Swearing Truth in Two Worlds: Classical and Koine Greek in Romans 9:1

Posted on September 1, 2017 by Classical Greek
Ἀλήθειαν λέγω ἐν Χριστῷ, οὐ ψεύδομαι, συμμαρτυρούσης μοι τῆς συνειδήσεώς μου ἐν Πνεύματι ἁγίῳ, (Romans 9:1)

Truth I am speaking in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit.

1. Key Grammatical Features in Koine Greek Ἀλήθειαν λέγω: Object (truth) placed before the verb for emphasis. This is typical Koine word order flexibility, especially to highlight solemn assertions. ἐν Χριστῷ: Prepositional phrase indicating association or sphere. Koine expands “ἐν” to include mystical and theological relationships, a broader use than in Classical Greek. οὐ ψεύδομαι: Present middle/passive indicative of ψεύδομαι (“I lie”). Koine often uses the middle to express reflexive or subjective states, here asserting internal truthfulness.… Learn Koine Greek
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Fire and Justice: A Greek Look at 2 Thessalonians 1:8

Posted on August 27, 2017 by Greek Insights
Ἐν πυρὶ φλογός, διδόντος ἐκδίκησιν τοῖς μὴ εἰδόσι Θεὸν καὶ τοῖς μὴ ὑπακούουσι τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, (2 Thessalonians 1:8)

In flaming fire, giving vengeance to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,

The Image of Flaming Judgment

ἐν πυρὶ φλογός – “in flaming fire.”

ἐν + dative denotes manner or accompaniment: the judgment comes “in the midst of” or “by means of” fire. πυρὶ – “fire,” dative singular of πῦρ. φλογός – genitive singular of φλόξ, meaning “flame.” The genitive is descriptive (“fire of flame”), intensifying the vividness of the scene.… Learn Koine Greek
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Declensions Framing Apocalyptic Paradox: Morphology in Revelation 17:8

Posted on August 17, 2017 by New Testament Greek
Τὸ θηρίον ὃ εἶδες, ἦν καὶ οὐκ ἔστι, καὶ μέλλει ἀναβαίνειν ἐκ τῆς ἀβύσσου καὶ εἰς ἀπώλειαν ὑπάγειν· καὶ θαυμάσονται οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὧν οὐ γέγραπται τὸ ὄνομα ἐπὶ τὸ βιβλίον τῆς ζωῆς ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου, βλεπόντων τὸ θηρίον ὅτι ἦν, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι καὶ παρέσται. (Revelation 17:8)

The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to ascend from the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and will be present.… Learn Koine Greek

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Fear and Silence at the Tomb: Syntax and Emotion in Mark 16:8

Posted on August 16, 2017 by Classical Greek
Καὶ ἐξελθοῦσαι ἔφυγον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου· εἶχε δὲ αὐτὰς τρόμος καὶ ἔκστασις, καὶ οὐδενὶ οὐδὲν εἶπον· ἐφοβοῦντο γάρ. (Mark 16:8)

And going out, they fled from the tomb; for trembling and amazement had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Koine Greek Grammar and Syntax καὶ ἐξελθοῦσαι: Aorist active participle, nominative feminine plural of ἐξέρχομαι. It describes antecedent action — “having gone out.” The feminine plural aligns with the subject, the women at the tomb. ἔφυγον: Aorist active indicative 3rd plural of φεύγω, “they fled.” The main verb in this clause; tense indicates a punctual, completed action.… Learn Koine Greek
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Refreshment and Relationship: Verb Morphology in Philemon 7

Posted on July 7, 2017 by New Testament Greek
Χάριν γὰρ ἔχομεν πολλὴν καὶ παράκλησιν ἐπὶ τῇ ἀγάπῃ σου, ὅτι τὰ σπλάγχνα τῶν ἁγίων ἀναπέπαυται διὰ σοῦ, ἀδελφέ. (Philemon 7)

For we have much gratitude and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

Two Verbs of Emotion and Effect

Philemon 7 contains two Greek verbs that capture both internal response and external result:

ἔχομεν — present active indicative, “we have” ἀναπέπαυται — perfect passive indicative, “has been refreshed”

One expresses the present gratitude felt by Paul, the other describes the completed benefit experienced by others through Philemon.

Grammatical Dissection of the Verbs Verb: ἔχομεν Lexical Form ἔχω Tense Present Voice Active Mood Indicative Person & Number 1st Plural Aspect Imperfective Semantic Force Describes Paul’s and possibly Timothy’s current, continuous possession of joy and encouragement Verb: ἀναπέπαυται Lexical Form ἀναπαύω Tense Perfect Voice Passive Mood Indicative Person & Number 3rd Singular Aspect Stative/Resultative Semantic Force The hearts have been refreshed and remain in that state—a lasting comfort through Philemon’s love Tense and Relationship: Present and Perfect in Harmony

– ἔχομεν (present): Expresses ongoing emotional response—Paul’s thanksgiving is not momentary but continues.… Learn Koine Greek

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Δέ In The Greek New Testament

Posted on July 6, 2017 by New Testament Greek

Δέ is related to δή as μέν to μήν. Δέ is a particle adversative, distinctive, disjunctive, but, moreover; it is much more frequent in the historical parts of the New Testament than in the other books, very rare in the Epistles of John and the Apocalypse.  Δέ is used:

universally by way of opposition and distinction; it is added to statements opposite to a preceding statement; it opposes persons to persons or things previously mentioned or thought of, –  either with strong emphasis (e.g. ἐγὼ δέ ; ἡμεῖς δέ ; σὺ δέ ; ὑμεῖς δέ) , and often; – or with a slight discrimination (e.g.… Learn Koine Greek
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Address Formula and Theological Identity in Romans 1:7: A Study in Vocative Syntax and Apostolic Greeting

Posted on July 1, 2017 by New Testament Greek
Πᾶσι τοῖς οὖσιν ἐν Ρώμῃ ἀγαπητοῖς Θεοῦ, κλητοῖς ἁγίοις· χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ Θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. (Romans 1:7)

To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called saints: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Introduction

Romans 1:7 contains Paul’s formal salutation, a stylistically complex and theologically loaded address. The grammar includes a dative of reference, substantival participles, appositional constructions, and a rich Greco-Jewish greeting formula. The structure of this verse reveals Paul’s careful craftsmanship in identifying his audience and grounding their identity in both divine election and covenantal love.… Learn Koine Greek

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As Olives Cling to the Top: Conditional Syntax and the Rhetoric of Remnant

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Biblical Greek
Καὶ καταλειφθῇ ἐν αὐτῇ καλάμη ἢ ὡς ῥῶγες ἐλαίας δύο ἢ τρεῖς ἐπ᾽ ἄκρου μετεώρου ἢ τέσσαρες ἢ πέντε ἐπὶ τῶν κλάδων αὐτῶν καταλειφθῇ τάδε λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς Ισραηλ (Isaiah 17:6 LXX) A Remnant in the Branches

Isaiah 17:6 LXX presents a vivid agricultural metaphor — scattered olives left clinging to high branches — as an image of the surviving remnant after judgment. The Greek grammar delicately balances conditional syntax, comparative imagery, and divine speech formula, capturing the tension between devastation and hope.

Main Structure: A Conditional + Declarative Oracle

The verse consists of:

A conditional-like participial construction: καὶ καταλειφθῇ… — “and if there should be left…” A simile: ὡς ῥῶγες ἐλαίας… — “like olive berries…” A prophetic declaration: τάδε λέγει κύριος…

This creates a flow:

Consequence of judgment (few left) Visual metaphor (scattered olives) Divine authentication (YHWH’s voice) καταλειφθῇ ἐν αὐτῇ καλάμη — The Leftover Stalk Verb: καταλειφθῇ: aorist passive subjunctive, 3rd singular of καταλείπω — “might be left behind” The subjunctive form suggests possibility, or a conditional potential: “if it should be left…” Subject: καλάμη: “stalk” or “stubble” — singular feminine nominative, likely subject of καταλειφθῇ ἐν αὐτῇ: “in it” — referring to the land/city implied from the context Syntactic Note:

This opening conditional clause sets the tone: only a stalk, not a harvest, remains — a remnant, not abundance.… Learn Koine Greek

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Guarding the Doctrine, Turning from Division: A Greek Exegesis of Romans 16:17

Posted on June 16, 2017 by New Testament Greek

Romans 16:17 appears near the conclusion of Paul’s monumental epistle, just before his final greetings. The verse stands out as a sudden and earnest pastoral appeal. Having expounded the gospel, issued ethical exhortations, and offered rich theological reflection, Paul now warns the Roman believers about those who disrupt the unity of the church. This is no generic admonition — it is tightly woven into the letter’s concern for doctrinal fidelity and communal harmony.

Structural Analysis

Παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, σκοπεῖν τοὺς τὰς διχοστασίας καὶ τὰ σκάνδαλα παρὰ τὴν διδαχὴν ἣν ὑμεῖς ἐμάθετε ποιοῦντας, καὶ ἐκκλίνατε ἀπ’ αὐτῶν·

The verse begins with an earnest appeal: Παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί — “Now I urge you, brothers.”… Learn Koine Greek

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Vision Lost, Sin Continued: The Present Tense of Abiding in 1 John 3:6

Posted on June 3, 2017 by Greek Insights
Πᾶς ὁ ἐν αὐτῷ μένων οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει· πᾶς ὁ ἁμαρτάνων οὐχ ἑώρακεν αὐτὸν οὐδὲ ἔγνωκεν αὐτόν. (1 John 3:6)

Everyone who remains in him does not sin; everyone who sins has not seen him nor known him.

Literary Context

1 John 3:6 sits in the midst of a dense theological unit (1 John 2:28–3:10) concerned with divine sonship, ethical manifestation, and abiding in Christ (μένειν). This passage is not abstract mysticism; it’s incarnational ethics—a call to moral purity grounded in the revealed Christ.

The author offers strong binary categories: light/darkness, sin/righteousness, truth/error, love/hate. Within this framework, 3:6 serves as a diagnostic axiom: one who abides in Christ does not sin, and one who sins has neither seen nor known Him.… Learn Koine Greek

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