Insights into Biblical Greek Grammar and Syntax

Today’s gospel reading, Matthew 10:40-42, concludes the discourse in which Jesus discloses what his disciples can expect as they disperse into the villages of Israel, announcing the reign of God and healing the sick (see Mt 9:36-10:1). Most scholars take the view that the discourse reflects the early missionary experience of Matthew’s own community in…

24 Οὐκ ἔστι μαθητὴς ὑπὲρ τὸν διδάσκαλον οὐδὲ δοῦλος ὑπὲρ τὸν κύριον αὐτοῦ. 25 Ἀρκετὸν τῷ μαθητῇ ἵνα γένηται ὡς ὁ διδάσκαλος αὐτοῦ, καὶ τῷ δούλῳ ὡς ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ. Εἰ τὸν οἰκοδεσπότην Βεελζεβοὺλ ἐκάλεσαν, πόσῳ μᾶλλον τοὺς οἰκιακοὺς αὐτοῦ;  26  Μὴ οὖν φοβηθῆτε αὐτούς· οὐδὲν γάρ ἐστι κεκαλυμμένον ὃ οὐκ ἀποκαλυφθήσεται, καὶ κρυπτὸν ὃ οὐ γνωσθήσεται. 27  Ὅ λέγω ὑμῖν ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ, εἴπατε ἐν τῷ φωτί, καὶ ὃ εἰς τὸ οὖς ἀκούετε, κηρύξατε ἐπὶ τῶν δωμάτων. 28 Καὶ μὴ φοβηθῆτε ἀπὸ τῶν ἀποκτεννόντων τὸ σῶμα, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν μὴ δυναμένων ἀποκτεῖναι· φοβήθητε δὲ μᾶλλον τὸν δυνάμενον καὶ ψυχὴν καὶ σῶμα ἀπολέσαι ἐν γεέννῃ. 29 Οὐχὶ δύο στρουθία ἀσσαρίου…

Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Today’s gospel text, Mt 10:24-39, continues Jesus’ discourse, prompted by his compassion for Israel’s “troubled and abandoned” multitudes (Mt 9:36, New American Bible), in which Jesus prepares his twelve disciples for an itinerant mission of preaching and healing  throughout Israel’s villages. The reading contains dire warnings of…

Genesis 18: 1-15 18:1 The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. 18:2 He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed…

Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Genesis 18:1-15, the alternate OT reading for this date, occurs in a Year A series of Genesis texts central to the story of God’s promise to Abraham. Each scene in this series (Genesis 12-22) needs to be considered within the larger narrative arc of divine promise extended…

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-269:9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. 9:10 And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and…

Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Mt 9:9-13, 18-26 presents in four interlocked scenes the shocking, boundary-crossing nature of Jesus’ interpretation of the reign of God. Scene I: Rabbis like Jesus would choose disciples to learn their teachings and emulate their way of life, but none would choose a tax collector! Tax collectors…

St Paul, 2 Cor. 13: 11-13 13:11 Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 13:12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. 13:13 The grace of…

St Paul, 2 Cor. 13: 11-13 13:11 Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 13:12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. 13:13 The grace of…

​Sally A. Brown Elizabeth M. Engle Professor of Preaching and Worship Emerita Princeton Theological Seminary For Trinity Sunday the lectionary fittingly pairs two NT texts that contain early trinitarian formulas. In each case, the closing sentences of an entire NT book name the Godhead as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In Matthew 28:19, we find…