Present Tense

Steven Craig Miller scmiller at www.plantnet.com
Tue Oct 19 17:43:43 EDT 1999


To: Dale M. Wheeler,

<< If this is the case, then, for example per a recent discussion, the fact 
that the verbs in 1John 3:4ff. are present is not conclusive to demonstrate 
the "habitual" nature of the person's behavior.  The behavior *may* be 
habitual, as the NASB and many commentators suggest, but that would need to
be demonstrated on other grounds (cf., Marshall, IJohn, New International 
Commentary; or Fanning, Verbal Aspect, for a non-habitual approach). >>

In all fairness, I don't remember anyone suggesting that BECAUSE the verb 
was present tense that that means it MUST be "habitual." And I wonder if 
your purpose might be better served simply by remembering James Barr's 
axiom: "it is in sentences that the real theological thinking is done" [as 
opposed to words] ("The Semantics of Biblical Language," 234). Isn't that 
the point you are trying to make here, namely that no one word can bear the 
meaning for the whole sentence?

Buist M. Fanning [1990:214,215] writes:

<< ... some have expressed doubt that the tense alone can be relied upon to 
convey the sense required for the 'habitual' approach. ... [yet] There are 
numerous presents in the NT denoting a custom or habit 'without' other 
explicit indicators. The sense of the context indicates the customary or 
habitual nature of the occurrence. >>

Isn't that your point too? Namely that it is "the sense of the context" 
which indicates the customary or habitual nature of the occurrence and not 
merely the tense of the verb?

-Steven Craig Miller
Alton, Illinois (USA)
scmiller at www.plantnet.com

 From Luther's Large Catechism: "Why, do you think, is the world now so 
full of unfaithfulness, shame, misery, and murder? It is because everyone 
wishes to be his or her own master, be free from all authority, care 
nothing for anyone, and do whatever he or she pleases. So God punishes one 
knave by means of another" (BoC 386.154).



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