Greek Verbs

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V. Finite and infinite verbs: A. Finite verbs: express action and make an assertion about the subject of a clause; with a subject a finite verb can form a complete clause. 1. They have tense, voice and mood and refer to a specific subject, hence have person and number. 2. They are finite in that they speak about a specific action of a specific subject. B. Infinite verbs (infinitives and participles): express action, but cannot have a subject and cannot be the only verb in a clause. 1. They are infinite in that they do not speak about a specific verbal action of a specific subject, but only speak about a verbal action independent of a subject 2. They have tense and voice but no mood or person; participles have number only as a consequence of the adjectival characteristics. VI. Participles A. Definition: a verbal adjective 1. Verb characteristics: a. Tense and voice, but not mood or person b. Can be modified by an adverb c. May have a direct object but not a subject 2. Adjective characteristics: a. Declined like an adjective: case, gender, number b. Can be used any way that an adjective can B. Comparison of participle to infinitive: 1. Similarities: a. Both verbal substantives (an infinitive is a verbal noun and a participle is a verbal adjective) b. Both are non-finite--indefinite in the limits of the verbal action c. Both can be used with or without the article 2. Differences: a. Infinitive is verbal noun and participle is verbal adjective b. Infinitive is indeclinable, though it can function in all case uses; participle has full set of adjective endings c. Infinitive is used when the focus is on the verbal action; participle is used when the focus is on a person or thing whose action is described by the participle (1) Infinitive: “I see that the man wants to live” (focus on the act of living) (2) Participle: “I see the living man” (focus on the characteristic of the man as one who is living C. Adjectival Participle 1.

Attributive: the participle modifies a noun or pronoun, by attributing a verbal characteristic to it a. Must agree with the noun in case, gender and number b. Must be in the attributive position in relation to a noun, like any adjective (Phil 4:7:hJ eijrhvnh tou` qeou` hJ uJperevcousa pavnta nou`n--“the peace of God which passes all understanding”) c. Translation: (1) Participle: “living water” (2) Relative clause: “the peace which passes understanding”

2.

Predicative [predicate adjective]: used in the predicate to make an additional assertion about the subject a.

Used like a predicate adjective with a linking verb or in the predicative position with a noun (article with the noun but not with the participle)

Greek Verbs

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The participle must agree with the subject in gender and number, must be in the nominative and must have no article (Gal 1:22: h[mhn de; ajgnoouvmeno"--“I was unknown”)

Periphrastic: a participle is used with a finite verb to form a compound tense (“I was walking”) a. The finite verb is usually a form of ei*mi, sometimes ginomai, u&parcw or e*cw b. Present periphrastic: present of ei*mi and present participle; continuous present action stresses (Col. 1:16: ejn panti; tw`/ kovsmw/ ejsti;n karpoforouvmenon--“in all the world it is bearing fruit”) c. Imperfect periphrastic: imperfect of ei*mi and present participle; continuous past action stressed (Mk. 10:32: h\n proavgwn aujtou;" oJ jIhsou`"--“Jesus was going ahead of them”) d. Future periphrastic: future of ei*mi and present participle; continuous future action stressed (Lk. 5:10: ajpo; tou` nu`n ajnqrwvpou" e[sh/ zwgrw`n--“from now on you will be catching men”) e. Perfect periphrastic: present of ei*mi and perfect participle (2 Cor. 4:3: eij de; kai; e[stin kekalummevnon to; eujaggevlion hJmw`n--“even if our gospel is veiled...”) f. Pluperfect periphrastic: imperfect of ei*mi and perfect (Lk. 2:26: h\n aujtw`/ kecrhmatismevnon uJpo; tou` pneuvmato" tou` aJgivou--“it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit”) g. Future perfect periphrastic: future of ei*mi and perfect participle (Mt. 16:19: o} eja;n dhvsh/" ejpi; th`" gh`" e[stai dedemevnon ejn toi`" oujranoi`"--“whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven”)

D. Substantival Participle: the participle is used like a noun 1. Frequently uses an article, though not required 2. The case, gender and number indicate the function of the substantive in the sentence (e.g. subject is nominative) 3. Translation: a. Like a substantival use of an adjective, with a noun supplied (“the believing man”) b. An appropriate verbal noun: “the believer” c. A relative clause: “the one who believes”, “he who believes” 4. Mt. 10:37: JO filw`n patevra h] mhtevra uJpe;r ejme; oujk e[stin mou a[xio"--“the one who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me” E. Adverbial Participle: participle functions as an adverb modifying another verb 1. The participle expresses an action that is in some way related to the action of the other verb 2. The participle agrees with a noun in the sentence. The noun performs the action of the verbal idea of the participle a. e*xelqwn ei*don o& *Ihsou"--“when Jesus had come out he saw...” (the participle agrees with Jesus, so he did the coming) b. ton Petron e*xercomenon ei*don o& *Ihsou"--“as Peter came out Jesus saw him” (the participle agrees with Peter, so Peter did the coming) 3. Translation: a. Often an English participle is sufficient, though it may pass over the exact significance of the participle: “they saw him walking out the door” b. An English adverbial clause, which captures the exact relationship between the participle and the main clause: “they saw him as he was walking out the door”; “they were afraid of him, because they did not believe that he was a disciple” 4.

Types of adverbial participles: a.

Temporal: the participle indicates the time at which the action of the main verb takes place (1) Time is always relative to the main verb: (a) Antecedent (prior to the main verb): aorist or perfect most often (b) Simultaneous (same time as the main verb): usually present, though aorist can be used at times (c) Subsequent (after the main verb): usually future participle

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(2) Translation: often use an adverb of time: antecedent: “when”, “since”, “after”; simultaneous: present: “while”, “during”; aorist: “when”, “as”; subsequent: “before” (3) Mt. 2:10: ijdovnte" de; to;n ajstevra ejcavrhsan--“when they saw the star they rejoiced” b.

Telic [final, purpose]: the participle indicates the purpose of the action of the main verb; translate with infinitive or purpose clause: “in order that...”, “so that...” (Jn. 6:6: tou`to e[legen peiravzwn aujtovn--“he said this to test them”)

c.

Result: the participle indicates the consequence of the action of the main verb (Jn 5:18: patevra i[dion e[legen to;n qeo;n i[son eJauto;n poiw`n tw`/ qew`/--“he called God his own father, making himself equal with God”)

d.

Causal: two types: (1) Reason: the participle denotes the reason for the action of the main verb; translate with “because”, “since”, “for” with a finite verb (Mt. 22:29: plana`sqe mh; eijdovte" ta;" grafa;"-“you are mistaken because you do not understand the Scriptures”) (2) Grounds: the participle indicates the grounds for a conclusion or exhortation (1 Th. 5:8: hJmei`" hJmevra" o[nte" nhvfwmen--“since we are of the day, let us be sober”)

e.

Conditional: the participle functions as the protasis of a conditional sentence--it indicates a condition that must be fulfilled before the main verb can happen; translate “if...” plus a finite verb (Heb. 2:3: pw`" hJmei`" ejkfeuxovmeqa thlikauvth" ajmelhvsante" swthriva"--“how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?”)

f.

Concessive: participle indicates a circumstance despite which the action of the main verb takes place; sometimes it has a concessive particle (kaiper, kai ge, kaitoi), although this is not necessary; translate with “although...” or “even though...” (Jn 9:25: tuflo;" w]n a[rti blevpw-“although I was blind, now I see”)

g.

Instrumental [means]: the participle indicates the means (or sometimes agent) by which the action of the main verb takes place; translate with “by...” (Mt. 6:27: tiv" ejx uJmw`n merimnw`n duvnatai prosqei`nai ejpi; th;n hJlikivan aujtou` ph`cun e{na--“which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his height?”)

h.

Modal [manner]: the participle indicates the manner in which the action of the main verb takes place; sometimes with w*"; translate with “by...” (Mk 1:22: h\n didavskwn aujtou;" wJ" ejxousivan e[cwn--“he was teaching them as one having authority”)

i.

Complementary [supplementary]: (1) Some verbs require an infinitive or participle to complete their thought [cf. complementary infinitive or infinitive of direct object] (Mt 1:11: ejtevlesen oJ jIhsou`" diatavsswn toi`" dwvdeka maqhtai`" aujtou--“Jesus finished instructing his 12 disciples”) (2) Sometimes participles are used in indirect discourse (3 Jn 4: ajkouvw ta; ejma; tevkna ejn th`/ ajlhqeiva/ peripatou`nta--“I have no greater joy than this, that I hear my children are walking in the truth”)

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j.

Circumstantial [attendant circumstances]: the participle simply indicates action that accompanies the main verb; translate it simply with "and" and a finite verb in place of the participle (Lk. 4:15: aujto;" ejdivdasken ejn tai`" sunagwgai`" aujtw`n doxazovmeno" uJpo; pavntwn--“he was teaching in their synagogues and being praised by all”)

k.

Imperatival: the participle is used like a finite verb in the imperative mood; either when a participle is used in conjunction with a finite verb in the imperative or rarely when the participle is used alone (Mk 5:23: to; qugavtrion mou ejscavtw" e[cei, i{na ejlqw;n ejpiqh`/" ta;" cei`ra" aujth`-/ -“my daighter is near death, so come and lay hands on her”; 1 Pet. 2:18: OiJ oijkevtai uJpotassovmenoi ejn panti; fovbw/ toi`" despovtai"--“servants, be submissive to your masters”)

Infinitives

A. Definition: a verbal noun 1. Have some verb characteristics: a. Tense, voice b. Can take an object, be modified by an adverb c. However, no subject, person, number and no mood (“infinitive” substitutes for the mood category) 2. Have some noun-like characteristics: a. Can be used with an article b. Can have case relations with other words in the sentence c. Can be used as a subject or object of a verb d. Can be used as the object of prepositions e. Can be qualified by adjectives f. Can modify substantives 3. Infinitives do not have subjects in the strict sense, but there is often a substantive which indicates what produces the verbal action (indicated by an accusative of reference) B. Articular infinitive: the infinitive acts like an indeclinable neuter singular noun and sometimes takes neuter singular articles 1. The case may indicate the function of the infinitive in the clause, particularly with prepositions (e.g. e*n will require a dative articular infinitive). 2. However, tou plus infinitive (genitive articular infinitive) can be used for subjects, objects, complements, purpose, etc. 3. All of the uses of the infinitive can occur with or without the article, except with prepositions (always with the article in the NT). C. Verbal uses: The infinitive or infinitive phrase makes a further assertion about the main verb. 1.

Infinitive of purpose [final, telic]: explains the purpose for the action of the main verb (“in order to know” or “in order that I might know”) a. infinitive alone (Mt. 5:17: Mh; nomivshte o{ti h\lqon katalu`sai to;n novmon--“do not think I came to abolish the Law”) b. tou + infinitive c. ei*" to + infinitive d. pro" to + infinitive e. w&ste + infinitive (rare, usually result) f. w&" + infinitive (rare)

2.

Infinitive of result: expresses the result of the action of the main verb (“so that”, “that”, “as a result”) a. infinitive alone b. tou + infinitive c. ei*" to + infinitive

Greek Verbs

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w&ste + infinitive (most common) (Mk. 1:27: ejqambhvqhsan a{pante" w{ste suzhtei`n pro;" eJautou;"--“they were all amazed so that they debated with one another”)

Infinitive of time [temporal]: indicates the relative time when the action of the main verb occurred a.

Subsequent time (“before...”): the action of the infinitive occurs after the main verb (1) pro tou + infinitive (Lk 22:15: ejpequvmhsa tou`to to; pavsca fagei`n meq j uJmw`n pro; tou` me paqei`n--“I desire to eat this passover with you before I suffer”) (2) prin + infinitive (3) prin h& + infinitive

b.

Contemporaneous time (“while...”, “when...”, or “during...”) (1) e*n tw/ + infinitive (Mt. 13:25: ejn de; tw`/ kaqeuvdein tou;" ajnqrwvpou" h\lqen aujtou` oJ ejcqro;"--“while men slept, his enemy came”)

c.

Antecedent (prior) time (“after...”):the action of the infinitive occurs before the main verb (1) meta to + infinitive (Acts 1:3: parevsthsen eJauto;n zw`nta meta; to; paqei`n aujto;n--“he presented himself alive after his suffering”)

d.

Future time (“until...”) (1) e&w" tou + infinitive (Acts 8:40: eujhggelivzeto ta;" povlei" pavsa" e{w" tou` ejlqei`n aujto;n eij" Kaisavreian--“he preached the gospel until he came to Caesarea”)

Infinitive of cause [causal]: gives the reason for the action of the main verb (“because”) a. dia to + infinitive (Mk. 4:6: dia; to; mh; e[cein rJivzan ejxhravnqh--“because it [the plant] had no root, it withered away”) b. tw/ + infinitive (rare) c. e*neken tou + infinitive (rare)

D. Independent uses: 1.

Infinitive of command [imperative infinitive]: substitutes for the imperative to give a command (Rom. 12:15: caivrein meta; cairovntwn--“rejoice with those who rejoice”)

2.

Infinitive absolute: infinitive stands alone and has no direct relation to a sentence (e.g. greeting of letters, cairein)

E. Substantival uses: 1.

The infinitive phrase functions like a substantive and can have any function that a substantive can (except for vocative) a. With or without article b. Most articular infinitives use tou c. Case of article may or may not indicate function of infinitive

2.

Subject of a verb a. infinitive alone b. to + infinitive (nominative article) (Phil. 1:21: jEmoi; ga;r to; zh`n Cristo;" kai; to; ajpoqanei`n kevrdo"--“for me to live is Christ and to die is gain”) c. tou + infinitive (genitive article)

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Direct object of a verb a.

Forms: (1) infinitive alone (2) to + infinitive (accusative article) (Acts 25:11 ouj paraitou`mai to; ajpoqanei`n--“I do not refuse to die”) (3) tou + infinitive (genitive article)

b.

Complementary infinitive: some verbs require an infinitive to complete their meaning (Heb. 7:25: swv/zein eij" to; pantele;" duvnatai--“He is able to save forever”)

c.

Indirect statement or indirect discourse: Verbs of saying, showing, indicating, perceiving often take an infinitive phrase to indicate what is said, shown, etc. (often introduce in English with “that”: Mt. 22:23 oi{tine" levgousin ajnavstasin mh; ei\nai--“[those] who say there is no resurrection]”)

4.

Instrumental: the infinitive functions as a noun in the instrumental case, which defines more precisely the verbal idea of the main verb a. infinitive alone (Heb 5:5: oJ Cristo;" oujc eJauto;n ejdovxasen genhqh`nai ajrciereva--“Christ did not glorify himself by becoming a high priest”; cf. Acts 15:10) b. e*n tw/ + infinitive (rare)

5.

Manner: the infinitive indicates the manner in which the action of the main verb takes place (Rom. 12:3: fronei`n eij" to; swfronei`n--“think in a reasonable manner”)

6.

Apposition: the infinitive phrase will be in apposition to a substantive (e.g. 1 Thess. 4:3: Tou`to gavr ejstin qevlhma tou` qeou`, oJ aJgiasmo;" uJmw`n, ajpevcesqai uJma`" ajpo; th`" porneiva--“This is will of God, your sanctification, that you abstain from fornication”)

7.

Infinitive as a modifier of substantives [epexegetical infinitive]: the infinitive modifies a noun or adjective (Mt. 3:14: ejgw; creivan e[cw uJpo; sou` baptisqh`nai--“I have need to be baptized by you”; Mk. 1:7)