Introduction to Participles and Infinitives — Forms, Functions, and Reading Strategy

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Why this lesson matters

Welcome to the turning point in your Greek. If Level I trained your eyes to recognize forms in the indicative, Level II begins training you to read how Greek actually flows on the page. Two forms carry a huge amount of that flow: the participle and the infinitive. They are everywhere in the New Testament. Mastering them will:

• multiply your reading speed (you will stop translating “word by word” and start following the author’s logic),

• unlock richer exegesis (you will hear why an action happened, when, how, under what conditions),

• and let you see discourse features (foreground vs. background, main line vs. support) with clarity (Runge, 2010; Wallace, 1996).

This chapter is intentionally long and hands-on. You will meet the forms, learn the functions, and then walk through authentic New Testament examples with detailed commentary. Whenever you see a short list, keep reading: I will expand each item with the “why,” the “how,” and the “so what” for exegesis.

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A roadmap for the lesson

We will proceed in four movements that build logically:

1. Reorienting your mindset: what Greek aspect means for participles and infinitives.

2. Participles: forms, agreement, and the big three uses (adjectival, adverbial, periphrastic), plus genitive absolute, negation, and discourse value.

3. Infinitives: forms, article + preposition systems (τοῦ, εἰς τό, ἐν τῷ, πρὸ τοῦ, μετὰ τό, διὰ τό, ὥστε), complementary/epexegetical uses, accusative subject of the infinitive, and negation.

4. Guided exegesis labs: step-by-step reading of representative NT texts, then targeted drills to practice exactly what you learned.

Throughout, I will mark Strategy boxes that tell you how to approach a sentence on first sight.

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1) Reorienting your mindset: aspect first

You learned in Level I that Greek tenses in the indicative often encode both time and aspect. Outside the indicative (and so for participles and infinitives), time is largely contextual, while aspect is primary (Porter, 1992; Fanning, 1990; Wallace, 1996). Keep this mental anchor:

• Present forms typically carry imperfective aspect: the action is viewed as in progress, ongoing, or unfolding.

• Aorist forms carry perfective aspect: the action is viewed as a whole, simple event, without internal profiling.

• Perfect forms carry stative/resultative aspect: a state resulting from a prior action.

This matters because when you meet a participle or infinitive, asking “what time?” is usually the wrong first question. Ask instead, “How is the action being viewed in relation to the main verb?” Context then supplies the time reference (Porter, 1992; Decker, 2015).

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2) Participles: the verbal adjective you will meet on every page

2.1 What a participle is (and why Greek loves it)

A participle is a verbal adjective. That means two things at once:

• It is verbal: it has tense-form (so, aspect), and voice (active/middle/passive); it can take objects and adverbials; it can be modified by negation μή.

• It is adjectival: it agrees with a noun or pronoun (or stands on its own substantivally) in case, number, and gender.

Because it is both, a participle can compress what English needs a whole clause to say. Where English says “the man who is believing,” Greek can say simply ὁ πιστεύων (“the believing [one]”). That compression is a major reason Greek flows differently from English (BDF §412–§420; Wallace, 1996).

2.2 Forms you must recognize on sight

Let’s chart a representative verb, λύω (“I loose”), then show how the patterns generalize. Do not memorize a thousand forms; memorize the patterns, then apply them.

• Present Active (imperfective):
  Masculine: λύων; Feminine: λύουσα; Neuter: λῦον.
  These are declined like 3-1-3 adjectives (masc/neut 3rd, fem 1st).

• Aorist Active (perfective):
  Masculine: λύσας; Feminine: λύσασα; Neuter: λῦσαν.
  Watch the characteristic -σ- aorist marker.

• Aorist Passive (perfective):
  Masculine: λυθείς; Feminine: λυθεῖσα; Neuter: λυθέν.
  The passive stem + -θ- marks the passive aorist participle.

• Perfect Active (stative):
  Masculine: λελυκώς; Feminine: λελυκυῖα; Neuter: λελυκός.
  Notice the reduplication (λε-) and the -κ- perfect marker.

• Perfect Middle/Passive:
  Masculine: λελυμένος; Feminine: λελυμένη; Neuter: λελυμένον.
  These look like verbal adjectives formed with the perfect M/P participial morpheme -μένος/-μένη/-μένον.

Strategy. When you see a participle, do four things, in this order:
(1) identify tense-form (present/aorist/perfect) and voice;
(2) locate case, number, gender;
(3) ask “which noun/pronoun does it agree with?” (or is it substantival?);
(4) decide its function (adjectival, adverbial, periphrastic, absolute). Only then translate.

2.3 Agreement: what it modifies and how to find it

Because a participle behaves adjectivally, it must match its head noun in case/number/gender. When it sits right next to a noun with the article, it is often attributive (see below). When you cannot find a noun that agrees, the participle may be substantival (“the one who…”), or it may belong to a genitive absolute construction (see 2.7).

Pay attention to articles. The article can “gather up” a participle and make it substantival: οἱ πιστεύοντες = “the believing [ones]” = “those who believe.” Articles can also mark the attributive position (e.g., ὁ ἀνήρ ὁ πιστεύων) versus the predicative position (e.g., ὁ ἀνήρ πιστεύων). In practice, your first question is not “is there an article?” but “what is the participle doing in the sentence?” The article often helps answer that (BDF §413–§414; Wallace, 1996).

2.4 The three macro-uses of participles (with deep explanation)

Greek grammars present long lists of participial functions. You should learn them. But for reading strategy, group them under three macro-uses; that will keep you oriented, then you can name the specific nuance.

(A) Adjectival participles (attributive and substantival)

An adjectival participle functions like an adjective; it identifies or classifies a person or thing.

• Attributive: it modifies a noun and often appears with the article.
  Example: ὁ ἀνήρ ὁ πιστεύων σημαίνει “the man who believes.”
  Here, πιστεύων classifies which man.

• Substantival: it functions as a noun because the article “substantivizes” it.
  Example: οἱ πιστεύοντες = “the ones who believe.”
  Often whole groups are named this way (e.g., “the living,” “the perishing”).

Why this matters for exegesis. Adjectival participles frequently name identity or define a category, which can be theologically loaded (e.g., ὁ ἀγαπῶν τὸν ἀδελφόν in 1 Jn 4). When you see an attributive or substantival participle, ask: “What identity does this confer? What quality is being highlighted?”

(B) Adverbial participles (the workhorse in narrative and argument)

An adverbial participle modifies the verb (or the whole clause) and answers questions like when, why, how, on what condition, or with what attendant action. These are the ones you will parse most frequently. The label you choose (temporal, causal, concessive, conditional, means, manner, purpose, result, attendant circumstance) is a semantic inference from context; the same form can be any of these uses. Greek gives you the form; context gives you the function (Wallace, 1996; Robertson, 1934).

Let’s expand the major adverbial nuances, with examples and reading steps.

1. Temporal (“when/while/after”)
   When the participle sets the time frame relative to the main verb.
   Example: ἰδὼν τοὺς ὄχλους ἐσπλαγχνίσθη (Matt 9:36).
   Here ἰδών (aorist active nominative masc. sg., from ὁράω) is temporal: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion.” The aorist participle views the “seeing” as a whole, completed event that precedes the main verb’s emotion.
   Reading step: Identify participle; note aorist aspect; infer “after/when X, then Y.”

2. Causal (“because/since”)
   When the participle states the reason for the main action.
   Example (constructed in the manner of NT idiom): πιστεύσαντες ἐχάρησαν.
   “Because they believed, they rejoiced.”
   In real texts, context signals causality, often with theology (e.g., “having been justified, we have peace”—Rom 5:1 uses a participle in some textual traditions).
   Reading step: Ask whether “time” or “reason” fits best. Theological logic usually decides it.

3. Concessive (“although/though”)
   When the participle acknowledges an opposing circumstance.
   Example (Phil 2:6): ἐν μορφῇ θεοῦ ὑπάρχων … ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν.
   “Although he existed in the form of God, he emptied himself.”
   ὑπάρχων is present act. part., giving a background state; the concessive nuance arises from the semantic contrast between divine status and self-emptying (Wallace, 1996).
   Reading step: Spot a tension in the logic; translate with “although” when contrast is clear.

4. Conditional (“if”)
   When the participle sets a condition for the main action.
   Example (Mark 16:16): ὁ πιστεύσας καὶ βαπτισθεὶς σωθήσεται.
   “The one who believes and is baptized will be saved.”
   These are substantival in form (articular) but function conditionally in sense.
   Reading step: If the participle governs the class of people for whom the predicate is true, an “if/when” paraphrase clarifies logic.

5. Means (“by/through”)
   When the participle tells how the action is accomplished.
   Example (Acts 2:40): πολλῷ λόγῳ διεμαρτύρετο καὶ παρεκάλει λέγων…
   Often the speaking participle explains the means by which exhortation happens: “he kept exhorting by saying…”
   Reading step: Ask, “Is the participle the instrumental path to the main action?” Translate with “by —ing.”

6. Manner (“with X manner”)
   When the participle describes the way the action is carried out.
   Example (constructed): ἔδραμεν κλαίων—“He ran weeping.”
   Reading step: Does it color how the verb happens rather than the means or cause?

7. Purpose (“in order to”)
   Pure purpose with a bare participle is rare; Greek typically uses ἵνα + subjunctive or articular infinitive for purpose. But some participles are best taken as telic, especially future participles in classical Greek; in the NT, purpose nuance with aorist participles usually rides on context.
   Reading step: Confirm that a purpose sense is more natural than time/means/causal.

8. Result (“so that”)
   Again rarer with participles than with ὥστε + inf/ind., but possible by contextual inference.
   Reading step: Look for resulting states/events immediately tied to the main action.

9. Attendant circumstance (especially in narrative)
   This labels a participle that carries an action coordinate in force with the main verb (often aorist participle + aorist main verb).
   Example (Matt 28:19): πορευθέντες οὖν μαθητεύσατε…
   Debate exists whether πορευθέντες is means (“By going, make disciples…”) or attendant (“Go and make disciples”). Wallace argues for attendant circumstance here because of imperatival force and the aorist pairing (Wallace, 1996, pp. 640–645). Others prefer means because μαθητεύσατε is the focus and “going” is the necessary path (Porter, 1992).
   Reading step: Decide whether the participle is semantically subordinate (means) or coordinates an action with the main imperative (attendant). Translate accordingly; then defend your choice in exegesis.

(C) Periphrastic participles (εἰμί + participle)

Greek sometimes forms a periphrasis (a roundabout expression) combining a form of εἰμί (“to be”) with a participle to express aspect or emphasis.

• Imperfective periphrastic (progressive): ἦν γράφων = “he was writing.”

• Perfect periphrastic (stative/resultative): σεσῳσμένοι ἐστε (Eph 2:8) = “you are [those who are] saved,” foregrounding the state (perfect participle) now in force (Wallace, 1996, pp. 647–649).

Why this matters. Periphrases often highlight a state or ongoing process when Greek prefers a participle rather than a finite verb. When you see εἰμί + participle, ask whether the author is profiling state/process, not merely tense.

2.5 Negation with participles

Participles take μή, not οὐ, for negation (except in rare, special cases). That signals their non-finite verbal status. For example, μὴ φοβούμενος = “not fearing.” Remember this when you scan for polarity.

2.6 The genitive absolute: a self-contained time/setting frame

A genitive absolute is a mini-clause in the genitive: a noun/pronoun in the genitive + a genitive participle, grammatically “absolved” (not syntactically tied) from the main clause. It usually sets time, sometimes circumstance.

• Luke 3:21: βαπτισθέντος δὲ παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ Ἰησοῦ βαπτισθέντος… ἀνεῳχθῆναι τὸν οὐρανόν.
  Literally, “when all the people had been baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized, the heaven was opened.”
  Note the aorist passive participles βαπτισθέντος agreeing with τοῦ λαοῦ / Ἰησοῦ in the genitive. Time is set, then the main action follows.

Strategy. When you see a participle with a genitive NP that does not agree with anything in the main clause, test “genitive absolute.” Translate with “when,” “after,” “while,” “since,” or “although,” guided by context (BDF §409).

2.7 Worked examples: reading participles in context

Example 1 (Temporal + Emotional Response): Matthew 9:36
Greek: Ἰδὼν δὲ τοὺς ὄχλους ἐσπλαγχνίσθη περὶ αὐτῶν.
Walkthrough:

• ἰδών = aorist active participle, nom. masc. sg., from ὁράω, agreeing with the implicit subject “he” (Jesus).

• Aorist participle profiles a completed event relative to the main verb.

• ἐσπλαγχνίσθη (aorist passive deponent) is the main verb “he had compassion.”

• Sense: “When he saw the crowds, he was moved with compassion.”
  Exegesis tip: The aorist participle makes “seeing” the occasion that triggers compassion; Matthew’s narrative rhythm often uses this tight temporal link.

Example 2 (Concessive + Christology): Philippians 2:6–7
Greek (portion): ὃς ἐν μορφῇ θεοῦ ὑπάρχων οὐχ ἁρπαγμὸν ἡγήσατο… ἀλλ’ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν.
Walkthrough:

• ὑπάρχων = present active participle, nom. masc. sg., from ὑπάρχω, agreeing with ὃς.

• The present participle profiles an ongoing state (“existing”).

• Logical relation = concessive: “Although he existed in God’s form…”

• Exegesis: The participle states a continuing divine reality; the concession lies in not exploiting that status (Porter, 1992; Wallace, 1996).

Example 3 (Periphrastic Perfect, soteriology): Ephesians 2:8
Greek: τῇ γὰρ χάριτί ἐστε σεσῳσμένοι διὰ πίστεως.
Walkthrough:

• ἐστε + σεσῳσμένοι (perfect passive participle, nom. masc. pl.) = periphrastic perfect.

• Sense: “You are (now in the state of having been) saved by grace through faith.”

• Exegesis: The perfect participle foregrounds the resultant state of God’s saving action, not merely a past event (Wallace, 1996).

Example 4 (Attendant circumstance or means?): Matthew 28:19
Greek: πορευθέντες οὖν μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη.
Walkthrough:

• πορευθέντες = aorist passive (deponent in meaning) participle, nom. masc. pl., agreeing with implied “you.”

• Two viable analyses:

  • Attendant circumstance: “Go and make disciples…” (two coordinate actions under the missionary commission).

  • Means: “By going, make disciples…” (one focus: disciple-making; “going” is the means).

• Exegesis: Decide based on discourse aim and parallel passages (Wallace, 1996; Porter, 1992). In teaching, it is useful to show both logic paths and then argue your conclusion.

Example 5 (Genitive absolute, temporal): Mark 5:35
Greek: ἔτι αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος, ἔρχονται…
Walkthrough:

• αὐτοῦ (gen.) + λαλοῦντος (gen. masc. sg. pres. act. part.): genitive absolute.

• Sense: “While he was still speaking, they come…”

• Exegesis: This sets the background time frame; the present participle’s imperfective aspect profiles the speech as in progress when the new action begins.

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3) Infinitives: the verbal noun that builds arguments

3.1 What an infinitive is (and how it behaves)

An infinitive is a verbal noun. It is verbal in that it has tense-form (so aspect), voice, direct objects, and adverbs; it is nominal in that it can act as subject, object, or complement. Because it is non-finite, its default negation is μή (not οὐ).

Unlike English, Greek has a robust articular infinitive system: the infinitive can take the article (τό, τοῦ, τῷ, τό, etc.), and even prepositions govern that articular infinitive, creating a flexible set of purpose, time, and cause expressions (Wallace, 1996; BDF §389–§403). This is huge for exegesis.

3.2 Forms you must spot instantly (λύω)

• Present Active: λύειν (imperfective)

• Aorist Active: λῦσαι (perfective)

• Perfect Active: λελυκέναι (stative/resultative)

• Present Middle/Passive: λύεσθαι

• Aorist Middle: λύσασθαι

• Aorist Passive: λυθῆναι

Remember: aspect, not time, does the heavy lifting. A present infinitive often expresses ongoing/iterative sense (“to be doing X”), while an aorist infinitive often expresses one whole action (“to do X”), and a perfect infinitive often expresses a resulting state (“to have done X,” with implications continuing).

3.3 How infinitives function (with full explanations)

Because the infinitive is nominal, its functions are best learned by asking, “What nominal slot is the infinitive filling here?” Let’s expand the core functions you’ll actually use when reading.

1. Subject infinitive
   When the infinitive functions as the subject of a clause.
   Example (Phil 1:21): τὸ ζῆν Χριστός.
   The articular infinitive τὸ ζῆν (“the living,” i.e., “to live”) is the subject; “to live is Christ.”
   Reading step: Try substituting “the act of —ing” and see if it balances with the predicate.

2. Object (complement) infinitive
   When a verb expects an infinitive as its complement (verbs of wanting, beginning, being able, daring, hoping, planning, etc.).
   Examples:

• βούλομαι προσεύχεσθαι = “I wish to pray” (1 Tim 2:8, cf. pattern).

• ἤρξατο διδάσκειν = “he began to teach” (Mark 4:1).

• οὐ δύναται ἁμαρτάνειν = “he is not able to sin” (1 Jn 3:9).
  Reading step: Spot the governing verb; ask, “Does this verb commonly take an infinitive?” (Wallace, 1996).

3. Purpose infinitive
   Greek often uses ἵνα + subjunctive for purpose, but the articular infinitive with certain prepositions performs this job with precision. The most common purpose markers are:

• εἰς τό + infinitive = “in order to” (motion into the telos),

• τοῦ + infinitive (genitive articular inf.) = “in order to” (very common especially in Luke–Acts).

Explanation: Think of εἰς as directional (toward a goal), and τοῦ as telic/genitival (goal belonging to the prior action). Both are fine purpose markers; authors show preference (Luke likes τοῦ).
Example (Luke 19:10): ἦλθεν ζητῆσαι καὶ σῶσαι—two bare aorist infinitives of purpose following a verb of coming: “He came to seek and to save.”
Example (Luke-Acts style): ἦλθεν τοῦ σῶσαι — “he came in order to save.”
Reading step: If you see εἰς τό or τοῦ before an infinitive, test purpose first.

4. Result infinitive
   Greek favors ὥστε for result, and ὥστε + infinitive often marks natural result (“so that, with the result that”).
   Example (constructed): ἔκραζον ὥστε ἀκούειν πάντας—“they were crying out so that all were hearing.”
   Reading step: ὥστε + inf usually = result that is presented as general or expected; ὥστε + indicative = result asserted as actual.

5. Temporal infinitive with prepositions
   Greek elegantly encodes time relations with preposition + articular infinitive:

• πρὸ τοῦ + infinitive = “before —ing,”

• ἐν τῷ + infinitive = “while —ing,”

• μετὰ τό + infinitive = “after —ing.”

Explanation: The preposition supplies the time relation; the article “nominalizes” the infinitive (“the doing”), and the infinitive carries aspect (present for contemporaneous process, aorist for summary).
Example (Luke 2:21): πρὸ τοῦ συντελεσθῆναι… — “before the days were completed…”
Reading step: Mark these quickly; they are your timeline anchors.

6. Causal infinitive with διὰ τό + infinitive

• διὰ τό + infinitive = “because of —ing / because —.”
  Example (constructed per NT idiom): ἐχάρησαν διὰ τὸ ἰδεῖν τὸν κύριον—“they rejoiced because they saw the Lord.”
  Reading step: When you see διὰ τό, test a causal paraphrase.

7. Epexegetical (explanatory) infinitive
   The infinitive explains or clarifies a prior noun/adjective.
   Example (Jas 1:27): θρησκεία καθαρὰ… ἐπισκέπτεσθαι—“pure religion is to visit (i.e., consists in visiting…) the orphans and widows.”
   Reading step: If a noun like “desire/authority/aim” or an adjective like “worthy/ready/able” precedes, ask whether the infinitive unpacks it.

8. Indirect discourse (after verbs of saying, thinking, perceiving)
   Greek can report speech/thought with an infinitive; the subject of the infinitive is in the accusative (Accusative + Infinitive = AcI).
   Example (constructed in line with NT usage): λέγουσιν αὐτὸν εἶναι προφήτην—“they say that he is a prophet.”
   Reading step: If a verb of saying/perceiving precedes and you meet an infinitive with an accusative not otherwise governed, test AcI (“that…”) (BDF §397–§400; Wallace, 1996).

3.4 The subject of the infinitive (Accusative + Infinitive)

Because the infinitive is non-finite, it does not carry person/number. When it needs an explicit subject, Greek uses the accusative case. You will see this especially with articular infinitives and indirect discourse.

• τοῦ + ἀγαπᾶν τὸν ἀδελφόν σε (acc.)—“for you to love the brother.”

• λέγει αὐτὸν (acc.) εἶναι Ἰσραηλίτην—“he says him to be an Israelite” = “he says that he is an Israelite.”

Strategy. When you find an accusative NP near an infinitive and it doesn’t fit with another governing word, test “accusative subject of the infinitive.” This settles many puzzling clauses.

3.5 Negation with infinitives

Like participles, infinitives are normally negated with μή, not οὐ, e.g., μὴ ἁμαρτάνειν (“not to sin”). This is a quick polarity check when you parse.

3.6 Worked examples: reading infinitives in context

Example 1 (Subject): Philippians 1:21
Greek: ἐμοὶ γὰρ τὸ ζῆν Χριστὸς καὶ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν κέρδος.
Walkthrough: Two articular infinitives (τὸ ζῆν, τὸ ἀποθανεῖν) stand as subjects. The present vs. aorist infinitive likely profiles living as ongoing experience and to die as a punctiliar event.
Sense: “For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Exegesis: The aspectual contrast fits Paul’s rhetoric: life = ongoing Christ-orientation; death = single gateway to gain.

Example 2 (Purpose, bare infinitives after a verb of coming): Luke 19:10
Greek: ἦλθεν γὰρ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ζητῆσαι καὶ σῶσαι τὸ ἀπολωλός.
Walkthrough: Two aorist active infinitives of purpose (“to seek and to save”).
Exegesis: The perfect participle ἀπολωλός (“that which has been lost”) names the target; the aorist infinitives present Christ’s mission as decisive acts aimed at that target.

Example 3 (Temporal with preposition): Luke 2:21
Greek: πρὸ τοῦ συντελεσθῆναι τὰς ἡμέρας τοῦ περιτεμεῖν αὐτόν…
Walkthrough: πρὸ τοῦ + aorist passive infinitive = before X was completed; then τοῦ περιτεμεῖν (gen. articular inf.) names the occasion related to the days.
Sense: “Before the days were completed for him to be circumcised…”
Exegesis: Luke loves these articular systems; learn them and watch your reading speed jump.

Example 4 (Result): Matthew 8:28 (pattern with ὥστε)
Greek (pattern): … χαλεποὶ λίαν ὥστε μὴ ἰσχύειν τινὰ παρελθεῖν…
Walkthrough: ὥστε + infinitive expresses result (“so that no one was able to pass”). The μή negates the infinitive.
Exegesis: The grammar marks the author’s evaluation: the situation resulted in functional blockage of passage.

Example 5 (Epexegetical): James 1:27
Greek: θρησκεία καθαρὰ καὶ ἀμίαντος… ἐπισκέπτεσθαι ὀρφανοὺς καὶ χήρας…
Walkthrough: The present middle infinitive ἐπισκέπτεσθαι explains the content of “pure religion.”
Exegesis: Aspectual present supports the idea of ongoing care, not a one-off act.

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4) Exegesis labs: guided readings from the NT

Lab A: John 6:38 — purpose, complementary, and theology of mission

Greek: καταβέβηκα γὰρ ἀπὸ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ οὐχ ἵνα ποιῶ τὸ θέλημα τὸ ἐμόν, ἀλλ’ ἵνα ποιῶ τὸ θέλημα τοῦ πέμψαντός με.
Step 1 (structure): Two ἵνα clauses (subjunctive), not infinitives, but this is a perfect place to contrast ἵνα purpose with infinitive purpose.
Step 2 (observation): Greek may express purpose with ἵνα or with articular infinitive (e.g., τοῦ ποιεῖν). John prefers ἵνα. Luke often prefers τοῦ + inf.
Takeaway: As you read different authors, expect stylistic preferences for purpose marking. Your job is to recognize both tracks instantly.

Lab B: Acts 20:24 — epexegetical infinitives that unpack a calling

Greek (portion): … ἀλλ’ οὐδενὸς λόγον ποιοῦμαι… τελειῶσαι τὸν δρόμον μου καὶ τὴν διακονίαν ἣν ἔλαβον παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ, διαμαρτύρασθαι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς χάριτος τοῦ θεοῦ.
Walkthrough:

• τελειῶσαι and διαμαρτύρασθαι stand as epexegetical infinitives detailing what Paul means by finishing his race/ministry.

• Aspectually aorist, profiling the calling as goals to accomplish.
  Exegesis: Identify how the infinitives specify ministry content and end.

Lab C: Hebrews 12:1–2 — adverbial participles mapping the race of faith

Greek (portion): … ἀποθέμενοι πᾶν βάρος καὶ τὴν εὐπερίστατον ἁμαρτίαν, δι’ ὑπομονῆς τρέχωμεν τὸν προκείμενον ἡμῖν ἀγῶνα, ἀφορῶντες εἰς τὸν τῆς πίστεως ἀρχηγὸν…
Walkthrough:

• ἀποθέμενοι (aorist mid. part.) = means: “by laying aside every weight…”

• ἀφορῶντες (pres. act. part.) = manner/means: “fixing [continually] our eyes on Jesus.”
  Exegesis: The two participles show how to run; aspect choice is elegant: decisive laying aside (aorist), ongoing gaze (present).

Lab D: Romans 12:1–2 — purpose/result with infinitives (and discourse focus)

Greek: παρακαλῶ… παραστῆσαι τὰ σώματα ὑμῶν… καὶ μὴ συσχηματίζεσθε… ἀλλὰ μεταμορφοῦσθε τῇ ἀνακαινώσει τοῦ νοός, εἰς τὸ δοκιμάζειν ὑμᾶς τί τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ…
Walkthrough:

• εἰς τὸ δοκιμάζειν = purpose (or intended result): “in order that you discern what is God’s will.”

• The present infinitive suggests an ongoing discerning habit.
  Exegesis: Paul’s imperatives aim at a goal: a community characterized by continual discernment.

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Practice section: you do it (with prompts)

Work slowly. For each verse, (1) identify the form, (2) state its function, (3) comment on aspect, (4) translate idiomatically, (5) write one sentence on exegetical impact.

1. Mark 1:41 — καὶ σπλαγχνισθεὶς ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα ἥψατο αὐτοῦ…
   Prompt: aorist participle of emotion → temporal or causal? What nuance makes sense in the story line?

2. John 1:6–8 — Ἐγένετο ἄνθρωπος ἀπεσταλμένος παρὰ θεοῦ… οὗτος ἦλθεν εἰς μαρτυρίαν, ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ…
   Prompt: Note how John uses ἵνα for purpose; where could Luke have used τοῦ + inf in an analogous construction?

3. Acts 5:42 — καθ’ ἡμέραν… οὐκ ἐπαύοντο διδάσκοντες καὶ εὐαγγελιζόμενοι…
   Prompt: progressive participles after a verb of ceasing; how do they function? What does aspect add?

4. 1 Peter 2:24 — ὃς τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν αὐτὸς ἀνήνεγκεν ἐν τῷ σώματι… ἵνα ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ἀπογενόμενοι τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ ζήσωμεν…
   Prompt: map finite verbs, participles, and purpose; how do the participles relate to the ἵνα clause?

5. Luke 4:1–2 — Ἰησοῦς δὲ πλήρης πνεύματος ἁγίου ὑπέστρεψεν … ἤγετο ἐν τῷ πνεύματι ἡμέρας τεσσεράκοντα πειραζόμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ διαβόλου…
   Prompt: present participle πειραζόμενος: manner, circumstance, or time? Why?

6. Rom 15:20 — οὕτως δὲ φιλοτιμούμενον εὐαγγελίζεσθαι… οὐχ ὅπου ὠνομάσθη Χριστός…
   Prompt: substantival vs. adverbial force of the participle? How does it frame Paul’s missionary principle?

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Assigned readings and translations (this week)

Translate carefully; mark every participle and infinitive; label function; comment on aspect; then write a concise exegetical note (2–3 sentences) on each pericope.

1. Matthew 9:35–38 (participles of seeing/compassion; temporal and means).

2. Luke 2:21–24 (preposition + articular infinitive for time; purpose in cultic obedience).

3. Philippians 2:5–11 (adverbial participles and Christology; concessive nuance; aspect).

4. Ephesians 2:1–10 (periphrastic perfect; participles of walking/living; purpose with ἵνα).

5. Acts 20:17–27 (epexegetical infinitives; participles mapping ministry actions).

Submit a translation log: citation, Greek phrase, parsing, function, aspect comment, translation, and a one-sentence exegetical impact note.

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Suggested assignments (graded)

1. Participles parsing sprint (30 items).
   From John 1–3, collect 30 participles (include at least five perfect, five aorist passive, five presents). For each: lemma; tense-form; voice; case/number/gender; syntactic function; an English gloss that reflects aspect (e.g., present = “while —ing,” aorist = “after —ing”).
   Deliverable: a table with columns: Ref | Greek | Lemma | Tense-Form | Voice | C/N/G | Function | Aspect-aware gloss.
   Goal: train instant recognition and aspect-sensitive translation (Wallace, 1996; Decker, 2015).

2. Infinitives function portfolio (20 items).
   From Luke–Acts, collect 20 infinitives and classify each as subject, object (complementary), purpose (εἰς τό / τοῦ / ἵνα contrast), result (ὥστε + inf), temporal (πρὸ τοῦ / ἐν τῷ / μετὰ τό), causal (διὰ τό), epexegetical, or indirect discourse (AcI). Note any accusative subjects and the negation used.
   Deliverable: annotated list with one-sentence explanation per item.
   Goal: build an “ear” for the article + preposition infinitive systems (BDF; Wallace, 1996).

3. Mini-commentary (5–7 pages): Philippians 2:6–11.
   Focus on the participles (e.g., ὑπάρχων, γενόμενος, εὑρεθείς) and any infinitives or purpose markers. Argue for the best semantic labels (concessive? temporal? means?), defend with discourse logic and aspect, and articulate the theological payoff of your grammatical decisions (Porter, 1992; Fanning, 1990; Wallace, 1996; Runge, 2010).

4. Form & function exam-prep drill (timed).
   I will give you ten unseen sentences (short NT clauses). In 20 minutes, (a) circle all participles/infinitives, (b) write lemma + tense-form + voice, (c) label function, (d) give an aspect-sensitive gloss.
   Goal: simulate “live” reading where decisions must be quick and well-grounded.

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Study tips: how to make this “stick”

• Build three mental grids you can consult in seconds:
  (1) participle morphology (present/aorist/perfect; act/mid/pass; -ων/-ουσα/-ον vs. -μένος-forms);
  (2) participle macro-uses (adjectival, adverbial, periphrastic) with your own example for each;
  (3) infinitive systems with prepositions (πρὸ τοῦ, ἐν τῷ, μετὰ τό; εἰς τό; τοῦ; διὰ τό; ὥστε) plus one example each.

• Always annotate aspect in your first pass. Write a tiny “impf/Perfv/Stat” above the form. This keeps you from defaulting to English tense thinking (Porter, 1992; Fanning, 1990).

• Negation check. Train your eye to see μή with participles/infinitives. This will stop many false starts.

• Don’t over-categorize. Remember that participial labels (causal, temporal, concessive, etc.) are interpretive. Pick the one that best fits the line of thought. Be ready to defend why.

• Argue kindly with commentaries. When you disagree on a label (e.g., Matt 28:19), state your reasons: form, aspect, discourse, parallels. This is doctoral-level work.

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Conclusion: what you should now be able to do

By the end of this chapter you should be able to look at a Greek sentence and, without panic, do the following:

1. Spot participles/infinitives instantly and parse their tense-form and voice.

2. Anchor their role: adjectival vs. adverbial vs. periphrastic (for participles) and subject/object/purpose/result/temporal/causal/epexegetical/AcI (for infinitives).

3. Translate with aspect-sensitive English that matches the flow of the text.

4. Explain your grammatical choices and show the exegetical consequences (what the author is actually doing rhetorically and theologically).

In the coming weeks, these skills will become reflexes as we read extended passages. For now, slow down, annotate with care, and take joy in hearing how Koine Greek builds meaning—compactly, elegantly, and in ways English can’t do without help.

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References (APA)

Blass, F., Debrunner, A., & Funk, R. W. (1961). A Greek grammar of the New Testament and other early Christian literature. University of Chicago Press.

Decker, R. J. (2015). Reading Koine Greek: An introduction and integrated workbook. Baker Academic.

Fanning, B. M. (1990). Verbal aspect in New Testament Greek. Oxford University Press.

Porter, S. E. (1992). Idioms of the Greek New Testament (2nd ed.). Sheffield Academic Press.

Robertson, A. T. (1934). A grammar of the Greek New Testament in the light of historical research (4th ed.). Broadman.

Runge, S. E. (2010). Discourse grammar of the Greek New Testament: A practical introduction for teaching and exegesis. Lexham.

Wallace, D. B. (1996). Greek grammar beyond the basics: An exegetical syntax of the New Testament. Zondervan.

Young, R. A. (1994). Intermediate New Testament Greek: A linguistic and exegetical approach. Broadman & Holman.

Mounce, W. D. (2019). Basics of Biblical Greek (4th ed.). Zondervan.

Campbell, C. R. (2008). Basics of verbal aspect in Biblical Greek. Zondervan.