Declensions in Promise: Morphology in John 16:7

Ἀλλ’ ἐγὼ τὴν ἀλήθειαν λέγω ὑμῖν· συμφέρει ὑμῖν ἵνα ἐγὼ ἀπέλθω. ἐὰν γὰρ μὴ ἀπέλθω, ὁ παράκλητος οὐκ ἐλεύσεται πρὸς ὑμᾶς· ἐὰν δὲ πορευθῶ, πέμψω αὐτὸν πρὸς ὑμᾶς· (John 16:7)

But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

Declension Analysis Table Greek Word Morphology Case & Syntactic Role Notes ἐγὼ (first occurrence) 1st person pronoun, nominative singular Subject of λέγω Emphatic position — Jesus is the speaker τὴν ἀλήθειαν Noun, accusative feminine singular with article Accusative direct object of λέγω “The truth” — object of Jesus’ declaration ὑμῖν (first occurrence) 2nd person pronoun, dative plural Dative of indirect object To whom the truth is spoken — the disciples ὑμῖν (second occurrence) 2nd person pronoun, dative plural Dative of advantage “For your benefit” — marks the recipients of advantage ἐγὼ (second occurrence) 1st person pronoun, nominative singular Subject of ἀπέλθω Stresses Jesus’ agency in departure ὁ παράκλητος Noun, nominative masculine singular with article Subject of ἐλεύσεται “The Advocate” — title for the Holy Spirit ὑμᾶς (first occurrence) 2nd person pronoun, accusative plural Accusative object of πρὸς Target of the Spirit’s coming αὐτόν 3rd person pronoun, accusative masculine singular Accusative direct object of πέμψω Refers to the Advocate — the one sent ὑμᾶς (second occurrence) 2nd person pronoun, accusative plural Accusative object of πρὸς Again marks the recipients of the Spirit’s mission The Role of Datives in Relational Theology

The repetition of ὑμῖν highlights both the intimacy and the intentionality of the promise.… Learn Koine Greek

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Mark and Turn Away: Present Participles, Imperatives, and Doctrinal Vigilance

Παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, σκοπεῖν τοὺς τὰς διχοστασίας καὶ τὰ σκάνδαλα παρὰ τὴν διδαχὴν ἣν ὑμεῖς ἐμάθετε ποιοῦντας, καὶ ἐκκλίνατε ἀπ’ αὐτῶν· (Romans 16:17)

Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and stumbling blocks contrary to the teaching you learned, and turn away from them.

Guarding the Church through Grammatical Clarity

Romans 16:17 is a pastoral appeal from Paul — not to embrace division, but to watch for it and reject it when it arises. The Greek text gives this warning with striking grammatical urgency: imperatives in the present tense, participles that define behavior, and a call to doctrinal discernment.… Learn Koine Greek

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When the Spirit Says No: The Syntax of Divine Prohibition in Acts 16:6

Διελθόντες δὲ τὴν Φρυγίαν καὶ τὴν Γαλατικὴν χώραν, κωλυθέντες ὑπὸ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος λαλῆσαι τὸν λόγον ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ, (Acts 16:6)

And having gone through Phrygia and the Galatian region, having been prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in Asia.

In the journey narrative of Acts 16, Luke records a moment that disrupts our expectations of divine guidance. Paul and his companions are traveling through Asia Minor, yet something unusual occurs—not an open door, but a closed one:

διελθόντες δὲ τὴν Φρυγίαν καὶ τὴν Γαλατικὴν χώραν, κωλυθέντες ὑπὸ τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος λαλῆσαι τὸν λόγον ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ.

“And having gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in Asia.”… Learn Koine Greek

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Declensions That Bless: Syntax and Identity in Galatians 6:16

Καὶ ὅσοι τῷ κανόνι τούτῳ στοιχήσουσιν, εἰρήνη ἐπ’ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἔλεος, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ Θεοῦ. (Galatians 6:16)

And as many as will walk by this rule—peace be upon them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Grammatical Blessings and Theological Boundaries

In Paul’s concluding benediction, the grammar is more than formal—it defines the recipients of peace and mercy. The verse pivots on a dative rule, accusative targets of blessing, and genitive identity. By tracking the declensions, we discover how grammar reinforces Paul’s radical redefinition of who truly belongs to the people of God.

Declension and Structure Breakdown Greek Word Morphology Case & Syntactic Role Notes ὅσοι Relative pronoun, nominative masculine plural Subject of στοιχήσουσιν “As many as…” — introduces conditional class of blessed ones τῷ κανόνι τούτῳ Dative singular noun + demonstrative adjective Dative of rule or standard “By this rule” — the norm or measure of gospel-centered life στοιχήσουσιν Future active indicative, 3rd person plural from στοιχέω Main verb of conditional clause “Will walk” — metaphor for aligning one’s conduct εἰρήνη 1st declension feminine nominative singular Subject of understood verb (“be upon them”) Abstract blessing—peace upon those who align with the rule ἐπ’ αὐτοὺς Preposition + accusative plural personal pronoun Accusative of direction (motion “upon”) Direct recipients of peace and mercy ἔλεος 3rd declension neuter nominative/accusative singular Subject or object in parallel to εἰρήνη Mercy—paired with peace in the blessing ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ Θεοῦ Preposition + accusative noun + genitive of possession Accusative of direction; genitive defines possession “Upon the Israel of God” — phrase of deep theological debate and identity Article-Noun Agreement and Semantic Precision

– τῷ κανόνι τούτῳ: Dative singular article + demonstrative adjective show definiteness—this is not just a rule, but this specific standard (the gospel of the new creation).… Learn Koine Greek

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Chains of Darkness: Koine Imagery vs Classical Expression

Ἀγγέλους τε τοὺς μὴ τηρήσαντας τὴν ἑαυτῶν ἀρχὴν, ἀλλὰ ἀπολιπόντας τὸ ἴδιον οἰκητήριον εἰς κρίσιν μεγάλης ἡμέρας δεσμοῖς ἀϊδίοις ὑπὸ ζόφον τετήρηκεν· (Jude 6)

And angels who did not keep their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloom for the judgment of the great day.

Koine Greek Grammar and Syntax Breakdown

This verse abounds with solemn imagery. Koine syntax favors participial description that flows toward the climactic verb τετήρηκεν (“he has kept”).

τοὺς μὴ τηρήσαντας: Aorist active participle, accusative plural masculine, “those who did not keep.” Defines the angels by negated action. τὴν ἑαυτῶν ἀρχὴν: Reflexive pronoun + noun “domain, principality.”… Learn Koine Greek
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The Disease of Discourse: When Doctrine Turns Toxic

Ταῦτα δίδασκε καὶ παρακάλει. εἴ τις ἑτεροδιδασκαλεῖ καὶ μὴ προσέρχεται ὑγιαίνουσι λόγοις τοῖς τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ τῇ κατ’ εὐσέβειαν διδασκαλίᾳ, τετύφωται, μηδὲν ἐπιστάμενος, ἀλλὰ νοσῶν περὶ ζητήσεις καὶ λογομαχίας, ἐξ ὧν γίνεται φθόνος, ἔρις, βλασφημίαι, ὑπόνοιαι πονηραί, (1 Timothy 6:2–4)

These things teach and encourage. If anyone teaches differently and does not come to the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the teaching that accords with godliness, he is conceited, understanding nothing, but is diseased concerning controversies and word battles, from which come envy, strife, blasphemies, and evil suspicions.

The Command to Teach and Encourage

The verse begins with two imperatives: δίδασκε (“teach”) and παρακάλει (“encourage” or “exhort”).… Learn Koine Greek

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Divine Redirection: The Spirit’s Guidance in Acts 16:6

Διελθόντες δὲ τὴν Φρυγίαν καὶ τὴν Γαλατικὴν χώραν, κωλυθέντες ὑπὸ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος λαλῆσαι τὸν λόγον ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ (Acts 16:6)

And having passed through Phrygia and the Galatian region, they were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in Asia.

Acts 16:6 narrates a significant moment when Paul and his companions, while faithfully carrying out their missionary work, are sovereignly redirected by the Holy Spirit. The Greek wording captures both their obedience in movement and their sensitivity to divine intervention.

Grammatical Foundations

διελθόντες δὲ τὴν Φρυγίαν καὶ τὴν Γαλατικὴν χώραν—”And having passed through Phrygia and the Galatian region.”… Learn Koine Greek

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Hebrews 5:5 and the Language of Appointment and Honor

Οὕτω καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς οὐχ ἑαυτὸν ἐδόξασε γενηθῆναι ἀρχιερέα, ἀλλ’ ὁ λαλήσας πρὸς αὐτόν· υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε· (Hebrews 5:5)

Literal English Translation

So also the Anointed One did not glorify himself to become high priest, but the one who spoke to him said: “You are my Son, today I have begotten you.”

Not Self-Glorified, But God-Spoken οὕτω καὶ ὁ Χριστός οὐχ ἑαυτὸν ἐδόξασε The phrase opens with οὕτω καὶ (“so also”), drawing an analogy to the preceding priestly principle: no one takes the honor upon himself. ἐδόξασε is aorist active indicative of δοξάζω (“to glorify, honor”), here with a reflexive pronoun ἑαυτὸν.… Learn Koine Greek
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The Echo of Obedience: Participial Structure and Divine Sequencing in Exodus 34:4

Καὶ ἐλάξευσεν δύο πλάκας λιθίνας καθάπερ καὶ αἱ πρῶται· καὶ ὀρθρίσας Μωυσῆς ἀνέβη εἰς τὸ ὄρος τὸ Σινα καθότι συνέταξεν αὐτῷ Κύριος, καὶ ἔλαβεν Μωυσῆς τὰς δύο πλάκας τὰς λιθίνας. (Exodus 34:4 LXX) Setting the Scene: When Grammar Frames Covenant Renewal

The verse before us is a moment of restoration — Mosheh, at the LORD’s command, carves new stone tablets after the first were shattered. But the narrative is not merely historical. It is grammatically rich, loaded with participial texture that orders time, purpose, and faithful obedience. By examining the participle ὀρθρίσας and the surrounding syntax, we uncover how the Septuagint subtly conveys the heart of covenantal response.… Learn Koine Greek

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Watch, Persist, Save: The Greek Grammar of Ministerial Perseverance

Ἔπεχε σεαυτῷ καὶ τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ, ἐπίμενε αὐτοῖς· τοῦτο γὰρ ποιῶν καὶ σεαυτὸν σώσεις καὶ τοὺς ἀκούοντάς σου (1 Timothy 4:16)

Pay close attention to yourself and to the teaching; persist in them. For by doing this, you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

This powerful instruction to Timothy emphasizes vigilance, teaching, and perseverance with future-oriented results. The verse — ἔπεχε σεαυτῷ καὶ τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ, ἐπίμενε αὐτοῖς· τοῦτο γὰρ ποιῶν καὶ σεαυτὸν σώσεις καὶ τοὺς ἀκούοντάς σου from 1 Timothy 4:16 — uses imperative verbs, a present participle, and coordinated accusative objects to show how careful persistence results in both personal and communal salvation.… Learn Koine Greek

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