[B-Greek] Heb 2,18
Carl W. Conrad
cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
Wed Apr 28 21:46:57 EDT 2004
At 5:45 PM -0700 4/28/04, Eddie Mishoe wrote:
>EN hW GAR PEPONQEN AUTOS PEIRASQEIS, DUNATAI TOIS
>PEIRAZOMENOIS BOHQHSAI
>
>Should we have expected an Aorist here, not the
>Perfect PEPONQEN? The Perfect tense seems to indicate
>a present state, but surely Jesus is not currently in
>this state.
PEPONQEN doesn't indicate a "state" of suffering but rather the experience
of one who has fully undergone suffering. I think the text is saying that
Christ, by virtue of his human experience of suffering is able to assist
those who are currently confronting ordeals. I'm reminded of Socrates in
Republic I saying to the aged Cephalus that he always found it enlightening
to talk to the very old because they have the experience and wisdom to
advise younger people about what lies ahead of them on a course that the
older man has already traveled.
--
Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Emeritus)
1989 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243
cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
WWW: http://www.ioa.com/~cwconrad/
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