1 Corinthians 13:12 and the Greek of Mystery and Revelation

Posted on December 13, 2013 by New Testament Greek
1 Corinthians 13:12 βλέπομεν γὰρ ἄρτι δι’ ἐσόπτρου ἐν αἰνίγματι, τότε δὲ πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον· ἄρτι γινώσκω ἐκ μέρους, τότε δὲ ἐπιγνώσομαι καθὼς καὶ ἐπεγνώσθην. Literal English Translation

For now we see through a mirror, in a riddle; but then, face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall fully know, just as I also have been fully known.

Mirror, Riddle, and the Horizon of Knowing βλέπομεν γὰρ ἄρτι δι’ ἐσόπτρου ἐν αἰνίγματι The present indicative βλέπομεν (“we see”) frames perception as current and continuous. The preposition δι’ + genitive ἐσόπτρου (“through a mirror”) suggests indirectness. In Classical usage, ἔσοπτρον refers to polished metal surfaces—not the glass mirrors we think of—often with dim or reversed images (cf.… Learn Koine Greek
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Run With Endurance: The Syntax of Perseverance in Hebrews 12:1

Posted on December 1, 2013 by Greek Insights
Τοιγαροῦν καὶ ἡμεῖς, τοσοῦτον ἔχοντες περικείμενον ἡμῖν νέφος μαρτύρων, ὄγκον ἀποθέμενοι πάντα καὶ τὴν εὐπερίστατον ἁμαρτίαν, δι’ ὑπομονῆς τρέχωμεν τὸν προκείμενον ἡμῖν ἀγῶνα, Therefore, Let Us Run

Hebrews 12:1 is a call to sustained faithfulness, building on the momentum of the preceding chapter’s “hall of faith.” Yet the force of this verse lies not only in its imagery, but in its syntax—layered participles, present subjunctives, and prepositional phrases that shape the believer’s spiritual posture. The structure reveals that perseverance is not passive endurance, but disciplined, active forward movement, made possible by preparation, vision, and determination.

Grammatical Focus: Hortatory Subjunctive and Participial Preparation

The main clause is τρέχωμεν τὸν προκείμενον ἡμῖν ἀγῶνα—“let us run the race set before us.”… Learn Koine Greek

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The Antichrist’s Arrival: A Grammar of Deception in 2 Thessalonians 2:9

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Advanced Greek Grammar
οὗ ἐστιν ἡ παρουσία κατ’ ἐνέργειαν τοῦ σατανᾶ ἐν πάσῃ δυνάμει καὶ σημείοις καὶ τέρασι ψεύδους

In this verse — 2 Thessalonians 2:9 — we encounter a grammatically dense and theologically charged description of the coming of the man of lawlessness, often identified as the Antichrist. Paul’s language is not merely prophetic; it is carefully constructed to convey the spiritual origin, power source, and deceptive nature of this eschatological figure. Our focus will be on the structure of the phrase “ἡ παρουσία κατ’ ἐνέργειαν τοῦ σατανᾶ”, exploring how prepositional usage, word order, and semantic nuance coalesce to form a vivid theological portrait of counterfeit authority and satanic empowerment.… Learn Koine Greek

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Render What Is Due: Civic Duty in Romans 13:7

Posted on November 7, 2013 by Biblical Greek
ἀπόδοτε πᾶσι τὰς ὀφειλάς, τῷ τὸν φόρον τὸν φόρον, τῷ τὸ τέλος τὸ τέλος, τῷ τὸν φόβον τὸν φόβον, τῷ τὴν τιμὴν τὴν τιμήν

Romans 13:7 continues Paul’s exhortation on submission to governing authorities. The Greek is rhythmic, almost liturgical, repeating both syntax and vocabulary for emphasis. Paul names specific civic and relational obligations, structuring the verse around a pattern of repetition that reflects order and accountability.

Grammatical Foundations

The imperative ἀπόδοτε is aorist active, 2nd person plural, from ἀποδίδωμι, meaning “render,” “give back,” or “pay what is owed.” The object is τὰς ὀφειλάς (debts or obligations), and the dative plural πᾶσι (“to all”) establishes that no one is exempt from the principle.… Learn Koine Greek

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Worthy of the Call: Purpose Clauses and Divine Enablement in 2 Thessalonians 1:11

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Greek Insights
εἰς ὃ καὶ προσευχόμεθα πάντοτε περὶ ὑμῶν, ἵνα ὑμᾶς ἀξιώσῃ τῆς κλήσεως ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν καὶ πληρώσῃ πᾶσαν εὐδοκίαν ἀγαθωσύνης καὶ ἔργον πίστεως ἐν δυνάμει, (2 Thessalonians 1:11) Praying Toward God’s Purpose

This verse opens a Pauline prayer marked by hopeful intercession and spiritual intention. Paul’s grammar weaves purpose, desire, and divine agency together with subjunctive verbs, infinitive logic, and abstract nouns that embody virtue. The structure frames a powerful theology: God is the one who makes His people worthy and enables them to act in faith and goodness—with power.

εἰς ὃ καὶ προσευχόμεθα πάντοτε περὶ ὑμῶν – For This We Also Always Pray Concerning You εἰς ὃ – prepositional phrase meaning “for this purpose” or “for this end,” with ὃ referring back to the hope of glorification (v.10) καὶ προσευχόμεθα – present middle indicative, 1st person plural from προσεύχομαι, “we pray” πάντοτε – adverb, “always” περὶ ὑμῶν – “concerning you” (genitive of reference)

This is the grounding clause—Paul continually prays with this theological hope in mind.… Learn Koine Greek

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The Day of His Glory: Divine Vindication in 2 Thessalonians 1:10

Posted on October 17, 2013 by New Testament Greek

2 Thessalonians 1:10 forms part of Paul’s eschatological encouragement to the persecuted Thessalonian believers (vv. 5–10). The context speaks of divine justice: affliction for the oppressors and relief for the afflicted when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven (v. 7). Verse 10 shifts from judgment to glory — highlighting the revelation of Christ’s majesty “in his saints” and the astonishment he will evoke among all who believed. It is a climactic vision of eschatological hope.

Structural Analysis

ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐνδοξασθῆναι ἐν τοῖς ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ καὶ θαυμασθῆναι ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς πιστεύσασιν, ὅτι ἐπιστεύθη τὸ μαρτύριον ἡμῶν ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς, ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ.… Learn Koine Greek

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Why Do You Speak to Them in Parables? A Question of Revelation in Matthew 13:10

Posted on October 13, 2013 by New Testament Greek
Καὶ προσελθόντες οἱ μαθηταὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ· διὰ τί ἐν παραβολαῖς λαλεῖς αὐτοῖς;

Matthew 13:10 introduces a pivotal dialogue between Jesus and his disciples that opens up one of the richest theological discussions in the Gospels—why Jesus teaches in parables. The Greek grammar is straightforward but loaded with implication, setting the stage for a distinction between spiritual insiders and outsiders.

Grammatical Foundations

Καὶ προσελθόντες οἱ μαθηταὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ—“And the disciples came and said to him.”

προσελθόντες—aorist active participle, nominative masculine plural from προσέρχομαι, “having approached” or “having come near.” οἱ μαθηταὶ—“the disciples,” the subject of εἶπον. εἶπον—aorist active indicative, 3rd person plural from λέγω, “they said.”… Learn Koine Greek
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“I Am”: Deception, Identity, and the Future Tense in Mark’s Eschatology

Posted on October 6, 2013 by New Testament Greek
πολλοὶ γὰρ ἐλεύσονται ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου λέγοντες ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι, καὶ πολλοὺς πλανήσουσιν. (Mark 13:6) A Prophetic Warning Framed in Verbs

In Mark 13:6, Jesus issues a solemn warning during His eschatological discourse on the Mount of Olives. While the surface message is clear — deception is coming — the Greek grammar beneath His words gives it weight and precision. The interplay of future tense, participles, and prepositional constructions intensifies the danger and divine foresight of this prophecy. Let us walk through this verse word by word, guided by its grammatical force.

1. πολλοὶ γὰρ ἐλεύσονται — The Future Comes in Crowds Parsing πολλοί — nominative masculine plural adjective: “many” ἐλεύσονται — future middle indicative, 3rd person plural of ἔρχομαι: “they will come”

This is a classic subject–verb unit.… Learn Koine Greek

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Adorning the Doctrine: Faithfulness and Beauty in Titus 2:10

Posted on October 1, 2013 by New Testament Greek
The Verse in Focus (Titus 2:10)

μὴ νοσφιζομένους, ἀλλὰ πίστιν πᾶσαν ἐνδεικνυμένους ἀγαθήν, ἵνα τὴν διδασκαλίαν τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Θεοῦ κοσμῶσιν ἐν πᾶσιν

μὴ νοσφιζομένους: A Prohibition of Theft

The participle νοσφιζομένους is the present middle/passive participle, accusative masculine plural, from νοσφίζω, meaning “to pilfer,” “to embezzle,” or “to withhold.” It is used here with the negative particle μὴ, forming a prohibition: “not stealing” or “not holding back.”

This participle likely refers to bondservants or workers, continuing Paul’s ethical instruction. It stresses integrity in handling what belongs to others.

ἀλλὰ πίστιν πᾶσαν ἐνδεικνυμένους ἀγαθήν: Positive Contrast

This participial phrase is the positive counterpart to the prohibition:

– ἀλλὰ — “but,” marking contrast.… Learn Koine Greek

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Stability through Grace: Passive Verbs and Dative Anchors in Hebrews 13:9

Posted on September 22, 2013 by New Testament Greek

In διδαχαῖς ποικίλαις καὶ ξέναις μὴ παραφέρεσθε· καλὸν γὰρ χάριτι βεβαιοῦσθαι τὴν καρδίαν, οὐ βρώμασιν, ἐν οἷς οὐκ ὠφελήθησαν οἱ περιπατήσαντες (Hebrews 13:9), the author of Hebrews exhorts believers to remain anchored in grace rather than swept away by foreign teachings. The sentence is grammatically intricate, but its centerpiece is the passive infinitive βεβαιοῦσθαι — “to be strengthened” — and its agent, not fleshly food (βρώμασιν), but grace (χάριτι). This construction — passive stability through a dative of means — is rare and elegant. The grammar doesn’t just describe the doctrine; it performs it.

Morphological Breakdown διδαχαῖς ποικίλαις καὶ ξέναις – Root: διδαχή, ποικίλος, ξένος Form: dative feminine plural noun + two adjectives Lexical Meaning: “by various and foreign teachings” Contextual Notes: Dative of means or cause.… Learn Koine Greek
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