If That’s the Case: Marriage and Discipleship in Matthew 19:10

Posted on October 1, 2019 by Biblical Greek
Λέγουσιν αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ· εἰ οὕτως ἐστὶν ἡ αἰτία τοῦ ἀνθρώπου μετὰ τῆς γυναικός, οὐ συμφέρει γαμῆσαι. (Matthew 19:10)

His disciples say to him: “If this is the situation of the man with the woman, it is not advantageous to marry.“

After Jesus’ strict teaching on divorce, the disciples respond with an almost stunned objection. Their words in Matthew 19:10 are brief but packed with realism—and their grammar reflects that intensity. This isn’t a question, it’s a conclusion. Their reaction reveals just how radical Jesus’ view of marriage sounded in a first-century context.

Grammatical Foundations

The verb λέγουσιν is present active indicative, 3rd person plural: “they say.”… Learn Koine Greek

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Power in Weakness: Divine Strength and the Subjunctive of Purpose in 2 Corinthians 12:9

Posted on September 12, 2019 by New Testament Greek
Καὶ εἴρηκέ μοι· ἀρκεῖ σοι ἡ χάρις μου· ἡ γὰρ δύναμίς μου ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ τελειοῦται. ἥδιστα οὖν μᾶλλον καυχήσομαι ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαις μου, ἵνα ἐπισκηνώσῃ ἐπ’ ἐμὲ ἡ δύναμις τοῦ Χριστοῦ. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

And he has said to me: “My grace is sufficient for you; for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will rather boast most gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell upon me.

The Grammar of Surrender and Strength

2 Corinthians 12:9 records the Lord’s personal word to Paul in response to his plea for relief. But the answer is unexpected and transformative: not deliverance, but grace.… Learn Koine Greek

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Matthew 11:29 and the Language of Invitation

Posted on September 11, 2019 by Classical Greek
Ἄρατε τὸν ζυγόν μου ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς καὶ μάθετε ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι πρᾷός εἰμι καὶ ταπεινὸς τῇ καρδίᾳ, καὶ εὑρήσετε ἀνάπαυσιν ταῖς ψυχαῖς ὑμῶν· (Matthew 11:29)

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Layered Meanings in Common Vocabulary ἄρατε τὸν ζυγόν μου ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς The verb ἄρατε is the 2nd person plural aorist active imperative of αἴρω—”lift, take up.” In Classical Greek, this verb often implies burden or removal (e.g., lifting off a siege). Here, it forms a paradox: taking up a burden leads to rest.… Learn Koine Greek
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When the Evil One Comes”: A Study of Ellipsis and Implicit Action in Matthew 13:19

Posted on August 13, 2019 by Advanced Greek Grammar
Παντὸς ἀκούοντος τὸν λόγον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ μὴ συνιέντος, ἔρχεται ὁ πονηρὸς καὶ αἴρει τὸ ἐσπαρμένον ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ· οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ παρὰ τὴν ὁδὸν σπαρείς. (Matthew 13:19)

When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart; this is the one sown beside the path.

The Parable of the Sower and the Hidden Verb

In Matthew 13:19, Jesus begins to interpret the parable of the sower — explaining what happens to the seed sown along the path. The verse opens with a participial construction that appears complete but contains a subtle grammatical gap:

> “Every one who hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and takes away what was sown in his heart…”

This sentence is elliptical — it omits a finite verb that we instinctively supply based on context.… Learn Koine Greek

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Abounding in Grace: Subjunctive Purpose and Spiritual Fullness in 2 Corinthians 8:7

Posted on August 7, 2019 by Greek Insights
Ἀλλ’ ὥσπερ ἐν παντὶ περισσεύετε, πίστει καὶ λόγῳ καὶ γνώσει καὶ πάσῃ σπουδῇ καὶ τῇ ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμῖν ἀγάπῃ, ἵνα καὶ ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ χάριτι περισσεύητε. (2 Corinthians 8:7)

But just as you abound in everything: in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in the love from you in us; so also may you abound in this grace.

Overflowing in All Things: Context and Contrast

In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul exhorts the Corinthians to follow through in generosity toward the Jerusalem believers. He frames the appeal not as a command but as an invitation to participate in grace.… Learn Koine Greek

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Fragments that Speak: Greek Grammar in a Question of Memory

Posted on August 1, 2019 by New Testament Greek
Ὅτε τοὺς πέντε ἄρτους ἔκλασα εἰς τοὺς πεντακισχιλίους, καὶ πόσους κοφίνους κλασμάτων πλήρεις ἤρατε; λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· δώδεκα. (Mark 8:19)

When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up? They say to him, “Twelve.”

Today we analyze a single interrogative sentence from Jesus that is both grammatically intricate and theologically evocative: ὅτε τοὺς πέντε ἄρτους ἔκλασα εἰς τοὺς πεντακισχιλίους, καὶ πόσους κοφίνους κλασμάτων πλήρεις ἤρατε; λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· δώδεκα from Mark 8:19. It is a question designed not for information, but for confrontation — and grammar plays a crucial role in shaping that rhetorical impact.… Learn Koine Greek

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The Great Reversal: Syntax and Surprise in Matthew 19:30

Posted on July 30, 2019 by Advanced Greek Grammar
Πολλοὶ δὲ ἔσονται πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι καὶ ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι. (Matthew 19:30)

But many who are first will be last, and last will be first.

A Chiasm in Motion

The structure of Matthew 19:30 is as elegant as it is provocative. This single verse forms a chiasm, a literary and syntactic mirror: πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι… ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι. This structure is not merely poetic. It is theologically loaded. Greek word order allows Matthew to emphasize both the subjects and the outcomes through deliberate inversion. The repeated adjectives — πρῶτοι (“first”) and ἔσχατοι (“last”) — are placed in different syntactic positions within each clause, showing a complete reversal not only of rank but of expectation.… Learn Koine Greek

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Slaves Who Promise Freedom: Participles, Paradox, and Passive Conquest in 2 Peter 2:19

Posted on July 19, 2019 by Greek Insights
Ἐλευθερίαν αὐτοῖς ἐπαγγελλόμενοι, αὐτοὶ δοῦλοι ὑπάρχοντες τῆς φθορᾶς· ᾧ γάρ τις ἥττηται, τούτῳ καὶ δεδούλωται. (2 Peter 2:19)

Promising them freedom, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what someone is overcome, by this he is also enslaved.

Deception in Voice and Form

This verse from 2 Peter delivers a scathing rebuke against false teachers who promise liberty, yet are themselves enslaved to corruption. The Greek construction powerfully reinforces this moral irony, through its layered participles, passives, and causal logic.

We will examine the verse’s core grammar using a structured table, highlighting:

– Present participles that describe deceptive activity and true condition – A genitive of subjection that defines the master – A dative of subjection that follows a perfect passive verb – A causal clause structured around identity and subjugation

Grammatical Analysis Table Greek Phrase Form & Morphology Function Meaning ἐλευθερίαν αὐτοῖς ἐπαγγελλόμενοι Present middle participle, nominative plural masculine from ἐπαγγέλλομαι Adjectival participle modifying the false teachers “promising them freedom” — deceptive appearance of liberty αὐτοὶ δοῦλοι ὑπάρχοντες τῆς φθορᾶς Present active participle (ὑπάρχοντες) + genitive of subjection Predicate description “they themselves are slaves of corruption” — contrasting reality to their message ᾧ γάρ τις ἥττηται Relative pronoun in dative + perfect passive indicative, 3rd sg.… Learn Koine Greek
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Gifts That Fit: Staying Within the Sphere of Divine Calling

Posted on July 12, 2019 by Exegesis & Hermeneutics
Εἴτε διακονίαν, ἐν τῇ διακονίᾳ, εἴτε ὁ διδάσκων, ἐν τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ, (Romans 12:7)

If it is service, in the service; if it is the one who teaches, in the teaching,

Exegetical Analysis

This portion of Paul’s ethical exhortation belongs to a series of elliptical clauses enumerating various spiritual gifts. Each element follows the structure εἴτε… ἐν…, showing both the nature of the gift and the realm in which it should operate. The first term διακονίαν (“service” or “ministry”) is in the accusative, functioning as the conditional object of the implied verb from the previous verse: let us use them. The repetition of ἐν τῇ διακονίᾳ (“in the service”) emphasizes that those who serve should remain focused within that sphere.… Learn Koine Greek

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Why Then Did Moses Command It? A Grammar Inquiry from Matthew 19:7

Posted on July 1, 2019 by Νέα Ελληνικά
Λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· τί οὖν Μωσῆς ἐνετείλατο δοῦναι βιβλίον ἀποστασίου καὶ ἀπολῦσαι αὐτήν; (Matthew 19:7)

Modern Greek Pronunciation: légousin aftó̱: ti ú̱n Mōsís enetílato doúnai vivlíon apostasíou kai apolý̱sai aftín?

Literal English Translation: They say to him: Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?

Koine Greek Breakdown λέγουσιν – present active indicative 3rd person plural from λέγω, “they say”. αὐτῷ – dative masculine singular pronoun, “to him”. τί – interrogative pronoun, “why”. οὖν – particle, “then”, signaling inference or emphasis. Μωσῆς – proper noun, nominative masculine singular, “Moses”. ἐνετείλατο – aorist middle indicative 3rd singular from ἐντέλλομαι, “he commanded”.… Learn Koine Greek
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