HOW TO TRANSLATE A PARTICIPLE (–ING)
(the lesson follows this section)
(the lesson follows this section)
Look up the word.
Look for its context-specific meaning.
Write the basic form.
a. Article before?
Write the ___g one
Write the ___g one
Adjectival:
which one, what kind, how many
τὸν ῥυόμενον
the rescuing one
the rescuing one
b. Article absent? Usually adverbial.
Does it
answer when, where, how, why?
Write ___g
Adverbial
ποιούμενοι
making
ποιούμενοι
making
Does it answer which one, what kind, how many?
Write ___g one
Adjectival
ἠγαπημένοι
beloved ones
beloved ones
c. Works with: be/become?
Write is ___g
Periphrastic
(a roundabout saying)
ἐστε σεσῳσμένοι
is saving
having been saved
ἐστε σεσῳσμένοι
is saving
having been saved
Improve it.
Use the "translation tip" for tense, voice, and mood.
Express relative time if adverbial.
When does it occur relative to the main verb— before, same time, or after?
When does it occur relative to the main verb— before, same time, or after?
Future Write before...
The main verb occurs before this
action.
Present Write while...
The main verb occurs at the same
time.
or Perfect After this action, the main verb occurs.
Smooth it, to improve readability.
Adjectival:
replace __ing one with
who __s
the rescuing one ☞ who rescues
Adverbial: replace it with a pronoun and verb.
Adverbial: replace it with a pronoun and verb.
knowing ☞ we know
Check it.
Adjectival
participle?
The ending agrees with: what the participle describes
Adverbial
participle?
The ending agrees with: the doer of the
action
For passive participles, with: the
recipient of the action
LESSON
the descriptive beauty of participles (–ing words)
Using participles is a very Greek way of describing someone or something.
Many readers of the Greek Scriptures come to especially enjoy participles. Why? It's the expressive quality, rhythm, and depth of what is said and how it is said.
Consider the two participles in the following:
1 Thes 1:10
...Ἰ¦η¦σοῦν
...Ἰ¦η¦σοῦν
ῥυ¦ό¦με¦νον
- What it is: participle
- Form, verb body: present middle-passive
- Form, noun ending: accusative singular masculine
- Tip: adv: ...g | adj: a ...g one
- Translation: the rescuing one
- Agrees with: Ἰ¦η¦σοῦν the doer of the action
- Functions as: adjective
- Describes: Ἰ¦η¦σοῦν Jesus
- Describes: Ἰ¦η¦σοῦν Jesus
- Describing: which one, what kind, how many | when, where, how, why
ἐρ¦χο¦μέ¦νης
- What it is: participle
- Form, verb body: present middle-passive
- Form, noun ending: genitive singular feminine
- Tip: adv: ...g | adj: a ...g one
- Translation: the coming one
- Agrees with: ὀρ¦γῆς the doer of the action
- Functions as: adjective
- Describes: ὀρ¦γῆς wrath
- Describes: ὀρ¦γῆς wrath
- Describing: which one, what kind, how many | when, where, how, why
1 Thes 1:10
...Ἰ¦η¦σοῦν
...Ἰ¦η¦σοῦν
Jesus, the rescuing one of us, from the wrath, the coming one
This is a very Greek way of expressing this truth: Jesus, the rescuing one of us, from the wrath, the coming one.
In translation for publication, the meaning is expressed in smoother English, for readability: Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come
In translation for publication, the meaning is expressed in smoother English, for readability: Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come
Yet the Greek way of saying this is something delightful and special, especially when one also considers the context, including:
1 Thes 4:17
...πάν¦το¦τε σὺν κυ¦ρί¦ῳ ἐ¦σό¦με¦θα
we will always be with the Lord
And so yes we read:
1 Thes 4:17
...πάν¦το¦τε σὺν κυ¦ρί¦ῳ ἐ¦σό¦με¦θα
we will always be with the Lord
And so yes we read:
1 Thes 1:10
...Ἰ¦η¦σοῦν
...Ἰ¦η¦σοῦν
Jesus, the rescuing one of us, from the wrath, the coming one
That is a glimpse into why participle-based descriptions are so poetic, expressive, and moving.
That is a glimpse into why participle-based descriptions are so poetic, expressive, and moving.
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1 Thes 1:10
Ἰ¦η¦σοῦν τὸν ῥυ¦ό¦με¦νον
Jesus, the rescuing one | adjectival (which one)
1 Thes 1:2
μνεί¦αν ποι¦ού¦με¦νοι
making mention | adverbial (how they gave thanks)
1 Thes 1:4
ἀ¦δελ¦φοὶ ἠ¦γα¦πη¦μέ¦νοι
Brethren, beloved ones | adjectival (what kind)
Eph 2:8
ἐ¦στε σε¦σῳ¦σμέ¦νοι
you have been saved | periphrastic
ἐ¦στε σε¦σῳ¦σμέ¦νοι
you have been saved | periphrastic
1 Thes 1:2
μνεί¦αν ποι¦ού¦με¦νοι
adverbial | nominative, plural, masculine
- Αgrees with the doer of the action: the "we" in verb form "we give thanks"
μνεί¦αν ποι¦ού¦με¦νοι
adverbial | nominative, plural, masculine
- Αgrees with the doer of the action: the "we" in verb form "we give thanks"
1 Thes 1:10
Ἰ¦η¦σοῦν τὸν ῥυ¦ό¦με¦νον
adjectival | accusative, singular, masculine
Ἰ¦η¦σοῦν τὸν ῥυ¦ό¦με¦νον
adjectival | accusative, singular, masculine
- Αgrees with the word it describes: Ἰ¦η¦σοῦν
1 Thes 1:6
1 Thes 1:6
...μι¦μη¦ταὶ... ἐ¦γε¦νή¦θη¦τε... δεξ¦ά¦με¦νοι τὸν λό¦γον...
You became imitators, after receiving the Word.1 Thes 1:4
εἰ¦δό¦τες...
For we know [ESV] [NIV]
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color coding: red body + blue ending
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participle form
Bible GT presents this information for every participle form:
tense, voice
gender, number, case
For example,
| μνη¦μο¦νεύ¦ον¦τες
present active
nominative plural masculine
|
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other participles in 1 Thes 1
We started this lesson with the participles in 1 Thes 1:10.
Now let's take a look at the other participles in 1 Thes 1.
1 Thes 1:2
...μνεί¦αν
ποι¦ού¦με¦νοι
- What it is: participle
- Form, verb body: present middle-passive
- Form, noun ending: nominative plural masculine
- Tip: adv -- middle: ...g | passive: being ...d
- Translation: making
- Agrees with: Παῦ¦λος, Σι¦λου¦α¦νὸς, Τι¦μό¦θε¦ος doer | recipient (if passive in meaning)
- Functions as: adverb
- Describes: Εὐ¦χα¦ρι¦στοῦ¦μεν
- Describing: which one, what kind, how many | when, where, how, why
A participle, just like any part of speech with a verb (red) body, may have a direct object; usually such a direct object is in the accusative case. For example:
μνεί¦αν
- Translation: mention
- What it is: adjective
- Form: accusative singular feminine
- Agrees with: --
- Functions as: direct object of ποι¦ού¦με¦νοι
- Describes: ποι¦ού¦με¦νοι
- Describing: upon what the action is done | to whom the action is done
μνεί¦αν
making mention in our prayers
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1 Thes 1:3
μνη¦μο¦νεύ¦ον¦τες
- What it is: participle
- Form, verb body: present active
- Form, noun ending: nominative plural m-f (by context, masculine)
- Tip: adv: ...g | adj: a ...g one
- Translation: remembering
- Agrees with: Παῦ¦λος, Σι¦λου¦α¦νὸς, Τι¦μό¦θε¦ος doer | recipient (if passive in meaning)
- Functions as: adverb
- Describes: Εὐ¦χα¦ρι¦στοῦ¦μεν or ποι¦ού¦με¦νοι
- Describing: which one, what kind, how many | when, where, how, why
μνη¦μο¦νεύ¦ον¦τες
remembering your of work...and of labor...and of patience...?
"Remembering your of work and of labor and of patience" does not quite make sense, does it? It almost looks as if this verb form, in this context, prefers a genitive direct object, rather than the more common accusative direct object. That is the situation here.
Often, one can confirm such a thing by checking a lexicon. Here is an excerpt of what's in the long definition, from Bible GT:
μνημονεύω... 1. to be mindful of, to remember, to call to mind: absol. Mk. viii. 18; τινός, Lk. xvii. 32; Jn. xv. 20; xvi. 4, 21; Acts xx. 35; 1 Th. i. 3; [Heb. xiii. 7]; contextually i. q. to think of and feel for a person or thing: w. gen. of the thing...
And so...
μνη¦μο¦νεύ¦ον¦τες
remembering your work...and labor...and patience...
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1 Thes 1:4
εἰ¦δό¦τες
- What it is: participle
- Form, verb body: perfect active
- Form, noun ending: nominative plural m-f (by context, masculine)
- Tip: adv: having ...d | adj: a having-...d one
- Translation: having known; knowing [perfect is completed action in the past, with effects in the present]
- Agrees with: Παῦ¦λος, Σι¦λου¦α¦νὸς, Τι¦μό¦θε¦ος doer | recipient (if passive in meaning)
- Functions as: adverb
- Describes: Εὐ¦χα¦ρι¦στοῦ¦μεν or ποι¦ού¦με¦νοι or μνη¦μο¦νεύ¦ον¦τες
- Describing: which one, what kind, how many | when, where, how, why
ἠ¦γα¦πη¦μέ¦νοι
- What it is: participle
- Form, verb body: perfect middle-passive
- Form, noun ending: nominative plural masculine
- Translation: having been loved ones; beloved; loved
- Tip: adj -- middle: a having-...d one | passive: a having-been-...d one
- Agrees with: ἀ¦δελ¦φοὶ doers | recipients (passive in meaning)
- Functions as: adjective
- Describes: ἀ¦δελ¦φοὶ brethren
- Describing: which one, what kind, how many | when, where, how, why
εἰ¦δό¦τες,
knowing, brethren--the having been loved by God ones--the choice of you
knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you
We give thanks to God always for you all:
- Making mention of you in our prayers
- Remembering constantly your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the presence of our God and Father
- Knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you.
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1 Thes 1:6
δε¦ξά¦με¦νοι
- What it is: participle
- Form, verb body: aorist middle | deponent (active in meaning)
- From, noun ending: nominative plural masculine
- Tip: adv: after ...g | adj: an after ...g one / whoever after ...
- Translation: after receiving
- Agrees with: ἀ¦δελ¦φοὶ doer | recipient (if passive in meaning)
- Functions as: adverb
- Describes: ἐ¦γε¦νή¦θη¦τε you became
- Describing: which one, what kind, how many | when, where, how, why
...δε¦ξά¦με¦νοι
after receiving the Word
A participle's sense of time, it's tense (expressed in its verb body), is relative to the main verb in the sentence. Here:
...δε¦ξά¦με¦νοι
after receiving the Word
...occurred in the past, some time before the main verb, which also occurred in the past:
...ὑ¦μεῖς
you became imitators of us.
Hence, first they received the Word. After that, they became imitators.
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1 Thes 1:7
πι¦στεύ¦ου¦σιν
- What it is: participle
- Form, verb body: present active
- Form, noun ending: dative plural m-f-n (by context: masc)
- Tip: adv: ...g | adj: a ...g one
- Translation: to the believing ones
- Agrees with: πᾶ¦σιν doer | recipient (if passive in meaning)
- Functions as: adjective
- Describes: πᾶ¦σιν all
- Describing: which one, what kind, how many | when, where, how, why
...γε¦νέσ¦θαι
you became an example to all the believing ones
you became an example to all the believers
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1 Thes 1:9
ζῶν¦τι
- What it is: participle
- Form, verb body: present active
- Form, noun ending: dative singular m-f-n (by context, masculine)
- Tip: adv: ...g | adj: a ...g one
- Translation: living
- Agrees with: θε¦ῷ doer | recipient (if passive in meaning)
- Functions as: adjective
- Describes: θε¦ῷ God
- Describing which one, what kind, how many | when, where, how, why
...θε¦ῷ ζῶν¦τι
God, the living one and true one
the living and true God
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another example of relative time
Here, the participles are present tense, indicating that the action occurs contemporaneous with (at the same time as) the main verb.
Phil 3:13-14
... ἐ¦πι¦λαν¦θα¦νό¦με¦νος ... ἐ¦πεκ¦τει¦νό¦με¦νος ... δι¦ώ¦κω ...
ἐ¦πι¦λαν¦θα¦νό¦με¦νος
- What it is: participle
- Form, verb body: present middle-passive deponent
(middle-passive in form; active in meaning)
- Form, noun ending: nominative singular masculine
- Tip: adv: ...g | adj: a ...g one
- Translation: forgetting
- Agrees with: I, expressed within δι¦ώ¦κω doer | recipient (if passive in meaning)
- Functions as: adverb
- Describes: δι¦ώ¦κω I press
- Describing which one, what kind, how many | when, where, how, why
ἐ¦πεκ¦τει¦νό¦με¦νος
- What it is: participle
- Form, verb body: present middle-passive
- Form, noun ending: nominative singular masculine
- Tip: adv: ...g | adj: a ...g one
- Translation: reaching
- Agrees with: I, expressed within δι¦ώ¦κω doer | recipient (if passive in meaning)
- Functions as: adverb
- Describes: δι¦ώ¦κω I press
- Describing which one, what kind, how many | when, where, how, why
δι¦ώ¦κω
- What it is: verb
- Form: 1st person singular present active indicative
- Tip: I ...
- Translation: I press
... ἐ¦πι¦λαν¦θα¦νό¦με¦νος ... ἐ¦πεκ¦τει¦νό¦με¦νος ... δι¦ώ¦κω ...
... forgetting ... reaching ... I press on ...
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occasionally, the ending comes built in
Sometimes a participle will have an internal code, so specific that it also reveals gender, number, and case--so that a blue noun ending is not needed.
In such a situation, Bible GT displays the last letter in blue, so a reader can readily recognize that it's still a participle: red verb body + blue noun ending.
Rom 8:33
...θε¦ὸς ὁ δι¦και¦ῶν·
δι¦και¦ῶν is a participle. It's verb code (also known as a tense formative) is ῶν and need no noun ending, as the verb fully indicates the form: present active participle and nominative singular masculine.
δι¦και¦ῶν
- What it is: participle
- Form, verb body: present active
- Form, noun ending: nominative singular masculine
- Tip: adv: ...g | adj: a ...g one
- Translation: Just One
- Agrees with: θε¦ός, doer | recipient (if passive in meaning)
- Functions as: adjective
- Describes: θε¦ῷ God
- Describing which one, what kind, how many | when, where, how, why
θε¦ὸς ὁ δι¦και¦ῶν
God, the Just One
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an example, with a color-coding nuance
1 Cor 12:6
...θε¦ός,
ἐ¦νερ¦γῶν is a participle. It's verb code is ῶν and needs no noun ending, as the verb fully indicates the form: present active participle and nominative singular masculine.
So the participle is red (verb body) and blue (noun ending, represented by a blue final letter for those exceptions in which an explicit noun ending is not needed).
ἐ¦νερ¦γῶν
- What it is: participle
- Form, verb body: present active
- Form, noun ending: nominative singular masculine
- Tip: adv: ...g | adj: a ...g one
- Translation: energizing one
- Agrees with: θε¦ός, doer | recipient (if passive in meaning)
- Functions as: adjective
- Describes: θε¦ῷ God
- Describing which one, what kind, how many | when, where, how, why
θε¦ός,
God, the "energizing all in all" one
God, who energizes all in all
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exercise
Translate 1 Thes 1:2, using the advanced section at Bible GT.
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Little Notes
About teaching "all parts of speech with noun endings" first
This sequence of these grammar lessons breaks from tradition: presenting participles before verbs.
Here is the sequence of the first four lessons:
- Grammar 1: Noun, Pronoun -- featuring a unified approach to learning the noun endings
- Grammar 2: Article, Adjective, Adverb -- since articles and adjectives use noun endings
- Grammar 3: Participles -- since participles also use noun endings (and easy to identify, for: verbs are red; nouns are blue; participles are red with blue endings)
- Grammar 4: Verb -- having seen the red bodies of participles, we move to verbs and verb endings.
The teaching sequence and color coding makes learning participles fun and effective (no longer the classic stumbling block for second-semester students). And students get excited about the expressiveness of participles--and the meaning that participles convey.
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Considering 1 Thes 1:2-4 and what modifies what
The norm is for an adverb to modify a verb. In this passage, μνη¦μο¦νεύ¦ον¦τες (remembering) modifies the verb Εὐ¦χα¦ρι¦στοῦ¦μεν (give thanks), expressing how they gave thanks:
We give thanks (here are 3 ways we give thanks): making mention; remembering, knowing...An adverb usually modifies a verb. It may also modify an adjective or another adverb.
So could it be that μνη¦μο¦νεύ¦ον¦τες (remembering) modifies the participle acting as an adverb, ποι¦ού¦με¦νοι (making), expressing how they made mention? We give thanks, making mention of you in our prayers (here are 2 ways we mention you in our prayers): remembering, knowing...
This second approach would limit the remembering and knowing to the context of prayer, rather than both inside and outside of prayer. That understanding might be more restrictive than what the Scriptures are saying. So the first approach seems the preferred one:We give thanks (here are 3 ways): making mention; remembering, knowing...
Even if one does not reach a conclusion regarding what describes what, even so, the fundamental message comes across: as leaders in the church, Paul, Silas, and Timothy were giving thanks, making mention, remembering, and knowing the election of the saints to whom they ministered.
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