2 Thessalonians 2:17
παρακαλέσαι ὑμῶν τὰς καρδίας καὶ στηρίξαι ὑμᾶς ἐν παντὶ λόγῳ καὶ ἔργῳ ἀγαθῷ.
Literal Translation: to encourage your hearts and to strengthen you in every good word and deed.
1. Key Grammatical Features in Koine Greek
- παρακαλέσαι: Aorist active infinitive of παρακαλέω (“to encourage, comfort”). Koine frequently uses the aorist infinitive to express purpose or result, often following verbs of will, prayer, or petition—even if ellipted, as here.
- ὑμῶν τὰς καρδίας: Possessive genitive ὑμῶν (“your”) modifying the direct object τὰς καρδίας (“the hearts”). Koine preserves Classical genitive usage for possession but simplifies placement—frequently allowing pre-positioned possessives like this.
- καὶ στηρίξαι: Coordinated infinitive (aorist active of στηρίζω, “to strengthen”). Koine uses parallel infinitives to indicate two related purposes or results. The aorist form indicates punctual strengthening—seen as decisive divine action.
- ὑμᾶς: Accusative second person plural pronoun as object of στηρίξαι. Koine uses explicit pronouns more often for clarity and emphasis, especially in formal blessings or prayers.
- ἐν παντὶ λόγῳ καὶ ἔργῳ ἀγαθῷ: Prepositional phrase expressing sphere or context. The structure ἐν + dative is used to show where or in what sphere the strengthening occurs. Both nouns are modified by ἀγαθῷ (“good”), which agrees in gender, number, and case.
2. Classical Greek Grammar Comparison
- Purpose Infinitives: Classical Greek would often introduce purpose with ἵνα + subjunctive or with an articular infinitive preceded by a preposition. Koine increasingly uses bare infinitives like παρακαλέσαι and στηρίξαι in these roles, especially in epistolary language.
- Pronoun Usage: In Classical Greek, object pronouns like ὑμᾶς were often implied unless contrast was intended. Koine favors explicit use, especially in blessings and doxologies.
- Genitive Placement: Classical syntax preferred more flexible or poetic placement of genitives. Koine tends to position possessive genitives like ὑμῶν more rigidly before the noun.
- Adjective Placement: In Classical Greek, attributive adjectives like ἀγαθῷ often appear between the article and noun. Koine allows more variety and often places them after the noun, as seen here.
3. Syntactic and Structural Differences
- Infinitival Parallelism: Koine expresses linked actions with infinitives directly joined by καὶ, seen in παρακαλέσαι…καὶ στηρίξαι. Classical Greek would more often expand these with subordinate clauses or vary structure for rhythm.
- Phrase Compactness: Koine tends toward tighter, formulaic phrasing in epistles—prepositional phrases like ἐν παντὶ λόγῳ καὶ ἔργῳ ἀγαθῷ are clear, compressed expressions of domain. Classical prose would often elaborate these with more descriptors or embedded clauses.
- Word Order and Rhythm: Koine prioritizes logical flow and emphasis over stylistic variation. The straightforward progression from heart encouragement to external strengthening reflects this narrative and pastoral economy.
4. Phonological Notes
- Infinitive Pronunciation: Endings like -σαι in παρακαλέσαι and στηρίξαι were originally diphthongal ([sai̯]) in Classical but likely pronounced [se] or [si] in Koine.
- Vowel Mergers: In λόγῳ and ἔργῳ, final diphthongs (ῳ) originally had a distinct long /ɔːi/ value, which became [i] in Koine.
- Accent Shift: Stress accent in Koine (e.g., καρδίας) replaced the Classical pitch system, emphasizing the stressed syllable rather than musical contour.
5. Summary Table of Grammatical Evolution
| Feature | Classical Greek | Koine Greek |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose Infinitives | Often with ἵνα + subjunctive | Simple aorist infinitive usage |
| Pronoun Usage | Often implied | Frequently explicit |
| Genitive Placement | Flexible and varied | More rigid (genitive + noun) |
| Adjective Order | Often inside the article-noun unit | Commonly placed after the noun |
| Stylistic Expression | Expanded or poetic | Compressed and pastoral |
6. What This Verse Tells Us About the Evolution of Greek
2 Thessalonians 2:17 exemplifies Koine Greek’s epistolary clarity and action-driven storytelling in prayer. The verse links two aorist infinitives—παρακαλέσαι and στηρίξαι—to describe divine comfort and moral strengthening in a way that’s emotionally direct and grammatically efficient.
Unlike Classical Greek, which might elaborate with clause variation and richer adjective positioning, Koine strips the structure down to what is most spiritually and grammatically essential. The result is a deeply theological, yet linguistically humble, expression of encouragement suited to its readers—and to a Greek that was becoming the lingua franca of faith.
