[B-Greek] Jn 10:38 hINA GNWTE KAI GINWSKHTE

RRedden604 at aol.com RRedden604 at aol.com
Mon Feb 13 17:06:21 EST 2006


Perhaps I was looking  for more than there is in the text.   It seems to me 
that the two forms occur because neither alone would emphasize  what Jesus 
meant. There is no such thing as a perfect subjunctive in  Greek.  Only the 
present and aorist tenses are used in the subjunctive  mood.  I suppose the future 
tense could have worked here, but it is rare  following hINA in the NT.

It is clear that the aorist subjunctive is the  dominant mood and tense 
following hINA by a three to one margin (Check out  Turner, Syntax, p. 101).  A 
lopsidedness is found in John as  well.  Whenever the present tense is used there 
seems to be an emphasis  upon Aktionsart.  "The distinction between the 
present and the aorist  concerns merely the manner in which the action is regarded. 
 The aorist  subjunctive refers to the action without saying anything about 
its continuance  or repetition, while the present subjunctive refers to it as 
continuing or as  being repeated" (Machen, 131).  

We also need to recall that "there  is absolutely no distinction of time" 
between the aorist subjunctive and present  subjunctive; the distinction between 
the two "concerns merely the manner in  which the action is regarded."   
Distinction in time is found only in  the indicative mood.  "There is but one mood 
which has essential temporal  relations; viz., the indicative" (DM 167).

I am inclined to view the two  subjunctives serving to indicate the beginning 
and the continuation of the same  thing.  "... so that you may come to know 
and realize (a linear verb) that  the Father is in Me and I in the Father."  
"Understand" for the present  subjunctive works just about as well for me, but 
not exactly.  It seems to  carry with it a possible "punctiliar" sense whereas 
"realize" doesn't.  
 
The TEV and NJB, as noted by the UBS Translators Handbook, combine  the two 
verbs into one and add adverbial expressions:  "that you may  know once and for 
all," and "then you will know for certain."  NLT  simplifies it:  "then you 
will realize..."  These seem to capture the  intent of the two verbs.  
 
Any further observations would be greatly appreciated.
 
Rob Redden
Church of Christ
Grover Beach, CA



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