εἰς (eis) in the New Testament — Enhanced Parsing & Usage Table
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Guide to columns:
- Greek phrase: Immediate construction with εἰς as it appears in the verse (transliterated in italics).
- Parsing (brief): εἰς = preposition with the accusative; points into/unto/for (goal, purpose, result, entry).
- Semantic force: Function of εἰς in the verse.
- Plain sense in context: Short explanation aligned with the KJV.
| # | Verse (KJV) | Greek phrase with εἰς (translit.) |
Parsing | Semantic force | Plain sense in context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acts 2:38 | εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν (eis aphesin hamartiōn) | εἰς + acc. | Purpose/Result (unto) | Baptism and repentance are unto remission of sins. |
| 2 | Matthew 26:28 | εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν | εἰς + acc. | Purpose/Result | Christ's blood was shed unto remission (not because sins already forgiven). |
| 3 | Mark 1:4 | εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν | εἰς + acc. | Purpose/Result | John's baptism unto remission. |
| 4 | Luke 3:3 | εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν | εἰς + acc. | Purpose/Result | Baptism unto remission of sins. |
| 5 | Romans 10:10 | εἰς δικαιοσύνην (eis dikaiosynēn) | εἰς + acc. | Goal/Entrance | Belief moves a person unto righteousness. |
| 6 | Romans 6:3 | εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν | εἰς + acc. | Motion into/Union | Baptism brings one into union with Christ. |
| 7 | Romans 6:3 | εἰς τὸν θάνατον αὐτοῦ | εἰς + acc. | Motion into | Baptism unites the sinner into Christ's death. |
| 8 | Romans 6:4 | εἰς τὸν θάνατον | εἰς + acc. | Result | Baptism identifies us into Christ's death. |
| 9 | Galatians 3:27 | εἰς Χριστόν | εἰς + acc. | Union | Baptism is the clothing into Christ. |
| 10 | 1 Corinthians 12:13 | εἰς ἓν σῶμα | εἰς + acc. | Entrance | Baptism places believers into the one body (church). |
| 11 | 1 Corinthians 10:2 | εἰς τὸν Μωϋσῆν | εἰς + acc. | Relation | Israel was baptized unto Moses (a type for baptism unto Christ). |
| 12 | Acts 19:3 | εἰς τὸ Ἰωάννου βάπτισμα | εἰς + acc. | Reference | Baptized unto John's baptism (not yet Christ's). |
| 13 | Acts 11:18 | μετάνοιαν εἰς ζωήν | εἰς + acc. | Goal | Repentance unto life (not because life already possessed). |
| 14 | Acts 20:21 | μετάνοιαν εἰς τὸν Θεόν | εἰς + acc. | Direction | Repentance is directed unto God. |
| 15 | John 3:16 | εἰς αὐτόν | εἰς + acc. | Entrusting | Faith rests into the Son (unto life). |
| 16 | Acts 8:16 | εἰς τὸ ὄνομα | εἰς + acc. | Authority | Baptism into the name (authority) of Christ. |
| 17 | Matthew 28:19 | εἰς τὸ ὄνομα | εἰς + acc. | Consecration | Baptism unto the name of the Father, Son, Holy Ghost. |
| 18 | 1 Thessalonians 4:7* | (Comparandum: εἰς marks moral aim elsewhere) | — | Moral goal | εἰς often marks goal unto holiness (cf. Acts 11:18). |
| 19 | 1 Peter 2:25 | εἰς τὸν ποιμένα | εἰς + acc. | Return into | Conversion returns us unto Christ's shepherding care. |
| 20 | 1 Peter 1:8–9* | (εἰς used similarly in salvation goal contexts) | — | Goal | Faith presses unto salvation. |
Observational Summary (for teaching):
- Across salvation texts, εἰς consistently points forward—unto/into a goal, result, or union.
- Acts 2:38 matches Matthew 26:28: εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν appears identically and means "unto remission."
- Repentance + Baptism share the same εἰς phrase; redefining it as "because of" is grammatically absurd.
- The KJV preserves this forward-moving sense consistently.
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