The problem of Greek conditional clauses

1. A Greek conditional clause is the statement of a supposition the fulfilment of which is assumed to secure realisation. We have the statement of a supposition in the first clause and then realisation of the potential fact expressed in the second clause. The first clause expresses the potential, the second clause expresses the realisation which comes from that potential. The first clause is introduced by the word “if” in the English. The second clause then follows fulfilling the realisation of that potential.

2. The clause containing the supposition is called protasis.

3. The clause containing the statement based on the supposition, or the conclusion, is called apodosis.

4. All conditional clauses in the Greek are classified on the basis of the attitude they express with reference to the reality. The protasis is always a supposition; the apodosis is always the reality.

5. For example, there are four categories. A first class condition is a supposition from the viewpoint of reality. It is introduced by the word “if” which in the Greek of a first class condition is e)i. This means if and it is assumed to be true. Satan said to Jesus in the great temptation, “If thou be the Son of God [and you are].” this is a first class condition. Then he also said, “If you will fall down and worship me [and you won’t].” That was a second class condition. A second class condition has a supposition from the viewpoint of unreality — if and it is not true. So it is introduced by the conditional conjunction e)i again, but it also has the optative instead of the indicative mood in the protasis. Then the apodosis always begins with the conjunctive particle a)n, untranslatable but used to identify. Then we have a third class condition which is called the more probable future condition. The protasis is introduced by e)an plus the subjunctive mood of the verb. It should be translated, “If”, maybe yes, maybe no. “If we confess our sins” — maybe we will and maybe we won’t, it is a matter of volition. The third class condition generally has to do with the future, ordinarily the immediate future. Then there is a fourth class condition in the Greek called the less probable future condition expressed by e)i in the protasis plus the optative mood. It the apodosis it begins with that untranslatable particle a)n. So this simply gives us illustrations of all four conditional clauses. We have in 1 Peter chapter 3 two fourth class conditions. Peter says to the adherents to his doctrine, “If you suffer for righteousness sake [I wish you were but you’re not].”

6. Verse 13 of Hebrews chapter 9 has the protasis of a first class condition. It is assumed to be true. While this verses introduces the second verse, verse 14 introduces the apodosis.

So we have one of those very difficult conditional clauses covering verses 13 and 14. And we have an introduction to it in verse 13 — the shadow cleansing. The real cleansing — verse 14.

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Greek Conditional Clauses

(1,2,3,4th class conditions)

A. Conditional sentences are sentences which contain a subordinate clause which states a supposition and a principle clause which states the result of the fulfillment of this supposition.

1) The subordinate (if) clause is called the protasis.

2) The principle (conclusion) clause is called the apodasis.

3) Example: If you study hard (if clause), you will get a good grade (conclusion clause).

B. Either clause may come first in the sentence.

1) 1st class condition (if and it’s true): Assumed to be true.

2) 2nd class condition (if it’s true, but it’s not): Assumed to be false.

3) 3rd class condition: May be true or false, a probability. (May confess sins Biblically, may not, but if the believer does -- he will be cleansed and forgiven ) 1 John 1:9.

4) 4th class condition: Remotely possible. (If it is true, but it porbably is not)

C. The form of the condition has only to do with the way the writer or speaker views the statement. What is stated as truth may actually be untrue. Peter said in Mark 14:31 that he would die before he would deny Christ ... he regarded it as true, but it wasn’t