Lesson 7 | Perfect Indicatives
[2] Perfect Active Indicatives
| λύω in the active indicative | |||||||||||
| 1st Aorist | Perfect | Present | |||||||||
| Singular | First | ἔλυσα | λέλυκα | λύω | |||||||
| Second | ἔλυσας | λέλυκας | λύεις | ||||||||
| Third | ἔλυσε(ν) | λέλυκε(ν) | λύει | ||||||||
| Plural | First | ἐλύσαμεν | λελύκαμεν | λύομεν | |||||||
| Second | ἐλύσατε | λελύκατε | λύετε | ||||||||
| Third | ἔλυσαν | λελύκασι(ν)/ν | λύουσι(ν) | ||||||||
Let’s start by pointing out the two most obvious features of perfect active indicatives: (1) reduplication and (2) the κα tense former.
When you see the verb stem’s first letter doubled, you know that the verb is a perfect tense-form. (Refer back to this lesson step in Greek II if you need to refresh on the rules of reduplication.) But how can you distinguish between a lengthened vowel caused by reduplication and the augment? With some words, it is hard to tell (e.g. ἔγνωκα). It such cases, it is the κα tense former that clarifies that this is, in fact, a perfect tense-form; the initial ε is actually reduplication (per rule #4).
The endings for perfect active indicatives are also a bit difficult. The κα tense former changes the normal primary active ending pattern similarly to how the first aorist’s σα tense former changes the secondary active verb ending pattern. Thus, what we end up with are altered primary active endings that look just like those of the first aorist active. The only exception is the third person, plural. So even though they technically use a different ending pattern set, you will do well to associate first aorist and perfect indicative endings in your mind.
Examples from the Greek NT
καὶ ἡμεῖς πεπιστεύκαμεν καὶ ἐγνώκαμεν ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ ἅγιος τοῦ θεοῦ. And we have believed, and we have known that you are the Holy One of God. —John 6:69
There are two perfect indicatives in this verse: πεπιστεύκαμεν and ἐγνώκαμεν. Let’s look at their four key features together:
πεπιστευ+κα+μεν
[Augment]
[Stem]
[Tense Former]
[Ending]
εγνω+κα+μεν
[Augment]
[Stem]
[Tense Former]
[Ending]
Although the initial ε in ἐγνώκαμεν looks like an augment, we see the κα tense former and know that this cannot be the case. With perfect tense-forms, stems that begin with two consonants often just add an ε rather than doubling the first stem letter. (Rule #4 of reduplication.)
Notice how the stative aspect of these two perfect indicatives emphasizes the ongoing states that resulted from the verbs’ actions. In John 6:66, we read that many of Jesus’s disciples “turned back and no longer followed him.” (NIV) Then, Jesus asked the Twelve: “You do not want to leave too, do you?” The verse we are looking at, John 6:69, comes from Peter’s answer to what Jesus asked. Into this context, the stative aspect of these two perfect indicatives emphasizes that the Twelve still believe: “we have believed and we have known…”
σὺ τετήρηκας τὸν καλὸν οἶνον ἕως ἄρτι. You have kept the good wine until now. —John 2:10
Let’s focus on the four key features of the main verb in this sentence: τετήρηκας:
τετηρε+κα+ς
[Augment]
[Stem]
[Tense Former]
[Ending]
Immediately, we should notice two key features: (1) the stem with a doubled first letter and (2) the κα tense former. Whenever you see these two key features together, you know there’s a perfect indicative. Then, from the ς ending, we can parse the rest of τετήρηκας: perfect, active, indicative, second person, singular τηρέω. (Note how the κα tense former lengthens the ε in τηρεω to η.)
Finally, let’s consider how to translate τετήρηκας. The verb’s aspect emphasizes the results of the action. The perfect indicative’s non-past time places these results in the present (from the speaker’s perspective).
Further, we can see from the context why John chose a perfect verb here. The quality of the wine Jesus created surprised the master of the banquet. So, he pulled the bridegroom aside and exclaimed: “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; σὺ τετήρηκας τὸν καλὸν οἶνον ἕως ἄρτι. (NIV/NA28) It’s not just the quality of the wine that amazed the master of the banquet. It’s the fact that the bridegroom saved the best wine until now (John 2:9 tells us the banquet master did not know Jesus created the wine). And so, with the perfect indicative τετήρηκας, the author focuses us not on the action of keeping the best wine but on the result of the action: having the best wine to serve and enjoy now.
μνημόνευε οὖν πόθεν πέπτωκας... Therefore, remember from where you have fallen... —Rev 2:5
There are two verbs in this sentence. μνημόνευε is an imperative that means: “Remember!” We will learn about imperatives in Greek IV. But our second verb, πέπτωκας, is a perfect indicative. Let’s take a look at its four key features:
πεπτω+κα+ς
[Augment]
[Stem]
[Tense Former]
[Ending]
Once again, the doubled stem letter and the κα tense former immediately indicate that we are looking at a perfect active indicative. From the ending, we can parse this verb as a perfect, active, indicative, second person, singular. The stem actually comes from the verb πίπτω, which forms as πτω with the added reduplication in the perfect tense-form. Thus, we can translate as: “You have fallen.”
Here we see how the stative aspect of the perfect indicative focuses us on the results of the action. The Lord focuses the Ephesians on the distance between their previous state and their current state that resulted from the action of falling.