οὕτως

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 οὕτως

   HOU-tôs

   so
2. sentence🔊 οὗτοι δὲ ἦσαν εὐγενέστεροι τῶν ἐν Θεσσαλονίκῃ οἵτινες ἐδέξαντο τὸν λόγον μετὰ πάσης προθυμίας τὸ καθʼ ἡμέραν ἀνακρίνοντες τὰς γραφὰς εἰ ἔχοι ταῦτα οὕτως

   HOU-toi de Ê-san eu-ge-NE-ste-roi tôn en the-sa-lo-NI-kêi HOI-ti-nes e-DEK-san-to ton LO-gon me-TA PA-sês pro-thy-MI-as to kath hê-ME-ran a-na-KRI-non-tes tas gra-PHAS ei E-khoi TAU-ta HOU-tôs

   these and were more noble of the in Thessalonica who received the word with all eagerness the according to day examining the scriptures if might be these things so

Exegesis

Finally, the clause ei echoi tauta houtōs {εἰ ἔχοι ταῦτα οὕτως | ei é-choi taû-ta hoû-tōs} is an indirect question introduced by ei, with the optative echoi expressing their exploratory stance: they are testing whether “these things” truly “hold so” or “are thus.” In translation, the relative clause is rendered with “who” and the participle anakrinontes as “examining” or “checked,” preserving the sequential flow from noble character, to eager reception, to critical verification of the message against the Scriptures.