John 15:22 — ExegesisTAB

The clause opens with ei mē {εἰ μὴ | eí mē}, a conditional frame that introduces a contrary-to-fact possibility. The paired aorist indicatives ēlthon kai elalēsa {ἦλθον καὶ ἐλάλησα | êlthon kaì elálēsa} combine Jesus’ coming and speaking as the decisive actions that trigger the verdict. The sequence hamartian ouk eichosan {ἁμαρτίαν οὐκ εἴχοσαν | hamartían ouk eíchosan} expresses the unreal consequence, with the imperfect highlighting a hypothetical state that never existed apart from His presence and words. Nyn de {νῦν δὲ | nŷn dè} marks a sharp turn from that unreal past to the present situation. Prophasis ouk echousin {πρόφασιν οὐκ ἔχουσιν | próphasin ouk échousin} front-loads the object for emphasis, showing that the absence of a defense is the key point. The final prepositional phrase peri tēs hamartias autōn {περὶ τῆς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν | perì tês hamartías autôn} narrows the lack of excuse to the specific matter of their own sin, reinforcing the moral accountability created by revelation.