Elementary New Testament Greek, 2014a

Greek Particles
One of the most interesting (and overlooked) parts of speech is the Particle. The
name itself seems appropriate, especially if we think of those mysterious, subatomic
bits of matter that can scarcely be seen or measured. Classical Greek (i.e. the version
of Greek spoken in the centuries before Alexander the Great’s conquests around 330
BC) was so rich in particles that J. D. Denniston could devote a 600-page volume to
unpacking their mysteries. [J. D. Denniston. The Greek Particles. 2nd Ed. Oxford
University Press, 1934.]
To illustrate that fascinating world of particles, consider how we English speakers
might use the particle “umm” to convey a wide variety of subtle logical and emotional
clues in our casual conversation:
Wow! I really like that…umm….green scarf you are wearing.
[Translation: Yuk! What kind of green is that? I’m trying to conceal how
disgusted I am!]
So you’re just going to take your summer-job income and…umm…buy this
car?
[Translation: I’m shocked at how naïve you are. I’m trying to shame you
into reality.]
Well, I want to ask you if you would…umm…marry me!
[Translation: I am hesitant and uncertain, but hopeful. I’m trying to
avoid being too pushy.]
New Testament Exploration
John
10:13–16
Mark
4:14–16
John
10:17–18
Because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.
μ μ μ
μ μ μ
μ μ
. n I have other sheep that are not from
this sheepfold. I must bring them too, and they will listen to my
voice, and there will be one ock and one shepherd. (μ =
shepherd; = father; = even I [ ];
= father; = soul; = sheep)
The sower sows the word.
μ . And these are the ones sown on rocky
ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy.
( = is being sown; = when they
should hear; = Satan; μ = being sown [treat
this participle as an accusative adjective]) see also ue 12
is is te ater loes e ecause I la on
lie so tat I it tae it ac aain.
μ μ μ.
I ae te autorit to la it on an I ae te
autorit to tae it ac aain. is coanent I
receie ro ater. (μ = myself)
But by the time the NT was written, a number of the ner features of Classical Greek
had almost completely eroded away. Few particles remain for us to encounter as we
read the GNT. Furthermore, there isn’t agreement among grammarians about just
which words should be classied as particles. For some, any word that isn’t neatly
identiable as one of the other nine parts of speech should be classied as a particle.
According to that view, we could almost re-name particles as Miscellaneous, or as
the Trash Bin Words without homes elsewhere. In Mounce’s Interlinear, the particle
is signaled by “pl” (particle).
8: Conjunctions
102