Re: tense and aspect / action and states of being

Richard Lindeman (richlind@ix.netcom.com)
Mon, 9 Sep 1996 13:14:32 +0000

A second problem is that *many* Greek students today
are only studying Greek for the single purpose of better understanding
*Biblical Greek only*. They are not interested in reading Plato or
other ancient authors. Therefore, although I agree with Carlton that
Biblical Greek is not an entirely *different* language. And I also
agree that A.T. Robertson "had it right" when he did a study
of the language within a historical perspective of its development.
Yet at the same time I must say that for many NT Greek students
it makes some sense to teach New Testament Greek as if it were
a different language by itself.

Therefore I do not think that Young is really so far off the mark when he
offers for New Testament students a grammar which focuses on the
actual "usage" of the language rather than its historical
development. Nor am I entirely dismayed that he treats the NT as if
it were a language unto itself. Perhaps that is what is needed for
students who for whatever reason will only be working in the NT.
However, I do appreciate the insights that you and others have shared
on this subject. It is obvious that I still have a lot to learn!

Rich Lindeman