| 28. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the comparative particle hosper {ὥσπερ | hṓsper} ‘just as’, linking this statement to Jesus’ teaching on humility. The nominative phrase ho huios tou anthropou {ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου | ho hui-ós tou an-thrṓ-pou} functions as the grammatical subject and a Christological title. The aorist indicative elthen {ἦλθεν | ḗl-then} ‘came’ governs a sequence of purpose infinitives: the negated passive diakonethenai {διακονηθῆναι | di-a-ko-nē-thē-nai} ‘to be served’ contrasted by the adversative alla {ἀλλὰ | al-lá} introducing the active diakonesai {διακονῆσαι | di-a-ko-nē-sai} ‘to serve’, with kai {καὶ | kaí} adding the further purpose through dounai {δοῦναι | doû-nai} ‘to give’. The accusative ten psychen autou {τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ | tēn psychḗn au-toû} indicates the total self-offering, depicted as lutron anti pollon {λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν | lý-tron an-tí pol-lôn} ‘ransom for many’, emphasizing substitutionary redemption. English mirrors this structure with repeated infinitives and renders key theological terms to convey the mission of the Son of Man. |