LESSON 9
PREPOSITIONS

πολλοὶ γάρ εἰσιν κλητοί, ὀλίγοι δὲ ἐκλεκτοί.

Lexical Study

1. Prepositions are words which express a relationship between two nouns or between a verb and a noun.
   1. I see the tree by the river. The expression "by the river" shows the relationship between one noun "the tree" and another noun "the river."
   2. Bill is standing by the chair shows the relationship between the act of standing and "the chair."
   3. In each of these two sentences the preposition "by" is used to indicate the relationship.
2. Greek prepositions do the same task as English prepositions.
   1. Some Greek prepositions change the idea of relationship according to the case of the noun which follows the preposition.
   2. Thus a preposition followed by a noun in the DAT case may have a different meaning from the same preposition followed by a noun in the ACC case.
3. Dative
   1. In a previous lesson, you learned that ἐν is always followed by a noun in the DAT case and means "in."
   2. Most of the prepositions which are followed by the DAT case usually indicate a stationary state.
   3. There is no implied motion toward or away from the noun.
   4. E.g., ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ in the house.
4. Genitive
   1. The preposition ἐκ is always followed by a noun in the GEN case and means "out" or "out of."
   2. You should notice that when ἐκ is followed by a word which begins with a vowel, it is spelled ἐξ.
   3. Also the preposition ἀπό is always followed by a noun in the GEN case.
   4. Usually the GEN case indicates motion away from the noun, thus there is a separation taking place.
   5. E.g., ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου out of the house.
   6. ἀπὸ τοῦ οἴκου away from the house.
5. Accusative
   1. The preposition εἰς is always followed by a noun in the ACC case and means "into" or "for."
   2. Usually the ACC case indicates motion toward the noun.
   3. E.g., εἰς τὸν οἴκον into the house.
6. The case of the noun can change the meaning of the preposition.
   1. When ὑπό is followed by a noun in the GEN case, it means "by"; but when ὑπό is followed by a noun in the ACC case, it means "under."
   2. When μετά is followed by a noun in the GEN case, it means "with"; but when μετά is followed by a noun in the ACC case, it means "after."
   3. The one word which gives students the most trouble is διά.
      1. When it is followed by a noun in the GEN case, it means "through" or "by"
      2. when it is followed by a noun in the ACC case, it means "because."
      3. This feature is important in translating because it affects our theology.
      4. For instance, the word "faith" is often preceded by διά.
      5. If "faith" is in the GEN case, Ephesians 2:8 might read, You have been saved through faith.
      6. If "faith" is in the ACC case, this verse might read, You have been saved because of faith.
      7. The ACC case would suggest that "faith" is a work; but if it is the GEN case, "faith" is a channel through which salvation comes.
      8. τῇ γὰρ χάριτι ἐστε σεσῳσμένοι διὰ πίστεως·
      9. Upon examination of the verse, we discover that "faith" is in the GEN case, not the ACC case.
      10. The cause of our salvation is never our faith; the cause is Christ's work on the cross.
      11. The New Testament never has διά plus the ACC form of faith.
      12. Thus faith is never considered a work.
7. Although we said that ἐν means in in English, the exact meaning may be just a little different.
   1. Sometimes it may mean "with" or "on" or even "by."
   2. For now, however, it should always be translated "in" in almost every instance.
   3. After you develop a greater knowledge of Greek, you can decide to translate these prepositions a little differently.

Translate the following:

1. οἱ μαθηταὶ τῶν προφητῶν μένουσιν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ.
2. οἱ κακοὶ βάλλουσιν λίθους εἰς τὸν οἷκον τῶν μαθητῶν.
3. ὁ θεὸς πέμπει τοὺς ἀγγέλους εἰς τὸν κόσμον.
4. ὁ προφήτης πέμπει τοὺς μαθητὰς τοῦ κυρίου ἐκ τῶν οἴκων εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν.
5. ὁ θεὸς ἐγείρει τοὺς νεκροὺς ἐκ θανάτου.
6. λαμβάνετε τὰ καλὰ δῶρα ἀπὸ τῶν τέκνων.
7. ὁ μαθητής τοῦ θεοῦ βλέπει τὸν ὄχλον καὶ λέγει περὶ τοῦ βιβλίου μυστηρίου.
8. ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀποστόλου ἔχει τέκνον καὶ παιδίον.
9. ἄγει δῶρον τῷ τέκνῳ καὶ ὁ δοῦλος βλέπει τὰ πρόσωπα τῶν παιδίων.
10. εὑρίσκετε τὰ πλοῖα τῷ ἱερῷ καὶ ἀγοράζετε βιβλίον τοῦ θεοῦ.
11. τῷ σαββάτῳ ἄγομεν ἀνθρώπους ἱερῷ καὶ διδάσκομεν τοὺς ἀνθρώπους καὶ τὰ τέκνα περὶ τῶν λόγων τοῦ υἱου τοῦ θεοῦ.
12. ἀκούετε τὴν παραβολὴν τῆς βασιλείας καὶ γινώσκετε τὴν δόξαν ἀγάπης.
13. λέγομεν λόγους ἀληθείας ὄχλοις ἀνθρώπων καὶ μαθητῶν.
14. ἄγεις τοὺς ἀγγέλους καὶ λέγεις παραβολὴν τῆς ἐκκλησίας.
15. οἱ μαθηταὶ τῶν προφητῶν λύουσιν ἐκκλησίας καὶ ἱερὰ λίθοις.