You will be able to—
1.   recognize the third declension nouns,
2.   recognize and understand the changes that take place when the endings are added to third declension nouns,
3.   reproduce the basic variations of the third declension nouns,
4.   gain more practice in translating and working with Greek,
5.   master ten more high-frequency vocabulary words, and
6.   memorize Mat. 6:10a in Greek.

Congratulations! After mastering this chapter, you will know all the basic noun forms in the New Testament.

Thus far we have learned second declension nouns, which have a stem ending in omicron, and first declension nouns, which have a stem ending in either alpha or eta. Third declension nouns have stems that end in a consonant. When the endings are added, the consonant will go through various predictable transformations.

Unlike the first and second declensions, which build their forms from the nominative, third declension nouns will be built from the genitive. Thus, in the third declension, you must be aware of the genitive form of the noun.

To find the stem of third declension nouns, take the ος off the genitive form.

The following consonants in the voiced and unvoiced columns are called “stops” because of the way the air flow stops when pronouncing them. The aspirates are fricatives. These letters will be transformed when the sigma ending of the third declension is added. (Mounce, Basics, 78)

	Unvoiced	Voiced	Aspirate
Labial	π	β	φ
Velar	κ	γ	χ
Dental	τ	δ	θ

 

The consonants (labials, velars, dentals) change in the following ways when the sigma ending is added. The two letters contract into one.  In the case of the dentals the dental is dropped.

Labials: π, β, or φ + σ = ψ

Velar: κ, γ, or χ + σ = ξ  (σάρκ + ς – σάρξ [κ+ς=ξ])

Dentals: τ, δ, or θ + σ = σ  (ἐλπίδ + ς – ἐλπίς [δ+ς=ς])

Nu drops out when followed by a sigma (Dat. Pl.).

We will learn four paradigms that are typical of third declension nouns. The adjective πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν (each, all) will be examined as a 3-1-3 adjective (third-first-third declension).

Take the ος ending off the genitive form to find the stem. In the nominative singular a sigma is added to the stem, causing the final consonant of the stem to change. Because this declension is so different and occurs so frequently, it is good to learn how to chant through the χάρις, ὄνομα, and πίστις charts.

Third Declension Endings

M/F	Singular	Plural	Neut.	Singular	Plural
Nom.	-ς	-ες		--	-α
Gen.	-ος	-ων		-ος	-ων
Dat.	-ι	-σι		-ι	-σι
Acc.	-α	-ας		--	-α

Kappa Final Stems

      σάρξ, σαρκός, ἡ (flesh)

	Singular	Plural
Nom.	σάρξ	σάρκες
Gen.	σαρκός	σαρκῶν
Dat.	σαρκί	σαρξί(ν)
Acc.	σάρκα	σάρκας

Tau/Delta Final Stems

       χάρις, χάριτος, ἡ (grace)

	Singular	Plural
Nom.	χάρις	χάριτες
Gen.	χάριτος	χαρίτων
Dat.	χάριτι	χάρισι(ν)
Acc.	χάριτα	χάριτας

Notice that the accusative singular is χάριτα while the interactive Mastering New Testament Greek program has χάριν. Both are valid forms, but it is more useful to learn the chart as it is here.

Iota Final Stems (consonantal iota)

       πίστις, πίστεως, ἡ (faith)

	Singular	Plural
Nom.	πίστις	πίστεις
Gen.	πίστεως	πίστεων
Dat.	πίστει	πίστεσι(ν)
Acc.	πίστιν	πίστεις

-ματ Final Stems

      ὄνομα, ὀνόματος, τό (name)

	Singular	Plural
Nom.	ὄνομα	ὀνόματα
Gen.	ὀνόματος	ὀνομάτων
Dat.	ὀνόματι	ὀνόμασι(ν)
Acc.	ὄνομα	ὀνόματα

Rho Final Stems

      πατήρ, πατρός, ὁ (father)

	Singular	Plural
Nom.	πατήρ	πατέρες
Gen.	πατρός	πατέρων
Dat.	πατρί	πατράσι(ν)
Acc.	πατέρα	πατέρας
Voc.	πάτερ	πατέρες

Note the dropping or lessening of the medial vowel η.

Diphthong -ευ Ending Stems

      ἱερεύς, -εώς, ὁ (priest)

	Singular	Plural
Nom.	ἱερεύς	ἱερεῖς
Gen.	ἱερέως	ἱερέων
Dat.	ἱερεῖ	ἱερεῦσι(ν)
Acc.	ἱερέα	ἱερεῖς

πᾶς (all)

	Singular			Plural
	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nom.	πᾶς	πᾶσα	πᾶν	πάντες	πᾶσαι	πάντα
Gen.	παντός	πάσης	παντός	πάντων	πασῶν	πάντων
Dat.	παντί	πάσῃ	παντί	πᾶσι(ν)	πάσαις	πᾶσι(ν)
Acc.	πάντα	πᾶσαν	πᾶν	πάντας	πάσας	πάντα

Nom. Sg.	χάρις	πίστις	ὄνομα
Gen.	χάριτος	πίστεως	ὀνόματος
Dat.	χάριτι	πίστει	ὀνόματι
Acc.	χάριτα	πίστιν	ὄνομα
Nom. Pl.	χάριτες	πίστεις	ὀνόματα
Gen.	χαρίτων	πίστεων	ὀνομάτων
Dat.	χάρισι(ν)	πίστεσι(ν)	ὀνόμασι(ν)
Acc.	χάριτας	πίστεις	ὀνόματα

χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίου  Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:7).

 

ὃς ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις τῆς σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ
who in the days of his flesh (Heb. 5:7)

 

ὅτι πᾶν τὸ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ , ἡ ἐπιθυμία τῆς σαρκὸς
for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh (1 Jn. 2:16)’

ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός, ὁ	man, husband (216)
βασιλεύς, -έως, ὁ	king (115)
δύναμις, -εως, ἡ	power, miracle (119)
ὄνομα, -ματος, τό	name, reputation (231)
πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν	all, each, every (1,244)
πατήρ, πατρός, ὁ	father (413)
πίστις, πίστεως, ἡ	faith, belief (243)
πνεῦμα, -ατος, τό	spirit, wind (379)
σάρξ, σαρκός, ἡ	flesh, body (147)
χάρις, -ιτος, ἡ	grace, kindness (155)

ἐλθέτω	ἡ	βασιλεία	σου·
Let come	the	kingdom	your
γενηθήτω	τὸ	θέλημά	σου,
let happen	the	will	your