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Greek Lessons
- Why with Sinners? The Syntax of Scandalized Questions in Matthew 9:11
- Stingers and Power: Similitude, Purpose, and Present Force in Revelation 9:10
- Of Shadows and Conscience: Relative Time and Mental Completion in Hebrews 9:9
- The Overflowing Syntax of Grace: Distributive Emphasis and Participial Purpose in 2 Corinthians 9:8
- Who Fights Without Pay? Rhetorical Interrogatives and Negated Expectation in 1 Corinthians 9:7
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Category
Tag Archives: Philippians 2:3
Higher than Self: Grammar and Humility in Philippians 2:3
Μηδὲν κατὰ ἐριθείαν ἢ κενοδοξίαν, ἀλλὰ τῇ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ ἀλλήλους ἡγούμενοι ὑπερέχοντας ἑαυτῶν. (Philippians 2:3)
Modern Greek Pronunciation: mi̱thén katà eritheían ē kenodoxían, allà ti̱ tapeinophrosýni̱ allḗlous ēgoúmenoi yperéchontas heautōn.
Literal English Translation: Doing nothing from selfish ambition or vain glory, but in humility regarding one another as more important than yourselves.
Koine Grammar Breakdown μηδὲν – accusative neuter singular, functioning adverbially: “nothing.” κατὰ ἐριθείαν ἢ κενοδοξίαν – “according to selfish ambition or vain glory”; – ἐριθείαν = strife, rivalry; – κενοδοξίαν = empty pride, vanity. ἀλλὰ τῇ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ – “but in humility”; dative of means or manner. ἀλλήλους – accusative masculine plural, reciprocal pronoun: “one another.”… Learn Koine GreekGrammatical Dissection: A Prohibition and Its Antidote
Μηδὲν κατὰ ἐριθείαν ἢ κενοδοξίαν, ἀλλὰ τῇ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ ἀλλήλους ἡγούμενοι ὑπερέχοντας ἑαυτῶν (Philippians 2:3)
Do nothing from selfish ambition or vain glory, but in humility considering one another as surpassing yourselves.
Negative Exhortation: μηδὲν κατὰ ἐριθείαν ἢ κενοδοξίαν μηδὲν: Accusative singular neuter of μηδείς, functioning adverbially — “nothing.” This modifies the understood verb (from v.2), likely “do” or “think.” κατὰ: Preposition with accusative — “according to,” expressing motivation or manner. ἐριθείαν: Accusative singular feminine — “selfish ambition,” “factiousness,” often connoting rivalry or party spirit. ἢ: Disjunctive conjunction — “or.” κενοδοξίαν: Accusative singular feminine — “vain glory,” “empty pride,” combining κενός (“empty”) and δόξα (“glory”).… Learn Koine GreekHumility in Greek: A Grammatical Bridge from Classical to Koine in Philippians 2:3
Μηδὲν κατὰ ἐριθείαν ἢ κενοδοξίαν, ἀλλὰ τῇ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ ἀλλήλους ἡγούμενοι ὑπερέχοντας ἑαυτῶν. (Philippians 2:3)
Nothing according to selfish ambition or vain-glory, but in humility considering one another as surpassing themselves.
1. Key Grammatical Features in Koine Greek μηδὲν: A neuter accusative pronoun often used with implied verbs (like “do”)—a feature increasingly common in Koine, where elliptical constructions are more accepted. κατὰ + accusative: This construction expresses measure or standard (“according to”). It exists in Classical Greek but gains moral-ethical nuance in Koine writings. ἢ: Classical and Koine Greek both use this as “or,” but in Koine, it more frequently connects moral or rhetorical contrasts (ἐριθεία vs.… Learn Koine Greek