Matthew 23.2: EKAQISAN

Mark Goodacre (goodacms@m4-arts.bham.ac.uk)
Wed, 29 Oct 1997 16:28:45 GMT

Matt. 23.2: EPI THS MWSEWS KAQEDRAS *EKAQISAN* hOI GRAMMATEIJ KAI hOI
PARISAIOI

How is the aorist being used here? This question has recently arisen
on the Crosstalk list and I thought I would seek b-greek wisdom on
it. Apparently Davies and Allison say that this is a 'Semitic
stative perfect' -- i.e. it cannot be talking about a completed
action in the past because of the context, 'Therefore do and keep all
that they say to you . . .'

Or is there another way of taking this? Some of the older
commentaries, I note (W. C. Allen, Allan McNeile) take it as 'They
used to sit on the seat of Moses . . .' But this does seem difficult
in context.

Good wishes

Mark

------------------------
Mark Goodacre
Department of Theology
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham B15 2TT

Tel.: +44 (0)121 414 7512 Email: M.S.Goodacre@Bham.ac.uk
Fax.: +44 (0)121 414 6866 Homepage: http://www.bham.ac.uk/theology/goodacre.htm