From: Iver Larsen (alice-iver_larsen@wycliffe.org)
Date: Tue Dec 19 2000 - 03:33:22 EST
Since I am new on the list I am not aware if there is a consensus on the use and
implication of the imperfective tense/aspect in Greek. I would be interested in
comments about the following:
Just looking at the lexical item PROSKUNEW in Matthew I find the following
constructions (ignoring for my purposes subjunctives and future forms):
2:11 part. aor. + ind. aor.
14:33 ind. aor. + saying (part. pres. of LEGW)
8:2 part. aor. + ind. impf. + saying
9:18 part. aor. + ind. impf. + saying
15:25 part. aor. + ind. impf. + saying
18:26 part. aor. + ind. impf. + saying
28:9 ind. aor. KAI ind. aor. (possibly Hebrew influence, no further
comment)
The aorist participle indicates that the action (fall down, approach or come in
these examples) is prior to the action described by the main indicative verb
PROSKUNEW.
Since the imperfective aspect basically refers to something not yet complete in
thought, is it significant that all these examples are followed by a present
participle "saying"? Does it indicate that the kneeling down is simultaneous
with or at least not considered complete until something has been said to
explain the significance of the kneeling down? Against this hypothesis is 14:33
which has an aorist followed by "saying".
Or should we look towards a more subtle hypothesis which is connected with one
of the possible uses of the present tense, which is the other imperfective
aspect form in Greek? For instance, is it significant that 14:33 is a conclusion
and reaction to a miracle of Jesus, so that the thought unit is complete? 2:11
also describes a completed thought unit. All the others "introduce" either a
miracle of Jesus or something that is highly unexpected (in the case of 18:26).
Is it a signal by Matthew to the reader that soon something unexpected or
significant is going to happen? Is it significant that in two of these examples,
the attention getter IDOU also occurs?
Iver Larsen
Kolding, Denmark
alice-iver_larsen@wycliffe.org
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