| |
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.
- 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.
- Manner The participle indicates the manner in which the action of the finite verb is carried out.
- Matt 19:22 He went away grieving.
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
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.
|
