New Testament Greek: Importance for Biblical Studies, Exegesis, and Theology

Posted on January 3, 2012 by New Testament Greek

New Testament Greek isn’t just a linguistic puzzle—it’s the scaffolding of theological clarity. Every case ending, aspectual nuance, and syntactic shift carries interpretive weight, shaping how doctrines are understood and applied. The grammar doesn’t merely support exegesis; it actively guides it, revealing emphasis, causation, and theological intent embedded in the structure itself. Lexical richness and semantic precision protect against oversimplification, while historical debates—from Christology to soteriology—often hinge on the force of a single article or participle. In this way, grammar becomes a theological safeguard, anchoring interpretation in the inspired text and ensuring that theology flows from exegesis, not the other way around.… Learn Koine Greek

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Historical Context of the New Testament Greek

Posted on January 2, 2012 by New Testament Greek

The Greek of the New Testament pulses with the life of a multilingual, cosmopolitan world shaped by Alexander’s conquests, Roman infrastructure, and Jewish diaspora traditions. Emerging from the flexible and pragmatic Koine dialect, it blends Attic roots with panhellenic features, layered over Semitic idioms and Septuagintal theology. Far from being a degraded form of Classical Greek, it reflects the vibrant registers of urban marketplaces, house churches, and rhetorical education. Its syntax, vocabulary, and discourse strategies mirror the lived realities of bilingual speakers navigating civic, religious, and communal identities. To read it well is to enter a world where λόγος, χάρις, and πίστις carried not just meaning—but movement, memory, and mission.… Learn Koine Greek

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“ὃ προεπηγγείλατο διὰ τῶν προφητῶν αὐτοῦ ἐν γραφαῖς ἁγίαις”: The Fore-Promised Gospel in Romans 1:2

Posted on January 1, 2012 by New Testament Greek
Introduction: A Gospel Long Promised

Romans 1:1–2 begins Paul’s epistle with this phrase:

τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ θεοῦ… ὃ προεπηγγείλατο διὰ τῶν προφητῶν αὐτοῦ ἐν γραφαῖς ἁγίαις “the gospel of God… which He promised beforehand through His prophets in holy scriptures”

This relative clause establishes the continuity between the gospel and the Old Testament. It affirms that the good news was not invented in the New Testament era—it was foretold.

Let’s now analyze this beautifully structured clause from Romans 1:2, which Paul inserts immediately after mentioning “the gospel of God”:

ὃ προεπηγγείλατο διὰ τῶν προφητῶν αὐτοῦ ἐν γραφαῖς ἁγίαις

This relative clause explains how the gospel was not a novelty, but part of God’s long-standing redemptive plan.… Learn Koine Greek

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Future Indicative: Periphrastic Form of The Future

Posted on December 4, 2011 by New Testament Greek

(1) PERIPHRASTIC FORM OF THE FUTURE. A Future tense composed of a Present Participle and the Future of the verb eivmi, is found occasionally in the New Testament. The force is that of a Progressive Future, with the thought of continuance or customariness somewhat emphasized.

Luke 5:10; ἀνθρώπους ἔσῃ ζωγρῶν, thou shalt catch men, i.e. shalt be a catcher of men.

Luke 21:24; Ἰερουσαλὴμ ἔσται πατουμένη, Jerusalem shall [continue to] be trodden under foot.

(2) Μέλλει with the Infinitive is also used with a force akin to that of the Future Indicative. It is usually employed of an action which one intends to do, or of that which is certain, destined to take place.… Learn Koine Greek

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Future Indicative: The Deliberative Future

Posted on December 3, 2011 by New Testament Greek

(1) The Deliberative Future. The Future Indicative is sometimes used in questions of deliberation, asking not what will happen, but what can or ought to be done. Such questions may be real questions asking information, or rhetorical questions taking the place of a direct assertion. Cf. 169 under The Deliberative Subjunctive.

Luke 22:49; εἰ πατάξομεν ἐν μαχαίρῃ, shall we smite with the sword?

John 6:68; Κύριε, πρὸς τίνα ἀπελευσόμεθα, Lord, to whom shall we go?… Learn Koine Greek

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Future Indicative: The Gnomic Future

Posted on December 2, 2011 by New Testament Greek

(1) The Gnomic Future. The Future Indicative may be used to state what will customarily happen when occasion offers.

Rom. 5:7; μόλις γὰρ ὑπὲρ δικαίου τις ἀποθανεῖται, for scarcely for a righteous man will one die. See also Gen. 44:15; Rom. 7:3, χρηματίσει. Observe the Gnomic Presents both before and after.

 

 … Learn Koine Greek

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Future Indicative: The Imperative Future

Posted on December 1, 2011 by New Testament Greek

(1) The Imperative Future. The second person of the Future Indicative is often used as an Imperative.

Jas. 2:8; Ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

REMARK 1. This idiom as it occurs in the New Testament shows clearly the influence of the Septuagint. It occurs most frequently in prohibitions, its negative being, as also commonly in classical Greek, not μὴ, but οὐ.

REMARK 2. In Matt. 15:6 the verb timh,sei has the negative ouvmh.. Some interpreters take this as a Predictive Future, but the thought requires the Imperative sense, and in view of the frequent use of ouv mh.… Learn Koine Greek

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Mark 7:10 ; Exodus 20:12

Posted on November 30, 2011 by New Testament Greek
Mark 7:10

μωσης γαρ ειπεν τιμα τον πατερα σου και την μητερα σου και ο κακολογων πατερα η μητερα θανατω τελευτατω

Mark 7:10 (KJV)

For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

Exodus 20:12 (Septuagint)

τίμα τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ τὴν μητέρα, ἵνα εὖ σοι γένηται, καὶ ἵνα μακροχρόνιος γένῃ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς τῆς ἀγαθῆς, ἧς κύριος ὁ θεός σου δίδωσίν σοι.

Exodus 20:12 (Brenton)

Honour thy father and thy mother, that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest live long on the good land, which the Lord thy God gives to thee.… Learn Koine Greek

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Matthew 22:39 ; Leviticus 19:18

Posted on November 28, 2011 by New Testament Greek
Matthew 22:39

δευτερα δε ομοια αυτη αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον

Mat 22:39 (KJV)

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Leviticus 19:18 (Septuagint)

καὶ οὐκ ἐκδικᾶταί σου ἡ χείρ, καὶ οὐ μηνιεῖς τοῖς υἱοῖς τοῦ λαοῦ σου καὶ ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν· ἐγώ εἰμι κύριος.

Lev 19:18 (Brenton)

And thy hand shall not avenge thee; and thou shalt not be angry with the children of thy people; and thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; I am the Lord.

Leviticus 19:18 (Masoretic)

לא־תקם ולא־תטר את־בני עמך ואהבת לרעך כמוך אני יהוה׃

Lev 19:18 (KJV)

Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.… Learn Koine Greek

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Matthew 21:16 ; Psalm 8:3

Posted on November 19, 2011 by New Testament Greek
Matthew 21:16

και ειπον αυτω ακουεις τι ουτοι λεγουσιν ο δε ιησους λεγει αυτοις ναι ουδεποτε ανεγνωτε οτι εκ στοματος νηπιων και θηλαζοντων κατηρτισω αινον

KJV And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

Psalm 8:3 (8:2) (Septuagint)

ἐκ στόματος νηπίων καὶ θηλαζόντων κατηρτίσω αἶνον ἕνεκα τῶν ἐχθρῶν σου τοῦ καταλῦσαι ἐχθρὸν καὶ ἐκδικητήν .

Brenton Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou perfected praise, because of thine enemies; that thou mightest put down the enemy and avenger.… Learn Koine Greek

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