tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45147261277752161232024-03-06T23:18:25.914-08:00Hellenisti ginoskeis: do you know Greek?Ἑλληνιστὶ 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.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-48633471766470579402014-12-10T09:29:00.001-08:002020-05-10T14:57:38.031-07:00Discovery about Ephesians 1:4-6 — real, or imagined?Hi gang! Long time, no Greek.
I'm preaching through Ephesians, which is to say I'm racking my brains in the exegesis of the Greek text. Most recently Ephesians 1:4 has been punishing me. Looking for patterns to help in exegesis, I think I may have struck on something. Tell me what you think.
If that's a legitimate parallel, it's actually very helpful both in exegesis and translation.
For DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-88355443295967522762011-07-27T05:19:00.000-07:002011-07-27T05:19:30.411-07:00The Greek alphabet song: now with MORE COWBELL!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 NaselliDJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-10294061423702832352009-09-21T05:59:00.001-07:002010-03-20T07:44:49.505-07:00Mounce on the vocative use of κυριος in John 20:28Check it out.DJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-85248207732654888182008-07-02T17:36:00.000-07:002008-07-02T17:41:24.447-07:00Free Greek course onlineA 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-22467229160222865032007-12-01T05:23:00.002-08:002007-12-01T05:32:10.223-08:00The BAGD book of jokes?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-35406752694428226742007-11-13T06:57:00.000-08:002008-07-15T10:34:12.289-07:00Judean syntax (Jude 1:20-21)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), surroundedDJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-57645838221314661382007-10-16T13:35:00.000-07:002009-01-07T08:05:44.540-08:00C. F. D. Moule (1908-2007)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-4526071555740845352007-06-04T04:26:00.000-07:002007-06-04T04:30:54.915-07:00Colossians 1:1—the will of GodΠαῦλος 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-22121828758373826642007-05-24T05:54:00.001-07:002008-11-19T00:23:30.340-08:00Humor breakOkay, 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-49667604176306188712007-05-23T04:25:00.000-07:002007-05-23T04:26:30.486-07:00Colossians—False teachers?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.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-72829833598595635192007-05-21T16:06:00.000-07:002007-05-21T04:10:14.989-07:001 Peter 1:3-5—Look, Ma, no finite verbs!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-85546923085822161912007-05-11T13:24:00.000-07:002007-05-11T13:27:28.691-07:00Keeping up your GreekOur 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-48616671794076273642007-05-01T04:15:00.000-07:002007-05-01T04:17:03.968-07:00Piper: "Brothers, Bitzer Was a Banker!"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-81348131294656546482007-04-26T08:05:00.000-07:002007-04-26T06:58:25.069-07:001 Peter 1:5—God's notion of "eternal security"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-19117277620837817482007-04-15T03:41:00.000-07:002007-04-16T03:41:33.741-07:001 Peter 1:2—the saving work of the Trinityκατὰ 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-56505816930788623672007-04-11T04:11:00.000-07:002007-04-11T04:16:49.545-07:001 Peter 1:3-6—study in prepositionsI'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 δυνάμειDJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-7197174345759831492007-04-08T08:11:00.000-07:002007-04-08T08:34:02.714-07:00Mark 16:6—single word freighted with immense meaningThe 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 beDJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-40999502618652027872007-04-06T04:13:00.000-07:002007-04-06T04:13:43.954-07:001 Peter 1:1-2—Trinitarian writingSometimes 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-64620899927785065502007-04-05T04:03:00.000-07:002007-04-05T04:08:21.163-07:001 Peter — opening thoughtsAs 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-83217278547269088962007-04-04T04:36:00.000-07:002007-04-04T04:36:29.798-07:00Hebrews 13:8—bang! No verb; plus....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-49057599180482837102007-03-30T04:37:00.000-07:002007-03-30T04:38:01.854-07:00Hebrews 13:5—not, not, notGreekers 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-67378154273472992002007-03-29T04:10:00.000-07:002007-03-29T04:10:32.281-07:00Hebrews 10:24—consider what, or who?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-54248123157983931602007-03-27T04:15:00.000-07:002007-03-29T04:03:16.535-07:00Hebrews 10:22-25—three heads of "let us"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-53263288342031662402007-03-26T06:23:00.000-07:002007-03-26T06:24:14.521-07:00Hebrews 10—study in contrastsI 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 sacrificesDJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4514726127775216123.post-25819238108774278382007-03-23T04:06:00.000-07:002007-03-23T04:05:05.304-07:00Hebrews 9:12—Eureka! (Except not)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.com2