Why an instantaneous imperfect in Mark 8:24?

Jay Adkins JAdkins264 at aol.com
Sat Jun 26 10:44:15 EDT 1999


Dear Prof. Daniel L. Christiansen,

You stated:
<<<It's not that it "must" be so interpreted: it has to do with what is the 
most
likely understanding of the verb given its context and unmarked range of 
meaning.
Many readings are within the realm of possibility, but in any 
communication, written
or oral, it seems that the correct understanding is usually close to that 
which
requires the least assumptions on the part of the receiver. Certainly, the 
man
could have been repeating himself, but the context doesn't appear to 
present this to
us; thus, to translate the imperfect as iterative would IMO be loading the 
word with
too much baggage.>>>

This makes sense to me and I am more then willing to admit I was wrong, as 
I was pretty sure I was before I ever wrote the first time and really did 
just want to know why, but, let me ask does the imperfect in the prior 
verse bare any support to the idea that the man have been repeating 
himself.  The word I am referring to is EPHRWTA, which is the same sort of 
thing I would guess, however, I had found a couple of translations there 
that had ‘questioning' in place of ‘asked' and so did not question my own 
limited knowledge at the time.  Looking back I probably should have.  I am 
like any other jackass, as my grand daddy would say, I have 20-20 hind 
sight.  My question here is, since there are two imperfects this close in 
context, with one directly contextually connected to the next, would that 
make the verbal aspect merely the same or draw on its foundational 
meaning?

Mark 8:23b EPHRWTA AUTON: EI TI BLEPEIS

Also does the perfect (BLEPESIS) have any effect?

You also stated;
<<<<> Wallace has used
> this as an example of the instantaneous imperfect and 18 English
> translations I have checked appear to agree

Usually, this is a pretty good check . . . if that many translations 
agree,
chances are good that it is a good rendition. Though majority does not 
always rule:
sometimes the guy walking the wrong way turns out to be the only one who 
knows where
he is going (he's later called a visionary, after the rest of the crowd 
tramples him
to death).>>>>>

I do not have much confidence in my abilities as yet, so I always check at 
least 5 or 6.  I have to admit finding many mistakes on my part that way.

Thank you for your assistance.  Please bear with my own stubborn stupidity 
and ignorance.  I hope that you will allow for it.

Sola Gratia

Jay



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