Greek infinitive & participle
Author: Steve Amato
Description: Biblical Greek grammar - the infinitive & participle
Keywords: Biblical Greek, grammar, infinitive, participle

The Infinitive
A. Adverbial
1. Purpose 2. Result 3. Time 4. Cause 5. Means 6. Complementary | to, in order that, for the purpose of so that, so as to, with the result that after, while, before . by ... doing (Supplementary)
B. Subtantival Uses
7. Subject 8. Direct Object 9. Indirect Object 10. Appositional 11. Epexegetical | . . . namely .

The infinitive is an indeclinable verbal noun. As such it participates in some of the features of the verb and some of the noun. Like a verb, the infinitive has tense and voice, but not person or mood. Its number is always singular. Like the oblique moods (i.e., nonindicative moods), the infinitive is normally negatived by me or ou. Like a noun, the infinitive can have many of the case functions that an ordinary noun can have. Although technically infinitives do not have gender, frequently the neuter singular article is attached to them. [See Wallace for a discussion of the various structures used with the different semantic categories of the infinitive.]

A. Adverbial Uses

1. Purpose [to, in order to, for the purpose of]

The infinitive is used to indicate the purpose or goal of the action or state of its controlling verb. It answers the question "Why?" in that it looks ahead to the anticipated and intended result.

Matt 5:17 Do not think I came to destroy the law.

2. Result [so that, so as to, with the result that]

The infinitive of result indicates the outcome produced by the controlling verb. In this respect it is similar to the infinitive of purpose, but the former puts an emphasis on intention while the latter places the emphasis on effort. A number of instances are difficult to distinguish, leaving room for exegetical discussion. As a general guideline, however, if in doubt, label a given infinitive as purpose (it occurs almost four times as often as result).

Luke 5:7 They filled both the boats so that they began to sink.

3. Time

This use of the infinitive indicates a temporal relationship between its action and the action of the controlling verb. It answers the question "When?" Many grammars confuse the categories "Antecedent time" and "Subsequent time"; see Wallace for a discussion.

a. Antecedent time [after]

The action of the infinitive of antecedent time occurs before the action of the controlling verb. Its structure is meta to + the infinitive and should be translated after plus an appropriate finite verb.

Matt 26:32 And after I have been raised, I will go before you into Galilee.

b. Contemporaneous time [while, as, when]

The action of the infinitive of contemporaneous time occurs simultaneously with the action of the controlling verb. Its structure en tw + the infinitive. It should be translated while (for present infinitives) or as, when (for aorist infinitives) plus an appropriate finite verb.

Matt 13:4 While he was sowing, some fell on the road.

c. Subsequent time [before]

The action of the infinitive of subsequent time occurs after the action of the controlling verb. Its structure is pro tou, prin, or prin h + the infinitive. It should be translated before plus an appropriate finite verb.

John 1:48 Before Philip called you, while you were under the fig tree, I saw you.

4. Cause

The causal infinitive indicates the reason for the action of the controlling verb. In this respect, it answers the question "Why?" Unlike the infinitive of purpose, however, the causal infinitive gives a retrospective answer (i.e., it looks back to the ground or reason), while the purpose infinitive gives prospective answer (looking forward to the intended result).

John 2:24 Jesus was not entrusting himself to them because he knew all men.

5. Means [by ... doing]

The infinitive of means describes the way in which the action of the controlling verb is accomplished. In some respects this could be called an "epexegetical infinitive" (but we are reserving that term exclusively for the substantival infinitive). It answers the question "How?"

Acts 3:26 God ... sent him to bless you by turning each [one of you] from your wicked ways.

6. Complementary (Supplementary)

The infinitive is frequently used with "helper" verbs to complete their thought. Such verbs rarely occur without the infinitive.

Phil 1:12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances ...

Mark 2:19 As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.

B. Substantival Uses

7. Subject

An infinitive or an infinitive phrase sometimes functions as the subject of a finite verb. This category includes instances where the infinitive occurs with impersonal verbs such as dei, exestin, dokei, etc.

Phil 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

8. Direct Object

An infinitive or an infinitive phrase sometimes functions as the direct object of a finite verb.

2Cor 8:11 But now also complete the doing [of it].

9. Indirect Discourse

This is the use of the infinitive (or infinitive phrase) after a verb perception or communication. The controlling verb introduces the indirect discourse, of which the infinitive is the main verb.

Mark 12:18 Sadducees ... who say there is no resurrection.

Eph 4:21-22 you have been taught in him ... that you have put off the old man

10. Appositional [namely]

Like any other substantive, the substantival infinitives may stand in apposition to a noun, pronoun, or substantival adjective.

Jas 1:27 Pure religion ... is this, namely, to visit orphans and widows.

11. Epexegetical

The epexegetical infinitive clarifies, explains, or qualifies a noun or adjective. This use of the infinitive is usually bound by certain lexical features of the noun or adjective. That is, they normally are words indicating ability, authority, desire, freedom, hope, need, obligation, or readiness.

John 4:32 I have food to eat of which you are not aware.

The Participle
A. Adjectival Participles
1. Adjectival Proper 2. Substantival | (Dependent) (Independent)
B. Verbal Participles
3. Adverbial | (Circumstantial)
a. Temporal b. Manner c. Means d. Cause e. Condition f. Concession g. Purpose (Telic) h. Result | after, when . by means of because if although in order that with the result of
4. Attendant Circumstance 5. Periphrastic 6. Redundant (Pleonastic) 7. Imperatival 8. Genitive Absolute |

The participle is a declinable verbal adjective. It derives from its verbal nature tense and voice; from its adjectival nature, gender, number and case. Like the infinitive, the participle's verbal nature is normally seen in a dependent manner. That is, it is normally adverbial (in a broad sense) rather than functioning independently as a verb. Its adjectival side comes out just as strongly as a dependent or modifying adjective [Exegesis requires that you master the participle. Be sure to read Wallace for his fuller discussions and especially his exegetical examples.]

A. Adjectival Participles

This category involves both the dependent and independent adjectival participles (i.e., both the adjectival proper and substantival). For a structural clue, the student should note the article. If it stands before a participle and functions as a modifying article (normal use), then that participle must be adjectival. If the participle does not have the article, it may be adjectival.

1. Adjectival Proper (Dependent)

The participle may function like an adjective and either modify a substantive (attributive) or assert something about it (predicate).

John 4:11 the living water

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living

2. Substantival (Independent)

This is the independent use of the adjectival participle (i.e., not related to a noun). It functions in the place of a substantive.

1Tim 6:15 the king of those who are reigning and lord of those who are lording it (over) [others]

B. Verbal Participles

The first four categories are dependent verbal participles, example seven is independent verbal participle, and the genitive absolute is the last example.

3. Adverbial (Circumstantial)

The adverbial or circumstantial participle is grammatically subordinated to its controlling verb (usually the main verb of the clause). Like an ordinary adverb, the participle modifies the verb, answering the question When? (temporal), How? (means, manner), Why? (Purpose, cause), etc.

a. Temporal [after, when]

In relation to its controlling verb, the temporal participle answers the question When? Three kinds of time are in view: antecedent, contemporaneous, and subsequent. The antecedent participle should be translated after doing, after he did, etc. The contemporaneous participle should normally be translated while doing. And the subsequent participle should be translated before doing, before he does, etc.

Matt 4:2 After he fasted ... he then became hungry.

Phil 1:3-4 I am thankful ... when I pray.

b. Manner

The participle indicates the manner in which the action of the finite verb is carried out.

Matt 19:22 He went away grieving.

c. Means [by means of]

This participle indicates the means by which the action of a finite verb is accomplished. This means may be physical or mental.

Matt 27:4 I have sinned by betraying innocent blood

d. Cause [because]

The causal participle indicates the cause or ground of the action of the finite verb

Matt 1:19 Joseph ... because he was a righteous man

e. Condition [if]

This participle implies a condition on which the fulfillment of the idea indicated by the main verb depends

Gal 6:9 We shall reap if we do not lose heart

f. Concession [although]

The concessive participle implies that the state or action of the main verb is true in spite of the state or action of the participle.

Eph 2:1 And although you were dead.

g. Purpose (Telic) [in order to]

The participle of purpose indicates the purpose of the action of the finite verb. Unlike other participles, a simple "i-ing" flavor will miss the point. Almost always this can (and usually should) be translated like an English infinitive.

Matt 27:49 if Elijah is going to come to save (= with the purpose of saving) him

h. Result [with the result of]

The participle of result is used to indicate the actual outcome or result of the action of the main verb. It is similar to the participle of purpose in that it views the end of the action of the main verb, but it is dissimilar in that the participle of purpose also indicates or emphasizes intention or design, while result emphasizes what the action of the main verb actually accomplishes.

Eph 2:15 in order that he might create in himself the two into one new man, [with the result of] making peace.

4. Attendant Circumstance

The attendant circumstance participle is used to communicate an action that, in some sense, is coordinate with the finite verb. In this respect it is not dependent, for it is translated like a verb. It is translated as a finite verb connected to the main verb by "and." (It is not translated "and + finite verb" but "finite verb + and." This is a largely misunderstood category. Many include the participle of result; see Wallace.)

Matt 9:13 Now go and learn what this means ...

5. Periphrastic

An anarthrous participle can be used with a verb of being (such as eimi ro uparxw) to form a finite verbal idea. This participle is called periphrastic because it is a round-about way of saying what could be expressed by a single verb. As such, it more naturally corresponds to English.

Periphrastics
Verb | Participle | Meaning
Present | Present | Present
Imperfect | Present | Imperfect
Future | Present | Future
Present | Perfect | Perfect
Imperfect | Perfect | Pluperfect

Col 1:6 just as in all the world it is bearing fruit.

Mark 10:32 They were going up ... and Jesus was going before them.

Mark 13:25 And the stars will be falling

2Cor 4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled [or has become veiled]

Acts 21:29 for they had previously seen Trophimus

6. Redundant (Pleonastic)

A verb of saying (or sometimes thinking) can be used with a participle with basically the same meaning. Because such an idiom is foreign to English, many modern translations simple render the controlling verb.

Luke 12:17 he was thinking within himself, saying

7. Independent Verbal Participle as Imperative (Imperatival)

Occassionally, though rarely, participles can function as though they were finite verbs and are not dependent on any verb in the context for their mood. The participle as an imperative is a case in point; this use of the participle is not attached to any verb in the context. But note this: "in general it may be said that no participle should be explained this way that can properly be connected with a finite verb" (Robertson, 1134)

Rom 12:9 Hate the evil! Cleave to the good!

8. Genitive Absolute

In defining the genitive absolute participle construction, we can define it structurally or define it semantically.

Structurally, the genitive absolute consists of the following: (1) A noun or pronoun in the genitive case (though this is sometimes absent); (2) a genitive anarthrous participle (always); (3) the entire construction at the front of a sentence (usually).

Semantically, there are three items to notice once the structure has been identified: (1) This construction will usually be unconnected with the rest of the sentence (i.e., its subject, the genitive noun or pronoun, will be different from the subject of the main clause); (2) the participle will always be circumstantial (adverbial) or, at least, dependent-verbal (i.e., it cannot be an adjectival participle); (3) the participle will usually (about 90% of the time) be temporal, though it can on occasion express any of the adverbial ideas.

Matt 9:18 While he was saying these things ... a certain ruler came and began worshipping him.

Rom 7:3 while her husband is still alive ... she becomes another man's [wife]

John 5:13 Jesus departed while a crowd was in that place.

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