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Greek Lessons
- The Question of Eternal Life: Syntax of Testing and Inquiry in Luke 10:25
- The Grammar of Astonishment and Difficulty
- The Urgency of Flight: Syntax, Eschatology, and the Grammar of Mission in Matthew 10:23
- Provoking the Lord: The Peril of Presumption
- The Great Priest Over God’s House: The Foundation of Confident Access
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Category
Tag Archives: Romans 15:15
Romans 15:15 and the Language of Apostolic Modesty
Τολμηρότερον δὲ ἔγραψα ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, ἀπὸ μέρους, ὡς ἐπαναμιμνήσκων ὑμᾶς, διὰ τὴν χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ (Romans 15:15)
But 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