| 7. Linguistic Exegesis The opening verb eperotesan {Ἐπηρώτησαν | Epērṓtēsan} ‘they asked’ launches the disciples’ response and carries the scene forward from the preceding discourse. The connective de {δὲ | dè} signals a simple narrative continuation rather than a strong contrast. The participle legontes {λέγοντες | légontes} ‘saying’ introduces direct speech, and the vocative didaskale {Διδάσκαλε | Didáskale} ‘Teacher’ frames Jesus as the one expected to provide clarification. The first question combines pote oun {πότε οὖν | póte oûn} ‘when then,’ where the inferential oun {οὖν | oûn} shows that the question grows out of what has just been said. The repeated tauta {ταῦτα | taûta} ‘these things’ keeps the focus fixed on the same predicted events in both halves of the verse. The second question shifts from timing to evidence: ti to semeion {τί τὸ σημεῖον | tí tò sēmeîon} ‘what is the sign’ seeks an observable marker, while hotan melle tauta ginesthai {ὅταν μέλλῃ ταῦτα γίνεσθαι | hótan méllē taûta gínesthai} ‘when these things are about to happen’ supplies a temporal clause of imminence. The result is a two-part inquiry that asks first about sequence and then about confirmation, showing that the disciples want discernment, not chronology alone. |