A Syntactical Analysis of oὖν in Papyrus 66 TRENT A. ROGERS Greek particles are often overlooked in the interpretation and translation of ancient texts, but a better understanding of their syntactical functions aids in understanding the relationships among clauses and results in a better understanding of the texts’ meanings. This article examines the use of οὖν in Papyrus 66, provides examples and explanations of the different uses, and categorizes every occurrence in the Gospel of John. It clarifies established uses and paves new ground by locating the comparative use. Moreover, it notices a dialogical pattern wherein λέγω + οὖν serves as an alternative to ἀποκρίνομαι (καί λέγω), and in this pattern, asyndeton with λέγω may convey increased markedness. Keywords: Greek particles, Papyrus 66, Syntactical Analysis, Gospel of John, uses of oὖν. Many scholars have noted John’s unique preference for οὖν and the peculiar distribution of his uses, but existing analyses fail adequately to describe the function and distribution of οὖν in the Gospel of John1. While one must temper the conclusions that one draws from an analysis of such a modest particle as οὖν, a better understanding of the way in which the Gospel connects sentences has great significance for how it is interpreted. Understanding if a sentence is being compared to, de- duced from, or questioning a previous sentence has great impact for how John is interpreted; οὖν is capable of signaling each of these syntactical meanings among others. Moreover, modern grammatical and lexical aids inadequately treat this overlooked particle. BDF, for example, devotes scarcely a paragraph to οὖν with the majority of this discussion focus- ing on οὖν in collocations2. BDAG, while slightly more helpful, offers obscure classification and attempts to include the mood of the verb in the * Thanks are due to Professors Edmondo Lupieri, Thomas H. Tobin, and Jim Keenan who carefully read and commented on earlier drafts of this article. 1 For brief notes on John’s peculiar use of οὖν, see for example N. Turner, Syntax (vol. 3 of A Grammar of New Testament Greek [J. H. Moulton; Edinburgh 1963]) 337; F. Blass - A. Debrunner - R. W. Funk, A Greek Grammar of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago 1961) 451.1; A. T. Robertson, A Short Grammar of the New Testament: for Students Familiar with the Elements of Greek (4th ed. New York 1908) 149; A. T. Robertson, A Grammar of the Greek New Testament in Light of Historical Research (Nashville 1934) 1191. 2 BDF, Grammar § 451. Filología Neotestamentaria - Vol. XXV - 2012, pp. 75-99 Facultad de Filosofía y Letras - Universidad de Córdoba (España)