a. INDICATIVE
The INDICATIVE MOOD is used when an event is seen as actually occurring in a temporal (time) setting (past, present, or future), it is put in the Indicative Mood.
1. Time is not being contemplated by the Greek verb unless the verb is in the indicative mood.2. In all other moods the temporal element is drawn from the context. A verb may be a present subjunctive, but that does not mean it is in present time.
3. Greeks did understand time, but it was not as important to them as the different kinds of action. The three types of action in Greek are:
a. Processes4. The tense of the verb that is in the indicative determines which setting the word is placed in by the author. Always remember that time is from the perspective of the author and not the reader. Things that were in the future to Matthew may be in out past.
b. Events
c. ResultsThe following tenses are used for the accompanying temporal setting.
Present: Either present time or something that is in the near future. For example the words "I am going to the store" either would mean I am doing it right now or I am about to do something.Future: It hasn't happened yet but the writer believes it will.
Imperfect, Aorist, Pluperfect: These are events that are placed in the past.
Perfect: The event took place in the past but the results of it are in the present. "We have been saved" would mean that the salvation event took place in the past but the results of being in the state of salvation are in the present.
Examples:
1. Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.a. The two words in red are Indicative verbs in Greek.
b. The first is the Greek word evpi,steusan which is translated believed. The believing is an actual event in space and time according to the writer as is the second Greek word evbapti,zonto which is translated baptized.
c. Now go to your Online Bible program and reproduce the results for yourself.
(1) Find the verse. Make sure you turn your Strong's numbers on.
(2) Click on the numbers in the parenthesis (inflectional form of verbs). I have even underlined them in green in the following graphic.
(3) The verb believed is (5656) and when you click on the number you get the identification of its inflected form.
(4) The second box should tell you that the tense is aorist, the voice is active, and the mood is indicative. If it does not, then you have done something wrong. When done exit the last box that appeared.
2. The second verb is baptized and when you click on the number (5712) using the same process as in example #1 you should have the following information in the second window.
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