John 16:8: KAI ELQWN EKEINOS, aorist particible

Jonathan Robie (74144.2360@compuserve.com)
20 Aug 96 12:38:14 EDT

I need some help understanding the use of the aorist
particible ELQWN in John 16:8: KAI ELQWN EKEINOS ELEGCEI
TON KOSMON PERI AMARTIAS KAI PERI DIKAIOSUNHS KAI PERI
KRISEWS. All five translations I looked at say "when he
comes", using the present tense in English. Clearly, the
context indicates that the Spirit is coming in the future,
as indicated by DIKAIOSUNHS.

Different sources I have seem to look at this differently.
Robertson suggests "when he is come", true to his punctiliar
understanding of aorist. I think I understand that.

BDR also seems to see aorist as punctiliar, and gives three cases:
(1) the beginning is stressed(EBASILEUEN, became king), (2) the end
is stressed (EBALEN, met), or (3) treatment as a whole without respect
for time. I don't know how to apply this paradigm to the above passage.

Young's book emphasises this third use from BDR: aorist as a helicopter
view, seen as a whole, not as repeated action. I'm not sure if I understand
this or not. If I do, then ELQWN would mean that a change of state has
occurred, and this change is seen as a whole.