[B-Greek] Subjunctive Aorist

JPitaly41 at aol.com JPitaly41 at aol.com
Wed Apr 30 00:06:01 EDT 2003


...Greggory writes
Does anybody know whether or not a subjuctive aorist can ever be translated as a future (will or would)? The Greek seems to imply that the subjunctive aorist be translated as "should." 

Specifically in terms of Phil. 2:10-11 where the newer translations say every knee will bow and every tongue will confess while the older translations have should bow and should confess. (See NASB 1995 ed. & NASB 1977 ed). The newer forms appear to be a form of "passionate" eisegesis. 

Well it is quite clear that the text of Phil. 2:10-11 uses the subjunctive for PAN GONU(KAMYHi)=every knee shall bend--KAI PASA GLWSSA(EXOMOLOGHSHTAI)= and every toungue shall profess(acknowledge).
We have the use of the subjunctive which does indicate the aspect of futurity but with the possibility that this may not happen, without getting into a doctrinal statement i will refrain from saying why this may not happen(I'd be happy to talk about it off-list if anyone so desires). One would think that the future indicative would be used for future statements of absolute surety. "will" should be reserved for sure events of the future which occur in the indicative mood. And "shall" should be reserved for most probable events with a chance of this not occuring. In the older translations "shall" was used for the subjunctive and the future indicative. Now with the natural development of the english language we get caught in a bit of a bind transferring the ideas from koine into english. Which is also a problem we see in the Septuagint rendering of the Old Testament where the Early fathers tried to render certain Hebraic ideas or words that just don't quite fit when transfered over. I hope this helps shed some light on your inquiry.

Jim Paradiso
"a lowly koine greek student at the undergraduate level"


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