Still, yet, even now — a small word carrying enormous theological weight. Eti marks the persistence of a condition or the continuation of an action. Romans 5:6 famously uses it: 'While we were still [eti] sinners, Christ died for us' — the 'still' is everything.
Eti captures the scandal of grace. Paul's use in Romans 5:6-8 is devastating: Christ didn't wait for us to clean up. While we were still weak, still sinners, still enemies — He died. This tiny adverb demolishes all works-based religion. Grace meets us in the 'still' — in the ongoing condition of our failure. That's what makes it grace.