Prayer with aorist imperative (was conditional imperative)

Dan Parker stoixein at sdf.lonestar.org
Mon Feb 26 15:47:27 EST 2001


> Matt 8.8
> MONON EIPE LOGWi KAI IAQHSETAI hO PAIS MOU

[snip]

> I think the one making the request and to whom is
> significant. For example,
> the servant in Matt 8.8 is requesting that the master
> "say the word."  One would
> not think of a servant approaching his/her master in
> such a disrespectful manner.
> Sincerely,
> 
> Alan B. Thomas

Alan, one thought on this example that comes to mind is that the
aorist imperative is frequently used of a request or even a prayer from
an inferior to a superior, see Wallace who calls this a "Request" or
"Entreaty" (Polite Command).  It is common is the prayer of one to their
God as in Abraham to God (Ge 17:18), as Jesus taught his disciples to
pray (Mt 6:9) and Jesus in praying to his Father in John 17.

Sincerely,
Dan Parker



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