Εὐχαριστῶ τῷ Θεῷ διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν· ἄρα οὖν αὐτὸς ἐγὼ τῷ μὲν νοῒ δουλεύω νόμῳ Θεοῦ, τῇ δὲ σαρκὶ νόμῳ ἁμαρτίας. (Romans 7:25)
I give thanks to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh the law of sin.
This climactic verse from Romans captures the internal duality of Paul’s spiritual life: gratitude for redemption through Christ, and yet an honest admission of ongoing conflict between spirit and flesh.
Koine Greek Breakdown
This verse features a high-register, emotionally charged syntax with clear structural contrasts between νοῒ and σαρκί, framed by τῷ μὲν … τῇ δὲ ….
- Aorist Indicative: εὐχαριστῶ (present, expressing continuous gratitude)
- Dative Case: τῷ Θεῷ, τῷ νοῒ, τῇ σαρκὶ
- Law of God vs. Law of Sin: Abstract legal metaphor common in Paul’s theology
- Antithesis Structure: τῷ μὲν … τῇ δὲ expresses division of will
Try parsing “δουλεύω”
Present Active Indicative, 1st Person Singular — “I serve” (continuous action).
Classical Greek Comparison
A Classical Greek rendering might elevate the tone with more hypotactic structure and refined lexicon:
Χάριν ἔχω τῷ Θεῷ διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν· ὥστε ἐγὼ αὐτός, τῷ μὲν νοῒ δουλεύω τῷ τοῦ Θεοῦ νόμῳ, τῇ δὲ σαρκὶ τῷ τῆς ἁμαρτίας νόμῳ.
- Χάριν ἔχω: Classical idiom for expressing thanks, instead of Koine εὐχαριστῶ
- ὥστε replaces ἄρα οὖν to introduce logical consequence with a Classical nuance
- tῷ τοῦ θεοῦ νόμῳ and τῷ τῆς ἁμαρτίας νόμῳ: fuller expressions of possession via embedded genitives
Think Like a Philologist: Why might a Classical writer prefer Χάριν ἔχω to εὐχαριστῶ?
Suggested Answer
Χάριν ἔχω reflects Classical stylistic preference for using abstract nouns with verbs of possession. It also implies formal gratitude as opposed to religious devotion.
Semantic and Stylistic Shifts
Koine Greek here is immediate and confessional — a spiritual journal entry. Classical Greek, in contrast, stylizes the reflection into a formal statement of divided allegiance.
Imagine Koine Greek as a raw outcry in prayer, while Classical Greek is a speech before the Areopagus — precise, deliberate, and shaped for rhetorical force.
Cultural Insight
Paul’s Koine expression reflects a new kind of personal theology — one accessible to Jews and Gentiles across the empire. His use of Koine enables theological truths to permeate synagogues, house churches, and marketplaces alike.
Summary Comparison Table
| Koine Usage | Classical Usage | Learner Takeaways |
|---|---|---|
| εὐχαριστῶ τῷ Θεῷ | Χάριν ἔχω τῷ Θεῷ | Koine uses verbs of emotion directly; Classical uses abstract noun constructions. |
| ἄρα οὖν | ὥστε | Koine often employs parataxis; Classical prefers subordinate clauses. |
| νοῒ / σαρκὶ | νοῒ / σαρκὶ | Shared philosophical vocabulary — but with different implications. |
Glossary
- Aorist: A verb tense expressing a single, completed action (often past).
- Dative Case: Marks the indirect object or recipient; also used for means/instrument.
- Parataxis: Coordination of clauses without subordination (e.g., “and… and…”).
- Antithesis: A rhetorical contrast between two opposing ideas or clauses.
- Optative Mood: A Classical Greek mood expressing wishes or potentiality, rarely used in Koine.
