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Greek Lessons
- The Morning They Found It Razed: Perfect Participles and Sacred Surprises
- Deliverance and Acceptability: A Koine and Classical Greek Comparison of Romans 15:31
- Worry and Growth: A Koine and Classical Greek Comparison of Matthew 6:27
- Seeking the Signs or the Bread? A Grammatical and Stylistic Journey through John 6:26
- Worry and Worth: A Greek Look at Matthew 6:25
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Category
Tag Archives: Romans 15:15
Romans 15:15 and the Language of Apostolic Modesty
Romans 15:15
τολμηρότερον δὲ ἔγραψα ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, ἀπὸ μέρους, ὡς ἐπαναμιμνήσκων ὑμᾶς, διὰ τὴν χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ
Literal English TranslationBut I have written to you more boldly, brothers, in part, as reminding you again, because of the grace that was given to me by God.
Gentle Boldness in Greek Thought τολμηρότερον δὲ ἔγραψα The adverbial comparative τολμηρότερον (“more boldly”) reveals Paul’s self-awareness. In Classical Greek, τολμάω and its derivatives often carry the nuance of daring, sometimes negatively (e.g., Euripides: reckless courage). Here, the tone is tempered—he acknowledges audacity but cloaks it in pastoral affection. ἔγραψα is aorist active: the action is complete, but the tone is still deferential.… Learn Koine Greek