[B-Greek] John 13:4-5 present tenses
Eric Weiss
eweiss at gte.net
Thu Mar 13 09:47:49 EST 2003
Stanley Porter seems to believe that time isn't a factor with ANY of the
tenses, not even the indicative, as I recall from my reading of his
Idioms book. In John 13:4-5, is this part of the explanation for the
tenses here -- i.e., the present tense is being used to convey a
continuous, deliberative activity, in contrast to the aorist tense which
is simply stating the action?
EGEIRETAI EK TOU DEIPNOU KAI TIQHSIN TA hIMATIA, KAI LABWN LENTION
DIEZWSEN hEAUTON. EITE BALLEI hUDWR EIS TON NIPTHRA KAI HRXATO NIPTEIN
TOUS PODAS TWN MAQHTWN KAI EKMASSEIV TWi LENTIWi hWi HN DIEZWSMENOS.
"He [Jesus] rises (present m/p) from the supper and removes (present)
his outer-garments, and after-taking (aorist ptc.) a towel he girded
(aorist) himself; then he pours (present) water into the washbasin and
he began (aorist) to-wash (present inf.) the feet of the disciples and
to-wipe (present inf.) [them] with-the towel with-which he-is-girded
(perfect ptc.)"
Assuming I didn't make any transcription or copying or translation
errors, is John depicting or conveying the actions of Jesus raising
himself.and removing his outer garments and pouring the water and
washing and wiping the disciples' feet as being more "vivid" or as
continuous, protracted activities by his use of the present tense
(indicative and infinitive) -- in contrast to the aorist for "he took a
towel and girded himself" (and "began")?
Normal English would probably translate this as: "Jesus rose from the
supper and removed his outer garment, and took a towel and wrapped it
around his waist. He then poured water into the washbasin and began to
wash his disciples' feet and dry them with the towel he had wrapped
around himself." All the presents would be changed to past tenses. Do we
lose something by translating it into English this way, and if so, what
do we lose -- i.e., what nuances or things did John mean to convey by
these present tenses? Did he mean that Jesus slowly rose from the table,
and carefully/methodically removed his outer garments, and slowly poured
water into the washbasin, and slowly/deliberately/carefully washed and
dried his disciples' feet?
--
Eric S. Weiss
http://home1.gte.net/vzn05pnm/index.htm
S.D.G.
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