| 7. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the verb euchometha {εὐχόμεθα | eu-chó-me-tha} in the present middle indicative expressing the apostolic prayer. The prepositional phrase pros ton theon {πρὸς τὸν θεὸν | pròs tón the-ón} indicates the direction of prayer toward God. The infinitive clause mḕ poiēsai hymas kakon mēden {μὴ ποιῆσαι ὑμᾶς κακὸν μηδέν | mḕ poi-ê-sai hy-mâs ka-kón mē-dén} employs a double negation to stress complete avoidance of evil. Two parallel purpose clauses follow: the first, introduced by oukh hina {οὐχ ἵνα | oukh hí-na} plus the aorist subjunctive passive phanōmen {φανῶμεν | pha-nô-men}, clarifies that the aim is not for the apostles themselves to appear approved; the second, introduced by hina {ἵνα | hí-na} with the present subjunctive active poiēte {ποιῆτε | poi-ê-te}, outlines the goal that the Corinthians actively do the good. The concluding concessive clause hēmeis de hōs adokimoi ōmen {ἡμεῖς δὲ ὡς ἀδόκιμοι ὦμεν | hē-meîs de hōs a-dó-ki-moi ō-men} uses the present subjunctive to acknowledge the possibility of the apostles being regarded as disapproved, thus underscoring the priority of the believers’ moral conduct over apostolic reputation. |