[B-Greek] Subjunctive Aorist

B. D. Colt babc2 at attbi.com
Tue Apr 29 17:44:07 EDT 2003


On 29 Apr 2003 at 16:49, Jonathan Robie wrote:

> At 03:10 PM 4/29/2003 -0500, gene baker wrote:
> >Although from our experience it would seem that this text refers to a
> >future event, I personally am uncomfortable with translators taking
> >that much liberty with the text.
> 
> I remember earlier discussion of the similarity in meaning *and*
> morphology between the future and the subjunctive aorist. My memory
> may be hazy. And I'm a list owner, not a Greek expert.
> 
> Anyone able to shed light on this?
> 
I suspect that the problem is with English rather than Greek.  The 
subjunctive is now regarded as obsolete and most people know nothing 
about its use.  "That . . . every knee should bow" is the English-
language way of expressing the subjunctive, but of course the dumbers-
down think that the poor ignorant reader wouldn't understand that and 
supply some barbarism that is neither good English nor a good 
translation of the Greek.  

Barbara D. Colt, mailto:babc2 at attbi.com
St John the Evangelist, San Francisco
>From envy, Hatred, and malice and all uncharitableness
Good Lord deliver us.




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