The infinitive is one of the non-finite verb forms in New Testament Greek, meaning it does not convey person or number and cannot serve as the main verb of a clause. Instead, infinitives function as verbal nouns. They carry verbal characteristics like tense and voice, yet they function syntactically like nouns—serving as subjects, objects, or complements in a sentence. Understanding the infinitive is vital for accurate exegesis, especially in Pauline and Johannine writings, where they often encapsulate purpose, result, or abstract verbal actions.
1. Form of the Infinitive
Infinitives are formed by adding specific endings to the verb stem. The form varies by tense and voice:
| Tense | Voice | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | Active | λύειν | to be loosing |
| Aorist | Active | λῦσαι | to loose |
| Perfect | Active | λελυκέναι | to have loosed |
| Present | Middle | λύεσθαι | to be loosing (oneself) |
| Aorist | Middle | λύσασθαι | to loose (oneself) |
| Perfect | Middle/Passive | λελύσθαι | to have been loosed |
| Aorist | Passive | λυθῆναι | to be loosed |
Note: The “tense” of the infinitive in Greek refers more to aspect than to time. The present infinitive reflects an ongoing action (imperfective aspect), while the aorist reflects a completed or undefined action (perfective aspect).
2. Syntactical Functions of the Infinitive
2.1 Subject of a Verb
The infinitive may act as the subject of a finite verb.
τὸ ζῆν Χριστός – “To live is Christ.” (Philippians 1:21)
2.2 Direct Object of a Verb
It can function as the object, especially with verbs of wishing, commanding, or knowing.
βούλομαι γνῶναι αὐτόν – “I want to know Him.” (Philippians 3:10)
2.3 Complementary Infinitive
Some verbs require an infinitive to complete their meaning.
ἤρξατο διδάσκειν – “He began to teach.” (Mark 4:1)
2.4 Purpose or Result
Often introduced with particles like εἰς τό, ὥστε, or τοῦ, the infinitive can indicate purpose or intended result.
ἐξῆλθεν εἰς τὸ σπείρειν – “He went out to sow.” (Mark 4:3)
2.5 Indirect Discourse
After verbs of saying, thinking, or perceiving, the infinitive can introduce reported speech or thought.
λέγουσιν αὐτὸν εἶναι Ἠλίαν – “They say that he is Elijah.” (Mark 8:28)
2.6 Explanatory or Epexegetical
It may clarify or explain a preceding noun or pronoun.
ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τέκνα θεοῦ γενέσθαι – “He gave them the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)
3. Common Particles and Prepositions with Infinitives
| Construction | Function | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| τοῦ + infinitive | Purpose, result | in order to |
| εἰς τό + infinitive | Purpose | with the result that |
| πρὸ τοῦ + infinitive | Temporal | before |
| ἐν τῷ + infinitive | Temporal | while, when |
| μετὰ τό + infinitive | Temporal | after |
| ὥστε + infinitive | Result | so that, with the result that |
4. Theological Significance of the Infinitive
While grammatical, infinitives carry theological weight in many passages. Consider:
- John 17:3 – “To know you, the only true God…” – The infinitive γινώσκειν defines eternal life not as a location but as a relational action.
- Ephesians 1:11–12 – εἰς τὸ εἶναι ἡμᾶς εἰς ἔπαινον δόξης αὐτοῦ – “In order that we might be for the praise of His glory.” This is a classic example of a purpose infinitive (εἶναι) introduced by εἰς τό.
- Philippians 1:21 – τὸ ζῆν Χριστός – “To live is Christ.” Here, the infinitive ζῆν functions as the subject and expresses identity with Christ as a theological mode of existence.
5. The Verb That Is Not a Verb
Infinitives are paradoxical: they are verbs that don’t conjugate and nouns that still express action. Their flexibility allows for elegant expression, theological depth, and syntactical nuance. Whether anchoring purpose statements, unfolding mental processes, or defining abstract truths, the infinitive pulses beneath the surface of many profound New Testament statements. Understanding how and why the infinitive is used deepens not only one’s grammatical fluency but one’s exegetical insight.
