The Resultative ὅτι in the New Testament with Special Attention to Luke-Acts

Abstract

The possibility of the occurrence of resultative ὅτι clauses in the NT has been noted by grammarians and commentators but with a lack of consistency and clarity. Commentators often overlook this exegetical possibility, and a survey of NT Greek grammars displays a wide variety of opinions on the category. Luke 7:47 is a key instance that exemplifies the diffuse debate. A review of possible instances of the resultative ὅτι across the LXX, the NT, and the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs shows that this was a viable way to indicate result clauses in questions and statements within Semitic-influenced Greek during the Hellenistic era. Luke uses resultative ὅτι clauses to indicate a fait accompli in five instances, including Luke 7:47.