Hina introduces purpose clauses ("in order that") and, in later Greek, result clauses ("so that"). It governs the subjunctive mood and appears about 663 times in the NT. Identifying hina clauses unlocks the "why" behind the New Testament's key statements.
Every hina clause reveals divine or human intention. It answers: "What was the purpose?" This makes it a window into the heart of God — why He acts, why He sends His Son, why He commands.
John 3:16 pivots on a hina: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that (hina) whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." The purpose of the Incarnation is salvation.
John's Gospel is especially rich with hina purpose clauses describing why Jesus came, why He spoke, why He prayed (John 17 alone contains over 10 hina clauses — the "High Priestly Prayer" is saturated with divine purpose). These reveal the inner logic of the Son's mission.
Paul uses hina to link the gospel events to their intended outcome: Christ became poor "in order that" (hina) we might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). He was made sin "in order that" (hina) we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Purpose = grace.