Understanding Ancient Greek Infinitives in the Context of Biblical Texts
This article explores the usage and forms of infinitives in Ancient Greek, particularly within biblical texts. Focusing on examples such as the language of the New Testament and significant historical contexts like the Jerusalem Temple, we analyze various infinitive constructions. Key terms like "to pray," "to save," and "to preach" highlight the theological implications found in scripture. The article also emphasizes the relationship between grammar and meaning, offering interpretations that enrich our understanding of these ancient texts.
Understanding Ancient Greek Infinitives in the Context of Biblical Texts
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Infinitives J. Lyle Story
Parse and Translate • balei=n • u(postre/fein • dida/skein • i0dei=n • qerapeu=sai • ei]nai • pa/sxein • paqei=n Ancient Jerusalem Temple
Parse and Translate • khruxqh=nai • proseu/xesqai • labei=n • e1xein • swqh=nai • gene/sqai • pisteu=sai • ei0selqei=n
Translate (Subject of infinitive in accusative case) • dei= au0to\n a0pelqei=n • e0n de\ tw=| le/gein me. . . • dia\ de\ to\ ei]nai au0to/n . . . • meta\ de\ to\ e0gerqh=nai to\n ku/rion • ou0 e1cestin fagei=n • e0n tw=| eu0aggeli/zesqai to\n 0Ihsoun to\n lao/n Discus Thrower (Greek) - circa 460 B.C.
Translate • o0fei/lomenproseu/xesqaitw=| sw/santi h(mav • a3uth h]lqen i0dei=n ta\ e1rga tou= Xristou= • e1legon oi( a1nqrwpoi au0to\n ei]nai to\n profh/thn… • a0pe/qanen u(pe\r au0tw=n ei0v to\ swqh=nai au0tou/v • h1rcato de\ 0Ihsou=v le/geintoi=v 0Ioudai/oiv. • qe/lwga\r i0dei=n u(ma=v Cardo Street, Jerusalem
Examples from the Greek NT • a0po\ to/te o( 0Ihsou=v deinu/ein(deiknu/w = I point out) toi=v maqhtai=v au0tou= o#tidei= au0to\n ei0v (Ieroso/uma a0pelqei=n kai\ polla\ (many things) paqei=n a0po\ tw=n presbute/rwnkai\ a0rxiere/wnkai\ grammate/wnkai\ a0poktanqh=nai kai\ th=| tri/th| (third) h(me/ra| e0gerqh=nai. Matt. 16:21 Black-Figure Amphora. Attic, (Greek) c. 540-530 B.C.
Examples from the Greek NT • dia\ to\ e)ggu\v ei]nai 0Ierousalh\m au0to/n Lk. 19:11 • meta\ to\ gene/sqai me e0kei= dei= me kai\ (Rw/mhn i0dei=n Acts 19:21 • kai\ a0pokriqei\v o( 0Ihsou=v ei]pen pro\v tou\v nomikou\v (lawyers) kai\ Farisai/ouv le/gwn, 1Ecestin tw=| sabba/tw| qerapeu=sai h@ ou1; Lk. 14:3 Tomb of Absalom (Absalom’s Pillar), Kidron Valley, Jerusalem
Examples from the Greek NT • ei]pen au0toi=v 0Ihsou=v, 0Amh\n a0mh\n le/gw u(mi=n, pri\n 0Abraa\m gene/sqai e0gw\ ei0mi/ Jn. 8:58 • 1Aciov ei] labei=n to\ bibli/on kai\ a0noi=cai ta\v sfragi=dav(sfragi/v = seal) au0tou=Rev. 5:9 • ou0 du/nataiei]nai/ moumaqhth/v Lk. 14:26 Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus; (10 BC – 54 AD), was Roman Emperor from 41 to 54.
Examples from the Greek NT • e1legen ga\r o( 0Iwa/nnhvtw=| (Hrw/|dh| o#ti Ou0k e1cesti/n soi e1xein th\n gunai=katou= a0delfou= souMk. 6:18 • mh\ nomi/shte(nomi/zw= I think, consider) o#ti h]lqonkatalu/sai to\n no/mon h@ tou\v profh/tav. ou0k h]lqon katalu/sai a0lla\ plhr=sai (plhro/w = I fill fulfill). Matt. 5:17 Agora with shops and odeon, Thessalonica
Examples from the Greek NT • o( de\ 0Iwa/nnhvdiekw/luen(diakwlu/w = I prevent) au0to\n le/gwn, 0Egw\ xrei/an e1xw u(po\ sou= baptisqh=nai, kai\ su\ e1rxh| pro/v me; Matt. 3:15 • ou0k ei0mi\ i(kano\v lu=saiMk. 1:7 • dia\ to\ au0to\n ginw/skein pa/ntav(all persons) Jn. 2:24
Examples from the Greek NT • a1nqrwpoi du/o (two) a0ne/bhsan ei0v to\ i(ero\n proseu/casqaiLk. 18:10 • u(mi=n e0xari/sqh . . . ou0 mo/non to\ ei0v au0to\n pisteu/ein a0lla\ kai\ to\ u(pe\r au0tou= pa/sxein. Phil. 1:29 • o0fei/lei a0poqanei=n Jn. 19:7 • me/llei o( ui(o\v tou= a0nqrw/pou e1rxesqai Matt. 16:27