| 9. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the aorist participle anastas {Ἀναστὰς | a-na-STÀS} “having risen,” which functions circumstantially, giving a temporal backdrop to the main action: His appearance. The postpositive conjunction de {δὲ | de} links this narrative unit to the preceding context while allowing the English rendering “now” or leaving it implicit. The adverbial phrase proi prote sabbatou {πρωῒ πρώτῃ σαββάτου | PRO-ee PRO-tei sab-BA-tou} “early on the first of the week” combines an adverb with a dative temporal construction plus a genitive, specifying the time as early Sunday morning. The main finite verb ephane {ἐφάνη | e-PHA-ne} “He appeared” carries the core narrative event, with the adverb proton {πρῶτον | PRO-ton} “first” emphasizing the priority of this appearance over others. The dative phrase Maria te Magdalenei {Μαρίᾳ τῇ Μαγδαληνῇ | ma-REE-a tei mag-da-LE-nai} gives the recipient of the appearance, using a proper name followed by an article–title combination to mark her identity and origin. The relative clause par’ hes ekbeblēkei hepta daimonia {παρʼ ἧς ἐκβεβλήκει ἑπτὰ δαιμόνια | par hēs ek-be-BLE-kei hep-TA dai-MO-nia} is introduced by the preposition–relative pair “from whom,” with the pluperfect ekbeblēkei highlighting a prior completed act of exorcism that still characterizes Mary at the time of the appearance. This clause is explanatory, providing background that justifies her narrative prominence. In English, the participial opening is rendered as a finite verb plus temporal phrasing to maintain clarity, while preserving the emphasis on the timing (“early on the first day of the week”), the priority of Mary as first witness (“appeared first”), and the theological continuity between her earlier deliverance and her privileged role in witnessing the risen Christ. |