[B-Greek] Meaning of present subjunctive in Galatians 2:10

Eric Weiss papaweiss1 at yahoo.com
Thu Dec 23 12:30:10 EST 2004


> I have a question about Paul's use of the present subjunctive MNHMONEUWMEN 
> in Galatians 2:10.  The NIV translates this as "continue to remember" and FF 
> Bruce comments that this present subjunctive "may suggest continued action." 
> (Paul Apostle of the Heart Set Free, 156; Longenecker, Galatians, 60, makes 
> a similar statement).  I have looked in several grammars, but I have not 
> found anything regarding the present subjunctive being used to note a 
> continuing action.  Is this a common use of the present subjunctive, or is 
> the comment/translation simply because it is a present (and not really 
> related to its mood)?  Or, does the form really have little bearing on the 
> translation, which is really more reflective of understanding Galatians 2:10 
> as equaling the famine relief visit of Acts 11:28-30?  Any help would be 
> greatly appreciated!
 
My basic understanding, taught by most grammars, I believe, is that non-indicative moods have little if any "time" sense, but mainly or only "aspect" characteristics. I.e., when it comes to the subjunctive or optative or imperative moods, or the infinitive or the participle (denoted as moods by some grammars, and taught as such by me, since the terms "infinitive" or "participle" fill the "mood" slot when parsing), the "present" has a continuous aspect, and the aorist has a undefined aspect. So a present subjunctive would be used when expressing the idea of a continuous activity was desired, and an aorist subjunctive would be used when just the idea, but undefined as to its length or repetiveness or continuousness, was desired to be expressed.

 


Eric S. Weiss


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