Why the aorist in Luke 2.11? (was RE: [B-Greek] "Christ is born" inGreek)

Charles Rempel CharlesR at mygalaxyexpress.com
Thu Dec 23 17:18:59 EST 2004


>If Luke 2.11 (cf. the same verb in Mt 1.21) is the pattern, it would be
"XRISTOS ETEXQH" (B&W's "dramatic aorist"?)

Why would it be dramatic? Because of our perception of the event, or because
of the author's intended thought?

>Which raises the question: why the aorist (instead of present, or even
perfect, etc.) in Luke 2.11?

Is this a trick question? He was born at a particular point in time?
It would appear that from John 16:21 the present tense is used prior to the
actual birth event of one going through labor. The future tense is used of a
birth yet to come. The aorist tense is used once the event has occured and
is in the past.

Are there any usages of the perfect tense? I know of none in the NT, though
I haven't done my homework in the OT LXX.

Charles D. Rempel
30 year student
Without portfolio




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