From: Dale M. Wheeler (dalemw@teleport.com)
Date: Mon Dec 15 1997 - 09:08:51 EST
Michael H Burer asked:
>I am currently studying gnomic presents in Johannine literature, and I am
>facing a quandary when it comes to the articular present participle used
>substantivally. This often occurs as the subject of a clause, e.g., in
>John 3:36: Oj PISTEUWN EIS TON UION ECEI ZWHN AIWNION. My question
>concerns the verbal aspect of the participle used this way. What aspect
>does it have, if any? If it has aspect, would gnomic present be a real
>possibility for these participles? If it is aspectually flat, how should
>we understand the verbal side of the participle to be functioning? Any
>thoughts on this topic or thoughts on specific passages in Johannine
>literature where this occurs would be appreciated.
Michael:
Here's a couple of suggestions for lines of research (I don't want to
spoil your fun !!) (-;
1) I would tend to agree that *Substantival Ptcs* are, as you put it,
"aspectually flat"; ie., they are just noun substitutes without aspect
as we normally think about it in other verbs; hence as nouns they have
a tendency to "feel" gnomic, since it is just refering to a person or
group that does something.
2) A more intruiging and profitable question to chase in this context
is to compare the Pres Ptcs (John 1:15; 3:15, 16, 18, 36; 5:24; 6:35,
40, 47, 64; 7:38; 11:25, 26; 12:44, 46; 14:12; 17:20; 1John 5:1, 5,
10, 13) with the Subst Aor Ptcs (John 7:39; 20:29) and Subst Perf
Ptcs (John 8:31). The use of the other tenses should give you a good
comparitive base to see what's going on with the Pres.
Have fun...
XAIREIN...
***********************************************************************
Dale M. Wheeler, Ph.D.
Research Professor in Biblical Languages Multnomah Bible College
8435 NE Glisan Street Portland, OR 97220
Voice: 503-251-6416 FAX:503-254-1268 E-Mail: dalemw@teleport.com
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