The Greek word οὖν (therefore)

[TonyChanYT]

2 Corinthians 7 opens with οὖν (NIV):

1 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

οὖν is often translated as therefore.

Strong's Greek: 3767. οὖν (oun) — 502 Occurrences

It is strange in English that a chapter division should be opened with the word "Therefore".

BDAG οὖν:

① inferential, denoting that what it introduces is the result of or an inference fr. what precedes, so, therefore, consequently, accordingly, then.

② marker of continuation of a narrative, so, now, then (s. Rob. 1191: ‘a transitional particle relating clauses or sentences loosely together by way of confirmation’)

ⓑ οὖν serves to indicate a transition to someth. new. So esp. in the Gospel of John (Rob. 1191: ‘John boldly uses οὖν alone and needs no apology for doing so. It just carries along the narrative with no necessary thought of cause or result’.) now, then, well J 1:22; 2:18, 20; 3:25; 4:33, 46, 48; 5:10, 19; 6:60, 67; 7:25, 28, 33, 35, 40; 8:13, 21, 22, 25

Grammatically, οὖν is a conjunction, while English "therefore" is an adverb or a conjunctive adverb. Semantically, "therefore" carries a strong sense of logical consequence. A happens; therefore, B happens as a result.

The Greek οὖν is more ambiguous than that. It carries a weaker sense of logical consequence. It is sometimes translated as then. When you read the Bible and see the word "therefore", do not automatically associate a logical conclusion.

There is another Greek word often translated as "therefore" in (ESV) 2 Cor 5:

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh.

Strong's Greek: 5620. ὥστε (hóste) — 83 Occurrences

Again, it does not carry a strong First-Order Logical sense.

Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore [G5620], if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 19 that is, in Christ God was reconcilingc the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore [G3767], we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Back then, there were no punctuation marks. Writers sometimes used words like οὖν, ὥστε, δέ, and καί to signify a new sentence when it was conveniently appropriate. They linked a sequence of related ideas.

 

[Fred]

It is strange in English that a chapter division should be opened with the word "Therefore".

I often try to ignore many of them (chapter as well as verse divisions) when reading/studying.

 

[Mr GLee]

New testament chapter and verse division was not used . The old was .

Therefore is a continuation of the previous chapter 1. . And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. therefore

Many chapter changes can confuse. Like the Mathew account . -beginning in Mathew 23:38 through Mathew 24: 1 altogether one thought making the abomination of desolation temple made with human hands as a will to no effect .when he said your house is desolate , he walked out never to return to prove . Not 70 Ad

Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.(chapter 24) And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.