[B-Greek] Re: RE: Recognizing Subjunctives

R Yochanan Bitan Buth ybitan at mscc.huji.ac.il
Tue May 10 16:15:36 EDT 2005


Shalom Mitch, 

EGRAPSA:
>I'm curious about your understanding of Aspect. Could
>you speak to that issue?
>
>My initial thought on OMOLOGWMEN with AFH and KAQARISH
>would be to see them used in conjunction with each
>other. 

**Yes, they explain each other.

>That is, every time you confess, forgiveness
>and cleansing follow (each act of confession). If I
>took the first part of your answer
>(continual...aspect) with the second part (specific
>instances), it seems awkward. Could you clarify that,
>and I'd be interested in your sharing as much about
>Aspect as your time permits.
>
>Mitch Larramore
>Sugar Land, Texas

Good job on your initial thoughts and follow up questions, too. 
Yes, I read the first statement just like you explain, "each act ...",
followed by specific "forgives ... cleanses" for each one of those
'each act ...'. 

And, yes, it is a little awkward to shift aspect in the middle. He
would not have had to, but then again, with the aorist subjunctives he
may have been pre-empting and thinking about what he would write in
2:1, or even in the next verse with EIPWMEN. 

On aspect in general, just remember that the Greek language REQUIRES a
specific aspectual choice with every verb: 
either simple "AORISTH", 
or continual/open-ended/repetitive "PARATATIKH", 
or [completed] state "PARAKEIMENH" (this last aspect is both aoristic
and durative). 

The aspectual choice is the only consideration with subjunctives,
infinitives, optatives, imperatives. 
(futures are neutral, or outside the aspect system, and probably
default to aorist. Indicatives and their subordinatted participles are
the only verbal forms that involve time considerations.)

Hope this helps.

ERRWSO
Randall Buth





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