[B-Greek] RE: Jn 3:16 pas ho pisteuOn

Mark Wilson emory2oo2 at hotmail.com
Mon Apr 28 12:26:43 EDT 2003


Alex wrote:

-----
>I think problems do arise when we polarize the uses of the tenses
>(especially when that is connected with an Aktionsart approach to the
>verb), as when "a moment of believing" is polarized against "continuous
>believing".
-----

To Alex's excellent observations I would add also that the same event can be 
portrayed with BOTH the Present AND Aorist. And the ACTUAL temporal nature 
of the event DOES NOT CHANGE. Perhaps some limitations are self-imposed when 
one Tense is chosen over another. For example, I can use a motion camera 
(Present Tense) to film my daughter's birthday party, or I can take a still 
shot (Aorist Tense) during the party. Either way, using a motion camera or 
still shots, the birthday party itself is UNAFFECTED. All that "changes" is 
how I want to "take a picture." Or grammatically speaking, all the "changes" 
is how I want to PORTRAY the event.

However, something very important must be statement, and Alex may have 
already said this better than I will. The Aorist Tense does not negate the 
on-going nature of the event, nor would a Present Tense negate a momentary 
event. Simply put: when I take a still shot DURING my daughter's birhtday 
party, one can easily see that this party is very much in progress, and my 
still shot confirms that!

To my shock and utter dismay, Dr. Wallace does make comments on the Present 
Participle in GGBB that are clearly theologically motivated, having no 
grammatical basis (that is, he attributes characteristics to the Present 
Participle that are not inherent to the Present Participle, but are inherent 
to his theological position). We are all guilty of this, but the good thing 
is that whenever Dr. Wallace or anyone makes a theologically motived 
statement as he has done with the Present Participle, it is easily 
identified by thinking grammarians.

My additional thoughts,

Mark Wilson


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