| 11. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the conditional particle ei {εἰ | eí}, introducing a protasis of a first-class condition, and the inferential conjunction oun {οὖν | oûn}, linking this statement to the preceding teaching on stewardship. The phrase en to adikō mamōna {ἐν τῷ ἀδίκῳ μαμωνᾷ | en toî a-dí-kō ma-mō-nâ} functions as a dative of sphere marking the domain in which faithfulness is tested. The predicate adjective pistoi {πιστοὶ | pis-to-í} combined with the aorist middle deponent verb egenesesthe {ἐγένεσθε | e-gé-nes-the} expresses failure to prove oneself faithful. The neuter substantive to alēthinon {τὸ ἀληθινὸν | tó a-lē-thi-nón} ‘the true’ stands elliptically against mammon, and the interrogative pronoun tis {τίς | tís} introduces a rhetorical question with the dative humin {ὑμῖν | hu-mîn} marking the beneficiary and the future verb pisteusei {πιστεύσει | pis-teú-sei} in the apodosis underscoring the conditional promise of greater trust. |