Reading Koine Greek

NON-FINITE VERBS: PART 3

PERFECTIVE ADVERBIAL PARTICIPLES

24.1. This chapter discusses participles that function the same way and in the same sort of contexts as do the imperfective (present) participles in the last chapter. The only difference here is that these participles express perfective aspect (aorist tense-form) instead of imperfective.

Perfective (Aorist) Participles

24.2. Good news! Although “perfective participle” sounds like something else new to learn, you already know everything you need to know to identify these forms. (Well, almost.) Would you like some evidence that you know more than you think you do? Parse the following forms of λύω. Evaluate each word, and identify the pieces you recognize.

λυσάντων

λυσαμένοις

λυθέντι

If you have worked thoughtfully and combined things that you already know, you have hopefully noted the aorist form marker (σα), two participle markers (ντ and μεν), and familiar case endings. The θε in the third form might be puzzling at first, but you should remember a form very similar to this. (Do you remember that vowels often change their length?) Check your answers with the parsings given in the footnote.[1] Did you get them all right? Or if not, when you checked the answers, did they made good sense?

Grammar and Form of Perfective (Aorist) Participles

24.3. All the information in the “Introduction to Participles” section in the last chapter is still relevant. We need to add only a few details to clarify the grammar of aorist participles. First, the aspect of aorist participles is perfective: the situation is viewed as a whole. Second, as to the time reference of an aorist participle, remember that participles are described in terms of relative time. Aorist participles can technically refer to any time, but they are most often prior to or simultaneous with the action of the main verb. Third, these forms will sound the same when put into English as did present participles in the preceding chapter. Seldom can we distinguish between an aorist and a present participle on the basis of its English translation.

Formula for Perfective (Aorist) Participles

stem + aorist form marker + participle marker + case endings

The only difference between this formula and the one for the imperfective participle is that the aorist form marker is inserted—and since both such markers end with vowels (σα and θη), the connecting vowel is no longer needed. You are used to seeing θη in the aorist passive indicative; the difference here is only that the vowel is shortened from eta to epsilon, so the aorist form marker appears as θε in the participle. The participle markers are the same ones that you have already learned for the imperfective participles: ντ and μεν. So long as you recognize the individual pieces, you can easily identify an aorist participle. For example, an aorist active participle will have the aorist form marker σα and the active participle marker ντ.

24.4. Forms of the Aorist Active Participle

Aorist Active Participle of λύω

	Masc.			Fem.			Neut.
NS	λύ	σα	ς	λύ	σασ	α	λῦ	σαν	–
GS	λύ	σαντ	ος	λυ	σάσ	ης	λύ	σαντ	ος
DS	λύ	σαντ	ι	λυ	σάσ	ῃ	λύ	σαντ	ι
AS	λύ	σαντ	α	λύ	σασ	αν	λῦ	σαν	–
NP	λύ	σαντ	ες	λύ	σασ	αι	λύ	σαντ	α
GP	λυ	σάντ	ων	λυ	σασ	ῶν	λυ	σάντ	ων
DP	λύ	σα	σι(ν)	λυ	σάσ	αις	λύ	σα	σι(ν)
AP	λύ	σαντ	ας	λυ	σάσ	ας	λύ	σαντ	α

The identification keys here are the σαντ for masculine and neuter forms (aorist form marker and participle marker) and σασ for the feminine (form marker σα takes the place of the ου in ουσ). Just as with the imperfective participle, there are a couple of forms that initially look unusual, and again they are the same ones: nominative singular and dative plural in masculine and neuter. The reasons are the same also—it is that sigma again. It causes the ντ to drop out in the nominative singular and the dative plural masculine. In the neuter the same thing happens in the dative plural, but in the nominative singular the blank/null ending causes only the tau to drop. The feminine forms use just a sigma for the participle marker, which, with the aorist form marker, produces the characteristic σασ.[2]

24.5. Examples of the Aorist Active Participle

John 7:40, οὖν ἀκούσαντες τῶν λόγων τούτων ἔλεγον, Οὗτός ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ προφήτης.	Therefore having heard these words, they said, “This one truly is the Prophet!”

Eph. 1:15–16, Διὰ τοῦτο κἀγὼ ἀκούσας τὴν ἀγάπην τὴν εἰς πάντας τοὺς ἁγίουςa οὐ παύομαι εὐχαριστῶν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν.	For this reason I also, whenb I heard about [your] love for all God’s people, have not ceased giving thanks for you.
a Be sure to check a recent lexicon (e.g., CL or BDAG) for translation options for ἅγιος when used as an articular plural referring to people. b Or possibly, “because I have heard” (cf. NET, ESV), but even a temporal meaning such as “when” implies a causal relationship in English.

Gen. 12:18, καλέσας δὲ Φαραὼ τὸν Ἀβρὰμ εἶπεν, Τί τοῦτο ἐποίησάς μοι, ὅτι οὐκ ἀπήγγειλάς μοι ὅτι γυνή σού ἐστιν;

Pharaoh, having summoned Abram, said, “What is this you have done to me, that you did not tell me that she was your wife?”

The square of stops may affect the spelling of any of the aorist participle forms that use σα as a form marker. The same changes that you saw in the indicative mood (see chap. 17) also occur here. In the example following, the lexical form is ἀναβλέπω. The stop is the pi at the end of the stem, which combines with the aorist form marker σα to form ψα: ἀναβλέψας.

Gen. 13:14, Ὁ δὲ θεὸς εἶπεν τῷ Ἀβρὰμ μετὰ τὸ διαχωρισθῆναι τὸν Λὼτ ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ, Ἀναβλέψας τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς σου ἰδὲ ἀπὸ τοῦ τόπου, οὗ νῦν σὺ εἶ, πρὸς βορρᾶν καὶ λίβα καὶ ἀνατολὰς καὶ θάλασσαν.

So God said to Abram after Lot separated from him, “Looking up with your eyes, look from the place where you are now toward the north and south and east and the sea.”

24.6. Forms of the Aorist Middle Participle

Aorist Middle Participle of λύω

	Masc.			Fem.			Neut.
NS	λυ	σάμεν	ος	λυ	σαμέν	η	λυ	σάμεν	ον
GS	λυ	σαμέν	ου	λυ	σαμέν	ης	λυ	σαμέν	ου
DS	λυ	σαμέν	ῳ	λυ	σαμέν	ῃ	λυ	σαμέν	ῳ
AS	λυ	σάμεν	ον	λυ	σαμέν	ην	λυ	σάμεν	ον
NP	λυ	σάμεν	οι	λυ	σάμεν	αι	λυ	σάμεν	α
GP	λυ	σαμέν	ων	λυ	σαμέν	ων	λυ	σαμέν	ων
DP	λυ	σαμέν	οις	λυ	σαμέν	αις	λυ	σαμέν	οις
AP	λυ	σαμέν	ους	λυ	σαμέν	ας	λυ	σάμεν	α

The perfective (aorist) middle participle is delightfully regular, just the aorist form marker σα and the participle marker μεν—and it is the same for all genders; only the endings distinguish which is which. This form is only middle; there is a separate form for the aorist passive.

24.7. Examples of the Aorist Middle Participle

Mark 3:23, προσκαλεσάμενος αὐτοὺς ἐν παραβολαῖς ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς.	Having summoned them, he spoke to them in parables.

Mark 3:5, περιβλεψάμενος αὐτοὺς μετ᾿ ὀργῆς, συλλυπούμενος ἐπὶ τῇ πωρώσει τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν λέγει τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ, Ἔκτεινον (stretch out!) τὴν χεῖρα.	After looking around at them in anger, being grieved at the hardness of their hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”

Exod. 2:12, περιβλεψάμενος δὲ ὧδε καὶ ὧδε οὐχ ὁρᾷ οὐδένα καὶ πατάξας τὸν Αἰγύπτιον ἔκρυψεν αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ ἄμμω.	Now looking around this way and that, he did not see anyone, so having struck the Egyptian, he hid him in the sand.

24.8. Forms of the Aorist Passive Participle

Aorist Passive Participle of λύω

	Masc.			Fem.			Neut.
NS	λυ	θεί	ς	λυ	θεῖσ	α	λυ	θέν	–
GS	λυ	θέντ	ος	λυ	θείσ	ης	λυ	θέντ	ος
DS	λυ	θέντ	ι	λυ	θείσ	ῃ	λυ	θέντ	ι
AS	λυ	θέντ	α	λυ	θεῖσ	αν	λυ	θέν	–
NP	λυ	θέντ	ες	λυ	θεῖσ	αι	λυ	θέντ	α
GP	λυ	θέντ	ων	λυ	θεισ	ῶν	λυ	θέντ	ων
DP	λυ	θεῖ	σι(ν)	λυ	θείσ	αις	λυ	θεῖ	σι(ν)
AP	λυ	θέντ	ας	λυ	θείσ	ας	λυ	θέντ	α

The aorist passive participle uses the same form marker as did the aorist passive indicative except that the eta has been shortened to epsilon. Thus the standard combination is θεντ (or θεισ for feminine). Again the nominative singular and dative plural forms have slight differences—but they should be familiar by now. (If you do not remember what happens, reread the explanations in the previous sections.)

24.9. Examples of the Aorist Passive Participle

Matt. 2:12, χρηματισθέντες κατ᾿ ὄναρ μὴ ἀνακάμψαι πρὸς Ἡρῴδην, δι᾿ ἄλλης ὁδοῦ ἀνεχώρησαν εἰς τὴν χώραν αὐτῶν.	Having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, by another way they returned to their country.

Acts 4:23, Ἀπολυθέντες δὲ ἦλθον πρὸς τοὺς ἰδίους καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν ὅσα πρὸς αὐτοὺς οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι εἶπαν.	Now having been released, they went to their own [people] and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

Rom. 5:1, Δικαιωθέντες οὖν ἐκ πίστεως εἰρήνην ἔχομεν πρὸς τὸν θεὸν διὰ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.	Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Esd. 9:2, αὐλισθεὶς ἐκεῖ ἄρτου οὐκ ἐγεύσατο οὐδὲ ὕδωρ ἔπιεν πενθῶν ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀνομιῶν τῶν μεγάλων τοῦ πλήθους.	Having spent the night there, he did not taste food, nor did he drink water, mourning for the great lawlessness of the people.

24.10. θη-Middle Intransitive Participles

As you learned in chapter 17, some verbal forms that have a θη form marker are not passives but rather θη-middle intransitive forms. This is also common in participles, as the following examples illustrate. Some of the most common verbs used with aorist “passive” participle forms are actually middle voice, not passive.

Mark 8:29, ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Πέτρος λέγει αὐτῷ, Σὺ εἶ ὁ Χριστός.

Answering, Peter said to him, “You are the Messiah.”

The participle ἀποκριθείς is the most common aorist passive participle form in the NT, occurring nearly 100 times (though much less frequently in the LXX). It is a liquid form, ἀποκρίνω, the nu dropping out when the form marker is added. It does not mean “being answered” (by someone else) as the category “passive” would imply. When used with a finite verb of speaking, as it is here, it is redundant in English even though considered normal style in Greek.

Matt. 22:15, Τότε πορευθέντες οἱ Φαρισαῖοι συμβούλιον ἔλαβον ὅπως αὐτὸν παγιδεύσωσιν (they might entrap) ἐν λόγῳ.	Then after they had gone out, the Pharisees took counsel how they might entrap him in a word [i.e., in something he said].

Matt. 2:21, ὁ δὲ ἐγερθεὶς παρέλαβεν τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς γῆν Ἰσραήλ.	But he, having risen, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.

The participle ἐγερθείς is from ἐγείρω; note that the stem begins with an epsilon—participles do not have augments. Although this appears to be aorist passive in form, it is most likely a θη-middle intransitive form, not passive in meaning. That is, the verse does not say, “have been aroused” (i.e., by the angel), but refers only to the fact that Joseph got up from sleep and obeyed the command he had received.

Gen. 18:9, Εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτόν, Ποῦ Σάρρα ἡ γυνή σου; ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν, Ἰδοὺ ἐν τῇ σκηνῇ.

Then he said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And answering he said, “There in the tent.”

Second Aorist Participles

24.11. If the indicative form of a verb uses the second aorist pattern, the perfective participle will also be a second aorist form. This aorist participle acts similar to the indicative in this instance, using an aorist stem [3] and no form marker. The key to identifying this as an aorist rather than a present participle is the stem; otherwise the participle will look identical to a present participle. Here are the formulas for three participle forms, one new form and two that are familiar; compare and contrast them so that you understand how they differ from one another.

Formula for Imperfective (Present) Participles

stem + connecting vowel + participle marker + case endings

Formula for Perfective (Second Aorist) Participles

aorist stem + connecting vowel + participle marker + case endings

Formula for Perfective (First Aorist) Participles

stem + aorist form marker + participle marker + case endings

Compare the following forms of βάλλω to see these differences. Pay particular attention to the stem: the present stem of βάλλω has a double lambda, the aorist stem only a single lambda.


βάλλω	1st sg. pres. act. ind. (lexical form)
ἔβαλλον	1st sg. impf. act. ind.
ἔβαλον	1st sg. 2aor. act. ind.
βάλλοντος	pres. act. ptc. masc. sg. gen.
βαλόντος	2aor. act. ptc. masc. sg. gen.
βληθείς	2aor. pass. ptc. masc. sg. nom.a

a The aorist passive stem is βλη-. It is technically the same as the other second aorist forms (βαλ-), but there have been some changes (if you are the curious type, see MBG, §v-2d1 for the details). It is perhaps easiest to learn to recognize βλη- as another stem for βάλλω. It is used by aorist passive, future passive, and perfect active forms.

Forms of the Second Aorist Active Participle

24.12. Here is what the second aorist form of the participle looks like for ἔρχομαι, one of the most common verbs using this pattern. The aorist stem for this verb, you will remember, is ἐλθ-, though you may remember it best in the form ἦλθον (1st sg. aor. act. ind. ► ἔρχομαι). Only indicatives have augments, so instead of the eta, you see the original epsilon in the participle.

Second Aorist Active Participle of ἔρχομαι

	Masc.			Fem.			Neut.
NS	ἐλθ	ών	–	ἐλθ	οῦσ	α	ἐλθ	όν	–
GS	ἐλθ	όντ	ος	ἐλθ	ούσ	ης	ἐλθ	όντ	ος
DS	ἐλθ	όντ	ι	ἐλθ	ούσ	ῃ	ἐλθ	όντ	ι
AS	ἐλθ	όντ	α	ἐλθ	οῦσ	αν	ἐλθ	όν	–
NP	ἐλθ	όντ	ες	ἐλθ	οῦσ	αι	ἐλθ	όντ	α
GP	ἐλθ	όντ	ων	ἐλθ	ουσ	ῶν	ἐλθ	όντ	ων
DP	ἐλθ	οῦ	σι(ν)	ἐλθ	ούσ	αις	ἐλθ	οῦ	σι(ν)
AP	ἐλθ	όντ	ας	ἐλθ	ούσ	ας	ἐλθ	όντ	α

24.13. Examples of Second Aorist Active Participles

Mark 1:21, καὶ εὐθὺςa τοῖς σάββασιν εἰσελθὼνb εἰς τὴν συναγωγὴν ἐδίδασκεν.

Then on the Sabbath, having entered the synagogue, he was teaching.

a For καὶ εὐθύς see the note on Mark 1:12 in chap. 4 under “Examples of the Third-Person Pronoun.”

b εἰσελθών ► εἰσέρχομαι

John 19:26, Ἰησοῦς οὖν ἰδὼνa τὴν μητέρα καὶ τὸν μαθητήν, λέγει τῇ μητρί, Γύναι, ἴδε ὁ υἱός σου.

Therefore Jesus, having looked at [his] mother and the disciple [i.e., John], said to [his] mother, “Woman, here is your son.”b

a ἰδών ► ὁράω

b Traditionally ἴδε has been translated in this verse as “Behold!” (e.g., KJV, NASB, ESV), but see BDAG, 466.3, “to indicate a place or individual, here is (are),” followed by NIV, NRSV, NET, HCSB, and CEB.

Mark 6:41, λαβὼνa τοὺς πέντε ἄρτους καὶ τοὺς δύο ἰχθύας ἀναβλέψας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εὐλόγησεν καὶ κατέκλασεν τοὺς ἄρτους.	Having taken the five loaves and the two fish, [and] having looked up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves.
a λαβών ► λαμβάνω

Gen. 6:2, ἰδόντεςa δὲ οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ θεοῦ τὰς θυγατέρας τῶν ἀνθρώπων ὅτι καλαί εἰσιν, ἔλαβον ἑαυτοῖς γυναῖκας ἀπὸ πασῶν, ὧν ἐξελέξαντο.

Now the sons of God, because they saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful,b took for themselves wives from all whom they chose.

a ἰδόντες ► ὁράω

b In English we would structure this statement differently. We would say, “because they saw that the daughters of men were beautiful.” The translation given above is quite formal, following the Greek syntax.

Forms of the Second Aorist Middle Participle

24.14. The most common verb that uses a second aorist pattern in the aorist middle form is γίνομαι, the aorist stem of which is γεν-.

Second Aorist Middle Participle of γίνομαι

	Masc.			Fem.			Neut.
NS	γεν	όμεν	ος	γεν	ομέν	η	γεν	όμεν	ον
GS	γεν	ομέν	ου	γεν	ομέν	ης	γεν	ομέν	ου
DS	γεν	ομέν	ῳ	γεν	ομέν	ῃ	γεν	ομέν	ῳ
AS	γεν	όμεν	ον	γεν	ομέν	ην	γεν	όμεν	ον
NP	γεν	όμεν	οι	γεν	όμεν	αι	γεν	όμεν	α
GP	γεν	ομέν	ων	γεν	ομέν	ων	γεν	ομέν	ων
DP	γεν	ομέν	οις	γεν	ομέν	αις	γεν	ομέν	οις
AP	γεν	ομέν	ους	γεν	ομέν	ας	γεν	όμεν	α

24.15. Examples of Second Aorist Middle Participles

Mark 8:23, ἐπιλαβόμενοςa τῆς χειρὸς τοῦ τυφλοῦ ἐξήνεγκεν αὐτὸν ἔξω τῆς κώμης.	Having taken the hand of the blind man, he led him outside the village.
a ἐπιλαβόμενος ► ἐπιλαμβάνω

Gal. 3:13, Χριστὸς ἡμᾶς ἐξηγόρασεν ἐκ τῆς κατάρας τοῦ νόμου γενόμενοςa ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν κατάρα.	Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.
a γενόμενος ► γίνομαι

Gen. 38:14, περιελομένηa τὰ ἱμάτια τῆς χηρεύσεωςb ἀφ᾿ ἑαυτῆς περιεβάλετο θέριστρον.c

Having taken off from herself the garments of widowhood, she dressed in light summer clothes.

a περιελομένη ► περιαιρέω

b χήρευσις, εως, ἡ, “widowhood”

c θέριστρον, ου, τό, “light summer garment”

Forms of the Second Aorist Passive Participle

24.16. There are a very few second aorist passive forms in the NT. They are distinct in that they do not have a theta in the aorist passive form marker.[4] (Remember that the theta also dropped out of the form marker in the second aorist passive indicative.) Almost all of these forms occur only once; two occur three or four times. Only στρέφω occurs more frequently than that, with ten NT examples, most of which are στραφείς (2aor. pass. ptc. masc. sg. nom.). This may initially look like a second singular present active indicative form, but the stem tells you something is different.[5]

The participle of γινώσκω has a few apparent irregularities. In the aorist active participle the masculine singular nominative form is γνούς. The aorist stem is γνω-. The ντ participle marker has dropped out due to the sigma that follows (the case ending for nominative singular in third declension). As a result the stem vowel undergoes ablaut to become ου. The same thing happens in the dative plural. You will find a compound form of γινώσκω as a participle in the “Reading Passage” below (see §24.21, Mark 2:8).

The oblique forms (genitive, dative, and accusative cases) will have εντ instead of θεντ as the form marker/participle marker combination. In the nominative, however, since the case ending is a sigma, the ντ drops out and the epsilon lengthens to ει, resulting in a form like στραφείς. For completeness, here are the forms of στρέφω.[6]

Second Aorist Passive Participle of στρέφω

	Masc.			Fem.			Neut.
NS	στραφ	εί	ς	στραφ	εῖσ	α	στραφ	έν	–
GS	στραφ	έντ	ος	στραφ	είσ	ης	στραφ	έντ	ος
DS	στραφ	έντ	ι	στραφ	είσ	ῃ	στραφ	έντ	ι
AS	στραφ	έντ	α	στραφ	εῖσ	αν	στραφ	έν	–
NP	στραφ	έντ	ες	στραφ	εῖσ	αι	στραφ	έντ	α
GP	στραφ	έντ	ων	στραφ	εισ	ῶν	στραφ	έντ	ων
DP	στραφ	εῖ	σι(ν)	στραφ	είσ	αις	στραφ	εῖ	σι(ν)
AP	στραφ	έντ	ας	στραφ	είσ	ας	στραφ	έντ	α

24.17. Examples of Second Aorist Passive Participles

Rom. 5:10, εἰ γὰρ ἐχθροὶ ὄντες κατηλλάγημεν τῷ θεῷ διὰ τοῦ θανάτου τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, πολλῷ μᾶλλον καταλλαγέντεςa σωθησόμεθα ἐν τῇ ζωῇ αὐτοῦ.

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more rather having been reconciled, we will be saved by his life.

a καταλλαγέντες ► καταλλάσσω. The verb καταλλάσσω is a compound form: κατά + ἀλλάσσω. The root (as well as the aorist stem) is *αλλαγ; the present stem becomes αλλασσ- (γ + ι ̯ = σσ). In the second aorist, the theta drops out, leaving only ντ as the form marker. Although καταλλάσσω does not occur frequently, it is an important word in NT theology. All the forms of καταλλάσσω that occur in the NT and LXX are listed in the morphology catalog in app. B.

Luke 7:44, στραφεὶςa πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα τῷ Σίμωνι ἔφη, Βλέπεις ταύτην τὴν γυναῖκα;	Having turned to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman?”
a στραφείς ► στρέφω is a θη-middle intransitive form (see the discussion earlier in this chapter). The context here makes it obvious that Jesus is not being turned by someone else.

T. Ab. 12.3, στραφεὶς λέγει Ἀβραὰμ πρὸς Μιχαήλ, Θεωρεῖς τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ταύτην; ἀλλά, κύριε,a πέμψον (send!) πῦρ ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, ἵνα καταφάγῃ (it may destroy) αὐτούς.	Having turned, Abraham said to Michael, “Do you see this sin? But, sir, send fire from heaven in order that it may destroy them.”
a In the context, it is not certain whether Abraham is addressing Michael (in which case κύριε is translated as “sir” or “lord”) or whether his request is addressed directly to God, which would suggest the translation “Lord.” The first seems more likely.

Now You Try It

24.18. The following texts have examples of all the various aorist participles discussed in this chapter.

Mark 1:43, ἐμβριμησάμενος αὐτῷ εὐθὺς ἐξέβαλεν αὐτόν.

Rom. 15:28, τοῦτο οὖν ἐπιτελέσας καὶ σφραγισάμενος αὐτοῖς τὸν καρπὸν τοῦτον, ἀπελεύσομαι δι᾿ ὑμῶν εἰς Σπανίαν.

Phil. 2:6–8, ὃς ἐν μορφῇ θεοῦ ὑπάρχων οὐχ ἁρπαγμὸν ἡγήσατο τὸ εἶναι ἴσα θεῷ, ἀλλὰ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν μορφὴν δούλου λαβών, ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος· καὶ σχήματι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος ἐταπείνωσεν ἑαυτὸν γενόμενος ὑπήκοος μέχρι θανάτου, θανάτου δὲ σταυροῦ.

Col. 2:15, ἀπεκδυσάμενος τὰς ἀρχὰς καὶ τὰς ἐξουσίας ἐδειγμάτισεν ἐν παρρησίᾳ, θριαμβεύσας αὐτοὺς ἐν αὐτῷ.

1 Clem. 5.4, Πέτρον, ὃς διὰ ζῆλον ἄδικον οὐχ ἕνα οὐδὲ δύο ἀλλὰ πλείονας ὑπήνεγκεν πόνους, καὶ οὕτω μαρτυρήσας ἐπορεύθη εἰς τὸν τόπον τῆς δόξης.

2 Clem. 8.4, ὥστε, ἀδελφοί, ποιήσαντες τὸ θέλημα τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ τὴν σάρκα ἁγνὴν τηρήσαντες καὶ τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ κυρίου φυλάξαντες ληψόμεθα ζωὴν αἰώνιον.

Ign. Magn. 1.3, ἐν ᾧ ὑπομένοντες τὴν πᾶσαν ἐπήρειαν τοῦ ἄρχοντος τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου καὶ διαφυγόντες θεοῦ τευξόμεθα.

Challenge Passage

24.19. There are nine participles in the following passage, both aorist and present; active, middle, and passive. They are not marked. It is a good test of how well you understand the participles we have studied thus far. One of the nine is a use of the participle you have not learned yet, but you should still be able to parse it correctly. An answer key is given at the end of the chapter, but do your best before looking at it.

1 Clem. 5.6–7, ἑπτάκις δεσμὰ φορέσας, φυγαδευθείς, λιθασθείς, κῆρυξ γενόμενος ἔν τε τῇ ἀνατολῇ καὶ ἐν τῇ δύσει, τὸ γενναῖον τῆς πίστεως αὐτοῦ κλέος ἔλαβεν, δικαιοσύνην διδάξας ὅλον τὸν κόσμον καὶ ἐπὶ τὸ τέρμαa τῆς δύσεως ἐλθών· καὶ μαρτυρήσας ἐπὶ τῶν ἡγουμένων, οὕτως ἀπηλλάγη τοῦ κόσμου καὶ εἰς τὸν ἅγιον τόπον ἐπορεύθη, ὑπομονῆς γενόμενος μέγιστος ὑπογραμμός.

a τέρμα, ατος, τό, “end, limit, boundary”

Advanced Information for Reference:
Additional Examples of Adverbial Participles [7]

24.20. The following section illustrates the range of contexts in which adverbial participles are used beyond the four most common categories listed in the last chapter (which are included again here so you have a complete list). Remember that these are not different kinds of participles but participles used in various contexts.

1. Participles Used in Statements of Manner

A participle of manner describes the emotion or attitude in which the main verb has been done (contrast the participle of means). These can often be translated with a simple English participle.

Matt. 19:22, ἀπῆλθεν λυπούμενος.	He went away grieving.
Acts 5:41, ἐπορεύοντο χαίροντες.	They went on their way rejoicing.

2. Participles Used in Statements of Means

This participle describes the method by which the action of the main verb has been accomplished (contrast the participle of manner).

Acts 9:22, Σαῦλος συνέχυννεν τοὺς Ἰουδαίους συμβιβάζων ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ Χριστός.	Saul confounded the Jews by proving that this One [i.e., Jesus] was the Messiah.

Matt. 27:4, Ἥμαρτον παραδοὺςa αἷμα ἀθῷον.	I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.
a The form παραδούς is a nominative; this is the aor. act. ptc. masc. sg. nom. form of a μι verb, which you have not yet learned. It may look like an accusative ending, but the stem is δο-, and the stem vowel omicron lengthens to ου when the ντ participle marker drops out due to the addition of the case ending sigma.

3. Participles Used in Causal Statements

A causal participle describes the cause or reason for the action of the main verb.

John 4:6, ὁ Ἰησοῦς κεκοπιακὼςa ἐκ τῆς ὁδοιπορίας ἐκαθέζετο οὕτως ἐπὶ τῇ πηγῇ.	Jesus, because he was weary from the journey, sat thus on the well.
a κεκοπιακώς, pf. act. ptc. masc. sg. nom. ► κοπιάω. You will learn this form in chap. 26.

Matt. 1:19, Ἰωσὴφ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς, δίκαιος ὢν καὶ μὴ θέλων αὐτὴν δειγματίσαι, ἐβουλήθη λάθρᾳ ἀπολῦσαι αὐτήν.

Joseph her husband, because he was righteous and because he was not willing to shame her, decided to divorce her secretly.

4. Participles Used in Conditional Statements

Conditional participles describe the conditions on which the action of the main verb is dependent.

Gal. 6:9, καιρῷ γὰρ ἰδίῳ θερίσομεν μὴ ἐκλυόμενοι.	For in due time we will reap if we do not lose heart.

1 Tim. 4:4, οὐδὲν ἀπόβλητον μετὰ εὐχαριστίας λαμβανόμενον.	Nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.

5. Participles Used in Concessive Statements

Concessive participles describe an apparent anomaly: the main verb has “happened” even though the situation in the participle was such as it was.

John 9:25, ἓν οἶδα ὅτι τυφλὸς ὢν ἄρτι βλέπω.

I know one thing: although I was blind, now I see.

The participle could be represented with an English participle (“being blind”), but the concessive translation makes the meaning much clearer; ὅτι is represented as a colon.

Rom. 1:21, γνόντες τὸν θεὸν οὐχ ὡς θεὸν ἐδόξασαν.	Although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God.

1 Pet. 1:8, ὃν οὐκ ἰδόντες ἀγαπᾶτε.	Whom, not seeing, you love (or, Whom, although you do not see him, you love).

6. Participles Used in Purpose Statements

A purpose participle describes why the action of the main verb has been done: what was the intention of the actor? These are often best represented as an infinitive in English.

John 6:6, τοῦτο ἔλεγεν πειράζων αὐτόν· αὐτὸς γὰρ ᾔδει (he knew) τί ἔμελλεν ποιεῖν.	He said this to test him, for he knew what he would do.

Luke 13:7, Ἰδοὺ τρία ἔτη ἀφ’ οὗ ἔρχομαι ζητῶν καρπὸν ἐν τῇ συκῇ ταύτῃ καὶ οὐχ εὑρίσκω.	Look, for three years I have come seeking (or, to seek) fruit from this fig tree, and I have not found [any].

7. Participles Used in Result Statements

A participle of result describes the actual outcome of the action of the main verb. “The participle of result is not necessarily opposed to the participle of purpose. Indeed, many result participles describe the result of an action that was also intended. The difference between the two, therefore, is primarily one of emphasis.”[8]

Mark 9:7, ἐγένετο νεφέλη ἐπισκιάζουσα αὐτοῖς.	A cloud came covering them [i.e., with the result that it covered them].

Luke 4:15, αὐτὸς ἐδίδασκεν ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν δοξαζόμενος ὑπὸ πάντων.	He was teaching in their synagogues, being glorified by everyone [i.e., with the result that he was glorified by everyone].

8. Participles Used in Statements of Attendant Circumstance

Attendant circumstance participles describe an action or situation that is parallel with, but subordinate to, the main verb. Most attendant circumstance participles have the following characteristics. The tense-form of the (1) participle and the (2) main verb are usually aorist, and (3) the mood of the main verb is imperative or indicative. (4) The participle usually precedes the main verb both in word order and time of event. (5) They are most frequent in narrative literature, infrequent elsewhere.[9]

Mark 6:17, Αὐτὸς γὰρ ὁ Ἡρῴδης ἀποστείλας ἐκράτησεν τὸν Ἰωάννην καὶ ἔδησεν αὐτὸν ἐν φυλακῇ.	For Herod himself sent and seized John and bound him in prison.

Mark 9:26, κράξας καὶ πολλὰ σπαράξας ἐξῆλθεν.	[The demon] cried out and convulsed [the boy] severely and came out.

Matt. 2:13, Ἐγερθεὶς παράλαβε (take!) τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ φεῦγε (flee!) εἰς Αἴγυπτον.	Get up, and take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt.

In this example the action described by the participle is parallel to the main verb (the imperative παράλαβε, “take!”). An attendant circumstance participle takes on the same mood as the finite verb with which it is parallel.

9. Participles Used in Temporal Statements

Just about any adverbial participle can be translated so as to make sense as a temporal participle (since any two related events must of necessity have some temporal relationship), but this is a last-resort classification if the context does not substantiate a more specific description. Although the temporal relationship is not relevant in some statements, in some others the participle does serve primarily to describe the temporal relationship between various events.

John 16:8, ἐλθὼν ἐκεῖνος ἐλέγξει τὸν κόσμον περὶ ἁμαρτίας καὶ περὶ δικαιοσύνης καὶ περὶ κρίσεως.	Coming (or, when he comes/has come), he will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment.

Mark 9:15, πᾶς ὁ ὄχλος ἰδόντες αὐτὸν ἐξεθαμβήθησαν.	When all the crowd saw him they were amazed.

This could be translated as an attendant circumstance participle (“all the crowd saw him and they were amazed”), but the writer’s point in this context does not seem to be on two separate events; rather, the writer is telling us when the action of the main verb has occurred: “when [they] saw.”

Rev. 19:20, τὸ θηρίον καὶ ὁ ψευδοπροφήτης . . . · ζῶντες ἐβλήθησαν οἱ δύο εἰς τὴν λίμνην τοῦ πυρός.

The beast and the false prophet . . . ; while they were [still] living the two were cast into the lake of fire.

Acts 23:27, ἐξειλάμην μαθὼν ὅτι Ῥωμαῖός ἐστιν.

I rescued [him], learning [subsequently] that he was a Roman [citizen].

This example raises exegetical questions. Some commentators accuse the Roman tribune of twisting the truth, assuming that we are to understand him to say: “Having learned that he was a Roman, I rescued him.” To arrive at this conclusion, the commentator assumes that an aorist participle (in this case, μαθών) must always refer to antecedent action in relation to the main verb, but perhaps the tribune reports to his superior exactly what happened as the previous account clearly records: Paul is rescued, and then the tribune learns that Paul is a Roman. Either option is grammatically possible.

Reading Passage: Mark 2:1–12

24.21. Before you begin reading this passage, skim through the text and identify all the participles. You should find eleven: five aorist and six present. The answers are in the note, but do not look until you have worked through the passage for yourself.[10]

Jesus Forgives a Paralytic

1Καὶ εἰσελθὼν πάλιν εἰς Καφαρναοὺμ δι᾿ ἡμερῶν ἠκούσθη ὅτι ἐν οἴκῳ ἐστίν. 2καὶ συνήχθησαν πολλοὶ ὥστε μηκέτι χωρεῖν μηδὲ τὰ πρὸς τὴν θύραν,a καὶ ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς τὸν λόγον. 3καὶ ἔρχονται φέροντες πρὸς αὐτὸν παραλυτικὸν αἰρόμενον ὑπὸ τεσσάρων. 4καὶ μὴ δυνάμενοι προσενέγκαι αὐτῷ διὰ τὸν ὄχλον ἀπεστέγασαν τὴν στέγην ὅπου ἦν, καὶ ἐξορύξαντες χαλῶσι τὸν κράβαττον ὅπου ὁ παραλυτικὸς κατέκειτο. 5καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ, Τέκνον, ἀφίενταί (they are forgiven) σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι. 6ἦσαν δέ τινες τῶν γραμματέων ἐκεῖ καθήμενοι καὶ διαλογιζόμενοι ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν, 7Τί οὗτος οὕτως λαλεῖ; βλασφημεῖ· τίς δύναται ἀφιέναι (to forgive) ἁμαρτίας εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ θεός; 8καὶ εὐθὺς ἐπιγνοὺς ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὕτως διαλογίζονται ἐν ἑαυτοῖς λέγει αὐτοῖς, Τί ταῦτα διαλογίζεσθε ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν; 9τί ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον, εἰπεῖν τῷ παραλυτικῷ, Ἀφίενταί (they are forgiven) σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι, ἢ εἰπεῖν, Ἔγειρε (get up!) καὶ ἆρον (pick up!) τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει (walk!); 10ἵνα δὲ εἰδῆτε (you may know) ὅτι ἐξουσίαν ἔχει ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀφιέναι (to forgive) ἁμαρτίας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς—λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ, 11Σοὶ λέγω, ἔγειρε (get up!) ἆρον (pick up!) τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ ὕπαγε (go!) εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου. 12καὶ ἠγέρθη καὶ εὐθὺς ἄρας τὸν κράβαττον ἐξῆλθεν ἔμπροσθεν πάντων, ὥστε ἐξίστασθαι πάντας καὶ δοξάζειν τὸν θεὸν λέγονταςb ὅτι Οὕτως οὐδέποτε εἴδομεν.

a The expression τὰ πρὸς τὴν θύραν is idiomatic. The article is a nominalizer that changes the function of the prepositional phrase to a substantive. Formally it reads, “the things/places by the door” (i.e., the space in front of the door). Many English translations say “outside the door” or something similar.

b λέγοντας is in the accusative case (rather than nominative, as you have seen elsewhere in this chapter) because it modifies the infinitive, δοξάζειν. You will remember that the subject of an infinitive is always in the accusative case, so it should make sense that an adverbial participle modifying an infinitive would also be accusative.

24.22. Vocabulary for Chapter 24

Part of Speech	Definition	Possible Glosses	Frequency
Word			NT	LXX
Adjective
πρεσβύτερος, α, ον	Older in age; usually substantival: older person (relatively); an old person (absolutely); a recognized leader in either Jewish or Christian contexts; used temporally of one’s progenitors, either individually or corporately	older, elder; ancestors	66	206
Nouns
Ἀβραάμ, ὁ	An indeclinable personal name, in the LXX and NT the father of the Jewish nation through Isaac (and other people groups through Ishmael), formerly named Ἀβράμ	Abraham	73	210
ἱερόν, οῦ, τό	A building dedicated to the service and worship of a god or gods, in the LXX and NT usually of the temple in Jerusalem, including the entire complex with its various courts	temple	71	116
ναός, οῦ, ὁ	A building dedicated to the service and worship of a god or gods, in the LXX and NT usually of the temple proper in Jerusalem composed of the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, located at the center of the larger temple complex (ἱερόν), though sometimes referring to the entire complex	temple	45	118
πλοῖον, ου, τό	A vessel for traveling on water, ranging in size from a small fishing boat to a large seagoing ship	boat, ship	68	41
σάββατον, ου, τό	The seventh day of the week in Israel’s calendar (“Sabbath”); the period of seven days divided by the Sabbath (usually pl.) (“week”)	Sabbath; week	68	130
ἐντολή, ῆς, ἡ	An authoritative directive for action; the Mosaic covenant as a whole, the law	command, commandment, law; the law (of Moses)	67	240
καρπός, οῦ, ὁ	The product of a plant (whether tree, vine, bush, vegetable, etc.), agricultural produce; the offspring of a person; metaphorically of the result or outcome of an action or attitude	fruit, produce (subst.), crop, harvest; offspring; result, product (metaphorical)	66	125
δαιμόνιον, ου, τό	An evil, incorporeal, supernatural being often identified as a fallen/sinful angel	demon	63	17
Δαυίδ, ὁ	An indeclinable personal name, in the LXX and NT refers to Israel’s great king	David	59	1,090
διδάσκαλος, ου, ὁ	A person who provides instruction by giving information or by showing or explaining how to do something	teacher, instructor, tutor	59	2
λίθος, ου, ὁ	A piece of rock, whether naturally formed or in a fabricated shape; a precious stone, jewel	stone	59	306
Particles
εἴτε	A function word indicating a direct or indirect question suggesting alternatives, usually paired (εἴτε . . . εἴτε) [crasis form: εἰ + τέ]	if, whether (if x or if y; whether x or y)	65	9
μηδέ, μήτε	A negative particle indicating disjunction as part of a series	and not, but not, nor, not even, don’t even	56	139
Preposition
πρό	A preposition used with the genitive case that indicates either a spatial position in front of something or a temporal location earlier than another point	(prep. + gen.) before, in front of; earlier than, before	47	251

24.23. Challenge Passage Answer Key

1 Clem. 5.6–7, ἑπτάκις δεσμὰ φορέσας, φυγαδευθείς, λιθασθείς, κήρυξ γενόμενος ἔν τε τῇ ἀνατολῇ καὶ ἐν τῇ δύσει, τὸ γενναῖον τῆς πίστεως αὐτοῦ κλέος ἔλαβεν, δικαιοσύνην διδάξας ὅλον τὸν κόσμον καὶ ἐπὶ τὸ τέρμαa τῆς δύσεως ἐλθών· καὶ μαρτυρήσας ἐπὶ τῶν ἡγουμένων,b οὕτως ἀπηλλάγη τοῦ κόσμου καὶ εἰς τὸν ἅγιον τόπον ἐπορεύθη, ὑπομονῆς γενόμενος μέγιστος ὑπογραμμός.

Seven times having worn chains, having been driven into exile, having been stoned, having been a preacher both in the east and the west, he received genuine fame for his faith, having taught righteousness in all the world and having come to the boundary of the west. And having testified before rulers he thus departed from the world and went to the holy place, having become a great example of patience.

a τέρμα, ατος, τό, “end, limit, boundary” (The expression ἐπὶ τὸ τέρμα τῆς δύσεως ἐλθών has significance for Pauline chronology.)

b τῶν ἡγουμένων: you should recognize this as a participle, but it is a use that you will not learn until chap. 25. Here the participle acts like a noun instead of an adverb: “the ones who rule, rulers.”

Participle parsings:

φορέσας, AAPMSN ► φορέω

φυγαδευθείς, APPMSN ► φυγαδεύω

λιθασθείς, APPMSN ► λιθάζω

γενόμενος, 2AMPMSN ► γίνομαι

διδάξας, AAPMSN ► διδάσκω

ἐλθών, 2AAPMSN ► ἔρχομαι

μαρτυρήσας, AAPMSN ► μαρτυρέω

ἡγουμένων, PMPMPG ► ἡγέομαι

γενόμενος, 2AMPMSN ► γίνομαι

24.24. Key Things to Know for Chapter 24

Know the formulas for perfective participles.

Know the various formulas for all participles.

How does the form of a second aorist participle (active and middle) differ from a first aorist?

What is unique about the form marker for a second aorist passive participle?

If your teacher has covered the material in §24.20, then you should also know the additional uses of the adverbial participle; review the participle chart in appendix C.