Masculine Nouns of the First Declension. Prepositions.

§79

It will be observed that although προφήτης is masculine it is a true first-declension noun, being just like a feminine noun of the first declension except in the nominative, genitive, and vocative singular.

μαθητής is declined like προφήτης, except for the accent.

§80

Prepositions express relationship. Thus in the sentence, the book is in the desk, the preposition in expresses a certain relationship between the book and the desk. In the sentence, the book is on the desk, a different relationship is expressed (by the preposition on).

In English, nouns standing after prepositions are always in the same case (the ‘‘objective” case). But in Greek different prepositions take different cases.

§81

The preposition ἐν, meaning in, always takes the dative case. Thus in the house is expressed by ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ ; in the truth by ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ, etc. The preposition εἰς, meaning into, on the other hand, always takes the accusative. Thus into the house is expressed by εἰς τὸν οἶκον. Finally, the preposition ἀπό always takes the genitive. Thus from the house is expressed by ἀπὸ τοῦ οἴκου.

§82

These three prepositions illustrate the general principle that the genitive is the case of separation, the dative the case of rest in a place, and the accusative the case of motion toward a place. Prepositions expressing separation naturally take the genitive, prepositions expressing rest in a place naturally take the dative, and prepositions expressing motion toward a place naturally take the accusative.

§83

But a very great number of usages of prepositions cannot be reduced to any such general rule. Thus many prepositions that do not express any idea of separation take the genitive.

§84

It should be observed that ἐν, εἰς, and ἐκ are all proclitics (see § 64).

85. ἐν, εἰς, ἐκ, and ἀπό each take only one case, and πρός is not commonly used with any case except the accusative. But many other prepositions take several cases. Those that take several cases often have quite a different meaning when used with one case from their meaning when used with another case. Thus διά with the genitive means through; διά with the accusative, on account of; μετά with the genitive means with; μετά with the accusative, after.

§86

In studying the vocabularies it is quite insufficient to learn how the prepositions are to be translated, but it is also necessary to learn with what case they are construed in any particular meaning. Thus it is quite insufficient to say that ἐν means in. What should rather be said is that “ἐν-with-the-dative” means in. The phrase “ἐν-with-the-dative” should form in the student’s mind one absolutely indivisible idea; ἐν should never be thought of apart from its case. In the same way, but still more obviously, it is insufficient to say that μετά means with or after. What should rather be said is that “μετά-with-the-genitive” means with, and that “μετά-with-the-accusative” means after. This same method of study should be applied to all prepositions.

§87

A further important principle is that of precision in learning the meanings of prepositions. It is true that no one English word or phrase is capable of translating in all instances a single Greek preposition. Sometimes, for example, ἐν with the dative cannot be translated by in in English. But the proper method is to learn first the usual meaning before proceeding to the unusual. A reversal of this method will lead to hopeless confusion. Let the student, therefore, so far as prepositions are concerned, adhere for the present rigidly to the translations given in the vocabularies. In that way a feeling for the really fundamental meaning of the prepositions will be formed, and further on the derived meanings can be studied without confusion.

§88

Finally, the importance of this subject should be noticed. Few things are more necessary for a correct understanding of the New Testament than a precise acquaintance with the common prepositions. The prepositions therefore should always be singled out from the vocabularies for special attention, and when new prepositions are learned the old ones should be reviewed.