Lexical Summary toi: The Original Word: τοῖ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance in soothProbably for the dative case of ho; an enclitic particle of asseveration by way of contrast; in sooth -- (used only with other particles in the comparative, as kaitoige, mentoi, toigaroun, toinun, etc.) see GREEK ho see GREEK kaitoige see GREEK mentoi see GREEK toigaroun see GREEK toinun HELPS Word-studies 5104 toí – indeed-consequently (often translated therefore, thereupon, whereupon). "In the NT, 5102 (títlos) is only used in composition" (Zodhiates, Dictionary), i.e. in a compound term like 2544 (kaítoige) or 5106 (toínyn). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originethical dat. of su Definition an enclitic particle of asseveration used as a prefix or suff. in the N.T. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5104: τίωτίω, a form front which some N. T. lexicons (e. g. Wahl, Bretschneider, Robinson, Bloomfield, Schirlitz, Harting, others) incorrectly derive τίσουσιν in 2 Thessalonians 1:9; see τίνω. Topical Lexicon Linguistic BackgroundΤοί was already an archaic or literary enclitic particle by the time of the New Testament era. Its force is mild but distinct: a gentle “so, indeed, then,” used to lend personal assurance or to mark a logical transition. Although the stand-alone form never appears in the Greek New Testament, it survives inside several compound particles—τοίνυν, τοιγαροῦν, and τοιναῦτα—each preserving the same core shade of confident inference. Classical writers used τοί to draw a listener in with a courteous “you see,” while Hellenistic authors employed it more sparingly, favoring the simpler οὖν for everyday prose. By the first century A.D. the word had become mainly a relic of formal or elevated style. Presence in Biblical Greek 1. New Testament No extant New Testament verse contains the bare particle τοί. Its influence is nevertheless felt through derivative forms: In each case the renders the compound by a robust “therefore,” “then,” or “so then,” capturing the note of settled conclusion that τοί contributes. 2. Septuagint The autonomous particle surfaces only a handful of times (for example, Job 36:6), generally in poetical or sapiential sections where the translators mirrored the rhetorical flourish of Hebrew emphatic particles. Its rarity underlines its stylistic coloration even in the Greek Old Testament. Function within Logical and Exhortational Sections Because τοί conveys quiet certainty, its presence in compound particles often signals the hinge between doctrine and duty. The pattern is especially clear in Hebrews 12:1–2, where τοιγαροῦν links the panorama of faith in Hebrews 11 with the athletic metaphor of disciplined perseverance: “Therefore [τοιγαροῦν], since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance…” (Hebrews 12:1). The force is not merely transitional; it is persuasive. The writer presses a settled implication of the preceding argument upon the hearer’s conscience. Comparison with Related Particles • οὖν — the common Koine marker of inference, swift and color-neutral. Τοί shares οὖν’s inferential role yet carries a more personal and assuring flavor. When blended (τοίνυν, τοιγαροῦν), the warmth of τοί meets the deductive force of οὖν or γάρ, yielding a particle that both persuades and concludes. Historical and Theological Significance 1. Continuity of Emphasis Scripture consistently moves from revelation to response. Whether through τοί compounds or the simpler οὖν in Romans 12:1, the inspired writers model reasoned exhortation: truth leads to action. The survival of τοί within certain NT compounds illustrates the Spirit’s use of the linguistic tools already present in Hellenistic culture to convey timeless imperatives. 2. Assurance in Apostolic Appeals The embedded τοί adds a nuance of pastoral encouragement. When Thomas says, “Then [τοίνυν] let us also go, so that we may die with Him” (John 11:16), the particle dignifies his resolve with a calm “so indeed.” Similarly, Paul’s proposal to revisit new believers—“Let us return and visit the brothers” (Acts 15:36)—carries the same settled confidence. 3. Homiletical Value Recognizing τοί’s shade of quiet certainty can sharpen preaching and teaching. It alerts the expositor to moments where the biblical author is not merely drawing a conclusion but pressing it upon the heart with gentle insistence. Such sensitivity helps convey the gracious logic of divine instruction: God’s imperatives flow from His indicatives. Practical Ministry Applications • Discipleship materials can mirror the biblical writers by rooting exhortations (“So then, walk in Him”) in prior gospel realities, reflecting τοί’s rhetorical DNA. Conclusion Although the exact lexeme τοί never appears in the New Testament text, its legacy endures in compounds that bind teaching to action with gentle assurance. This modest particle reminds modern readers that the Spirit’s chosen words, down to the smallest enclitic, carry purposeful nuance—guiding the church to live out the sure implications of the faith once for all delivered to the saints. Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance τί — 347 Occ.τίνα — 25 Occ. τίνας — 2 Occ. τίνες — 6 Occ. τίνι — 19 Occ. τίνων — 3 Occ. Τίνος — 13 Occ. τίς — 147 Occ. τίσιν — 2 Occ. τίτλον — 2 Occ. Τίτῳ — 1 Occ. Τίτον — 4 Occ. Τίτος — 3 Occ. Τίτου — 5 Occ. τοιγαροῦν — 2 Occ. Τοίνυν — 3 Occ. τοιᾶσδε — 1 Occ. τοιαῦτα — 10 Occ. τοιαῦται — 1 Occ. τοιαύταις — 2 Occ. |
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