<Keith quote>
Why did you opt for the inceptive aorist in the second form. Is it essential
to your presentation? I do not think it is. On what basis would one make a
determination that this was an inceptive aorist, and is the inceptive aorist
not punctiliar?
<Keith unquote>
Yes, sometimes aorist can mean merely simple past (happened at point in
time). Jesus did make a decision at a point in time (wilderness temptation?)
but didn't he continue to make that decision (to serve others rather than to
take advantage of his status) on a daily basis? Imperfect wouldn't be
appropriate because it was accomplished in the past (not ongoing) at the cross,
once and for all, yet, not _merely_ at the cross (the cross was the crux, but
can not stand on its own apart from the way there). So yes, I do view the
laying aside as a process rather than a single act, and the inceptive aorist
helps bring that out. However, as you correctly point out, this is an
additional layer. If I were wiser, I would not have confused the issue of when
this laying aside took place (by some heavenly creature or by a man of red
earth/dust/clay) with the kind of laying aside taking place at the same time (I
would have built this in by degrees, perhaps). But, I am not wiser, and
normally just show my hand for the purposes of a full discussion. It prevents
me from being manipulative, but often makes me come across as bull-headed (or
perhaps tends to reveal my bull-headedness?).
As to what grammatical reason there is for the inceptive aorist this
occurs with: "verbs which of their nature indicate a state; with these verbs
the aorist commonly (but not necessarily) indicate the inception of the state,
and this may demand a difference in the translation; e.g., to mention the
principal examples occuring in the NT: BASILEUEIN = reign (be king),
BADSILEUSAI may = come to the throne (be king); DOULEUEIN = serve (be slave),
DOULEUSAI may = be reduced to servitude (become slave);" <quoted from Zerwick's
<book> Biblical Greek </> p. 81 (Other examples: PLOUTESAI may = become rich;
PTWXEUSAI may = become poor; APODHMHSAI may = go abroad; XRATHSAI may = take
hold of, sieze; ZHSAI may = enter into life or return from death; LAMYAI may =
shine forth; PISTEUSAI may = embrace the faith (English translation here could
not differentiate (both rendered as believe)).
The imperfect would have expressed a constant (and unfulfilled) attempt
ongoing, hence, an inappropriate aspect, I think. Another possibility would be
the effective aorist (expressing attainment), but I think this negates the
wrestling aspects of Christ's tempation(s) which are evidenced in an ongoing
struggle with even the disciples, i.e., "How long must I suffer you?"
Thanks for the comments / questions, Keith,
-------------
Mike Phillips
mphilli3@indy.tdsnet.com
A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanging;
it is the skin of living thought and changes from day
to day as does the air around us. - Oliver Wendell Holmes
-------------
Mike Phillips
mphilli3@indy.tdsnet.com
A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanging;
it is the skin of living thought and changes from day
to day as does the air around us. - Oliver Wendell Holmes