| 11. Linguistic Exegesis The Greek clause begins with elthen {ἦλθεν | êl-then} ‘he came,’ a decisive aorist active indicative highlighting a completed action. The postpositive conjunction gar {γὰρ | gar} ‘for’ introduces an explanatory rationale. The subject ho huios tou anthropou {ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου | ho hui-ós tou anthrō-pou} ‘the Son of Man’ uses a definite article with a genitive title denoting a recognized messianic designation. The purpose infinitive sosai {σῶσαι | sô-sai} ‘to save’ declares the aim of His coming. The substantive participle to apololos {τὸ ἀπολωλός | tò a-po-lō-lós} ‘the lost’ conveys an ongoing state requiring divine intervention. Greek word order (verb–conjunction–title–infinitive–object) succinctly links identity with mission. English rendering preserves the explanatory force of gar and the purposive nuance of the infinitive. |