Silva, Moises, Explorations in Exegetical Method: Galatians as a Test Case,
Baker, 1996.
Moises Silva says:
"I do not recall ever seeing one example of good exegesis that depends on the
interpreter's ability to explain why one aspect rather than another was used.
Convincing interpretations depend on other factors.
{snip}
. . . if the main basis for an interpretation is a detail of this kind, we
would be foolhardy to take such an exegesis seriously. Aspectual distinctions
are largely determined by the context and thus to some extent lie outside the
choice of the speaker or writer.
{snip}
. . . it is most doubtful that a speaker or writer would make use of this
syntactical subtlety as the means to get a point across."
Kind of sums up my views on the subject rather nicely.
-- Clayton Stirling Bartholomew Three Tree Point P.O. Box 255 Seahurst WA 98062PostScript #1
If J. Gresham Machen were alive and teaching NT Greek today, he would not be using Machen's grammar published in 1923.
PostScript #2
Does anyone know where Moises Silva is now teaching? In the preface to this book he says he is leaving Westminster but does not say where he is going.