Greek

Alphabet 1: Vowels and Marks
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Vowels
Here are the Greek vowels, with:

- How to say the name of the vowel
- How to say the sound of the vowel, when used within a word
For some of the entries, you'll see that there are two sounds. The first is Erasmus', an
invention from 500 years ago, used in many US Bible college classrooms. The second is
Koine (current sounds, adjusted based upon papyrus and inscription evidence), the closest
thing we have to sounds like those spoken in the first-century church. Learn one system or
the other; over time, you may find it helpful to know them both.
α | ahl.fah | ah
ε | ehp.see.lahn, ehp.see.lohn | eh
η | ey.tah, ey.dah | ey
ι | ee.oh.tah |ee
o | ah.mee.krahn, oh.mee.krohn | ah, oh
υ | oop.see.lahn, uep.see.lohn | oo, ue
ω | oh.meh.gah | oh
Here are some practice words:
ἀ.γά.πη | ah.gah.pey, ah.ghah.pey | love
ἐλ.πίς | ehl.pees | hope
ἐκ.κλη.σί.α | ehk.kley.see.ah | church, assembly
Χρι.στός | kree.stahs, khree.sdohs |Christ
λό.γος | lah.gahs, loh.gohs |word
κύ.ρι.ος | koo.ree.ahs, kue.ree.ohs | lord
ὑ.μῶν | hoo.mohn, ue.mohn | of you
All of these words occur in 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3, in various forms.
Marks
When in a word, Greek letters have some marks floating around them. Let's take a look at
them.
1. The smooth breathing mark is silent; it appears over a starting vowel (or over the second
vowel in a pair of starting vowels).
ἀἐἠἰὀὐὠ
2. The rough breathing mark adds an h sound at the beginning of a word; in the
historically-adjusted system, this mark is silent.
ἁἑἡἱὁὑὡῥ
3. Accent marks help you say the word aloud, by showing which syllable to emphasize:
άέήίόύώ
ὰὲὴὶὸὺὼ
ᾶῆῖῶ
4. The iota subscript mark is silent, yet carries significance in meaning:
ᾳῃῳ
5. The apostrophe mark indicates some letters have dropped out, in fact, the remaining
ending letter may have changed too. Why? So the pair of words are easier to read aloud
together.
διά (dee.ah) is abbreviated as δι' in 1 Thes 1:5,

in this phrase: δι' ὑμᾶς (dee hoo.mahs, dee ue.mahs)
ἀπό (ah.pah | ah.poh) is abbreviated as ἀφ' in 1 Thes 1:8,

in this phrase: ἀφ' ὑμῶν (ahf hoo.mohn, ahf ue.mohn)
6. Early Greek manuscripts have no punctuation. Punctuation was added later, as a

convenience to the reader. The markings are different than the ones we are used to. Yet
when encountered in context, punctuation is reasonably easy to figure out.
period .
comma ,
semicolon (half of a colon) ·
question mark (this is an odd one yet you'll know it in context) ;
Rom 8:31 ...εἰ ὁ θε.ὸς ὑ.πὲρ ἡ.μῶν, τίς καθ' ἡ.μῶν;

ey hah theh.ahs hoo.pehr hey.mohn, tees kahth hey.mohn
ee oh theh.ohs ue.pehr ey.mohn, dees kahth ey.mohn
If God for us, who against us?
If God is for us, who is against us?
Rom 8:35 τίς ἡ.μᾶς χω.ρί.σει ἀ.πὸ τῆς ἀ.γά.πης τοῦ Χρι.στοῦ;...
tees hey.mahs koh.ree.sey ah.pah teys ah.gah.peys too kree.stoo
dees ey.mahs khoh.ree.see ah.poh deys ah.ghah.peys doo khree.sdoo
Who will separate us from the love of Christ?
7. Vowel-by-vowel dots. As we'll learn in the next lesson, some vowel pairs make just one
sound. Yet some non-Greek words in the text don't follow this Greek convention. And so a
pair of vowel-by-vowel dots go over the second vowel of such a vowel pair, so that the
foreign word is pronounced vowel-by-vowel. Here is an example:
1 Thes 1:8 ... Ἀ.χα.ΐ.ᾳ...

ah.kah.ee.ah
ah.khah.ee.ah
8. Syllables. The Great Treasures site displays syllables, making it easier to begin reading
the text. It marks syllable breaks with bars (ex¦am¦ple), a feature that can be turned on or
off whenever you choose.
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Little Notes
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Mark names: The formal names of the marks are:
ἀ smooth breathing
ἁ rough breathing
ά acute
ὰ grave (grahv)
ᾶ circumflex
ᾳ iota subscript
' elision (ih-lihz-uhn)
ϊ diaeresis (dahy-er-uh-sihs)
---
Alphabet 2: Single-sound Vowel Pairs
Single-sound Vowel Pairs
Some vowel pairs are pronounced together, making just one sound.
αι | ahy (αιsle) | eh
αυ | auw (sαυerkrαυt) | ahv, ahf (before θκξπστφκψ or final)
ει | ey (ειght) | ee
ευ | yoo (fευd) | ehv, ehf (before θκξπστφκψ or final)
ηυ| yoo (feud) | eyv, eyf (before θκξπστφκψ or final)
oι | oi (oιl) | ue
oυ | oo (groυp)
υι | wee (sυιte) | ue.ee
Here are some examples, one for each single-sound vowel pair:
| καί | kahy, keh | and, also, even
| αὐ.τοί | auw.toi, ahf.due | they
| εἰ.ρή.νη | ey.rey.ney, ee.rey.ney | peace
| Εὐ.χα.ρι.στοῦ.μεν | yoo.kah.ree.stoo.mehn, ehf.khar.ree.sdoo.mehn | we give thanks
| ἀ.δελ.φοί | ah.dehl.foi, ah.thehl.fue | brothers
| ποι.ού.με.νοι | poi.oo.meh.noi, pue.oo.meh.nue | making
| υἱ.ός | hwee.ahs | ue.ee.ohs | son
The sounds of the single-sound vowel pairs are distinct.

Note this overlap in sound:
- η is pronounced ey
- ει is pronounced ey | ee
Pronounce all other vowel pairs with two sounds. For example:
Ἰ.η.σοῦ | ee.ey.soo | Jesus
Those two vowels (Ι.η) are not one of the single-sound vowel pairs. So pronounce the first
sound, then the second sound (ee.ey).
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Little Note
Diphthong: a vowel pair that is pronounced with a single sound.
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greattreasures.org
Alphabet 3: What's the Same, What's Different
Alphabet: What's the Same
Many letters in the Greek alphabet are what we are used to seeing in English--or at least
close enough that it's easy to relate to them.
We've already seen that most of the vowels are lookalikes for the ones we see in English:
α, ε, ι, ο, υ look quite a bit like: a, e, i, o, u.
Now let's look at consonants that are "look alikes" for the ones we see in English:
β, δ, κ, λ, τ look quite a bit like: b, d, k, l (with some imagination), t.
Here's how to say the the names of those five consonants and their sounds.
bey.tah, vey.tah | b, v
dehl.tah, thel.tah | d, th (as in then)
kahp.pah | k
lahmb.dah | l
tahw, dahw | t, d
Alphabet: What's Different
Some Greek letters don't look like anything we've seen before. That's okay. Time to get
acquainted!
Here are the new shapes, set in the context of the Greek alphabet.
Greek letter | how to say its name(s) | how to say its sound(s)
α
β
γ | gahm.mah, gham.mah | g, gh
δ
ε
ζ | zey.tah | z
η | ey.tah | ey
θ | they.tah | th (as in thin)
ι
κ
λ
μ | moo, mue | m
ν | noo, nue| n
ξ | ksee | ks, khs
ο
π | pee | p
ρ | hroh | r
σ, ς (at end of a word) | seeg.mah | s
τ
υ
φ | fee | f
χ | kee, khee | k
ψ | psee | ps
---
Note that some letters make two sounds in a row. Why? Often, this is what happens: the
first sound ends one syllable; the second sound starts the next syllable. Like so:
ξ | ksee | ks, khs | ἐξ.ε.λή.λυ.θεν | ehk.seh.ley.luh.thehn, ehkh.seh.ley.lue.thehn

ψ | psee | ps | ἐ.πε.στρέψ.ατε | eh.peh.strehp.sah.teh
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Sometimes a γ sounds like n, making a word to pronounce:

- γγ is pronounced ng
- γκ is pronounced nk
- γξ is pronounced nks
- γχ is pronounced nk
εὐ.αγ.γέ.λι.ον | yoo.ahn.geh.lee.ahn | ehv.ahn.gheh.lee.ohn | gospel
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While getting started, it's helpful to remember:

- η sounds like ey (not n)
- ν sounds like n (not v)
- ρ sounds like r (not p)
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greattreasures.org
Alphabet 4: Sing; Read; Write
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Sing the Alphabet Song
Here are the letters of the alphabet, along with how to pronounce the name of each letter
and the sound each letter makes.
α | alh.fah | ah
β | bey.tah, vey.tah | b, v
γ | gahm.mah, gham.mah | g, gh
δ | dehl.tah, thel.dah | d, th
ε | ehp.see.lahn, ehp.see.lohn | eh
ζ | zey.tah | z
η | ey.tah | ey
θ | they.tah | th (as in thin)
ι | ee.oh.tah | ee
κ | kahp.pah | k
λ | lahm.dah | l
μ | moo, mue | m
ν | noo, nue | n
ξ | ksee | ks, khs
ο | ah.mee.krahn, oh.mee.krohn | ah, oh
π | pee | p
ρ | hroh | r
σ, ς | seeg.mah | s
τ | tahw, dahw | t, d
υ | oop.see.lahn, oop.see.lohn | oo, ue
φ | fee | f
χ | kee | k, kh
ψ | psee | ps
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Read Out Loud
Practice reading 1 Thes 1:2 out loud, slowly, syllable by syllable.
1 Thes 1:1 Παῦ.λος καὶ Σι.λου.α.νὸς καὶ Τι.μό.θε.ος τῇ ἐκ.κλη.σί.ᾳ Θεσ.σα.λο.νι.κέ.ων ἐν θε.ῷ
πατ.ρὶ καὶ κυ.ρί.ῳ Ἰ.η.σοῦ Χρι.στῷ· χά.ρις ὑ.μῖν καὶ εἰ.ρή.νη.
1 Thes 1:2 Εὐ.χα.ρι.στοῦ.μεν τῷ θε.ῷ πάν.το.τε πε.ρὶ πάν.των ὑ.μῶν, μνεί.αν ποι.ού.με.νοι
ἐ.πὶ τῶν προ.σευ.χῶν ἡ.μῶν,
---
Write the Alphabet
It's a good thing, knowing how to write down a Greek word, quickly.
While listening to a teaching, when you see a word group you find especially interesting,
you can jot it down.
When studying in the morning, you can write down short phrase for the day:
1 Thes 1:2 Εὐ.χα.ρι.στοῦ.μεν τῷ θε.ῷ πάν.το.τε...
You might find that things stick better in your head, if you see it, say it, write it (and key it
in, when online).
The keys to writing Greek words quickly are:

- See if you can write each letter without lifting up your pencil (or lifting it just once)
- And some practice!
Write 1 Thessalonians 1:2, saying the words aloud as you write them.
Memorize what may be your first verse in NT Greek:

1 Thes 5:16 πάν.το.τε χαί.ρε.τε,
Always rejoice.
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Little Notes
Transliteration: it's an application of a mapping of letters in one alphabet into letters of another alphabet, as
a convenience.
Here is such a mapping:
α|a
β|b
γ|g
δ|d
ε|e
ζ|z
η|ē
θ | th
ι|i
κ|k
λ|l
μ|m
ν|n
ξ|x
ο|o
π|p
ρ|r
σς|s
τ|t
υ|u
φ | ph
χ | ch
ψ | ps
ω|ō
Captial letters: The Greek alphabet also has capital letters. You'll see them at the start of sentences and at the
start of proper names. And you'll find that you'll be able to read them, in their context--and that's a good way
to begin to learn them. Like so:
1 Thes 1:1 Παῦλος καὶ Σιλουανὸς καὶ Τιμόθεος τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ Θεσσαλονικέων ἐν θεῷ πατρὶ καὶ κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ
Χριστῷ· χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη.
In printed NT Greek texts, the book names for some reason or other are presented in all-capital Greek letters.
You'll be able to understand the book name fairly quickly.
The Great Treasures site shows books names in a more usual fashion (more usual for the reader, that is):
Πρὸς Θεσσαλονικεῖς ά | to the Thessalonians alpha (that is to say: 1 Thessalonians)
Here is the alphabet, with regular letters and capital letters:
α|Α
β|Β
γ|Γ
δ|Δ
ε|Ε
ζ|Ζ
η|Η
θ|Θ
ι|Ι
κ|Κ
λ|Λ
μ|Μ
ν|Ν
ξ|Ξ
ο|Ο
π|Π
ρ|Ρ
σς|Σ
τ|Τ
υ|Υ
φ|Φ
χ|Χ
ψ|Ψ
ω|Ω
---
greattreasures.org
Alphabet 5: Erasmus; Modern; Koine
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Three major pronunciation systems
There are three major "how to pronounce Greek words" systems, each one having many
little variations on the theme.
Some people very strongly prefer one system over the other. However, most are happy to
find a system that works for them and for their teachers and fellow students of the Greek
text.
Here are the three:
1. Erasmus. The Erasmus' system (often referred to as Erasmian, invented by Erasmus)

in one form or another has been used in Bible college classrooms for centuries. It uses a set
of made-up sounds. It's no surprise that it sounds artificial. It is!
The leading Biblical Greek textbook uses this system. Marilyn Phemister's recording of the
Greek NT uses this system; you can access her recording from the audio section on the
right side of this blog page. Vocabulary aids often use this system, too; Visual Greek is an
example.
Teachers know this system; students learn it.
This system uses a set of made-up sounds, intended to help students in the classroom to
read and spell words (in this system, most vowel and vowel-pair sounds are unique, so
knowing the sound usually helps one spell a word correctly). This set of sounds is good for
reading or spelling a word at a time, yet has not proven to be as effective for oral reading,
as it does not appear to have been designed with that readability in mind.
As a result, reading out loud in the classroom or listening to an audio recording, well, it
sounds somewhat mechanical, somewhat odd, to the speaker and to the listener.
Many using this system go for years without ever reading a chapter aloud, with
understanding. And when studying with others, reading a chapter aloud, well, it's just not
done.
So while the Erasumus' system is helpful in reading a word or spelling a word, it may not
provide enough "real language" connections for those who would like to actually read (and
think) the Scriptures in Greek.
Many students begin their journey with this pronunciation system.
2. Modern. Modern Greek is not a new language. It is Greek itself, developed over several
millennia. It's pronunciation system is the historic outcome of a language living over such
an extended time period.
Its sounds are the sounds of actual human language, developed over many centuries of oral
and written communication.
John Simon's audio recording uses this system; you can access her recording from the
audio section on the right side of this blog page.
3. Koine. In this approach, linguist Randall Buth began with modern Greek and adjusted
it based upon what he observed from common misspellings during the centuries before,
during, and after the first century A.D. (details here). Buth is the innovator of a four-week
immersion program, with two-week add-ons (details here and a participant's blog here).
This approach appears to be gaining more and more acceptance in the academic
community.
Its sounds are the sounds that are justifiably the closest thing to what was spoken when the
church epistles were read aloud to those who were part of the first-century church.
It's beautiful to the ear.
Some find that when wanting to read Greek aloud, or seeking to begin thinking in Greek,
that the flowing sounds of a real language prove helpful, even essential.
Those who want to get to the point of "thinking and understanding in Greek" rather than
"decoding and translating word by work into one's native tongue" are making the move
from Erasmus' sounds (where to date nearly everyone begins) to Koine sounds.
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Q&A
Q: What did it sound like in the first century?
A: No one knows for sure. One may be able to get close by inferring some similar-in-sound
matches from misspellings in handwritten manuscripts.
Q: Why choose Erasmus' pronunciation?
Pro: It's the one most often used in US classrooms and in learning materials.
Pro: Very few duplicate sounds makes it easier to hear a word and know how to write it
down.
Con: It's a made-up systems of sounds, sounds that never existed together as an everyday
language. It sounds awful! Yet is serves its purpose.
Q: Why choose modern Greek pronunciation?
Pro: The sounds you hear as you read aloud are the sounds of an actual human language,
not an academic invention. It sounds like a real language. It sounds beautiful!
Con: It's used less frequently in US classrooms, although those who advocate it feel
strongly about it.
Con: It's harder to hear a word and know how to write it down.
Q: Why choose Koine Greek pronunciation?
Pro: The sounds are as close as one can get to the sounds heard in the first-century church.
It sounds like a real language. It sounds beautiful!
Con: It's used less frequently in US classrooms, although those who advocate it feel
strongly about it.
Con: It's harder to hear a word and know how to spell it.
Q: Will my choice of Erasmus' or Modern or Koine pronunciation affect my understanding

of the Scriptures?
A: No. However, to the extent that using the sounds of an actual spoken language may help
you think in that language, Koine Greek is likely to have an advantage.
Q: How might I choose?
A: Many begin with Erasmus', as that is what nearly all leading learning materials are
based upon, and that is what most peers will be familiar with. Then further along on one's
journey, upgrading to Koine can be worthwhile, to facilitate actually reading, thinking and
meditating the Greek Scriptures.
Q: Which system does this site use?
A: The site supports and provides audio resources suitable for all three pronunciation
systems.
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Erasmus' sounds
α | alh.fah | ah
β | bey.tah | b
γ | gahm.mah | g
δ | dehl.tah | d
ε | ehp.see.lahn | eh
ζ | zey.tah | z
η | ey.tah | ey
θ | they.tah | th
ι | ee.oh.tah | ee
κ | kahp.pah | k
λ | lahm.dah | l
μ | moo | m
ν | noo | n
ξ | ksee | ks
ο | ah.mee.krahn | ah
π | pee | p
ρ | hroh | r
σ, ς / seeg.mah | s
τ | tawh | t
υ | oop.see.lahn | oo
φ | fee | f
χ | kee | k
ψ | psee | ps
αι | ahy (αιsle)
αυ | auw (sαυerkrαυt)
ει | ey (ειght)
ευ | yoo (fευd)
ηυ| yoo (feud)
oι | oi (oιl)
oυ | oo (groυp)
υι | wee (sυιte)
γγ | ng
γκ | nk
γξ | nks
γχ | nk
‘|h
---
Modern sounds
α | ahl.fah | ah
β | vee.tah | v
γ | ghahm.mah | gh | n before γκχ | y before eh or ee
δ | thel.ta | th (as in then)
ε | ehp.see.lohn | eh
ζ | zee.tah | z
η | ee.tah | ee
θ | thee.tah | th
ι | ee.oh.tah | ee or y
κ | kahp.pah | k
λ | lahm.dah | l
μ | mee | m
ν | nee | n
ξ | ksee | ks
ο | oh.mee.krohn | oh
π | pee | p
ρ | hroh | rolled r
τ | dahf | d
υ | eep.see.lohn | ee
φ | fee | f
χ | kee | kh
ψ | psee | ps
ω | oh.meh.hgah | oh
αι | eh
αυ | ahv, ahf (before θκξπστφκψ or final)
ει | ee
ευ | ehv, ehf (before θκξπστφκψ or final)
ηυ | eyv, eyf (before θκξπστφκψ or final)
oι | ee
oυ | oo
υι | ee
γγ | ng
γκ | nk
γξ | nks
γχ | nk
μτ | b
ντ | d
‘ | silent
---
Koine sounds
Same as modern Greek, with these adjustments, based upon papyrus and inscription
evidence:
η | ey (rather than ee)

υ, οι | ue (rather than ee)
υι | ue + ee (two syllables)
Here are the Koine sounds:
α | ahl.fah | ah
β | vee.tah | v
γ | ghahm.mah | gh | n before γκχ | y before eh or ee
δ | thel.ta | th (as in then)
ε | ehp.see.lohn | eh
ζ | zee.tah | z
η | ey.tah | ey
θ | thee.tah | th
ι | ee.oh.tah | ee or y
κ | kahp.pah | k
λ | lahm.dah | l
μ | mee | m
ν | nee | n
ξ | ksee | ks
ο | oh.mee.krohn | oh
π | pee | p
ρ | hroh | rolled r
τ | dahf |
υ | uep.see.lohn | ue
φ | fee | f
χ | kee | kh
ψ | psee | ps
ω | oh.meh.hgah | oh
αι | eh
αυ | ahv, ahf (before θκξπστφκψ or final)
ει | ee
ευ | ehv, ehf (before θκξπστφκψ or final)
ηυ | eyv, eyf (before θκξπστφκψ or final)
oι | ue
oυ | oo
υι | ue.ee (two syllables)
γγ | ng
γκ | nk
γξ | nks
γχ | nk
μτ | b
ντ | d
‘ | silent
---
Grammar 1a: Noun
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noun : represents a person, place, thing, or idea
pronoun: stands in for a noun (pronoun lesson)
color coding: blue
---
some initial examples
1 Thes 1:1 Παῦ.λος καὶ Σι.λου.α.νὸς καὶ Τι.μό.θε.ος τῇ ἐκ.κλη.σί.ᾳ Θεσ.σα.λο.νι.κέ.ων ἐν

θε.ῷ πα.τρὶ καὶ κυ.ρί.ῳ Ἰ.η.σοῦ Χρι.στῷ· χά.ρις ὑ.μῖν καὶ εἰ.ρή.νη.
A noun represents a:
- Person (for example: Παῦ.λος)
- Place (for example, in verse 7: Μα.κε.δο.νί.ᾳ)
- Thing (for example: ἐκ.κλη.σί.ᾳ), or
- Idea (for example: χά.ρις).
1 Thes 1:2 Εὐ.χα.ρι.στοῦ.μεν τῷ θε.ῷ...

We give thanks to God
The pronoun we is supplied by the verb form Εὐ.χα.ρι.στοῦ.μεν, which means we give
thanks.
The noun form θε.ῷ means to God.
1 Thes 1:6 ...δεξ.ά.με.νοι τὸν λό.γον...

receiving the Word
The participle (a verb form with a noun ending) δεξ.ά.με.νοι means receiving.
The article τὸν means the.

The noun λό.γον means word.
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noun endings
Each noun ending expresses three vital pieces of information: number, gender, and case.
number: one (singular) or two or more (plural)
A noun and that which describes a noun agree in number. For example:
1 Thes 1: 5 ...ἐν πνεύ.μα.τι ἁ.γί.ῳ...

in holy spirit
πνεύ.μα.τι is a singular noun.

ἁ.γί.ῳ is a singular adjective.
The noun and its adjective agree in number: both are singular.
gender: indicates how a noun is viewed within the Greek language: masculine, feminine,
or neuter.
A noun and an adjective that describes it agree in gender. For example:
1 Thes 1: 5 ...ἐν πνεύ.μα.τι ἁ.γί.ῳ...

in holy spirit
πνεύ.μα.τι is a neuter noun.

ἁ.γί.ῳ is a neuter adjective.
The noun and its adjective agree in gender: both are neuter.
case: indicates how a noun or pronoun functions within a sentence
There are four cases: nominative, genitive, dative, and accusative.
Words that function in the same way within a sentence agree in case. For example:
1 Thes 1:1 Παῦ.λος καὶ Σι.λου.α.νὸς καὶ Τι.μό.θε.ος...
Paul and Silvanus and Timothy...
These three nouns function in the same way (as the subject) and agree in case
(nominative).
The four cases occur a similar number of times within the NT text.
Let's consider them one at a time: nominative, genitive, dative, and accusative.
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nominative
How to translate.
Put it before the verb. (It's the subject.)
1 Thes 1:8 ...ἐξ.ή.χη.ται ὁ λό.γος...

the Word has been sounded forth
How to translate two, with a "being" or "becoming" verb.

Put the first one before the verb. (It's the subject.)
Put the other one after the verb. (It's the predicate nominative.)
1 Thes 1:6 καὶ ὑ.μεῖς μι.μη.ταὶ ἡ.μῶν ἐ.γε.νή.θη.τε...

And you became imitators of us
1 John 4:8 ...ὁ θε.ὸς ἀ.γά.πη ἐ.στίν.

God is love.
---
genitive
How to translate
Translate it as a prepositional phrase: of _____
If a preposition comes before it, use that preposition instead.
If the "of" seems out of place, try going without it, as it may be a direct object.
If it's a prepositional phrase, providing a description of something.
1 Thes 1:1 ...Θεσ.σα.λο.νι.κέ.ων...

of Thessalonians
of the Thessalonians
1 Thes 1:2 ...ἐ.πὶ τῶν προ.σευ.χῶν ἡ.μῶν.

in our prayers
---
dative
How to translate
Translate it as a prepositional phrase: to, with, in, by (twib) _____
If a preposition does not come before it, then the words in dative are usually an indirect object, indicating to
whom an action is done.
If a "twib" word seems out of place, it could be that the verb in this verse expects a dative direct object; verify
by checking the verb's definition.
If a Greek preposition comes before it, use that preposition instead.
1 Thes 1:2 Εὐ.χα.ρισ.τοῦ.μεν τῷ θε.ῷ...

To whom the action is done: God
1 Thes 1:5 ...ἐ.γε.νή.θη.μεν ἐν ὑ.μῖν...

we proved to be among you
Dative is often used at the start of a letter, indicating to whom it is addressed.
1 Thes 1:1 ...τῇ ἐκ.κλη.σί.ᾳ...

to the church
---
accusative
How to translate.
Put it after the verb form. (It's the direct object: acts upon what, directed at whom.)
However, if a preposition comes before it, use that preposition instead. (It's a prepositional
phrase.)
1 Thes 4:2 ...πα.ραγ.γε.λί.ας ἐ.δώ.κα.μεν ὑ.μῖν...

we gave commandments to you
1 Thes 1:8 ...πρὸς τὸν θε.ὸν...

toward God
---
an example: all four cases
Consider the nouns and pronouns in the following:
1 Thes 4:2-3 οἴ.δα.τε γὰρ τί.νας πα.ραγ.γε.λί.ας ἐ.δώ.κα.μεν ὑ.μῖν

δι.ὰ τοῦ κυ.ρί.ου Ἰ.η.σοῦ.
τοῦ.το γάρ ἐσ.τιν θέ.λη.μα τοῦ θε.οῦ...
τί.νας πα.ραγ.γε.λί.ας
- Translation: what commandments
- What it is: two nouns
- Form: accusative plural feminine
- Functions as: direct object
- Describing: upon what the action is done | to whom the action is done
ὑ.μῖν
- Translation: to you
- What it is: personal pronoun
- Form: dative 2nd person plural ---
- Functions as: indirect object
δι.ὰ τοῦ κυ.ρί.ου Ἰ.η.σοῦ

- Translation: by the Lord Jesus
- What it is: prepositional phrase
- Form: genitive
τοῦ.το
- Translation: this
- What it is: demonstrative pronoun
- Form: nominative singular neuter
- Functions as: subject
θέ.λη.μα
- Translation: will
- What it is: noun
- Form: nominative singular feminine
- Functions as: another name for the subject
τοῦ θε.οῦ
- Translation: of God
- What it is: article + noun
- Form: genitive singular masculine
- Functions as: adjective
οἴ.δα.τε γὰρ τί.νας πα.ραγ.γε.λί.ας ἐ.δώ.κα.μεν ὑ.μῖν

δι.ὰ τοῦ κυ.ρί.ου Ἰ.η.σοῦ.
τοῦ.το γάρ ἐσ.τιν θέ.λη.μα τοῦ θε.οῦ...
For you know what commandments we gave you

by the Lord Jesus.
For this is the will of God
---
Sometimes nouns or phrases appear one after the other, functioning the same way within a
sentence. The second one further identifies the first one. Such nouns or phrases are said to
be in apposition (meaning, side-by-side) and are sometimes referred to as appositive
nouns or phrases.
1 Thes 1:1 ...ἐν θε.ῷ πατ.ρὶ καὶ κυ.ρί.ῳ Ἰ.η.σοῦ Χρισ.τῷ...

in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
---
noun endings: how to learn them
It's time now to consider a unified approach to learning noun endings.
For those who are "show me a picture, so I can get it" learners, you'll see four colorful
characters:
- the Nerd, representing the nominative case
- the Girl, representing the genitive case
- the Dog, representing the dative case
- the Anteater, representing the accusative case.
For those who are "give me the facts in a table, so I can get it" learners, you'll see a single
table, ready for you to analyze and commit to memory.
For those who are "sing it to me so I can get it" learners, you'll hear the music, below.
Here are the lyrics (when it says snap, snap your fingers):
- hots-hay-top (sss-snap)
- boy-I-tap (yes-a)
- two-taste-two (boss!)
- tone-tone-tone
- toe-tape-toe (ee!)
- toys-ice-toys (seen)
- tongue-tank-top (yawn snap)

- twos-taps-tap
---
Now check out the 13 noun endings in this verse:
1 Thes 1:1 Παῦ.λος καὶ Σι.λου.α.νὸς καὶ Τι.μό.θε.ος τῇ ἐκ.κλη.σί.ᾳ Θεσ.σα.λο.νι.κέ.ων ἐν

θε.ῷ πα.τρὶ καὶ κυ.ρί.ῳ Ἰ.η.σοῦ Χρι.στῷ· χά.ρις ὑ.μῖν καὶ εἰ.ρή.νη.
Παῦλ|ος, Σιλουαν|ὸς, Τιμόθε|ος

- Form: nominative singular masculine
- If the complete stem ended in a consonant, the form would be: genitive singular m-f-m
ἐκκλησί|ᾳ
- Form: dative singular feminine
- The little iota marks this as dative.
Θεσσαλονικέ|ων
- Form (upon looking at the ending): genitive plural m-f-n
- Form (upon looking up the gender): genitive plural masculine
---
exercise
Translate 1 Thes 1:1, using the Greek study section at the Great Treasures site.
---
Little Notes
---
Masculine nouns that refer to people
A singular masculine noun which has no feminine form (μα.θη.τής, disciple) may refer to a male OR a female.
Consider context.
- A plural masculine noun (ἀ.δελ.φοὶ brethren) may refer to males OR both males and females. Consider
context (it appears that "brethren" is the word modern versions use, to reflect a context inclusive of both
males and females).
---
Transitive, intransitive
Transitive verbs work with direct objects. Intransitive verbs don't.
---
Direct-object exceptions
Some verbs insist upon working with a genitive or dative direct object, rather than with an accusative one.
When you encounter one, let the context be your guide. You can cross-check what you are observing with a
detailed lexical entry, for example, the "long definitions" at the Great Treasures site.
---
Noun-ending exceptions
- Proper names often do not strictly follow the usual ending patterns. See the forms any time, by selecting a
proper name and "Show NT forms" (or check a lexicon).
- Sometimes gender does not strictly follow the usual ending patterns. The two most common exceptions are
these masculine nouns that appear to have feminine endings: μαθητής disciple and προφήτης prophet.
---
Apposition
Sometimes nouns or phrases appear one after the other, functioning the same way within a sentence. The
second one further identifies the first one. The second one is said to be in apposition (meaning, side-by-side).
1 Thes 1:1 ...ἐν θε.ῷ πατ.ρὶ καὶ κυ.ρί.ῳ Ἰ.η.σοῦ Χρισ.τῷ...

---
Genitive (more...): this case adds a description. Most of the time, using of + noun is a good translation of the
relationship between the genitive noun and the verb it is describing. As part of your study, you may consider
what kind of relationship between the genitive noun and the word it is describing:
- of [owned by]
- of [related to]
- of [pertaining to]
- of [characterized by]
- at [time]
- at [location]
Here are some examples:
Gal 3:22 ...ἡἐ.παγ.γε.λί.α ἐκ πί.στε.ως Ἰ.η.σοῦ Χρι.στοῦ...

The promise of faith of [pertaining to] Jesus Christ...
Rom 1:1 Παῦ.λος δοῦ.λος Χρι.στοῦ Ἰ.η.σοῦ...

Paul, bond servant of [owned by] Jesus Christ
Heb 3:12 ...καρ.δία πο.νη.ρὰ ἀ.πι.στί.ας...

Evil heart of [characterized by] sin
Col 1:27 ...ἡ ἐλ.πὶς τῆς δόξ.ης,

The hope of [characterized by] glory
---
Vocative (a fifth case): This case is the one used in direct address. It occurs only rarely. It's easy to detect:
first you notice the noun endings are somewhat different; the you remember vocative, notice that it's direct
address, and keep reading. Here is an example, the word κύριε:
Rom 10:16 ...κύ.ριε, τίς ἐ.πί.στευ.σεν τῇ ἀ.κοῇ ἡ.μῶν;

..."Lord, who believed the report of us?"
..."Lord, who believed our report?"
---
Ablout (ahb-lout): a vowel that is short in some form, long in others.
Substantive: a category spanning nouns and pronouns: those things that add substance to a sentence.
---
Grammar 1b: Pronoun
---
pronoun: stands in for a noun
A pronoun may be one of four kinds:

- Personal pronoun
- Indefinite pronoun
- Demonstrative pronoun
- Relative pronoun
---
personal pronoun
A personal pronoun is one that stands in for a person:

- Nominative: I, you, he/she/it; we, you, they
- Genitive: my, your, his/her/its; our, your, their
- Dative, Accusative: me, you, him/her/it; us, you, them
1st person singular: I

- 4 forms, one for each case
- ἐγώ, μου, μοι, με
- for emphasis: --, ἐμοῦ, ἐμοί, ἐμέ
2nd person singular: you

- σύ, σου, σοι, σε
3rd person singular: he, she, it

- 12 forms
- nominative forms: αὐ.τός, αὐ.τή, αὐ.τό
1st person plural: we

- ἡ.μεῖς, ἡ.μῶν, ἡ.μῖν, ἡ.μᾶς
2nd person plural: you
- ὑ.μεῖς, ὑ.μῶν, ὑ.μῖν, ὑ.μᾶς
3rd person plural

- 12 forms
- nominative forms: αὐ.τοί, αὐ.ταί, αὐ.τά
A personal pronoun agrees with the noun it stands in for, in number and case--and for 3rd
person forms, it matches in gender, too.
---
nominative personal pronoun: emphasis

in an amount supplied by context
A verb has the pronouns--I, you (singular), he/she/it, we, you (all), they--already built in.
When a pronoun is needed, it's already there in the verb form.
1 Thes 1:2 Εὐ.χα.ρι.στοῦ.μεν....

We give thanks
Sometimes, in addition to what the verb has built into it, you'll find something extra: a
personal pronoun in the nominative case.
1 Thes 1:6 καὶ ὑ.μεῖς μι.μη.ταὶ ἡ.μῶν ἐ.γε.νή.θη.τε καὶ τοῦ κυ.ρί.ου...
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord
The personal pronoun in the nominative case is ὑ.μεῖς.
The Greek Bible Study site shows such pronouns in bold, automatically, to assist a reader
in recognizing such pronouns.
A personal pronoun in the nominative case brings some amount of emphasis to a pronoun,
as it effectively occurs twice: (1) as a pronoun, (2) as the pronoun built into the verb.
How much emphasis? Consider the context for understanding. Then bring that level of
emphasis into your reading, living, and teaching of the Scriptures.
So, when reading aloud for a group, you might choose to read it this way, without
mentioning Greek at all, yet benefiting from the added understanding you gained while
consider the Greek text:
2 Sam 12:7 ...σὺ εἶ ὁ ἀνὴρ...

you are the man
Matt 26:39 ...οὐχ ὡς ἐ.γὼ θέ.λω ἀλλ' ὡς σύ...

not as I I will but as you you will
not as I will but as you will
not as I will but as you
John 10:10 ...ἐ.γὼ ἦλ.θον ἵ.να ζω.ὴν ἔ.χω.σιν...

I I came that life they might have
I came that they might have life
1 Thes 1:6 καὶ ὑ.μεῖς μι.μη.ταὶ ἡ.μῶν ἐ.γε.νή.θη.τε καὶ τοῦ κυ.ρί.ου...
and you you became imitators of us and of the Lord
and you became imitators of us and of the Lord
1 John 4:10-11, 19
...οὐχ ὅ.τι ἡ.μεῖς ἠ.γα.πή.σα.μεν τὸν θε.όν,
ἀλλ' ὅ.τι αὐ.τὸς ἠ.γά.πη.σεν ἡ.μᾶς...
...καὶ ἡ.μεῖς ὀ.φεί.λο.μεν ἀλ.λή.λους ἀ.γα.πᾶν...
ἡ.μεῖς ἀ.γα.πῶ.μεν, ὅ.τι αὐ.τὸς πρῶ.τος ἠ.γά.πη.σεν ἡ.μᾶς.
not that we loved God but that he loved us...
also we ought to love one another...
we love, because he first loved us.
---
3rd person personal pronoun: emphasis

Consider third person, personal pronoun: αὐ.τός.

It has the basic meaning of he, she, or it.
When in the nominative case, αὐ.τός is understood as himself, herself, or itself (or if plural,
as themselves).
1 Thes 1:9 αὐ.τοὶ γὰρ πε.ρὶ ἡ.μῶν ἀ.παγ.γέλ.λου.σιν...

for they themselves report about us
The verb means they report. The nominative pronoun adds they, resulting in they they
report or more simply: they themselves report.
Eph 2:14 ...αὐ.τὸς γάρ ἐσ.τιν ἡ εἰ.ρή.νη ἡ.μῶν...

for He He is the peace of us
for He Himself is our peace
for He is our peace
1 John 4:10 ...οὐχ ὅ.τι ἡ.μεῖς ἠ.γα.πή.σα.μεν τὸν θε.όν, ἀλλ' ὅ.τι αὐ.τὸς ἠ.γά.πη.σεν ἡ.μᾶς...
not that we we loved God, but that He He loved us
not that we loved God, but that He loved us
1 John 4:18 ἡ.μεῖς ἀ.γα.πῶ.μεν, ὅ.τι αὐ.τὸς πρῶ.τος ἠ.γά.πη.σεν ἡ.μᾶς.

we we love, because he first he loved us
we love, because He first loved us
---
3rd person personal pronoun: pointer

sometimes it simply points out a noun
Sometimes an αὐ.τός form adds an extra "it" side-by-side with a noun, pointing out that
noun--and understood in this way: the same.
1 Cor 1:10 ...ἐν τῷ αὐ.τῷ νο.ῒ καὶ ἐν τῇ αὐ.τῇ γνώ.μῃ...

in the same mind and in the same judgment
1 Cor 12:4-6 ...τὸ δὲ αὐ.τὸ πνεῦ.μα...καὶ ὁ αὐ.τὸς κύ.ρι.ος...ὁ δὲ αὐ.τὸς θε.ός...

but the same spirit...and the same Lord...but the same God
---
indefinite pronoun
The indefinite pronoun is τις: anyone, anything.
1 Thes 1:8 ... λα¦λεῖν τι·

to speak anything
---
demonstrative pronoun
A demonstrative pronoun is one that demonstrates something: this, that, these, those.
The two major demonstrative pronouns are οὕ.τος (this) and ἐ.κεῖ.νος (that). A third,
infrequently used demonstrative pronoun is ὅδε (this).
Here are the nominative forms (that is to say, 6 of the 24 forms) of οὕ.τος (this) and
ἐ.κεῖ.νος (that):
nominative singular: masc, fem, neut

this: οὕ.τος, αὕ.τη, τοῦ.το
that: ἐ.κεῖ.νος, ἐ.κεί.νη, ἐ.κεῖ.νο
nominative plural: masc, fem, neut

these: οὗ.τοι, αὗ.ται, ταῦ.τα
those: ἐ.κεῖ.νοι, ἐ.κεῖ.ναι, ἐ.κεῖ.να
A demonstrative pronoun matches this way:

- Gender and number: match what it refers to
- Case matches:
- (1) What it describes, when functioning as an adjective
- (2) Or how it functions within the sentence.
---
nominative demonstrative pronoun,

functioning as a personal pronoun: emphasis
A nominative demonstrative pronoun (especially ἐ.κεῖ.νος), when functioning as a third

personal pronoun (αὐ.τός), indicates some emphasis. How much added emphasis?
Consider the context. Here is an example:
1 John 4:17 ...ὅ.τι κα.θὼς ἐ.κεῖ.νός ἐ.στιν καὶ ἡ.μεῖς ἐσ.μεν ἐν τῷ κόσ.μῳ τού.τῳ.
because as HE is, also WE are in this world
---
relative pronoun
A relative pronoun--who, whom, which, that--connects a noun or pronoun with a word

group that describes which one, what kind, or how much.
A relative pronoun and an article look somewhat similar. Yet a relative pronoun is easy to
spot:
- No initial τ
- A rough breathing mark
- An accent mark
The colors make it easy to distinguish: pronouns are blue; articles are black.
1 Thes 1:8 ...ὁ λό.γος...

- the Word
- ὁ is the article, meaning the
1 Thes 2:13 ...λό.γον θε.οῦ, ὅς καὶ ἐ.νερ.γεῖ.ται ἐν ὑ.μῖν τοῖς πισ.τεύ.ου.σιν.

- Translation: the Word of God, which also energizes in you, the believing ones
- ὅς is the relative pronoun, meaning which
- What kind of Word? The one which energizes in you, the believing ones.
Articles and relative pronouns have 24 forms each.
Here are the 6 nominative forms for each:
nominative singular
- article: ὁ, ἡ, τό
- relative pronoun: ὅς, ἥ, ὅ
nominative plural: masc, fem, neut

- article: οἱ, αἱ, τά
- relative pronoun: οἵ, αἵ, ἅ
---
relative pronoun: agrees and identifies
Usually:
- A relative pronoun's gender and number agrees with what it describes.
- A relative pronoun's case identifies the relative pronoun's function within a relative
clause (a word group that begins with a relative pronoun).
Eph 1:7 ...κα.τὰ τὸ πλοῦ.τος τῆς χά.ρι.τος αὐ.τοῦ,

according to the riches of His grace,
Eph 1:8 ...ἥς ἐ.πε.ρίσ.σευ.σεν εἰς ἡ.μᾶς...
ἥ
singular, feminine
- Does not agree with πλοῦ.τος -- singular neuter
- Agrees with χά.ρι.τος -- singular feminine
genitive
- Appears to be functioning as the direct object of ἐ.πε.ρίσ.σευ.σεν
- If so, then this verb accepts genitive direct objects.
- The long definition (Thayer) at Greek Bible Study--confirms this.
ἥς ἐ.πε.ρίσ.σευ.σεν εἰς ἡ.μᾶς...

- Translation: which [His grace] He has abundantly supplied to us
---
relative pronoun: a tip when translating into shorter sentences
One can express the sense of a relative pronoun (in Greek) as a personal pronoun (in
English)--and end up with shorter sentences.
Eph 1:8 ...ἥς ἐ.πε.ρίσ.σευ.σεν εἰς ἡ.μᾶς...

- Translation: which [His grace] He has abundantly supplied to us
- Another translation: He has abundantly supplied it [His grace] to us.
---
is that "that" a demonstrative pronoun or a relative pronoun?
In English, the way to tell if a "that" is a demonstrative pronoun or a relative pronoun is by

context.
- A demonstrative pronoun points something out--this, that, these, those.
- A relative pronoun usually connects a word group (with a verb form) to some noun--that
(connecting a noun with what follows) or which (connecting a noun with what follows).
In Greek, the language uses different words, so there are no "that" mix ups!
- οὕτος and ἐκεῖνος are demonstrative pronouns.
- ὅς, ἥ, ὅ are relative pronouns.
---
Little Notes
---
Antecedent: the noun that a pronoun is standing in for.
That, which: When translating ὅς, use that when what follows restricts; use which otherwise.
Grammar 2: Article, Adjective, Adverb
---
article
How to translate
Translate a Greek article as "the" or not at all,
to convey the amount of "pointing out" the article does.
Translate other nouns with an "a" or "an" wherever English needs it.
---
adjective: describes a noun (which one? what kind? how many?)
How to translate
Put it before the noun it describes.
---
adverb: describes a verb (when? where? how? to what extent?)
How to translate
Put it in the same word order.
Consider moving it closer to what it describes, if needed to help a reader make that
connection.
An adverb usually describes a verb, yet at times may describe an adjective or another adverb.
---
article: points out a noun
color coding: black
An article and its noun agree in case, number, and gender.
The article comes in 24 readily-recognizable forms. And the forms are very consistent. So
you can use them to determine gender, number, and case. For example:
Eph 1:7 ...κα.τὰ τὸ πλοῦ.τος τῆς χά.ρι.τος αὐ.τοῦ...

according to the riches of His grace
Here, two words end in -ος. The article is a helpful guide.

- τὸ reveals that πλοῦ.τος is nominative or accusative; singular; neuter.
- τῆς reveals that χά.ρι.τος is genitive, singular, feminine.
---
article present: When an article is present, try it out when conveying what is being said;
however, sometimes you won't use it for expressing the thought in English.
1 Thes 1:3 ...τοῦ ἔρ.γου τῆς πί.στε.ως

καὶ τοῦ κό.που τῆς ἀ.γά.πης
καὶ τῆς ὑ.πο.μο.νῆς τῆς ἐλ.πί.δος...
work of faith
and labor of love
and patience of hope
------
article absent: If an article is absent, you may need to supply a, an, or the to convey the
same sense in English.
1 Thes 1:7 ὥ.στε γε.νέσ.θαι ὑ.μᾶς τύ.πον...

so that you became an example
1 Thes 1:1 ...ἐν θε.ῷ πα.τρὶ καὶ κυ.ρί.ῳ Ἰ.η.σοῦ Χρι.στῷ...

---
article: special combos
Articles appear in special combinations:

- Article + participle
- Article + infinitive
- Article + preposition.
The participle, verb, and preposition lessons include details about these special
combinations.
---
article: 24 forms
Here is a list of the 24 forms of the article:
Nominative
- singular m-f-n: ὁ ἡ τό
- plural m-f-n: οἱ αἱ τά
Genitive
- singular m-f-n: τοῦ τῆς τοῦ
- plural m-f-n: τῶν τῶν τῶν
Dative
- singular m-f-n: τῷ τῇ τῷ
- plural m-f-n: τοῖς ταῖς τοῖς
Accusative
- singular m-f-n: τόν τήν τό
- plural m-f-n: τούς τάς τά
---
article vs. relative pronoun: how to tell them apart
A relative pronoun and an article look somewhat similar. Yet a relative pronoun is easy to
spot:
- No initial τ
- A rough breathing mark
- An accent mark
In addition, at the Great Treasures site: pronouns are blue; articles are black.
1 Thes 1:8 ...ὁ λό.γος...

the word
Here, ὁ is the article, meaning the.
1 Thes 2:13 ...λό.γον θε.οῦ, ὅς καὶ ἐ.νερ.γεῖ.ται...

the word of God, which also energizes
Here, ὅς is blue, a relative pronoun, meaning which.
------------------------------------------------
adjective: describes a noun (which one? what kind? how many?)
color coding
- black (in this grammar)
- underlined in blue (in the Greek text within the Greek Bible Study site)
An adjective and its noun agree in case, number, and gender.
---
adjective patterns
1st pattern: adjective yet no noun

- The adjective functions as a noun.
1 Thes 1:10 ...ἐκ τῶν νεκ.ρῶν...

from the dead ones
from the dead
2nd pattern: no articles for an adjective or noun

- Understand from context.
1 Thes 1:9 ...θε.ῷ ζῶν.τι καὶ ἀ.λη.θι.νῷ,...

God living one and true one
the living and true God
3rd pattern: article for an adjective, optional for a noun

- The adjective functions as an adjective.
1 Thes 2:14 ...ὑ.πὸ τῶν ἰ.δί.ων συμ.φυ.λε.τῶν...

by the same sufferings
4th pattern: no article for an adjective, optional for a noun
- Understand it this way: ____ is _____.
1 Tim 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim 2:11

πι.στὸς ὁ λό.γος...
the Word is faithful
---
numbers
Numbers are adjectives, describing how many. You'll encounter and learn numbers in
context.
The most frequent number is εἷς, meaning one. It's forms are:
- εἷς masculine
- μί.α feminine
- ἓν neuter
Eph 4:5 εἷς κύ.ρι.ος, μί.α πίσ.τις, ἓν βάπ.τισ.μα·

one Lord, one faith, one baptism
---
adjectives within 1 Thes 1
1 Thes 1:2 ...πε.ρὶ πάν.των ὑ.μῶν...
πάν.των
- Translation: all
- What it is: adjective
- Form: genitive plural m-f-n
- Agrees with: ὑ.μῶν
- Describes: ὑ.μῶν
- Describing: which one, what kind, how many | when, where, how, to what extent
ὑ.μῶν
- Translation: you
- What it is: noun
- Form: genitive plural --
- Agrees with: --
- Functions as: object of the preposition πε.ρὶ
- Describes: --
- Describing: --
πε.ρὶ πάν.των ὑ.μῶν

- Translation: for you all
---
1 Thes 1:5 ...ἐν πνεύ.μα.τι ἁ.γί.ῳ καὶ πλη.ρο.φο.ρί.ᾳ πολ.λῇ...
ἁγί|ῳ
- Translation: holy one; holy
- Form: dative singular m-n
- Agrees with: πνεύματι
- Describes: πνεύματι
πολλ|ῇ
- Translation: much
- Form: dative singular feminine
- Agrees with: πληροφορίᾳ, full conviction
- Describes: πληροφορίᾳ
...ἐν πνεύ.μα.τι ἁ.γί.ῳ καὶ πλη.ρο.φο.ρί.ᾳ πολ.λῇ...

- Translation: in holy spirit and with much, full conviction
---
1 Thes 1:9 ...δου.λεύ.ειν θε.ῷ...ἀ.λη.θι.νῷ,...
δου.λεύ.ειν θε.ῷ
- Translation: to serve God
- What it is: an infinitive and its direct object (in dative rather than accusative, which
happens from time to time)
ἀληθιν|ῷ
- Translation: true one; true
- Form: dative singular masculine
- Agrees with: θε.ῷ
- Describes: θε.ῷ
δου.λεύ.ειν θε.ῷ...ἀ.λη.θι.νῷ
to serve God, the true one
---
1 Thes 1:10 ...ἐκ τῶν νε.κρῶν...
νεκρ|ῶν
- Translation: dead ones
- Form: genitive plural masculine
- Agrees with: --
- Functions as: object of the preposition ἐκ
- Describes: ones
ἐκ τῶν νε.κρῶν
- Translation: from the dead ones
------------------------------------------------
adverb: describes a verb (when? where? how? to what extent?)
An adverb usually describes a verb, yet at times may describe an adjective or another
adverb.
color coding
- black (in this Grammar)
- underlined in red (in the Greek text within the Greek Bible Study site)
An adverb does not agree with anything else, since it doesn't have anything with which to
agree.
Most of the time, this is not a problem, as the adverb is physically close to what it
describes. What if you find an adverb located about the same distance from two words
(verbs, adjectives, other adverbs) which it could describe? Read and consider the context,
including context provided by similar passages.
1 Thes 1:3 Εὐ.χα.ρι.στοῦ.μεν τῷ θε.ῷ πάν.το.τε...
πάντοτε
- Translation: always
- What it is: adverb
- Form: --
- Agrees with: --
- Functions as: adverb
- Describes: Εὐ.χα.ρι.στοῦ.μεν
Εὐ.χα.ρι.στοῦ.μεν τῷ θε.ῷ πάν.το.τε...

We give thanks to God always
---
1 Thes 1:5 ...οὐκ ἐ.γε.νή.θη εἰς ὑ.μᾶς ἐν λό.γῳ μό.νον...
μόνον
- Translation: only
- Form: --
- Agrees with: --
- Describes: ἐ.γε.νή.θη it came to us
οὐκ ἐ.γε.νή.θη εἰς ὑ.μᾶς ἐν λό.γῳ μό.νον

it came to you not in word only
---
1 Thes 1:9 ...καὶ πῶς ἐ.πε.στρέ.ψα.τε πρὸς τὸν θε.ὸν...
πῶς
- Translation: how
- Form: --
- Agrees with: --
- Describes: ἐ.πε.στρέ.ψα.τε you turned
καὶ πῶς ἐ.πε.στρέ.ψα.τε πρὸς τὸν θε.ὸν

and how you turned to God
---
Little Notes
---
Articular: a word with a corresponding article.
Anarthrous (ahn-ahr-thruhs): a word without a corresponding article.
---
Article vs articles. English has two articles. The definite article is the. The indefinite article is a. However, in
Greek, there is just one article--and it corresponds to the word the. That is why it is referred to as the article,
for there is just one in Greek.
Modifier: the category of words that describe other words; this category includes articles, adjectives, and
adverbs.
Substantive: an adjective which functions as a noun.
Position. Three terms describe the position of an adjective, relative to its corresponding noun. Using these
abbreviations:
| r = article | a = adjective | n = noun |
...here are the names and corresponding a patterns:
- Attributive position: r-a-n, or r-n-r-a
- Substantive position: r-a
- Predicative position: r-n-a or a-r-n
Grammar 3: Participle
participle
How to translate
1. Choose one of the meanings, based upon context and other passages.
2. Add "-ing" to it.
3. How does it function?

- If it has an article, it functions adjectivally.
- If it does not have an article, check context.
Look for a close verb (or adjective not acting as a noun, adjectival participle not acting as a noun, adverb). Is
the participle describing "when, where, how, why?" If so, it is functioning adverbially.
Look for a close noun (or pronoun, adjective functioning as a noun, adjectival participle acting as a noun). Is
the participle describing "which one, what kind, how many?" If so, it's functioning adjectivally.
- Examples
- Article, so it's adjectival; ending agrees with what it describes. 1 Thes 1:10 Ἰ¦η¦σοῦν τὸν ῥυ¦ό¦με¦νον
- No article, adverbial by context; ending agrees with the actor. 1 Thes 1:2 μνεί¦αν ποι¦ού¦με¦νοι
- No article, adjectival by context; ending agrees with what it describes. 1 Thes 1:4 ἀ¦δελ¦φοὶ ἠ¦γα¦πη¦μέ¦νοι
4. Check the ending.

- It agrees with what it describes (when adjectival) or with the actor (if adverbial).
5. Apply the translation tip.

- It helps in giving the sense about when the action happens, relative to the main verb.
- Examples
2 Thes 2:17 ἀ¦πορ¦φα¦νισ¦θέν¦τες
- aorist participle: before the main verb

- translation: after being taken away; having been taken away; since we were taken away
1 Thes 1:2 ποι¦ού¦με¦νοι
- present participle: contemporaneous with the main verb
- tip: ...g
- translation: making
1 Pet 3:13 ὁ κα¦κώ¦σων
- future participle: subsequent to the main verb
- translation: whoever will be harming; who will harm you
5. If the verb "to be" is working with this participle, translate the two as a unit.
---
color coding: red body + blue ending
---
A participle is a verbal adjective or adverb.
Examples: remembering; believing one

- verb body + noun ending
- Functions as: adjective or adverb (or as a noun, since an adjective can function as a noun)
- Basic translation: verb + ing
How to tell how a participle is functioning

- If an article is present, a participle always functions as an adjective.
- If an article is absent, a participle usually functions as an adverb. Check the context. If
the participle describes a verb (or adjective or another adverb), then it functions as an
adverb. If the participle describes a noun (or acts as a noun), then it functions as an
adjective.
Agreement
- Usually, a participle's noun ending agrees with the doer of the action.
- If the verb body is passive in meaning, a participle's noun ending agrees with the
recipient of the action.
- The agreement is in case, number, and gender.
What occurred when

- A participle's tense (expressed in its verb body) is relative to the main verb in the sentence.
---
participles describe things
Using participles is a special Greek way of describing things
Many readers of the Greek Scriptures come to especially enjoy participles. Why? It's the
expressive quality, rhythm, and depth of what is said and how it is said.
Consider the two participles in the following:
1 Thes 1:10 ...Ἰ.η.σοῦν τὸν ῥυ.ό.με.νον ἡ.μᾶς ἐκ τῆς ὀρ.γῆς τῆς ἐρ.χο.μέ.νης.
ῥυ.ό.με.ν|ον
- What it is: participle
- Form, verb body: present middle-passive
- Form, noun ending: accusative singular masculine
- Tip: - adj -- middle: a ...g one | passive: a being-...d one
- Translation: the rescuing one
- Agrees with: Ἰ.η.σοῦν, the doer of the action
- Describes: Ἰ.η.σοῦν Jesus
ἐρ.χο.μέ.ν|ης
- Form, noun ending: genitive singular feminine
- Tip: - adj -- middle: a ...g one | passive: a being-...d one
- Translation: the coming one
- Agrees with: ὀρ.γῆς, the doer of the action
- Describes: ὀρ.γῆς wrath
Jesus, the rescuing one of us, from the wrath, the coming one
This is a very Greek way of expressing this truth:
Jesus, the rescuing one of us,

from the wrath, the coming one
In translation for publication, the meaning is expressed in smoother English, for

readability:
Jesus, who rescues us

from the wrath to come
Yet the Greek way of saying this is something delightful and special, especially when one
also considers context (for example, 1 Thes 4:17-18):
Jesus, the rescuing one of us, from the wrath, the coming one
And that is a glimpse into why participle-based descriptions can be so beautiful, deep, and
moving.
---
other participles in 1 Thes 1
We've considered the two participles in 1 Thes 1, right at the very end of that chapter.
Now let's consider the other seven participles in 1 Thes 1.
1 Thes 1:2 ...μνεί.αν ποι.ού.με.νοι ἐ.πὶ τῶν προ.σευ.χῶν ἡ.μῶν,
ποιούμεν|οι
- Form, noun ending: nominative plural masculine
- Tip: adv -- middle: ...g | passive: being ...d
- Translation: making
- Agrees with: Παῦ.λος, Σι.λου.α.νὸς, Τι.μό.θε.ος, doers | recipients (if passive in meaning)
A participle, just like any part of speech with a verb (red) body, may have a direct object;
usually such a direct object is in the accusative case. For example:
μνεί|αν
- Translation: mention
- Form: accusative singular feminine
- Agrees with: --
- Functions as: direct object of ποι.ού.με.νοι
- Describes: ποι.ού.με.νοι
μνεί.αν ποι.ού.με.νοι ἐ.πὶ τῶν προ.σευ.χῶν ἡ.μῶν

making mention in our prayers
---
1 Thes 1:3 ...μνη.μο.νεύ.ον.τες ὑ.μῶν τοῦ ἔρ.γου...καὶ τοῦ κό.που...καὶ τῆς ὑ.πο.μο.νῆς...
μνημονεύοντ|ες
- Form, verb body: present active
- Form, noun ending: nominative plural m-f (by context, masculine)
- Tip: adv: ...g | adj: a ...g one
- Translation: remembering
- Describes: Εὐ.χα.ρι.στοῦ.μεν or ποι.ού.με.νοι
μνη.μο.νεύ.ον.τες ὑ.μῶν τοῦ ἔρ.γου...καὶ τοῦvκό.που...καὶ τῆς ὑ.πο.μο.νῆς

remembering your "of work...and of labor...and of patience" ?
"Remembering your of work and of labor and of patience" does not quite make sense, does
it? It almost looks as if this verb form, in this context, prefers a genitive direct object,
rather than the more common accusative direct object. And that indeed is the situation
here.
Often, one can confirm such a thing by checking a lexicon. Here is an excerpt of what's in
the long definition, from the Great Treasures site (color highlighting added).
μνημονεύω... 1. to be mindful of, to remember, to call to mind: absol. Mk. viii. 18; τινός, Lk.
xvii. 32; Jn. xv. 20; xvi. 4, 21; Acts xx. 35; 1 Th. i. 3; [Heb. xiii. 7]; contextually i. q. to think of and
feel for a person or thing: w. gen. of the thing...
And so:
μνη.μο.νεύ.ον.τες ὑ.μῶν τοῦ ἔρ.γου...καὶ τοῦ κό.που...καὶ τῆς ὑ.πο.μο.νῆς

remembering your work...and labor...and patience
---
1 Thes 1:4 εἰ.δό.τες, ἀ.δελ.φοὶ ἠ.γα.πη.μέ.νοι ὑ.πὸ τοῦ θε.οῦ, τὴν ἐκ.λο.γὴν ὑ.μῶν,
εἰδότ|ες
- Form, verb body: perfect active
- Form, noun ending: nominative plural m-f (by context, masculine)
- Tip: adv: having ...d | adj: a having-...d one
- Translation: having known; knowing (rationale for rendering this as knowing: perfect is
completed action in the past, with effects in the present)
- Describes: Εὐ.χα.ρι.στοῦ.μεν or ποι.ού.με.νοι or μνη.μο.νεύ.ον.τες
ἠγαπημέν|οι
What it is: participle
- Form, verb body: perfect middle-passive
- Translation: having been loved ones; beloved; loved
- Tip: adj -- middle: a having-...d one | passive: a having-been-...d one
- Agrees with: ἀ.δελ.φοὶ, doers | recipients (passive)
- Describes: ἀ.δελ.φοὶ brethren
εἰ.δό.τες, ἀ.δελ.φοὶ ἠ.γα.πη.μέ.νοι ὑ.πὸ τοῦ θε.οῦ, τὴν ἐκ.λο.γὴν ὑ.μῶν,
knowing, brethren--the having been loved by God ones--the choice of you
knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you
We give thanks to God always for you all:

- Making mention of you in our prayers
- Remembering constantly your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our
Lord Jesus Christ, in the presence of our God and Father
- Knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you.
---
1 Thes 1:6 ...δε.ξά.με.νοι τὸν λό.γον...
δεξάμεν|οι
- Form, verb body: aorist middle | deponent (active in meaning)
- From, noun ending: nominative plural masculine
- Tip:
- Translation: after receiving
- Agrees with: ἀ.δελ.φοὶ, the doers of the action | the recipients of the action
- Describes: ἐ.γε.νή.θη.τε you became
...δε.ξά.με.νοι τὸν λό.γον...

after receiving the Word
A participle's sense of time, it's tense (expressed in its verb body), is relative to the main verb in the sentence.
Here:
...δε.ξά.με.νοι τὸν λό.γον...

after receiving the Word
...occurred in the past, some time before the main verb, which also occurred in the past:
...ὑ.μεῖς μι.μη.ταὶ ἡ.μῶν ἐ.γε.νή.θη.τε...
you became imitators of us.
Hence, first they received the Word. After that, they became imitators.
---
1 Thes 1:7 ...γε.νέσ.θαι ὑ.μᾶς τύ.πον πᾶ.σιν τοῖς πι.στεύ.ου.σιν...
πιστεύου|σιν
- Form, noun ending: dative plural m-f-n (by context: masc)
- Translation: to the believing ones
- Agrees with: πᾶ.σιν, doers | recipients (if passive in meaning)
- Describes: πᾶ.σιν all
...γε.νέσ.θαι ὑ.μᾶς τύ.πον πᾶ.σιν τοῖς πι.στεύ.ου.σιν...

you became an example to all the believing ones
you became an example to all the believers
---
1 Thes 1:9 ...θε.ῷ ζῶν.τι καὶ ἀ.λη.θι.νῷ...
ζῶντ|ι
- Form, noun ending: dative singular m-f-n (by context, masculine)
- Translation: living
- Agrees with: θε.ῷ, doer | recipient (if passive in meaning)
- Describes: θε.ῷ God
- Describing which one, what kind, how many | when, where, how, to what extent
...θε.ῷ ζῶν.τι καὶ ἀ.λη.θι.νῷ...

God, the living one and true one
the living and true God
---
another example of relative time
Here, the participles are present tense, indicating that the action occurs contemporaneous
with (at the same time as) the main verb.
Phil 3:13-14 ... ἐ.πι.λαν.θα.νό.με.νος ... ἐ.πεκ.τει.νό.με.νος ... δι.ώ.κω ...
ἐπιλανθανόμεν|ος
- Form, verb body: present middle-passive deponent (middle-passive in form; active in
meaning)
- Form, noun ending: nominative singular masculine
- Translation: forgetting
- Agrees with: I, expressed within δι.ώ.κω doer | recipient (if passive in meaning)
- Describes: δι.ώ.κω I press
ἐπεκτεινόμεν|ος
- Translation: reaching
- Agrees with: I, expressed within δι.ώ.κω doer | recipient (if passive in meaning)
- Describes: δι.ώ.κω I press
δι.ώ.κω
- What it is: verb
- Form: 1st person singular present active indicative
- Tip: I ...
- Translation: I press
... ἐ.πι.λαν.θα.νό.με.νος ... ἐ.πεκ.τει.νό.με.νος ... δι.ώ.κω ...

... forgetting ... reaching ... I press on ...
---
occasionally, the ending comes built in
Sometimes a participle will have an internal code, so specific that it also reveals gender,
number, and case--so that a blue noun ending is not needed.
In such cases, by displaying a blue underscore after the participle body, a reader can
readily recognize that it's still a participle: red verb body + blue noun ending.
Rom 8:33 ...θε.ὸς ὁ δι.και.ῶν_·
δι.και.ῶν_ is a participle. It's verb code (also known as a tense formative) is ῶν and need
no noun ending, as the verb fully indicates the form: present active participle and
nominative singular masculine.
δι.και.ῶν_
- Translation: Just One
- Agrees with: θε.ός, doer | recipient (if passive in meaning)
θε.ὸς ὁ δι.και.ῶν_
God, the Just One
---
1 Cor 12:6 ...θε.ός, ὁ ἐ.νερ.γῶν_ τὰ πάν.τα ἐν πᾶ.σιν.
ἐ.νερ.γῶν_ is a participle. It's verb code is ῶν and need no noun ending, as the verb fully
indicates the form: present active participle and nominative singular masculine.
So the participle is red (verb body) and blue (noun ending, represented by a blue
underscore for those exceptions in which an explicit noun ending is not needed).
ἐνεργῶν|_
- Translation: energizing one
- Agrees with: θε.ός, doer | recipient (if passive in meaning)
θε.ός, ὁ ἐ.νερ.γῶν_ τὰ πάν.τα ἐν πᾶ.σιν

God, the "energizing all in all" one
God, who energizes all in all
---
exercise
Translate 1 Thes 1:2, using the Greek study section at the Great Treasures site.
---
Little Notes
---
Periphrastic construction: a round-about way of saying something. This occurs when the the verb "to be" and
a participle appear together. Understand and translate them as a single unit.
Eph 2:8 ...τῇ γὰρ χά.ρι.τί ἐ.στε σε.σῳ.σμέ.νοι δι.ὰ πί.στε.ως...

...for by grace you have been saved through faith...
---
About teaching "all parts of speech with noun endings" first
This sequence of these grammar lessons breaks from tradition: presenting participles before verbs.
Here is the sequence of the first four lessons:
- Grammar 1: Noun, Pronoun -- featuring a unified approach to learning the noun endings
- Grammar 2: Article, Adjective, Adverb -- since articles and adjectives use noun endings
- Grammar 3: Participles -- since participles also use noun endings (and easy to identify, for: verbs are red;
nouns are blue; participles are red with blue endings)
- Grammar 4: Verb -- having seen the red bodies of participles, we move to verbs and verb endings.
The teaching sequence and color coding makes learning participles fun and effective (no longer the classic
stumbling block for second-semester students). And students get excited about the expressiveness of
participles--and the meaning that participles convey.
---
Considering 1 Thes 1:2-4 and what modifies what
The norm is for an adverb to modify a verb. In this passage, μνη.μο.νεύ.ον.τες (remembering) modifies the
verb Εὐ.χα.ρι.στοῦ.μεν (give thanks), expressing how they gave thanks:
We give thanks (here are 3 ways we give thanks): making mention; remembering, knowing...
An adverb usually modifies a verb. It may also modify an adjective or another adverb.
So could it be that μνη.μο.νεύ.ον.τες (remembering) modifies the participle acting as an adverb, ποι.ού.με.νοι
(making), expressing how they made mention?
We give thanks, making mention of you in our prayers (here are 2 ways we mention you in our prayers):
remembering, knowing...
This second approach would limit the remembering and knowing to the context of prayer, rather than both
inside and outside of prayer. That understanding might be more restrictive than what the Scriptures are
saying. So the first approach seems the preferred one:
We give thanks (here are 3 ways): making mention; remembering, knowing...
Even if one does not reach a conclusion regarding what describes what, even so, the fundamental message
comes across: as leaders in the church, Paul, Silas, and Timothy were giving thanks, making mention,
remembering, and knowing the election of the saints to whom they ministered.
Grammar 3 (bonus): Participle Tips
Participle: translation tips
The Greek study section at the Great Treasures site presents a translation tip alongside
each participle.
Here are the translation tips for participles:
---
Does an article occur with the participle?

- If an article is present, a participle always functions as an adjective.
- If an article is absent, a participle usually functions as an adverb; check the context (consider what the
participle describes).
The time of a participle is relative to the main verb.

- For example, an aorist participle describes action that occurred some time before the action of the main
verb.
Does a "to be" verb occur with the participle?

- If both a "to be" verb plus a participle occur together, understand and translate as a single unit.
---
Aorist participle: action in the past, relative to the main verb
aorist active participle

- adv: after ...g | adj: an after-...g one / whoever after ..g
aorist middle-passive participle

- adv middle: after ...g | passive: after being ...d
- adj middle: an after-...g one / whoever after ...g
- adj passive: an after-being-...d one / whoever after being ...d
Perfect participle
- Completed action in the past, relative to the main verb
- With effects happening at the same time as the main verb
perfect active participle

- adv: having ...d | adj: a having-...d one / whoever has ...d
perfect middle-passive participle

- adv middle: having ...d | passive: having been ...d
- adj middle: a having-...d one / whoever has ...d
- adj passive: a having-been-...d one / whoever has been ...d
---
Present participle
- Action happens at the same time as the main verb
- And so, as an adverb, it conveys the sense of "while" or "because."
present active participle

- adv: ...g | adj: a ...g one / whoever ...
present middle-passive participle

- adv middle: ...g | passive: being ...d
- adj middle: a ...g one / whoever ...
- adj passive: a being-...d one / whoever being ...d
---
Future: action in the future, relative to the main verb
future active participle

- adv: will be ...g | adj: a will-be-...g one / whoever will be ...g
future middle-passive participle

- adv middle: will be ...g | passive: will be being ...d
- adj middle: a will-be-...g one / whoever will be ...g
- adj passive: a will-be-being-...d one / whoever will be being ...d
Grammar 4: Verb
---
verb: a word that shows action or being
How to translate
Choose one of the meanings, based upon context and other passages.
Adjust it, based upon the translation tip (tense, voice, mood).
---
color coding: red
---
action or being

Εὐ.χα.ρι.στοῦ.μεν is an action verb.
1 John 3:1 ...τέκ.να θε.οῦ κλη.θῶ.μεν· καὶ ἐσ.μέν.

we are called the sons of God--and we are
κλη.θῶ.μεν is an action verb. ἐσ.μέν is a being verb.
---
four parts
Verb forms have four basic parts:

- Verb start
- Verb body
- Verb code
- Ending (no ending, for an infinitive or occasional participle; noun ending, for most participles; verb
ending, for all others)
The Greek study section at the Great Treasures site presents translation tips that reflect:
- Verb start
- Verb code
- Ending
...automatically, saving time and effort when reading or translating.
As you read, over time, you'll become more and more familiar with verb start, verb code,
and endings.
---
verb ending: indicates person and number
Person is a way to express a speaker, (1st person), to whom he is speaking (2nd person),
and about whom he is speaking (3rd person).
Number is singular (just one) or plural (more than one).
So a verb ending expresses a combination of person and number.

- Singular: I (1st), you (2nd), he/she/it (3rd)
- Plural: we (1st), you (2nd), they (3rd)
Both person and number is built into the verb form itself, in its ending. For example, by
adding a 1st person plural verb ending:
Εὐ.χα.ρι.στε + ομεν
...we end up with this result:
Εὐ.χα.ρι.στοῦ.μεν
We give thanks
---
verb code: indicates tense, voice, and mood

tense: when does the action take place, from the view of the writer
- Aorist: action usually in the past. We thanked God.
- Imperfect: continual action usually in the past. We were thanking God.
- Perfect: completed action in the past, with effects in the present. We have thanked God.
- Present: action usually in the present. We thank God.
- Future: action to occur in the future. We will thank God.
Here is one more tense. It's good to be aware of. It very rarely occurs:
- Pluperfect (think of it as "past perfect"): completed action in the past, with effects that
continued for some time in the past. We had thanked God.
voice: who is the doer of the action?

- Active: the subject does the action. We thank God.
- Middle: the subject does the action (and may be affected in some way as a result of the
action, although that rarely comes across in translation). We thank God.
- Passive: the subject receives the action. God was thanked by us.
You'll see these key terms:
- Middle-passive: if a verb is identified as middle-passive, what that indicates is the same

verb form is used for both middle and passive (that is to say: there is no way to look at the
verb form and know whether it is middle or passive). Look to the context for
understanding.
- Deponent: it's active in meaning. Many middle, passive, and middle-passive forms are
middle or passive in form, yet active in meaning; such forms are called deponent forms.
The Greek study section of the Great Treasures site indicates deponents (dep) and
automatically supplies an active-voice translation tip:
1 Thes 1:5 ...ἐ.γε.νή.θη...

it came
he/she/it ...d
3d singular aorist passive (dep) indicative
In lexicons, the convention is: any lexical verb that does not end with -ω is deponent.
mood: what is the relationship with reality?
- Indicative: It is.
1st plural present active indicative
- Subjunctive: It may be (it's probable).

1 Thes 4:1 ...ἵ.να πε.ρισ.σεύ.η.τε μᾶλ.λον.
2nd plural present active subjunctive
that you may abound even more
(in English, use may with a present or future verb; use might with a past verb)
- Optative: It may be, maybe (it's possible).

1 Thes 3:11 ...κα.τευ.θύ.ναι τὴν ὁ.δὸν ἡ.μῶν πρὸς ὑ.μᾶς·
3d singular aorist active optative
he may direct our oath to you
- Imperative: It's a command (or respectful request, when addressing a superior).

1 Thes 4:18 ὥ.στε πα.ρα.κα.λεῖ.τε ἀλ.λή.λους ἐν τοῖς λό.γοις τού.τοις.
Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
- Infinitive: It's an action, without person or number (although sometimes person and
number is supplied in context).
1 Thes 1:8 ...ὥ¦στε μὴ χρεί¦αν ἔ¦χειν ἡ¦μᾶς λα¦λεῖν τι·
ἔ¦χειν present active infinitive
λα¦λεῖν present active infinitive
so that to have no need us to speak anything
so that we have no need to speak anything
---
the verbs of 1 Thes 1
Now let's consider every verb in 1 Thes 1, verse by verse.
1 Thes 1:2
Εὐχαριστ|οῦμεν
- Form: 1st plural present active indicative
- Tip: we...
- Translation: We give thanks
---
1 Thes 1:5
ἐ|γενή|θη
- Form: 3rd singular aorist passive indicative (deponent)
- Tip: he/she/it ...d
- Translation: it came
οἴδ|ατε
- Form: 2nd plural perfect active indicative
- Tip: you (all) have ...d
- Translation: you have known
ἐ|γενή|θη|μεν
- Form: 1st person plural aorist passive indicative (deponent)
- Tip: we ...d
- Translation: we became
---
1 Thes 1:6
ἐ|γενή|θη|τε
- Form: 2nd plural aorist passive indicative; (deponent)
- Tip: you (all) ...d
- Translation: you became
---
1 Thes 1:7
γενέ|σ|θαι
- Form: aorist middle infinitive
- Tip: ...d
- Translation: became
---
1 Thes 1:8
ἐξ|ή|χη|ται
- Form: 3rd singular perfect passive indicative
- Tip: he/she/it has been ...d
- Translation: it has been sounded out
ἐξ|ελή|λυθ|εν
- Form: 3rd singular perfect active indicative
- Tip: he/she/it has ...d
- Translation: it has gone forth
ἔχ|ειν
- Form: present active infinitive
- Tip: to ...
- Translation: to have
λαλ|εῖν
- Tip: to ...
- Translation: to say
---
1 Thes 1:9
ἀπαγγέλλ|ουσιν
- Form: 3rd plural present active indicative
- Tip: they ...
- Translation: they proclaim
ἔ|σχ|ομεν
- Form: 1st plural aorist active indicative
- Tip: we ...d
- Translation: we had
ἐπ|ε|στρέ|ψ|ατε
- Form: 2nd plural aorist active indicative
- Tip: you (all) ...d
- Translation: you turned
δουλεύ|ειν
- Tip: to ...
- Translation: to serve
--
1 Thes 1:10
ἀναμέν|ειν
- Tip: to ...
- Translation: to wait for
ἤ|γειρ|εν
- Form: 3rd singular aorist active indicative
- Tip: he/she/it ...d
- Translation: He raised
---
imperative mood: a command or respectful request
Let's consider 1 Thes 4:17b-18.

1 Thes 4:17-18 ...καὶ οὕ.τως πάν.το.τε σὺν κυ.ρί.ῳ ἐ.σό.με.θα.
ὥ.στε πα.ρα.κα.λεῖ.τε ἀλ.λή.λους ἐν τοῖς λό.γοις τού.τοις.
ἐσ|όμεθα
- Form: 1st person plural future middle indicative
- Tip: we will ...
- Translation: we will be
παρακαλ|εῖτε
- Form: 2nd plural present active imperative
- Tip: 2: You... | 3: He/she/it must...
- Translation: you encourage
...and so always with the Lord we will be. Therefore encourage one another with these
words.
An imperative is a command (or it is a respectful request, when addressing a superior). The

Greek Bible Study site shows imperatives in bold, automatically, to assist a reader in
recognizing imperatives.
Historically, the first church epistle to be written was this book. So this was the first
imperative-mood command, written to the Church:
1 Thes 4:18 ὥ.στε πα.ρα.κα.λεῖ.τε ἀλ.λή.λους ἐν τοῖς λό.γοις τού.τοις.

Therefore encourage one another with these words.
---
In Greek, imperatives may be 2nd person or 3rd person. Here is an example of a 3rd
person imperative:
1 Cor 14:26 ...πάν¦τα πρὸς οἰ¦κο¦δο¦μὴν γι¦νέσ¦θω.

Form: 3d person singular present middle-passive (dep) imperative
Tip: 2: You... | 3: Let him/her/it/them...
Translation:
- all for building up it must come
- Let all things be done for building up.
---
Some additional imperative-mood commands:
Psa 118:1 αλ.λη.λου.ι.α ἐξ.ο.μο.λο.γεῖσ.θε τῷ κυ.ρί.ῳ ὅ.τι ἀ.γα.θός...

Speak out the same "Hallelujah" to the Lord, because He is good...
Matt 1:29 ὁ δὲ εἶ.πεν· ἐλ.θέ...

And he said, "Come!"
Mat 1:30, ...κύ.ρι.ε, σῶ.σόν με.
"Lord, save me!"
Luke 11:9 ...αἰτεῖτε...ζητεῖτε...κρούετε...

Ask...seek...knock...
Phil 4:4 Χαί.ρε.τε ἐν κυ.ρί.ῳ πάν.το.τε· πά.λιν ἐ.ρῶ, χαί.ρε.τε.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.
See also Matt 6:33; Eph 4-6; 1 Thes 5:13-26
See also these respectful requests, made when addressing a superior:

- Matt 6:9-13
- Matt 26:29
- Luke 11:1, 2-4
---
to be
Here are the most common "to be" forms. You'll pick up these and others. as you encounter
them in your reading.
present active indicative

εἰ.μί I am
εἶ you are
ἐ.στί(ν) he/she/it is
ἐ.σμέν we are
ἐ.στέ you (all) are
εἰ.σί(ν) they are
future middle indicative

(deponent: middle in form, active in meaning)
ἔ.σο.μαι we will be
ἔ.σῃ you will
ἔ.σται he/she/it will
ἐ.σό.με.θα we will
ἔ.σεσ.θε you (all) will
ἔ.σον.ται they will
---
advanced topics: aspect; action type
Aspect and action type are advanced topics about the viewpoint from which an action is
viewed and the "ongoingness" of an action being described. Considering aspect and action
type when considering an action verb is very helpful and sometimes quite illuminating.
Scholars are beginning to develop some consensus on these concepts, although there may
be many more decades of discussion on these subjects. For further reading, in addition to
considering the Mounce and Wallace grammars, you might also find it helpful to read one
or more chapters of Campbell's new book, Basics of Verbal Aspect in Biblical Greek.
And so for now, here is a practical guide to aspect and action type, presented as an
introduction to these subjects.
aspect: the view of an action; the perspective from which an action is seen
There are two basic aspects:
- Steps: the view is each small action being taken, a detailed view of what is occurring, up
close (also known as continual aspect or imperfected aspect).
- Process: the view is the big picture, an overall view of what was occurring, wide screen,
outcome (also known as perfected aspect, completed aspect, or summary aspect).
Here are the relationships between tense and aspect:
tense: aorist aspect: process

tense: present aspect: steps
tense: imperfect aspect: steps
tense: perfect aspect: steps or process (check context)
tense: pluperfect aspect: steps or process (check context)
action type: the "ongoingness" of action, determined by context
action type
- Iterative: action repeated again and again
- Punctiliar: action done once (in a moment or over an interval of time)
- Progressive: action occurring at the time of writing
Here are some examples:
1 Thes 1:2 Εὐ.χα.ρισ.τοῦ.μεν τῷ θε.ῷ πάν.το.τε...
Εὐ.χα.ρισ.τοῦ.μεν
- tense: present
- aspect: steps
- action type: iterative (context: always)
- translation: We give thanks
Εὐ.χα.ρισ.τοῦ.μεν τῷ θε.ῷ πάν.το.τε

We give thanks to God always
1 Thes 1:5 ...τὸ εὐ.αγ.γέ.λι.ον ἡ.μῶν...ἐ.γε.νή.θη...
ἐ.γε.νή.θη
- tense: past
- aspect: process
- action type: punctiliar (context: how it came, when it came)
- translation: it came
τὸ εὐ.αγ.γέ.λι.ον ἡ.μῶν...ἐ.γε.νή.θη
for our gospel came
1 Thes 1:8 ...ἐξ.ή.χη.ται ὁ λό.γος τοῦ κυ.ρί.ου...
ἐξ.ή.χη.ται
- tense: aorist
- aspect: process
- action type: iterative (context: not only in..., but also in...)
- translation: has been sounded forth
ἐξ.ή.χη.ται ὁ λό.γος τοῦ κυ.ρί.ου

the Word of the Lord has been sounded forth
And so, it's worth considering aspect and action type, as doing so may bring added
understanding. Such added understanding may not be, and often is not, reflected in
translation for publication. However, it can prove helpful to indicate such added
understanding in translation for personal study--to build deeper personal understanding--
and to have added ways of expressing what the Scriptures are saying, when sharing the
Scriptures with others.
---
Little Notes
---
infinitive, functioning as a noun
Sometimes, an infinitive acts as a noun. Here is an example:
Phil 1:21 Ἐ.μοὶ γὰρ τὸ ζῆν Χρισ.τὸς καὶ τὸ ἀ.πο.θα.νεῖν κέρ.δος.

For to me, to live, Christ; and to die, gain.
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
---
article + infinitive combos
article + infinitive
Sometimes an article appears along with an infinitive.
Understand it in context as a unit.
Rom 7:18 ...τὸ γὰρ θέ.λειν πα.ρά.κει.ταί μοι...

for the will is present in me
preposition + article + infinitive

This occurs twice as often as a simple article + infinitive.
It's a Greek way of saying something that has no direct rendering into English.
Here are the combinations and how to understand them.
- διά + τό + infinitive = because he...
- εἰς + τό + infinitive = that he...
- ἐν + τῷ + infinitive = when he...
- μετά + τό + infinitive = after he...
- πρός + τό + infinitive = that he...
Eph 1:12 εἰς τὸ εἶ.ναι ἡ.μᾶς...

that we may be
Eph 1:18 ...εἰς τὸ εἰ.δέ.ναι ὑ.μᾶς...

that you may know
---
expressing future tense in English
In modern usage, native English speakers and writers nearly always use will to express future tense. The
older convention of "shall for 1st person; will for 2nd, 3rd person" is only rarely used.
1 Thes 4:17 ...καὶ οὕ.τως πάν.το.τε σὺν κυ.ρί.ῳ ἐ.σό.με.θα.

and so always with the Lord we will be
and so we will always be with the Lord
In the NASB (1995), the translators chose this convention: will for future tense; shall for future tense of the
verb "to be." Hence, the NASB renders it this way: and so we shall always be with the Lord.
---
Grammar 4 (bonus): Verb Tips
---
This lesson brings together verb tips for:

- translation
- aspect and action type
- decoding.
---
verb tips: translation
Here are translation tips for each verb form.
Participle tips are listed separately
All of these tips are integrated into the Greek study section at the Great Treasures site.
Aorist: action in the past

aorist active indicative: I ...d
aorist active subjunctive: I may...
aorist active optative: I perhaps may...
aorist active imperative | 2: You... | 3: Let him/her/it/them...
aorist active infinitive: to ...
aorist middle indicative: I ...d
aorist middle subjunctive: I may be ...d
aorist middle optative: I perhaps may be ...d
aorist middle imperative | 2: You be ...d | 3: Let him/her/it/them be ...d
aorist middle infinitive: to ...
aorist passive indicative: I was ...d
aorist passive subjunctive: I may be ...d
aorist passive optative: I perhaps may be ...d
aorist passive imperative | 2: You be ...d | 3: Let him/her/it/them be ...d
aorist passive infinitive: to be ...d
Imperfect: continual action in the past

imperfect active indicative: I was ...g
imperfect middle-passive indicative | mid: I was ...g | pas: I was being ...d
Perfect: completed action in the past, with effects in the present

perfect active indicative: I have ...d
perfect active subjunctive: I may have ...d
perfect active optative: I perhaps may have ...d
perfect active infinitive: to have ...d
perfect middle-passive indicative | mid: I have ...d | pas: I have been ...d
perfect middle-passive infinitive
- mid: to have ...d
- pas: to have been ...d
Present: action at the time of writing

present active indicative: I ...
present active subjunctive: I may...
present active optative: I perhaps may...
present active imperative | 2: You... | 3: Let him/her/it/them...
present active infinitive: to ...
present middle-passive indicative | mid: I... | pas: I am being ...d
present middle-passive subjunctive | mid: I may... | pas: I may be ...d
present middle-passive optative | mid: I perhaps may... | pas: I perhaps may be ...d
present middle-passive imperative
- mid --2: You... | 3: Let him/her/it/them...
- pas -- 2: You be ...d | 3: Let him/her/it/them be ...d
present middle-passive infinitive
- mid: to ... |
- pas: to be ...d
Future: action to occur some time after the time of writing

future active indicative: I will ...
future middle indicative: I will ...
future passive indicative: I will be ...d
---
Only rarely occurs...

Pluperfect: completed action in the past, with effects that continued for some time in the past
pluperfect active indicative: I had ...d
pluperfect middle-passive indicative | mid: I had ...d | pas: I had been ...d
---
article + infinitive
Sometimes an article appears along with an infinitive.
Understand it in context as a unit.
preposition + article + infinitive

This occurs twice as often as a simple article + infinitive. This pattern is a Greek way of saying something; it
has no direct rendering into English. Here is a guide on how to understand this manner of expression:
- διά + τό + infinitive = because he...

- εἰς + τό + infinitive = that he...
- ἐν + τῷ + infinitive = when he...
- μετά + τό + infinitive = after he...
- πρός + τό + infinitive = that he...
---
verb tips: aspect and action type
aspect: the view of an action; the perspective from which an action is seen
Here are the relationships between tense and aspect:
tense: aorist aspect: process

tense: present aspect: steps
tense: imperfect aspect: steps
tense: perfect aspect: steps or process (check context)
tense: pluperfect aspect: steps or process (check context)
action type: the "ongoingness" of action, determined by context
action type
- Iterative: action repeated again and again
- Punctiliar: action done once (in a moment or over an interval of time)
- Progressive: action occurring at the time of writing
---
verb tips: decoding
Verb forms have four basic parts:

- Verb start
- Verb body
- Verb code
- Ending (no ending, for an infinitive or occasional participle; noun ending, for most participles; verb ending,
for all others)
---
Grammar 5: Preposition, Conjunction, Particle
---
preposition: shows a (spatial) relationship between its object and another word in a
sentence (examples: at, by, for, from, in, into, on, to, with)
How to translate
Check the definitions for case-specific meanings; use the definition that matches the object
of the preposition (the main word following the preposition).
If a prep phrase identifies "to whom" the result of the action goes, then it functions as an indirect object.
If preceded by an article, that article "points out" what the prepositional phrase is describing (and that article
will agree with what it's pointing out, in gender, number, and case). Usually, it's not carried over in
translation.
1 Thes 1:1 ...ἐν θε.ῷ πα.τρὶ καὶ κυ.ρί.ῳ Ἰ.η.σοῦ Χρι.στῷ...

ἐν in, on, among
in God Father and Lord Jesus Christ
1 Thes 1:8 ...ἡ πίσ.τις ὑ.μῶν ἡ πρὸς τὸν θε.ὸν...
your faith toward God
---
conjunction: connects words or groups of words

examples
- coordinating: and, but, or, not, yet, for, so
- correlating: either/or, both/and, and neither/nor
- subordinating: while, because
How to translate
1 Thes 1:1 ...ἐν θε.ῷ πα.τρὶ καὶ κυ.ρί.ῳ Ἰ.η.σοῦ Χρι.στῷ...

καὶ and, even, also
in God Father and Lord Jesus Christ
---
particle: a small bit (a word not classified as some other part of speech)
How to translate
1 Thes 1:5 ...οὐκ ἐ.γε.νή.θη...

οὐ no, nay, not, by no means
it came not
οὐ is spelled οὐκ before a vowel with a smooth-breathing mark (’).

οὐ is spelled οὐχ before a vowel with a rough-breathing mark (‘).
---
color coding
- prepositions and conjunctions: green
- particles: black
---
1 Thes 1:1 Παῦ.λος καὶ Σι.λου.α.νὸς καὶ Τι.μό.θε.ος τῇ ἐκ.κλη.σί.ᾳ Θεσ.σα.λο.νι.κέ.ων ἐν θε.ῷ
πα.τρὶ καὶ κυ.ρί.ῳ Ἰ.η.σοῦ Χρι.στῷ· χά.ρις ὑ.μῖν καὶ εἰ.ρή.νη.
Παῦ.λος καὶ Σι.λου.α.νὸς καὶ Τι.μό.θε.ος
καὶ
- What it is: coordinating conjunction
- Connects words (or word groups) which have the same function
- Joins: Παῦ.λος + Σι.λου.α.νὸς + Τι.μό.θε.ος
ἐν θε.ῷ πα.τρὶ καὶ κυ.ρί.ῳ Ἰ.η.σοῦ Χρι.στῷ

ἐν
- What it is: preposition
- Translation: in, on, among
- Functions as: the start of a prepositional phrase
ἐν θε.ῷ πα.τρὶ καὶ κυ.ρί.ῳ Ἰ.η.σοῦ Χρι.στῷ

- Object of the preposition: θε.ῷ πα.τρὶ and κυ.ρί.ῳ Ἰ.η.σοῦ Χρι.στῷ
- Translation: in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
- Describes: ἐκ.κλη.σί.ᾳ or Θεσ.σα.λο.νι.κέ.ων
- Describing: which one, what kind, how many | where, when, how, why
καὶ
- Joins: θε.ῷ πα.τρὶ + κυ.ρί.ῳ Ἰ.η.σοῦ Χρι.στῷ
---
1 Thes 1:5 ὅ.τι τὸ εὐ.αγ.γέ.λι.ον ἡ.μῶν οὐκ ἐ.γε.νή.θη εἰς ὑ.μᾶς ἐν λό.γῳ μό.νον ἀλ.λὰ καὶ ἐν
δυ.νά.μει καὶ ἐν πνεύ.μα.τι ἁ.γί.ῳ καὶ πλη.ρο.φο.ρί.ᾳ πολ.λῇ...
ὅ.τι
- What it is: conjunction
- Translation: that, since, because
- Functions as: the start of a dependent clause
- Translation: because
- Describes: εἰ.δό.τες...τὴν ἐκ.λο.γὴν ὑ.μῶν
οὐκ
- What it is: particle
- Translation: not
εἰς ὑ.μᾶς
εἰς
- Translation: into
εἰς ὑ.μᾶς
- Object of the preposition: ὑ.μᾶς
- Functions as: indirect object
- Translation: to you
- Describes: ἐ.γε.νή.θη
ἐν λό.γῳ
ἐν
ἐν λό.γῳ
- Object of the preposition: λό.γῳ
- Translation: in word
ἀλ.λὰ
- What is is: particle (that is how lexicons categorize this Greek word)
- Translation: but
- Functions as: coordinating conjunction
καὶ
- What is is: conjunction
- Translation: also
καὶ, καὶ
- Joins: ἐν λό.γῳ μό.νον + ἐν δυ.νά.μει + ἐν πνεύ.μα.τι ἁ.γί.ῳ πλη.ρο.φο.ρί.ᾳ πολ.λῇ
ἐν δυ.νά.μει καὶ ἐν πνεύ.μα.τι ἁ.γί.ῳ καὶ πλη.ρο.φο.ρί.ᾳ πολ.λῇ
ἐν
ἐν δυ.νά.μει
- Object of the preposition: δυ.νά.μει
- Translation: in power
- Phrase functions as: adverb
ἐν πνεύ.μα.τι ἁ.γί.ῳ καὶ πλη.ρο.φο.ρί.ᾳ πολ.λῇ

- Object of the preposition: πνεύ.μα.τι and πλη.ρο.φο.ρί.ᾳ
- Translation: in spirit and much full conviction
- Phrase functions as: adverb
---
1 Thes 1:8 ...μὴ χρεί.αν ἔ.χειν...
μὴ
- What it is: particle
- Translation: not
μὴ χρεί.αν ἔ.χειν
not need to have
we have no need
---
prepositions which occur 50+ times in the Greek NT
It's very helpful getting to know the prepositions which occur 50 or more times in the
Greek New Testament. Here's a guide to those prepositions, featuring girl, dog, and
anteater
--
article + preposition combos
Sometimes an article appears immediately before a preposition.
1 Thes 1:8 ...ἡ πίσ.τις ὑ.μῶν ἡ πρὸς τὸν θε.ὸν..
When preceded by an article, that article "points out" what the prepositional phrase is
describing (and that article will agree with what it's pointing out, in gender, number, and
case).
1 Thes 1:8 ...ἡ πίσ.τις ὑ.μῶν ἡ πρὸς τὸν θε.ὸν...

your faith, the faith toward God
your faith toward God
Here are two more examples:
Rom 8:39 ...ἀ.γά.πης τοῦ θε.οῦ τῆς ἐν Χρι.στῷ Ἰ.η.σοῦ τῷ κυ.ρί.ῳ ἡ.μῶν.
the love of God, the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lordthe love of God, which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord
1 John 4:4 ...μεί.ζων ἐ.στὶν ὁ ἐν ὑ.μῖν ἢ ὁ ἐν τῷ κόσ.μῳ.

greater is He the one in you, than he the one in the world
greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world
---
subordinating words
A subordinating word begins a part of a sentence that is dependent upon some other part
of the sentence.
Certain conjunctions, particles, and adverbs may act as subordinating words.
---
subordinating words: the top three
Three subordinating words occur more often than all others combined. The top three are:
ὅτι, ἵνα, and ὡς.
(1) ὅτι -- that, since, because (occurs 1296 times)

- Begins a reason clause
- Functions as: the start of a subordinate clause, one that functions as an adverb
1 Thes 1:5 ὅ.τι τὸ εὐ.αγ.γέ.λι.ον ἡ.μῶν οὐκ ἐ.γε.νή.θη εἰς ὑ.μᾶς ἐν λό.γῳ μό.νον...
- What it is: subordinate clause
- Acts as: adverb
- Describes: εἰ.δό.τες knowing
- Translation: because [reason] our gospel did not come to you in word only
(2) ἵνα -- in order that, that (occurs 663 times)

- Begins a purpose clause
- Nearly always occurs with the subjunctive mood
Eph 4:29 ...ἵ.να δῷ χά.ριν τοῖς ἀ.κού.ου.σιν.

- Acts as: adverb
- Describes: ἐκ.πο.ρευ.έσ.θω proceed
ἵ.να δῷ χά.ριν τοῖς ἀ.κού.ου.σιν.

- Translation: that [purpose] it may give grace to the hearing one
(3) ὡς -- as, like, when, that, how, about (occurs 504 times)
Eph 5:8 ...ὡς τέκ.να φω.τὸς πε.ρι.πα.τεῖ.τε
ὡς τέκ.να φω.τὸς
- Acts as: adverb
- Describes: πε.ρι.πα.τεῖ.τε
ὡς τέκ.να φω.τὸς πε.ρι.πα.τεῖ.τε

- Translation: walk as children of light
---
subordinating words: 50+ times
Here is a list of subordinating words that occur 50+ times in the Greek NT:
subordinating conjunctions
ἐάν -- if, when
ἕως -- until; as far as
ἵνα -- in order that, that
ὅπως -- how, that, in order that; adverb
ὅτι -- that, since, because
subordinating adverbs
(One would expect the subordinating clause to function as an adverb!)
καθώς -- as, even as
ὡς -- as, like, when, that, how, about
subordinating particles
εἰ --if
ὅπου -- where
ὅτε -- when
ὥστε -- therefore, so that; particle
---
particles
Particles are the leftovers, those words that don't seem to fit into the other parts of speech!
What is classified as a particle in some textbooks may be classified as an adverb or

conjunction in other textbooks. This is worth being aware of, yet does not affect meaning.
---
the particles οὐ and μή
οὐ and μή are particles (or one could classify them as adverbs).
NT Greek uses these two articles in three distinct ways:
(1) οὐ = not
- Usually used with a verb in the indicative mood
- Being used with the indicative mood, it carries a bit more force than μή
- When one asks a question beginning with οὐ, one expects a positive answer.
1 Thes 1:5 ὅ.τι τὸ εὐ.αγ.γέ.λι.ον ἡ.μῶν οὐκ ἐ.γε.νή.θη εἰς ὑ.μᾶς ἐν λό.γῳ μό.νον...
For our gospel did not come to you in word only...
(2) μή = not
- Usually used with a verb in some mood other than indicative (subjunctive, optative, or
imperative)
- When one asks a question beginning with μή, one expects a negative answer.
1 Thes 1:8 ...ὥσ.τε μὴ χρεί.αν ἔ.χειν ἡ.μᾶς λα.λεῖν τι·

so that to have no need to say anything
so that we have no need to say anything
(3) οὐ μή = absolutely not, for a future action

- Used with a verb that is aorist subjunctive
1 Thes 4:15 ...ἡ.μεῖς οἱ ζῶν.τες οἱ πε.ρι.λει.πό.με.νοι εἰς τὴν πα.ρου.σί.αν τοῦ κυ.ρί.ου οὐ μὴ
φθά.σω.μεν τοὺς κοι.μη.θέν.τας·
we--the living ones, the remaining ones until the coming of the Lord--will absolutely not
precede the sleeping ones
---
Little Notes
---
Postpositive: a word placed after another word. Here are two examples:
1 Thes 1:9 αὐτοὶ γὰρ...

for you
1 Thes 2:17 Ἡμεῖς δέ...

but we
---
Particle (more...): Here, a particle is a word that does not belong to any other part of speech. Some grammars
define particle as a category of small words: preposition, conjunction, or other particle.
Grammar 6: Word Groups & What Describes What
---
a beginning translation process

Divide the verse into clauses (word groups, each with a verbal form).
Then for each clause:
1. Verb-based word groups: subject + verb | participle + object | infinitive + subject
2. Prepositional phrases: preposition + object
3. Genitive word groups not in a prep phrase
4. Dative word groups not in a prep phrase
5. Dependent clauses led by a participle, relative pronoun, or subordinating word
...taking care of other small words (adverbs, conjunctions) you encounter along the way.
For phrases and dependent clauses
- Look for a close verb (or adjective not acting as a noun, adjectival participle not acting as a noun, adverb). Is
the phrase or dependent clause describing "when, where, how, why?" If so, it is functioning adverbially.
- Look for a close noun (or pronoun, adjective functioning as a noun, adjectival participle acting as a noun).
Is the phrase or dependent clause describing "which one, what kind, how many?" If so, it's functioning
adjectivally.
- If a prep phrase identifies "to whom" the result of the action goes, then it functions as an indirect object.
---
Examples -- 1 Thes 1:2a, 1:2b, 1:5a, 1:8a, 1:8b, 1:8c
1 Thes 1:2a
1. Verb-based word groups: verb + subject | participle + object | infinitive + subject
Εὐ.χα.ρι.στοῦ.μεν τῷ θε.ῷ πάν.το.τε πε.ρὶ πάν.των ὑ.μῶν,
we give thanks...........................always
we give thanks...........................always......for.....all.....of you
we give thanks...........to God......always......for....all.....of you
1 Thes 1:2b
μνεί.αν ποι.ού.με.νοι ἐ.πὶ τῶν προ.σευ.χῶν ἡ.μῶν
making mention...........................................
making mention.............in........our prayers
1 Thes 1:5a
ὅτι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐγενήθη εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐν λόγῳ μό¦νον
for-----------our gospel..........came not........................................
ὅτι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐγενήθη εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐν λόγῳ μό¦νον
for-----------our gospel..........came not.....to you.......in word only
εἰς ὑμᾶς functions as an indirect object, expressing "to whom"
1 Thes 1:8a
ἀφ' ὑ¦μῶν γὰρ ἐξ¦ή¦χη¦ται ὁ λό¦γος τοῦ κυ¦ρί¦ου
...........................the Word of the Lord sounded out
ἀφ' ὑ¦μῶν γὰρ ἐξ¦ή¦χη¦ται ὁ λό¦γος τοῦ κυ¦ρί¦ου
from you.....for...the Word of the Lord sounded out
1 Thes 1:8b
οὐ μό¦νον ἐν τῇ Μα¦κε¦δο¦νί¦ᾳ καὶ ἐν τῇ Ἀ¦χα¦ΐ¦ᾳ,
ἀλλ' ἐν παν¦τὶ τό¦πῳ ἡ πί¦στις ὑ¦μῶν ἡ πρὸς τὸν θε¦ὸν ἐξ¦ε¦λή¦λυ¦θεν,
............................................your faith.....................................has gone forth
οὐ μό¦νον ἐν τῇ Μα¦κε¦δο¦νί¦ᾳ καὶ ἐν τῇ Ἀ¦χα¦ΐ¦ᾳ,
.....................in Macedonia.............and in Achaia
ἀλλ' ἐν παν¦τὶ τό¦πῳ ἡ πί¦στις ὑ¦μῶν ἡ πρὸς τὸν θε¦ὸν ἐξ¦ε¦λή¦λυ¦θεν,
but....in every place..........your faith...............toward God......has gone forth
1 Thes 1:8c
ὥ¦στε μὴ χρεί¦αν ἔ¦χειν ἡ¦μᾶς λα¦λεῖν τι·
so that.....we have no need.......to say anything
---
Some additional information about "word groups" and "what describes what" follows.
---
word groups
- phrase: a word group without a verb or participle
- clause: a word group with a verb or participle (if it can stand alone, it's an independent
clause; if not, it's a dependent clause)
- sentence: a word group which makes a complete statement, usually with subject and verb.
---
phrase: a word group without a verb or participle

Here is a phrase:
1 Thes 1:5 ὅ.τι τὸ εὐ.αγ.γέ.λι.ον ἡ.μῶν...

because our gospel
It's a word group, with these parts of speech:
conjunction + article + noun + pronoun
...and no verb or participle. It's a phrase.
A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition, its object (a noun or a pronoun), and any
words describing the object.
A prepositional phrase functions adjectivally or adverbially (or at times, supplying an

indirect object, "to whom" an action is directed).
If it functions as an adjective (describing a noun), then it adds information about which

one, what kind, or how many.
If it functions as an adverb (describing a verb, adjective, or adverb), then it adds

information about when, where, how, or to what extent.
1 Thes 1:2 ...πε.ρὶ πάν.των ὑ.μῶν...ἐ.πὶ τῶν προ.σευ.χῶν ἡ.μῶν,
πε.ρὶ πάν.των ὑ.μῶν

- Form: genitive
- Agrees with: --
ἐ.πὶ τῶν προ.σευ.χῶν ἡ.μῶν

- Form: genitive
- Translation: in our prayers
- Agrees with: --
- Describes: ποι.ού.με.νοι
- Describing: which one, what kind, how many | when, where, how, in our prayers
---
clause: a word group with a verb or participle
An independent clause (also known as the main clause) is a word group that is a complete
statement.
1 Thes 1:2 Εὐ.χα.ρι.στοῦ.μεν τῷ θε.ῷ πάν.το.τε πε.ρὶ πάν.των ὑ.μῶν...

we give thanks to God always for you all
A dependent clause is a word group that does not form a complete statement. It introduces
a word group that functions as an adjective or adverb, describing some other part of the
sentence.
1 Thes 1:2 ...μνεί.αν ποι.ού.με.νοι ἐ.πὶ τῶν προ.σευ.χῶν ἡ.μῶν,

- What it is: dependent clause
- Form: --
- Translation: making mention in our prayers
A relative clause is a dependent clause that begins with a relative pronoun (such as: who,
whom, which, that). A relative clause usually functions adjectivally.
1 Thes 2:13 ...ὅς καὶ ἐ.νερ.γεῖ.ται ἐν ὑ.μῖν τοῖς πι.στεύ.ου.σιν.

- What it is: dependent clause; specifically, a relative clause
- Relative pronoun: ὅς
- Translation: which also works in you, the believing ones
- Agrees with: λό.γον, the doer of the action
- Describes: λό.γον Word
A subordinate clause is a dependent clause that begins with a subordinating word (such
as: while, because).
1 Th 1:5 ὅ¦τι τὸ εὐ¦αγ¦γέ¦λι¦ον ἡ¦μῶν οὐκ ἐ¦γε¦νή¦θη εἰς ὑ¦μᾶς ἐν λό¦γῳ

that our gospel did not come to you in word only
- What it is: dependent clause; specifically, a relative clause

- Subordinating word: ὅ¦τι
- Translation: which also works in you, the believing ones
- Agrees with: λό.γον, the doer of the action
- Describes: λό.γον Word
---
sentence: a word group which makes a complete statement, usually with subject and verb
Greek sentences tend to be much longer than those in English.
Eph 1:3-14 is one sentence, the longest sentence in the Greek New Testament.
Here is one of the shorter complete sentences in the Greek New Testament:
1 Thes 5:16-18 πάν.το.τε χαί.ρε.τε, ἀ.δι.α.λείπ.τως προ.σεύ.χεσ.θε, ἐν παν.τὶ

εὐ.χα.ρισ.τεῖ.τε· τοῦ.το γὰρ θέ.λη.μα θε.οῦ ἐν Χρισ.τῷ Ἰ.η.σοῦ εἰς ὑ.μᾶς.
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks--for this is the will of God
for you in Christ Jesus.
---
what describes what
How do the word groups work together within a verse? This is an important question. Each
word group conveys meaning on its own. It also conveys additional meaning, in how it
interrelates with other word groups.
The objective is to begin to appreciate how word groups work together. Considering word
groups and what describes what may at times help you see important connections
between otherwise seemingly separate parts of a long Greek sentence.
1 Thes 1:2 Εὐ.χα.ρι.στοῦ.μεν τῷ θε.ῷ πάν.το.τε πε.ρὶ πάν.των ὑ.μῶν, μνεί.αν ποι.ού.με.νοι
Εὐ.χα.ρι.στοῦ.μεν
- What it is: verb
- Form: 1st plural present active indicative
- Translation: we give thanks
- Agrees with: --
- Functions as: main verb
- Describes: --
- Describing: --
τῷ θε.ῷ
- Form: dative singular masculine
- Translation: to God
- Agrees with: --
- Functions as: θε.ῷ is the indirect object of Εὐ.χα.ρι.στοῦ.μεν
πάν.το.τε
- Form: --
- Translation: always
- Agrees with: --
πε.ρὶ
- Form: --
- Translation: about (genitive), around (accusative)
- Agrees with: --
- Functions as: start of a prepositional phrase
- Describes: --
- Describing: --
πάν.των
- Translation: all
- Agrees with: ὑ.μῶν
- Describes: ὑ.μῶν
ὑ.μῶν
- What it is: noun
- Translation: all
- Agrees with: --
- Functions as: object of the preposition πε.ρὶ
- Describes: --
- Describing: --
πε.ρὶ πάν.των ὑ.μῶν,
- Form: genitive
- Agrees with: --
μνεί.αν
- What it is: noun
- Form: accusative singular feminine
- Translation: mention, remembrance
- Agrees with: --
- Functions as: direct object of ποι.ού.με.νοι
- Describes: --
ποι.ού.με.νοι
- Translation: making
- Agrees with: Παῦ.λος, Σι.λου.α.νὸς, Τι.μό.θε.ος, the doers of the action | the recipients of the
action
- Functions as: start of a dependent clause
μνεί.αν ποι.ού.με.νοι
- What it is: participle phrase
- Form: --
- Translation: making mention
- Functions as: start of a dependent clause
ἐ.πὶ
- Form: --
- Translation: on
- Agrees with: --
- Functions as: start of a prepositional phrase
- Describes: --
- Describing: --
τῶν προ.σευ.χῶν
- Form: genitive plural feminine
- Translation: the prayers
- Agrees with: --
- Functions as: προ.σευ.χῶν is the object of the preposition ἐ.πὶ
- Describes: --
- Describing: --
ἡ.μῶν,
- What it is: personal pronoun
- Form: 1st plural genitive --
- Translation: our
- Agrees with: --
- Describes: προ.σευ.χῶν

- Form: genitive
- Translation: in our prayers
- Agrees with: --
- Describes: ποι.ού.με.νοι
---
And so we have one dependent clause:

- What it is: dependent clause
- Form: --
- Translation: making mention in our prayers
- Describing: which one, what kind, how many | when, where, how,to what extent
..and one independent clause:

- What it is: independent clause
- Form: --
- Translation: we give thanks to God always for you all
- Agrees with: --
- Functions as: --
- Describes: --
- Describing: --
Putting it all together:
1 Thes 1:2
We give thanks to God always for you all,

making mention of you in our prayers.

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Alphabet 1: Vowels and Marks

Some browser tips, before get started with the alphabet.

Here are the Greek vowels, with:

υ | oop.see.lahn, uep.see.lohn | oo, ue

Here are some practice words:

ἀ.γά.πη | ah.gah.pey, ah.ghah.pey | love

ἐλ.πίς | ehl.pees | hope

ἐκ.κλη.σί.α | ehk.kley.see.ah | church, assembly

Χρι.στός | kree.stahs, khree.sdohs |Christ

λό.γος | lah.gahs, loh.gohs |word

κύ.ρι.ος | koo.ree.ahs, kue.ree.ohs | lord

ὑ.μῶν | hoo.mohn, ue.mohn | of you

All of these words occur in 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3, in various forms.

4. The iota subscript mark is silent, yet carries significance in meaning:

διά (dee.ah) is abbreviated as δι' in 1 Thes 1:5,

ἀπό (ah.pah | ah.poh) is abbreviated as ἀφ' in 1 Thes 1:8,

6. Early Greek manuscripts have no punctuation. Punctuation was added later, as a

Rom 8:31 ...εἰ ὁ θε.ὸς ὑ.πὲρ ἡ.μῶν, τίς καθ' ἡ.μῶν;

1 Thes 1:8 ... Ἀ.χα.ΐ.ᾳ...

Mark names: The formal names of the marks are:

Single-sound Vowel Pairs

| καί | kahy, keh | and, also, even

| αὐ.τοί | auw.toi, ahf.due | they

| εἰ.ρή.νη | ey.rey.ney, ee.rey.ney | peace

| Εὐ.χα.ρι.στοῦ.μεν | yoo.kah.ree.stoo.mehn, ehf.khar.ree.sdoo.mehn | we give thanks

| ἀ.δελ.φοί | ah.dehl.foi, ah.thehl.fue | brothers

| ποι.ού.με.νοι | poi.oo.meh.noi, pue.oo.meh.nue | making

| υἱ.ός | hwee.ahs | ue.ee.ohs | son

The sounds of the single-sound vowel pairs are distinct.

Ἰ.η.σοῦ | ee.ey.soo | Jesus

Diphthong: a vowel pair that is pronounced with a single sound.

Alphabet: What's the Same

α, ε, ι, ο, υ look quite a bit like: a, e, i, o, u.

β, δ, κ, λ, τ look quite a bit like: b, d, k, l (with some imagination), t.

Alphabet: What's Different

ξ | ksee | ks, khs | ἐξ.ε.λή.λυ.θεν | ehk.seh.ley.luh.thehn, ehkh.seh.ley.lue.thehn

Sometimes a γ sounds like n, making a word to pronounce:

εὐ.αγ.γέ.λι.ον | yoo.ahn.geh.lee.ahn | ehv.ahn.gheh.lee.ohn | gospel

While getting started, it's helpful to remember:

Sing the Alphabet Song

Read Out Loud

Practice reading 1 Thes 1:2 out loud, slowly, syllable by syllable.

Write the Alphabet

1 Thes 1:2 Εὐ.χα.ρι.στοῦ.μεν τῷ θε.ῷ πάν.το.τε...

The keys to writing Greek words quickly are:

Memorize what may be your first verse in NT Greek:

Here is such a mapping:

Πρὸς Θεσσαλονικεῖς ά | to the Thessalonians alpha (that is to say: 1 Thessalonians)

Here is the alphabet, with regular letters and capital letters:

Three major pronunciation systems

1. Erasmus. The Erasmus' system (often referred to as Erasmian, invented by Erasmus)

Teachers know this system; students learn it.

Many students begin their journey with this pronunciation system.

It's beautiful to the ear.

Q: What did it sound like in the first century?

Q: Why choose Erasmus' pronunciation?

Q: Why choose modern Greek pronunciation?

Q: Why choose Koine Greek pronunciation?

Q: Will my choice of Erasmus' or Modern or Koine pronunciation affect my understanding

Q: How might I choose?

Q: Which system does this site use?

η | ey (rather than ee)

Here are the Koine sounds: