Gothic Online

Christianity among the Goths

Our major document in the Gothic language is a translation of the Christian Bible. But this translation gives no information as to how Christianity was received by the Goths. Ultimately it is clear that Christianity took hold among the Gothic tribes, but to see its development in the early stages after the mission of Wulfila (Ulfila), we must have recourse to other historical documents.

The Ecclesiastical History of Sozomen

Sozomen was a church historian of the 5th century. His work the Ecclesiastical History was likely dependent on the works of several predecessors, in particular the historians Socrates, Eunapius, and Philostorgius. According to Sozomen, the attacks of the Huns led the Goths to send an embassy to the Roman emperor, asking permission to resettle in Roman territory in return for fighting alongside the Romans when the need arose: the leader of this embassy, Sozomen records, was Wulfila. Subsequent events resulted in a division among the Goths, the two major groups led by Athanaric and Fritigern, respectively. As the two fought each other, Fritigern asked the Roman emperor Valens for assistance. In Thrace the combined forces of Fritigern's Goths and Valens' Roman legions defeated Athanric. Out of gratitude for his aid, Fritigern offered to adopt the emperor's religion, and ordered those under his rule to adopt Christianity as well.

It seems however that Gothic adoption of Christianity was not unanimously supported. The passage below describes the trials which befell the Christians during the time period shortly after Fritigern's conversion (translated in Heather and Matthews, 1991):

It seems that Athanaric was determined to undermine the authority of Fritigern after suffering a defeat at his hands. But in a more general perspective, a reiks such as Athanaric was charged to uphold older traditions, so that the Christians were felt to be a challenge to the authority of the reiks. Sozomen continues:

The Passion of St. Saba the Goth

Another text crucial to our understanding of the Gothic reception of Christianity is the Passion of St. Saba the Goth. The text survives in 10th century manuscripts, but the story itself dates the martyrdom of St. Saba to April 12, 372 AD. The story tells us that Saba was a Goth living in Gothic territory, and had been a Christian since childhood. He had no possessions except for the bare necessities.

As the story goes, Christians were compelled to eat flesh sacrificed according to Gothic tribal customs, and therefore unclean to Christians. At the level of the village, it seems that Christianity could be tolerated, as long as it was not practiced overtly (translated sections are quoted from Heather and Matthews, 1991):

Saba was banished for his vehement espousal of Christianity, since being so outspoken over such matters threatened to upset the traditional social order of the village.

Saba eventually returned. Later, when a reiks visited from elsewhere, village nobles attempted to conceal the fact that any Christians lived in the village, since such village members would be an affront to the authority of the reiks. Saba would not conceal his beliefs and spoke out, whereupon the village elders protected other Christians by saying that Saba was the only one in the village. The reiks mocked Saba for his poverty, and again Saba was cast out.

Later Saba, along with a prebyter Sansalas, was taken captive by a gang under the leadership of Atharid. They tortured Saba late into the night and then left him. He was freed by a slave woman, but he refused to flee. He was bound again and cursed Atharid, who subsequently ordered him to be put to death. The story continues:

So died Saba, though subverting at every moment the attempts of others to help him. It thus appears that none at the village level were involved in the decision-making process for the kuni, under the direction of the reiks. At this lower level, Christianity was tolerated, and converted relatives and friends were concealed and assisted by their fellow villagers and family members. It was apparently at the level of the kuni and the reiks that Christianity threatened the socio-political order, and it was from this level that persecution was enacted.

Reading and Textual Analysis

The following passage is Mark 9:2-13, the Transfiguration. We find in Mark 9.4 an example of a periphrastic construction showing progressive aspect: wēsun rōdjandans 'they were talking'. Though this parallels the Greek ēsan sullalountes, it seems that it was a natural construction within Germanic, as the Modern English translation illustrates. Though Old English texts are only attested much later than the Gothic Bible, such a construction is nevertheless as old as Beowulf itself: Swa se secg hwata secggende wæs laðra spella 'So was the valiant warrior speaking of terrible tales' (B.3028).

In Mark 9.5 we find the word hlijans 'tabernacles'. This word only appears here, in the accusative plural. The Proto-Germanic antecedent *hle-wa- gives Old Norse hlé, Old English hlēo, Old Frisian hlī, Old Saxon hleo, all meaning 'protection'. This even finds its way into Modern English nautical jargon: lee(ward).

Mark 9.9 gives an illustration of what, in grammars of the classical languages Greek and Latin, is typically termed the sequence of tenses: anabáuþ im ei mannhun ni spillōdēdeina 'he charged them that they should tell no man'. The direct command would have employed a present subjunctive or imperative. However when the indirect command is introduced by a past tense verb, the present subjunctive or imperative is rendered by a past subjunctive. A similar situation occurs in Modern English: the future tense in 'He will go home' is restructured as a past subjunctive (or really a past tense of the present 'will') when subordinate to a past tense main verb, as in 'He said that he would go home.'

9:2 - jah afar dagans saihs ganam Iesus Paitru jah Iakobu jah Iohannen jah ustauh ins ana fairguni hauh sundro ainans: jah inmaidida sik in andwairþja ize.

• jah -- conjunction; <jah> and, also -- and
• afar -- preposition; <afar> after, according to -- after
• dagans -- strong noun; accusative plural masculine of <dags> day -- days
• saihs -- numeral; <saíhs> six -- six
• ganam -- strong verb class 4; third person singular preterite of <ganiman> to take to oneself, to take with oneself -- taketh with him
• Iesus -- strong noun; nominative singular masculine of <Iēsus> Jesus -- Jesus
• Paitru -- strong noun; accusative singular masculine of <Paítrus> Peter -- Peter
• jah -- conjunction; <jah> and, also -- and
• Iakobu -- strong noun; accusative singular masculine of <Iakōbus> Jacob, James -- James
• jah -- conjunction; <jah> and, also -- and
• Iohannen -- strong noun; accusative singular masculine of <Iōhannēs> John -- John
• jah -- conjunction; <jah> and, also -- and
• ustauh -- strong verb class 2; third person singular preterite of <ustiuhan> to lead out; to complete -- leadeth... up
• ins -- personal pronoun; accusative plural masculine of <is> he, she, it -- them
• ana -- preposition; <ana> in, on, upon, at, over; to, into; against -- into
• fairguni -- strong noun; accusative singular neuter of <faírguni> mountain -- mountain
• hauh -- adjective; accusative singular neuter of <háuhs> high -- an high
• sundro -- adverb; <sundrō> alone, apart -- apart
• ainans -- numeral; accusative plural masculine of <áins> one, alone, only; one, a certain one -- by themselves
• jah -- conjunction; <jah> and, also -- and
• inmaidida -- weak verb class 1; third person singular preterite of <inmáidjan> to transfigure -- he was transfigured
• sik -- reflexive pronoun; accusative of <sik> himself, herself, oneself -- ...
• in -- preposition; <in> into, towards; on account of; in, among, by -- ...
• andwairþja -- strong noun; dative singular neuter of <andwaírþi> face, presence -- before
• ize -- personal pronoun; genitive plural masculine of <is> he, she, it -- them

3 - jah wastjos is waurþun glitmunjandeins, ƕeitos swe snaiws, swaleikos swe wullareis ana airþai ni mag gaƕeitjan.

• jah -- conjunction; <jah> and, also -- and
• wastjos -- strong noun; nominative plural feminine of <*wasti> garment -- raiment
• is -- personal pronoun; genitive singular masculine of <is> he, she, it -- his
• waurþun -- strong verb class 3; third person plural preterite of <waírþan> to become, to happen -- became
• glitmunjandeins -- weak verb class 1; nominative plural feminine of present participle of <glitmunjan> to glitter, to shine -- shining
• ƕeitos -- adjective; nominative plural feminine of <ƕeits> white -- (exceeding) white
• swe -- adverb; <swē> like, as, just as; so that; about -- ...
• snaiws -- strong noun; nominative singular masculine of <snáiws> snow -- snow
• swaleikos -- adjective; nominative plural feminine of <swaleiks> such -- as
• swe -- adverb; <swē> like, as, just as; so that; about -- so as
• wullareis -- strong noun; nominative singular masculine of <wullareis> one who whitens wool, fuller -- a fuller
• ana -- preposition; <ana> in, on, upon, at, over; to, into; against -- on
• airþai -- strong noun; dative singular feminine of <aírþa> earth -- earth
• ni -- adverb; <ni> not -- no
• mag -- preterite present verb; third person singular of <magan> to be able -- can
• gaƕeitjan -- weak verb class 1; infinitive of <gaƕeitjan> to whiten -- white (them)

4 - jah ataugiþs warþ im Helias miþ Mose; jah wesun rodjandans miþ Iesua.

• jah -- conjunction; <jah> and, also -- and
• ataugiþs -- weak verb class 1; nominative singular masculine of preterite participle of <atáugjan> to show, to appear -- appeared
• warþ -- strong verb class 3; third person singular preterite of <waírþan> to become, to happen -- there
• im -- personal pronoun; dative plural masculine of <is> he, she, it -- unto them
• Helias -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <Hēlias> Elias -- Elias
• miþ -- preposition; <miþ> with, among, together with, through, by, near -- with
• Mose -- strong noun; dative singular masculine of <Mōsēs> Moses -- Moses
• jah -- conjunction; <jah> and, also -- and
• wesun -- strong verb class 5; third person plural preterite of <wisan> to be -- they were
• rodjandans -- weak verb class 1; nominative plural masculine of present participle of <rōdjan> to speak -- speaking
• miþ -- preposition; <miþ> with, among, together with, through, by, near -- with
• Iesua -- strong noun; dative singular masculine of <Iēsus> Jesus -- Jesus

5 - jah andhafjands Paitrus qaþ du Iesua: rabbei, goþ ist unsis her wisan, jah gawaurkjam hlijans þrins, þus ainana jah Mose ainana jah ainana Helijin.

• jah -- conjunction; <jah> and, also -- and
• andhafjands -- strong verb class 6; nominative singular masculine of present participle of <andhafjan> to answer -- answered and
• Paitrus -- strong noun; nominative singular masculine of <Paítrus> Peter -- Peter
• qaþ -- strong verb class 5; third person singular preterite of <qiþan> to say, speak -- said
• du -- preposition; <du> to, towards; against; in -- to
• Iesua -- strong noun; dative singular masculine of <Iēsus> Jesus -- Jesus
• rabbei -- noun; vocative singular masculine of <rabbei> rabbi, master, teacher -- master
• goþ -- adjective; nominative singular neuter of <gōþs, gōds> good -- good
• ist -- strong verb class 5; third person singular present of <wisan> to be -- it is
• unsis -- personal pronoun; dative plural of <ik> I -- for us
• her -- adverb; <hēr> here -- here
• wisan -- strong verb class 5; infinitive of <wisan> to be -- to be
• jah -- conjunction; <jah> and, also -- and
• gawaurkjam -- weak verb class 1; first person plural imperative of <gawaúrkjan> to make -- let us make
• hlijans -- noun; accusative plural masculine of <*hlija> tent, tabernacle -- tabernacles # or possibly nominative *hleis
• þrins -- numeral; accusative plural masculine of <*þreis> three -- three
• þus -- personal pronoun; dative singular of <þu> thou, you -- for thee
• ainana -- numeral; accusative singular masculine of <áins> one, alone, only; one, a certain one -- one
• jah -- conjunction; <jah> and, also -- and
• Mose -- strong noun; dative singular masculine of <Mōsēs> Moses -- for Moses
• ainana -- numeral; accusative singular masculine of <áins> one, alone, only; one, a certain one -- one
• jah -- conjunction; <jah> and, also -- and
• ainana -- numeral; accusative singular masculine of <áins> one, alone, only; one, a certain one -- one
• Helijin -- strong noun; dative singular masculine of <Hēlias> Elias -- for Elias

6 - ni auk wissa ƕa rodidedi; wesun auk usagidai.

• ni -- adverb; <ni> not -- not
• auk -- conjunction; <áuk> for, because; but, also -- for
• wissa -- preterite present verb; third person singular preterite of <*witan> to know -- he wist
• ƕa -- interrogative pronoun; accusative singular neuter of <ƕas> who, what -- what
• rodidedi -- weak verb class 1; third person singular preterite subjunctive of <rōdjan> to speak -- to say # literally 'what he should say'
• wesun -- strong verb class 5; third person plural preterite of <wisan> to be -- they were
• auk -- conjunction; <áuk> for, because; but, also -- for
• usagidai -- weak verb class 1; nominative plural masculine of preterite participle of <usagjan> to frighten, to terrify -- (sore) afraid

7 - jah warþ milhma ufarskadwjands im, jah qam stibna us þamma milhmin: sa ist sunus meins sa liuba, þamma hausjaiþ.

• jah -- conjunction; <jah> and, also -- and
• warþ -- strong verb class 3; third person singular preterite of <waírþan> to become, to happen -- there was
• milhma -- weak noun; nominative singular masculine of <milhma> cloud -- a cloud
• ufarskadwjands -- weak verb class 1; nominative singular masculine of present participle of <ufarskadwjan> to over-shadow -- that overshadowed
• im -- personal pronoun; dative plural masculine of <is> he, she, it -- them
• jah -- conjunction; <jah> and, also -- and
• qam -- strong verb class 4; third person singular preterite of <qiman> to come, arrive -- came
• stibna -- strong noun; nominative singular feminine of <stibna> voice -- a voice... (saying)
• us -- preposition; <us> out, out of, from -- out of
• þamma -- article; dative singular masculine of <sa> this, that; he, she, it; the -- the
• milhmin -- weak noun; dative singular masculine of <milhma> cloud -- cloud
• sa -- demonstrative pronoun; nominative singular masculine of <sa> this, that; he, she, it; the -- this
• ist -- strong verb class 5; third person singular of <wisan> to be -- is
• sunus -- strong noun; nominative singular masculine of <sunus> son -- son
• meins -- possessive adjective; nominative singular masculine of <meins> my, mine -- my
• sa -- article; nominative singular masculine of <sa> this, that; he, she, it; the -- ...
• liuba -- adjective; nominative singular masculine of <liufs> dear, beloved -- beloved
• þamma -- demonstrative pronoun; dative singular masculine of <sa> this, that; he, she, it; the -- him
• hausjaiþ -- weak verb class 1; second person plural present subjunctive of <háusjan> to hear, listen -- hear

8 - jah anaks insaiƕandans ni þanaseiþs ainohun gaseƕun, alja Iesu ainana miþ sis.

• jah -- conjunction; <jah> and, also -- and
• anaks -- adverb; <anaks> at once, suddenly -- suddenly
• insaiƕandans -- strong verb class 5; nominative plural masculine of present participle of <insaíƕan> to look upon, regard -- when they had looked round about
• ni -- adverb; <ni> not -- no
• þanaseiþs -- adverb; <þanaseiþs> further, still -- any more
• ainohun -- indefinite pronoun; accusative singular masculine of <áinshun> (always with negative) (no) one, (n)one -- man
• gaseƕun -- strong verb class 5; third person plural preterite of <gasaíƕan> to see -- they saw
• alja -- preposition; <alja> than, except, unless, save; except -- save
• Iesu -- strong noun; accusative singular masculine of <Iēsus> Jesus -- Jesus
• ainana -- numeral; accusative singular masculine of <áins> one, alone, only; one, a certain one -- only
• miþ -- preposition; <miþ> with, among, together with, through, by, near -- with
• sis -- reflexive pronoun; dative of <sik> himself, herself, oneself -- themselves

9 - dalaþ þan atgaggandam im af þamma fairgunja, anabauþ im ei mannhun ni spillodedeina þatei gaseƕun, niba biþe sunus mans us dauþaim usstoþi.

• dalaþ -- adverb; <dalaþ> down -- down
• þan -- conjunction; <þan> when, as (long as); then, at that time; but, and, however -- and
• atgaggandam -- strong verb class 7; dative plural masculine present participle of <atgaggan> to come, go -- as... came # dative absolute
• im -- personal pronoun; dative plural masculine of <is> he, she, it -- they
• af -- preposition; <af> from, of -- from
• þamma -- article; dative singular neuter of <sa> this, that; he, she, it; the -- the
• fairgunja -- strong noun; dative singular neuter of <faírguni> mountain -- mountain
• anabauþ -- strong verb class 2; third person singular preterite of <anabiudan> to command, order -- he charged
• im -- personal pronoun; dative plural masculine of <is> he, she, it -- them
• ei -- conjunction; <ei> that, so that; whether; (relative particle) -- that
• mannhun -- indefinite pronoun; dative singular masculine of <mannahun> (always with negative) (no) one, (n)one -- man
• ni -- adverb; <ni> not -- no
• spillodedeina -- weak verb class 2; third person plural preterite subjunctive of <spillōn> to tell, relate -- they should tell
• þatei -- relative pronoun; accusative singular neuter of <saei> who, he who, which -- what things
• gaseƕun -- strong verb class 5; third person plural preterite of <gasaíƕan> to see -- they had seen
• niba -- conjunction; <nibái (niba)> unless, except -- till
• biþe -- conjunction; <biþē> while, when, after that, as soon as; then, thereupon -- ...
• sunus -- strong noun; nominative singular masculine of <sunus> son -- the Son
• mans -- weak noun; genitive singular masculine of <manna> man -- of man
• us -- preposition; <us> out, out of, from -- from
• dauþaim -- substantive adjective; dative plural masculine of <dáuþs> dead -- the dead
• usstoþi -- strong verb class 6; third person singular preterite subjunctive of <usstandan> to stand up, rise -- has risen

10 - jah þata waurd habaidedun du sis misso sokjandans: ƕa ist þata us dauþaim usstandan?

• jah -- conjunction; <jah> and, also -- and
• þata -- demonstrative adjective; accusative singular neuter of <sa> this, that; he, she, it; the -- that
• waurd -- strong noun; accusative singular neuter of <waúrd> word -- saying
• habaidedun -- weak verb class 3; third person plural preterite of <haban> to have -- they kept
• du -- preposition; <du> to, towards; against; in -- with
• sis -- reflexive pronoun; dative plural masculine of <sik> himself, herself, oneself -- themselves
• misso -- adverb; <missō> reciprocally, the one the other, one to another -- one with another
• sokjandans -- weak verb class 1; nominative plural masculine of present participle of <sōkjan> to seek, ask -- questioning
• ƕa -- interrogative pronoun; nominative singular neuter of <ƕas> who, what -- what
• ist -- athematic verb; third person singular of <wisan> to be -- should mean
• þata -- article; nominative singular neuter of <þata> the -- the
• us -- preposition; <us> out, out of, from -- from
• dauþaim -- substantive adjective; dative plural masculine of <dáuþs> dead -- the dead
• usstandan -- strong verb class 6; infinitive of <usstandan> to stand up, rise -- rising

11 - jah frehun ina qiþandans: unte qiþand þai bokarjos þatei Helias skuli qiman faurþis?

• jah -- conjunction; <jah> and, also -- and
• frehun -- strong verb class 5; third person plural preterite of <fraíhnan> to ask, question -- they asked
• ina -- personal pronoun; accusative singular masculine of <is> he, she, it -- him
• qiþandans -- strong verb class 5; nominative plural masculine of present participle of <qiþan> to say, speak -- saying
• unte -- conjunction; <untē> for, because, since, until -- why
• qiþand -- strong verb class 5; third person plural of <qiþan> to say, speak -- say
• þai -- article; nominative plural masculine of <sa> this, that; he, she, it; the -- the
• bokarjos -- strong noun; nominative plural masculine of <bōkareis> scribe -- scribes
• þatei -- conjunction; <þatei> that, because, if -- that
• Helias -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <Hēlias> Elias -- Elias
• skuli -- preterite present verb; third person singular present subjunctive of <*skulan> to owe, be obliged -- must
• qiman -- strong verb class 4; infinitive of <qiman> to come, arrive -- come
• faurþis -- adverb; <faúrþis> first, beforehand -- first

12 - iþ is andhafjands qaþ du im: Helias sweþauh qimands faurþis aftra gaboteiþ alla; jah ƕaiwa gameliþ ist bi sunu mans, ei manag winnai jah frakunþs wairþai.

• iþ -- conjunction; <iþ> but, however, if -- and
• is -- personal pronoun; nominative singular masculine of <is> he, she, it -- he
• andhafjands -- strong verb class 6; nominative singular masculine of present participle of <andhafjan> to answer -- answered and
• qaþ -- strong verb class 4; third person singular of <qiþan> to say, speak -- told
• du -- preposition; <du> to, towards; against; in -- ...
• im -- personal pronoun; dative plural masculine of <is> he, she, it -- them
• Helias -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <Hēlias> Elias -- Elias
• sweþauh -- adverb; <swēþáuh> indeed, however -- verily
• qimands -- strong verb class 4; nominative singular masculine of present participle of <qiman> to come, arrive -- cometh... and
• faurþis -- adverb; <faúrþis> first, beforehand -- first
• aftra -- preposition; <aftra> back, again -- ...
• gaboteiþ -- weak verb class 1; third person singular of <gabōtjan> to make useful, to restore -- restoreth
• alla -- substantive adjective; accusative plural neuter of <alls> all, every -- all things
• jah -- conjunction; <jah> and, also -- and
• ƕaiwa -- adverb; <ƕáiwa> how, in what way -- how
• gameliþ -- weak verb class 1; nominative singular neuter of preterite participle of <gamēljan> to write, enroll -- written
• ist -- athematic verb; third person singular of <wisan> to be -- it is
• bi -- preposition; <bi> by, about; concerning; around, against; according to, on account of; for; at; after; near -- of
• sunu -- strong noun; accusative singular masculine of <sunus> son -- the Son
• mans -- weak noun; genitive singular masculine of <manna> man -- of man
• ei -- conjunction; <ei> that, so that; whether; (relative particle) -- that
• manag -- adjective; accusative singular neuter of <manags> much, many -- many things
• winnai -- strong verb class 3; third person singular present subjunctive of <winnan> to suffer -- he must suffer
• jah -- conjunction; <jah> and, also -- and
• frakunþs -- preterite present verb; nominative singular masculine of preterite participle of <frakunnan> to despise -- set at nought
• wairþai -- strong verb class 3; third person singular subjunctive of <waírþan> to become, to happen -- be

13 - akei qiþa izwis þatei ju Helias qam jah gatawidedun imma swa filu swe wildedun, swaswe gameliþ ist bi ina.

• akei -- conjunction; <akei> but, yet, still, nevertheless -- but
• qiþa -- strong verb class 5; first person singular of <qiþan> to say, speak -- I say
• izwis -- personal pronoun; dative plural of <þu> thou, you -- unto you
• þatei -- conjunction; <þatei> that, because, if -- that
• ju -- adverb; <ju> now, already -- indeed
• Helias -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <Hēlias> Elias -- Elias
• qam -- strong verb class 4; third person singular preterite of <qiman> to come, arrive -- is... come
• jah -- conjunction; <jah> and, also -- and
• gatawidedun -- weak verb class 1; third person plural preterite of <gatáujan> to do, make -- they have done
• imma -- personal pronoun; dative singular masculine of <is> he, she, it -- unto him
• swa -- adverb; <swa> so, thus, as -- ...
• filu -- adjective; accusative singular neuter of <filu> much, many -- whatsoever
• swe -- conjunction; <swē> like, as, just as; so that; about -- ...
• wildedun -- irregular verb; third person plural preterite of <wiljan> to will, wish -- they listed
• swaswe -- adverb; <swaswē> as, just as; so as; so as to, so that -- as
• gameliþ -- weak verb class 1; nominative singular neuter of preterite participle of <gamēljan> to write, enroll -- written
• ist -- athematic verb; third person singular of <wisan> to be -- it is
• bi -- preposition; <bi> by, about; concerning; around, against; according to, on account of; for; at; after; near -- of
• ina -- personal pronoun; accusative singular masculine of <is> he, she, it -- him

Lesson Text

^9:2 jah afar dagans saihs ganam Iesus Paitru jah Iakobu jah Iohannen jah ustauh ins ana fairguni hauh sundro ainans: jah inmaidida sik in andwairþja ize. ³ jah wastjos is waurþun glitmunjandeins, ƕeitos swe snaiws, swaleikos swe wullareis ana airþai ni mag gaƕeitjan. ⁴ jah ataugiþs warþ im Helias miþ Mose; jah wesun rodjandans miþ Iesua. ⁵ jah andhafjands Paitrus qaþ du Iesua: rabbei, goþ ist unsis her wisan, jah gawaurkjam hlijans þrins, þus ainana jah Mose ainana jah ainana Helijin. ⁶ ni auk wissa ƕa rodidedi; wesun auk usagidai. ⁷ jah warþ milhma ufarskadwjands im, jah qam stibna us þamma milhmin: sa ist sunus meins sa liuba, þamma hausjaiþ. ⁸ jah anaks insaiƕandans ni þanaseiþs ainohun gaseƕun, alja Iesu ainana miþ sis.

⁹ dalaþ þan atgaggandam im af þamma fairgunja, anabauþ im ei mannhun ni spillodedeina þatei gaseƕun, niba biþe sunus mans us dauþaim usstoþi. ¹⁰ jah þata waurd habaidedun du sis misso sokjandans: ƕa ist þata us dauþaim usstandan? ¹¹ jah frehun ina qiþandans: unte qiþand þai bokarjos þatei Helias skuli qiman faurþis? ¹² iþ is andhafjands qaþ du im: Helias sweþauh qimands faurþis aftra gaboteiþ alla; jah ƕaiwa gameliþ ist bi sunu mans, ei manag winnai jah frakunþs wairþai. ¹³ akei qiþa izwis þatei ju Helias qam jah gatawidedun imma swa filu swe wildedun, swaswe gameliþ ist bi ina.

Translation

From the King James version:

^9:2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. ³ And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. ⁴ And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. ⁵ And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. ⁶ For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. ⁷ And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. ⁸ And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

⁹ And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. ¹⁰ And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean. ¹¹ And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? ¹² And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. ¹³ But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

Grammar

31. The Fifth Strong Conjugation

The fifth strong conjugation comprises verbs whose roots end in a single non-resonant consonant (i.e. not l,r,m,n). The historical evolution of these verbs is shown in the chart below.

In the above, T stands for any non-resonant, that is any consonant other than l,r,m,n. The resulting ablaut pattern characterizing the fifth strong conjugation in Gothic thus becomes the following.

The difference between classes Va and Vb lies in the vowel of the present stem and the past participle. The change is conditioned by the consonant following the vowel. Generally the vowel i occurs, but this is replaced by aí [e] when followed by h or ƕ. Hence giba, but saíƕa.

The verb sniwan 'hasten' belongs to the class Va, with final root consonant w. When this becomes word-final, the w shifts to u (i.e. aw becomes áu). The verb bidjan 'pray' conjugates according to the pattern of class Va, but the j-augment remains only in the forms built from the present stem. The verb fraíhnan 'inquire' conjugates according to the pattern of class Vb, but the n-suffix remains only in the forms built from the present stem. The principal parts of these verbs are as follows.

The verb giba 'give', with prinicpal parts giba -- gaf -- gēbum -- gibans, serves to illustrate the forms of the fifth conjugation. The forms are as follows.

For consonant changes before the second person singular past indicative ending, see Section 6.3.

For the sake of illustration, the present active forms of sniwan, bidjan, and fraíhnan are listed below.

Note the second person singular, present imperative active form bidei: the word final j-augment becomes vocalic, giving ei [ī]. The present forms of bidjan parallel those of verbs of the first weak conjugation. The (present) mediopassive forms are constructed analogously. In the finite past forms, the j-augment and the n-suffix do not appear, the conjugations following giba in all respects. The w of sniwan, when word-final, combines with the preceding a to yield the diphthong áu.

32. The Sixth Strong Conjugation

The sixth strong conjugation comprises verbs whose roots end in at most a single consonant. The historical evolution of these verbs is shown in the chart below.

In the above, K stands for any sequence of consonants, C for a single consonant. The resulting ablaut pattern characterizing the sixth strong conjugation in Gothic thus becomes the following.

Some verbs of class VI, such as the verb fraþjan 'understand', have a j-augment which remains only in forms built from the present stem. The class VI verb standan 'stand' has an n-infix which remains only in forms built from the present stem, cf. English stand vs. stood. The principal parts of these verbs are as follows.

The verb saka 'rebuke', with prinicpal parts saka -- sōk -- sōkum -- sakans, serves to illustrate the forms of the sixth conjugation. The forms are as follows.