independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
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Children and fathers 6:1–4
1
Τὰ τέκνα, ὑπακούετε τοῖς γονεῦσιν ὑμῶν ἐν κυρίῳ,independent — the second pair of the household code — obedience 'in the Lord'
τοῦτο γάρ ἐστιν δίκαιον.cause — γάρ — the plain moral ground
2
Τίμα τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ τὴν μητέρα,content — Exod 20:12 / Deut 5:16 — the Decalogue cited as warrant for the command
ἥτις ἐστὶν ἐντολὴ πρώτη ἐν ἐπαγγελίᾳ,relative — qualitative ἥτις — the first commandment carrying a promise
3
ἵνα εὖ σοι γένηται καὶ ἔσῃ μακροχρόνιος ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.purpose — the promise quoted (Deut 5:16) — the land widened to 'the earth'
4
Καὶ οἱ πατέρες, μὴ παροργίζετε τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν,independent — the reciprocal address — μή + present: no pattern of embittering
ἀλλὰ ἐκτρέφετε αὐτὰ ἐν παιδείᾳ καὶ νουθεσίᾳ κυρίου.independent — the positive counterpart — nurture whose standard is the Lord's
Slaves and masters 6:5–9
vv. 5–8 — slaves: the obedience re-keyed to Christ
5
Οἱ δοῦλοι, ὑπακούετε τοῖς κατὰ σάρκα κυρίοις μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου ἐν ἁπλότητι τῆς καρδίας ὑμῶνindependent — the third pair, the longest — the imperative of v. 1 re-keyed to κατὰ σάρκα masters
ὡς τῷ Χριστῷ,comparative — the transposition — the true recipient of the service
6
μὴ κατ' ὀφθαλμοδουλίαν ὡς ἀνθρωπάρεσκοιphrase modifier — the manner denied — ὀφθαλμοδουλία, work done only under the eye
ἀλλ' ὡς δοῦλοι Χριστοῦcomparative — the true identity — the social slaves are Christ's slaves
ποιοῦντες τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ ἐκ ψυχῆς,participial — the identity unfolded — servile labor as God's will, wholehearted
7
μετ' εὐνοίας δουλεύοντες,participial — parallel to ποιοῦντες — eager, not grudging, service
ὡς τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ οὐκ ἀνθρώποις,comparative — the referent behind the master — the Lord, not men
8
εἰδότες ὅτι ἕκαστος,participial — causal — the ground of the service; ἕκαστος fronted, suspended over the condition
ἐάν τι ποιήσῃ ἀγαθόν,conditional — protasis — indefinite, leaning on the apodosis below
τοῦτο κομίσεται παρὰ κυρίου, εἴτε δοῦλος εἴτε ἐλεύθερος.content — the apodosis — the Lord repays, without regard to status
v. 9 — masters: the same things, under the same Master
9
Καὶ οἱ κύριοι, τὰ αὐτὰ ποιεῖτε πρὸς αὐτούς,independent — the reciprocal command — τὰ αὐτά: the same goodwill in reverse
ἀνιέντες τὴν ἀπειλήν,participial — manner — the master's characteristic weapon dropped
εἰδότεςparticipial — causal — the same grounding participle as v. 8
ὅτι καὶ αὐτῶν καὶ ὑμῶν ὁ κύριός ἐστιν ἐν οὐρανοῖς,content — the leveler — one κύριος over slave and slaveholder alike
καὶ προσωπολημψία οὐκ ἔστιν παρ' αὐτῷ.content — the impartiality — no 'face-receiving' with him (cf. Rom 2:11)
Be strong — the whole armor of God 6:10–20
vv. 10–13 — the summons: be empowered, arm, stand
10
Τοῦ λοιποῦ ἐνδυναμοῦσθε ἐν κυρίῳ καὶ ἐν τῷ κράτει τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ.independent — Τοῦ λοιποῦ — the peroration; passive: strength received, not self-made
11
ἐνδύσασθε τὴν πανοπλίαν τοῦ θεοῦindependent — the aorist arming — God's own panoply (Isa 59:17)
πρὸς τὸ δύνασθαι ὑμᾶς στῆναι πρὸς τὰς μεθοδείας τοῦ διαβόλου·purpose — πρὸς τό + infinitive — the aim: to stand against the μεθοδεῖαι
12
ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἡμῖν ἡ πάλη πρὸς αἷμα καὶ σάρκα,cause — why armor — the wrestling (ἡ πάλη) is not with humans
ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὰς ἀρχάς,phrase modifier — the enemy named — rulers
πρὸς τὰς ἐξουσίας,phrase modifier — — authorities (the powers of 1:21; 3:10)
πρὸς τοὺς κοσμοκράτορας τοῦ σκότους τούτου,phrase modifier — — the world-rulers (κοσμοκράτορες) of this darkness
πρὸς τὰ πνευματικὰ τῆς πονηρίας ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις.phrase modifier — — spiritual forces of evil, in the heavenlies themselves
13
διὰ τοῦτο ἀναλάβετε τὴν πανοπλίαν τοῦ θεοῦ,independent — διὰ τοῦτο — the command re-issued in view of v. 12
ἵνα δυνηθῆτε ἀντιστῆναι ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ πονηρᾷpurpose — the aim — resistance when the evil day comes
καὶ ἅπαντα κατεργασάμενοι στῆναι.purpose — the goal crowned — having worked all through, to stand
vv. 14–17 — the panoply: the pieces hang from a two-word στῆτε
14
στῆτε οὖνindependent — the keynote imperative — the fourth 'stand' of the passage
περιζωσάμενοι τὴν ὀσφὺν ὑμῶν ἐν ἀληθείᾳ,participial — piece 1 — the belt of truth (Isa 11:5)
καὶ ἐνδυσάμενοι τὸν θώρακα τῆς δικαιοσύνης,participial — piece 2 — the breastplate (Isa 59:17)
15
καὶ ὑποδησάμενοι τοὺς πόδας ἐν ἑτοιμασίᾳ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου τῆς εἰρήνης,participial — piece 3 — feet shod with gospel readiness (Isa 52:7)
16
ἐν πᾶσιν ἀναλαβόντες τὸν θυρεὸν τῆς πίστεως,participial — piece 4 — the great door-shield (θυρεός) of faith
ἐν ᾧ δυνήσεσθε πάντα τὰ βέλη τοῦ πονηροῦ τὰ πεπυρωμένα σβέσαι·relative — on τὸν θυρεόν — the fire-darts quenched
17
καὶ τὴν περικεφαλαίαν τοῦ σωτηρίου δέξασθε,independent — coordinate finite — the participle chain issues in a fresh imperative: piece 5, the helmet (Isa 59:17)
καὶ τὴν μάχαιραν τοῦ πνεύματος,phrase modifier — second object of δέξασθε — piece 6, the short sword the Spirit supplies
ὅ ἐστιν ῥῆμα θεοῦ·relative — neuter ὅ, attracted to ῥῆμα — read on τὴν μάχαιραν: the sword is God's spoken word (some: on πνεύματος)
vv. 18–20 — the armor worn praying: all prayer, and for the ambassador in chains
18
διὰ πάσης προσευχῆς καὶ δεήσεως προσευχόμενοι ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ ἐν πνεύματι,participial — on στῆτε — the stand is maintained by prayer (πᾶς four times in v. 18)
καὶ εἰς αὐτὸ ἀγρυπνοῦντες ἐν πάσῃ προσκαρτερήσει καὶ δεήσει περὶ πάντων τῶν ἁγίων,participial — on στῆτε — wakefulness in petition for all the saints
19
καὶ ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ,phrase modifier — the supplication extended — prayer asked for the author himself
ἵνα μοι δοθῇ λόγος ἐν ἀνοίξει τοῦ στόματός μου,purpose — the petition — λόγος given at the opening of the mouth
ἐν παρρησίᾳ γνωρίσαι τὸ μυστήριον τοῦ εὐαγγελίου,purpose — epexegetic infinitive — the utterance's aim: the mystery, boldly
20
ὑπὲρ οὗ πρεσβεύω ἐν ἁλύσει,relative — on τὸ μυστήριον — its ambassador, in a chain: πρεσβεύω ἐν ἁλύσει
ἵνα ἐν αὐτῷ παρρησιάσωμαιpurpose — the second petition — boldness in the very proclamation
ὡς δεῖ με λαλῆσαι.comparative — the measure — as the commission requires
The commission of Tychicus 6:21–22
21
Ἵνα δὲ εἰδῆτε καὶ ὑμεῖς τὰ κατ' ἐμέ,purpose — fronted purpose — leans on the main clause below
τί πράσσω,content — indirect question — expanding τὰ κατ' ἐμέ
πάντα γνωρίσει ὑμῖν Τυχικὸς ὁ ἀγαπητὸς ἀδελφὸς καὶ πιστὸς διάκονος ἐν κυρίῳ,independent — the main clause — the letter-carrier commended (cf. Col 4:7)
22
ὃν ἔπεμψα πρὸς ὑμᾶς εἰς αὐτὸ τοῦτο,relative — epistolary aorist ἔπεμψα — sent with the letter itself
ἵνα γνῶτε τὰ περὶ ἡμῶνpurpose — purpose 1 — your knowledge of our affairs
καὶ παρακαλέσῃ τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν.purpose — purpose 2 — your hearts encouraged (subject shifts to Tychicus)
The double benediction 6:23–24
23
Εἰρήνη τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς καὶ ἀγάπη μετὰ πίστεως ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.independent — verbless — peace, and love joined to faith, invoked from Father and Lord
24
Ἡ χάρις μετὰ πάντων τῶν ἀγαπώντων τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν ἐν ἀφθαρσίᾳ.independent — verbless — ἐν ἀφθαρσίᾳ read with the loving: love incorruptible (some: 'in immortality')
Analysis. The chapter falls into three textures. Verses 1–9 are the household code: short flush-left purple imperatives in address-pairs — children/fathers, slaves/masters — each command trailed by its motive (a red γάρ line, the blue Decalogue citation with its promise, the teal 'knowing' participles of recompense and impartiality). In vv. 5–7 the two ὡς-lines (rose) keep re-aiming the slave's obedience past the human master to Christ, and the manner participles are hung from δοῦλοι Χριστοῦ — the service unfolds the new identity. Verses 10–20 invert the shape: three aorist imperatives sit at the margin (ἐνδύσασθε, ἀναλάβετε, then the two-word στῆτε οὖν), and everything else hangs. Under ἐνδύσασθε the ὅτι-line names the real enemy, and the four verbless πρός-phrases stack in one grey column beneath ἡ πάλη — the roll-call of powers. From bare στῆτε οὖν the whole panoply descends as one teal column of aorist participles (belt, breastplate, shoes, shield), the helmet-and-sword line riding along as a coordinate finite (δέξασθε), and then the praying participles of v. 18 — read on στῆτε, not on δέξασθε and not as free imperatives: the stand is maintained by prayer. From the second of these the request for Paul steps down seven levels to ὡς δεῖ με λαλῆσαι, passing through the letter's sharpest irony, πρεσβεύω ἐν ἁλύσει — an ambassador in a chain. Verses 21–24 close the letter: the Tychicus commission (with a fronted ἵνα leaning forward on its main clause, and an epistolary aorist ἔπεμψα) and the two verbless benedictions, dashed and flush-left. Cruxes the layout takes a side on: v. 12's ὅτι grounds the arming command itself; the neuter ὅ of v. 17 is read on τὴν μάχαιραν (attracted to ῥῆμα) rather than on πνεύματος; and ἐν ἀφθαρσίᾳ (v. 24) is read with the loving — love incorruptible — rather than as a separate 'in immortality.'