Πρός + Accusative

Prepositions are some of those tiny words that are incredibly meaningful to a text/passage. The danger is heading to a lexicon (dictionary), seeing the 10-15 possible meanings and randomly selecting one that best fits our idea of what the word should mean. 

By looking at a preposition's more likely meaning when paired with a particular case (i.e., with its object), the number of options dwindle significantly. Furthermore, the semantic range of main verbs (or head noun) often limits the scope of the preposition as well. 

Wallace also notes how whether a verb is transitive, intransitive, or stative can affect the function of the preposition (Grammar, 359).

Πρός is pretty much only used with the accusative case (once with genitive and six times with dative) (Keep in mind, the reader should look for the main verb to help narrow down the following options when the preposition is found in a text)

For more detailed discussion of this preposition and case, see Wallace, Grammar, 380-82

1.    Purpose: Provides the goal or intended result of the main action

2.    Spatial: The location where an action is headed (moving in a direction)

3.    Temporal: Usually a duration of time or moving towards a time period

4.    Result: Offers the natural result of the main action (distinguishing between purpose and result can be difficult in some contexts)

5.    Opposition: Someone is acting against someone else

6.    Association: Someone is acting in company or unison with someone else (usually with stative verbs)

See my post on Revelation 3:20, where this preposition is used. Yet, many students, readers, and pastors/teachers continue to translate and understand the preposition as "into him." Πρός as a spatial preposition implies motion/direction, not location. There are other prepositions that could indicate this idea of entering something or somebody (eis, en). A similar phrase occurs eight times in the NT, and it's always to enter a house/building to be in the presence of someone else.

This cannot be an offer of salvation to the Laodiceans, because the letter already says that God loves them. He is disciplining them as a result. We are not sure exactly what Christ is offering here (probably restored fellowship, as pictured around a table) and a reminder that Christ is Lord of their church.

Grammar helps us see a more accurate reading even in a tiny word like a preposition.