The Book of The Gospel of John

Download Second Declension

In linguistic terms, declension refers to the way nouns, pronouns, and adjectives in languages, particularly inflected ones like Greek, Latin, or Hebrew, change their form to express different grammatical categories such as case (nominative, genitive, etc.), number (singular, plural), and gender (masculine, feminine, neuter). In Greek and Hebrew, declensions are crucial because they help to indicate the function of a word in a sentence, such as whether it is the subject, object, or shows possession, among other roles.

First Declension: The first declension is characterized by long vowel endings like -η and -α in the nominative singular. Typically includes nouns that are mostly feminine but also some masculine nouns.

Second Declension: The second declension is categorized by o class vowels. Masculine nouns generally have endings in -ος (e.g., λόγος) in the nominative singular, while neuter nouns end in -ον.

Third Declension: This declension is more irregular and diverse, containing nouns of all three genders (masculine, feminine, and neuter). The nouns in the third declension can have various stem endings and exhibit more complex case endings, such as -ς (e.g., βασιλεύς).

Gender refers to a system of noun classification that affects how nouns and related words (such as adjectives, pronouns, and verbs) are inflected in a language. In languages with grammatical gender, nouns are categorized into specific gender classes, which often determine the form of associated words (e.g., adjectives and pronouns) and can sometimes affect the verb conjugation.

In Koine Greek, there are three grammatical genders:

1. Masculine: This gender is often used for nouns referring to males but also includes many inanimate objects and abstract concepts. For example, ἀδελφός (adelphos) means “brother” and is masculine, while λόγος (logos) meaning “word” is also masculine, despite referring to an inanimate concept.

1. Feminine: This gender is generally used for nouns referring to females but also includes many non-personal and abstract nouns. For example, μήτηρ (mētēr) means “mother” and is feminine, as is γλῶσσα (glōssa) meaning “tongue” or “language.”

1. Neuter: This gender is used for many inanimate objects or abstract concepts. For example, παιδίον (paidion) meaning “child” and δῶρον (dōron) meaning “gift” are both neuter.

Grammatically, adjectives and articles must agree in gender with the noun they modify, and pronouns will take the same gender as the noun they replace.

Second Declension Vocabulary

The Nominative Singular ending is the lexicon form of the word.

ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) – man, human being

δοῦλος (doulos) – servant, slave

θάνατος (thanatos) – death

οὐρανός (ouranos) – heaven

υἱός (huios) – son

ἀδελφός (adelphos) – brother

καρπός (karpos) – fruit

νόμος (nomos) – law

κόσμος (kosmos) – world, universe, Inhabited world

δῶρον (dōron) – gift

παιδίον (paidion) – young child

ἄρτος (artos) – bread

Declining a noun refers to the process of changing the form of a noun to indicate its grammatical function in a sentence. This involves altering the noun’s ending according to its case, number, and gender. In languages like Koine Greek and Latin, nouns are inflected, meaning their endings change based on these grammatical categories.

When declining a noun, it is inflected to show the following:

1. Case: This shows the noun’s syntactical role in the sentence (subject, object, possession, etc.).

• Nominative: The case of specific designation, the naming case.
• Genitive: The case of definition or description.
• Ablative: The case of separation.
• Dative: The case of personal interest. It expresses the indirect object.
• Instrumental: The case of means or association.
• Locative: The case of position or location.
• Accusative: The case of limitation or extension.
• Vocative: The case of direct address.

1. Number: Indicates whether the noun is singular or plural.
2. Gender: The noun’s grammatical gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter), which affects how it declines.

Case is determined by function, not form. In the Koine Greek language, it is important to understand that the relationship of the noun to the other words in the sentence always governs the case. Hence, although Genitive and Ablative share the same endings, they are clearly distinguished within the context and function of the sentence. There are eight cases in the Greek language: Nominative, Genitive, Ablative, Dative, Locative, Instrumental, Accusative, and Vocative.

Declension of λόγος (Masculine Second Declension):

Singular

Nominative: λόγος

Genitive: λόγου

Ablative: λόγου

Dative: λόγῳ

Locative: λόγῳ

Instrumental: λόγῳ

Accusative: λόγον

Vocative: λόγε

Plural

Nominative: λόγοι

Genitive: λόγων

Ablative: λόγων

Dative: λόγοις

Locative: λόγοις

Instrumental: λόγοις

Accusative: λόγους

Vocative: λόγοι

Second Declension Endings

Masculine Endings

Neuter Endings

Second Declension Nouns in Scripture:

John 1:1 Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος. In a quality of a beginning was the word.

John 3:16 τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ. the son of him, the one of a kind.

Ephesians 2:10 αὐτοῦ γάρ ἐσμεν ποίημα, κτισθέντες ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐπὶ ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς. For we are his workmanship (poem), created in Christ Jesus on the basis of good works.

Download The Present Indicative Active

Present Indicative Active Endings:

Singular:

1st Person: -ω

2nd Person: -εις

3rd Person: -ει

Plural:

1st Person: -ομεν

2nd Person: -ετε

3rd Person: -ουσι(ν)

Infinitive λέγειν, to be saying, to say

The Present Indicative Active form in Greek is used to denote an action that is occurring in the present time from the writer’s perspective. It can indicate a continuous, habitual, or general truth.

The indicative is the only mode in which the tenses show absolute time. The main idea of tense is always the kind of action.; therefore, even in the indicative time is secondary. Duration or linear action in a continuous or progressive manner is the action expressed by the tense.

Present Tense: Indicates the time of the action as present.

It can denote a continuous action (e.g., “I am studying”).

It can represent a habitual action (e.g., “I study every day”).

It can also indicate a general truth (e.g., “The earth revolves around the sun”).

Indicative Mood: This mood is used for making factual statements or asking questions that are seen as actual.

Active Voice: In the active voice, the subject of the verb is the one performing the action (e.g., “He writes a letter” – the subject “he” is doing the action of writing).

Parsing a Present Indicative Active Verb

Parsing involves identifying five components of a verb: tense, mood, voice, person, and number.

1. Tense: Present.
2. Mood: Indicative.
3. Voice: Active.
4. Person: Indicates who is performing the action:
   1. 1st person: “I” or “we”
   2. 2nd person: “you” (singular or plural)
   3. 3rd person: “he/she/it” or “they”
5. Number: Singular or Plural.

Parsing Example: λέγω (I say)

λέγω (I say) – ω ending for 1st person singular.

λέγεις (You say) – εις ending for 2nd person singular.

λέγει (He/She/It says) – ει ending for 3rd person singular.

λέγομεν (We say) – ομεν ending for 1st person plural.

λέγετε (You all say) – ετε ending for 2nd person plural.

λέγουσι(ν) (They say) – ουσι(ν) ending for 3rd person plural.

The thematic vowel is a vowel that appears between the verb stem and the personal ending in many Greek verbs. It serves as a linking element that helps to form different tenses, moods, and voices in Greek conjugation.

The Thematic Vowel in the Present Indicative Active.

In the Present Indicative Active conjugation for thematic verbs, two thematic vowels are used, depending on the form:

1. ο (omicron): Used in most forms where the ending begins with a consonant.
2. ε (epsilon): Used in the second-person singular and plural forms.

Thematic Vowel Usage in “λέγω” (Present Indicative Active)

1. λέγω – The verb stem is “λεγ-“. The thematic vowel -ο- is inserted, followed by the ending -ω.
2. λέγεις – The stem is “λεγ-“. The thematic vowel -ε- is used, followed by the ending -εις.
3. λέγει – The stem is “λεγ-“. The thematic vowel -ε- is used, followed by the ending -ει.
4. λέγομεν – The stem is “λεγ-“. The thematic vowel -ο- is used, followed by the ending -ομεν.
5. λέγετε – The stem is “λεγ-“. The thematic vowel -ε- is used, followed by the ending -ετε.
6. λέγουσι(ν) – The stem is “λεγ-“. The thematic vowel -ο- is used, followed by the ending -ουσι(ν).

The infinitive does not use personal ending. It is a verbal noun in a fixed case form (-ειν).

Practical Examples

Peter’s mind is not framed on the things of God, Matthew 16:23.

ὁ δὲ στραφεὶς εἶπεν τῷ Πέτρῳ· ὕπαγε ὀπίσω μου, σατανᾶ· σκάνδαλον εἶ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι οὐ φρονεῖς τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ ἀλλὰ τὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων.

Those who walk according to the flesh have their mind framed on the things of the flesh, Romans 8:5.

οἱ γὰρ κατὰ σάρκα ὄντες τὰ τῆς σαρκὸς φρονοῦσιν, οἱ δὲ κατὰ πνεῦμα τὰ τοῦ πνεύματος

We walk through faith, not through sight, 1 Corinthian 5:7.

διὰ πίστεως γὰρ περιπατοῦμεν, οὐ διὰ εἴδους

Exercise: Conjugating λέγω in the Present Indicative Active

Instructions:

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb λέγω in the Present Indicative Active tense.
2. Each sentence provides a clue regarding the person and number to guide your conjugation.

Sentences:

1. 1st Person Singular: Ἐγὼ _______ ὅτι ἀγαπῶ σε.
   (Translation: I say that I love you.)
2. 2nd Person Singular: Σὺ _______ τὴν ἀλήθειαν.
   (Translation: You (singular) say the truth.)
3. 3rd Person Singular: Αὐτὸς _______ τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ.
   (Translation: He says the word of God.)
4. 1st Person Plural: Ἡμεῖς _______ περὶ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.
   (Translation: We say about Jesus Christ.)
5. 2nd Person Plural: Ὑμεῖς _______ καὶ μαρτυρεῖτε περὶ τῶν πραγμάτων.
   (Translation: You all say and testify about the things.)
6. 3rd Person Plural: Αὐτοὶ _______ πολλὰ καὶ μεγάλα λόγια.
   (Translation: They say many great words.)

Answer Key:

1. λέγω (Ἐγὼ λέγω ὅτι ἀγαπῶ σε.)
2. λέγεις (Σὺ λέγεις τὴν ἀλήθειαν.)
3. λέγει (Αὐτὸς λέγει τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ.)
4. λέγομεν (Ἡμεῖς λέγομεν περὶ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.)
5. λέγετε (Ὑμεῖς λέγετε καὶ μαρτυρεῖτε περὶ τῶν πραγμάτων.)
6. λέγουσι(ν) (Αὐτοὶ λέγουσι πολλὰ καὶ μεγάλα λόγια.)

Vocabulary:

1. ἔχω (echō) – I have, I hold
2. γινώσκω (ginōskō) – I experientially know
3. ἀκούω (akouō) – I hear
4. λαμβάνω (lambanō) – I take, I receive
5. βλέπω (blepō) – I see
6. λέγω (legō) – I say, I speak
7. πιστεύω (pisteuō) – I believe
8. γράφω (graphō) – I write
9. μένω (menō) – I remain, I abide, I stay
10. ποιέω (poieō) – I do, I make

Introduction to Verbs

A verb is a word that represents an action, occurrence, or state of being. Verbs are one of the fundamental building blocks of grammar in most languages. They are crucial for constructing sentences and conveying actions or states.

There are several types of verbs used to express action or a state of being:

1. Action Verbs: These describe specific actions performed by the subject. Examples: run, jump, write, speak.
2. Linking Verbs: These verbs connect the subject of a sentence to additional information about the subject. They do not describe an action. Common linking verbs include forms of “to be” (is, am, are, was, were), seem, become, appear.
3. Helping Verbs (Auxiliary Verbs): These verbs are used with main verbs to form different tenses, moods, or voices. Examples: have, do, will, shall, can, may, must.
4. Transitive Verbs: These verbs require a direct object to complete their meaning. Example: “She reads a book.”
5. Intransitive Verbs: These verbs do not require a direct object. Example: “He sleeps.”

The Greek verb system is complex and encompasses various components, including tense, voice, mood, person, and number.

Tense (Χρόνος)

In the majority of the tenses the kind of action is the primary focus. Only in the Indicated mode is time absolute.

• Present (Ενεστώτας): Indicates a continuous or repeated action in the present time (e.g., “I am loosing”). 1 John 3:9, Does not “habitually” sin.
• Imperfect (Παρατατικός): Indicates a continuous or repeated action in the past (e.g., “I was loosing”). John 1:1, the Word was before any beginning.
• Future (Μέλλοντας): Indicates an action that will occur in the future (e.g., “I will loose”). Matthew 16:18, I will build My Church.
• Aorist (Αόριστος): Indicates action in a point of time. It typically refers to past tense; however, time is not the primary focus. Instead, it is the snapshot in time, which can be past, present, or future. (e.g., “I loosed”). John 1:12, as many as received Him
• Perfect (Παρακείμενος): Indicates a completed action with a present effect that goes on into the indefinite future (e.g., “I have loosed with the abiding result that he is loosed.”). Matthew 4:4, it is written.
• Pluperfect (Υπερσυντέλικος): Indicates a completed action with a past effect (e.g., “I had loosed”). John 9:22, the Jews had agreed.

Voice (Διάθεση)

Voice indicates the relationship between the action of the verb and its subject:

• Active (Ενεργητική): The subject performs the action (e.g., “I loose”). Romans 5:8, God demonstrates.
• Middle (Μέση): The subject performs an action upon itself or for its own benefit (e.g., “I loose myself” or “I loose for myself”). Romans 6:11, reckon yourself.
• Passive (Παθητική): The subject is acted upon (e.g., “I am loosed”). Romans 8:14, led by the Spirit.

Mood (Έγκλιση)

Mood expresses the mode or manner of the action or state of being described by the verb:

• Indicative (Οριστική): Expresses a statement of fact or asks a question (e.g., “I loose,” “I loosed”). Romans 6:9 Christ was raised.
• Subjunctive (Υποτακτική): Expresses potential or a condition contrary to fact (e.g., “if I should loose”). Romans 3:4, should be justified.
• Optative (Ευκτική): Expresses a wish or potentiality less certain than the subjunctive (e.g., “I wish, I might loose”), Romans 3:4 May it never come to be.
• Imperative (Προστακτική): Expresses a command or request (e.g., “Loose!”), Romans 12:2 be transformed.

Person (Πρόσωπο)

Greek verbs are inflected for three persons:

• First Person (Πρώτο Πρόσωπο): Refers to the speaker (e.g., “I loose” or “we loose”), Romans 1:9, I religiously serve.
• Second Person (Δεύτερο Πρόσωπο): Refers to the one spoken to (e.g., “you loose” or “you all loose”) Romans 2:1 You are without excuse.
• Third Person (Τρίτο Πρόσωπο): Refers to the one spoken about (e.g., “he/she/it looses” or “they loose”), Romans 3:30.

Number (Αριθμός)

Verbs are also inflected for number:

• Singular (Ενικός): One subject (e.g., “I loose”).
• Plural (Πληθυντικός): More than one subject (e.g., “we loose”).

Aspect

Greek verbs emphasize aspect, which is the nature of the action rather than the time:

• Imperfective Aspect (Continuous or Repeated Action): Present and Imperfect tenses.
• Aoristic Aspect (Point in Time): Aorist tense.
• Perfective Aspect (Completed Action with Ongoing Effect): Perfect, Pluperfect, and Future Perfect tenses.

Participles (Μετοχές)

Participles are verbal adjectives and can indicate tense, voice, and aspect. They function adjectivally and adverbially, modifying nouns or verbs, and come in various forms such as present, aorist, perfect, etc.

Infinitives (Απαρέμφατα)

Infinitives are verbal nouns that do not change according to person or number. They can convey aspect and are used in a variety of syntactic structures (e.g., after verbs of desire or purpose clauses).

Deponent or Defective Verbs

Deponent means “to lay aside” and defective is used to imply that a word has no active voice. However, both terms are inadequate to describe the use of a middle or passive in place of the active voice. The active form did exist; however, through use dropped off because the middle or passive voice by the nature of the word and its use became predominate. However, to say it has “laid aside” its active voice is incorrect and contrary to the history of the verb.

Deponent is not a voice; although some grammarians use the concept of a deponent verb to label verbs they perceive to be active, but do not use the active voice in form. Through the natural development of the language certain middle or passive forms that were better suited to convey what the Greek mind was thinking became predominate to the point that the active voice is no longer seen in use; however, there is a difference between the lack of a voice and the use of one voice for another, so to label this as a deponent verb is inappropriate.

Careful consideration needs to be given to all words perceived as “active” by the English mind that are in the middle or passive form in Greek. Upon close examination of these words there is often no justifiable reason to modify the meaning of the Greek voice of the verb to force them into the concept of English grammar. All “so called” deponent verbs actually are verbs emphasizing a middle or passive voice, not an active voice, and therefore should be translated appropriately to the Greek grammar. Unfortunately, due to the limits of the English language it can be difficult to fully express the Greek meaning. An example can be found in John 1:9 where a passive form of “ἔρχομαι” is used for men entering the world. There is no doubt that this does not have an active meaning because entry into the world is not based upon the action of the man who enters it; however, translating this in a passive is impossible in the English due to its limitation with expressing a middle and passive form, therefore it is translated as an active; although, still understood as a passive.

Biblical Greek is foundational for understanding the New Testament in its original language, and its study begins with learning the alphabet and its phonetic structure. The Greek alphabet consists of 24 letters, each representing a unique sound. Greek vowels are essential to this system, consisting of seven letters: α, ε, η, ι, ο, υ, and ω. These vowels can form diphthongs—combinations of two vowels producing a single sound—such as αι (pronounced like “ai” in aisle) and ει (like “ei” in vein). An essential aspect of Greek pronunciation is the breathing marks placed over vowels at the beginning of a word. These include the rough breathing (῾), which adds an “h” sound, and the smooth breathing (᾽), which indicates the absence of this sound. A mastery of these basics prepares the student for more complex grammatical and syntactical studies in Biblical Greek, allowing for a more accurate reading and interpretation of the New Testament texts.

Download Diphthongs

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The Greek language uses seven vowel forms: α, ε, η, ι, ο, υ, ω.  η is the long form of ε and ω is the long form of ο. Therefore, ε and ο are always short, whereas η and ω are long. The list of vowel relates in a similar way to the English vowels a, e, i, o, u. α, ι, υ can be long or short, which are no distinguished by a separate form.

A diphthong is two bowl sounds fused into one sound.

The diphthongs are:

αι is spoken as ai in aisle.

αυ is pronounced as au in German haus, or ou in house.

ει sounds like ei in height.

ου combine to ou in group.

ευ forms an eu sound as in feud.

ηυ approximately represents the sound eu.

υι is vocalized as we.

Also there is an iota subscribe (ᾳ, ῃ, ῳ), which is the iota written belong the vowel; however, it does not impact the sound of the vowel. e.g. ᾳ is spoken as ai in aisle, the same as αι.

Many Greek words begin with the English sound h, which is indicated by the sign of the rough breathing ( ῾ ) over a vowel or diphthong at the beginning of the word. With a diphthong it is over the second vowel. Thus ὁδος is pronounced as hodos, and εὑρισκω as heruisko. When the initial vowel does not make an h sound the smooth breathing mark ( ᾽ ) is used. ἀκουω is pronounced aloud and οὐραωος as ouranos. When υ is at the beginning of a word, the rough breathing mark is always used.