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Greek Lessons
- Learning Contentment: The Grammar of Sufficiency in Philippians 4:11
- In Vain? Apostolic Anxiety and Grammatical Tension in Galatians 4:11
- Speaking Against and Judging the Law (James 4:11)
- Striving to Enter: Grammatical Urgency and Covenantal Warning in Hebrews 4:11
- In This Name: Grammatical Testimony and Christological Boldness in Acts 4:10
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Category
Category Archives: Vocabulary
Synonyms: Two Dimensions of Love: ἀγαπάω and φιλέω in the Greek New Testament
Few word pairs in the Greek New Testament have received as much theological and devotional attention as ἀγαπάω and φιλέω. Both are typically translated “to love,” yet their nuances differ significantly. While these differences can sometimes overlap, especially in Koine … Continue reading
Synonyms: Malice in the Heart: κακία and κακοήθεια in the Greek New Testament
Two Greek words—κακία and κακοήθεια—provide insight into the inner world of moral corruption in the New Testament. While both relate to evil or badness, their applications are distinct. κακία denotes general moral depravity or wickedness in character. κακοήθεια, however, Study … Continue reading
Synonyms: From Cowardice to Reverence: δειλία, φόβος, and εὐλάβεια in the Greek New Testament
Fear in the New Testament is expressed through multiple Greek terms, each with unique connotations. The words δειλία, φόβος, and εὐλάβεια represent three distinct responses to danger, authority, or the divine: cowardice, terror or dread, and reverence. Their careful usage … Continue reading
Synonyms: Servants in Function and Faith: θεράπων, δοῦλος, διάκονος, οἰκέτης, ὑπηρέτης in the Greek New Testament
The vocabulary of servanthood in the Greek New Testament is strikingly diverse. Rather than using a single term for “servant,” the Holy Spirit—through the inspired authors—employs a spectrum of words: θεράπων, δοῦλος, διάκονος, οἰκέτης, and ὑπηρέτης. These Study more …..
Synonyms: Truth in Essence and Truth in Reality: ἀληθής and ἀληθινός in the Greek New Testament
Ἀληθής and ἀληθινός are powerful and subtly distinct adjectives in the Greek New Testament. Though both are translated as “true,” their shades of meaning reveal significant theological depth, especially in the writings of John and the broader Hellenistic background. In the Greek … Continue reading
Synonyms: Justice and Correction in the Greek New Testament: τιμωρία and κόλασις
The Greek terms τιμωρία (timōria) and κόλασις (kolasis) are both associated with punishment, yet they diverge in motivation, context, and theological function in profound ways. While both τιμωρία and κόλασις are commonly translated as “punishment” in English, they carry Study … Continue reading
Synonyms: Holy Devotion or Divine Curse? ἀνάθημα and ἀνάθεμα in the Greek New Testament
The Greek words ἀνάθημα and ἀνάθεμα are among the most striking examples of near-homographs with completely different meanings in the New Testament. Though both stem from the root ἀνατίθημι (“to set up, to dedicate”), their divergence in usage and theological … Continue reading
Synonyms: Corrective Language in the Greek New Testament: ἐπιτιμάω and ἐλέγχω
The Greek New Testament uses various terms to express rebuke, correction, conviction, and exposure of wrongdoing. Among these, ἐπιτιμάω and ἐλέγχω emerge as two major verbs associated with verbal discipline or moral judgment. While both can involve confrontation, they differ … Continue reading
Synonyms: The Temple in Two Dimensions: ἱερόν and ναός in the Greek New Testament
In the Greek New Testament, the terms ἱερόν and ναός both refer to the “temple,” yet they carry significantly different nuances and theological implications. Both terms are rooted in Greek religious vocabulary, yet when employed by New Testament writers—especially in … Continue reading
“Ἰδόντες”: Aorist Participle of Perception and Fulfillment in Matthew 2:10
Introduction: The Joy of Seeing Matthew 2:10 opens with a participle of perception—ἰδόντες {idontes}, from ὁράω, “to see.” The clause reads: “Ἰδόντες δὲ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα” —“And when they saw the star, Study more …..
Synonyms: Divine Essence and Nature in the Greek New Testament: θεότης and θειότης
Among the many nuanced terms used to describe the divine in the Greek New Testament, θεότης and θειότης stand out for their subtle distinctions and theological depth. Both derive from the root θεός (“God”), yet their forms and usages convey … Continue reading
“ἐταράχθη”: The Aorist Passive of Emotional Turmoil in Matthew 2:3
Introduction: A King Troubled, A City Disturbed In Matthew 2:3, the reaction to the magi’s inquiry about the “king of the Jews” is immediate and intense: Herod was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. The verb ἐταράχθη {etarachthē} is central … Continue reading
“γενόμενοι τοῦ λόγου”: Aorist Middle Participle with Genitive in Luke 1:2
Introduction: Eye-Witnesses and the Ministry of the Word In Luke 1:2, the evangelist continues his polished prologue by identifying the sources of the Gospel tradition: those who were both eyewitnesses and ministers of the word. Central to this identification is … Continue reading
The Literary Ambition of ἀνατάξασθαι: Aorist Middle Infinitive in Luke 1:1
Introduction: Historiography and the Greek Infinitive The Gospel of Luke opens not with theology or miracle, but with a polished historiographical prologue. The evangelist uses elevated Greek to establish credibility and intent. Central to this literary self-positioning is the verb … Continue reading
“ἐσπαργάνωσεν”: The Aorist Active Verb of Swaddling and Symbol in Luke 2:7
Introduction: The Hands that Wrapped the Word In Luke 2:7, immediately following the birth of Yeshuʿ, we are told: καὶ ἐσπαργάνωσεν αὐτόν — “and she swaddled him.” This act, grammatically represented by the aorist active indicative verb ἐσπαργάνωσεν {esparganōsen}, Study … Continue reading
“τὸν πρωτότοκον”: Substantival-Adjectival Function and Theological Weight in Luke 2:7
Introduction: Firstborn in Form and Fulfillment In Luke 2:7, we read the terse, solemn line: Καὶ ἔτεκε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς τὸν πρωτότοκον — “And she gave birth to her son, the firstborn.” The participial-adjectival form πρωτότοκος {prōtótokos} Study more …..
“ἐχάρησαν”: The Second Aorist Passive Deponent of Joy in Matthew 2:10
Introduction: The Grammar of Overwhelming Joy As the magi finally see the star—confirmation of divine guidance—the text states: “they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.” The Greek verb ἐχάρησαν {echarēsan} is a grammatical paradox: passive in form, but active in function. … Continue reading
Δὲ καὶ differs from καὶ δέ : A Syntactic and Semantic Investigation
Δὲ καὶ differs from καὶ δέ. In the latter, καὶ connects the whole member following it with what precedes; in the former καὶ, being augmentative or exaggerative, influence only the word immediately construed with it, and δὲ shows more evidently … Continue reading
αἱρέομαι ; αἵρειν
αἱρέομαι; αἵρειν : (1) to take for oneself, to prefer, choose (2) to choose by vote, elect to office Part of Speech: verb Latin: (1) tollere (2) ferre Syriac: Matthew 4:6 και λεγει αυτω ει υιος ει του θεου βαλε … Continue reading
αἶνος
αἶνος: (1) a saying, proverb (2) praise, laudatory discourse Part of Speech: noun masculine Latin: laus Syriac: ܫܒܚ (praise, laud, glory) Matthew 21:16 και ειπον αυτω ακουεις τι ουτοι λεγουσιν ο δε ιησους λεγει αυτοις Study more …..
