Exegetical Insight (Chapter 36)

The mi verbs are the last thing that you learn in Basics of Biblical Greek, and there is a tendency to think that because they are last and because there are not many of them, they are not all that important. Stop right here! These verbs are some of the most theologically rich verbs in the entire Greek New Testament, and you should learn them thoroughly. Some of the most blessed concepts in the Bible, words that comfort and cheer our hearts, are expressed through the common mi verbs and through verbs derived from them. Here are a few of these verses.

divdwmi — “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son” (John 3:16).
paradivdwmi — “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all” (Rom 8:32); “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance” (1 Cor 15:3).
i”sthmi — “It is by faith you stand firm” (2 Cor 1:24).
parivsthmi — “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God” (Rom 12:1).
ajnivsthmi — “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact” (Acts 2:32).
tivqhmi — “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation” (1 Thess 5:9).
prostviqhmi — The Lord added to their number those who were being saved” (Acts 4:7).
deivknumi — “After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side” (John 20:20).
ajfivhmi — “God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins” (1 John 1:9); “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matt 6:12).

These verses are only a small beginning of those that could be cited. A lot of theology, a lot of Christian comfort, and a lot of exhortation to Christian living are riding on the mi verbs. You would do well to study them thoroughly and to learn them by heart.

Verlyn Verbrugge