John 1:14. This verse, rich in poetic cadence and profound doctrinal weight, presents us with a masterful interplay of verbal aspect and participle function. Our focus will be on the nuanced deployment of the aorist active participle, particularly how it contributes to the dynamic unfolding of the Word’s incarnation.

καὶ ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἐθεασάμεθα τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, δόξαν ὡς μονογενοῦς παρὰ πατρός, πλήρης χάριτος καὶ ἀληθείας The Aorist Active Participle: A Snapshot in Motion

In this passage, we encounter two verbs of transformation: ἐγένετο (“became”) and ἐσκήνωσεν (“dwelt”).… Learn Koine Greek

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