Greek Form Guide

αἰώνιον. (aionion) in John 3:15: Adjective Accusative Singular Feminine

αἰώνιον. (aionion) in John 3:15

Textual Witness

αἰώνιον. aionion Adjective Accusative Singular Feminine

The Textus Receptus witness for John 3:15 reads αἰώνιον with the morphology label Adjective Accusative Singular Feminine.

How The Form Affects Interpretation

The adjective agrees with life and qualifies the promised object as eternal in the purpose clause.

How To Communicate It

When teaching John 3:15, use the adjective to show that life is qualified as eternal, while the full phrase and passage explain the promise.

What Not To Say

  • Grammar should serve context, not override it.
  • Do not separate eternal from life in the phrase.
  • Do not make grammatical gender carry theology.
  • Do not define eternal life from the adjective form alone.

What Does The Label Mean?

Part of Speech

Adjective: the form modifies or describes another word in the phrase.

Case

Accusative: the adjective agrees with the accusative noun it modifies.

Number

Singular: the adjective agrees with the singular noun life.

Gender

Feminine: the adjective agrees with the feminine noun life; this is grammatical agreement, not a separate theological claim.

Tense / Aspect

Not applicable: this adjectival form does not use verbal tense or aspect.

Voice

Not applicable: this adjectival form does not use verbal voice.

Mood

Not applicable: this adjectival form does not use verbal mood.

Person

Not applicable: this adjectival form does not use grammatical person.

What The Form Does In This Verse

Attached To

The noun life in John 3:15

Governed By

Agreement with the accusative noun life

Role In The Phrase

αἰώνιον is an accusative feminine singular adjective in the phrase "ἀπόληται, ἀλλ᾽ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον.". It modifies life and describes the kind of life promised.

What It Is Not Doing

The adjective form does not by itself define every dimension of eternal life; it modifies the noun in the promise clause.

How Much The Form Matters Here

Interpretive Weight

High: The adjective qualifies life in a major promise statement.

Syntax Profile

Adjective Accusative Singular Feminine. describes the promised life as eternal. Attached to the noun life in the promise clause. Governed by case, number, and gender agreement with life. The syntax should be explained from the clause, not isolated from the passage.

Reader Question

What kind of life does the clause promise? The adjective modifies life and marks the promised life as eternal.

Translation Effect

Direct: The adjective directly supports wording such as "eternal life."

Where Caution Is Needed

The adjective should stay attached to life, not become a detached abstraction. Agreement in gender is grammatical and should not be pressed as a separate theological point.

Fallacies To Avoid

Adjective alone defines doctrine: The adjective qualifies the noun; the phrase and passage supply the full theological meaning. grammatical gender proves theology: Gender agreement follows the noun and should not be made into a separate claim.

How The Interpretation Is Derived

Textual Witness

The Textus Receptus witness for John 3:15 reads αἰώνιον with the morphology label Adjective Accusative Singular Feminine.

Lexical Identity

The lemma is αἰώνιος. The gloss "eternal, unending" orients this occurrence without replacing the phrase context.

Grammar In Context

αἰώνιον is an accusative feminine singular adjective in the phrase "ἀπόληται, ἀλλ᾽ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον.". It modifies life and describes the kind of life promised.

Passage Meaning

John 3:15 promises eternal life to everyone believing in the lifted-up Son.

Canonical Fit

The form belongs to John's eternal-life language, while this guide limits the claim to the adjective modifying life in John 3:15.

Communication Use

When teaching John 3:15, use the adjective to show that life is qualified as eternal, while the full phrase and passage explain the promise.

Do Not Derive

Do not define eternal life from the adjective form alone; the adjective modifies life, and the passage locates the promise in relation to the lifted-up Son.