Lars,
I still have not received my Juno software. Could you please post this to b-
greek for me? Thank you in advance.
________________________________
Statements have been made that EGW EIMI, when used as a verb of existence,
refers to timelessness even when an expression of past time is used as an
adverbial clause to modify EIMI. Here are some examples from Rahlf's LXX to
show that this does not hold true. The following examples parallel the
grammatical construction of John 8:58 where an expression of past time occurs
with EGW EIMI. Note Brenton's translation using the English Perfect to show the
Greek Present Active Indicative extension from past time using "I have been."
Rahlf's Genesis 31:38 TAUTA MOI EIKOSI ETH "EGO EIMI" META SOU Brenton These
twenty years "have I been" with the Literal: These mine twenty years I am with you
Rahlf's Genesis 31:41 TAUTA MOI EIKOSI ETH "EGO EIMI" EN TH OIKIA SOU
Brenton These twenty years "have I been" in thy house;
Literal: These mine twenty years I am in the house yours
Rahlf's Judges 16:17 hAGIOS QEOU "EGO EIMI" APO KOILIAS MHTROS MOU
Brenton "I have been" a holy one of God from my mother's womb Literal: holy
(one) of God I am from womb of mother (of)mine
Rahlf's from the LXX Septuaginta, edited by Alfred Rahlf's, Copyright 1935 by
the German Bible Society, Stuttgart. Brenton's translation from "The English
Translation of the Septuagint Version of the Old Testament" by Sir Lancelot C.
L. Brenton, 1844, 1851, published by Samuel Bagster and Sons, London, ASCII
edition Copyright 1988 by FABS International. Literal translation supplied by poster.
There is no contextual indications surrounding the above verses to show that
the specified duration was "timeless." In each example, as in John 8:58, it
shows the Present Tense duration as having started at a specific point in past
time and continuing to the present.
The preceding examples support Kenneth L. McKay's observation in "A New Syntax
of the Verb in New Testament Greek," Peter Lang, New York, 1994, pp. 41,42.
"4.2.4 Extension from the past. When used with an expression of either past
time or extent of time with past implications ... the present tense signals an
activity BEGUN in the PAST and continuing to present time; Lu 13:7 ... Lu 15:29
... Jn 14:9 ... Ac 27:33 ... Jn 8:58 ... I have been in existence since before
Abraham was born."
Yours Truly,
Mitchell
Centennial Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses
Greenwood Village, CO
Email 7380899@mcimail.com