Greek article:
In grammar the definite article is an adjective used before a noun; it is used to limit or define their application; as, the, this, that. The primary use of these adjectives was to convert an undefined, uncertain name into a determinate one; or to limit the application of a common name to a specific, or certain individual.
As a demonstrative pronoun, “this, that and the” in the Greek, the usage seems in many cases never to have become fixed, but to have been left to the taste and judgment of the writers, writers such as Matthew, Mark, Luke, Paul etc.
To these, the use of the Hebrew article was vernacular (meaning to belong to the country of their birth) this not failing to give a shade of coloring to the Jewish mode of employing the article in Greek.
Some very important rules used in the construction of the Greek article, this, that, and the, and their use in the N.T.
In Matthew 16:6, Peter replied to Jesus question, “Whom say you that I am?” Peter answered, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Every word spoken by Peter was emphatic, and agreeable to a rule of the Greek language, where here, the article is placed before the noun, pointing to a certain person, that being Jesus! Note, Peter did not say “Thou art Christ, son of God,:” without the article; but “Thou art THE Christ, THE Messiah, THE Son,” that very Son,” without doubt asserting Peter’s belief of that fundamental confession all Christians must hold to. In this we are assuring our understanding of the divinity and office of the Redeemer of the world â that Son “of the living God, or of God the living one.”
Another example; the Priests and Levites asked John the Baptist,
John 1:21, “Art thou that Prophet” whom the Jewish nation had so long and so anxiously expected, and who had been named by Moses” Deut.18:15-18, “The LORD God will raise up unto thee a Prophet —-.” Of course John answered, “No!”
In John 10:11, Jesus said, “I am THAT good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” Here Jesus is professing to be the one Isa.40:11 spoke of, “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd,” and Ezek.34:23, “I will set up one shepherd.”
Both prophets having prophesied that a shepherd would come to Israel. The use of the definite article leaves no doubt to Jesus claim.
Another rule in the construction of the Greek article is found in the following, when two or more personal nouns of the same gender, number, and case, are connected by the copulative (and); if the first has the definitive article, and the second, and third do not, they both relate to the same person. Example,
1 Thes.1:12, “To the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Proper understanding is, “According to the grace of Jesus Christ, our God and Lord.”
1 Tm.5:21, “Before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Proper understanding, “Before Jesus Christ, the God and Lord;” or, “our God and Lord.”
Tit.2:13, “The glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.” Properly understood, “The glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
2 Pet.1:1, “Through the righteousness of God, and of our Savior Jesus Christ.” Properly understood, “Through the righteousness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.”
Jude 4, “And denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Properly understood, “And denying our only Master, God, and Lord Jesus Christ.”
Also, John 1:1, “The Word, was (the) God.”
2 Cor.1:3, “Blessed be God, even the Father.”
1 Cor.15:24, “To God, even the Father.”
Phil Laspino www.seekfirstwisdom.com