Greek New Testament
Koinē Greek — the common language of the first-century Mediterranean world in which the New Testament was written
Koinē Greek
24 Letters
NT Passages
Key Vocabulary
About the Greek New Testament
Koinē Greek
The New Testament was written in Koinē (common) Greek, the lingua franca of the Roman Empire from the 4th century BCE to the 6th century CE. Unlike Classical Attic Greek, Koinē was simplified in grammar and widely accessible — making it the ideal medium for spreading the Gospel across the ancient world.
Key features include simplified verb forms, increased use of prepositions, and a rich theological vocabulary developed by the NT authors.
New Testament Books
- Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
- History — Acts of the Apostles
- Pauline Epistles — Romans through Philemon (13 letters)
- General Epistles — Hebrews, James, 1–2 Peter, 1–3 John, Jude
- Apocalyptic — Revelation
Key Manuscripts
- Papyrus P52 (c. 125 CE) — Earliest known NT fragment (John 18:31–33), proving early circulation of John's Gospel
- Codex Sinaiticus (c. 330–360 CE) — Oldest nearly complete Bible in Greek; discovered at St. Catherine's Monastery
- Codex Vaticanus (c. 325–350 CE) — One of the earliest complete manuscripts; housed in the Vatican Library
- Codex Alexandrinus (c. 400–440 CE) — Important witness to the Byzantine text type
Critical Editions
- Nestle-Aland (NA28) — Standard scholarly critical edition published by the German Bible Society
- United Bible Societies (UBS5) — Same text as NA28, with different apparatus focused on translation issues
- Textus Receptus (TR) — The "Received Text" ( Erasmus, 1516), basis for the KJV New Testament
- Byzantine Majority Text — Represents the majority of surviving manuscripts
Greek New Testament Reader
Read the complete Greek New Testament (Tischendorf 8th Edition Critical Text) with all 27 books, parallel English translation, and chapter navigation.
Open Greek Bible →The Greek Alphabet
The 24 letters of the Greek alphabet used in New Testament manuscripts.
Α α
Alpha
a
a as in "father"
Β β
Beta
b
b
Γ γ
Gamma
g
g as in "go"
Δ δ
Delta
d
d
Ε ε
Epsilon
e
e as in "met"
Ζ ζ
Zeta
z
z / dz
Η η
Eta
ē
ay as in "they"
Θ θ
Theta
th
th as in "think"
Ι ι
Iota
i
i as in "machine"
Κ κ
Kappa
k
k
Λ λ
Lambda
l
l
Μ μ
Mu
m
m
Ν ν
Nu
n
n
Ξ ξ
Xi
x
ks
Ο ο
Omicron
o
o as in "not"
Π π
Pi
p
p
Ρ ρ
Rho
r
r (trilled)
Σ σ/ς
Sigma
s
s
Τ τ
Tau
t
t
Υ υ
Upsilon
u/y
u as in "put"
Φ φ
Phi
ph
f
Χ χ
Chi
ch
ch as in "Bach"
Ψ ψ
Psi
ps
ps
Ω ω
Omega
ō
o as in "tone"
Sample Passages
Key New Testament passages in Greek with transliteration, translation, and grammatical notes.
Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος.
Transliteration: En archē ēn ho logos, kai ho logos ēn pros ton theon, kai theos ēn ho logos.
Translation: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
"Logos" (λόγος) means "word, reason, discourse." The structure "theos ēn ho logos" (θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος) places "theos" in the predicate position without the article, asserting the qualitative nature — the Word is fully divine.
Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ᾽ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον.
Transliteration: Houtōs gar ēgapēsen ho theos ton kosmon, hōste ton huion ton monogenē edōken, hina pas ho pisteuōn eis auton mē apolētai all' echē zōēn aiōnion.
Translation: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
"Ēgapēsen" (ἠγάπησεν) — aorist of "agapaō" (ἀγαπάω), selfless love. "Monogenē" (μονογενῆ) — "one and only, unique." "Zōēn aiōnion" (ζωὴν αἰώνιον) — eternal life, life of the age to come.
πάντες γὰρ ἥμαρτον καὶ ὑστεροῦνται τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ, δικαιούμενοι δωρεὰν τῇ αὐτοῦ χάριτι διὰ τῆς ἀπολυτρώσεως τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ·
Transliteration: Pantes gar hēmarton kai hysterountai tēs doxēs tou theou, dikaioumenoi dōrean tē autou chariti dia tēs apolytrōseōs tēs en Christō Iēsou.
Translation: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
"Hēmarton" (ἥμαρτον) — aorist of "hamartanō" (ἁμαρτάνω), to miss the mark/sin. "Dikaioo" (δικαιόω) — to justify, declare righteous. "Charis" (χάρις) — grace, unmerited favor. "Apolytrōsis" (ἀπολύτρωσις) — redemption, liberation by payment.
οἴδαμεν δὲ ὅτι τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν τὸν θεὸν πάντα συνεργεῖ εἰς ἀγαθόν, τοῖς κατὰ πρόθεσιν κλητοῖς οὖσιν.
Transliteration: Oidamen de hoti tois agapōsin ton theon panta synergei eis agathon, tois kata prothesin klētois ousin.
Translation: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
"Synergei" (συνεργεῖ) — from "syn" (together) + "ergon" (work), the root of "synergy." "Prothesis" (πρόθεσις) — purpose, plan set forth beforehand. "Klētos" (κλητός) — called, invited.
πάντα ἰσχύω ἐν τῷ ἐνδυναμοῦντί με.
Transliteration: Panta ischyō en tō endynamounti me.
Translation: I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
"Ischyō" (ἰσχύω) — to be strong, to have power. "Endynamoō" (ἐνδυναμόω) — to empower, strengthen from within. The Greek emphasizes ongoing empowerment (present participle).
τῇ γὰρ χάριτί ἐστε σεσῳσμένοι διὰ πίστεως· καὶ τοῦτο οὐκ ἐξ ὑμῶν, θεοῦ τὸ δῶρον· οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων, ἵνα μή τις καυχήσηται.
Transliteration: Tē gar chariti este sesōsmenoi dia pisteōs; kai touto ouk ex hymōn, theou to dōron; ouk ex ergōn, hina mē tis kauchēsētai.
Translation: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
"Sesōsmenoi" (σεσῳσμένοι) — perfect passive participle of "sōzō" (σῴζω), saved — the perfect tense shows a past completed action with ongoing results. "Pistis" (πίστις) — faith, trust, belief.
Key Greek Vocabulary
Essential New Testament Greek words for Bible study.
Core Theological Words
θεός
theos
God
κύριος
kyrios
Lord / Master
Χριστός
Christos
Christ / Anointed One (= Hebrew Mashiach)
πνεῦμα
pneuma
Spirit / wind / breath
λόγος
logos
Word / reason / message
ἐκκλησία
ekklēsia
Church / assembly / congregation
βασιλεία
basileia
Kingdom / reign
εὐαγγέλιον
euangelion
Gospel / good news
Salvation & Grace
χάρις
charis
Grace / unmerited favor
πίστις
pistis
Faith / trust / belief
σωτηρία
sōtēria
Salvation / deliverance
ἁμαρτία
hamartia
Sin (missing the mark)
δικαιοσύνη
dikaiosynē
Righteousness / justice
ἀπολύτρωσις
apolytrōsis
Redemption / liberation
μετάνοια
metanoia
Repentance / change of mind
ἄφεσις
aphesis
Forgiveness / release
Love & Virtue
ἀγάπη
agapē
Love (selfless, divine)
φιλέω
phileō
Love (friendship, affection)
ἐλπίς
elpis
Hope
εἰρήνη
eirēnē
Peace (= Hebrew Shalom)
χαρά
chara
Joy
ἀλήθεια
alētheia
Truth
δόξα
doxa
Glory / splendor / opinion
ζωή
zōē
Life (esp. spiritual/eternal life)
Common Verbs
πιστεύω
pisteuō
I believe / trust
ἀγαπάω
agapaō
I love (selflessly)
γινώσκω
ginōskō
I know / perceive
σῴζω
sōzō
I save / deliver / heal
λέγω
legō
I say / speak
ἔρχομαι
erchomai
I come / go
δίδωμι
didōmi
I give
ὁράω
horaō
I see