This Is Appendix 104 From The Companion Bible.
For the true understanding of the New Testament
a knowledge of the Greek Prepositions is indispensable.
i. ana governs only one
case (the Accusative), and denotes up, upon,
formed from ano (as kata is from
kato, with which ana stands in direct
antithesis). In relation to vertical lines it denotes the
top. With numerals it is used as a distributive (Matthew
20: ii. anti governs only
one case (the Genitive), and denotes over against, or
opposite. Hence it is used as instead of or in the place of
(e.g. Matthew 2: iii. amphi is used only
in composition in the New Testament and is rare in Classical Greek. It
denotes about, or around. Used of a solid, it
denotes both sides.
iv. apo governs only one
case (the Genitive), and denotes motion v. dia governs two cases
(the Genitive and Accusative). vi. eis governs only one
case (the Accusative). Euclid uses eis when a line is drawn
to meet another line, at certain point. Hence, it denotes motion
to or unto an object, with the purpose of
reaching or touching it (e.g. Matthew 2: vii. ek governs only
one case (the Genitive), and denotes motion from the interior. See under
apo (Number iv, above,
and diagram there). It is used of time, place, and origin. It means
out from, as distinguished from apo (Number iv,
above), which means off, or away from.
Ek marks the more immediate origin, while apo
marks the more remote origin; of expressing the intermediate
meanings.
viii. en governs only
one case (the Dative), and denotes being or remaining
within, with the primary idea of rest and continuance. It
has regard to place and space (e.g. Matthew 10: ix. epi governs three
cases (the Genitive, Dative, and Accusative), and denotes
superposition. x. kata governs two cases
(the Genitive and Accusative), and denotes two motions, vertical and
horizontal. xi. meta governs two
cases (the Genitive and Accusative), and denotes association and
companionship with. It thus differs from sun (Number xvi,
below), which denotes proximity to, and hence
conjunction or coherence.
xii. para governs three
cases (Genitive, Dative, and Accusative), and the uniform meaning is
beside, or alongside of. See
apo, Number iv,
above, and compare diagram there. xiii. peri governs two
cases (Genitive and Accusative), and denotes around, or
about, like a completed circle. Hence
concerning. It marks the object about which the action of
the verb takes place. xiv. pro governs only
one case (the Genitive), and denotes the position as being in
site, or, before one, in place (e.g.
Luke 7: xv. pros governs three
cases (the Genitive, Dative, and Accusative), and denotes
to, or, toward, implying motion
onward. Its general meaning with the three cases is the
motive-as in consideration of (with the
Genitive); in addition to anything-as an act (with the
Dative); with a view to anything-as an end (with the
Accusative). xvi. sun governs only
one case (the Dative). See under meta (Number xi,
above) (e.g. Luke 23: xvii. huper governs
two cases (the Genitive and Accusative), and denotes above,
and over, with respect to the upper plane of a solid. Latin,
super. xviii. hupo governs
two cases (the Genitive and Accusative), denotes the under
side of a solid, and is thus the opposite of huper
(see Number
xvii, above ).
They might be exhibited in groups, or acccording to
the Cases 1 of the Noun which
they govern, or according to their geometrical relations to a line, a
superfices, and a solid, or according to the relative frequency of their
occurrences. 2 But we have given
them below in their alphabetical order, so that they may be
more readily found by the reader.
They are eighteen
in number, and may thus be defined:-
from the surface of an object, as a line drawn from the
circumference; it thus stands in contrast with ek (Number vii),
which denotes a line drawn from the center; while para
denotes a line drawn as a tangent, thus-
Hence, it
is used of motion away from a place (e.g. Matthew
3:
Apo may consequently be used of
deliverance or passing away from any state or condition
(e.g. Matthew 1:21; 14:2. Mark
5:34. Acts
13:8; 14:15. Hebrews
6:1).
It would thus differ hupo (Number
xviii), which would imply a cause immediate and active while
apo would imply a cause virtually passive, and more remote.
1. With the Genitve
it has the general sense of through, as though dividing a
surface into two by an intersecting line. It includes the idea of
proceeding from and passing out (e.g. Mark
11:
In a temporal sense; after an interval
(Matthew 26:61. Mark
2:1. Galatians
2:1).
From the ideas of space and time dia
(with the Genitive) denotes any cause by means of which an
action passes to its accomplishment (e.g. Matthew 1:22. John
1:3. Acts
3:18. 1Corinthians
16:3. 2Corinthians
9:13); hence, it
denotes the passing through whatever is interposed between the beginning
and the end of such action.
2. With the Accusative
it has the sense of on account of, or because
of (e.g. Matthew 27:18. Mark
2:27. Revelation
4:11), indicating both
the exciting cause (Acts 12:20. Romans
4:25. 1Corinthians
11:10), the impulsive
cause (e.g. John 12:9. Romans
4:23; 15:15. Hebrews
2:9), or the
prospective cause (Romans 6:19; 8:11; 14:15. Hebrews
5:3).
From this comes the idea of the object toward which
such motion is directed (e.g. Matthew 18:20,30. 1Corinthians
12:13. Galatians
3:27); and
for, or with respect to which such action or
movement is made.
In contrast with
eis, pros (Number xv,
below) may mark one object as the means of reaching an ulterior object
which is denoted by eis (e.g. John 6:35. Romans
5:1. Ephesians
4:12). It is the
opposite of ek (Number vii,
below).
It also used for the efficient cause as emanating
from within, and hence has sometimes the force of by,
denoting the instrument, with, passing on to union and
fellowship; en denoting inclusion, and
sun (Number xvi,
below) denoting conjunction. En denotes
also continuance in time (Matthew 2:1; 27:40. John
11:10).
2. with plural = among.
1. With the Genitive it
denotes upon, as proceeding or springing from, and answers
to the question "Where?" (e.g. Matthew 9:
With the idea of locality it conveys
the sense, in the presence of (e.g. Matthew 28:14. Mark
13:9. Acts
24:19. 1Corinthians
6:1).
With the idea of time, it looks
backward and upward, e.g. "in the days of" (Matthew
1:11. Hebrews
1:2).
With the idea of place, it denotes
dignity and power (e.g. Matthew 23:2. Acts
12:21. Romans
9:5. Revelation
2:26).
2. With the Dative it implies actual
superposition, as one thing resting upon another, as upon a
foundation or basis which may be actual (e.g. Mark 6:25,28,39), or moral (e.g.
Matthew 18:13. Mark
3:5). Both senses
occur in 1Thessalonians
3:7.
Hence it is used of the moving principle or motive
suggesting the purpose or object (e.g. Ephesians 2:10), and sometimes
including the result (e.g. 2Timothy
2:14).
3. With the Accusative it implies the downward
pressure on that upon which a thing rests; active motion being suggested
(e.g. 2Corinthians
3:15. 1Timothy
5:5).
Hence, it denotes any extended motion downward
(Matthew 13:2; 18:12; 19:28; 27:45) from heaven to
earth (Mark 4:20. Acts
11:15. 2Corinthians
12:9).
Compared with pros (Number xv,
below), pros marks the motion, the direction to be
taken, while epi (with Accusative) marks the point to be
reached.
This downward presure may be that of the
mind, or feeling (e.g. Matthew 25:21; 27:43. Hebrews
6:1. 1Peter
1:13).
For the difference between eis (Number vi,
above) and epi (with the Accusative) see Romans
9:21, "one
vessel unto (eis) honour", and verse 23, "riches of
glory on (epi) the vessels of mercy".
1. With the Genitve it denotes vertical
motion, the opposite of ana (Number i,
above), descent, or detraction from a higher place or plane (e.g.
Matthew 8:
2. With the Accusative it denotes horizontal motion,
along which the action proceeds (e.g. Luke 8:39; 10:33. Acts
5:15; 8:26. Philippians
3:14). Sometimes it
includes the purpose or intention (e.g. 2Timothy
1:1; 4:3. Titus
1:1). In this
connection eis (Number vi,
above. 2Timothy
4:14) marks the more
immediate purpose, pros (Number xv, 3.
Ephesians 4:12. Philemon
5) the ultimate
purpose; and kata (Number x, 2.)
the destination to be reached. It has regard to the duration of the motion
(e.g. Matthew 27:15. Hebrews
3:8) and the
accordance, conformity or proportion of the two things which such motion
thus connects (e.g. Matthew 16:27; 23:3; 25:15. Luke
2:22).
Compare Ephesians 6:
1. Hence meta,
with the Genitive, denotes among, amid (e.g.
Matthew 26:58. Mark
1:13. Revelation
21:3), or in
company with (e.g. Matthew 9:15. John
11:31. 2Thessalonians
1:7. Revelation
14:13).
It refers specially to the mental dispostion with
which an action is performed (e.g. Matthew 12:30. Mark
3:5. Luke
1:39; 9:49. John
8:28. 2Corinthians
7:15).
2. With the Accusative it means after,
always in connection with time (e.g. Matthew 17:1; 26:32. John
13:7. Hebrews
4:7; 7:28).
1. With the
Genitive it denotes from beside, implying the source from
which anything proceeds (e.g. Matthew 2:
As distinguished from hupo (Number xviii,
below) it denotes the general sense of motion, while
hupo marks the special sense or efficient
cause of such motion.
As distinguished from
apo (Number iv,
above) it marks the motion from person (e.g. Matthew 2:16), while
apo may imply motion from a place (e.g. Matthew
2:1).
2. With the Dative it denotes rest beside and
at a person, place, or thing, expressing rest and position there
(e.g. John 19:25. Acts
9:43); laid up with, or
in store with (e.g. Matthew 6:1. Luke
1:30), or proximity to
(e.g. Matthew 22:25. Colossians
4:16).
Hence it implies in the power of (Matthew
19:26. Luke
1:37); in the judgement
of (e.g. Romans 2:12. 2Peter
2:11).
3. With the Accusative it denotes motion to a place,
so as to be alongside it (e.g. Matthew 15:29 Mark
4:1).
Hence, beside and
beyond, and so against (e.g. Acts
18:13. Romans
1:25,26; 4:18. 1Corinthians
3:11. Galatians
1:8); and
beside, i.e. more or less than
(e.g. Luke 3:13; 13:2. Romans
14:5. 2Corinthians
11:24). Compare
pros, number xv,
below.
1. With the Genitve it means
as concerning, or as regards, but always with
the primary idea, and marking the central point of the activity (e.g.
Matthew 4:
2. With the Accusative it denotes the extension of
such activity, hence, around (e.g. Mark 9:42. Luke
13:8. Acts
28:7. Philippians
2:23).
Compared with para (Number xii,
above), pros denotes only direction and tendency,
whereas para denotes both motion and change of place of some
object.
1. With the Genitive the only occurence is
Acts 27:
2. With the Dative it occurs five times : Luke
19:37. John
18:16; and twice in John
20:12. Revelation
1:13.
3. With the Accusative, see e.g. Matthew
2:12; 3:10; 21:34; 26:57. Mark
5:11; 11:1; 14:54. Luke
7:7. Acts
6:1. 1Thessalonians
3:6.
1. With the Genitve it is used
in its relative rather than its absolute sense. In the place
of (e.g. John 11:
In the interests of (e.g. 2Thessalonians
2:1).
In behalf of (e.g. Matthew
5:44. Acts
9:16).
For the purpose of (e.g. John
11:4. Romans
15:8. 2Corinthians
12:19. Philippians
2:13).
With the Genitive huper is connected
with peri, being the apex of the triangle, or the fixed
point of the compass, whereas peri (see Number
xiii.) is the circle described around it. Hence huper
has regard to feeling, and implies the pleading a case on behalf of
another, whereas peri implies the mere description of the
circumstances of the case. (e.g. 1Peter
3:18. Jude 9).
2. With Accusative it denotes beyond,
in excess of measure, honour, number, or time (e.g. Matthew
10:24. 2Corinthians
1:1-8. Ephesians
1:22. Philippians
2:9. Philemon
16).
With the Genitive it describes
motion from beneath; with Dative (not used in the New Testament), position
beneath; and with the Accusative, motion or extension underneath.
1. With the Genitive, hupo is used to
mark the efficient or instrumental agent, from under whose
hand or power the action of the verb proceeds (e.g. Matthew 1:
2. With the Accusative, it denotes the place whither
such action extends (e.g. Matthew 8:8. Mark
4:32. James
2:3).
Hence it implies moral or legal subjection (e.g.
Matthew 8:9. Romans
6:14; 7:14; 16:20. 1Timothy
6:1).
1
The Cases governed by the Prepositions stand in the following
proposition: Genitive, 17; Accusative, 19; and Dative, 15;
according to Helbing (Schanz's Beitrage, Number 16 (1904),
page 11.