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Conditional Clauses in Greek
- There are four (or five) classes of conditions in Greek (BBG 35.5-8, GGBB 687-701, Smyth §2280-2368)
- Conditions can be classified according to Form i.e. how the sentence is structured, or Function i.e. with reference to their meaning (Time, Fulfillment or not, Particular or General)
Conditions Classified by Form
| Type | Description | Protasis (“if”) | Apodosis (“then”) |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Class | Condition of Fact (assumed true) |
εἰ + indicative | any mood any tense |
| Second Class | Past Contrary to Fact | εἰ + indicative | indicative + ἄν same tense as protasis |
| Third Class | Future More Probable Present General |
ἐάν + subjunctive | any mood any tense |
| Fourth Class | Future Less Probable | εἰ + optative | optative + ἄν |
1st Class – Condition of Fact
- Protasis: εἰ + indicative, any tense, negated by οὐ;
- Apodosis: any mood, any tense
- Assumed true for the sake of argument, not that it is actually true. A supposition of reality
- This is important exegetically.
- Example: 1 Corinthians 15.13 - εἰ δὲ ἀνάστασις νεκρῶν οὐκ ἔστιν, οὐδὲ Χριστὸς ἐγήγερται·
2nd Class – Past Contrary to Fact
- Protasis: εἰ + indicative, any tense, negated by μή;
- Apodosis: indicative + ἄν, same tense as protasis
- Assumed untrue for the sake of argument, presumed to be contrary to fact
- Example: John 5.46 - εἰ γὰρ ἐπιστεύετε Μωϋσεῖ, ἐπιστεύετε ἂν ἐμοί·
3rd Class – Future More Probable
- Protasis: ἐάν + subjunctive, any tense, negated by μή;
- Apodosis: any mood, any tense
- Future More Probable
- Example: ταῦτά σοι πάντα δώσω, ἐὰν πεσὼν προσκυνήσῃς μοι. (Matthew 4.9)
- Present General (a.k.a Fifth Class Condition)
- Generic truth in present time
- Example: John 11.9 - ἐάν τις περιπατῇ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, οὐ προσκόπτει
4th Class – Future Less Probable
- Protasis: εἰ + optative, Present or Aorist
- Apodosis: optative + ἄν, Present or Aorist
- Example: 1 Peter 3.14 - ἀλλ᾿ εἰ καὶ πάσχοιτε διὰ δικαιοσύνην, μακάριοι.
