NGRK 511
BLOCK DIAGRAM ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW
Using the guidelines in Thornhill chapters 3 and 14, construct a block diagram of your exegesis
passage from the Greek text.
The goal of this exercise is to separate the passage into independent and dependent clauses in
order to get a high-level view of the structure of the passage.
INSTRUCTIONS
The skills gained through this exercise will enable you to examine the structure of any biblical
text for research or preparation for teaching or preaching. Use double-spacing, 1” margins,
Times New Roman, 12 pt. font to format your paper, and use the tab key to indent each
supporting or subordinate thought. You may have several layers of indentation. Be sure to
include verse numbering on the far left of the page, and indicate at the top of the page the chosen
passage and the translation you have used for your diagram (see below for an example). You
should use a standard Greek New Testament such as the Nestle-Aland 27th or 28th edition
(NA27/28), United Bible Society 4th or 5th edition (UBS4/5), or SBL Greek New Testament.
Please remember to use the same passage for this assignment that you chose earlier in the course
in the Exegetical Passage Selection assignment.
Hints for Block Diagrams
Independent or Main Clauses
Main clauses are indented all the way to the left in a block diagram A main clause contains the
subject and verb of the main sentence. Note that the main clause is not always at the beginning of
a verse. For example, Romans 5:1:
Δικαιωθέντες οὖν ἐκ πίστεως εἰρήνην ἔχομεν πρὸς τὸν θεὸν διὰ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ
Χριστοῦ = Therefore having been justified by (or out of) faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ.
We can block diagram this as follows:
Δικαιωθέντες οὖν
ἐκ πίστεως
εἰρήνην ἔχομεν
πρὸς τὸν θεὸν
διὰ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ
Page 1 of 5
NGRK 511
I have yellow-highlighted the main clause. Note that prior to the main clause, there is a
dependent clause that has a participle (Δικαιωθέντες = having been justified) and a prepositional
phrase (ἐκ πίστεως = by faith) that modifies the participle. I have indicated that the participle is
part of a dependent clause by indenting it to the right. Since the preposition is itself modifying
the line above it, I have indented it further. Now the main clause (εἰρήνην ἔχομεν = we have
peace) can be included fully indented to the left (you do not need to yellow-highlight it).
Following it are 2 prepositional phrases that explain the peace that we have, and so they are
indented. Both the prepositional phrases are indented in relation to the main clause they modify.
Dependent Clauses
Normally, dependent clauses are easy to spot. They are indicated by various grammatical
markers, such as prepositions, participles, and subordinating conjunctions such as ἵνα (in order
that) or ὅτε (since).
Here is an example from 1 John 3:1a (I have highlighted the subordinating conjunction):
Ἴδετε ποταπὴν ἀγάπην δέδωκεν ἡμῖν ὁ πατήρ, ἵνα τέκνα θεοῦ κληθῶμεν = Behold what kind of
love the Father has given to us, in order that (or that) we may be called children of God.
The verse begins with 2 main clauses:
(1) Ἴδετε ποταπὴν ἀγάπην = Behold what kind of love
(2) δέδωκεν ἡμῖν ὁ πατήρ = the Father has given to us.
This is followed by a clause beginning with ἵνα that is dependent on the sentence that precedes it,
and so this clause is indented to the right. The verse is diagrammed as follows:
Ἴδετε ποταπὴν ἀγάπην
δέδωκεν ἡμῖν ὁ πατήρ,
ἵνα τέκνα θεοῦ κληθῶμεν
More Complex Dependent Clauses
Returning to Romans 5:1, note again the beginning of the verse with the participle highlighted:
Δικαιωθέντες οὖν ἐκ πίστεως εἰρήνην ἔχομεν = Therefore, having been justified by faith, we
have peace.
The first word, δικαιωθέντες, is a participle (aorist nominative masculine plural). It is being used
adverbially, in conjunction with the main verb ἔχομεν (present active indicative 1 person plural).
The idea is: “having been justified, we have…” Here, the participle is describing means of the
action, that is, being justified is the means of having peace with God. Adverbial participles can
also be used in other ways, for example to express purpose or result. See Thorhnill, pp. 114-117.
Note that the participle is plural and matches the main verb, which is also plural.
Page 2 of 5
NGRK 511
Because Δικαιωθέντες is dependent on the main verb, we indent it in relation to the main verb:
Δικαιωθέντες οὖν
ἐκ πίστεως
εἰρήνην ἔχομεν
In some cases, dependent clauses come between the subject and verb of the main clause, and
indicating this takes a little ingenuity. For example, in Romans 5:6 we have a sentences that has
its subject and predicate separated by 2 prepositional phrases. I have indicated the subject with
yellow highlighting and the verb with blue highlighting. Note that you do not need to include
translations along with your Greek lines. I have provided them for convenience.
Here is an example
6 Ἔτι γὰρ Χριστὸς ὄντων ἡμῶν ἀσθενῶν ἔτι (= for yet Christ, we yet being weak)
κατὰ καιρὸν (= at the right time)
ὑπὲρ ἀσεβῶν (= on behalf of the ungodly)
... ἀπέθανεν. (= died)
I have used an ellipsis (…) to show that the verb is connected to the main clause that is at the
same indent above.
Prepositional Phrases
Prepositional phrases are relatively easy to spot if one pays attention to prepositions. Many
people miss prepositional phrases because they fail to see prepositions. In the example from
Romans 5:6 above, 2 prepositional phrases are separated out, beginning with 2 prepositions,
κατά and ὑπέρ respectively.
Datives Used as Prepositions
In some cases, it makes sense to separate out dative phrases when they are clearly acting like
prepositional phrases. We can use our own discretion for this.
As an example, consider Romans 5:2a. I have blue-highlighted the dative word:
δι᾽ οὗ καὶ
τὴν προσαγωγὴν ἐσχήκαμεν
τῇ πίστει
εἰς τὴν χάριν ταύτην
Page 3 of 5
NGRK 511
ἐν ᾗ ἑστήκαμεν
As with Romans 5:1, the main clause is not first. Here it comes after a prepositional phrase,
which is indented.
Moving on to the dative phrase τῇ πίστει, this means “by faith.” The same Greek word (πιστίς)
appears in verse 1 with a preposition: ἐκ πίστεως (= “by faith” or “out of faith”). In verse 2, a
very similar idea is being presented in parallel, only here the dative case is being used. This is an
excellent example of how Greek cases can take on similar functions as prepositions. There may
be a nuanced difference between the 2 uses of πιστίς in the 2 verses, but the main point here is
the dative phrase τῇ πίστει is acting like a preposition, and so I have separated it and indented as
I would a prepositional phrase.
You may use your own discretion for this. Remember, the goal of these diagrams is to be useful.
In some cases, it is not worth separating out a dative noun when it is embedded in a line – it is
simpler to leave it where it is.
Consider where a dative noun is being used like an indirect object. This happens commonly
when people are speaking to one another. For example, in John 21:16:
λέγει|αὐτῷ|πάλιν|δεύτερον|= "he says to him again a second (time)"
Here|αὐτῷ|is the dative pronoun and equivalent to "to him."|Technically it is equivalent to
the|prepositional phrase|εἰς|αῦτον|(preposition plus accusative pronoun - note that εἰς always
takes an accusative object). But if we|separate|αὐτῷ|out on a separate line|by itself it needlessly
complicates the diagram. It is|simpler to leave it in the same line.|
Indicating Speech
Narrative passages often present speeches or dialogue. One way to present dialogue in a block
diagram is to indent it.
Often the beginning of speech is indicated using the preposition λέγων (nominative participle of
the verb λέγω), which is often translated “saying.” My translation of the verse is literal:
καὶ προσλαβόμενος αὐτὸν ὁ Πέτρος ἤρξατο ἐπιτιμᾶν αὐτῷ λέγων· ἵλεώς σοι, κύριε· οὐ μὴ ἔσται
σοι τοῦτο. = And taking him aside, Peter began to rebuke him, saying, “Gracious to you, Lord,
this will not be to you.”
We can block diagram the verse as follows (wth λέγων blue highlighted and the indented speech
yellow highlighted):
καὶ προσλαβόμενος αὐτὸν
ὁ Πέτρος ἤρξατο ἐπιτιμᾶν αὐτῷ λέγων·
ἵλεώς σοι, κύριε·
Page 4 of 5
NGRK 511
οὐ μὴ ἔσται σοι τοῦτο.
Note that later in this passage, Jesus has a speech that lasts from the middle of v. 24 through v.
28.
Summary
Remember that the main goal of block diagrams is to get an idea of the independent and
dependent (subordinate) clauses. We want to get the main clauses on the left, and we may do
dependent clauses differently depending on the word order and what makes sense. Ultimately,
these kinds of diagrams are tools to help us and not to enslave us.
Page 5 of 5
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
