Conditional Clauses
Every conditional clause is composed of two parts:
1. Protasis: the subordinate clause that establishes the condition (the “if...” clause).
2. Apodosis: the main clause that expresses the consequence or result of the condition.
The Three Main Types of Conditionals in the New Testament
| Condition Type | Protasis (“If” Condition) | Apodosis (Result) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Class: Reality (Assumed as real for the sake of argument) | εἰ + verb in the Indicative mood (Negation: οὐ) | Verb in any tense and mood (without ἄν) |
| 2nd Class: Contrary to Fact (Unreal in present or past) | εἰ + Imperfect (pres.) or Aorist (past) Indicative (Negation: μή) | ἄν + verb in the Imperfect (pres.) or Aorist (past) Indicative |
| 3rd Class: Possibility (Probable/eventual future condition) | ἐάν + verb in the Subjunctive mood (Negation: μή) | Verb in any tense and mood |
Classic Examples of Each Class
• 1st Class (Reality): εἰ γὰρ πιστεύομεν ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἀπέθανεν καὶ ἀνέστη, οὕτως καὶ ὁ θεὸς τοὺς κοιμηθέντας διὰ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἄξει σὺν αὐτῷ. (1 Thess 4.14) → “For if we believe [and indeed we do] that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.”
• 2nd Class (Contrary to fact / Unreal): εἰ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου ἦτε, ὁ κόσμος ἂν τὸ ἴδιον ἐφίλει· (John 15.19) → “If you were of the world [but you are not], the world would love its own.”
• 3rd Class (Future possibility): ἐὰν οὖν ᾖ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ἁπλοῦς, ὅλον τὸ σῶμά σου φωτεινὸν ἔσται· (Matt 6.22) → “If, then, your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.”
The 1st-class conditional (“reality”) assumes something to be true for the purpose of argument or from the speaker's perspective, and does not automatically mean the premise is true in absolute reality. See Matthew 12.27-28:
• In v. 27, Jesus uses the 1st class to show the absurdity of the Pharisaic accusation: εἰ ἐγὼ ἐν Βεελζεβοὺλ ἐκβάλλω τὰ δαιμόνια... (“If I cast out demons by Beelzebul [as you claim]...”).
• In v. 28, Jesus uses the same 1st class to state the true fact: εἰ δὲ ἐν πνεύματι θεοῦ ἐγὼ ἐκβάλλω τὰ δαιμόνια, ἄρα ἔφθασεν ἐφ᾽ ὑμᾶς ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ. (“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.”)
Vocabulary
Vocabulário do Capítulo
- ἅπτομαι: I touch, I take hold of
- εὐλογέω: I bless, I praise
- θαυμάζω: I wonder, I marvel
- λογίζομαι: I consider, I reckon, I calculate
- σπείρω: I sow
- φανερόω: I manifest, I reveal
- φωνέω: I call; I cry out
- ἔτος (ἔτους), τό: year
- ναός (ναοῦ), ὁ: temple, sanctuary
- τέλος (τέλους), τό: end
- τιμή (τιμῆς), ἡ: honor, value, price
- χρεία (χρείας), ἡ: need, necessity; lack
- ἔρημος, ἔρημον: desert, desolate; solitary
- μικρός, μικρά, μικρόν: small, little; a little
- τοιοῦτος, τοιαύτη, τοιοῦτον: such, of such a kind
Εἰ οὖν συνηγέρθητε τῷ Χριστῷ, τὰ ἄνω ζητεῖτε
(If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above — Colossians 3.1)