tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45147261277752161232011-12-30T15:34:16.455-08:00Ἑλληνιστὶ γινώσκεις; — (Acts 21:37b)<br> This blog is all about reading, understanding, translating the Greek New Testament. My essays here are not necessarily disciplined, definitive articles. They are musings, observations, puzzlings, popping-offs, speculations, complaints, pronouncements, questions. I hope other students of the Greek New Testament will join in the Comments, to our mutual growth in understanding this God-breathed marvel.DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comBlogger461100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-88355443295967522762011-07-27T05:19:00.000-07:002011-07-27T05:19:30.411-07:00

Pretty funny. It also uses the tune I've used to teach the alphabet: (I would quibble about American pronunciation of the a's [as in bad rather than father] just a tad.) h-t Andy Naselli

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-10294061423702832352009-09-21T05:59:00.001-07:002010-03-20T07:44:49.505-07:00

Check it out.

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-85248207732654888182008-07-02T17:36:00.000-07:002008-07-02T17:41:24.447-07:00

A number have asked me for ways to learn Greek. Check out this audio, animated, online Greek course from Professor Ted Hildebrandt of Gordon College (h-t S. C. Saunders).(I haven't gone through it yet; let me know what you think.)

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-22467229160222865032007-12-01T05:23:00.002-08:002007-12-01T05:32:10.223-08:00

Okay, maybe not quite; but I was reading in Luke 18, and saw BAGD's note on verse 5:διά γε τὸ παρέχειν μοι κόπον τὴν χήραν ταύτην ἐκδικήσω αὐτήν, ἵνα μὴ εἰς τέλος ἐρχομένη ὑπωπιάζῃ με.Particularly, the entry on ὑπωπιάζω. To wit:• ὑπωπιάζω (on the v.l. ὑποπιάζειν s. W-S. §5, 19 note, end; Mlt-H. 75) (‘strike under the eye, give a black eye to’ Aristot., Rhet. 3, 11, 15, 1413a, 20; TestSol 2:4 D [

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-35406752694428226742007-11-13T06:57:00.000-08:002008-07-15T10:34:12.289-07:00

Here's one for you:ὑμεῖς δέ ἀγαπητοί ἐποικοδομοῦντες ἑαυτοὺς τῇ ἁγιωτάτῃ ὑμῶν πίστει ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ προσευχόμενοι 21 ἑαυτοὺς ἐν ἀγάπῃ θεοῦ τηρήσατε προσδεχόμενοι τὸ ἔλεος τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιονI mean to update and pretty up this post later, when I have access to my tools. But here's the deal:You see that Jude has one finite verb (specifically one imperative), surrounded

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-57645838221314661382007-10-16T13:35:00.000-07:002009-01-07T08:05:44.540-08:00

Professor Dan Wallace has given a very personal reflection on the passing of NT and Greek scholar Charles Francis Digby Moule (pronounced mole). Wallace also provides links to other articles on the man.I remember when I was first learning Greek, it was impressed on me that knowing the Greek New Testament was far more than a matter of doing word-studies. It involved a grasp of syntax, and of the

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-4526071555740845352007-06-04T04:26:00.000-07:002007-06-04T04:30:54.915-07:00

Παῦλος ἀπόστολος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ διὰ θελήματος θεοῦ καὶ Τιμόθεος ὁ ἀδελφὸς — Colossians 1:1Paul often refers his apostleship to the will of God. To wit:1 Corinthians 1:1 Παῦλος κλητὸς ἀπόστολος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ διὰ θελήματος θεοῦ καὶ Σωσθένης ὁ ἀδελφὸς2 Corinthians 1:1 Παῦλος ἀπόστολος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ διὰ θελήματος θεοῦ καὶ Τιμόθεος ὁ ἀδελφὸς τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ τῇ οὔσῃ ἐν Κορίνθῳ σὺν τοῖς ἁγίοις

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-22121828758373826642007-05-24T05:54:00.001-07:002008-11-19T00:23:30.340-08:00

Okay, this is just funny.Check out Seminary Professor Caught Inventing Fake Greek Words at Tom in the Box today.Reminds me of a tape I heard once of a very famous pastor (you'd know him) speaking on Colossians 1:15. I remember his words clearly, though it was about thirty years ago.In Colossians 1:15 (he told us all), when Paul calls Christ the "image of God," the apostle uses the word.... Here

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-49667604176306188712007-05-23T04:25:00.000-07:002007-05-23T04:26:30.486-07:00

One of my favorite books in Greek has long been Colossians. It's always been a joy to read, study, translate, preach.In scores of commentaries and introductions, it is customary to hear over and over that Paul wrote this letter in part to respond to false teachers in Colosse. "Teachers," plural; never singular, that I've seen. In A. T. Robertson's day, it was taken for granted that the false

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-72829833598595635192007-05-21T16:06:00.000-07:002007-05-21T04:10:14.989-07:00

Alert reader Bryan C. McWhite made an interesting observation in the comments on the 1 Peter 1:5 post. He observed that there's not a finite verb to be had for love nor money in 1 Peter 1:3-5.Εὐλογητὸς ὁ θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ κατὰ τὸ πολὺ αὐτοῦ ἔλεος ἀναγεννήσας ἡμᾶς εἰς ἐλπίδα ζῶσαν δι᾽ ἀναστάσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐκ νεκρῶν, 4 εἰς κληρονομίαν ἄφθαρτον καὶ ἀμίαντον καὶ

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-85546923085822161912007-05-11T13:24:00.000-07:002007-05-11T13:27:28.691-07:00

Our friend Matt Harmon posted some suggestions on keeping up Greek skills over the summer break. The same ideas would work simply in general.Another I'd add would be always to follow along in Greek, in sermons and/or Bible studies.Also, as you read the New Testament, assuming that you still read in English, keep your Greek New Testament handy. If you have the slightest curiosity about a word or

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-48616671794076273642007-05-01T04:15:00.000-07:002007-05-01T04:17:03.968-07:00

For some convicting encouragement, read John Piper on Heinrich Bitzer, editor of the Hebrew and Greek devotional book Light on the Path.(h-t didyktile)

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-81348131294656546482007-04-26T08:05:00.000-07:002007-04-26T06:58:25.069-07:00

τοὺς ἐν δυνάμει θεοῦ φρουρουμένους διὰ πίστεως εἰς σωτηρίαν ἑτοίμην ἀποκαλυφθῆναι ἐν καιρῷ ἐσχάτῳ.This is taken by Arminians to indicate that we keep ourselves by our faith. If we disbelieve, we are lost.The emphasis on the crucial nature of faith is clearly based in the text. Any teaching that makes faith non-essential is clearly not apostolic, and thus not Biblical. But the Biblical question

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-19117277620837817482007-04-15T03:41:00.000-07:002007-04-16T03:41:33.741-07:00

κατὰ πρόγνωσιν θεοῦ πατρὸς ἐν ἁγιασμῷ πνεύματος εἰς ὑπακοὴν καὶ ῥαντισμὸν αἵματος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη πληθυνθείη.I connect κατὰ πρόγνωσιν θεοῦ πατρὸς with ἐκλεκτοῖς in v. 1, and understand foreknowledge as God's active, distinguishing love set on persons, not his passive awareness of events. So sovereign election is in line with (κατὰ) the Father's distinguishing love.Note then

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-56505816930788623672007-04-11T04:11:00.000-07:002007-04-11T04:16:49.545-07:00

I've long been struck by Peter's love for (and deft use of) prepositional phrases. Do you notice them, simply reading through 1:3-6? 3 Εὐλογητὸς ὁ θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ κατὰ τὸ πολὺ αὐτοῦ ἔλεος ἀναγεννήσας ἡμᾶς εἰς ἐλπίδα ζῶσαν δι᾽ ἀναστάσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐκ νεκρῶν, 4 εἰς κληρονομίαν ἄφθαρτον καὶ ἀμίαντον καὶ ἀμάραντον, τετηρημένην ἐν οὐρανοῖς εἰς ὑμᾶς 5 τοὺς ἐν δυνάμει

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-7197174345759831492007-04-08T08:11:00.000-07:002007-04-08T08:34:02.714-07:00

The ladies came to the tomb early that morning, with a deeply-flawed plan.While the menfolk cowered in their houses, despondent and shattered, the ladies came with spices, to anoint the dead body of Jesus. Their faith wasn't much better, but the boldness speaks well of them.However, they seemed to have had no plan for what to do about the stone. They'd seen it rolled to, and they knew it would be

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-40999502618652027872007-04-06T04:13:00.000-07:002007-04-06T04:13:43.954-07:00

Sometimes anti-Trinitarians have raised the objection that the doctrine of the Trinity is never found in the Bible. If by that one means that the word "Trinity" does not appear, there will be no answering denial. But the doctrine of the Trinity is found, in my view, throughout both Old and New Testaments, providing more than enough building material for the rich Trinitarian theology that the

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-64620899927785065502007-04-05T04:03:00.000-07:002007-04-05T04:08:21.163-07:00

As a literary artist, the writer to the Hebrews would be hard to beat. Luke is a wonderful writer; Paul's art (imho) is in his content more than his style. But the writer of 1 Peter is no piker.Attentive readers' ears will prick up when I say "the writer of 1 Peter" instead of "Peter." The mind behind 1 Peter is Peter; I do find the amanuensis-hypothesis attractive, however. It comes from the

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-83217278547269088962007-04-04T04:36:00.000-07:002007-04-04T04:36:29.798-07:00

Hebrews 13:8 is a deservedly well-known verse: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever" (NAS). The original text has no verb.Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐχθὲς καὶ σήμερον ὁ αὐτὸς καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας."Jesus Christ: yesterday and today the same—and forever."It is one of those verses that we know in isolation, yet it was not given as a single unit.In expressing this thought, the skilled

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-49057599180482837102007-03-30T04:37:00.000-07:002007-03-30T04:38:01.854-07:00

Greekers who love the Lord, love this verse—and for good reason. Ἀφιλάργυρος ὁ τρόπος, ἀρκούμενοι τοῖς παροῦσιν. αὐτὸς γὰρ εἴρηκεν· οὐ μή σε ἀνῶ οὐδ᾽ οὐ μή σε ἐγκαταλίπω,The context is an encouragement to godly contentment. The reason that our lifestyle should not be that of silver-lovers is given as the impossibility of the Lord's abandoning us.First you note the emphatic introduction. The

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-67378154273472992002007-03-29T04:10:00.000-07:002007-03-29T04:10:32.281-07:00

This passages is very frequently mistranslated.First, look at the Greek: καὶ κατανοῶμεν ἀλλήλους εἰς παροξυσμὸν ἀγάπης καὶ καλῶν ἔργων....Then consider (pun unintended) the following, and ask yourself, "What's wrong with this picture?"AMP And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-54248123157983931602007-03-27T04:15:00.000-07:002007-03-29T04:03:16.535-07:00

Years ago, I noticed something about the structure of this passage: 22 προσερχώμεθα μετὰ ἀληθινῆς καρδίας ἐν πληροφορίᾳ πίστεως ῥεραντισμένοι τὰς καρδίας ἀπὸ συνειδήσεως πονηρᾶς καὶ λελουσμένοι τὸ σῶμα ὕδατι καθαρῷ· 23 κατέχωμεν τὴν ὁμολογίαν τῆς ἐλπίδος ἀκλινῆ, πιστὸς γὰρ ὁ ἐπαγγειλάμενος, 24 καὶ κατανοῶμεν ἀλλήλους εἰς παροξυσμὸν ἀγάπης καὶ καλῶν ἔργων, 25 μὴ ἐγκαταλείποντες τὴν ἐπισυναγωγὴν

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-53263288342031662402007-03-26T06:23:00.000-07:002007-03-26T06:24:14.521-07:00

I can't think of an author who more abundantly rewards close attention to his choice of words, nor who uses them more deftly and deliberately and vividly.Throughout his letter, he contrasts the person and work of Christ with various good persons and institutions — angels, Moses, Aaronic priesthood, Mosaic covenant. Here in chapter 10, he is focusing on the whole ritual surrounding the sacrifices

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-25819238108774278382007-03-23T04:06:00.000-07:002007-03-23T04:05:05.304-07:00

One Greek verb which most English-speakers unknowingly know is eureka, the first person singular perfect active indicative of εὑρίσκω, I find; thus, "I have found (it)."This is the sense in which the verb is used most often in the GNT, as in John 1:41, εὑρήκαμεν τὸν Μεσσίαν.However, back in Attic Greek (so BAGD tells us) the middle form of εὑρίσκω was used in the sense of obtaining, securing

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-60029085381350689662007-03-22T04:31:00.000-07:002007-03-22T04:33:01.859-07:00

[Sorry this is out of sequence]Hebrews 6:4-6 is one of the Bible's interpretive hotbeds, certainly. The issues of perseverance and security are all over this passage. As a thoroughly convinced Calvinist, I'll admit openly it's one of the ones that demands a strong response. And, simply as a Christian, I think it's one of the scariest passages in the Bible, no matter what your theological

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-6348101686346179392007-03-21T04:16:00.000-07:002007-03-21T04:33:49.475-07:00

No matter how you slice it, Hebrews 7:25 makes a glorious assertion about the Lord Jesus. On the basis of His eternal life and (therefore) untransferrable priesthood,ὅθεν καὶ σῴζειν εἰς τὸ παντελὲς δύναται τοὺς προσερχομένους δι᾽ αὐτοῦ τῷ θεῷ, πάντοτε ζῶν εἰς τὸ ἐντυγχάνειν ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν.This phrase, εἰς τὸ παντελὲς, stands out. How to render it? The familiar KJV "to the uttermost" is one option,

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-38649889714176158432007-03-20T04:42:00.000-07:002007-03-20T04:44:54.055-07:00

In my reading, I crossed Hebrews 7:11. Εἰ μὲν οὖν τελείωσις διὰ τῆς Λευιτικῆς ἱερωσύνης ἦν, ὁ λαὸς γὰρ ἐπ᾽ αὐτῆς νενομοθέτηται, τίς ἔτι χρεία κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισέδεκ ἕτερον ἀνίστασθαι ἱερέα καὶ οὐ κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Ἀαρὼν λέγεσθαι; Note the stress on τελείωσις, and the fact that the Levitical priesthood cannot deliver it. It occurred to me that the use of terms with the τελ- element in Hebrews is

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-89061656948042659732007-03-19T04:11:00.000-07:002007-03-19T04:11:54.144-07:00

Today's note is a brief one, and focuses on Hebrews 7:3—ἀπάτωρ ἀμήτωρ ἀγενεαλόγητος, μήτε ἀρχὴν ἡμερῶν μήτε ζωῆς τέλος ἔχων, ἀφωμοιωμένος δὲ τῷ υἱῷ τοῦ θεοῦ, μένει ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸ διηνεκές.First, note the staccato opening: three alpha-privatives, no conjunctions: ἀπάτωρ ἀμήτωρ ἀγενεαλόγητος.Then note the suspended present participle ("neither beginning of days nor of life an end having"), followed

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-68015227459661001432007-03-16T04:12:00.000-07:002007-03-16T04:12:37.039-07:00

This may be the only verse in the Bible that, without fail, literally makes me stop and catch my breath on every reading. It is Hebrews 5:8.καίπερ ὢν υἱός, ἔμαθεν ἀφ᾽ ὧν ἔπαθεν τὴν ὑπακοήν,It is a marvel on so many levels. I remember the first time a friend brought it to bear on me personally. I was going through a very difficult time a couple of decades ago, with a badly broken heart. He quoted

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-81197315291212401242007-03-15T16:32:00.000-07:002007-03-15T04:37:49.020-07:00

I remember when the Greek of this verse first hit me. I had taken my Greek NT with me in my backpack, and had gone on a hike in the foothills of Glendale, CA, back in the 1970's. I just wanted to be alone, to read, reflect, and pray.And then I read this:οὐ γὰρ ἔχομεν ἀρχιερέα μὴ δυνάμενον συμπαθῆσαι ταῖς ἀσθενείαις ἡμῶν, πεπειρασμένον δὲ κατὰ πάντα καθ᾽ ὁμοιότητα χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας.That word,

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-24099066373850253542007-03-13T16:45:00.000-07:002007-03-13T04:42:50.424-07:00

Here is where the blog owner sits on the board over the tank of water, hands out baseballs to the public, and simply invites them to throw.First, The Greek:Ζῶν γὰρ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἐνεργὴς καὶ τομώτερος ὑπὲρ πᾶσαν μάχαιραν δίστομον καὶ διϊκνούμενος ἄχρι μερισμοῦ ψυχῆς καὶ πνεύματος, ἁρμῶν τε καὶ μυελῶν, καὶ κριτικὸς ἐνθυμήσεων καὶ ἐννοιῶν καρδίας·Now, the very-literal DPUV (Dan Phillips

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-29272021227943813772007-03-12T04:00:00.000-07:002007-03-12T03:59:47.002-07:00

Today's note is a brief one.In 13:22, the writer describes his own letter as a "word of exhortation."Παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, ἀνέχεσθε τοῦ λόγου τῆς παρακλήσεως, καὶ γὰρ διὰ βραχέων ἐπέστειλα ὑμῖν.Many have noted sermonic elements in Hebrews. This rather stands out in Hebrews 3:16-18, where the writer asks his readers three very pointed questions, that serve to bring home the portion of

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-4189746897009929752007-03-08T04:09:00.000-08:002007-03-09T07:12:10.790-08:00

While Romans is perhaps the most theologically celebrated book in the New Testament, Hebrews is no small potatoes. Honest Calvinists (like me! Hi, everyone!) will admit that some of the more challenging passages relating to the Biblical doctrine of Christ's keeping the saints are to be found in Hebrews.This passage, I think, puts the matter rather deftly. An explicit warning begins with verse 12:

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-77006051531383928482007-03-07T04:45:00.000-08:002007-03-07T04:45:43.528-08:00

For reading, exegesis, and exposition, the Greek language is rich in conjunctions. One day I'm sure I'll have occasion to gripe bitterly about the practice of dropping conjunctions in translation. Sure, it can make for "smoother" English reading; but sometimes I think the conjunction is exegetically significant (Matthew 17:1 always leaps to mind in this connection).So it is always notable when a

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-72977249748258748992007-03-06T04:35:00.000-08:002007-03-06T04:39:41.393-08:00

Next, let's take a quick look at Hebrews 2:3. It's nestled within the wonderful (and instructive) 2:1-4. Here the author asks:πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας, ἥτις ἀρχὴν λαβοῦσα λαλεῖσθαι διὰ τοῦ κυρίου ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐβεβαιώθηHe specifies the σωτηρία he is talking about as τηλικαύτη, then refers to its origin. Its origin reinforces its greatness, because it was

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-51960196540500731712007-03-05T04:08:00.000-08:002007-03-05T04:08:57.949-08:00

Now note Hebrews 1:3-4.ὃς ὢν ἀπαύγασμα τῆς δόξης καὶ χαρακτὴρ τῆς ὑποστάσεως αὐτοῦ, φέρων τε τὰ πάντα τῷ ῥήματι τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ, καθαρισμὸν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ποιησάμενος ἐκάθισεν ἐν δεξιᾷ τῆς μεγαλωσύνης ἐν ὑψηλοῖς, 4 τοσούτῳ κρείττων γενόμενος τῶν ἀγγέλων ὅσῳ διαφορώτερον παρ᾽ αὐτοὺς κεκληρονόμηκεν ὄνομα.First, the participles: the sequence is present, present, aorist, aorist. Two states viewed

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-45008696464098107462007-03-02T04:40:00.000-08:002007-03-20T06:26:50.995-07:00

In the history of literature, many books are rightly famed for their masterful opening lines. Hebrews should rank among the very best. Consider:Πολυμερῶς καὶ πολυτρόπως πάλαι ὁ θεὸς λαλήσας τοῖς πατράσιν ἐν τοῖς προφήταις 2 ἐπ᾽ ἐσχάτου τῶν ἡμερῶν τούτων ἐλάλησεν ἡμῖν ἐν υἱῷ, ὃν ἔθηκεν κληρονόμον πάντων, δι᾽ οὗ καὶ ἐποίησεν τοὺς αἰῶνας· 3 ὃς ὢν ἀπαύγασμα τῆς δόξης καὶ χαρακτὴρ τῆς ὑποστάσεως

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-84310470232473032182007-03-01T04:10:00.000-08:002007-03-01T04:10:35.278-08:00

I promised a post for folks who may be a bit daunted by advanced syntactical discussions. Here it is.Teachers counsel different approaches to starting the study of Greek. Go through a grammar, learn vocabulary, etc. All of that makes sense. My own approach was different.The Lord saved me when I was a senior in high school. I had been a completely undisciplined student. If a subject interested me,

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-58696558578682093472007-02-28T18:52:00.000-08:002007-02-28T07:08:07.955-08:00

This is my first "Huh—look at that" post.When I preached through John about twenty years ago, this passage stumped me. Oh, the EVV are clear enough: ESV But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.CSB But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-24284050840983806552007-02-27T04:27:00.000-08:002008-11-19T00:23:32.988-08:00

Matt Harmon gives a heads-up about a wide-margin Nestle-Aland 27 on the market. (Also, there will be a wide-margin BHS.) Pretty cool.This reminds me of my beloved wide-margin NA25. It came in a blue, cloth-texture hardcover edition. I took it to a binder in Glendale, and had it bound in brown leather.It was a pretty tough NT. I took it with me on trips, hiking, sightseeing—everywhere.When I lived

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-62908979110877315802007-02-26T03:50:00.000-08:002007-02-26T03:50:38.422-08:00

In what is popularly called the Great Commission, our Lord says:πορευθέντες οὖν μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, βαπτίζοντες αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος.... (Matthew 28:19)Probably the KJV is still the most familiar rendering: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."A number of

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-13135899571902012362007-02-23T04:29:00.000-08:002007-02-23T07:43:28.589-08:00

Turns out I have more to say than two blogs can contain... or so I imagine.This, however, is the most narrowly focused of my three blogs. Here's what I'm doing.My credI have been studying Greek basically daily for the last ~34 years. Not interlinears, not just commentaries or concordances, but the Greek New Testament itself. I've read the whole Greek New Testament many times, and individual books

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-24409954558759367782007-02-22T04:39:00.000-08:002007-02-22T04:42:39.705-08:00

Paul had a golden opportunity to preach Christ to some Jews who had not yet been hardened and prejudiced against their Messiah (vv. 21-22). So he preached Christ to them, from the Law and the Prophets (v. 23), which is to say from the whole Bible. And then we read this:καὶ οἱ μὲν ἐπείθοντο τοῖς λεγομένοις, οἱ δὲ ἠπίστουν·Two things are of interest to me, Greekly speaking.Early on we all learn and

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-65767950322938216542007-02-21T04:26:00.000-08:002007-02-21T04:27:00.042-08:00

We read this in Acts 28:23— Ταξάμενοι δὲ αὐτῷ ἡμέραν ἦλθον πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν ξενίαν πλείονες οἷς ἐξετίθετο διαμαρτυρόμενος τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ, πείθων τε αὐτοὺς περὶ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἀπό τε τοῦ νόμου Μωϋσέως καὶ τῶν προφητῶν, ἀπὸ πρωῒ ἕως ἑσπέρας.It's traditional to see the OT as having had three divisions in Jesus' day: Law, Prophets, Writings. Here, we see two divisions. In Inspiration and

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-65036439721124221772007-02-20T04:35:00.000-08:002007-02-20T04:35:17.019-08:00

I have been reading through Acts. Hear how Paul expresses himself to the men on the ship, in Acts 27:23: παρέστη γάρ μοι ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτὶ τοῦ θεοῦ, οὗ εἰμι [ἐγώ] ᾧ καὶ λατρεύω, ἄγγελοςThat is, "For there stood by me on this night of God—whose I am and whom I serve—an angel!" The word-order seems to heighten the suspense.Some scribes must have felt this awkward; I notice that the Byzantine "

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-81470059415946176092007-02-19T07:34:00.000-08:002007-02-19T08:53:39.056-08:00

I started reading Greek within months of my conversion. When the Lord saved me (which you can read about here and here), my career plans were in shambles. A pastor told me he felt I was gifted to be a pastor myself, and he invited me to start studying in the school he was about to start.This answered to the deepest desires of my heart—but there was a problem. Greek.I had never been a disciplined

DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com15