LESSON TWENTY TWO : PERIPHRASTIC TENSES AND GENITIVE ABSOLUTE. Memorization of Vocabulary 22 (also includes vocabulary of 1 John 1:1-4 1 )

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1 LESSON TWENTY TWO : PERIPHRASTIC TENSES AND GENITIVE ABSOLUTE Memorization of Vocabulary 22 (also includes vocabulary of 1 John 1:1-4 1 ) αἰωνιον ἀκουω ἀπαγγελλω ἀποθνησκω ἀρχη ἀσεβης ἀσθενης ἀπο αὐτος γραφω δε ἐνδυω ζωγρεω ζωη ἡµεις ἡµετερα ἥτις ἱνα λογος µαρτυρεω µετα και κοινωνια θεαοµαι ὁραω ὃ ὀφθαλµος οὖν πασχω πατηρ περι πληροω προαγω eternal I hear Ι report, announce I die (aorist form: ἀπεθανον - I died) beginning ungodly weak from (see, under prepositions) he, genitive is αὐτου ((his) I write and, even; also mild but (with ἀλλα being main) I clothe, in middle voice: I wear, clothe myself I catch alive life we (plural of εγω), genitive plural is ηµων our (see, under pronouns) which (whichever) see, under pronouns in order that (used with subjunctive mood) word Ι bear witness with (see, under prepositions) and fellowship Ι see, look at I see what (neuter relative pronoun, see under pronouns) eye therefore Ι suffer (aorist form: επαθον - I suffered) father (genitive is πατρος and accusative singular πατερα; all forms will be studied under 3 rd declension) concerning (see, under prepositions) Ι fill, make full I walk ahead of, lead the way 1 Order of sections in 1 John is at times influenced by some grammatical features found in the portion rather than their arrangement in 1 John. This explains why 1:1-4 is placed here and not earlier. 1

2 προς towards (see, under prepositions) προσαναπληροω I fill up σαρξ flesh σωζω I save ὑµεις you (plural of συ); dative plural is υµιν, genitive plural υµων see, under pronouns υἱος son φανεροω I reveal, make known ψηλαφαω Ι feel, touch, handle, grope after χαρα joy χειρ hand (nominative plural is χειρες, genitive is χειρος) A. Periphrastic Tenses 1. Introduction The Greek from which we get the English word, periphrastic, is περι/φραζοµαι. It means, I express in a round about way. The idea is that an author can express a thought bluntly, but chooses to go round about in communicating the point. It is from this practice that some Greek constructions have come to be classified as periphrastic. The characteristic of this construction is a participle and a form of the verb to be. That is, a combination of two things. The verb to be in Greek is found in three tenses: present, imperfect, and future. See the forms under the lesson on Verb to be (lesson nineteen) We always use this combination in English, for example, I am listening. The word am is a form of verb to be and listening is a Of course, English is not expressing this in a roundabout way since it does not have another way of expressing that thought. In Greek, however, there is a choice but the speaker or writer chooses the roundabout way. 2. The Periphrastic combinations Six of those combinations, with the four listed first being more common, are: a. Periphrastic imperfect. This is the combination of imperfect of ειµι and present In Mark 10:32, we read (using the NASB): And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus ἦν προαγων... The verb ην is imperfect of εἰµι (I am) and προαγων is present participle from προαγω (walk ahead of). The translation of ην προαγων is was walking ahead, a thought that can be expressed with the 2

3 simple imperfect προηγε(ν). Mark, however, uses this round about way of expression here. A comment on why a writer would do that will be made after listing the six combinations. b. Periphrastic future. This is the combination of future of ειµι and present In Luke 5:10, we read: And Jesus said to Simon, Do not fear, from now on, men ἔσῃ ζωγρων. The words are translated you will be catching. The word εση is future (2 nd person singular) of εἰµι (see forms under verb to be ) and ζωγρων is present participle from ζωγρεω (capture alive). c. Periphrastic perfect. This is the combination of present of ειµι and perfect In Ephesians 2:8: For by grace ἐστε σεσωσµενοι through faith. The verb ἐστε is present (2 nd person plural of ειµι) and σεσωσµενοι (passive form see under participles) is perfect participle from σωζω (I save). The phrase ἐστε σεσωσµενοι is to be translated you have been saved. This thought can be expressed using the simple perfect passive (σεσωσθε) but Paul uses this roundabout way. d. Periphrastic pluperfect. This is the combination of the imperfect of εἰµι and perfect participle (both of them [imperfect and perfect] past tenses). In Mark 1:6, we read: And John ἦν ενδεδυµενος with camel s hair, and... The verb ην is imperfect of εἰµι and ἐνδεδυµενος is perfect participle (middle form) from ἐνδυω (I dress, cloth; in the middle as here wear, put on, clothe oneself). The translation of the entire phrase is was wearing/was clothed in e. Periphrastic present. This is the combination of present of ειµι and present participle In 2 Corinthians 9:12, we read: For the ministry of this service not only ἐστιν προσαναπληρουσα the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. The verb ἐστιν is third person singular of εἰµι and προσ/ανα/πληρ ουσα is present participle (nominative, feminine singular see forms under participles) from προσ/ανα/πληροω (fill up, replenish beside). The whole phrase is to be translated fully supplying f. Periphrastic future perfect combination of future of ειµι and perfect 3

4 3. Exegetical Significance It is clear that some of the ideas expressed by the periphrastic constructions could have been expressed using a simple verb. For example, simple imperfect taking care of periphrastic imperfect; simple future, the periphrastic future; simple perfect, the periphrastic perfect; simple imperfect (if continuity or action is in view) or simple pluperfect (if the result is in view) for periphrastic pluperfect. So, the question is: why the periphrastic construction, at all? An author uses these constructions to emphasize continuity. This, for example, is why in the translation of ἐσῃ ζωγρων of Luke 5:10 ( under periphrastic future above) is you will be catching. The continuity of the idea is captured in the use of the periphrasis. B. Genitive Absolute The word absolute comes from the Latin absolutus which means, loosed from. A genitive absolute, therefore, is a clause expressed in the genitive but is separate (loose) from the main clause grammatically. The loose clause, is, however, related to the main clause in that it adds to the idea of the main clause. For example, if we say, Christ having become flesh, he died for us. The main clause, he died for us is grammatically independent of having become flesh and vice versa. However, the words having become flesh define for us the status in which he died for us. He was one of us. In Greek, the absolute clause is expressed by a The participle is usually in the genitive case. The subject of the participle is also usually in genitive case. Thus genitive absolute. Note, however, the phrase genitive absolute in its technical and original sense simply means a phrase in the genitive case, but loose from the main clause. Example is Romans 5:6: For ὀντων ἡµων ἀσθενων (while we were still helpless), at the right time, (Christ) ὑπερ ἀσεβων ἀπεθανεν (Christ died for the ungodly) The main clause is Christ died for the ungodly. The absolute clause (underlined) which is to be translated while we were weak is independent grammatically from the main clause. 2 In terms of meaning though, it tells us the circumstances under which Christ died for the us, the ungodly. In the place of while other words that can also be used are when, because, since etc. The word one chooses is tied with the context whether it is time when, reason why, circumstances during which etc. that is the focus. This is all allowed by a In the example above, notice that the participle in the absolute clause, οντων is genitive (present, active, participle, genitive, masculine, plural of εἰµι) and the 2 The participle is οντων (from ειµι) and the subject is ηµων (from εγω). 4

5 subject ἡµων is also genitive. Thus, we have a situation in the Greek where a case (genitive) other than the nominative functions as the subject. Another example is 1 Peter 4:1 where χριστου οὐν παθοντος σαρκι.. is translated therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh with the entire verse reading: Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose... The main clause is arm yourselves and it has no grammatical relationship with (influence over) since Christ has suffered. However, since Christ has suffered in the flesh gives the basis for the exhortation arm yourselves. Christ is in genitive case but he is the subject of suffered. The participle παθοντος is genitive singular (see forms under participles) of πασχω (I suffer). The two form a genitive absolute construction. Exercise 22: Translate 1 John 1:1-4, paying close attention to what has been learned so far. 1:1 Ὃ ἦν ἀπ ἀρχῆς, ὃ ἀκηκόαµεν, ὃ ἑωράκαµεν τοῖς ὀφθαλµοῖς ἡµῶν, ὃ ἐθεασάµεθα καὶ αἱ χεῖρες ἡµῶν ἐψηλάφησαν, περὶ τοῦ λόγου τῆς ζωῆς 2 καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἐφανερώθη, καὶ ἑωράκαµεν καὶ µαρτυροῦµεν καὶ ἀπαγγέλλοµεν ὑµῖν τὴν ζωὴν τὴν αἰώνιον ἥτις ἦν πρὸς τὸν πατέρα καὶ ἐφανερώθη ἡµῖν 3 ὃ ἑωράκαµεν καὶ ἀκηκόαµεν ἀπαγγέλλοµεν καὶ ὑµῖν, ἵνα καὶ ὑµεῖς κοινωνίαν ἔχητε µεθ ἡµῶν. καὶ ἡ κοινωνία δὲ ἡ ἡµετέρα µετὰ τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ µετὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. 4 καὶ ταῦτα γράφοµεν ἡµεῖς ἵνα ἡ χαρὰ ἡµῶν ᾖ πεπληρωµένη. Some further help 1. ὂ - relative pronoun in neuter form (what) 2. ἦν - imperfect of ειµι in 3 rd person singular 3. ἀπ - ἀπο (from) with the final vowel elided. Next word begins with vowel. 4. ἀρχης - genitive form of ἀρχη (beginning) 5. ἀκηκοαµεν - perfect tense from ἀκουω (I hear) 6. ἑωρακαµεν - perfect tense from ὁραω (I see) 7. τοις - dative plural form of the masculine article, agrees with ὀφθαλµοις 8. ὀφθαλµοις - dative plural of ὀφθαλµος (eye) (sample is λογος) 9. ἡµων - genitive plural form of ἐγω 10. ἐθεασαµεθα - aorist tense from θεαοµαι (I see, behold) 11. αἱ - feminine plural article 12. χειρες - plural of χειρ (hand) (cf. πατηρ, 3 rd declension) 13. ἐψηλαφησαν - aorist form from ψηλαφαω (I touch, handle) 14. περι - preposition ( concerning with genitive, and around with accusative) 14. λογου - genitive of λογος (word). Agrees with article του 16. ζωης - genitive of ζωη (life). Agrees with article της (sample noun - ἀρχη) 17. ἐφανερωθη - aorist passive of φανεροω (I reveal, make manifest) 18. µαρτυρουµεν - present tense from µαρτυρεω (I bear witness, testify) 19. ὑµιν - dative plural of συ (you) 5

6 20. ἀπαγγελλοµεν - present tense from ἀπαγγελλω (I proclaim) 21. αἰωνιον - accusative form from αἰωνιος (eternal) 22. ἥτις - feminine indefinite pronoun ( which ) 23. προς - preposition ( to, towards with accusative, for with genitive, and at with dative) 24. πατερα - accusative singular of πατηρ (father). Agrees with article τον 25. ἱνα - in order that (usually used with subjunctive mood) 26. κοινωνιαν - accusative of κοινωνια (fellowship) 27. ἐχητε - subjunctive form from ἐχω (I have) 28. µεθ - from µετα (with). Note the following vowel with rough breathing. 29. ἡµετερα - feminine form of possessive adjective 30. υἱου - genitive form of υἱος (son) (cf. λογος) 31. αὐτου - genitive form of αὐτος (he) 32. ταυτα - neuter plural of οὗτος (this) 33. γραφοµεν - present tense, from γραφω (I write) 34. χαρα - joy (nominative/vocabulary form) 35. ᾖ - present subjunctive of εἰµι (I am - verb to be) 36. πεπληρωµενη - feminine perfect participle, middle/passive of πληροω Samuel M. Ngewa Africa International University 6