John 13:1
Πρὸ δὲ τῆς ἑορτῆς τοῦ πάσχα εἰδὼς ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὅτι ἐλήλυθεν αὐτοῦ ἡ ὥρα ἵνα μεταβῇ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου πρὸς τὸν πατέρα, ἀγαπήσας τοὺς ἰδίους τοὺς ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, εἰς τέλος ἠγάπησεν αὐτούς.
Focus Topic: Circumstantial Participle, Content Clause, and Purpose Clause
This verse serves as a theological preamble to the passion narrative in John. The syntax weaves together a temporal phrase, a perfect participle, a content clause, and a climactic indicative verb expressing the fullness of Jesus’ love. The grammar is richly layered and intentionally reflective.
Temporal Phrase: Πρὸ δὲ τῆς ἑορτῆς τοῦ πάσχα
This prepositional phrase introduces the setting: “Before the Feast of the Pesaḥ (Passover).” The genitive construction τῆς ἑορτῆς τοῦ πάσχα shows possession or identification — the feast that is the Passover.
Circumstantial Participle: εἰδώς
εἰδώς is a perfect active participle, nominative masculine singular, from οἶδα (“to know”). It modifies ὁ Ἰησοῦς, expressing a circumstance concurrent with the following actions — “knowing that…” This participle introduces a content clause marked by ὅτι.
Content Clause: ὅτι ἐλήλυθεν αὐτοῦ ἡ ὥρα
This clause gives the content of Jesus’ knowledge:
- ὅτι — “that” (introduces content clause)
- ἐλήλυθεν — perfect active indicative, 3rd singular from ἔρχομαι: “had come” or “has come”
- αὐτοῦ ἡ ὥρα — “his hour” (possessive genitive)
The perfect tense of ἐλήλυθεν expresses a completed arrival with ongoing consequence — the climactic moment is now at hand.
Purpose Clause: ἵνα μεταβῇ…
ἵνα introduces a purpose clause — “in order that he might depart…”
- μεταβῇ — aorist active subjunctive, 3rd singular, from μεταβαίνω (“to depart, pass over”)
- ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου πρὸς τὸν πατέρα — directional phrase: “from this world to the Father”
The purpose of Jesus’ “hour” is not death alone, but return to the Father — a theme central to Johannine theology.
Aorist Participle: ἀγαπήσας
ἀγαπήσας is an aorist active participle, nominative masculine singular, from ἀγαπάω (“to love”), modifying ὁ Ἰησοῦς. It sets up the final indicative verb ἠγάπησεν. The participial phrase includes:
- τοὺς ἰδίους — “his own” (accusative plural; a term of intimate belonging)
- τοὺς ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ — a restrictive appositive: “those who were in the world”
Main Verb of Climax: ἠγάπησεν… εἰς τέλος
ἠγάπησεν is aorist active indicative, 3rd singular, from ἀγαπάω — “he loved.” The prepositional phrase εἰς τέλος (“to the end” or “utterly”) intensifies the expression — either in degree (completely) or duration (to the end).
Key Observations
- εἰδώς (knowing) frames the entire scene theologically — Jesus acts with full awareness.
- ἵνα μεταβῇ reflects a heavenly return motif central to John.
- ἀγαπήσας… ἠγάπησεν forms an elegant participle + verb pairing: he who loved, now loved them to the full.
- εἰς τέλος may imply sacrificial completeness — possibly even a foreshadowing of the cross.
Theological Framing Through Syntax
This verse is more than narrative introduction — it is theological overture. The participial constructions, perfect tenses, and Johannine vocabulary serve to anchor Jesus’ upcoming actions in eternal knowledge, divine purpose, and limitless love. The grammar quietly declares: everything about what follows — footwashing, betrayal, and crucifixion — is grounded in deliberate, covenantal affection.
