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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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 can not fast.

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.