[B-Greek] John 3:31-32... aspect analysis

Ken Penner pennerkm at mcmaster.ca
Thu Dec 15 08:06:35 EST 2005


> New aspect analysis.  hO ANOQEN ERXOMENOS EPANW PANTWN ESTIN
> ERXOMENOS -  E<S, R=E, R<S , imperfective, some of Christ's 
> coming occurs at
> R time. or, Christ's coming is not completed at R time.  New aspectual
> question: is this a reference to the incomplete nature of the 
> first coming
> of Christ and a hint of the second coming of Christ? 

I agree with Carl's response. I'm not entirely sure about the participle
phrase. In my dissertation I only deal with verbs functioning predicatively;
here the participle is functioning substantively. I also am a bit uncertain
how to deal with indefinite clauses, but in any case since it is a
generalization R would = all time. S is therefore in R (relative present); E
would also have to be in R (perfective); E could be before or after S
(absolute present). So here we appear to have a perfective event expressed
with a present participle. I suspect semitic influence, through the
Septuagint or as a direct translation of the Hebrew participle.

> ESTIN - E=S, R<S, E>R,  imperfective,  some of Christ's being over all
> occurs at R time. or, Christ's being over all is not 
> completed at R time.
> New aspectual observation:  Christ is over all things now and always.

EIMI is a special case. There is no aorist with which to contrast the
present and imperfect. The generalization again has R = all time. S is again
in R (relative present); E is coextensive with R (perfective); S is in E
(absolute present). So here we appear to have a perfective event expressed
with a present indicative. But given the time relations (all present), the
present tense is the only option for the writer.

Ken Penner, M.C.S. (Greek Verbal Aspect), M.A. (Hebrew Poetry)
Ph.D. (cand.), McMaster University
pennerkm at mcmaster.ca
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