Tag Archives: relative clause

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