GREEK VERBS
QUICK REFERENCE

TENSE

ACTION

EXAMPLE & EXPLANATION

PRESENT
TENSE

CONTINUOUS ACTION
HABITUAL ACTION
OFTEN REFLECTS A LIFESTYLE

From Peter's use of  PRESENT TENSE one can see that in context (see also discussion of "context") he is referring to born again ones, describing them as those who are "continually being protected by the power (dunamis) of God". God's protection of His children isn't fickle, present one day & absent the next. You can see how even the most basic understanding of verb tense can add so much to the meaning.

Knowledge of the tense of a verb can sometimes be critical for accurate interpretation.

For example note 1Jo 3:9: "No one who is born of God practices (present tense) sin (noun), because His seed abides in him and he cannot SIN (verb), because he is born of God." 

Look at the verb "SIN". At first glance the verse seems to imply that one who is "born of God" can never commit a sin and yet all genuine believers know that this is not a reality (cf 1Jo 1:8). When you understand that the verb SIN is in the present tense, it becomes clear that John is saying that one who is born of God cannot habitually commit sins as a way of life. The verb "practices" is also present tense and thus conveys the same thought. All believers commit sins but not habitually or as their lifestyle. Application: if one's lifestyle is that of continual sinning in the face of no desire for holiness, these individuals need to examine whether they are genuinely new creatures in Christ (2Cor 5:17) born from above (2Co 13:5). And so one can see that in 1Jo 3:9 (as in most of 1John 3) the accurate interpretation of this passage is certainly aided by a proper understanding of verb tense.

Depending on the context, the following adverbs may be useful to "amplify" the meaning of a verb in the present tense:

"Continuously, constantly, habitually".

Present Tense with the indicative mood represents contemporaneous action, as opposed to action in the past or future. In moods other than in the indicative mood, it refers only to continuous or repeated action.

AORIST
TENSE

SUCCESSFUL ACTION

SINGLE ACTION

ONE-TIME ACTION

States that an action occurs without regard to its duration. It is analogous to a snapshot which captures an action at specific point in time.

In indicative mood, aorist can indicate punctiliar action (happens at a specific point in time) in past

The AORIST TENSE conveys the truth that the believer's new birth (indicative mood is mood of reality) has occurred at a point in the past without specifying when this event occurred. The passive voice indicates this new birth was produced by a Source outside of the recipient and in context that Source is "the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ".

Depending on the context the following adverbs may be useful to "amplify" the meaning of the action portrayed by the aorist tense:

"Effectively, successfully, completely, even once, actually, really".

AORIST TENSE is somewhat difficult to grasp, so don't be frustrated if you don't receive any glowing practical insights initially. If you continue to  perform Word Studies (including verb tense, voice & mood) as an integral part of your Bible study, you will begin to appreciate the meaning of the aorist tense & you will begin to receive insights from this understanding.

PERFECT
TENSE

●▬▬▬▬▬►

In this verse Peter uses the Perfect Tense to convey the truth of the "living hope" (not "hope so" but a certain expectation of future good. Click more on "hope") that believers have an inheritance that has been reserved for us at a point of time in the past (when we were born again) and remains in a state of being "reserved". What a great picture. When taking a long road trip we have all had the misfortune of arriving at our motel late at night, only to discover that our reservation has been given away! Peter says that this "mistake" will not happen to believers when we reach our final destination in heaven, for our future home (and inheritance) have been reserved for us in the past and that reservation is valid for all eternity because the "reservation price" has been "paid in full" when Jesus' cried out "It is finished" (Jo 19:30).

Finished is also in the perfect tense and refers to Messiah's work of procuring for lost sinners a salvation from sin through the blood of His Cross.

The entire sense of Jesus' poignant cry is “It was finished and as a result it is forever done!” “It stands finished!”. The priests in the tabernacle always stood when ministering the sacrifices. But Jesus Christ our great High Priest is seated because His work is forever finished. He need never arise and offer another sacrifice  because full payment for our sins has been paid in the past with His sacrificial blood and the effect of that payment will endure throughout eternity! This is indeed good news, beloved of the Lord!

In short, the perfect tense is very expressive for it speaks of an action that took place in the past, which was completed in past time, and existence of its finished results. For instance one might say “I have closed the door" which speaks of a past completed action. But the implication is that as a result the door is still closed. Thus, the entire meaning is, “I have closed the door and it is closed at present.” You can see how a simple understanding of the perfect tense can often amplify the meaning which may not be readily apparent in the English translation, because the perfect tense has no exact equivalent in English.

In Matthew 4:4, our Lord answers Satan, “It is written” and "written" is in the perfect tense. Here Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy which had been written by Moses 1500 years before, but is still on record. David said, “Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” A good translation would be “It stands written.” It is the eternal word of God and you can stake your life on it forever!

In Ephesians 2:8 we read, “For by the grace you saved” where "saved" is perfect tense. The picture therefore for every Christian is that each one was given a perfect salvation in past time when he or she believed, and as a result of that past completed work of Jesus Christ on the Cross and our past acceptance of the same, we at present are saved persons and will continue in that state eternally. A believer's present possession of salvation therefore is based upon one thing only -- what Jesus did on the Cross for us and our past acceptance of that work which means that the works of an individual, past or present, good or bad, do not enter into our acceptance or retention of salvation. Salvation is the alone work of Christ. The believer is the recipient which means that the believer is saved and saved forever, for the present results of the perfect tense are always present with the reader.

IMPERFECT
TENSE

REPEATED or CONTINUAL ACTION IN THE PAST
 

The IMPERFECT tense can often paint a vivid picture of an action (a veritable "motion picture") which is repeated in the past -- the idea is that  the action happens over & over & over -- in Acts 16:7 Luke uses the IMPERFECT tense to portray Paul attempting to enter Bithynia, being hindered in some way by the Holy Spirit & yet trying again & again to enter! This dramatic picture gives us an intriguing insight into the heart of Paul that cannot be gleaned without a basic understanding of the imperfect tense. Doesn't the added insight help make this verse literally "come alive"? This is often the effect of the IMPERFECT tense. Look at some other examples:.

Mk 4:37 And there *arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over (imperfect tense) the boat so much that the boat was already filling up".

Can't you picture yourself in the boat with the waves pounding again & again (imperfect tense conveys this picture) against the side and even beginning to fill the boat with water.

These examples should help you see the wonderful added insights that are possible with just a simple understanding of the verb tenses.

If you are intrigued, take some time & practice applying your new  understanding to a few other NT verses that use the IMPERFECT tense & see if you do not glean some added insights which simply make some of these texts "come alive" as you envision the action suggested by the imperfect tense in each of the following verses  (this exercise will be most beneficial if you read verses in context-click for context):
 

 Mt 2:4 "he began to inquire" (imperfect);
 Mt 26:59 "kept trying to obtain (imperfect) false testimony"
 Mt 27:23 "they kept shouting (imperfect) all the more"

 Mk 7:26 Now the woman was a Gentile, of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking (imperfect) Him to cast the demon out of her daughter." (what a vivid scene!).

 Acts 21:30 "they dragged (imperfect) him out of the temple"
 

 
If you have meditated on (Click Primer on Meditation) the pictures portrayed by the over & over (imperfect tense) actions in each of the preceding verses you are beginning to see the incredible value of a simple understanding of this tense. You were probably familiar with each of the scenes depicted, but heretofore you had viewed them only as "black & white stills", whereas now illumined by your understanding of the imperfect tense, you have seen them as  vividly "colorized motion pictures".

DOWNLOAD InstaVerse the nifty simple Bible Verse pop up tool will make it easy to read every cross reference in this study quickly, in context and in the Version you prefer (Note: Only KJV is free)

PRESENT
IMPERATIVE

These actions are not "suggestions" but are commands to make each one the habit of our life. But remember that whatever God commands of us, He always provides the grace & empowerment to us in Christ Jesus & His Spirit that we might be enabled to carry out the command.

PRESENT
IMPERATIVE
w/ NEGATIVE

The implication is that they were being surprised by the fiery ordeals (but aren't we all frequently caught off guard by God's "pop tests"?) so Peter says stop doing this!'.

AORIST
IMPERATIVE

ACTIVE VOICE

PASSIVE VOICE

Peter's point then is that it is not believers who make themselves holy (eg, by keeping a list of do's and don't's) but it is God Who makes us progressively more and more holy as we surrender our will to His sweet will. (See related topic: LORD Who Sanctifies)

MIDDLE VOICE

INDICATIVE MOOD

IMPERATIVE MOOD

SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD

OPTATIVE MOOD

Greek Word Studies: links to in depth word studies on site (new words added weekly)

The Greeks Had a Word for It: excellent summary chapter from the book Basics of Biblical Interpretation by Bob Smith

Greek Grammar: compilation based primarily on Mounce. There are other areas of this website that express opinions I do not agree with but the Greek seems to be objective and accurate. As always be a Berean on my site or any other internet site (Acts17:11)

Learning NT Greek - click index on left side of page to open specific subject. Nice feature is you can read a simple explanation and if you desire more detail you can read an intermediate/advanced explanation, including Subjunctive Mood.

The easiest way to do this on the internet is to search a site that links the Scripture to STRONG'S classification of  (TVM). Although there are several sites on the WWW that can facilitate study of (TVM), the "Interlinear Study Bible" from  studylight.org is  one of the most efficient search engines determine all the TVM's  in a single chapter (if you find one faster & easier please email me). Let's walk through an example of how to determine the (TVM) for the verb "reserved" in 1 Peter 1:4.

1) For "Translation" select the "KJV Strong's Version" because the NASB notes do not have the Strong's #'s with the English, but only with the Greek verbs.

2) Enter "1 Peter 1" below & "perform search", which will retrieve the entire chapter in KJV and in the transliterated Greek.

3) Scroll to verse 4 & note "reserved (5772)". The underlined word reserved  links to the definition and Strong's # (5772) links to the (TVM). which in this case is "Perfect Passive Participle" with a brief description of each element.

HINT: Remember that if you are studying several passages in a chapter, to save time, retrieve the entire chapter by entering BOOK + CHAPTER #, WITHOUT a verse number. Then you can quickly determine the (TVM) on all the verbs.

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Translation

KJV Strong's Version NAS Strong's Version

Old Testament Source
Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (BHS)
Septuagint (LXX)

New Testament Source
Nestlé-Aland 26 Greek Text
1894 Textus Receptus
1991 Byzantine Greek Text